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Tag Archives: LAPC
Dramatic
That’s strange. It’s too quiet outside. I don’t hear the cawing of the crows nor the heavy morning traffic. As it turned out, my area was blanketed with snow. It snowed overnight and carried on all day.
The crows seem to be in a torpor. Then I thought of the hummingbird. I haven’t seen them in the feeder.
Back to the drama of the black-and-white street photography group, December was a month of rejection. All of my photos were rejected. I didn’t quite understand because they didn’t provide reasons. I just chalked it out to beauty in the eyes of the many moderators and participants. I studied the approved pictures. In my opinion, they were heavily Photoshop or maybe AI were used.
Photoshop and AI are the two things that I want uninvented!
But I played the game of the group. Major editing and I can’t believe it was accepted! Heavy on shadows and black points.
Then the administrator posted that he noticed an influx of heavily processed images. He wants to see authenticity not a million layers of filters, Allowing the decisive click to see the extraordinary in the ordinary. Dial down the sliders. Capture the pulse of the street.
Eh? Make up your mind. I was bamboozled by what was offered on my iPhone and iPad. So, I submitted a mysterious shot setting it to Noir and automatic filter.
REJECTED
I need to take a break from the group to refocus. Back to snow days..
Here is a photo that depicts apricity. The hummingbird came out to enjoy the winter sunshine.
Back to watching Kdrama in Netflix.
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Unique. Never in my wildest dream!
On this day …
On this day: Dec 2., 2014 thousands of pilgrims went to India. Destination Goa.
A bit of history: In the 16th century, he spent a lot of time on his feet, throughout Spain, France, Italy, Malaysia, Japan, Sri Lanka, and India, dying at sea en route to China. His body a few months later, they were surprised to see it in a perfect state of preservation. But just as in life, his “incorrupt body” didn’t stay at rest for long. In its first public exhibition of his corpse in Goa, India, in a fit of reverence, a Portuguese woman bit off his big toe. Allegedly, the toe gushed blood, and she was caught when people followed the grisly trail to her home.
Today, St. Francis Xavier’s toe is on display in a silver reliquary in a cathedral in Goa. And it isn’t the only part of St. Xavier’s corpse to travel: There’s a diamond-encrusted fingernail on display in a different village in Goa, part of an arm was sent to Rome, and there’s a hand in Japan.
Okay, kids, let’s go back!
Empty Spaces with Rose Prince
You can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page wrote Jodi Picoult. That’s exactly what I do with photography.
The trip to Lejac, Fraser Lake of BC was filled with empty spaces. Our mission was to attend the re-opening of Rose Prince pilgrimage after it was closed for three years due to Covid restrictions imposed by the Canadian government.
GREAT SPIRIT OF LOVE, come to me with the power of the North, make me courageous when the cold winds of life fall upon me. Give me strength and endurance for everything that is harsh, everything that hurts, everything that makes me squint. Let me move through life ready to take what comes from the North.
SPIRIT WHO COMES OUT OF THE EAST, come to me with the power of the East, the light of the rising sun. Let there be light on the path I walk. Let me remember always that you give the gift of a new day and let me never be burdened with sorrow by not starting over.
GREAT SPIRIT OF CREATION, send me warm and soothing winds from the south to comfort me and caress me when I am tired and cold. Unfold me as your gentle breezes unfold the leaves on the trees. And as you give to all the earth your warm moving wind, give to me warmth so that I may grow close to you.
GREAT LIFE-GIVING SPIRIT, I face the West, the direction of sundown. Let me remember every day that the moment will come when my sun will go down. Never let me forget that I must fade into you. Give me beautiful color, give me a great sky for setting, so that when it is time to meet you, I come in glory.
GIVER OF LIFE, I pray to you from the Earth. Help me to remember as I touch the Earth that I am little and need your pity. Help me to be thankful for the gift of the Earth and never to walk hurtfully on the world. Bless me with eyes to love what comes from Mother Earth and teach me how to use well your gifts.
GREAT SPIRIT OF THE HEAVENS, lift me up to that my heart may worship you and come to you in glory. Hold in my memory that you are my Creator, greater than I, eager for my good life. Let everything that is in the world lift my mind and my heart and my life to you, so that we may come to you always in truth and in heart.
