Art and Photo Prompts - Week of May 11th, 2014

I've been working on a bunch of time-intensive projects over the past year or so and not posting much to my blog.  Recently I searched for prompts to inspire me and found about 20 art and/or photo prompts that I plan on visiting and posting images to ---when I can.

There must be hundreds of memes out there and I cannot do them all, so I will pick and choose, based on what inspires me on a particular day.

Although I may create a new post for each, I may post one photo that will qualify for or fit the theme of several prompts or post a few images for several different prompts on a single post.  Even though I have a ton of photos and art work to choose from, I will create something new when I have the time.

I am a professional artist and an amateur photographer, so I try to combine both of my loves in many of my images.

Today's theme for NF Inspiring Photography is: CATCHING LIGHT


I 'm  also linking to Sweet Shot Tuesday Week 20.

Wednesday Around the World is for
women to show what is happening
where they live ---anyplace in the world.

Spring blossoms found along the path during a morning walk
at a community park in western Pennsylvania, USA.
I've been experimenting with blurring and textures in
my backgrounds in an attempt to add an artistic touch to my photos.
(click on any image for a larger view)

ETERNAL SPRING

In response to the wrtiers' prompt: Post a photo journal of what Spring is looking like in your neck of the woods!  on Mama's Losin' It blog.

(Update: 05/08/2012  Oops! I forgot to put my link on Mama Kat's blog.  But, no matter, I wanted to post these photos anyway,)

Spring is my favorite season.  I'm not fond of either hot or cold weather ---we have much of both in my area ----so that leaves Spring or Fall for my favorite weather.  I am happiest when I can wear a long-sleeved T-shirt or a sweatshirt without a jacket.

Tulips and daffodils from our garden.

Although Fall can be exceptionally beautiful, it is the time of year when things are hybernating, dying and decaying. Days are getting shorter.

I much prefer Spring, when nature seems to come alive again and the days lengthen day by day.  I know Spring is just around the corner when daffodils and tulips start to poke through the ground. I love seeing the birds return, small buds, then blossoms, and finally green foliage on the trees.

I know we can put away the snow shovels, winter coats, boots and gloves, at least for a while.

That being said, the winter of 2011-2012 was a very mild one here.  Whereas we usually have weeks of high temperatures in the teens or low 20s and sometimes lows hovering just above or below zero, this past winter we had many weeks when temperatures were 20-30 degrees above normal. In January and February ---traditionally our coldest months ---there were days when we could take walks without coats.  Spring flowers were breaking through the soil in February instead of late March or early April. This year, most of March felt more like late April or May.  We had summer temperatures of over 80 degrees on several days.

We usually spend many winter days shoveling snow.  This year, there was almost no snow at all. I used a snow pusher to move an inch or two only 3 times.  Most of the time, there was just a trace or perhaps 1/4 inch, that either melted or blew away on its own.

I've been playing around with still-life photography.
My spring flowers made perfect models.

But the problem with early blooms is that after the trees and flowers had blossomed early this year, we had frost one night and the blossoms were ruined.  This does not bode well for a good harvest on fruit trees.

Yet, if I could live in eternal Spring, I would be very happy indeed.

These photos were taken in my neighborhood or at local parks.

Our Magnolia tree before the frost.

The Magnolia tree bloomed much earlier than normal, so one would expect a night of frost to ruin its blossoms, but the frost has gotten to it every year we have lived here (25 yrs.)  It seems that this tree was a poor choice for our climate, but it was here when we purchased our property.

DAPPLED SPRING SHADOWS

"DAPPLED SPRING SHADOWS"

(click image for larger view)

This image is in response to

SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY

Click on the link to post your own image

or see what others have posted.

On a gorgeous, sunny, breezy spring day, I was doing laundry in the basement and opened the basement door to this scene. In the wind, the tree branches were dancing and making dappled patterns on the concrete next to the stair well that goes to the basement door. The hostas were in their bright green and white dresses ----and all was right with the world.

(Since the spell checker didn't seem to like "hostas" I checked the dictionary just to make sure I was spelling it correctly. The dictionary told me that "hosta" is an eastern Asian plant cultivated in the West for its shade-tolerant foliage and loose clusters of tubular mauve or white flowers. Also called "plantain lily.")

(©2009, C.J. Peiffer)

WHITE DAFFODILS

This is a post in response to "A Thousand Word Thursday"

at Cheaper Than Therapy blog. 

and

CREATIVE EVERY DAY

Click on the link(s) to add your own response to the

challenge(s) or to view those submitted by others

"WHITE DAFFODILS"

        A few days ago, I noticed that the daffodils in my yard are starting to peak through the ground. So I thought I'd post one of my own pieces of art with an image of white daffodils. Let's hope this image chases the winter away.

This image and other daffodil images I designed can be found HERE 

on T-shirts, cards,  postage stamps, key chains, magnets, and mugs.

(Image ©2006 C.J. Peiffer)