The over-riding thought about February is that it's too depressing, cold and miserable to do anything other than hibernate and wait for the spring to happen. Well, I was thinking of this idea and, I have hidden away a little in that I've not ventured much outside to do any gardening as I did last year, when I dug a family vegetable plot, nearly killing myself !!!
So no gardening because the ground has been so wet. We've had warm, bright sunny days and a few very cold days and nights too. I've been extremely busy taking photos, writing, blogging and catching up with home stuff left undone from the end of last year, when vegetable gardening throughout the summer months took much more time out of my life than it ought to have been allowed to do. That's life I guess.
Photography has been good so far, taking good shots of flowers with china, etc. to create pretty pictures for greetings carts, gift tags and pictures to frame. This action has opened a whole new world of picture taking for lighting and cropping possibilities. So far, I've not been too bothered with lighting beyond the essential for most of my work was done outside, in the brighter months of the year, when natural light is in good supply. But, taking art photos indoors with a mixture of objects, colours and items, good lighting is paramount. Now most of my food photos are taken in my kitchen on a space just in front of the window with good indoor and outdoor lighting available. Light and shadows have become my watchword and I'm on the look out for both constantly. I've also learnt that evening kitchen photography is difficult, because of bad shadow play, so now I try very hard not to want to take evening photos. I have created another photo-spot in my sitting room, with a small table against a fairly light wall, with good early morning light access, which is improved by having all possible house lighting switched on. I thought I'd got it right but then realised I was still missing that other important aspect of lighting, timing. I should have realised the essentialness of timing, I mean, it's important for so many creative aspirations. So, winter light and timing are essential essentials to synchronise. Miss that lovely bright 8am light flooding into my sitting room and I'm finished for the day.
Here's my most favourite weekend shot ...
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| My Busy Hot Pinks |
I've visited our local waste recycling centre and found it riveting, fascinating and inspirational. It's such a problem, waste that is, and how and what we do with it for all of us and our world today. Waste is everywhere and dealing with it efficiently and cleverly is something our Oxfordshire Ardley Energy Recovery Facility does brilliantly
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And half-term family activities took us to Waddesdon Manor, the estate and house built by Baron Rothschild as a showcase for his fabulous collection of great art. The house was not open but the grounds were and alive with happy families some of whom, like us, were there for their orienteering courses, one of which we were bent on following. The grandchild in all of us delighted with our own grandchild who dashed ahead, finding clues, shrieking with pleasure and dashing back to urge our footsteps quicker and faster to keep in step with her. The brisk breeze tore our voices away from us and she was thrilled by the breeze whistling around her ears, matching her enthusiasm for the moment, the experience.....
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| Waddesdon Manor in all its glory xxx |
Well that was quite a week for getting about.
I hope you're enjoying February
Bye for now
Margaret.xxx
