This And That

 

 

"The art of photography is all about directing the attention of the viewer."   Steven Pinker

I just returned from a trip to Texas and realized that I  missed a blog post for the past weekend.  Not surprising as this trip was a whirlwind with family visits, chasing grand daughters and, last but not least, amusing myself while my wife shops.  Two of the blog posts are the results of walking around mall areas and all three are iPhone collections.

The shadows were done in a mall court yard with chilly winds blowing (what a time to leave Iowa's chilly weather, just to welcome a Texas "blue norther") and processed with JixiPix's. "Dramatic Black And White" and then in NIK Silver Efex Pro.  The portriat of my grand daughter was processed using "My Sketch" app, and the color shot was of a grouping of Manikin's in a department store (I'm sure that caused some odd looks) and then a blur effect was applied with the "Snapseed" app. 

While I'm still getting used to all the various approaches that smart phones provide with respect to photogrpahy I still really enjoy the freedom from lugging a camera bag and other accessories.

While running through various mall areas in Texas I did find one thing troubling that was surprising to me especially considering that Texas has been touted as an expanding economy.  In one large "up scale" mall I would estimate that half of the mall spaces were empty or had been evacuated.  In the window of one such store a sign was posted that stated new keys would not be given out until the renter had paid the rental that was in arrears.  I found this "emptiness" typical of several malls that we visited while in Texas.

What makes this even more troubling is that often, within a stone's through of an affected mall, new contruction was underway on another mall.  I'm still scratching my head over that, but it smells of the "housing bubble" that we are presently experiencing.

Thanks to all of you that venture to this blog site and I hope that winter is treating you well with many cozy fireside evenings and winter walks in the snow.  For those of you in the lakes area take the time to check out a showing of my work at the Pearson Lakes Art Center in Okoboji, Iowa.  It will be up until March 2.

Sic “Em Bears.

For more views of my work visit;

Arts On Grand, Spencer, Iowa http://www.artsongrand.org/

Lanesboro Art Center, Lanesboro, Minnesota   www.lanesboroarts.org

http://500px.com/pigs4u

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Comments

[Journeyman]

Ah-fun and creative images my friend-well done.

[Daniel Ruf]

Thanks. A guy's got to do something while they're drifting from one mall to the next.