Child, Give Me Your Hand…

“Child, give me your hand that I may walk in the light of your faith in me.” ~ Hannah Kahn

Beginning, Middle, or End?

“Life is not so much about beginnings and endings as it is about going on and on and on. It is about muddling through the middle.” ~ Anna Quindlen

Are you in a place of a new beginning, muddling through the middle, or at the end of something good, something bad, or something you’ve already muddled through?

Please check out my Thursday post on Monochromia.  I posted a photograph of another Star Magnolia, but from a completely different perspective.

The Porch at 560

ss 1/60 f 5.6 ISO 200

This home was once grand, beautiful and well-maintained.  In more recent years it was the Mill Creek Bed and Breakfast.  Until, someone purchased the “mansion” next door and later purchased this historic building to tear it down and build a garage.   The town of Nashville, IL would not allow this and the new owner is letting the building grow into ruin.   It saddens me to think that someone would let this happen just because she didn’t get her way.   The former owners of the Inn are wonderful, kind people and would never have sold it had they known what was going to happen to it.   Can you imagine living across the street having to see the building you poured so much love into a crumbling, mis-happened mess?  This building was the location of many special occasions in my youth…bridal showers, baby showers, and more.  Despite the dilapidation and ruin, the building still has character, charm and is fascinating from a photography perspective.

To see a close-up of the door and the “letter” box on the outer wall, see my post on Monochromia.

 

Nature’s Tears…

…Glistening in the sunlight.

ss 1/800 f 7.1 ISO 200

Nikon D810, Nikkor 105mm 2.8

This photo was taken Monday morning after the rain clouds cleared.  The sun was warm and gorgeous, can you feel it?  To see a more high-key photograph of this subject, a yellow daisy, visit Monochromia.  Which do you like better?

Goodness of Heart

Dead, decaying flowers.  Really?  What is the allure?  I cannot explain it, but I love to photograph dead or decaying flowers.  I find them intriguing.  So much detail comes through the petals.  The colors mold into unknown shades.  Decaying, or dead flowers speak to me saying, “Even in death, there is life and more to come.”

The flower in the photograph below is a white tulip.  I saved the tulips a bit too long as mold was beginning to grow on the stems.  Time was not permitting me to tend to them until yesterday.  I finally thought “enough is enough” and decided not to let the opportunity to photograph the bouquet pass by.  I noticed this particular flower was hanging in the shape of a heart.  It is almost as though it is traveling through the air.

You’ll notice that there are three images for you to view.  I thought the original was a bit drab despite the detail.  I used backlighting and could have exposed it more, but when I did it seemed blown out and some of the details were lost.

The second version is edited in Photoshop using a curves level and then adding a texture layer.  Have you used Adobe Paper Texture Pro?  I love it.  There are so many options and once you have applied a texture layer you can adjust the opacity in the layers panel.

Loving black and white photography the way I do, I of course had to include a third version in black and white.  I left the texture layer on when converting to black and white.

Which version of the tulip speaks to you the most?  What does it say?

Original “Goodness of Heart”

ss 1/60 f 4.5 ISO 400

Nikon D810, Nikkor 105mm f2.8

Curve adjustment and Adobe Paper Texture Pro Layer – Brushed Rose

Version II converted to Black and White

The Gown

“The sun shines,

When I’m with you,

Your smile makes me want to dance.

Tonight, I’ll put on my favorite gown,

Place a diamond comb in my hair,

Dazzle you with my beauty,

And sway in your arms,

Until the morning light appears.”

copyright Robyn Graham

This photograph is the side of a Daffodil turned upside down. As I was photographing Daffodils from my garden I played with them to find unique angles to shoot.  This reminded me of a woman’s ball gown.  The first line of the poem is one of the meanings of the Daffodil in The Language of Flowers.  The poem, was an inspiration from the Daffodils outside my window dancing in the afternoon sun.

Life is so busy right now.  I once again have to apologize for my inactivity in the world of blogging.  I cherish all of my followers and I appreciate those who stop by, browse through my blog, like my work, and leave comments.  Please forgive me for not always returning that kind gesture.  With three children, each in multiple activities, I find myself having a bit too much to juggle and very little time to browse blog posts and admire the work of my virtual friends.

With work I have been busy with product shoots, head shots, first communion portraits, senior portraits and more. I hope to blog about a couple of the unique projects in the near future.  I have also been doing some behind the scenes work for future “big” projects with my photography….keep your fingers crossed for me!  Hopefully they will come to fruition in the next 12 to 18 months.

Unrequited Love I

“Unrequited love has Winter for Spring ~

Spring presents herself, but Winter does not want to take leave.

He delivers an unwelcome snow that covers the blooms Spring has brought forth.

The blooms pout as the weight of the snow bears down on them

and prevents them from sharing their glory.”

copyright Robyn Graham

In the “History and Language of Flowers”, one of the meanings of the daffodil is unrequited love.  The above poem was inspired by this meaning of the Daffodil.

To see another black and white photograph of a Daffodil covered with snow visit Monochromia for my Thursday post.

Home Away from Home

“Did he come to pray?

Did he come to rest?

Does he come every day?

Is he on a quest?

Will he find what he’s looking for,

Here in this place?

Will he feel blest

At the end of his stay?

Is this his home,

Away from home?

Underneath the dome,

Does he find shelter

That otherwise doesn’t exist?

His life is a welter,

Some might insist,

But the head of this house,

Welcomes him in His midst,

And finds him not to be a louse,

But a man who needs,

A heavenly kiss.”

Copyright Robyn Graham

Please note that today is Thursday and that means I have also posted on Monochromia.  Be sure to stop by and see another example of my street photography.

Winter’s Gentle Touch

“Write it on your heart
that every day is the best day in the year…
This new day is too dear,
with its hopes and invitations,
to waste a moment on the yesterdays.”

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Black and White Thursday

It is Thursday and that means I posted a black and white photograph on Monochromia.  The image I posted on Monochromia today is one that I had previously posted on this blog.  You can find the original post HERE.

I am excited and honored to tell you that this picture was selected in a juried exhibit, “Americana” at the Pennsylvania Center for Photography.