Monday, March 16, 2015

Just Take Them

I'm back from my ten days away visiting family and friends. I saw lots of wonderful people in old familiar places, and had several fun photo opportunities which you'll see over time. But not today. Today's post is one I already had prepped but somehow left it in draft mode. I'll get around to visiting some blogs soonish. There were over 500 posts sitting in my Feedly feed. Ack! I'll just have to catch up with the most current posts.. eventually. Now onto this one. 

The pictures are there, and you just take them.
~Robert Capa

In case you hadn't noticed, it's winter around here. That, along with a problematic back is limiting the number of photo opportunities to be found outdoors. So what better way to remedy that than by wandering around with the camera indoors. I switched out the lens for a marcro lens and began focusing on some of the items around the house. Some of the subjects will be pretty obvious upon first sight but some might need a bit of an explanation or an additional photo to clarify.

Tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day so we'll just have to start out with something green.


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Here's something you might see at a kid's party if you don't fancy the idea of doing much cleanup afterward. Or if you don't fancy being fancy.







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Here's another view at the bottom end of the packet. They're plastic spoons, knives (left and right in the top photo) and forks.






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If you're like me, you get your morning boost from the same place I do. The camera is peering inside a large tin of ground coffee.





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If you should run out of coffee filters, a piece of paper towel can come to your rescue.






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And this here is the breakfast of champions - if you happen to have feathers and wings.






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No need to get overly picky about this closeup.






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Just grab one and put it to good use... you have some spinach stuck in your teeth.





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They help to freshen the breath while having the added bonus of a Valentine's Day sugar rush - cinnamon hearts. In the interest of true disclosure, I can not for the life of me ever remember how to spell cinnamon. I mangle it so badly that even my computer's built in dictionary throws up its little arms and stares back at me blankly. Good old Google comes to the rescue and doesn't even laugh at my sad attempt. It just calmly replies with "Did you mean cinnamon?" Yes, I did indeed.






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This isn't a storm over the lake. Or a snapshot of something on TV. I think I might have guessed the latter if I didn't know what it was.


 



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It's a closeup of something my son gave me for Christmas. Its ever-changing picture can be quite soothing to watch.






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It sits on the bookshelf in my bedroom just waiting to be flipped over to start again and you can tell by the smudgy finger prints that it's been flipped many time. Thanks, Alex!






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I was intrigued with how this turned out up close and took a few snapshots of it.






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I never would have guessed that all those fibres would show up like that. The bright sunlight helped to illuminate them.






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A different view from the front.






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I haven't read it yet. If any of you have, you can let me know what you thought. Failing that, perhaps I'll let you know if I enjoyed it, once I'm done.

More photos coming up soonish.

88 comments:

Tabor said...

Welcome back. Unpacked?? Love all of these and once again they show off your creative photographic eye. Amazing!!

TexWisGirl said...

hi! welcome back! (i've not yet sent your package - got lazy last week knowing you were away). anyway, loved the sand photo and all your macros. laughed at cinnamon. you're a delight. :)

William Kendall said...

Lovely macro shots! I'm sure the birds (and the squirrels) appreciate that breakfast of champions.

stephen Hayes said...

Glad you had such a wonderful trip. These photos are fascinating and reveal the world so close to us, the one we're most likely to ignore.

Karen said...

Just finished reading Birth House (for the second time!) AND The Virgin Cure. Both great books.

yaya said...

Once I knew what the first pic was everything just jumped out of the pretty green shot! I love the beauty of the every day! I hope your back gets better soon...hey I know a fabulous Chiropractor!

Out on the prairie said...

I hate last days of vacation. You have gotten along with the routine so well you should continue.

Rita said...

Welcome back! Haven't read the book, but truly enjoyed your macro shots around the house. The ever-changing picture is especially fascinating!! :)

Leah J. Utas said...

Well done, Hilary. I would have guessed the fiber one was a cat's paw.

~JarieLyn~ said...

These are amazing macro shots. It sure gives us a new perspective of everyday items.

messymimi said...

It's always a joy to see the world through your eye and lens.

Cloudia said...

You are certainly going "deep - ish "


Fond ALOHA from Honolulu
ComfortSpiral
=^..^=







The pictures are there, and you just take them.
Robert Capa


I shoot what nature shows me. cloudia

Betsy Brock said...

