Fixed Orbits

In this case I was confronted by this collection of pottery at the beginning of the museum's African collection. The spherical shape and the brilliant arrangement of these pots reminded me of circling planets. Thus the title of today's post.

Magic Mask

New Orleans is gearing up for Mardi Gras and so some of the shops along Bourbon and Royal streets are stocked with masks. This one struck my fancy because of its color, though I'll admit that the processing for this one (as with yesterday's post) involved some pretty strong software filters.

A Study In Green

I was wandering through the French Quarter and I bumped in to the Louisiana Supreme Court Building. I took several photos but this is one I liked the most.This is an iPhone photo and I'll admit that this photo is heavily doctored. I started in an app called Filter Mania and finished in Instagram. Like it or not, doctored photos are all the rage these days.

Pink

Tiny Dancer

I am going on my third full day in New Orleans and I still haven't found what I would called a "brilliant" photo. Nor has one found me. In analyzing this, I realized that when I'm not attending the photo conference I am at, I am more tourist than photographer. And there's a difference.The difference lies in intent, I think. I carry my camera almost everywhere but generally I am more intent on seeing things or on soaking up the culture and ambiance of New Orleans. I am not really intending on taking photos.When I go out to take photos, normally nothing else matters. Hunger, thirst and often even self disappear. And when I'm a tourist, that generally doesn't happen. And when I am in the company of people as I am at this conference, I can almost guarantee that it doesn't happen.Tomorrow is my last day here, and I will try to find the opportunity to become a photographer. Meanwhile, I am posting a photo I took near Jackson Square. Though the musicians were great, I found dancing girl especially intriguing.By the way, I have a parallel Microblog called "The Things I See" and I've posted a few of the photos I've taken in New Orleans. Go here:The Things I See

01-15-12 Bourbon Street Musicians

There was very strong sunlight backlighting this bluegrass group and I wasn't sure how my camera would handle it, but I think it turned out OK.I wouldn't normally shoot into the sun as much as I did in this photo but I guess this is a good example of the "what have you got to lose?" philosophy.

Who Dat?

How about a group portrait of 4 of my second year Photo/Media students? And how about posing them in the famous Lafayette Cemetery #1 in the Garden District of New Orleans? Perfect!

Spiral Stairs

Is this a chambered nautilus shell? No, it's a carved stone spiral staircase in the "government building" in the amazing German town named Rothenburg o.d.T.

A View From Rothenburg

He Runs; I Don't

As I stood on the beach, camera in hand, I waited for something to make this beach scene a little more interesting. Off in the distance, I saw a figure running towards me along the shoreline. A fit athlete? Even better, a fit female athlete? In a bikini?No. Instead, it was an older man who made me feel like slacker as I stood and watched him run past me.Exhausted from the rigors of the photo shoot, I went to the beach bar and ordered a margarita.

Infinity

Soft, blue and pink morning light as seen from the window seat on a plane bound for Mexico.

Azul Picena

In other words, "blue pool."Canon 5DII 1/250s f/8.0 ISO100 17mm