Photo Pairs: Then and Now

Luna arrived about a year ago. She was to quote Clara "the best Christmas present ever!" Facebook sends memories every now and then, and last week, they sent the top photo (which I posted last year). So, I snapped the second photo using my ipad to show what she looks like now. She is a great dog! And has definitely become a permanent part of our family.
This seems like an appropriate pairing to finish out the year of Helena's photo pairs meme . . . a year's worth a growth and a year's worth of photo pairs. I've participated most weeks, and I really appreciate Helena hosting this meme. She's got some new ideas percolating for 2016. Why not pop over to her blog to check them out and other photo pairs at Helena's blog.

Photo Pairs: Wrapping Presents

A simple before and after pair today. I've really enjoyed posting Christmas-y pairs this month for Helena's Photo Pairs meme. Head over to this link to check out the penultimate pairs.

Photo Pairs: Funky and Formal Christmas Decor

Long time blog readers will know that I collect Nativity sets, and I enjoy displaying them every December. The beautiful, formal one above was made by my mother-in-law. This year, I found a rubber duck Nativity set and couldn't resist it! I think the two of them together make a perfect pair for Helena's weekly photo pairs meme. Check out other pairs on her blog here.

Photo Pairs - Hello from Santa!

Took a walk in the neighborhood the other day and saw this Holiday Camper. I think it makes another festive addition for Helena's Pairs Photo meme. See more entries at Helena's blog. Are there signs of the holidays cropping up in your neighborhood?

Photo Pairs: Christmas is coming!

While in Phoenix last week, I spied a beautiful Christmas tree. I think these two images make a perfect photo pair to kick off the holiday season. For other photo pairs, check out Helena's blog.

Photo Pairs: Land and Sea

I had a very nice walk down at the beach today with Luna. She's become quite the swimmer and loves to fetch. It's a day late, but I'm linking up with Helena's photo pairs this week.

Photo Pairs: Lost and Found

Here's a tail tale of two cats - "Gerald" and Julie. Clara found Gerald (as she called him) while out running at the beach. Or, perhaps I should say, Gerald found Clara. He followed her from the beach and hopped into her car. This is not a portion of the beach with any houses nearby. And Gerald was pretty scrawny (and very hungry). Yet, Gerald was clearly a (former?) pet. You could tell he had worn a collar by the indentation on his fur, and he was so mellow and friendly. Of course, Clara brought him home. We posted on facebook, looking for an owner, but when none popped up, I took him to the Humane Society the next day. 
They scanned him for a microchip, found one and promised to look for his owner. And they did! It turns out that Gerald Charlie had escaped while his owners were on vacation; sneaking out on the house sitter. We were so happy to hear that they were reunited!
And the second cat? That's Julie. The kitten Clara adopted from the Humane Society this year. She's definitely comfortable in her new home, don't you think?

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Linking up with Helena's Photo Pairs meme this week. 

Pairs: Look Left, Look Right

Went to an off-site work out at Mori Point in Pacifica, California recently. At sunset, I looked left to the point and right to the pier. Posting these to Helena's Photos Pair challenge.

Photo Pairs: First Day of School (Past and Present)

Clara started her Senior Year of High School last Thursday, and I created this post for instagram. That's her on the left on her first day of pre-school in 2002 and, fourteen years later, heading off to her final year. This pair shows so much - I'm really proud of myself for taking a photo of her on those stairs every year; really glad we got rid of the carpet and painted the walls; and amazed by how she's grown (while still being so much the same).
Linking up with Helena's photo pairs project. Check out her blog here.

Photo Pairs: Shorter/Taller

Several European soccer teams are touring the U.S. playing each other, as well as some of the U.S. teams. As long-time Manchester United fans, we decided to go see Man Utd. play the San Jose Earthquakes. It was a great decision. It was a beautiful, relaxing summer night. Avaya Stadium holds 18,000 people, and there's lots of green space around the stands to wander around, drink beer and grab dinner from food trucks. Henry brought his friend Cole, a great kid we have known forever. As we wandered to our seats, we were shocked to see that another kid from our small town was there with his family, sitting in our same row. Henry has played soccer off-and-on with Nacho since they were six years old. It was a beautiful night for the beautiful game, made all the more wonderful by this pair of pairs!
For more pairs, go check out Helena's blog. 

