Down a Country Road

Silly Old goat

I stopped alongside a road to take a photo of an old building when I noticed this goat standing by a fence with an apple in her mouth. She wasn't eating it while I was there…. She just stood still holding it in her mouth. Silly old goat.

There was no apple tree nearby so someone had evidently dumped a box of apples over the fence. A post-Thanksgiving feast.



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Goodbye CORNELL CAPA

With a sad heart I note 2008 as the year Cornell Capa no longer walks the earth. many photographers influenced me but it was Cornell I had the most contact with as a young student at the newly opened INTERNATIONAL CENTER OF PHOTOGRAPHY. We lost his brother Robert Capa in 1964, who I knew of first and who meant so much to me. Another war photographer Larry Burrows lost his life when his helicopter was attacked over Laos in 1971.

I was honored to meet Eugene Smith while he was working on his Minamata Exhibit at I.C.P.

(among his contributions was raising the art of the photographic essay to unequalled heights)

One can never say enough about Gordon Parks who lived from 1912 to 2006. I first learned of him in the first or second grade when I read over and over an illustrated coloring book about his life! Each one of them a master, an artist, a recorder of their times who left behind images that help us better understand life on this planet!

Somewhere.... Under the Rainbow...

... is a cow.... on a hill....





I posted this shot a couple years ago but I thought it would make a good SkyWatch Friday post too. When I saw this rainbow, I was driving around like a wild woman trying to find a good shot of it. When I saw the cows on the hill with the only cow that wasn't black almost standing in the rainbow, I stopped in the middle of the road to get the shot.

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Introducing WildstyleNow.com

WildstyleNow.com celebrates the artwork & clothing designs of 3 true pioneers of Street Art;

TRACY 168, FLINT... and TAKI 183.

Our first collection comes from the house of ideas Mr. TRACY 168 himself (who invented the term 'WILDSTYLE' which is so assimilated into our society that PEPSI-COLA had a special 'WILDSTYLE' Can and many other companies use the name including the popular cultural film. These limited edition Tees and Hoodies are the Real McCoy, now you can own a piece of True Originial Graf Artwork on gear, priceless work from from streetwear innovator T168!

Each T-Shirt is made from the finest materials and all sizes are available. Yours for $35 and up. Own rare Limited Edition Art with Newfukin York City fashion... Call 718 273 2130 to order and visit http://www.exvandals.com/ for the history of these artists and more...

Thank You

When I count blessings for which I am thankful, you are right at the top of my list. What a wonderful, unique group of people you are. You live in all parts of the world, come from many different backgrounds and span many generations. Most of you, I have never nor will ever meet in person and yet the world is a smaller more wonderful place because of each of you.

Your visits and comments on my blog reach out across the miles and embrace me as you share your friendship, kindness, caring and love. A year ago today I was in the hospital having surgery. When I shared with you about my cancer, I was so in awe (and still am) by the outpouring of love and caring you showered on me. I’m still brought to tears when I think about it.

By sharing on your blogs, you allow me to come into your lives in at least a small way. When I visit your blogs I get to see amazing sights I would never be able to see in any other way. I get to learn about your cultures, your towns, your families and sometimes get a glimpse of who you are.

Thank you Friends.

I am thoroughly convinced that if all our world leaders were bloggers we would finally achieve world peace. :)

Wet Smoke Bush

My husband planted a smoke tree in the back yard last year. So far its still a smoke bush because it isn't very big but it had beautiful red leaves this fall.

Universal Temple of the Arts Jazz Festival

UNIVERSAL TEMPLE of the ARTS was formed in 1967 by Maurice Phillips, Artist/Philosopher and a group of young artists who incorpated their talents for the purpose of quickening the creative spirit in the individual and fostering brotherly love through artistic, educational, cultural and civil activities.
The Staten Island Jazz Concert is in it's 21th year and continues to offer the community access to many of the finest Jazz Musicians in the country. Workshops held before the performances included Hamiet Bluiett exploring the many facets of Jazz, Betty Miller focusing on Jazz vocal techniques and Mickey Davidson showing Jazz dance exercises and improvisation. Tony Bellamy of Channel 57's "Just Coolin" moderates a discussion of the history and future of Jazz Music. All this put us well in to the mood to listen to music by the instructors and also Emme Kemp, Betty Shirley, Maxwell Lucas, Reggie Workman, Leopoldo Fleming and Lady Helena Walquer.
Thank you Sajda Musawwir Ladner.

Last REUNION PHOTOGRAPHY Job of the Year!

Hooray, I'm now ready for my vacation! Yes, we had fun, Yes, I tried some new marketing ideas to bring up my averages. (good timing right, LOL!) The Class was really prepared for this night with no less than 4 videos/ slide presentations to watch, one from FRAN DRESCHER (who graduated in 1975) Raffles & Prizes from a long list of sponsors including Cancer Schmancer, Applebee's, Bath & Body Works, Chili's, Food Network, Fine Living, HGTV/DIY, Edible Arrangements, Eve Behar Ceramics, Split Rock Resort, Unique Service Reality Inc and Wells Fargo Mortgage Brokers. Speakers included the current Principal of HILLCREST HIGH SCHOOL in Queens, New York, the Actor PAUL D'ADDARIO of the Gift Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois, and of course the Reunion Committee headed by Karen Allim.

