fun with diptychs

“The absence of limitations is the enemy of art.”
― Orson Welles

I have had lots of fun creating diptychs over the past ten days or so. Limiting myself to photos that try to tell a narrative story, I have found a myself looking more closely at color pallets, and how I might capture a particular subject. I have discovered tiny details that I might have overlooked before and had fun staging some.

I limited myself to one lens, my 50mm, and shot them all in color.

Like I said in a few post back, I made a list. . .

permission

“Kids are hard -they drive you crazy and break your heart - whereas grandchildren make you feel great about life, and yourself, and your ability to love someone unconditionally, finally, after all these years.”
― Anne Lamott

He suddenly seems so big. Talking in full sentences, having strong opinions, and full of questions. He places every kiss I give him in his pocket to save for later, just in case, and wraps his arms around my neck for a hug, when I least expect it.

We walk his neighborhood, following the garbage and recycling trucks, looking for cats, each of us pointing out things of interest. We arrive back at his house, our senses awakened. I find myself overwhelmed with love, hope and beauty. I fix him a snack and read to him while he eats. When he is done he hops down off the couch to play with his dinosaurs, making up stories as he plays. I sit and watch, not wanting to interrupt his narrative but also not wanting to miss a thing.

Time is fleeting and I find myself in a period of growth, mentally and physically. I feel a centering I have not felt in ages, and wake each morning with purpose and anticipation. Maybe it is the weather, or maybe I am finally looking at myself with more self compassion, recognizing this period of my life is truly the time for giving myself permission to slow down and allow myself to do what brings me joy. I am wise enough to know my moods can change on a whim, but this does seem to feel a bit different.

“But here was the world, screeching its beauty at her day after day, and she felt grateful for it.”
― Elizabeth Strout, Olive, Again

the purple velociraptor

They're lethal at eight months, and I do mean lethal. I've hunted most things that can hunt you, but the way these things move...
- Robert Muldoon (game warden) talking about the velociraptors in Jurassic Park

This one spotted on a walk a few days ago with Percy. He has one just like this one at home.
His name is Vinny . . .

poppies

The poppies hung dew-dabbled on their stalks.

- John Keats

I have been waiting for their blooms, their buds split and teasing.
I noticed them as I made my morning latte and picked my mug accordingly.

cherry season

“When I sound the fairy call, gather here in silent meeting,

Chin to knee on the orchard wall, cooled with dew and cherries eating.

Merry, merry, take a cherry, mine are sounder, mine are rounder,

Mine are sweeter for the eater, when the dews fall, and you'll be fairies all.”

― Emily Dickinson

The first batch of the season, bought from a nice man in a van at one of the local breweries.
$9 a pound and worth every penny.

just thinking

“The way to get over creative block is to simply place some constraints on yourself. It seems contradictory, but when it comes to creative work, limitations mean freedom.”

― Austin Kleon, Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative

Most of my creativity juices come by way of chance, so I can’t help but wonder what would happen if I were to put some constraints on myself.
I won’t share the list yet, but I am curious to see what happens.

mock orange

“ I breathe at the open window above my desk, and a moist fragrance assails me from the gnawed leaves of the growing mock orange.”

-Annie Dillard