Virtual Blog Tour

Good morning from a cold Hastings.

I was totally surprised to be nominated by Iris for this Blog Tour.  Thank you for your lovely comments.

http://irisgreenwald.wordpress.com/2014/07/07/virtual-blog-tour/

It is relatively new and I didn’t expect that I would be chosen so I feel so honoured.

Here are the rules

• Compose a one-time post which is posted on Monday (date will be given to you from whoever passes on the tour)

1. What am I working on?

2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?

3. Why do I write/create what I do?

4. How does your writing/creating process work?

• Answer four questions about our creative process which lets other bloggers and visitors know what inspires us to do what we do.

• Then pass the tour on to up to four other bloggers.  Get their permission first and give them rules and specific Monday they are to post.

So I will start with the first question.

1. What am I working on at the moment?

Actually at this moment I am unwell and am unable to take any photos or spend much time on the computer so I am focusing on getting well at the moment.

Another thing I have to focus on is working on my divorce settlement. Ex-hubby has turned nasty and vicious so that will take up a lot of my time.

So usually I love going around my home town of Hastings. New Zealand and documenting it in my photos and posts.  My first photo is of a New Zealand native tree – the Kowhai.  I love going to the park and listening to the birds as well as watching them.  It is always a challenge to get photos of them. That was my haven when life at home was not a happy place to be. When times are bad I need to get out and see what is good and beautiful around me.  I love taking photos of flowers and wildlife.  I am not so keen on taking photos of people as I feel I am intruding on their space.

2. How does my work differ from others of it’s genre?

I  love editing photos.  Even 20 years ago I was the only one in my camera club in Austria to experiment with post production editing.  I had an exhibition with 3 others of my work in both Austria and Italy with great reviews.  Then I met my first husband and then the children came and so my photography got put on the back burner.  The gallery owner in Innsbruck who hosted the exhibition was very disappointed as he would love to have seen me progress.

Anyway fast forward 20 years and I discovered digital photography and editing apps.  I was in my element.  Suddenly I could do what I wanted at a click of a button.  No nasty chemicals and waste of paper. My view on editing is that you can have 10 people in a row taking the same photo.  But it is what they do with the editing is what makes it uniquely your own work. I have finally found my niche.

I am not the best technical photographer but I found with editing I can take a so so photo and turn it into something amazing. Editing is what makes a photo mine.  I am still discovering what direction I want to go

3. Why do I write/create what I do?

There is a creative need within me.  I have to let it out.  There is so much beauty around us and I want to share it. I studied art at school and especially loved graphic art and would have loved to gone to university but that was not available as an option.

My love of photography started when I was twelve.  Our class was about to go on a field trip and we had to take cameras with us to document our trip.  My teacher was an amateur photographer so we had lessons on composition and basic camera skills.  I loved the photos I took – in black and white and it just went on from there.

4. How does my writing/creative processes work?

I hardly ever document my editing processes.  That is because I am focused on the end result and how the image looks. If I don’t like the effect there is always the undo button.  I don’t usually have a final image in mind.  I just go with the flow of how the image is turning out. That is the fun of editing.

When I first started this blog I wasn’t sure where I was going and then I found the challenges and that is when the fun really started.  I learnt so much more about editing and it really pushed my creative buttons.

I also love seeing other’s work.  I would spend so much time on my reader as I wanted to see how they did their work.  I believe in being positive which is why I always leave a nice comment with a big grin.  Photographers can be so negative about editing and insist on the pure image – i.e. no cropping or adjustments.  That is no fun at all.  It is the end result that counts.  So I hope I can spread a little ray of positive light to other like minded photographers and talented artists.

I have nominated the following bloggers but I must apologise for asking their permission so late.  I haven’t been able to work on the computer for so long the past week.  So please forgive me if I have offended you.

https://shareandconnect.wordpress.com/

I love Amy’s work. Her work is very unique and I love her editing.  It is exciting to find her work in my reader. Her photos are so interesting as well.

http://woollymuses.wordpress.com/2014/07/10/cees-fun-foto-challenge-circles-curves/

I love Woolly Muses unique take on the challenges.  His photos are really quirky.  Even his Aussie humour is good.  I love his attitude to life as well.

http://movethechair.wordpress.com/

Meg’s photos are amazing.  Her love of editing also appeals to me as well.  At the moment she is experimenting with different apps and her photos are incredible.

http://irenewaters19.com/

Irene’s photos are always great and I love her writing.  Plus she has some amazing photos of New Zealand as well.

I hope you will go and check out their posts and love their work just as much as I do.

Thanks for visiting.

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Sunday Stills Challenge: Entrances and Gateways

Good morning from another grey miserable Hastings.