Photo Pairs: Mare Island Beauties

It's been too long since I played along with Helena's "Photo Pairs" meme. Blame it on overwork; blame it on lack of camera time. But last Sunday I took a hike at the Mare Island Nature Preserve in search of a metal bridge for the 2015 Summertime Photography Scavenger Hunt, and I came across these two beauties. The top one is fennel (I think - it sure smelled like it); the bottom one is an artichoke. They capture the wild beauty of the Preserve. I'll post my finds for the Hunt soon! In the meantime, pop over to Helena's blog and check out the rest of this week's pairs.

Photo Pairs: Zoom In, Zoom Out

Sharing two of my favorite photographs from a recent visit to the Filoli Estate. It's a classic zoom in, zoom out pairing of a bird bath in the garden. Linking up with Helena's weekly photo meme called Photo Pairs. You can check it out here.

Photo Pairs: White

Last week I visited the Filoli Estate with Alison of Life in the Slow Lane. I took lots of wonderful photographs, and these are two of my favorite. I love the shades of white, the delicate yet highly textured petals, and the dreamy depth of field. I'm sharing them this week and linking up with Helena's Photo Pairs meme.

Be Still #20/Photo Pairs: Catching Your Breath

In the still life photography class I'm taking, this week's assignment was no assignment. It was the second breathing break built into the class, in order to give students a chance to reflect on the lessons and catch up. For this week's assignment, I'm sharing two "found" still lifes, both taken at the Filoli Gardens.

These are very different, but I think they both capture the idea of being still and catching your breath. I'm linking them up with Helena's Photo Pairs this week. And asking, do you have a preference between these two?

Photography Pairs: "You lookin' at me?!?"

I spent some time out in the chicken coop recently with my big camera. I love this pair of photographs of Laverne and one of the Rockers. Catches their inquisitive nature and makes me laugh. So, I'm sharing them with Helena's weekly photography pairs meme. Check out other pairs at this link.

Photography Pairs: Dog and Cat

Helena, over at Helena's Creative Maven, hosts a weekly photography meme where people share related photographs. This week, I'm sharing portraits of two of our pets: Aria and JJ. They both posed for me on Sunday and I am sharing them because I like the way the pair highlights their similarities (in color, perspective and gaze) and their differences (eye color and shape; size of nose; expression). I feel like I could stare at this pair for quite a while. What about you?

Real Life Still Life: Bedroom Views (Be Still 52/Photo Pairs)

 Last week's prompt in the Still Life Photography class I'm taking was to shoot a "real life" still life. Rather than posing, choreographing or creating a scene, the prompt challenged us to look around and find a still life in our real life. I found these two in my bedroom, and I'm linking them to Helena's Photography Pairs weekly meme as well. The top one is my craft desk and the bottom one is my bedside table. I like the composition and moodiness of both. The biggest problem with found still lifes is that you're also dealing with found light. But I drew on the various lighting exercises we've been doing in the class to create these two shots. And I really like both of them. What do you think?

Photography Pairs: Mission District Murals (ZIZO)

 

Last week I played tour guide with my friend Jacky, and we visited the murals in the Latino Mission District of San Francisco. I took lots and lots of photos and have some thoughts about them to share, soon. But, in the mean time, I wanted to share this pair as part of Helena's weekly Photography Pairs meme.  I'm a few days late, but better late than never!

This mural is on the side of the building which houses Philz Coffee shop, one of the best brews in S.F. I really like the zoomed in version, although the zoomed out probably better captures the intent of the mural artist.

Photo Pairs: Frida (ZIZO)

I had my camera out, photographing some of my cards and catching up on my still life photography class. And Frida would not leave me alone. So, I trained the lens on her and captured a perfect set for Helena's Photography Pairs meme. I went with the classic "zoom in, zoom out" concept. Shot with my 50 mm lens, I love her eyes, especially with the windows reflected in them. Puts me in mind of that quote about the eyes being the windows to the soul. For more photo pairs, check out Helena's blog here.

Photo Pairs: Mixed Media Ephemera Card "Color Study"

I made a few cards over the weekend, including this pair of mixed media cards. The first one used ephemera and the second one used stamps, water color paint, ink and flowers. I'm linking this pair as my photo pair for this week and calling it "color study" because I've got a nice monochrome story and a complimentary color story. You can find more photo pairs at Helena's blog.