2011 212/365 Hartford Hospital, Rainbow through the Blinds

~after 12 days away, we brought my dad home from the hospital yesterday~

2011 211/365 Hartford Hospital, Repeating Patterns, Air Conditioners

2011 210/365 Gerber Daisy at Hartford Hospital and a Ramble about Photography

Marcie Scudder asked some lovely questions about photography:

Is it about photographing a scene and site and place that is picturesque and perfect? Or - is it about finding that picturesque and perfect in the in between? Is it about making an image out of nothing? About finding the 'art' in the unexpected? Or - is it finding the unexpected in the 'art'? Or - is it simply about the moment?..and the exquisite light?

My answer to all of her questions is YES!  Yes, because photography is sometimes one of those or all of those and then it is also other things and combinations of still other things - amazing and wonderful, eh?  After thinking about Marcie's post, I was inspired  to write a bit more about how I am finding photography working in my life right now which I decided to do here on my blog.  Here's the rest of what I would say to Marcie:

Just wanted to add that I'm using photography to cope with a challenging situation.  I have discovered it helps me to be centered and grounded and in the moment -- just a little bit of the moment -- like an eye dropper's worth or the amount that fits in my view finder.  When I am feeling overwhelmed by my dad's perilous health situation - making pictures helps me deal with a more manageable bit of the larger situation -- to just focus on that small bit for a moment, roll it around, work the contrast, adjust the angle, even draw out beauty and art not seen at first glance, a chance to look away from the whole loud and screaming energy of the entire mess and go deep, focused, and quiet for a brief time.  It provides me a different perspective and a chance to soften and exhale during a time when my instinct is to brace for an attack and be holding my breath.  It's a beautiful respite that gives my brain and heart enough space to be more aware and present and protected during the moments when I'm caught up in all of it at once. 

Click to see my whole Hartford Hospital set and please consider stopping by Marcie's site - you won't be disappointed!

2011 209/365 Reflections in Glass

I'm a little late to the Exploring with a Camera theme: Reflections in Glass.  This photo was captured through the window of my dad's current room at Hartford Hospital.  After I shot this, a storm quickly descended on the area.

As the sky darkened, I began to see more of the room itself being reflected in the window.

This last photo really highlights a repeating pattern made by the window shade.  I noticed this partly because repeating patterns are the current Exploring with a camera theme.  Cool.

2011 208/365 Gratitude Bouquet

2011 207/365 Deep Breath Out

~after 7 and a half hours of coronary bypass surgery, 

dad is on his way to a full recovery~

I hope.

What a day.

2011 206/365 Deep Breath In

~My dad is having coronary bypass surgery today~

2011 205/365 Under the Umbrella and Smiling

The Daily Shoot #ds616

Find something beautiful and make a photo. Don't over think it.

2011 204/365 Yankee Blue

Played around with capturing "the blue hour" last night at Yankee Stadium.  

2011 203/365 Fire Orange Day Lily, Dad's Garden

The Daily Shoot #ds613

Make a photograph featuring nature in some fashion.

My husband, a dad, planted a beautiful garden over flowing with day lily flowers.  Some of the plants were given to us by his dad and some came from a garden my dad had planted (we removed some before he moved to a new house).  So, today, as I think about this garden and look at this beautiful flower, it dawned on me that the day lily garden by the road is truly a "Dad's Garden" and that made me smile.

2011 202/365 Soaring

2011 201/365 Ocean Dash

2011 200/365 She Sells Sea Shells

2011 199/365 Sun-kissed

Seaful Procession

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2011 197/365 Coffee on the Deck

2011 196/365 Truly

2011 195/365 New Passion

Flickr Project 365/ Creative Every Day 2011

2011 194/365 Almost

2011 193/365 Sparkle

Sparkle

Flickr Project 365/ Creative Every Day 2011

The Daily Shoot #ds601

Create a photograph that makes you happy today.

2011 192/365 Blue Hour Frog

Blue Hour Frog

Flickr Project 365/ Creative Every Day 2011
Messing around with the blue hour the other night.

2011 191/365 Egret in the Rain

Egret in the Rain

Flickr Project 365/ Creative Every Day 2011
Strutting it's stuff:

2011 190/365 Under the Green Umbrella

Under the Green Umbrella

Flickr Project 365/ Creative Every Day 2011

The Daily Shoot #ds598 

Make a photograph of something very green. Don't settle for vaguely green. 

Go for saturation.

2011 189/365 Monochrome Float

Monochrome Float

Flickr Project 365/ Creative Every Day 2011
The Daily Shoot#ds588

Make a monochrome photograph today. Keep in mind that monochrome doesn’t have to mean black and white.

2011 188/365 Flipping Out

Flipping Out

Flickr Project 365/ Creative Every Day 2011

2011 187/365 Blue Hour Annie

Blue Hour Annie

Flickr Project 365/ Creative Every Day 2011

The Daily Shoot #ds580

Make a close-up photograph of something. 

Fill the frame with your subject if you can.

I had read about "the blue hour" and thought it sounded very cool.  And, then I happened to take this shot and a few others accidentally during the blue hour and just love the beautiful blue cast!   I'll have to take some more blue hour photos on purpose during the summer.
Also, coincidentally, the totally optional "creative every day" 
theme for July is Blue!

2011 186/365 Stars and Stripes

Stars and Stripes

Flickr Project 365/ Creative Every Day 2011

The Daily Shoot: #ds596 

Make a photo with a strong linear composition today.

2011 185/365 Happy July 4th!

Happy July 4th!

Flickr Project 365/ Creative Every Day 2011

The Daily Shoot#ds593 

Make a photograph today that features the sky.

Twenty-five more of my fireworks shots can be seen here: fireworks.

Happy 4th to all my American friends and family!

2011 184/365 Smoothie & the Blender

Smoothie & the Blender

Flickr Project 365/ Creative Every Day 2011

The Daily Shoot #ds586

Make a photograph of two complementary objects arranged to show their relationship to each other.

The hand blender my mother in law gave us for our wedding 18 years ago finally conked out - luckily the marriage is still going strong!  We just purchased a replacement blender and away we go smoothly into the next 18 years!  Bzzzz!

2011 183/365 Hot Chicks

Hot Chicks

Flickr Project 365/ Creative Every Day 2011

The Daily Shoot • #ds582

Illustrate heat in one of its many forms in a photograph today.

2011 182/365 One of these is not like the others

One of these is not like the others

Flickr Project 365/ Creative Every Day 2011

The Daily Shoot: #ds589 

Make a photograph around the number three today.