Jumping Back In

I have been absent from here for quite a bit.  Other interests and the like have seemed to take precedence.  And I just wasn't feeling it.

But last year, I joined a Photography Club in my area and have enjoyed participating in its meetings, challenges and competitions.  Nothing like that to get your creative juices flowing again.  As well as having a place to share your images besides Facebook or Instagram.

I took the plunge and have joined other photography club members in the LWRDCP 52-Week Photography Challenge where we must post an image once a week for 52 weeks, beginning October 1.  Each week, we must capture an image that best represents the theme for that week and post one image.  Weekly theme Categories are either Creative, Technical, Composition and Wild Card.  Sample Themes include Movement, Twilight, Water Drop, Leading Lines and so on.  You get the idea.  And you can't use past photos .... bummer!!  You must get off your butt and get out there and practice your craft.

So that is the whole purpose of the Challenge! To motivate us to expand the mastery of our cameras.

And if you want to follow me over at my new blog (which is still a work in progress!) as I post images over the next 52 weeks, you can find me at:

 www.reenawalkling.com

Cheers, my friends.  
Be kind to one another!

Reena

Wintering in Sunshine

In the past, I would have been sharing winter scenes this time of year.  But not any more. Aside from a ski trip or two out west with The Professor, I will happily be spending my winters in glorious Florida sunshine. 

The cool thing about living part of the year in here is that there is a local photo club which I have joined.  It is a very active group of several hundred individuals. Some with little experience and others who earn a living at their craft. They host monthly meetings, focus group outings, feedback sessions, and too many other activities to mention.  Needless to say, I am in hog heaven.  Sunshine, beaches, amazing critters and all to be enjoyed through my camera!  (Which has been greatly neglected over the past year.)

In January, the photo club had a fun excursion in Ybor City, a historic neighborhood of Tampa. Although I had been there before, it was fun to see it through my lens.

“ Ybor City was founded as an independent town in 1885 by a group of cigar manufacturers led by Vicente Martinez and was annexed by Tampa in 1887. The original population was mostly composed of Cuban and Spanish immigrants who worked in cigar factories.' 

Ybor City was unique in the fact that it was entirely populated and owned by immigrants. Nowadays, its a mixture of an entertainment and night club district amidst offices and residences.  

A cool place to photograph with its Spanish, Cuban and Italian architecture. The lady below, as you can see, was none so please as I quickly snapped a shot.

We had lunch at the Columbia Restaurant, which is the oldest restaurant in Florida, owned and operated by five generations since 1905.  It was delightful as well as meeting new folks and talking camera talk at lunch.

This past month, we enjoyed the Herrmann's Royal Lipizzan Stallions.  I'll share next time.  Until then, my friends!

Winter Slumber

She closes her eyes to the falling snow

as daylight dims

in preparedness for night

the ghostly silence

of each singular flake

amasses to uniformity

upon one another

covering the sleeping earth

under a blanket of promise

like the dove

the crocus sleep

knowing their time

for flight will come

once again

She Returns!

Hello my friends.

I have been absent from here a bit
A long bit
I could list many reasons for my absence

Creative juices interrupted
By doggie walks
with free licks
                 and barks and play

Maine summers
with harbor sunsets
Lobster bakes
                 and sunset sails

Philadelphia winters
                 and Sarasota sunshine
Knee replacement
                with grueling rehab

Family weddings
and visits
               and a new grandson
to spoil

Travels .....
to grandchildren baseball games
              and Graduations

To the canals of Venice
and hikes in the Alps,
              to the Rolling hills of Iowa

And yes.
There were naps
And laughter and tears
and joy and wine
              and more wine

Just living life

One day at a time!


P.S.  I hope to share here a lot more often!  My goodness, it had been so long I had forgotten how to post photos here!  Ugh!

Winter Wars

winter

a drizzle from the previous evening

has formed an ice crusted 

landscape

the pups walk gingerly with each step

as an occasional 

foot breaks through

the brittle surface

it does not make

for fast yard play

my dogs are stick eaters

they hunt and search

for any piece of twig

breaking the white

terrain

I have no idea

what twigs taste like

perhaps I should try one

they apparently are delicious

delicious enough to fight over

wars have been started

over lesser reasons