Day 354 — Cutlery

Whenever the good cutlery makes an appearance you know that good times are not far off.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm 1.4) 1/100, f8, ISO 100

Day 353 — Enron

I'd longed to own an aboriginal painting, but that was the last thing I expected to find in the U.S. Thankfully the evil empire of Enron went Chapter 11 a few years ago and all their corporate status symbols from their lofty offices were released to the minions at my local auction house. The painting, Women's Corroboree at Lahamba, Northern Territory, Australia is by Kitty Pultara Naparrula. The native symbols of groups around fires could easily also represent the huddled elite in boardrooms at Enron.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 18-200) 1/2, f25, 22mm, ISO 100

Day 352 — Gourd's Truth

In the title I'm having a shot at the origin of a popular Aussie expression... "strewth" (an expression of surprise or dismay!) I used to use it often, but only just discovered it's derived from "God's truth", which makes sense because we often used to express it in a longer form "God strewth!" Now that I say it to myself, I can't believe I never put two and two together.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/125, f8, ISO 100

Day 351 — Start Your Day With Coffee

I was drawn to the shadows on the sideboard and just plonked down the coffee pot for a point of interest.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/250, f5, ISO 100

Day 350 — The Old Plan Press

My old plan press and its 25 handles and drawers. This is where I store all my photo prints and collected artworks before framing.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/125, f1.4, ISO 100

Day 349 — Holding the Light

This guy normally holds my fountain pen as seen on Day 153, but just for fun I lowered the desk lamp shade down to his clutches for this dramatic back lit shot.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/25, f16, ISO 100

Day 348 — Pierre

This is another pot by Jonathan Adler. It was the outrageous shape of this vase that first drew me to his work. It's a combination of three thrown forms into one sculptural masterpiece. He titles his "Couture" pieces after famous designers and this one is "Pierre" after Pierre Cardin. I have attempted to photograph it over a dozen times but this is the first time I feel that it is now ready for this blog.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/400, f6.3, ISO 100

Day 347 — Reflection on Reflection

I only just noticed this reflection of a reflection in the window. Again this is the photo of the Starlings on the wall in the dining room. They also appear on Days 185, 279 and 309.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/640, f8, ISO 100

Day 346 — Him and His Shadow

Buddies.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/400, f9, ISO 100

Day 345 — Shade

This broad band of shadow from the window provides a dramatic diagonal to the resulting image.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/160, f8, ISO 100

Day 344 — Squatter

I found the perfect ledge to bear witness to the solemnity of this squatting figure. He also appears on Days 193 and 211.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 500mm, 1.4) 1/400, f9, ISO 100

Day 343 — A.M.

This is what time it is when the morning shadows are just so. The clock first appeared back on day 143. The Atomic Ball Clock is a clock that was designed by the American industrial and furniture designer, George Nelson in 1948 while George was Director of Design for the Herman Miller Inc. furniture company at the genesis of the atomic age. The bomb dropped on Hiroshima was at 8:16am.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/400, f9, ISO 100

Day 342 — Chillaxin

One last excursion out of the drawer for Dr Ted, relaxing under the shade of the Phalaenopsis.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/320, f8, ISO 100

Day 341 — The Sunbather

You've seen parts of my favorite plant before on Days 156 and 179, but not the whole megillah until now. It sits, pride of place on the center of the dining table, where it basks each day in the morning sun.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/125, f8, ISO 100

Day 340 — Dr. Ted D. Bear, Psychiatrist

I was considering photographing a neat sock drawer, but couldn't find one; instead I found this fabulous little teddy bear staring up at me. He's less than 6 inches high and is riddled with character. My partner tells me that he is over 30 years old and is a toy psychiatrist.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/640, f8, ISO 100

Day 339 — Framed

As the shortest day of the year rapidly approaches, the extreme angle of the rising sun creates a crop of interesting framing opportunities in the kitchen.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/200, f8, ISO 100

Day 338 — Shrine

The top of this chair always reminds me of a Shinto Shrine. The chair has a curious history. It was produced for a window display at Gumps of San Francisco. It's a large chair, almost throne-like and obviously too fun to just throw away after the display had run its course.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/40, f6.3, ISO 100

