Photography101 – Day Twenty: Triumph & Contrast

What an exciting finish for Photography101.  And a hardy Thank You for the Happiness Engineers at WordPress for moderating this and other wonderful courses.

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Triumph & Contrast

It was a dark Friday, so many years ago. The Roman Government had just arrested Jesus of Nazareth. They considered him a radical and a threat to their control over the people, especial those impacted by the teachings of Jesus.

On that dark day, Jesus was mocked, scourged and nailed to an old rugged cross. He was about to be crucified – a sentence reserved for criminals who commented heinous crimes.

The Cross at Groom, Texas

For several hours, Jesus hung on that cross, writhing in pain. Shortly before sundown, he gave up his spirit and breathe his last.

The Cross at Groom, Texas

Jesus was buried in a borrowed tomb. The Romans got rid of the problem; they were triumphant or so they thought.

There is more to this story than meets the eye. To be continued…

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Photography 101 – Day Nineteen: Double & Rotation

There are many ways to interpret ‘double’ and just as many to interpret ‘rotation’. The other day, I visited the Amarillo Botanical Garden (ABG) looking for some willing subjects to photograph. Spring has not arrived yet so the outside garden was still dormant.

However, the Mary E. Bivins Tropical Conservatory at ABG provides a year-round tropical environment. That is where I found this double Chinese Lantern (Abutilon ‘Tiger Eye’).

Look at the flower petals. Can you see them in rotation?

FYI – Next week, we pack up the RV and head 1500 miles East to Broadway, VA. We will be on the road for 6 days. I will be posting from places like Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Fort Smith, Arkansas; Memphis and Bluff City, Tennessee; then Roanoke and Broadway, VA. I hope you come along for the trip.

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Photography 101 – Day Eighteen: Edge & Alignment

Today’s assignment is to show an edge — a straight line, a narrow ridge, a precipice. A narrow ridge is a long, narrow, elevated strip of land or any raised strip or band. A precipice is a very steep rock face or cliff, typically a tall one. And an edge can be a transition from one surface to another – i.e., a shore line, or a cloud bank, or the horizon.

This was my first choice for the assignment. I did not like the clutter of highway signs at the bottom of the image. I did not want to just crop the bottom off and I am not adept at photo editing the ‘junk’ out of the photo. That is for another day. The photo would have been titled –  “The Edge Of Night”.

The Edge of Night

Second choice for this assignment was a Southerly view from Interstate 40 about 5 miles West of Amarillo, Texas. The horizon in the Texas Panhandle is pretty flat, thus creating an edge. The cars seen in the photo is an iconic landmark on I-40 better known as the Cadillac Ranch. Click that link to read an earlier post that tells more about that.

Cadillac Ranch
Amarillo, Texas

Searching for a more unique POV on the assignment, I walked to the South side of the 4th car from the right. Do you see that small splash of fuchsia in the following photo? There is a purple circle around it.

Let’s get closer. Do you see it yet?

That splash of fuchsia points to the object that is my focus for our assignment: Edge and Alignment. I just about had to stand on my head to get this shot to work. The sunshine was great but I stood behind my right shoulder. After a little creative staging and minor cropping, I am happy with the results. I present The Edge of Paint.

The Edge of Paint

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Photography 101 – Day 17: Glass

Today we experiment with glass. That is almost ironic because camera lenses are made from a series of specially curved glass positioned in such a manner that amplifies and clarifies light as it passes through the lenses.

What happens to an image if view through additional glass or even plastic?

Shooting the image through a clear plastic water bottle certainly adds a bit of mystery to the image. And since the bottle was full of water, light streaks are visible as my iPhone captured this distorted image.  I always have a water bottle with me when I am out and about.

Just in case you are curious, this is the image I captured through a water bottle.

The distorted image reminded me of a Bible passage –

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.  1 Corinthians 13:12 KJV

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Photography 101 – Day 16: Treasure & Close-up

Our Photo101 theme for today is – get close to a treasure. A treasure is person, purpose or possession greatly valued or highly prized. I’ve heard it said that a man’s checkbook will point to where his heart is, his treasure. Our treasure can also be found by looking through our day planner or calendar. If you are like me, you love many people and cherish many things.

The Bible says –

¹⁹ “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; ²¹ for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21 NIV)

Of all the people and things close to my heart, it is easy for me to identify where my heart is. I love my wife and children a lot. I truly love my friends, my life and my country. But above all things, my heart belongs to My LORD – Jesus Christ. Therein lies my treasure.

Child Of The King – Bill & Gloria Gaither

Once I was clothed in the rags of my sin,
Wretched and poor, lost and lonely within.
But with wondrous compassion, the King of all kings,
In pity and love, took me under His wings.

Oh, yes, oh yes, I’m a child of the King
His royal blood now flows in my veins.
And I who was wretched and poor now can sing
Praise God, praise God, I’m a child of the King.

Now I’m a child with a Heavenly home,
My Holy Father has made me His own.
And I’m cleansed by His blood, and I’m clothed in His love,
And some day I’ll sing with the angels above.

Oh, yes, oh yes, I’m a child of the King
His royal blood now flows in my veins.
And I who was wretched and poor now can sing
Praise God, praise God, I’m a child of the King.

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