Watching The Sea Serpent

I think this sea monster scared it right out of this gull :)

Big Apple Pops Orchestra @ Lorenzo's

The word is SWING! SWING! SWING! as the POP'S returns to the HILTON with a special music and dance program. Everything form Glen Miller medleys to Benny Goodman's toe-tapping swing selections. Terry Allworthy leads the 18-piece dance band guest vocalists (including his daughter Vida) Even Richard Nicotra (the owner of the S.I. Hilton Garden Inn) and his lovely wife Lois were seen whirling around the dance floor!

Delfino Vineyard

Not only do our local vineyards grow grapes that make wonderful wines, they also put on a spectacular show of color after the harvest. The show doesn't last long. A few days after I got this shot, I went back to get a few more shots and the color was gone. Only vines with dead leaves remained.

Delfino is a fairly new vineyard. They produced their first wine in 2006. Check out the Delfino Vineyard website here

Fall Fog and a Fence

Third in a series of the fog filled valley near Grants Pass Oregon.

While I was snapping photos of the valley, an 18-wheeler went by and honked his horn. I looked up thinking he might be angry that I was parked along the freeway and instead the trucker pointed to the valley and gave me a "thumbs up". I imagine that he was also moved by the scene and it was his way of sharing the experience with me.

Sheep, Fog and the Valley

This is the second in a series of photos of this gorgeous fog filled valley. There was a field with sheep near the top of the valley. They were more interested in eating than posing for the photographer so none of them would cooperate by looking in my direction.

See yesterdays post for more information about the series of photos.



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Peace in The Valley

Our Agency has an office in a neighboring county, Josephine County, and yesterday I went down to help interview applicants for a job opening. I started down a hill just before I got to Grants Pass, Oregon and was totally blown away by the scene before me. Luckily there was a wide spot next to the freeway and I parked quickly and stood in awe looking at this valley filled with fog.

It was an emotional experience for me and I was literally moved to tears by the beauty. I was so moved that for a few minutes I forgot to grab my camera. Once I started shooting I was like a wild woman trying to get as many shots as I could in the short time I had left. It was very hard to get back in the car and drive away. I wanted to stay and watch the fog lift but would have been late for my meeting.
There is no water in this valley, this is all fog. I will be posting more shots in the next few days. This beauty that God created is too perfect not to share.
Oh, there IS a sky up there but it’s hard to tell where it ends and the mountains and fog begin. :)



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FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY & THE DANCING CHEF

Spent the day with ALEXIS AQUINO while he whipped up a few dishes. The main ingredient was his passion for cooking and his love of music and dancing while he cooked!

Tennessee Colors

My daughter, Christy, recently moved to Tennessee. She keeps telling me that where she is in Tennessee looks a lot like Oregon. She sent this photo of a barn that she passes on her way to Knoxville, and she is right. This could easily be an Oregon farm.

Veterans Day Special

I want to thank the US NAVY for not only serving our country but for using me again at their

annual NGIS AWARDS, ( held at Jacob Javitts Convention Center) they found me last year by browsing "PHOTOGRAPHERS IN NEW YORK " and came across the PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS of GREATER NEW YORK website. It really pays to belong to your industries organizations!!

Across The Field

Camera Critters, Free Rides and Awards

Ben and Meg from Nelson Daily Photo gave me a nice award. THANKS BEN AND MEG!
According to the rules I must now give this award to five other bloggers following these rules.
1. Award five blogs.
2. Four have to be dedicated followers of your blog.
3. One has to be someone new or recently new to your blog and live in another part of the world.
4. You must link back to whoever gave you the award.

Kate from Visual St Paul has been a faithful visitor and commenter on my blog since October 2006 (Yes I looked it up). Kate gives us a glimpse of her beautiful city of St Paul Minnesota and also takes us with her when she travels to Mexico. Thanks Kate.

Salty is one of my favorite bloggers. I love his photography and his stories of rural Pennsylvania on his Country Captures blog. I’ve loved getting to know him and his family through his past family stories and more recently learning about Pennsylvania wildlife from his beautiful photos and educational information. Thanks Salty.

Sue, from photowannabe blog got the same award I did from Ben and Meg, but I’m including her anyway because she has been a long time blogger friend and faithful visitor to my blog over the past two years. Thanks Sue.

Darlene from Dar’s Foto Faze is not only a blogger friend but also a personal friend. When she lived in Roseburg we would take off on photo trips with no destination in mind and get back home a day or two later with cards full of photos and hearts full of good times and adventure memories. She moved off to the big city of Portland but we still get together when we can. Its been fun watching her blogging skills grow. Thanks for being a good friend, Dar. Love you.

According to the rules of this award, I also get to recognize someone who is recently new to my blog and who lives in a different part of the world. Firefly from The Firefly Photo Files fits this description perfectly. He lives in Port Elizabeth in South Africa and not only has great photos of this area, he also has a fun sense of humor. Firefly isn’t toooo new. He stopped by my Wildlife Safari blog in August and has been a faithful visitor and commenter to both my blogs since then. He was my first “follower” before I knew what a follower was. Thanks Firefly.

And on to my Camera Critter

Who says theres no such thing as a free ride?



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Storm at Smith Rock Park

This was taken at Smith Rock Park in Eastern Oregon. A storm was rapidly approaching so I snapped a few shots just before the rain hit, then I ran for the car.


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Umpqua Barn

I sometimes think there isn't a barn in Douglas County Oregon that I haven't already photographed, but occasionally I find a new one. This one is near a little community called Umpqua.

Autumn Splendor