Day 337 — Ringmaster

This monkey in a circus ring is actually a potato peeler on a CD box.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/160, f6.3, ISO 100

Day 336 — Chubby Cheeks

This mask is very happy and is basking in a soft luminous light from below.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/80, f3.5, ISO 100

Day 335 — Wine Glass

A wine glass basking in a smattering of sunlight.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/800, f8, ISO 100

Day 334 — Furrowed Brow

It's the last day of November and here I sit plowing my furrowed brow for ideas for the last month of this blog — calling upon my inner Breton or Duchamp. Stay tuned!

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/60, f4, ISO 640

Day 333 — Motley Bouquet

The lilies are finally in the trash, but not before one last shot.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/320, f3.2, ISO 400

Day 332 — Thanksgiving Snake

Another pot by a member of the Martinez dynasty of potters. It features a serpent. Avanyu is the horned water serpent which is interpreted as the first rush of water coming down an arroyo after a thunderstorm, a symbol of thanksgiving for water and rain. The avanyu became a common motif throughout the Southwest. This pot was made by Maria Martinez's great grandson Marvin and his wife, Frances. This style of black-on-black ware from the pueblo of San Ildefonso is often made by two people; one to coil the pot and burnish it to a high gloss finish and the other to specialize in decorating the piece with a contrasting matt slip before a heavy reduction firing. Happy Thanksgiving!

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/160, f8, ISO 100

Day 331 — Haute Couture

When I look closely at flowers I'm reminded where fashion designers get their inspiration. This resembles an extravagant collar on a classic dress.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/160, f11, ISO 100

Day 330 — Ceci n'est pas un vase

A small homage to our great leader Marcel Duchamp. In my work you'll find many art references, particularly to Dada and Surrealism. Dada was my favorite subject at art college and I produce a website called Exquisite Corpse. It was my first entree to the machinations creating a webpage. Hmm, I just took a look at it and I see it could use some revamping. Nevertheless, it gets hundreds of hits each day from around the globe when young art students search for information about the Dadaists. You can also download a free pdf of André Breton's Manifesto of Surrealism. By the way, I am very pleased with this image today.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/160, f8, ISO 100

Day 329 — Last Gasp!

In the tradition of the flower desiccation series appearing on Days 106, 108, 137, 234 and 271, here is this lily's last gasp.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/500, f8, ISO 100

Day 328 — Vase de Fleurs

Not entirely sure what produced the glow at the bottom of the vase, but I like the combined effect of the convergence of refractions and shadows in this photo.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/320, f8, ISO 100

Day 327 — Knuckleheads

Another hand shot with less recognizable reference points. Here the knuckles of both my hands are butted together; head-to-head. I love the abstraction of this shot.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/40, f3.5, ISO 100, + screw on closeup filter

Day 326 — Landscape

Playing with my hands.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/20, f8, ISO 100

Day 325 — Lily Lily Lily Lily, Stay

The title is a line from the song "Lily" by Pink Martini that was playing as I shot this, so the saga of the long dead lilies continues. We've had rain the past few days so I sat them on the balcony in this shot. Dry dead lilies sapping up drops of moisture.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/200, f4.5, ISO 100

Day 324 — Float

I am making good use of the perfect division between black and white that I discovered with the sideboard picture I took on Day 314. I laid the mask on it's side for this shot and then rearranged it to vertical for the final image. The extremely shallow depth of field floats this mask high above the background.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/250, f1.4, ISO 400

Day 323 — Thunder Thighs

I admire the human element that these candle holders project. I found these at Target a few decades ago when famous designers were consigned to make inexpensive unique products for the company. These gems were designed by Michael Graves of Alessi renown. They have opaque glass shades, but I preferred the human-like attributes of their bare bodies for this shot.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/80, f3.2, ISO 400

Day 322 — Dehydration

The slow transformation of these flowers is quite beautiful to witness.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/160, f8, ISO 100

