Heading back home . . .

On our way back home yesterday we found a sort of "bus graveyard" -- major adrenaline rush! I took all sorts of images that eventually I'm going to use in my photomontages. Lots of rivets, parallel lines, numbers, peeling paint, and more. ©Carol Leigh

Focusing on 3

Last week we were wandering around and came upon a pile of things that had a sign on them: FREE. YOU HAUL AWAY. I began taking photos of rust patterns, a paint brush, weathered wood, etc. and came across an old adding machine. With lots of numbers on it! And it still had a roll of adding machine tape in it. I picked it up and just a little bit of water came out, so naturally I had to bring it home to shoot.

Well, now that I have it, I'm wondering what the heck was I thinking? I've taken a few shots, as you can see here, but now, I don't know ... So it's currently sitting on the floor of my studio, taking up precious space, and I'm probably going to stub my toe on it one day, careen into the tripod, knock everything over, and then blame it all on Chris for oh, so patiently and without judgment, putting the damned thing in the car for me that fateful day. ©Carol Leigh

Astoria, Oregon grungy stuff

What I particularly like about photographing in Astoria is how there's such a great combination of old rusty stuff (railroad paraphernalia and fishing boats), colorful newer things (it's a town that's reinvigorating itself), and there's so much interesting architecture. As we walked along the railroad tracks, I found a pile of old oil drums, an "A" on a rusty train car, and then, out on a dock, I came upon piles of rusted chains, where some of the links had a fantastic patina. Astoria offers a weird photographer such as me such a variety -- letters, numbers, rust, weathered wood, peeling paint, bright colors, doors, windows, and walls. It was a wonderful overnight getaway. And Holly and Barney, if you're reading this, thank you both! ©Carol Leigh

A 1935 Four

Is this a cool "4" or what? It comes from a 1935 Oregon license plate that Ron up the street thought I'd like to shoot. And this is just the beginning. I have high hopes for this "4," figuring it will show up eventually in a photomontage. And Ron, if you're reading this, THANK YOU! Can't wait to work on that old propeller next. ©Carol Leigh

Copper S

Chris brought home a gorgeous piece of copper, thinking I'd like to photograph the patina on it (and you wonder why I hang on to this guy?). So this morning I went over to Juanita's mailbox and photographed an S and then took a macro shot of the copper. I sandwiched them together and ta da! ©Carol Leigh

Not-so-scarlet letter A

I continue to photograph my neighbor Juanita's mailbox, today zooming in tight on the letter "A" in "MAIL." ©Carol Leigh

Juanita's mailbox

In my "Parts is Parts" online class, we're all working on creating 10 decent photographs from one subject. I've chosen my neighbor Juanita's mailbox for my project and this is my first photo. This is going to be difficult! But that's the point . . . ©Carol Leigh

M is for Mailbox . . .

In keeping with my resolution to "shoot early, shoot late" this year, I was out this frosty morning with a macro lens, taking a walk around the block. Most of my photos weren't sharp and so I dumped them. But I like this "M" I found on my neighbor's mailbox, especially the way the water droplets are still clinging to it, yet dripping down here and there. Walking around the block may not sound exciting as a photo shoot, but when you're up early, when there's interesting light, when you open your brain to whatever comes along, there's art to be made. ©Carol Leigh

Esssssss

On my walk around the block this morning I noticed how weathered my neighbor's mailbox is getting. (If she ever moves, I would LOVE to have her mailbox!) Her last name ends in "S" and that's what I zoomed in on. I darkened the edges a little bit so that the "S" would stand out more, but that's about it. ©Carol Leigh

Arrrrrr . . .

Took a walk around the block this afternoon and saw a flatbed trailer on a side street with the word "Trailmaster" on the side. The "R" looked particularly good, ensconced in rust as it was. I'm sure this "R" will show up in a photomontage someday . . . ©Carol Leigh