Kelp Forest

When I got to visit Monterey Bay Aquarium I could not pull myself away from the Living Kelp forest. This exhibit sits right next to the ocean and draws in fresh water for the creatures living there, and it has 3 levels to view it, from top, middle and floor.   There was so much life and activity it was absolutely captivating.  I will try and share more photos from our vist and some art I created from them as I go along.  This taken from floor level, and one of the exhibits goal is to let you see what divers see when they go below the surface.

Layers and Layers

Yikes, this is not what you were expecting I would guess, but its about layers today.  As I ventured into more textures and layering in my photography I began to want to try similar things with the little Artist Trading Cards that are being swapped and traded by the thousands daily.  I have never been much of a drawer but I seem to be able to work along the lines of playful whimsy and here is an example of Elven Ride.  Its drawn on the 3 1/2 x 2 1/2 inch card and then done in washes of watercolor, many layers of watercolor!  And then layers of pencil and layers of pen and you can just get crazy with layers!    The more layers the better it looks.  SO among my photography I will be showing some of these great little ATC's.  This was traded the minute it was posted for trade.  Have a multi layered day!

Time has gotten away from me.

 Lately I worked hard to restore my computer back to factory settings, and this put me behind in some photography work I was getting really hooked on.  My photos with textures and layers are getting new life in photo shop.  These two ostrich are sharing secrets and were awareded Editors Pick at BETTERPHOTO.COM

This great rusted out hub from an old tractor was also awarded Editors Pick.  Its done in textures and layers from my original photo.  Taken last spring in Boswell Oklahoma.

Here is some play that is just wild called weird lines!  Honest its a filter called Weird Lines!  Here I have a blemished daisy from last summer and just could not come up with anything to save the photo.  I began to experiment and came up with this rather odd looking thing that reminds me of an ocean creature.  Awarded Editors Pick also for May.

Some of these will be part of my Artist Trading Card swaps in the Digital Art arena.

Santa Cruz Light House

I have been getting some time to play with the wonderful photos I took when Don and I were in California last Thanksgiving.  This is such a beautiful shot of the Santa Cruz Light House at the Surfing Museum area.  As we walked along the long path, the temps were warm, air calm and people were walking their dogs, painting the scenery, playing on the beach.  It was a slice of heaven with the ocean glittering and sun just overcast enough to allow for some wonderful photos.

Happy St. Patties Day

From Go Green Turtle, Happy Toasting and GREEN thoughts all day long.  Taken at Fort Worth Zoo through plexi glass viewing into bottom of a lake environment.

When Gas was just Pennys

I thought it was high time to dig out some of the vintage gas pump photo's when, Yes gas was under a dollar.  Here in Boswell a couple years ago I found  3 old pumps sitting outside an abandon building, and all with different prices.  Who knows if they were different types of fuel but this one is 21 1/2 cents a gallon!    Long gone are those days, and now also my youth.  Gee the time flys by fast.

We are at 37 1/2 cents now, and the rust has only made this more interesting like the rusty memories of cruising the main street all night long, getting a burger and soda for under a dollar!  Those ole cars the boys had were gas guzzlers and yet they cruised forever on just a dollar.

Whoa, we are up to 47 cents a gallon now, times are hard and the miles just are not what they use to be for the penny.   These old pumps could probably tell a good tale or two given their wise stature and survival into the 21st century.   I suppose some collector has come along and purchased these for our grand kids to see and marvel about when we paid under a dollar for gas!   I am lucky to remember those days and that it was not that long ago, as I stay forever young!
OK, maybe in my mind...

All these boring photos have come to life with the work of many  textures burned, overlays, and manipulated for our enjoyment.

Hauling out the Tripod

Its been sitting in the closet for the longest time, the ole dusty tripod.  My love hate relationship with the camera's friend.   Stilt like legs that require constant adjusting, maneuvering around especially when using a dedicated macro lens.  BUT spring has not really brought much to photograph lately except some flowers from the fruitless pear trees that I used with this Orange.  Its named Food Fun.  My orange became entertainment as well as breakfast.   Its done with many layers of textures to create the look.  After the Orange was consumed I played with a few very tiny flowers and my grandfathers old pocket watch with my Grandma Maude's photo inside.  I love the idea of using this with my genealogy research.  Again done with multi layers of textures.   Feels good to be looking through the lens again.