azaleas haiku

March has been so cold

but thanks to the azaleas

it appears quite warm

The Best Seats

best seats in the house

are colorful ladders on 

the neutral ground side

Finding my Style (Or in a Rut?)

I've been listing lots of new stuff in my shop lately, and it feels good. I've just realized, though, that two of my new listings are a lot like two of my old ones.

My shop now has two photos of the back(s) of (a) person(s) sitting on a park bench. With (a) tree(s) off to the side(s).

 And... two photos of parks with practically the same composition: tree on the left, gazebo in the middle, light post on the right.

Weird, right? Or... not? I can't decide. Have I run out of ideas? Am I boring? Have I stopped being creative ? Am I stuck?

On the other hand... there are many great artists whose work I recognize when I see it... even new works I haven't seen before, just because I know the "style." For example, when I see a new photo in my news feed on Etsy or in my contacts on Flickr, I know if it's Elle Moss or Carolyn Cochrane or Laura Evans. I've learned to recognize the unique ways these ladies see the world, and I think that's a good thing.  Am I getting there?

The truth is probably somewhere in the middle. I'd love to know your thoughts!

Ash Wednesday

Remember when I shared photos from the Ocean Springs Mardi Gras parade last year? Well, I upped my game this year. The husband and I went to TWO New Orleans Mardi Gras parades over the weekend, and it was definitely an experience! These floats are amazing! Here are some of the shots I took of Muses on Thursday:

And some more from Endymion on Saturday:

New Orleans really does know how to laissez les bon temps rouler! It was a good time, indeed.

But of course, it's Ash Wednesday, so everything has changed. I've traded in celebration for sacrifice, the excessive plastic beads for a cross made of ashes on my forehead. Today I remember that I am fallen. That without Jesus, I am just dust, just ashes. Just... dead.

"For dust you are, and to dust you shall return..." (Genesis 3:19)

Before or after?

I was about to post about how wonderful digital technology is and how glad I am that I could use my computer to correct this embarrassing exposure mistake I made with my camera. But then my husband said he likes the "before" version better! Now I'm so confused. Am I nuts? Which one's better?  

Edit: Thanks for all the responses here and on Facebook, Flickr, and Pinterest! The "after" version is now in my Etsy shop! :)

Egret Excitement

I've taken quite a few pictures of various kinds of birds during my time on the Gulf Coast, but I have a new favorite. Can you believe this egret posed for me like this? I do not have any kind of fancy zoom lens attachments... I really was as close to this guy as it appears. It was New Year's Day in a New Orleans city park, and it was quite a photographic thrill. :)

Prints are available in the shop! :)

Happy New Year!

It's been a while, but I'm back, and with good news! First of all, I must thank you for helping make 2012 a great year for me. It was great for a lot of reasons (see: new job), but it was also the best year yet for my Etsy shop! Check out the variety of prints that found new homes this year:

I was so thrilled to know my photos were under several Christmas trees this year. Thank you, amazing customers! You are wonderful! Also wonderful: my parents. They gave me a fabulous new computer for Christmas, so I'm back in the business of successful photo-editing! The first photo edited with my new computer is one that I took in my grandma's yard when I was in Kentucky for Christmas. It's also the first new listing in my shop for 2013! Stay tuned for many more. :)