P52/Week 21: "Dream" - The Long Walk Home

I've committed myself to participating in a photography project called Project 52, where each week there's a challenge to take a photo with a particular theme and enter it on the group Flickr site.

This week's theme for the P52 challenge is "Dream."

The most prevalent dreams in my life, even those that I remember since childhood, especially those really, have all taken place after dusk. So much so that sometimes when I'm out at that time of day for real, I often feel as though I'm in a dream.

A common theme in those dreams is that I have to find my way home at that time. There's always little distance visibility, street lights are aglow, the sky has that magical shade of blue and I'm alone. Sounds unpleasant or scary, but isn't always. Sometimes it just feels like a special time.

That's what I was trying to capture here.

It's the first time I've intentionally tried to photograph during the "blue hour" in an effort to capture that blue light. Feels like a dream.

Street Photography Part Deux

Finally tried a do-over after my first attempt at street photography. This time I actually saw some people.

I woke at 5:45 and argued with myself until 6:10 about whether I should get out there. What did I stand to lose? So, by 6:20 I was in the car. I figured I was too late since the sun was already up, but that wasn't necessarily the case with the buildings hiding it until well after 7. Plus most people didn't start showing up and moving around until then either.

These next two might be my favorite:

 

I even managed to ask a few people if I could photograph them.  Only the sort who looked like they wouldn't mind, of course. Though those are usually the ones with the most personality anyway.

 Mostly I stood at a distance and stole the shots. Hey, it was my first time.

Not a surprise that I found it easier to photograph inanimate objects and scenes.

Winter Tree ID

The boys and I went on a winter tree ID walk this weekend. It was lead by Kate St. John of WQED, a public TV/radio station.  Kate is an expert birder, with a particular fascination with peregrine falcons.  She blogs about them on WQED's website.  She told us, "Once you want to know a lot about birds, you want to know a lot about trees."
It's clearly worked for her as she was able to adeptly identify and sort out many trees for us on our walk based on their twig characteristics or their bark.  She also taught us how to use the tree identification book we have to figure them out through a flow chart of questions about the tree's twigs.

I took the opportunity for photos, of course.  With a combination of seeing the beauty through her eyes and the personal challenge of finding an interesting shot in the dreary depths of winter,  here's what I found:

A Black Locust tree. Love the crooked path the tree takes as it winds into the sky and how the other, wispier trees stand away from it as if they're afraid of it's sharp personality.

Cheated -er, uh, was inspired on this one.  I saw a shot just like it on the cover of one our fellow hiker's tree ID books.

The ghostly sycamore.

The sycamore from another view.

Trying Something New

I decided to try my hand at street photography today. The only problem I encountered was that my subjects didn't show up. Slackers.  They were probably all at some fab Superbowl party or something. I knew the streets would be sparse of people on a Sunday, especially Superbowl Sunday (who's playing again?), but, it was emptier than I thought it would be.
Not one to let a little detail like everything-I-planned-not-being-available derail me, I went for the next best -and probably easier- thing. It was really the color of the sky that drew me out afterall, so I hunted for interesting architecture and detail shots. Here's what I found...

 

These two were just too cute to pass up. With red doors behind them? Forget it.

 Love the way the tree in the background mimics the fence in this.
 

Oohh, the rich tones.... and the way the leaf breaks the circle ... (No, I didn't put it there)
Love it.

Not surprisingly, this is Enzo's favorite. 

 

I might have a love/hate relationship with this next one.  I was disappointed to see Mr. Gillece in this shot and didn't have a lot of options for changing the composition because these ladies are pretty tall and there was only one planter for me to stand on. But, then I laughed at the dichotomy of it and decided to give it a try.  At least if I ever need a drain cleaning, I'll know these ladies will remind me who NOT to call.

Another "been meaning to try" shot. I love seeing patterns in photos, but have never tried it until now.  Definitely something different from me and I'll keep trying.

 

I noticed the puddle before I noticed the house and wanted to see what interesting reflections I could get. Love the asymmetry of the house.

 More 'gotta get the sky' shots.  The building has great potential for being quite striking, but like most things in this town, function comes before aesthetics.  I waited and waited for the flag to fly even though it meant I'd be even colder when it did.

I always notice these buildings when I drive by. Whomever the brave soul is that decided to paint their little share of the row-house pie purple did a great deed for humanity (or at least the West End). It makes everything around it look more interesting, too. 

And this one, I just liked the seeming label for future generations. 

...And... one more...  I've been meaning to get a self-portrait. So here's my first attempt.  Was wishing whoever owned the parked car would suddenly show up and drive it away, but, like I said, they were all in hiding.