Friday, June 4, 2010

Ponderings




Out perambulating today, as is my wont, I passed by one of my favourite country road sights, an old barn just beginning to take on a glow in the light that was hovering behind the overcast skies. This particular barn sits beside a small duck pond 



and thus presented itself as a good specimen for the Weekend Reflections theme that James hosts. But guess what dear blog friends, I was out yet again sans camera. I can hear you, "Will she never learn?" The answer is, "apparently not." However, I hotfooted it home and returned to the reflecting pond in the car, with my camera, post haste (pardon the pun).





No, I did not stand on my head to get the second shot but flipped it in Photoshop when I got home. There are limits to what I will do to capture a scene.


I shot pretty much the same view almost a month ago so let's compare and contrast the difference a few weeks of spring can make in the floribunda of a geographical area.  You will notice that the trees were somewhat lacking in foliage at that point.  We can also note that the reflections themselves were quite different 4 short weeks ago, the pond chilled and disturbed (to say nothing of the picture-taker) by a persistent wind. (Yes, Photo Purists, I did manipulate the second image in Photoshop, but isn't it pretty?)

Thus ends today's lesson.  To sum up: When will I ever learn?



23 comments:

  1. Anonymous04 June, 2010

    Not even daring to admit how much I learned during the last two days/nights, I guess, that it will be like water, always of the same nature, yet always of another content.

    A sight surely worth to apply every single sense owned. Please have a wonderful start into the weekend.

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  2. What a marvelous post for the day! Your reflections are breathtaking and being a beginning photographer I'm awed by the things you've done with your photos and the effects you have achieved! Terrific! Hope you have a great weekend! Enjoy! Oh, and that's one of my all time favorite songs! Thanks for that, too!

    Sylvia

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  3. Robert,
    You are, indeed, a man of mystery, as hard to grasp as rapidly flowing streams. It is always a pleasure and a challenge to reflect upon your thoughts as deep as pools of fathomless water. Wishing you a wonderful weekend as well, without disturbing discoveries!

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  4. Sylvia,
    Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving those kind words! I was despairing that my photo quality wasn't up to snuff due to the lack of focus in the backgound but I guess I do okay with a point and shoot little camera. Thanks for the encouragement. Great that you enjoyed the video of Joan, too! She's certainly withstood the test of time, and the song is now a classic, obviously.

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  5. I love this blog! Such a different look. Your pictures are lovely and perfect for the Wkend Ref. meme -- I'm glad I found you there.

    don't forget your camera -- ever!!

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  6. Hi Sallie,
    I'm glad you found me here, too! Thank you for your kind words. I spent several hours trying out different looks for this blog so I'm very pleased that you like it.

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  7. that´s a really nice suroundings-
    lovely reflections!!

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  8. Hi mARTy,
    Thanks for stopping by. I'm glad my reflections pleased you. I enjoyed visiting your blog places as well, as you'll probably have noticed.

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  9. A couple of questions :

    1) How can we be sure it is a duck pond, and not a goose pond, or a raccoon pond, or a beaver pond, or a pelican pond ? I see not a single duck...

    2) I think I'd like to see the photographer standing on her head for a photo... can this be arranged ?

    3) When will you ever learn ?

    4) What does peramubulating mean ??? Did you have a perambulator with you ?

    5) Who lives in the little tiny house on the island ?

    6) Have you learned your lesson now? Is your camera now permanently on a strap around your neck ?

    7) Did you see my last responses to you on the volcano post ? The PIE ! Ahem !

    8) And where's that twin sister of mine, she's gone all quiet again... this won't do at all. I think we're going to have to go sort her out ?

    9) And isn't there anything to drink around here besides duckpond water ?

    10) What was it WC Fields said about water ?

