The Japanese Gardens in Winter

Adjacent to our Birmingham Botanical Gardens you'll find the picturesque Japanese Gardens.  I ventured over last Sunday after my walk,  on a cold, dreary day.  Not the best conditions for a photo shoot, but I am a desperate woman !  I walked to the very edge of the gardens and wandered into this amazing bamboo forest.  If my hands hadn't been numb, I would have thought I had been transported to a tropical isle!  It was a tad too dark for  photographs , but I hope you get the feeling.

Please visit my new blog

PARIS THROUGH MY LENS

The Tune du Jour is " Someone to Watch Over Me" by Rod Stewart

Discover Rod Stewart featuring Chris Botti!

Kittykins Strikes Again

A bow to my faithful viewer Judy who always emails as to what my grandkitty , Kittykins, is up to. Well after the "Baby Cap Caper", we thought she had straightened up. That is if you don't count stalking Hanna Montana, the goldfish, and some ummm......bothersome "bathroom" habits. Apparently, there have been some antics going on behind our backs. I just happened to have my camera handy when she took out after Willie the pug a few days ago. I know what you're thinking. Why didn't he just fight back, walk off, snarl... something?? I have no answers. He just took it like a man I guess.

What are you looking at? I didn't do anything!!!!

Please visit my new blog

PARIS THROUGH MY LENS

The Tune du Jour is Kittykins' theme song, "Crazy" by Patsy Cline

Discover Patsy Cline!

Fog on the Mountain

The beautiful suburb of Vestavia Hills lies south of Birmingham atop Shades Mountain.  If you're looking for some nice fog shots, this is the first place to check.  A few Saturdays ago, I headed up the "mountain" in search of some nice photographs.  I found them at Vestavia's  Sybyl Temple.  No view of the neighboring suburb of Homewood down in the valley this day. Vestavia was socked in,  but the fog enveloping the Temple was just what I had hoped for.

* Today my friend Peter is posting the "Sculptures of Tuileries " on his blog. He has kindly included one of my Eva from our Paris trip in 2007 .

Please go have a look!

Please visit my new blog

PARIS THROUGH MY LENS

The Tune du Jour is " Someone Like You" by Van Morrison

Discover Van Morrison!

Charles Moore, Capturing Powerful Images

 Friday night I had the privilege of meeting one of Alabama's renowned photographers.  Jennifer Hunt Gallery hosted a reception and book signing honoring Charles Moore,  best known for his civil rights and LIFE magazine photography.  His powerful photographs chronicling the civil rights movement in the south is sobering and will bring tears to your eyes.  I lived through it right here in Birmingham, and I can tell you that he has captured that moment in our history in a compelling way.  What an honor to meet him and view his historic photographs!  His book, Powerful Days- The Civil Rights Photography of Charles Moore, is a book you will want to add to our library. 

100 Strangers Part III

Please visit my new blog

PARIS THROUGH MY LENS

The Tune du Jour is " What the World Needs Now" by Jackie DeShannon

Discover Jackie DeShannon!

The Projection Room

"Reels"

If you saw my post on 1/5/09, you know that I got a grand tour of Birmingham's Alabama Theater on Sunday.  Part of the tour was a trek (think mountain goats) up to the topmost regions of the theater, above the Upper Balcony to see the Projection Room.  The Upper Balcony was a place I don't think I had ever been.  Back in the day, "nice girls" didn't sit in the Upper Balcony. Many of you know why!  I digress.  The Projection Room was a grand place full of  spotlights, projectors and dusty old reels.  Another photographer's buffet! Thanks again Tom for a fabulous tour!

Big White Al and the Projectors

(Sounds like a rock n roll group from the 60's doesn't it!)

"Big White Al, the spotlight!"

The Tune du Jour is the theme from " A Summer Place"

Please visit my new blog

PARIS THROUGH MY LENS

Discover Various Artists!

Old Blue

"Old Blue"

You may have read my post where I confessed my love for a gorgeous , shiny, cherry red pickup in my neighborhood ( see below).  Well today,  I present another option.  Meet "Old Blue".  Ironically enough,  Old Blue lives on the very same street!   I think he has some nice qualities, if you're into rust and blue tarp.  He might have, as we say in the south, "laid down " on the owner.  I'm not sure, but it looks that way since he hasn't moved in many months!   There must be a comparison to be made.  Let me make it, please.  If this shiny red pickup is a major "Heartthrob" ,  then Old Blue is most certainly the  "Ex Husband " of pickups. That's all I have to say.

                                                                               "Heart Throb"

The Tune du Jour is " To All the Girls I've Loved Before" 

by Willie Nelson

Please visit my new blog

PARIS THROUGH MY LENS

Discover Willie Nelson!

Winter in Birmingham Part III- Brown With Envy?

Plumes backlit by the setting sun

Don't get me wrong, although we have mild winters around here, things are far from green everywhere.  I'll think you'll agree that sometimes brown is just as beautful!

We have had more than our share of rain for the last few weeks. I thought "Prince of Tides"

would be a fitting Tune du Jour!

Oakleaf hydrangea detail

Please visit my new blog

PARIS THROUGH MY LENS

Discover Instrumental!

