Walking the Dogs – Snapshot of the Day: 24

021813_24WalkingTheDogsRWell, my subject matter was good. I just didn’t do such a great job of capturing it. I should have shot her from the front because she had another dog in the baby stroller. But she was moving a quite a clip, and I really did not want her to know I was taking her photo so she could remain natural. Next time I will be more brazen. This was not exactly a “Decisive Moment,” Henri Cartier-Bresson was talking about.

Photography is not like painting. There is a creative fraction of a second when you are taking a picture. Your eye must see a composition or an expression that life itself offers you, and you must know with intuition when to click the camera. That is the moment the photographer is creative. Oop! The Moment! Once you miss it, it is gone forever.

My idea for tomorrow’s photo – if I get to go – will definitely be different. We’ll see if I can, ONE go; and TWO, get a good shot.

Mother’s Formal Dining Room – Day 22

021613_22MothersDininRmROk. I’ve noticed I have had windows featured in most of my images lately. I will make a conscious effort to not have them in my shots for a while.

Meanwhile, this is a shot of the living room / dining room of the house I grew up in. My mother always wanted a formal dining room. I’m not sure we ever quite achieved that look. Especially right now with lawn chairs being used as the only furniture.

But at any rate, we are renovating the entire house to sell. I had been quite nostalgic when we first began the project. However, since it has been almost a year of constant work, I believe I am MORE than ready to say goodbye to it. (Of course, I say that now on this cold, February day. We’ll see how I feel when I finally sign the papers.)

Scenes from the Bluegrass Grill sidewalk – Snapshot no. 21

021513_21BlueGrassGrillRAnother positive aspect of this little project of mine – finding establishments I did not know existed. The Bluegrass Grill looks like a really cool place to eat. I will definitely try it out one day for lunch.

Construction Junction – Day no. 20

021413_20ConstructionRAcross the street from the famed Chattanooga Choo-Choo, (see reflection) there is construction going on for…. something. I was able to walk around for a few minutes today during a work break. I noticed a lot of construction going on in this area, better known as the Southside. This window was white-washed with something, making it tough to shoot through. But I kind of like the mysterious look of it in the final product.

This Way Out – Snapshot of the Day, no. 19

021313_19ExitThisWayROk. The fact that someone felt an exit sign was needed here just amuses me. It’s in the stairwell on the TOP floor of our building. There IS no other way out.

The building used to be a hosiery mill, started in 1939. (First in America to make nylon hose) So chances are it has been hanging there ever since – almost 75 years – showing people how to exit the building.

I’m sure this sign has seen a thing or two.

Birds on a Wire – Snapshot, day 18

021213_18BirdsOnAWireRWe have a grainery behind our building, so naturally lots of birds frequent the area. Consequently, we get the occasional cat, as well. This image sort of reflected my mood today, so I suppose it is appropriate to be the photo of the day.

Newsroom Library – Snapshot of the Day, No. 17

021113_17NewsroomLibraryRI was too busy today at work to leave the building, so I decided to shoot something within walking-distance of my office: our newsroom library…or what’s left of it. As you can see, not many people work in the newsroom anymore. But to be fair, this is only a small corner of the newsroom, so that is a little deceiving. However, this corner is not utilized much anymore. Actual reference books; old files of newspaper clippings; an old K-Mart shopping cart….. Don’t ask me why THAT is there. I do not know. I’ve never even seen anyone use it. But anyway, whenever I see quiet corners like this one on our floor, flashes of the hustle and bustle of how the room used to look come to mind.

It is more than a little scary to watch life’s institutions be eliminated: The phone book. The house phone. Books. CDs/records. The U.S. Post Office. Film. Newspapers. Things we can actually hold.

Sure, it is probably better for the environment. I’m sure it’s a lot cheaper. Technology makes our lives easier to some degree, too. But nothing is REAL anymore. And it makes me sad.

 

Family Lunch – No. 16

021013_16FamilyLunchRThis photo is the reason for taking more than one at a scene. The little girl sitting on top of the table leaned backward right when I took the photo. But because of my One photo, One Shot rule, too bad for me. Darn it! Typical of my lack of “photojournalist luck” when I was in the Photo Department at the Chattanooga Free Press. 

But to be fair, I was in a hurry to take the photo. The little girl kept looking up at the light fixture above her. She was so cute. I didn’t want to miss it. So essentially, I was too slow and too quick all at the same time.

But the teenager in blue completely turned away from her family while texting is priceless. A typical family outing, you’d say.