I found this entrance way at Cornwall Park which goes from the cricket pitch to the bird avaries. I love the different colours in it.

I must apologise that I couldn’t get around to all your blogs yesterday but WordPress was not happy with me yesterday and wouldn’t work.

Today though I am not well enough to stay on the computer too long.  I will be taking a break for a while.  I hope you will all understand.

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Circles and Curves

Good morning from a wet and miserable Hastings day.

This week Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge calls for circles and curves.

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Circles and Curves

I found this bunch of berries at Cornwall Park . Perfect for this challenge.

Please excuse me this morning for not placing pingbacks.  Wordpress is mega slow.  I have had problems loading my photos as well.

Wordless Wednesday: Yellow day at Cornwall Park

Thanks for visiting.

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Good morning from a grey cold Hastings.

It is the first Monday in July and that means it is time for Sally’s challenge:

http://lensandpensbysally.wordpress.com/2014/07/07/phoneography-and-non-slr-digital-devices-photo-challenge-nature-and-the-marin-headlands/

These photos were taken last month on a glorious winter’s day at Cornwall Park.  Our sun is very strong even in the winter as you can tell with the photos.

I love reflections.  There is something mesmerising about them.  They are constantly changing and no two photos will ever be the same.

http://sustainabilitea.wordpress.com/2014/07/07/phoneography-and-non-slr-digital-devices-photo-challenge-nature-a-real-tree-t/

http://shareandconnect.wordpress.com/2014/07/07/phoneography-and-non-slr-digital-devices-photo-challenge-nature-2/

http://piecesofstarlight.wordpress.com/2014/07/07/phoneography-a-wild-and-wonderous-garden/

Thanks for visiting.

Cee’s Odd Ball Challenge: Week 19

Good morning from a cold Hastings morning.

I will be posting somewhat later for the next 2 weeks as it is the school holidays and my son has a break from his early morning bible classes.  So it is nice to be able to sleep in.

So it is time for Cee’s Odd Ball Challenge again.  I don’t know about everyone else but when it comes to blogging challenges I am finding that the weeks are just flying by.

Anyway check out the challenge at her post:

Cee’s Odd Ball Photo Challenge: Week 19

This week is a photo of a faded plastic rose that I found on a disused bridge.  As you can see it is rather frosted up – it was a freezing morning that day.  It made me wonder who put there and why.

http://woollymuses.wordpress.com/2014/07/07/cees-odd-ball-challenge-wk-19/

Hungry Old Goat

http://nowathome.wordpress.com/2014/07/06/cees-odd-ball-photo-challenge-week-19/

http://irisgreenwald.wordpress.com/2014/07/06/cees-odd-ball-photo-challenge-week-19/

http://sustainabilitea.wordpress.com/2014/07/06/cees-oddball-photo-challenge-week-19/

Travel Theme: Twist

Good morning  from a mild Hastings. The wind has died down but it is supposed to be really cold today. Will see.

This week the challenge from  Ailsa is to show ‘twist’.  I had to think about this one and spent some time searching through my photos to find this one.  I took it last winter at Pakowhai Park.  I love the twisted textures of this leaf, along with the colours.  It is only just hanging in there.

Thanks for visiting and here are some other great posts to check out.

Travel theme: Twist

http://woollymuses.wordpress.com/2014/07/06/travel-theme-world-twist/

http://nowathome.wordpress.com/2014/07/04/travel-theme-twist/

Gaudiesque Reflection

Good Morning World

Good morning from a mild and windy Hastings.

This morning when I got up I saw this amazing sunrise when I opened the curtains.  So it was a matter of grabbing the camera and rushing outside to take photos of the fading sunrise.

I also want to wish my American blogging friends  a Happy Independence Day.

Thanks for visiting.

A Lingering Look at Windows

A lingering Look at Windows shows a reflection of plant life in our garden.  That orange tree is loaded with really juicy mouth watering oranges.  There is nothing like going out into the garden to pick fruit right of the tree.

http://lingeringvisions.wordpress.com/2014/07/03/a-lingering-look-at-windows-week-27/

Textures in Venice

Thanks for visiting.

Friday Floral/Look Up, Look Down

Good morning from another frosty Hastings morning.

Wandering around our garden last week I found this sprig of Jasmine peaking through the empty branches.  I love the lingering aroma of Jasmine.

Perfect also for Debbie’s challenge:

Turning Gum into Art

One Statue – Looking Up and Looking Down

http://woollymuses.wordpress.com/2014/07/04/floral-friday-14-0407/

http://nowathome.wordpress.com/2014/07/03/floral-friday-spider-lilies/

Thanks for visiting.