Category: Photography

Picture parade seventeen

Still they keep on coming.

A week ago, the last set of the gorgeous pictures from John Hurlburt was published. They had been highly enjoyed by you.

To be honest, I had been wondering how on earth I was going to follow them.

Then Chris Snuggs partially came to my aid in sending me the following two pictures. (Chris has his own blogsite here.)

Now that’s what I call the correct priorities in life!

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Then John H. sent me another great set of pictures. Here’s the first five.

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Thank you Chris, thank you John.

More coming in a week’s time.

You all take care out there.

Picture parade sixteen

When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.

The last set of these beautiful photographs sent in by John Hurlburt.

If you missed John’s previous sets, then the first set is here and the second set here.

And don’t forget to read the closing remark at the foot of this post.

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A few days ago, John sent me some more fabulous pictures. They are of a different style to the last three weeks but still very charming.

The first set of the new pictures from John will be next Sunday, a week from today.

You all look after yourselves out there.

Saturday smile, maybe?

Well, they say it takes all types to make the world what it is.

A few days ago, a neighbour sent me an email that contained a photograph.

My email response was, “Golly, it’s enough to drive me to drink! Am I sufficiently brave to make it Saturday’s post!!”

I very rarely use the ‘click to see more’ function in WordPress but the photograph really does seem to deserve ‘the grand entrance’.

Continue reading “Saturday smile, maybe?” →

Picture parade fifteen.

When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.

The second set of wonderful pictures sent in by John Hurlburt. If you missed the first set, they are here.

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And the final set from John next Sunday.

Picture parade fourteen.

When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.

Huge thanks to John Hurlburt for forwarding the following photographs.

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Another wonderful set of these pictures next Sunday.

Don’t believe your eyes!

There are some very creative people out there!

Just over a week ago, Dan Gomez sent me a link to an item on StumbleUpon. It was a feature called Don’t Believe Your Eyes featuring the work of Matthew Albanese.

I am not going to reproduce all the images despite them all being on that StumbleUpon webpage simply because I haven’t had time to ask Matthew’s permission. I will just offer a few of them so you may be wowed as I was.

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Matthew Albanese is an artist who fascinates with special effects and magic. Matthew owns a stunning artwork collection of photographs that will blow your mind with their realistic presence. On the left side in the gallery you can see the final image and on the right you will be able to see how image was created using his special effects. Scroll down and enjoy today’s gallery of 15 beautiful artworks.

BOX OF LIGHTNING

Diorama for Box of Lightning.. Backlit etching in plexiglass painted black.

HOW TO BREATHE UNDERWATER

Diorama made out of walnuts, poured and cast candle wax, wire, glitter, peanut shells, flock, plaster, wire, dyed starfish, compressed moss,

jellybeans (anemones), sponges, wax coated seashells, toothpaste, clay, figs, feathers, Q-tips, nonpareils.

A NEW LIFE

Diorama made using painted parchment paper, thread, hand dyed ostrich feathers, carved chocolate, wire, raffia, masking tape, coffee, synthetic potting moss and cotton.

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OK, if you want to see the whole set you will have to go Matthew’s website.

But I will just sneak in the last one from that series of fifteen.

Paprika Mars. Made out of 12 pounds paprika, cinnamon, nutmeg, chili powder and charcoal

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Matthew Albanese’s fascination with film, special effects and movie magic—and the mechanics behind these illusions—began early. Born in northern New Jersey in 1983, Albanese spent a peripatetic childhood moving between New Jersey and upstate New York. An only child, Albanese enjoyed imaginative, solitary play. He loved miniatures and created scenarios intricately set with household objects and his extensive collection of action figures. After earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Photography at the State University of New York, Purchase, Albanese worked as a fashion photographer, training his lens on bags, designer shoes and accessories—this small-object specialization is known in the retail trade as “table top photography.” Albanese’s creative eye soon turned to tabletop sets of a more wildly eclectic nature. In 2008, a spilled canister of paprika inspired him to create his first mini Mars landscape. More minute dioramas—made of spices, food and found objects—followed. In 2011, Albanese was invited to show at the Museum of Art and Design of New York. His work has also been exhibited at the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, Winkleman Gallery, and Muba, Tourcoing France. Matthew is represented at Bonni Benrubi Gallery in New York

ALL IMAGES, TITLES, DESCRIPTION AND BIO ARE COPYRIGHT AND IN OWNERSHIP OF MATTHEW ALBANESE WEBSITE

Clock watching!

