Lost Aussie on the loose

Where Donkeys Abound .....

A quick catch-up and share of a few of the pictures I took today as we visited a local souk just outside of Essaouira - and yes, if you guessed where I am to be Morocco, you would have been right.

A fantastic trip to date with a different point of view each day for shooting pictures and when I get back home and can edit them properly on my big Mac, I will be sharing lots more... but for now, here are a few ....

Donkeys, donkeys, donkeys, as beasts of burden, as tender, evidence of richness, as hardware haulers, as grocery carts and even masquerading as sheep transport!

 

Where in the World is ....

Any guesses? And it might not necessarily be where you think!

And as you may have guessed, I have been busy travelling and taking pictures - too busy to blog, sorry!

Will catch up with you when and where I can, but the internet is a bit blotchy and my days are filled with photo taking and not much time to edit.....

oxoxox

Painted with Peonies

I had one of those wildly productive days today.  The sort where you get myriad chores done inside and out and then in the afternoon I sat down and spent a few hours cleaning up my computer.  Folding away class files, cleaning out my download folder, editing pictures and even found some time to "play" a little with some of my recent pics, collaging them into the piece above.

It felt good to wield the pen over the tablet for the heck of it!

 

Portrait of a Peony

It's rained cats and dogs all day but in the last 24hrs the Peonies have decided to burst their buds and do their blooming thing!  Sadly though all the rain has left them drenched and top heavy which meant a few of the heads have snapped - or come close to, and since some of the blooms are 6-8" in diameter, they get VERY rain sodden and weighty.

I've rescued a few, but for a couple there was little recourse but to snip them and have them grace a vase inside.

One particularly love blossom became the object of an impromtu photo-shoot in the basement tonight.

I also played some more with the "painting with light" technique.  Where you turn all the lights out and just play a torch over the subject matter you want to illuminate - while the shutter on your camera is left wide open.  All sorts of fun and interesting results with light and shadow, since wafting a torch around in the dark is a less than scientific process and no one "waft" is ever the same as another!  Lots of fun indeed.

A Little Walk On The Beach

 

... at the end of the day filled with house chores, nothing more refreshing or cathartic than a walk on the beach.....

Out and About, NYC

We had a grand day in the City, meeting up with our friends Christine and Andreas from Germany.  Christine has been a long time art friend (and student) of mine for years and it's lovely to catch up when we can, even though our meetings are few and far between.

Today the four of us walked the High Line in NYC and checked out LOTS of galleries between W14th and W26th Streets and chatted much inbetween.  The hightlight was the Roy Nachum exhibition at Joseph Nahmad Contemporary, 450 W 14th St.  Well worth a visit if you have the opportunity.

We topped the day off with a tasty Italian meal at La Carbonara - which never fails to please.

My Day In Pictures

Capped off by a lovely sunset at Centerport Beach, LI, NY..... followed by a delicious Indian Dinner.

And tomorrow I am off into the City again, this time to visit with some friends from Germany.  We'll walk on the High Line and then grab a bite to eat and give Christina's English a run for it's money!

Wishing you all a fantastic weekend!

The Vision and Verb Shoppe

Those of you who read this blog on a regular basis know that I also contribute to a collaborative blog called Vision and Verb.  We have recently lauched a "shoppe" which sells cards featuring the wonderful art and photography posted on the VV Blog.  The profits from our card sales are being donated to help men and women around the globe start their own businesses.  We have chosen KIVA to act as the conduit for our "giving back" to the world.

So please support our efforts and pop by to have a look at the wonderful images you can choose from to order a card or two!  After all, everyone needs a spare card in the drawer to send to someone special!!

Nature's Diamonds

It rained cats and dogs today and the best photo opportunity was afforded from under the shade of the patio, macro lens and a peek at the lillac bush whilst trying not to get the camera wet.

Not easy to focus on raindrops or to capture them before they smeared. But when you do,they look like shiny little diamonds!

Gallavanting in NYC

Tripping into the City today for a "Mother's Choice" day out which included a trip to Anthropologie for a few new duds, a visit to B&H to scope out camera bags and capped of by a delicious dinner at David Burke Fishtail.  Rather a bang up Mother's Day by all accounts.

And in case you thought I'd forgottten to take my camera ..... Here are a few of todays pix ...

Union Square and the protesters still engaged over there, Madame Chrysler in her nocturnal glory and a little Louis Vuitton display that lit the night up so brilliantly!

I hope all the other Mums out there had an equally enjoyable day!