Thursday, April 23, 2009

Padre


Today the The Happy Bloggers--Maya, Janet, and I--made a field trip to Cullman, Alabama. After visiting the Ave Maria Grotto, we stopped to photograph the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament. Outside only. Our attempts at illegal interior photos were nixed by the Big Guy Himself. However, as we left I ran, literally, to get this shot of the padre ambling away from the church. For an eighty year-old man, he was moving at a fair shuffle. I was the paparazzi chasing the papa!

DISCLAIMER: This text has been written by D.C. Confidential. Any similarity or disparity between my writing and Virginia's is purely coincidental.

 V NOTE: Get a crowd of bloggers under one roof and this is what happens.  We start blogging for each other.  Tonight, after a wonderful dinner by Chef Janet,  we have critiqued each other's photos from today's travels to a fare thee well and collaborated on everyone's post photos.  Tomorrow, I'll be on my own again, but be looking for another guest photographer's offerings coming soon! 
V

33 comments:

James said...

Hi Virginia, Sounds like you had a great time. Thats a darn good shot after running to get it. He probably has no idea that people all over the world are admiring his picture. :-)

Pat said...

I love his little shopping bag...

Olivier said...

belle photo b&w, un bel instantané de la vie. cela fait penser aux vieilles photos de Doisneau (and co)
nice photograph b*w, a nice instantaneous of life. it makes think of the old photographs of Doisneau (and of co)

cieldequimper said...

I agree with Olivier about the reference. One of the best photos I've seen yet.

Judy - So California said...

V, Glad to see the three of you are "working" and not just playing. Oh right! Your trip has produced wonderful pic. Looking forward to more. Have fun!

Louisette passion retriever, cat, memory Katanga said...

Poor papa chasing by paparazzi , but Birgina, your foto is great, very nice.
greeting from Belgium.

Jilly said...

Love this shot. I know just what you mean about chasing after a shot. I've done that too!

Great to hear your remarks on blogging and bloggers. So super we can share these moment. I have 5 (no less) descending on Menton in the not too distant future and can't wait. And recently had the pleasure of meeting Catherine and her super family from The Five of Us.

Janet said...

Perfect in black and white, and it sounds like you would make a good member of the Paparazzi!

B SQUARED said...

Don't you get lonely now! Bloggers are born to do this. It's a calling.

Thérèse said...

The kind of shots I like the most.

Anonymous said...

What a team of bad girls -- love this photo and the story.

What larks you're having.

Halcyon said...

I love the padre. Wonderful catch!

Sounds like all of you are having such fun. I'm jealous!! :)

Ken Mac said...

you got a beautiful day for it!

Cafe Pasadena said...

Love this photo, V. I almost wanna ask is this pic real, from 2009?

Try to increase the number of Happy blogger's in your area beyond 3!

PeterParis said...

All kinds of exchange and meeting with other bloggers should be encouraged!!

Virginia said...

Cafe,
I have to import them from coast to coast. Come on down, I've got a nice dog house for you!

Peter,
Well you and I are doing our part , oui?

Halcyon,
I expect to see you this summer sometime!!

AH,
BAD to the bone!HA Much merriment and good food!

Actually I didn't realize I broke into a run ( something I haven't done in years :) but I had two eyewitnesses that claim I was in hot pursuit. Threw that camera bag down and the chase was on!HA

marley said...

I hope you girls had a glass of vino to go with Chefs meal! I'm sure you did :)

Great photo - the thought of you chasing this old chap had me in stiches. Is this your new dating technique! Lol!

Jane Hards Photography said...

I hope it was FB wine. It's not just 'cause it's a Padre, but this has such a European flavour. Cracking image, worth the breakout.

Virginia said...

Marley,
I chase them but never seem to catch any! HA

B,
FB on tap.

Jilly,
Oh my goodness, what a great time you will all have. I"m envious. I want to stay with you and your pooches one day.

Bob Crowe said...

Having spent 11 years in Jesuit schools, I'm pleased to see a priest walking away.

One of these days I want a James Bond-ish camera with a tiny lens built into the frame so I can take pictures where I'm not supposed to.

Tash said...

V. - you had me going - I had this visual of you chasing the padre. Marvellous photo from The Happy Bloggers crew.

Virginia said...

Tash, it WAS me. Janet just wrote the blog text!

Bob , All I can say is those priests probably did the best they could with you!

Halcyon said...

It may be difficult getting my husband to come back to Birmingham - but we'll see how the golf goes. :)

D said...

oohh, if he sees this, someone's gonna have some 'splainin' to do.

Maya said...

I had a lot of fun hanging out with you V! And the Padre shot is great.

Juergen Kuehn said...

At a smart and easy pace throug the life, Virginia. That tells me your fair and beautiful photo.

FireLight said...

I have never been to the Grotto...but visited St. Bernard's College once a long time ago. Who would guess this was a scene in Alabama??? He is very focused isn't he? Great image...black robe, silver gray hair, and pale stonework.

PJ said...

Virginia! Chasing after old men in frocks! I knew you were going to be nothing but trouble.

I'll bet he was very nice but very firm. I wonder why they're so strict in that part of the world. You would think they would be glad to have the publicity, at least at the monastery. I guess it will just have to remain a mystery.

Marie-Noyale said...

Being with your friends bloggers must have been a lot of fun,and gave you a great inspiration.
I love this Photo!...and PJ commetary!!

Virginia said...

Oh rest assured he never saw me coming! HA You gotta slip up on em to get the best shots. He should have heard my heavy breathing from the run......
V

Kelly said...

...I love this photo...it's beautiful and interesting.

Janet Kincaid said...

I had so much fun watching chase this guy down! You'd laugh at me, but I ended up doing the same thing in San Antonio on Saturday. The whole time I was chasing this guy down, I was thinking of you and chuckling. I really enjoyed meeting you and spending time in Birmingham. Thank you again for the gracious hospitality.

Victor said...

Very nice and a perfect candidate for the monochrome treatment.