Well, that was fun! Very cool close up shots!

EG CameraGirl said...

What a super idea to walk around the house with a macro lens! I'm tempted to do the same thing.

DJan said...

Boy, I never would have guessed many of those things in the macro shots. I love the sand thing and the toothpicks. The coffee shows how narrow your depth of field is with that lens. :-)

Crabby McSlacker said...

Welcome back!

And I totally love the way you can turn the most everyday of objects into unrecognizable works of art!

A Cuban In London said...

I hope your family is all right. What can I say except that I missed your photos? They are gorgeous as usual.

Greetings from London.

Gail Dixon said...

Good to see you back, Hilary! I enjoyed guessing at your amazing photos. Fun game to play on this beautiful Monday afternoon. 500 posts? Yeah, I'd just read the most recent ones, too. Yikes. Looking forward to pics from your trip!

Maggie May said...

Haven't read the book.
Loved the photos that kept me guessing! The top two looked like slightly liquifying jelly! Was amazed it was plastic cutlery.
Sorry about the problematic back.
I am a sufferer too.
Maggie x

Red said...

It's good that you made us guess some of these.It made me take a better look at the photo. Cool that you find things to take in the house.

Linda said...

Interesting macro shots! Nice to have you back.

Anonymous said...

What lovely close-ups! I really enjoyed the mystery of the macro.

Gary's third pottery blog said...

Coffee makes an earthy landscape, hmm?

Bob Bushell said...

You have been away, welcome back Hilary. And, you have some great pictures to show us, really excellent.

Yael said...

Gorgeousness which the naked eye often can not detect! :-)

Existe Sempre Um Lugar said...

Bom dia, Macros bem conseguidas com qualidade e beleza.
AG

Author R. Mac Wheeler said...

Loved your macros!!

Pamela Gordon said...

What a fun post! I figured out a couple of things but most were tricky.

ellen abbott said...

very clever. some I guessed, some I didn't.

Daryl said...

welcome back .. your macro shots always make me think i need to get my macro out and use it and then i remember i dont love it as much as my 35mm .....these are all superb

Shammickite said...

Yes, I've read it, and I think I enjoyed it, it was a while ago. Just finished reading The Orenda by Joseph Boyden, what a great book, have you read it? Great mystery pictures with your macro lens. It's surprising what can be photographed indoors. Sorry to hear your back is playing up. Spring is on the way, take heart!
And Happy St Patrick's day to you!

photowannabe said...

Oh, I love the macros so much.
It's amazing how much detail we miss by not looking that closely.
Enjoyed all your photos and hope your back is feeling better.

Spare Parts and Pics said...

Beautiful macro shots. I had fun guessing what some of these were!

Terra said...

You turn the mundane object into a thing of beauty. I like the quote you shared about "the picture is there, you just take it."

Barb said...

Hope you had a great trip! I like those macros - they are the surprises of a part that equals a whole. I try to practice with my new macro lens, but my focal point is all wrong.

Barbara said...

Welcome back! I hope you have a day or two to unwind and get unpacked, laundry done, etc. The days after vacation can be rough! I love these close-ups and was stumped by several. Thanks for identifying them! Let me know how the book is.

The Happy Whisk said...

Welcome back.

Unknown said...

Ah, Cool! So you went and sounds like you had a great time!! All the photos were fun. I was wrong about the green shots being the inside of the dishwasher. But how imaginative!

ADRIAN said...

I enjoyed these. So different to anything I would produce.

sage said...

Good to have you back and nice "still life" shots!

ToBlog today said...

I trust you enjoyed your time away, it certainly brought out the creative artist in you. I enjoyed these snapshots! Looking at something from a different perspective is fun. :)

Friko said...

A different perspective makes such a lot of difference. Objects turn magical or alien and taking a closer look has many rewards for the observer.

I won’t mind if you do this again some time.

Betty Manousos said...

welcome back!! hope you had a wonderful trip. and i love these close-ups-very interesting perspective.
xoxo

Mage said...

Goodness. How delightful. Wow too.

Jenn Jilks said...

Wonderful macros. You have a great eye!

Russell said...

Enjoyed seeing the ever changing picture your son gave to you. That is a good idea!

Enjoyed reading over your post and seeing the photos. Always very nice.

psychelyn said...

Those are very impressive shots. I always like macro shots, noticing very tiny details is fascinating.