81 And Still a Gorgeous Lady!

Oh did I have some fun on Sunday afternoon!  I was given a grand tour of Birmingham's historic Alabama Theater.  Advertised as the Showplace of the South when it opened in 1927, thankfully it STILL is.  A word of thanks to Birmingham Landmarks, Inc. who rescued her from the wrecking ball and lovingly has restored every nook and cranny. Today the theater is used for a myriad of cultural and social events.  They even show old movies from time to time.  The "mighty Wurlitzer organ" is still right there and what a thrill it was to hear it  again!   Since I grew up in Birmingham, this tour brought back so many wonderful memories for me.  My friend Tom Cronier, volunteer extraordinaire, gave me a tour I shall not forget.  From the projection room and attic at the top, to the fancy schmancy restrooms in the "basement", I saw and photographed it all.  Today four photos,  but I promise more in the weeks to come.  Sit back and enjoy the show!

 The Tune du Jour is a special presentation . Click here.

Please visit my new blog

PARIS THROUGH MY LENS

100 Strangers Part II

I am thrilled that some fellow bloggers are embarking on the 100 Stranger Challenge, either on Flickr or unofficially.  Let us see your wonderful portraits.  We'll all help each other! Today I share a few more of my favorites. 

Please visit my new blog. Click below

PARIS THROUGH MY LENS

The Tune du Jour is " It's Not For Me To Say" by Johnny Mathis

Discover Johnny Mathis!

                             

Winter In Birmingham Part II - Two Things Challenge: New/Hope

Today's another twofer.  Continuing my mini series featuring Birmingham's winter look and combining the Two Things Challenge.  The challenge this week is New / Hope and for once I am beating the deadline!  I think today's photos all illustrate new growth and the hope of things to come in the spring.  As I have noted previously,  Birmingham's weather during the winter months can be  irratic,  and we often have unseasonably warm days which causes some premature blooming here and there. I hope you enjoy these prespring show-offs today!

To see how other fellow bloggers have interpreted the TWO THINGS CHALLENGE 

click HERE

Today is my 200th Post!  It seems like only yesterday we celebrated my 100th. Time flies when you are having SO MUCH FUN!!!

Please visit my new blog

PARIS THROUGH MY LENS

The Tune du Jour is  Bach's "Air" by Klazz Brothers and Cuba

Discover Klazz Brothers & Cuba Percussion!

Winter's Reflections

One thing I have learned as I near my 200th post, don't hoard photos. I've tried to adhere to the one photo a day rule and now I'm left with a zillion photos that I wanted to post but DIDN'T!  I'm thinking I am going to use the photos that I think you might like and so be it. Break the rules and suffer the consequences ( or as I said many times as an educator, " I'll ask forgiveness, not permission!").  When Eric comes to jerk my blog out from under me for posting too many photos in one day, I hope there will be an uprising of sorts.  Till then, let's have some fun!

Yesterday I ventured back to the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.  It was late afternoon - chilly, overcast, and mizzly as all get out.  Not a day to stroll the gardens but I loved it.  An added bonus - the puddles that were mirroring some nice reflections.  I stayed until some of the lights came on.  Interesting photos to be had at that hour.

  Please visit my new blog

PARIS THROUGH MY LENS

The Tune du Jour is " Once Upon a Time" by my friend Michael Dulin!

Discover Michael Dulin!

One Hundred Strangers....a real challenge Part I

Many of you that have followed this blog know that I embarked on an unofficial 100 Strangers Challenge last summer. For the official version check out this Flickr site. The purpose of the challenge is to encourage photographers to hone their street photography skills as well as become more at ease approaching strangers and taking their photograph. I'll be honest. I can pretty much talk to anyone, but approaching a stranger and having some type of interaction with them before taking their photograph ( a challenge requirement ) was hard for me at first. I am making progress, but what I need to really focus on now is setting up my shots and taking the portrait beyond just a "head shot". I have heard from some of you that you are interested in the project as well. I have decided to take a few days here and there and post some of my portraits that I have not previously shown. I have chosen not to include names or where they were taken in order to protect privacy. If I can be of any help, please contact me by email.

Please visit my new blog- click below

PARIS THROUGH MY LENS

The Tune du Jour is "Walk On By" by Dionne Warwick

Discover Dionne Warwick!

CDPB THEME DAY - PHOTO OF THE YEAR

Soft Winter's Day

The directives were simple: Choose the photo you think is your best one for the year 2008. Given that I am totally unable to judge my own work, I quickly realized that I would need some help here. I asked around the blog and also some photography friends around town.  I did NOT ask my daughters. They would have voted for their own offspring and that would have caused  a family feud!  When the votes were in.......everyone voted for a different photograph and the ball was lobbed right back in my court.  Here's my final answer.  Since it's a special day, I am going to break the Daily Photo one photo rule (again!!!)  and share the runners up.

I'd like to add a huge THANK YOU to all the faithful visitors that stop by my blog  so regularly but don't leave comments here.  Many of you share your good thoughts with me by email or when you see me around town.  Your visits and support are so appreciated !!!!

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Happy New Year everyone. 

May the coming year find our world a more peaceful place! 

"The Duet"

"Gathering Acorns"

"The Gentleman"

"Urban Waterfall"

"Steppin' Out"

Please visit my new blog

PARIS THROUGH MY LENS