Cut Flowers

One of my favorite subjects this time of year are flowers.  While Christina's garden offers plenty of great subjects right outside the door, some of the most interesting and unusual subjects I find at a roadside stand near our home.  I look for unusual shapes, bright colors and dense compositions.

A trip to the stand never disappoints!  I always get some great shots (here are some of my favorites so far) and Christina always brings home a spectacular bouquet!

Email me for the location of this great flower stand...

The Blob

I just had to work "The Blob" into the blog!  Enjoyed Blobfest 2012 last weekend.  We watched the movie in the Colonial Theater in Phoenixville, PA.  This is the theater featured in the movie.  Remember when the Blob oozed through the projector room walls?  Great special effects for 1957!

Summer Lavender

How about some actual pictures in this blog?
This weekend's project was a visit to the lavender farm near my home.  The plants were at peak bloom this week and I finally made the time to go down there with my camera.  Of course, it was the hottest day of the year!  Still, there were at least a half dozen other photographers who had the same idea I did...  Here are some highlights.

Thanks Doc

I can't go too far with this diary without recognizing the person responsible for my interest in the hobby.  Beginning in 9th grade at Cranford High School (circa  1977) Jay Smith began teaching me the craft.  He taught me the technical details of lighting, composition and exposure.  He taught me how to develop film (anyone remember film?) and make a print.  I spent many hours in the darkroom that he designed and built for the school.

Jay served his country in Vietnam, but, as a dedicated pacifist, Jay refused to carry a weapon.  He chose to carry a camera instead and became a decorated combat photographer.

Pictured below in a yearbook photo, Jay was a popular teacher at Cranford High.     Sadly, he passed away several years ago.  Thank you Jay for getting me started on my lifelong hobby and for the many lessons that have carried me through the years (yes-that's me back row center).

Here we go...

So I posted that I was thinking about starting a blog...  My kids quickly reminded me that if I posted it, I actually have started one!

So here we go...  my photo blog/diary.

I have recently found perhaps the first picture I ever snapped.  I vaguely remember bringing a camera to a second grade field trip.  The attached photo is a scan of a pic from that day.  I found it in an old scrap book!  So second grade puts us circa 1970(?).  Judging by the TP on the ground, I'm thinking maybe fall (Halloween?).  It was probably taken somewhere in Union County, NJ... maybe Cranford or Clark.  The camera was similar to Flexaret shown attached.  It had a large film roll and viewfinder that you looked down into.  This picture has a bit of an Instagram look to it, don't you think?