Kat said...

Wow! Those are fantastic! I thought the top photo was a pic of a row of green glasses in a dishwasher or something. I never would have guessed forks. And I love the picture of the gift your son gave you. That could be blown up and framed. It is beautiful modern art.
Well done!

Indrani said...

I could have never guessed the items had you not mentioned. Amazing details in the macros.

Kerry said...

Yes, welcome back. I love macros! I wish I had a macro lens. These are very cool. Also, that book looks intriguing.

Polly said...

What a brilliant post, it was fun trying to guess what they were :-)

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

Super macros- I would have had a hard time guessing if you hadn't provided answers!

Anvilcloud said...

Might as well take indoor macros because outdoors is abysmal at this time of year.

Existe Sempre Um Lugar said...

Boa tarde, regressou das suas ferias com belas fotos, a selecção das mesmas são lindas nas cores e na qualidade, as macros estão excelentes.
AG

Sharon Wagner said...

What a fun macro hunt. The plastic silverware look so artsy. Who knew? Thank goodness it's spring. Now I have to start remembering my camera again. I'll look forward to your spring finds.

Bone said...

You're quite talented with the photography.

I have a confession: I can't make coffee. In fact, I think I may do a post about it. The world needs to know.

Betty Manousos said...

just stopping by to say hi and wish you and yours a happy passover!

have a wonderful day.

lots of love. big hugs~ xoxo

Dan said...

I quite enjoyed the journey in the land you call Macro.

I had to put my thinking cap hat on for this one.

Hope the snow in your neck of the woods is slowing down. Perhaps a little warmth to start... dare I say... melt.

photowannabe said...

Missing your posts Hilary.

I do hope your back is healing and you are just enjoying life in your beautiful part of the country.

Sue

Ruby said...

Very interesting perspectives. I enjoyed your pictures!

Anonymous said...

Next time you do Posts of the Week - you must include these magical shots of the sakura! http://stardustenglishwriting.blogspot.se/2015/04/sakura-in-all-its-glory.html?showComment=1428726457312#c746602136509918375

Mage said...

Missing you and yours. Hugs.

Pauline said...

Hoping your absence is due to visiting and not that problematic back! pictures are fantastic as usual. And is it spring there yet?

Gail Dixon said...

Hilary, where are you? Hope you're okay. I'm not blogging much these days, but I've noticed your absence. 😕

Midlife Roadtripper said...

Missing you. Hope all is okay. And, I so need a lens that takes closeups like that.

Please let us know.

Mage said...

I've been being quiet and tactful but worried. Hope you and yours are ok.

Indrani said...

Hi Hilary, hope all is okay at your end! Take care!

Tammie Lee said...

a wonderful strand of images
i enjoyed each one
i hope you are well
it has been a while since you posted
sending a warm smile

Cloudia said...

Hope you are well! Miss ya <3

Eddie Bluelights said...

Missing you Hilary ~ my very best wishes and love . . . :) Eddie x

Eddie Bluelights said...

Missing you Hilary ~ my very best wishes and love . . . :) Eddie x

Betsy Brock said...

Just checking in! Hope all is well!

Mage said...

Hugs from here.

Mage said...

Hugs from here.

Mage said...

Still...

photowannabe said...

Hilary....sure are missing your blog posts and the way you see the world.
Praying things are okay with you and your back, and that you are just taking a break.
Sue

Mage said...

Hugs...

Mage said...

A Tuesday Morning hugs. A smile too. :)

Slamdunk said...

Hey, sunflower seeds are not only for birds! They keep me awake on long trips as well.

I hope you and your family are well, Hilary.

Mage said...

I think I will make it note 80, and leave you with a hug.

Karen (formerly kcinnova) said...

Your macros are always a big treat!
I see that the "magic window" of my childhood is now an adult toy. They truly are fascinating -- and I should read that book!

Tabor said...

missing you and maybe too re retcent to tell you that.

Kelly H-Y said...

Such fun perspectives ... like a little guessing game! :-)

photowannabe said...

Thinking of you and wanted to give you a big hug. (((HUG)))

Sue

Mage said...

Tabor and I are a matched pair in our thinking. Hugs.

Birdie said...

Hey, where have you gone? It has been ages since you posted. I hope you are well.

Bob Bushell said...

Where are you?

Linda said...

Hope all is okay. Love your images.