Shadowplay

Sometimes what we see first

is a shadow.

Then we follow the shadow

back to where the 'real' thing is -

the substantial thing;

the meaningful thing;

the thing we can touch.

I noticed a delicate shadow on this retaining wall.

It is the shadow of the plant, which is reaching out

beyond the wall.

Taken 4 September 2018.

It was actually the shadow of the lamp post

that first caught my eye. I thought it was a couple

of people standing in the parking lot.

Taken 11 September 2018.

Blue Wall #6

Almost an optical illusion effect

of the light, shadow, lines, and texture.

Plus the appeal of the worn paint

and the graffiti.

Abandoned #1

This is not a beautiful,

heart-warming photograph.

It might be soul-stirring, though.

And...

interesting

in terms of 

composition,

lines, texture;

even color.

It is post-modern

assemblage art.

But it was accidentally assembled

by anonymous hands

and the unpredictable forces

of nature.

Taken 7 October 2011.

Line, Shadow, Texture

Late day sun casts shadows

on plain white stucco walls,

varying depths of shadow,

clean geometric lines,

subtle textures,

and a blue ribbon of sky.

Taken in Sierra Vista, AZ, 9 February 2011.

Blue Wall #3

When I look at this photo

I think I can HEAR

the sun shining,

the wind blowing,

the rain falling,

all at one time.

The beautiful weathered appearance

along with lines and shadows

and that persistent blueness.

Appealing.

(No pun intended, at first.)

Taken 7 October 2011.

Bark

A desolate landscape:

mountains, valleys,

crags, ravines,

buttes, canyons,

riverbeds, lava flows...

texture

line

shadow

shape

hidden images

faces, objects, mythical beasts and creatures.

All for study

in a square foot of live tree sheathing

bark.

Taken 8 October 2010.

Going With The Flow

Sometimes the most ordinary objects

suddenly take on a mysterious

artistic flair.

Or not...

At the time,

and still now as I look at this photo,

it is brimming with interest:

lines, light, shadow, reflection, shapes, textures.

It attracts and sustains attention.

Taken 15 October 2010, Garden Grove, California.

Blue Wall #2

Besides the wonderful effects of the peeling paint,

and the lines of the boards themselves,

and the little triangles created by the eaves in the upper left,

my favorite thing is the shadow of the overhead power line...

Taken 7 October 2011.

Pine Cone Close-up

A pair

of docile pine cones

lend their lines, shapes, shadows, colors and textures.

Taken 1 October 2010.

Blue

Blue.

Too many cliches

about blue.

Here is a study

in blue.

Lines,

patterns,

textures,

countours,

light,

shadow,

hues and tones.

Dive into blue.

Taken 8 October 2010.

Retaining Wall

Cut stone,

tiered stacks,

holding back the hill.

Converging lines.

Texture.

Earth-tones.

Taken 19 March 2011.

Future Quilt

This is another "looking up" shot.

No flash.

Unretouched.

Standing in the middle of

the sanctuary of a local church

looking directly up into

the cupola.

This design really

looks like it

would make a beautiful quilt.

Taken 19 March 2011.

Wall Panel

Wall panel by the elevator

in the lobby of

a DC hotel...

art and beauty in the most

unexpected places!

People looked askance

at me while I was

getting this shot.

I'm sure they thought

I had lost my mind.

They really don't see the art!

Sad, and a little scary.

Taken 17 November 2010.

Dwelling Place

A little corner of blue heaven

imposing itself 

on pale windowless cubes;

shadows pushing back

to declare their transient dominance;

lines drawn between

light and dark

heaven and earth;

stairway

a rising crescendo

escorting dwellers

to their nightly mausoleum

where they take their repose

beyond the reach of

encroaching shades.

Curb My Enthusiasm

A very simple image.

Concrete.

Man-made.

Colorless.

Lines, geometry, texture, shadow,

and a persistent impression

that there is a subliminal message

playing hard-to-get.

Fabric Pattern #2

For some reason that is utterly

obscure to me now

I imagined that the paper clip

would add interest

to this photograph.

Or maybe I was just taking a picture

of the paper clip

thinking I could crop the photo

in some fascinating manner

before I shared it.

Whatever.

(as "they" say)

The fabric itself

is exponentially more interesting

than the paper clip.

However,

if you don't mind my saying,

having a perfectly unabridged

paper clip

in the middle of my

"fabric pattern"

is

at the very least

an ice breaker.

And for all you tens of paper clip enthusiasts out there

the paper clip itself

cries out,

"Believe in me!

Trust me!

Own me!"

Right?

Or

maybe it is a completely

disastrous

pathetic

paltry

silly

and otherwise misconceived

photo.

Anyway, I like the color and pattern of the fabric.

So, please try to ignore the paper clip.

Or sublimate.

Look BEYOND the paper clip.

As I said earlier,

"Whatever."

Taken 8 October 2010.

Because it matters!

Four Corners

It's just four frames coming together

on a hotel room wall,

but it caught my attention.

Patterns and textures.

Geometry, lines,

a little color reflecting

from a nearby lamp

invading at the lower right.

Wet Leaves

Without getting too lost in the actual details of this picture,

take in the textures, the lines, the sense of movement even though the subjects are still,

the subtle play of the light on the dampness of the leaves.

It's like one of those paintings where if you stare at it long enough

you can see other hidden, subliminal images.

Or maybe it's the fact that I'm listening to Louie Prima sing "Piccolina Lena" while I'm typing this...