    :-)

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  10. Dear BrOwen:
    I can see from all these late night questions that you have hatched a devious plot to turn me into a Night Owltoad like yourself.
    I will see how long I last here, with my glass still empty from the prolonged absence of our sister, but let's start at the beginning:

    1) Funny you should ask how we know it's a duck pond rather than a goose pond. I know it was a duck pond because many years ago there was a flock of ducks that lived there and they swam around in the pond. They were domestic ducks (hence the little duck house). Then one day I saw them all amassed at the stop sign at the corner of the street, apparently running away from home! I guess their wings had been clipped and they'd seen the farmer's wife reading up on her canard confit recipes and decided "We'd be quackers to stick around, we are outta here!" I don't know if they were successful in their madcap bid for freedom but I haven't seen them since.

    Recently, however, I did notice that a pair of Canada geese had set up housekeeping there, one of them sailing about in the pond, the other sitting (perhaps on eggs) in front of the quaint little formerly-known-as-the-duck-house. A few days later, though, no sign of them. Perhaps chased away by hoodlum raccoons? Beavers live in lodges, not duck houses, so it's not a beaver pond. There are no pelicans in the area, so it is safe to say it is not a pelican pond. Aren't you glad you asked?

    2) You can't see this photographer standing on her head under any circumstances for any reason as I've never been able to do so. But if you stand on your head and take a picture of me I believe that should produce the same effect.

    3) I am slow learner and a late bloomer and very immature for my age so there's still hope for me. (I am also quietly subversive and went out again today without my camera--deliberately!)

    4) "Peramubulating", as you put it, is a more active type of perambulating. Perambulating is setting parameters and perimeters for one's ululating undulations.

    5) See #1

    6) See #3

    7) Well I did now! Did you see mine?

    8) Where indeed is that wayward sister?!! Do you think she's busy living a life in the soi-disant real world? I fear we must mount an intervention! Full speed ahead Mr. Toad. I'll man the baling buckets.

    9) See last sentence of #8

    10) No, what did WC Fields say about water? It's a waste of good Scotch? OK so I looked it up--is it: “I never drink water; that is the stuff that rusts pipes"? Is my reward for being diligent a piece of PIE?

    Pie-pie for now!

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  11. Awesome photos and well done! Your scenes and reflections are beautiful. I too would like to know who lives in the little house on the island. Have a great Sunday!

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  12. Hi Eileen,
    Thanks for the praise. Always great to get encouragement for one's efforts.

    The little house, as far as I can tell, is currently empty. I know there used to be a flock of ducks that lived on the farm there and swam in the pond, but I can't imagine them all cramming into a wee building like that. Or maybe there are bunk beds inside.

    Recently, a pair of Canada geese set up housekeeping there, but they must haved dislked the neighbourhood because they moved away shortly after.

    So...as far as I know, the little place is vacant but I haven't swum over to find out for sure.

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  13. Any one of these photos would be excellent but it's so much nicer to see them all together. I enjoyed all of them.

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  14. Thank you James. You are too kind! I do enjoy these weekend reflection get-togethers.

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  15. I see our brother has asked all the questions and you have answered them. One question, will you accept my apologies for lateness?

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  16. Dearest Saj,
    How could I not forgive a sister who unfailingly turns up (eventually) with a bottle in each hand?

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  17. superbes photos bravo !

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  18. Merci pour la visite, Nefertiti! ça m'a fait beaucoup de plaisir.

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  19. Oh dear... oh dear... oh dear...

    note to self : refrain from asking so many questions the next time !

    (goes back to sleep...)

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  20. Yah, Owen, because then you have to read all the answers! Hah!

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  21. ...or at least pretend to, when actually you're just out looking for leftover PIE. Or tarts.

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  22. Wow, I really like this set. Just the natural reflection itself is a winner, but the touch-ups are just as great.

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  23. Hi Matty,
    Stops for stopping by. I do appreciate your kind comments and am glad that you approve of the "touch-ups." I just can't leave well enough alone when it comes to trying out things in Photoshop...esp. when the original picture is a little lacklustre.

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