Decisions in the digital photography world, etc.

Oh the advantages of living during the age of digital photography!!! I can take 100 pictures of something if my memory card will hold it! One of them might be good, maybe? Yes, I love this hobby! But there's one part to it I'm not enjoying so much--going through all those pictures and deciding which are "keepers" and which aren't...Could I maybe crop that or is it too light or too dark?

Which picture would you choose out of these first two?

The butterfly pictures are from almost a couple of weeks ago, my last crop of monarchs.

This vase-- which I'm not very fond of--was on the shelf all during break and I didn't even realize it was mine until now.

This is a second try at my footed bowls for last session. It pretty much reminds me of something Marvin the Martian would use because the feet look like they should be on a rocket. I like it! There will be one more similiar bowl coming out of the kiln this weekened.

Flutterbys and class project

Here are some photos from the butterfly house at our local public garden.

Is there a tail missing on that Giant Swallowtail? Is that part called a tail?

I'm guessing one of these Queen butterflies is a male. Hmm, a male Queen?

A small vase...

And below is my version of the class project for the session that just ended. We were to alter the lower part by scoring it and manipulating the clay with our fingers, superballs, whatever would work to push it out. The clay had to be just the right consistency in order to do so. Sometimes it required rewetting or use of a wet sponge. The instructor said he wanted it to be fluid-looking like, well actually like rolls of fat.

The funny thing is, the skinny people didn't quite get the look that he was wanting. I, on the other hand, was able to get closer to the look he wanted. Who would've guessed?

Black swallowtail and what happens when a grub grows up

Do you notice the little bump on its abdominal area? I'm not sure what's up, but it did fly away after an hour, so it must not be harmed much.

Yes, that's a chopstick or what I use for a butterfly ladder to let them climb out.











This June bug is a lot prettier than the grubs I find in the soil.

An hour in Lindsborg

Last Saturday, I was in the area of Lindsborg and got to walk downtown. Lindsborg is a Swedish community in Kansas. I went in the Small World Gallery and met a National Geographic photographer whose wife designs jewelry. Then I went into Courtyard Gallery and saw some pieces from my favorite potter who comes to the Wichita Garden Show, Carol Long. It's amazing what she does with slip (liquid clay)!

Yes, that's "Salvador Dala" in the picture up there.

More blue vases

I wanted to make little vases to put my mini daffodils in next spring.

More pictures

Here is the view of the bridge they are redoing between Omaha and Council Bluffs.


More train pictures of Kenefick Park.







Council Bluffs has the Union Pacific Railroad Museum...



and a cool park and veteran's memorial area.



Did you know it was also the home of Amelia Bloomer, inventor of Bloomers? Oops, that's not correct according to this. I just assumed so since she was wearing them.



p.s. I'm counting down...two more months! Until what? I'll be sure to share in two months!

Blue vases and Lauritzen Botanical Gardens

Here is just a taste of the 124 photos I took at Lauritzen Botanical Gardens and Kenefick Park.
Yes, that's a tram! It's that big! Yes, they have a model railroad garden!

Just found this video on youtube takes you on a ride on the model train if you're interested.

Lewis and Clark and pottery

Earlier this month, I went through the Council Bluffs/Omaha area. Here are a few random pictures until I get them all organized.

I'm lucky this first picture turned out okay, as I didn't notice that the lens was in manual focus instead of auto focus. Must've flipped the switch when I put the lens away before.


I also went to a family reunion in North Dakota and am debating about whether I want to share the pictures on here or just on facebook. It's kind of fun in a way to remain "anonymous" in that I don't think I have any pictures of myself on my blog..maybe one.







The chalice is the second attempt as a replacement for the communion set. I didn't take a picture of the first attempt, as in it is being used already. The glaze didn't turn out copper...Now I know why. It was HIGH-FIRED instead of LOW-FIRED. There wasn't anything wrong with the glaze. As this one has a crack in it, I'm off to make yet a third one with no cracks and will make sure to put it on the proper shelf--not the high-fired one.

Am loving the way the vase turned out in the Sagebrush Courtyard glaze!

A pottery post/how I gamble

I'm pretty happy with this little vase that I hand-built...but...












This bowl in the next two pictures is in my opinion ruined by the glaze. First of all, the greenish glaze didn't turn out green. Second of all, it covered up some of my carving. I'm thinking that it will end up in a garage sale.











Here is another footed bowl...guess I was thinking some magic would happen in the kiln, because I'm "okay" with it but that's about it.


The third footed bowl broke before it was fired and is now reconstituted clay.


This is a "lawn ornament" in that there is no bottom and I'm putting it my front flower bed. I'm going to see if it will last most of the year outside.
















The plate is what happens when the licorice goes over the copper wash glaze.






The bowl has copper wash OVER the licorice. I am very happy with it.


I hope I remember that it comes out much cooler with the copper wash over the licorice.

So in other words, I don't feel like I need to play the slot machines or crap shoot with real money. I feel like I'm gambling already. One out of three pieces will most likely come out fantastic! I figure those are my odds.

Rurality

Visited my sisters' farms in North Dakota earlier this month and went to a family reunion.



Enjoy the cow portraits! Moo!!!

What's coming next? Pictures from the Lauritzen Gardens in Omaha and some pottery pieces.

Sometimes wide is good

...definitely if it's a wide-angle lens. Someone just got a wide-angle lens and I got to borrow it. Cool, huh?






Wishing you an enjoyable and safe Fourth of July!!!