Amen. Prayer Of The Six Direction (Indian Prayer)
I learned the prayer during a weekend retreat with the Cenacle Sisters facilitated by Sister Dorothy. I think she was an Indian from USA. The word Indian is now replaced with aboriginals or First Nations. Fast forward, I introduced the prayer to my four nephews taking them up North of BC on a field trip in 2000 shortly after my mother’s demise. We stayed at Monarch Mountain during off season when everything was still frozen solid devoid of people. We were the only residence in the mountain plus the owner, Gernot. He opened his mountain just for us. I think he was glad to have us for a week of companionship. This is an Indian land but we did not meet any aboriginals when we went to town. I wonder what it is like to live in open empty space.
Photo Expressions
If not for the man I saw while on board of a bus looking down on the ground taking a picture of the biggest Fly Agaric on plain view, I would have missed Autumn’s grandeur. This is part of the scenery as I walked home.
“Thanksgiving is sweeter than bounty itself.
One who cherishes gratitude does not cling to the gift!”
Fill him up with kisses. My poor grand nephew being covered with kisses by his parents.
“Thanksgiving is the true meat of God’s bounty; the bounty is its shell,
For thanksgiving carries you to the hearth of the Beloved.”
Dotted-Lines. Never thought how cool it is to wear two different socks. Having Lucy beside me is conducive to chilling out. Little does she know that I find it comforting to feel her soft fur and listening to her snoring.
“Abundance alone brings heedlessness,
thanksgiving gives birth to alertness…
The bounty of thanksgiving will satisfy and elevate you, and you will bestow a hundred bounties in return.
From the archive is Rumi’s tomb taken at Konya, Turkey. I’m using this photo because of the word turkey being thanksgiving in America. The bold italic text is Rumi’s Thanksgiving poem.
To all Americans and to those who can relate celebrating thanksgiving, Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. We already had our turkey dinner here in Canada in October. The only part of this bird I eat is pope’s nose.
Two more days before Black Friday. I’m thankful that I don’t need anything in partaking with this madness. I’m staying put in my sanctuary.
“Eat your fill of God’s delicacies,
and you will be freed from hunger and begging.”
Tell Tale Signs
In my younger days, I worked for an advertising agency with a bunch of imaginative folks. Advertisements are meant to entice you with positive results for the clients. Not you. Fooled you, huh?
I love signs. Reading them and twisting the meaning of it tickles my brain.
Give me a sign. If it’s crazy enough, they are added to my collections. They could make up a good conversational pieces.
True story: On my way to church, I was lamenting and praying a silent soliloquy. My mind went on and asked God to answer my prayers. Suddenly, a sign showed up and stopped me in my tracks: “Don’t worry about me. Worry about your eyebrows.” I laughed so hard on the way to mass.
And there are signs that are not obvious.
A stagette in Las Vegas, supporter of LGBTQ, Blessings (raised hands) and four generations.
And finally, a sign for life.
“Life is very short and there’s no time for fussing and fighting, my friend.”
Contrasts
Autumn is here. A day may start cool and sunny, in contrast to almost two weeks of uninterrupted liquid sunshine. The true colours of foliage will start to emerge.
Her black skin tone contrasts sharply with the white outfit and blue background. I noticed that most people in Cuba wears white when they attend church services.
A small person is perfect as a prop in juxtaposition to a bigger object. See how big this block of stone of the pyramid of Egypt.
And I found another small person during the Camino walk. Imagine having to carry this on the trail?
In between … night and day. This is a lucky shot. I just kept on clicking and the result is this.
Wow…lens-artist prompt made me think and have a keen look on my photos. Otherwise, they are just photos.
Look, but don’t touch.
When something is on display, is it really possible just to look and not touch? Try telling that to this mischievous Munchkin.
Gardening is fun and fulfilling. There are many ways to decorate a plot in the yard. A vegetable patch and a boneyard. This is a good way to feed the plants with bone meal.
This outfit is 40% off! Good deal! What a bargain. Nope. I did not touch this dress.
Proud. Be very proud as he walks down the isle carrying his son with his university degree.
I wonder if this wall still standing?
Photographs and Memories 