Neighborhood Glimpses
October 23, 2022
It’s been a while since my neighborhood appeared on this blog. Here are some photographs taken in August, September, and October.
1 A week ago the camera found some examples of fall foliage. These are willows at the edge of Rock Pond.
2 Trees were beginning to turn color around Island Pond, too.
3 Just ahead on my walk a maple peeked through pine boughs.
4 All over the neighborhood hosta leaves are beginning their transformation.
5
6
7 Lichen on a wooden railing paired well with the background in August.
8 Dumpster hunting that month yielded some discarded screening in one of them.
9 I was only able to catch the essence of hummingbird in August.
10 In September the same colors decorated an asphalt spreader in a parking lot.
11
12 Manipulation of a different view of the spreader took the image into another mood.
13
14 When the sun shines directly on this window in our community center, and if you look at it from a certain angle, this is what you see. The other windows in the same bank of windows show no similar effect. What causes this appearance is a mystery to me.
15 This is not a mystery. It is a very long garter snake.
16 A new walkway is visited by honey-locust leaves.
Romancing Reality 
Fine set, Linda! Nr13 is a wonderful ‘abstract cathedral’ of light; and Nr14 is also amazing! See you!
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October 24, 2022 at 2:56 AM
Thanks. It took quite a bit of fussing and tweaking to make the abstract cathedral of light, but I’m glad you like it, Harrie, and the photo of the strange window.
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October 24, 2022 at 11:52 AM
“Essence of hummingbird” is a good way to describe photograph #9.
Most of us photographers understandably focus on the peak of fall color. It’s commendable that you included some views of transitional stages.
#14 certainly catches our attention with its strangely commingled worlds; you’re right to call it mysterious, and perceptive to have noticed it.
In #13, the flecks at the right could almost pass for stars in the night sky.
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October 24, 2022 at 7:36 AM
My essence of hummingbird may be more interesting than what I was aiming for, another case of lemonade from lemons. Several friends have tried to see that window and failed. Apparently, the way the sun hits it counts for a lot. I saw the stars in a night sky in #13, too. Also #12. Thanks for commenting, Steve.
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October 24, 2022 at 11:57 AM
I know Fall is the most beautiful time of year but I love the dumpster shots. Call me crazy.
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October 24, 2022 at 9:32 AM
I refuse to call you crazy, Ken, but I’m glad you like the photos of the asphalt spreader, which does indeed have much in common with dumpsters.
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October 24, 2022 at 11:59 AM
Lovely collection, Linda! I always enjoy rust and geometry and the ‘new walkway’ is just a pleasant image to ponder. Thanks for posting!
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October 24, 2022 at 1:56 PM
Thank you, Joe. It’s interesting that you singled out rust, geometry, and the new walkway. I took all of those with my iPhone. And I don’t have a super-duper model of phone. When something grabs me unarmed with my Nikon, I’m so happy to have the phone with me. It’s really true what they say about the best camera being the one that’s with you.
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October 24, 2022 at 8:27 PM
This is a great set, Linda. The first three are really striking to me for their abstract qualities. Then the discarded screen with the yellow leaf for the same reason. The hummingbird is also a favorite…the blur is the essence of those creatures. (I was attacked by a hummingbird once; I knew they were territorial but didn’t realize it included humans. It buzzed me several times but I couldn’t tell what is was until it landed on a branch above my head). And #14 has piqued my curiosity…what is going on there? It looks like several things are happening…did you mix in a little of #12 or #13 with this? 🧐
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October 24, 2022 at 2:00 PM
Thank you, Mic. I’m pleased that my abstracts of landscape are to your liking. I just can’t seem to do a “real” landscape. I visited Schoepfle Garden yesterday and took—I should say tried to take—several landscape photos. But on download I could see that most just don’t make it. Cropping way in for a more abstract look worked for me. They may be in my next post. I can’t tell you what is going on with #14. I have two guesses, but, honestly, I was hoping the scientist in you would give me the real answer. Could it be that the thermopane is decomposing in some way? Could it be that a cleaning solution that should have been rinsed off was accidentally left to dry on the window? The colors appear to be a thin-film effect—but a thin film of what? And, no, no mixing with #12 or #13. 🙄
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October 24, 2022 at 8:46 PM
I would make the case that you (not the camera 😉) were moved to photograph and process the images you posted. That’s as real as it gets…the reality is what you make of them, your response to the landscape. I guess that means the ones that don’t work aren’t real.
I would defer to you on the thin-film effects. Some of the new energy efficient window have coatings to control the transmission of various wavelengths of light. The wrong cleaner or environmental factors can affect those coatings. But I have no answer…
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October 25, 2022 at 10:51 PM
Maybe I wasn’t clear about what I mean by “real.” What I mean is something more panoramic, a bigger picture. More like what I’ve seen on some of your blog posts, like the one here: https://lightmonkey1.wordpress.com/2022/06/13/u-s-route-62-roadside/. I just don’t seem to be able to find or make more-sweeping images. I’ll keep trying. I guess that window will have to remain a mystery.
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October 26, 2022 at 10:43 AM
I thought that might be what you meant. 🙂
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October 27, 2022 at 10:26 AM
Linda, this is something I struggle with and think about, too. Interesting.
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October 28, 2022 at 5:22 PM
I would never know that you struggle with this, Lynn. Your wide views have a confident and artful look. But thank you for writing this; I feel a little better.
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October 30, 2022 at 4:19 PM
Fantastic series, Linda. The way the variety of subjects fits together is nice. Wow, they’re all my favorites. The first, for the even light and detail across the frame, the last for the intelligent eyes behind it, the hummingbird, precisely because you transmitted its essence, the window in #14 for its delicious strangeness, the discarded screening for its rather transcendent beauty (in my opinion!), The hosta leaves because they show your love for them, #2 because it looks like Monet, and #3, oh, #3. Everything there is broken up and unified at the same time. An important lesson.
I’m very enthusiastic about this post!
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October 28, 2022 at 5:18 PM
Thank you for your enthusiasm, Lynn. I wish I could discern what makes a photograph something that others will like. It seems that many of the ones I am hesitant to share are other people’s favorites. That’s especially true for #3, which I shared first with neighbors. The solution, of course, is to keep sharing what I like myself. I’m sure I’ve bored or annoyed people with some of my choices, but that’s the only way to also show something people will like. There is a life lesson in this, I’m sure. Thank you for giving your reasons for liking all of these. At the moment I’m struggling with the next post. I keep deleting candidates, trying for a cohesive presentation. I hope I haven’t cut out any that would have made you go “oh” again.
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October 30, 2022 at 4:43 PM
It’s a mystery, isn’t it? People like photos you thought wouldn’t strike a chord and say nothing about the ones you think are the best. But not always, that would be too easy!
Oh, #3 is special.
We know that it’s all about getting closer and closer to expressing your own true nature but at the same time, we put our work out there and we pay attention to what others say – and that’s not a bad thing, obviously. I guess the problem is when what others are going to think creeps into the process too early on, either while we’re shooting (that’s bad!) or processing or creating posts. There has to be a balance in there somewhere between doing work purely for ourselves and considering what will please others.
I’m struggling with the next post, too, reminding myself to stick to the topic, trying to find the strongest images, and doubting, doubting, doubting. Yeesh!
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October 30, 2022 at 4:57 PM
I really like “We know that it’s all about getting closer and closer to expressing your own true nature,” Lynn. “Closer and closer” is forgiving. Yes, “doubting, doubting, doubting.” I sure know about that.
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October 30, 2022 at 7:22 PM