Literally, as a long-case clock is tickled back to life.

We are experiencing a period of foggy mornings giving way to brilliantly clear and sunny afternoons.

Yesterday was no exception.

Looking out to the North-East with Mt. Sexton behind the mists.

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Having walked some of the dogs around 9am it seemed a good idea to find a task indoors for the morning. How about sorting out the ‘grandfather’ clock, or long-case clock in proper speak!

Every since we came up from Arizona to settle here in Southern Oregon, now almost a year ago, that clock had not been running well. It’s nothing special in terms of its lineage but over many years of collecting and repairing clocks in my earlier days in Devon, UK, I’ve always had a soft spot for the long-case clock.

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This particular clock, as seen in the above picture, is a real hotch-potch. The original face is nothing special and somewhere along the line a previous owner came across a more ‘antiquey’ face and screwed it over the original.

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Anyway, the first task was to even up the movement, again a real mess.

A long way from how this clock was originally built!

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All this a long-winded way of saying that by the time the clock seemed to be running in a settled fashion it was coming up to 4pm and my creative juices for blog writing, such as they are, had evaporated.

Hence the clock story!

And in answer to those who might wonder why so much time and effort went into such a dreadful jumble of a clock, the one thing I adore about mechanical clocks is the sound of the ‘tick’ and the chimes.

There is no better sound than the steady tick of a long-case clock and those haunting chimes on the half-hour and on the hour.

The video below is a wonderful example of a real vintage clock!

Antique Longcase Clock Striking – J. Woolfenden – Royton (ca. 1785)

This is a client’s beautiful longcase clock that I serviced not long ago. The clock is by J. Woolfenden – Royton and it dates to roughly 1785 (based on some research that was done on it).

In this video, you hear the clock striking 11 o’ clock on a nice original bell. The clock was running during testing, but it was not in beat (I had to fix the leveling later).

Picture parade thirteen.

Keep having those wonderful Sundays!

First, the last four of the gorgeous pictures sent to me by Cynthia Gomez. If you missed last week’s pictures, then here they are.

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Now more pictures from Neil Kelly, back from my Devon, UK days. Neil’s last set of images were in Picture parade ten.

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Two very different styles but equally enjoyable, don’t you think.

It’s also appropriate for me to say a huge thanks to Cynthia, Neil and so many others who send me ideas, stories and pictures.

Thank you so much. Not just on behalf of me but on behalf of so many others who follow Learning from Dogs.

Picture parade twelve

Have a wonderful Sunday wherever you are in the world.

More wonderful images of dogs and cats, courtesy of Cynthia Gomez.

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And to finish off, a talking dog!

More pictures next Sunday.

Picture parade eleven

Much from the Gomez family.

These are a few from a collection sent to me by Cynthia Gomez. (Captions from yours truly)

Left hand not knowing right hand comes to mind.

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It's a fair question! — It’s a fair question!

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Next two photographs from a weblink that Dan Gomez sent me.

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Now a few from yours truly, all taken from here at home.

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The final item is a YouTube video that Dan Gomez pointed out to me. Enthralled is an understatement! Do Watch It In Fullscreen!

Oh, don’t watch it if you don’t have a head for heights!!

NOTE: When running this video at this end, it has been starting with the volume muted. The volume setting is bottom left so check before the video gets under way for you.

Now that’s what I call the correct priorities in life!

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BOX OF LIGHTNING

HOW TO BREATHE UNDERWATER

A NEW LIFE

ALL IMAGES, TITLES, DESCRIPTION AND BIO ARE COPYRIGHT AND IN OWNERSHIP OF MATTHEW ALBANESE WEBSITE

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Antique Longcase Clock Striking – J. Woolfenden – Royton (ca. 1785)

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