DISHWASHING

On most winter mornings, I start my day with the breakfast of champions, Irish oatmeal. Loathe to wash the pot I throw some dish washing detergent in it with hot water and let it soak (I never put my pots in the dishwasher). Late in the afternoon when I start thinking about what to prepare for dinner I force myself to scrub the pot. This afternoon some magical late afternoon light created some cool reflections on the granite and made scrubbing the pot almost look enticing.

SHADOW PLAY

I loved the shadow play in this and the illusion of a table for two. After all tomorrow is Valentine's Day. Okay... today. Yep, I am late again with my post. That said, I like the geometry of this image.

LATE AFTERNOON LAMP

When the sun is out, I love the way the late afternoon light spills in through the French doors in my living room. The Benjamin Moore Philadelphia cream walls start to look like very rich butter and the shadows start to grow long, like the day. Today I noticed the long shadows cast by one of the lamps and I liked the geometry of it all.

MOVING ON

There's something about attending a commencement which always engenders in me an odd combination of hope and melancholy. It starts with hearing the traditional Pomp and Circumstance and ends with the usual tossing of the mortarboards. I look at the happy faces full of joy and ready to run towards their future. I think of where I was the day I graduated and where I am now. No regrets, although I wonder what my life would be like if I had listened to my Mom and chosen the career path she wanted for me. Like this image, life is full of reflections.

WINDOW LIGHT

The first photography class I took was my sophomore year of high school. Of course we were shooting black and white and learning to develop film. I was at a neighbor's house and shot a picture of a plant in their window. It was backlit, but I really liked the shot and I considered it an early success. When I saw this photo forty years later it reminded me of that picture I took so many years ago. The technology has changed a lot, but it's still all about the light and the composition.

EAST END ART GALLERY

I stumbled upon this simple scene when I popped into an art gallery in Riverhead. I was shooting an assignment and cutting through the art gallery was a shortcut to where my car was parked. It was pure serendipity because I lingered looking at the exhibit and couldn't help but take a picture of this scene. Sometimes the shortcut winds up taking you a little longer, but it was worth it. Things happen for a reason.

NEON SIGNS

Mom is hanging in there and I am eating out way too often. The color and reflections of these neon signs at a local pub (that has great burgers) caught me eye.

A TIP

I left the hospital to have a quick bite to eat for dinner. Somebody had thrown a tip down on the counter where I was sitting and I just loved the light. I grabbed a few shots and headed back to Mom.

HOAG 1

This corridor at Winthrop University Hospital is known as Hoag 1 to the cognoscenti. After five days of staring down it I include myself among them. It looks remarkably quiet in this image. The reflections of the flourescent lights on the floor look a little like a racing stripe, rather apropos because there is usually a bevy of activity in the hall. Mom had some tests today and I am hopeful I will get some answers tomorrow.

FIRESIDE SCRABBLE

I'm tired of winter. I'm sick of shoveling snow and being cold all the time. Tonight I made dinner for Mom and we spent a nice warm evening playing Scrabble in front of the fire. Mom had some real good words.. quota (ten points just for the Q) was especially good. I managed to win, but all those Sunday New York Times crosswords give Mom an unfair advantage.

POTS 'N PANS

TOO MUCH TECH

As I was winding down tonight I looked at the kitchen peninsula and saw my blackberry on top of my laptop. Nearby was the digital camera and some lenses and of course the ubiquitous cup of coffee. Who needs the coffee... I'm wired enough or is it wi-fi enough?

DIFFERENT WORLDS

I find myself in a Starbucks almost every day. Sometimes I wonder what I did before Starbucks made it to the East coast. Of course, I go for the lattes but sometimes I set up shop and transmit photos using their wireless. I watch as people come in and order their very specific drinks, some rush out purposefully, but some linger. Some meet friends and some conduct business meetings. It's amazing all strangers and in very different worlds, but each in search of that cup of joe.

CORNER TABLE

I like the ambiance of this little Italian restaurant on Amsterdam Avenue. It is a real contradiction... a quiet corner table on a busy avenue. A warm,inviting place on a cold, dreary night. Besides the light is always interesting here.

WINDOW LIGHT

Late this afternoon as daylight began to fall off I went to turn on a light in my living room. That's when I saw the neat light and shadow play on the shade of one of my lamps. I really liked the reflections of the window panes on the shade and the shadow of the shade cast on the wall which is given life by the single patch of light. So often during the day I wonder where I will find a picture for my blog. This one was right in front of me.

STILL LOOKING FOR LIGHT

CANDLE LIGHT

I love candlelit dinners. Just seeing candles makes me slow down and lowers my blood pressure. We had dinner tonight at a charming French bistro with lots of little white candles on the tables. This multicolored candle was also on our table. I enjoyed watched the colorful reflections dance on the wall as I took a deep breath and sipped a pinot noir.

NEW YEAR REFLECTIONS

Late in the afternoon of the first day of a new year I decided to try to create order where there is none--in my closet. This is a task akin to opening Pandora's box. As I rooted through some clothes, sorting through sizes and styles, I noticed the reflection of the window and blinds on the outside of the closet doors. I watched the reflection change from clean simple lines to stronger more confusing lines. Not at all unlike what was going on in my closet and my mind as I reflected on the year that has past and the one that has just begun.

JUST A TRIM

I can't believe it but I forgot. I forgot to post last night. I didn't even realize it until I got an email from a dear friend in Florida who was concerned about me. Thanks, Angelika! All is okay, except my mind is a bit scrambled from the roller coaster ride of the last few weeks. I got my hair cut and maybe that will lighten my load and provide me with clearer vision.

DINNER WITH FRIENDS

Besides great Asian fusion cuisine, Jin East has great ambiance too. I love to watch the sushi chefs and the way their white coats separate beautifully from the dark stone wall behind them. The play of light on the shiny stones is interesting too. I really had fun pushing the limits of my film speed setting (ISO) and seeing how the camera I am trying handled it. As for me, I handled the sushi without a problem!