Kaleidoscope Art

In any setting where folks gather around a table to discuss what is art and what art is not I must admit I have my own views of what art is and what art is not.  Yes I have bias's just like anyone else.  I do try to keep my mind open to a wide variety of options and types of art.  I diffidently have likes and dislikes.

I like abstracts, modern, classical, primitive, landscapes, flora, just about anything. From pencil drawing to oil paintings, from photography to metal sculptures.

I do have a hard time liking a painting by an adult that looks as if a three year old child painted it.  I would rather have the child's painting than the adults.  To me if an adult has not progressed beyond that stage; it just leaves to many unanswered questions floating in my head.

Which brings me to my latest creations ... Kaleidoscopes.  It is not as easy as I thought.  One must have a good photo to make a good kaleidoscope.  Believe me when I say 'out of focus only makes it worse'. 
 
I'm finding various items make for very unusual kaleidoscopes.  Single items to a collage of items can add different dimensions.  Just pressing a button does not make it a beautiful kaleidoscope.  In the last two weeks I've had some really ugly things pass in front of my eyes as I play with the Photoshop Kaleidoscope filter controls on one of my photos.

Are Kaleidoscopes art?  To me they are...but one needs to wonder about a group of critics around a square table to what their verdict could be?

Digital Photography

As a photographer I dearly enjoy taking a photo.  My passion is playing within my Photoshop Elements and turning an  ordinary photo into a new something I feel is fun, exciting or totally different.

I just discovered a whole world of additional Plug-in's for my Elements program. 

It is so much fun to discover new ways of making a photo 'sing' to me.

 

this filter gives an old world look to the photo

If you haven't been to the your local book store lately and visited the magazine aisle - my advise is: Do It As Soon As Possible.  A new photographers rag is out!  C'T Digital Photography.  It's printed in the UK cost $14.99us

Since Borders Books is closing over 200 stores across the United States, I took advantage of the 40% off and got the launch issue (first issue) for this new rag!  Love it!  If you can find it at your local book store get it.  Has free CD crock full of fun things for one to play with in various photo programs!

Strawman in the Wizard of Oz

Anchorage at times is the center of wind storms.  We can be buffered from the North, the West and the South winds.  

Anchorage is in a bowl along the Chugach Mountain Range.  Many folks have built homes going up the mountain which we call the "hillside"  Winds gushing there can be 70 to 100mph.  With the speeds a bit less here in town.

The last two days has been major wind storms throughout the Anchorage Bowl.  This extends 40 miles South of Anchorage reaching Girdwood and 60 miles North to the outskirts of Wasilla.

Our little house is anchored in a bit of a valley here in town; one of the few actually... most of Anchorage is pretty flat.  The winds reached a good tree slapping 55-65mph last night.  It was a bumpy night with many strange bangs and clangs against the outside walls.  There were a few blasts that I thought this tiny house might go sailing through the air just like Dorothy's house in the Wizard of Oz.

With my fingers crossed all night for no power outage (which the temperature with wind chill -20) that would not be making for a toasty sleepy night.  We do own a generator although in the 4 years of owning it - it has never been powered up.  

I do believe a test and practice run of using the generator is in order...due to the severe wind storms this winter making my little old heart a tad nervous if I had to sleep again with such vivid dreams of a movie from decades ago.

All night my dreams seem to follow the characters in the Wizard of Oz.  The Tinman slamming into the side of our house, the Strawman tumbling over and over in the snow.  My fearless Patches the Cowardly Lion.  I the wicked witch of the East riding out the storm on my trusty broom.  And my guy the Wizard...telling all "Follow the yellow brick road!"

After this mornings quick check to see if any damage to our house and those on either side of me; I was happy to see just branches tossed throughout the yard and Mountain Ashe Berries littering the side yard.  My trees withstood the storm. Seems most of the litter that blew around; has been blown far south. I may find my trash can lids a few miles down the road tomorrow.

I wanted to tap my heels three times and say "There's no place like home".  There is no place like Home!

The snow did drift about one foot south over our sidewalk.  And added a layering effect on the other side.

Moose Tracks

Moose live in, around, and thrive in Anchorage, Alaska. 

In my neighborhood we see a moose just about every other day.  My backyard has a creek that runs out to Cook's Inlet.  Moose follow this ancient trail in and out.  Mostly in...then they help themselves to my flowers, plants, garden delights and they love my Mountain Ashe tree during the winter. 

Luckily the moose leave my two lilac bushes alone.  Small favor indeed but priceless to me!  Lilacs are my favorite flower.

Lately a bull moose avoiding hunters and seeking out females in heat has been stalking the neighborhood.  My cockatiels become frantic when this monster is moving about our yard.  He is huge.  I would guess his rack span is well over 9 feet from one side to the other.  His shoulders are wider than any I've seen on the moose around here in last few years.  If I was a female moose my tail would be swishing for him for sure.  He is one handsome dude!

I'm betting his mommy is the female that has used our lower backyard as her nursery for the last 10 years.  For him to be traveling through our yard means he is one of the twins born a few years back.  He is prime bull moose this year!  Can't wait til spring to see his babies hobbling along in the yard.  Learning from their mom of the Ancient Trail for Moose in West Anchorage.