by clouds at eventide
Recently my husband got me an iPhone, a used older model for emergencies or quick contact when away from home. I’m still new with this technology. One of the things that intrigued me is the camera and the quality of the photos. I’ve seen others using Instagram for processing and sharing photos and like some of the results I see out there though I’m not interested in the sharing aspects. I am just trying it out. The above photo is one I’m rather pleased with, a capture of the southwest sky last week from the back deck, and using some of the Instagram filters. (You would not like the black rain clouds around here now!)
While thinking about posting the top photo, I came across an odd envelope tucked in with some old Christmas cards. Inside were some photos of my children when very young as well as the above scenic shot, which I think was taken decades ago on a beach in Denmark. The ‘instagram’ look, caused by aging I know, made it a timely find so without any processing I decided to add it here to compare.
These are to also show that I do look up at the sky often, not just down at what is underfoot, as I’m often teased about! And I like the old English word eventide, just right for these images, I think.
November 27, 2014 in Being an Artist, Nature, Photography, Photoworks by Marja-Leena
Love these photos. Clouds really are so accessible–if that’s the right word. Out there for us to take into our thoughts and dreams and delight in seeing.
Naomi, I’m pleased you like these, and yes to thoughts and dreams and delights! The top photo made me also think of Turner’s fantastic sea and cloud paintings.
Your clouds also called to mind an English painter: Constable. His studies of clouds are beautiful:
Constable at Tate and via Search
Like you I really like the word eventide – it always immediately conjures images of West-facing evenings by a quiet shore.
Olga, of course, Constable! And many other painters, and why not? Thanks for the links, thought I’d make them into hyperlinks for tidiness. This may send me off on a cloud hunting tangent.
There are a lot of words out there that are not used as often as they should be. Lovely photos. I have no cell phone. Emergency situations are about the only time I think that one would come in handy. Apparently, many people are having problems now with their necks and backs because they are constantly looking down at their phones.
Dolores, glad you like the photos.
I saw that report, and so many others about cellphone usage. I hardly touch mine except when husband texts me when he’s out and I respond that way. We’re on a very cheap plan and we don’t rely on voice much to keep costs minimal.
I made myself walk a stretch of road which I normally drive today with the camera to photograph the woods and road in their autumn colour, but kept finding I was pointing it down at the leaf litter and fungus and such like! I sometimes wonder if the camera and phone were one thing if I’d take more occasional shots in passing, but I do rather like that I’ve resisted the lure of the smartphone and am still using my ‘dumbphone’, a ten+ years old Nokia with no frills whatever.
I love the colours in the second photo,such a rich golden yellow and delicate blue, and the fact that is is partly the result of real age, not just a digital effect.
Lucy, we are attracted by beauty and interesting textures whereever they appear and you take gorgeous photos! I’m glad you like mine.
Husband had one of those Nokias but a few years ago was in an urgent situation where he could not call me because there was no reception, while I was at home worrying and wondering about him for many hours. He could have texted me if he’d had a smart phone. (I am probably not using the right tech terms.) I’m still a resistant user.
I’m still such a resistant user that the only phone we have is plugged into the wall. Believe it or not, i actually have to sit in a particular chair if I want to talk to someone.
The pictures you got really are lovely. That first is what I’d call a Maxfield Parrish sky.
Susan, I know! Our primary phones aree land-lines with the base plugged in but the hand held part is portable. I love two features – the message one so I don’t answer if it’s a ‘spam’ call (we get a lot) and the volume control. We still have our old rotary dial phones, usually in storage, which have proved very useful when there is a power outage.
Maxfield Parrish – yikes, how cheesy! What is it about sunsets that make them so?
We have a couple of Nokia phones and two landlines, one in my office and one in Terry’s office. I’m always forgetting to charge my phone when at home but really need it when traveling or in Seattle.
I like those photos. Makes me feel like getting more cloud photos. This is the season of the year here when we get the best sunrises. We look east in our location, and my slightly fuzzy camera lens gets me some interesting effects.
Cell phones are quite the necessity when travelling now!
Clouds are certainly most interesting at sunrise and sunset – enjoy the photography, Hattie!
Like the mounting clouds and the faux-castle at upper right–it looks like a Norman tower, a bit, though it’s only greenery that make the bulky shape and crenellations.
I thought of Steve Cieslawski’s cloud paintings… http://www.stevecieslawski.com/2009-skyscapes.php
I recall another blog friend saying the same thing in one of my older posts about seeing a Norman tower in a similar tree, not far from on the back of our property
Cieslawski’s cloud paintings are amazing, very colourful and expressionist! Thanks for the link, Marly.
He did the jacket image for one of my books–he is lovely!
How wonderful – which book was that?