For the Soul

To see in color is a delight for the eye 

but to see in black and white is a delight for the soul.

~ Andri Cauldwell

My longtime blogger buddy, Kaye of The Bucksnort Chronicles recently created a black and white photography challenge on Facebook. I tend to shy away from memes and challenges for the most part but every now and then, one catches my attention - especially if the rules are relaxed enough. They were plenty casual in this case - simply post black and white images throughout the month of February, as often or infrequently as the urge strikes. It struck a few times and those efforts are below.

Of course, I have to admit that I never shoot in monochrome. My personal challenge was just finding subjects which I thought could look better in black and white than in colour. All of these images were photographed in full colour and turned into black and white photos for the event. Most have probably been posted on my blog at some point through the years. I hope you enjoy them.



This tiny hand belongs to my past-neighbour Lilly. Remember her? That sweet little munchkin has recently celebrated her sixth birthday. Time sure flies, doesn't it?








She's always been utterly delicious from tip to toe. Thankfully, I get to read about her brother's and her antics on FB, occasionally.







The protective arms and helping hands of a patient father teaching his child how to fish off of the dock.






Same dock, different day. I was out for a walk when I spotted his quartet fishing. I stopped for a quick shot and then hurried along.








A macro view of a teeny-tiny seed which landed on a narrow railing of a different dock.







And still another dock, at night, shortly after the moon rose in the hazy sky.







From hazy night to misty morning. This was the view across the bay.







Late day sunlight presents the shadow of a planter as it falls across a back wall and door.







Just a couple of bar chairs which caught my eye while waiting for lunch one day, a few years back.







And since we're talking about chairs and lunch, I had a decent meal at a little restaurant near my place, one day. For some reason I was intrigued with getting a shot of the boots under the table. I grabbed this one on the sly - without use of the viewfinder. I just lowered the camera, took my chances and clicked blindly.







It's not every day you see a bearded dragon out for a walk in the park. Especially when he and his person are wearing matching leather vests.







My neighbour, Carol kindly gave me a few old books for which she no longer had room. Among them was a 75 year old copy of Treasure Island, a 1917 copy of The Merchant of Venice, Black Beauty from the 1930s and a couple of copies of Tom Sawyer - one from 1949 and this opened one which is undated.







Zephyr's little black and white, heart-shaped nose which is magically dark grey and pink in true colour.

I hope you enjoyed these. Full colour and I will return before too long.

Of Days Gone By

"The beauty of the days gone by
It brings a longing to my soul
To contemplate my own true self
And keep me young as I grow old."

~ Van Morrison - from The Beauty of Days Gone By

When Frank and I decide we're going out, we hit the road early - at the crack of noon. After Benny was walked, critters fed and various bird feeders tended, we were soon on the highway, with open roads ahead and cameras at hand.

Outside my window, rolls of hay reminded me of children playing on a hillside, preparing to roll down the grassy slopes. This photo was taking while we were driving by - hence the blur. (please click to enlarge)

Another drive-by shooting of a barn that caught my eye. Its odd mismatched placement of wood and brick only became apparent to me after viewing the photos. Primarily, I just liked the soft warmth from the wood against the harvested field and the cloudy sky. (please click to enlarge)

When I was a child, it seemed that the gas stations all had different names than those of today. I'm sure some have merged or have been bought out, and names were changed but I remember seeing rotating signs which belonged to BP (British Petroleum), Shell, Texaco, Gulf, Esso and Sunoco - all which may still exist somewhere in the world but just not in mine for the past several decades. (please click to enlarge)

BA (British American) was another one which used to operate a few blocks from where I grew up but I haven't seen their pumps in operation since the 60s. This one no longer functions as a gas station though it kept the name, the building and the old pump shown in the previous photo, and does business as a convenience store. I love the rounded edges of the old gas stations. (please click to enlarge)

As with the old pump, they preserved the front of an old coke machine. (please click to enlarge)

Further along, we spotted this vintage appliance restoration shop with its old washers and stoves out back. I played with the colours in this image a bit, reducing the saturation of everything but the appliances. (please click to enlarge)

I'm sure some of us still remember these old wringer-washers. Not YOU, of course. You're way too young for that. (please click to enlarge)

This old rusty stove stood nearby. It appears to be living out its final years as a planter. (please click to enlarge)

Eventually, we became hungry and found a pub where we had a light meal. The chairs nearby caught my eye. Even here, the bar and wooden floor had an old-style appearance. (please click to enlarge)

Their well-stocked bar was lit attractively, but I decided on a coffee. (please click to enlarge)

A short while later, the road home stretched out ahead, carrying us to the end of a perfect, old-fashioned day. (please click to enlarge)

For those of you who made it to the end of this post, it was my 200th. Thanks for joining me!