Once in a while I’ll arrange a still life to photograph, but more often I’ll just shoot something I see while walking, or having lunch in a French-style bistro….
I took this with my iPhone while having lunch with a dear friend on her birthday. I thought it needed a little some-something, so I converted it to black and white:
Finally, I switched to sepia tones and added an “antique photo” action:
Quite a difference, yeah?
Hope your week is starting beautifully….
{carole}
I’m doing a photo-a-day project on Flickr, and two out of the last three photos mainly consist of the colors green and red….
Swiss Balcon geraniums
Figs and a raspberry
(I was delighted to see real, fresh figs in the grocery store. Haven’t had them since I was in Greece many years ago. We were driving down a dusty road on the isle of Crete and picked them from an overhanging branch. One of the best things I’ve ever tasted. These can’t compare, but it was wonderful remembering.)
With all the hot weather we’ve had, could I be subconsciously longing for winter days and Christmas? I’m certainly looking forward to fall and “sweater weather.”
Great weekend, everyone!
{carole}
Despite the heat and humidity, one plant seems to be impervious: Cleome, or spider flower. Even with very little rain this summer, it continues to shine….
I shot this at sunset, so was lucky to get some golden bokeh too.
Hope your week’s going well….
{carole}
So, how hot is it where you live? We’re finally out of the hottest July in D.C. history, but the temps are still in the 90s and the humidity is back. The air kind of looks like this….
Couldn’t resist buying a bunch of sunflowers at Trader Joe’s because they remind me of Provence, my favorite place in the summer. The light there is unmatched.
Even though there are more than a few restaurants that offer outdoor dining here, the spaces look pretty much like this…
and this….
How about we cool things off with a bowl of meringues? Only 27 calories apiece, and I hear they’re good with berries. I like one or two with a cup of java, even when it’s this hot outside. Never really took to iced coffee.
Stay cool….
{carole}
If you’re new to the blog, I did posts on Cape May, New Jersey here, here and here. I have a few miscellaneous shots that I’ll share now. Enjoy.
Not quite as ornate as the Victorians in my other posts, but lovely just the same. Even the fire hydrant is aesthetic.
A closer look:
I think Seaglass Cottage is the perfect name for this place. Just the other day, I saw a beautiful shot of sea glass on Pinterest….
Google photo via Pinterest
A little down at the heels, but full of vintage charm, don’t you think?
I liked the window at the top, so zoomed in for this one….
Peeling paint draws me in every time.
Great weekend, everyone!
{carole}
When it comes to color, I’m kind of a split personality. I love bright, intense colors–even neons–and I love soft pastels. I used to do a lot of black-and-white, but got away from it when I bought a digital camera. The only formal training I’ve had was a beginner’s darkroom class and I loved every second. Seeing your image appear in the basin filled with chemicals is so exciting. I could have spent hours in the darkroom, and I did. One day I’ll go back.
So, as promised, some pastel shots from Southern Cal….
I shot this hibiscus on my son’s patio as the sun was going down. This peachy shade is probably my favorite hibiscus color.
There are quite a few old Crafstman bungalows in Southern California and I love the way they photograph. The peeling paint on the pink door made me stop the car for this shot. I deliberately overexposed for a soft, dreamy look.
Another hibiscus at sunset. When I lived in California, hibiscus plants were being decimated by whiteflies. I’m happy to see they’re making a comeback.
Hope your week is going well….
{carole}
One of the things I love best about California is the bright color everywhere. The light is so beautiful it makes hues pop even more.
Bougainvillea is a huge favorite of mine. Pretty much maintenance-free once it’s established. This was taken at sunset.
A beach cruiser in Laguna Beach.
Blue and yellow fitness center in Leucadia.
Would you believe an ashtray outside a club?
A boogie board hanging outside the fitness center.
Wednesday, pastels.
Hope everyone’s having a good Monday. I just found out this July was the hottest in D.C. history, sigh. Anyone else ready for fall?
{carole}
One of the best meals I had in California was at the Cedar Creek Inn in San Juan Capistrano, near the mission. It was a gorgeous sunny day with a slight breeze, and the air was crystal clear. We sat outside on the patio under colorful umbrellas–so lovely! I ordered the salad pictured above, Chicken Papaya. Couldn’t remember the name of the restaurant when I got home, so looked on line and found the recipe! She calls it curried chicken salad, but it’s the same dish. Now, if I could just find the recipe for batter bread….
Ingredients:
1 bunch parsley
2 chicken breasts, cooked and
chopped, 8 oz. each
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped green
onions
1/2 cup raisins, rinsed with hot water
1/2 cup cashew pieces
3/4
cup mayonnaise
1 t. curry powder
Salt to taste
1/2 t. white
pepper
12 romaine leaves
2 ripe papayas, peeled, seeded and cut into
halves lengthwise
4 pineapple slices
4 clusters red seedless grapes
1
cup strawberries
Paprika to taste
Directions:
Reserve 4 parsley sprigs for garnish and chop remaining
parsley. Mix the chopped parsley with the chicken, celery, green onions, raisins
and cashews in large bowl. Add mayonnaise, curry powder, salt and white pepper
and toss to mix well. Chill in the refrigerator. Arrange three romaine lettuce
leaves on each of four serving plates. Place one papaya half in the center of
each plate. Fill center of each papaya half with chicken salad. Arrange
pineapple, grapes and strawberries around the papaya on the plates. Sprinkle
with paprika and garnish with reserved parsley sprigs. Serves 4
*************************************************************************
Great weekend, everyone!
{carole}
Hi, everyone…I’m back. Had a great trip to California, though it went way too fast. Apologies to the friends I didn’t get to see–this was mostly a family trip to attend a wedding and get my son settled in his new house. I’m tired, but in a good way.
I usually fly out of Baltimore-Washington Airport (BWI) but this time I used Dulles International Airport in Virginia. I love this place because it’s so beautiful. Eero Saarinen designed it, for Pete’s sake. Even with millions of people traipsing through, the floors are gleaming.
There’s a new people mover system called the Aero Train and the shot below was taken there.
I took this with my iPhone and the Instagram app. The people almost look like they’re dancing, don’t they? I shot this from a moving escalator, but only took two shots because I was balancing a purse and carry-on bag.
Hope your week’s going well so far….
{carole}
This was taken at Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, just as the sun was starting to set. I like the bikes and pines and that old wood fencing that goes everywhere. So East Coast.
Just for fun, I used a Florabella action for a vintage look:
{carole}
Pearls & Prose 