Day 321 — Playing with the Dead

Two lilies head to head. Coincidentally I am listening to Lou Reed's Walk on the Wild Side.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/160, f11, ISO 100

Day 320 — Brother Redland Spots

This wacky hybrid phalaenopsis sports spots that appear out of focus, like ink on a blotter.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/400, f8, ISO 100

Day 319 — I Spoke Too Soon

I found another lily to photograph among the bunch of aging stems. I especially love the strong overarching curve featured in this bloom. I find that flowers have varying personalities even within one variety. The soft lighting of this shot is the result of a very cloudy day.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/125, f3.2, ISO 100

Day 318 — Last of the Lilies

They gave their all for about a week, but now the lilies are beginning to brown on the edges. This is the last one of the bunch in pristine condition.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/125, f3.2, ISO 100

Day 317 — Elegance

This was taken in the same place as Day 314, I used the sideboard and wall to create a black and white background to 'pop' the lily.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/250, f10, ISO 100

Day 316 — Bulb Bake

This is how I prepare a garlic bulb for roasting in the oven. After half an hour of roasting the cloves easily squeeze out their buttery goodness for spreading on toast. As I type this the kitchen is filled with the intense aroma of garlic.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/60, f5, ISO 400

Day 315 — Arums

Robust arum lily stems arch elegantly upward in this simple composition.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/160, f8, ISO 400

Day 314 — Where the Sideboard Meets the Wall

At first glance this shot looks absurdly minimalist but it actually has a lot of detail throughout with the contrasting textures of the woodgrain sideboard and the paint finish on the wall.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/200, f10, ISO 100

Day 313 — Egg Carton

The right light can make anything look interesting, I guess...

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/500, f6.3, ISO 100

Day 312 — Crystal Ball

This is the sculpture that was used to create the shadow shot yesterday. Bruce Beasley (sculptor) worked in cast acrylic for ten years. In 1974, members of the undersea research community approached Beasley to see if he could adapt his technique to cast transparent bathyspheres for undersea exploration. He succeeded in creating the bathyspheres for Johnson Sea Link submersibles for Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute. It was these submersibles that were deployed to locate the crew compartment on the bottom of the ocean after the Space Shuttle Challenger disintegrated upon liftoff in 1986. — That tidbit courtesy of Wikipedia.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/800, f6.3, ISO 100

Day 311 — Infinity and Beyond

The news this week is filled with discussion of the UC Berkeley study which claims there are more inhabitable planets in the galaxy that we ever allowed ourselves to believe. This prompted me to grab an unusual sculpture by Bruce Beasley (Californian Abstract Expressionist sculptor) who was fascinated by the esthetics of transparency and acrylic spheres. 

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/250, f4, ISO 100

Day 310 — Angles and Planes

The African mask plant in shadow with the contrasting plane of the coffee table in the foreground.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/200, f7.1, ISO 100

Day 309 — Room to View

View with a view. These birds seem to be flying into their frame in this odd arrangement of shadows and forms.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 18-200mm) 1/250, f8, ISO 100, 18mm

Day 308 — Photo Bomb

Originally, I was going to only photograph the shadow of the African mask leaf, but as I pulled back the leaf itself came into view and rather than reposition the plant or camera to negate the intrusion, I allowed the leaf to peek into the composition.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 18-200mm) 1/200, f7.1, ISO 100

Day 307 — Wrong Side of the Bed

My partner is away at the moment and by chance I literally awoke on the wrong side of the bed this morning and immediately became captivated by the curve and light of the ceiling against the wall. I grabbed the camera and this is the result.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 18-200mm) 1/40, f3.5, ISO 100, 18mm

Day 306 — Dia de los Muertos

Although this is an inexpensive glass skull (actually a mere tea light candle holder), it evokes the legendary crystal skulls of Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. I love the imagery inherent in Day of the Dead celebrations which is evident all across the Mission District in San Francisco today.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/320, f1.8, ISO 100

Day 305 — Tamarind

This striking vase by Jonathan Adler has bold feminine proportions and is called Tamarind.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 18-200mm) 1/350, f5.3, ISO 100, 105mm