Photo, Cello

My photo professor has again posted successful images on his blog, and this one has been selected! The shots are from our portrait assignment, and this was my figurative submission. Check it out alongside some really stellar shots taken by my peers. 

Can't stop listening to Bach: The 6 Unaccompanied Cello Suites by the master himself, Yo-Yo Ma. Quite possibly the most phenomenal music ever produced by a cello. Hearing the instrument alone, you can't help but notice what a clear, pure sound it can produce! Suite 1 in G Major, BMV 1007/Prélude is spectacular. 

Hint!
next post:


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Curious Adventurer

Found a goofy photo of a friend of mine trying on a helmet.

Had fun with it! Compiled two images and digitally drew on them.
Took the balloon pic at a September festival.

Enjoy the simple witticism.

Einstein, I say.

"Imagination is more important than knowledge."

Taken while bike riding on Sunday.

Junk Shop Finds: Cohoes, NY

This weekend, I found myself in the post-industrial city of Cohoes, NY. Home to the second largest waterfall in the state of NY, and also home to what was once the  largest textile mill in the United States. There is too much interesting stuff about this place to go into here, so I'll leave it to you to investigate.

Found one of the most marvelous junk shops I've been to in a while, run by a chain-smoking Vietnam vet. Great kind of guy: voice rusty like an old car on the highway, politically incorrect, serious respiratory issues, oddly wise. All I had to sacrifice for some interesting conversation and a bunch of sweet old stuff was the clean odor of the wool dress I was wearing and the health of my lungs. No problem! Sign me up.

"Sometimes, people come in, and I swear, none of it will sell for weeks, and then somebody'll come along and buy all the ugly stuff," he explained to me upon the exit of a group of people that only spoke Spanish. "It's like, they only want the ugly furniture! Fine with me, I guess." 

While they were still in the shop, the old man came over to where I was, sighed, flicked his ash, and said, "I have no idea what the hell they're sayin'."

Got amazing stuff, for $20. Here are two of my best finds:

c. 1930? Art Deco bakelite clock (needs cord replaced)

Look at this...what is it??

Its a Polaroid Automatic 230 Land Camera, produced from 1967-1969! Thanks to The Impossible Project, soon you will be able to buy analog Polaroid film!Found any cool stuff lately?

Featured Image/The Moon/Great Words

Good news! The professor of my beginning photo class, Kyle Ford, posted the most successful images from our project on light in his blog, and mine made the cut! Check it out.

On my way home just now (around 5:45), the moon appeared unbelievably big and bright. Last night I noticed it peeking through the trees next to my house, but didn't realize its sheer size until just a few moments ago. It's really something, so if you can, take a minute in the early evening over the next few days to look up and see it!

And on a different note...

I attended a lecture this past Thursday by art historian Patricia Simons as part of Skidmore College's annual Solomon residency. I must admit that I was as fascinated with Simons' lovely Australian accent as I was with her rather stimulating subject matter (pun intended). Was so thrilled when she said the word "witticism" in that drawl! And I thought, what an awesome and underused word. Ever since that lecture, I've been keenly listening for other really marvelous words...ones that just sound good. So far, I've got:

• entendre (P. Simons, 10/29, during a lecture)
• whittling (out of a book, 11/03)

And, feel free to continue the list...
(ahem, Julia?)

Adios!

New Portraits

I know I promised a post on the Cave of Perpetual Snow and snow holes, but...in the meantime, here are a few portraits I took this weekend:

So much good music, can't stop posting!

Really enjoying 'Butterfly Nets' from Bishop Allen's 2007 album, The Broken String. And, the album title...for some reason, 'broken' is a word that grabs my attention. Maybe because I'm a klutz. 

The melodic quality of the song brings to mind 'Two Doves', a soft deviation from The Dirty Projectors' recent album, Bitte Orca, with its ironic layers of sound. Really good stuff.

Also, let's not forget the wonderful Madeleine Peyroux...dazzling. Listening to her every once in a while seems to be good for the soul.

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Gray day. Even so, somehow, it seems nearly impossible for anything to detract from the native loveliness of this autumn, and its brave complexion. Every morning, my car is clothed in a new blanket of leaves; as the day begins here, I don't mind leaving the house so early.

SNEAK PREVIEW/REMINDER TO SELF: next post will be about the Cave of Perpetual Snow! and the snow hole phenomena.

Til next time..