30 Days of Creativity - Day 10: Mini Origami

So today we thought about posting a collage made with our Vivitar Ultra Wide & Slim... However, the pictures didn't come out as we expected; I guess that's what happens when you get ultra cheap film. *sigh

Anyway, we decided to do some origami to relax, and this one is the smallest bird I could make, (look at the quarter for a size comparison). If you'd like to do one like this, you can find the instructions here.

May try to use the Vivitar again tomorrow, probably with a different film.

Sitting & smiling.

While flipping through old photos today, I ran across this one. This one was taken was some very dear pals of ours came to visit. (They are both in the background by the painted trees, and here is the shot they were getting at the same time this picture was taken).

It is pictures like this that make me fall in love again with the awesome photos you can take on a Vivitar Ultra Wide & Slim. Check out the Flickr group here.

Anyway, today I was particularly drawn to this photo. We had a busy weekend - party with relatives in St. Paul, MN - and seeing this photo of myself sitting on a bench by the lakefront in the sunshine makes me feel at home.

Not that I want to return to winter, but this photo makes me feel both comfort & warmth. Makes me want to soak up the sunshine. It also has me wondering how these trees look now. It sure did look neat to see neon colored trees in the white covered ground during the winter. I'll have to take a walk soon and check it out.

Happy Monday all. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to return to my bench in the sunshine. :)

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Note: Turns out the tree painting, "Painted Forest," was a project with the Chicago Park District & Moore Landscapes. I must have missed out on this bright orange bench. Darn.

Smile! You're outside.

Love it. Love it. Love it!

I've got to say, I am a sucker for sidewalk art. (As noted here in a previous post.) It's a shame that I wasn't wearing my Merrells; this photo would have been 100% complete then. *sigh

I feel like this saying really does capture the great outdoors in way we never vocalize. "Smile! You're outside." Exactly. After being shut indoors for a long, cold winter it sure is easy to step outside (preferably in the sunshine) and smile.

Being outside and doing things outdoors certainly does make me happy. I love to hike, camp, swim, walk, and explore. In fact, I like to plan out (or in many cases just think about) all the fun warm weather trips we'll make in the spring/summer/fall. Last year I really wanted to camp at Sleep Bear Dunes in Michigan. This year, it's my goal to make it happen. It's funny that we actually live closer to the park now, even though we're out of state. I've got quite the laundry list of places I'd like to go in the warm months this year too. Now if only it was easier to have access to more vacation days. :P

Not being a native of Nashville, Tennessee (where this photo was taken), I wonder if this message wouldn't have been more appropriate for a more northern climate. I could imagine the folks from the east coast would appreciate seeing this message after this past brutal winter. Oh, but wait -- for 4-5 months of the year I guess it would be covered in snow, slush and ice. Regardless, I hope this message makes its way to many sidewalks around the country.

Time for me to step outdoors and get a breath of fresh air. Smile and all.

Shadows

It is a lovely day outside today - the sun finally decided to peak out from beneath the clouds.

One of the things that I like most about sunny days is the reflections and shadows it brings. I enjoy being able to capture a tourist moment of shadows rather than smiles sometimes. This photo just happens to be one that I really love - waiting for the train and playing with our shadows.

I think the combination between being overexposed (we used expired film) coupled with the reflecting light from the rails gives this photo some added character. I will admit: I have been happier with past results we have gotten from the Vivitar using expired film. I guess what I most like about this picture is remembering how close we all had to stand together to be in this photo. (If you look at the very top of the image, you'll notice how you almost don't see four pairs of legs.)

Sometimes the story behind a photo is better than the photo itself. Just like sometimes the reaction to a piece of artwork is better than the actual artwork. I had a long conversation last night about the perceived "value" and "beauty" of visual artwork. Turns out the conclusion we reached is ... It is all in the eye of the beholder. Just like one man's junk is another man's treasure.

Anyway, I can't wait to start seeing blooms and blossoms. Happy sunny day!