February 2013 – Page 2 – Ruth E. Hendricks Photography

Michael, 7, Master LEGO® Builder

Sunday afternoon, Michael, 7, asked me if I would photograph his LEGO® vehicle and put it on the blog.

Now how can any grandma resist that invitation? Michael loves to create, construct and play with LEGO®. We just don’t like stepping on them.

(I pronounced him the “master” LEGO® builder although there might be an official designation with a credential he’d have to earn from LEGO® U)

The close-up of the vehicle. In the background? When I looked at the photo on the computer screen I noticed my father’s rocking chair in my son Mark’s office.

Here is the first photo, when Michael called down to me and asked me if I would photograph his STAR WARS LEGO® vehicle and put it on the blog.

I said, sure.

Then he came down the stairs and put on the finishing touches so I could shoot it. It tickles me how the grandchildren know all about the blog.

Friday night, four year old Maura told me I could bring my computer to her room and blog before bed. (That’s Maura on the bottom right with a hockey stick, climbing up the stairs.)

February 18, 2013February 18, 2013 by Ruth Categories: Childhood, PhotographyTags: blogging, childhood, Columbus OH, family, grandchildren, LEGO®, photograpy, postaday, star wars lego, toys, travel 12 Comments

February 17, 2013February 17, 2013 by Ruth Categories: photo of the day, PhotographyTags: faucet, photography, plumbing, postaday, retro sink, sink, spigot, tap, travel, weather, winter 11 Comments

Weekly Photo Challenge: Kiss

For the weekly challenge I looked to my own family to help me out.

I figured they wouldn’t mind. The wedding clothes photos are the ones I took 6 months after the wedding. Thanks Laura and James. (Hope it’s okay!) Love, Ma

February 15, 2013February 15, 2013 by Ruth Categories: Weekly Photo ChallengeTags: Columbus Ohio, daily post, family, kiss, photography, Short North, travel, wedding, weekly photo challenge: Kiss 25 Comments

Winter Supper Still Life

A friend invited me for a winter supper after school today. A nice invitation as the week was winding down. It was refreshing and delicious.

Doesn’t it always taste better when someone prepares food, sets a table and serves it to you?

Vegetable Soup with Pesto. Bread and Olive Oil. Spring Mix, Tomatoes and Olives with Oil & Vinegar.

Pumpkin Bread and Fruit

February 14, 2013February 14, 2013 by Ruth Categories: Cooking and Eating, PhotographyTags: eating and cooking, food, fresh fruit, friendship, home, iPhone photography, photography, postaday, supper, vegetable soup and pesto, winter supper 13 Comments

I Drove Home in a Snow Globe

and of course, returned to the park. It’s just blocks from my house. And the light was low, the visibility poor. A stark and magnificent beauty in the midst of the storm.

What were the trees doing today? One day winter, one day Spring, one day freezing and dark, one day a warm sun but a chill in the wind. I wanted to see the branches outlined in snow. The dark branches highlighted with the new fallen snow. Actually, falling snow.

I was rewarded with a stunning winter scene, just before dusk.

It had started to snow while I was at school. The sky heavy and gray. Big big flakes. Melting on the street as it was 38 degrees. I drove home in a snow globe.

Oh yes, today I got out of the car, scared off a squirrel and photographed the snowy park bench and my favorite tree. The sounds muffled by the new snow, barely sticking to the road but highlighting the curved lines.

these are unretouched color photographs

Two roads diverged….

Home to tea. Homemade spaghetti and cheese, steamed broccoli. Leftover fortune cookie and a mandarin orange. Winter.

February 13, 2013February 13, 2013 by Ruth Categories: In the snow, Photography, Things in the SnowTags: city scene, HIghland Park, nature, neighborhood, park bench, park bench in snow, photography, Pittsburgh PA, postaday, snow globe, Snowstorm, travel, trees, winter, winter scene 26 Comments

Winter Sun on a Chain Link Fence

The neighborhood of Bloomfield.

February 12, 2013February 12, 2013 by Ruth Categories: Light in the City, PhotographyTags: Bloomfield, city scene, houses, neighborhood, photography, postaday, sunlight, travel, winter sun 13 Comments

Tree in Snow, Tree in Sun

Another in my winter tree series. Actually I drove through the park today and the snow is gone. See the tree below.

I wanted to post the trees in silhouette, though and the sinking sun behind the trunk.

It ‘s the warmth of the sun on the snow that appeals to me.

My drives through the park after school on my way home have help me appreciate the beauty of the winter.

A different tree but this is the angle of the sun at the time I was driving into the entrance of Highland Park.

Today on the way home, the car thermometer read 63 degrees. Here’s what my trip into the park yielded Monday afternoon. Find the car to check the scale of the tree. Because of the mottled peeled bark, I believe it’s a giant sycamore. Long shadows and blue sky with pretty clouds made it feel like April.

February 11, 2013February 11, 2013 by Ruth Categories: PhotographyTags: city scene, HIghland Park, nature, photography, Pittsburgh PA, silhouette, snow, sunset in snow, travel, tree, weather, winter, winter scene 14 Comments

You Can Submit a Photo of a Photo to Dear Photograph

Today I received an email from my son’s FIL, Donald, about a photo concept and website- take a picture of an old photograph in the same location where it was taken. He must have seen it and knew it would be something I would enjoy looking at. Boy, I’ll say……………..

The website is Dear Photograph and now that I’ve gone and read about it all, I must be the last to hear about it.

Dear Photograph is all over the news. It was even on the TODAY show. There’s a book of photographs using this concept that the young author/photographer Taylor Jones has authored. Simple and satisfying. Touching and fun.

So I looked at what was done and thought I would dig out a few photographs and give it a try. I just skimmed the tip of the iceberg as I limited my search to one box and a single framed photo – the one of the family in front of the house is Fall 1991, the year we moved into the house. Laura was in the third grade, Matthew fifth and Mark a Sophomore in HS.

And then I tried it. I found it tricky to hold up the photo and shoot with one hand. These are shot with the iPhone camera. I’m sure with a bit of balancing and practice the outcome could be improved but it was fun and I enjoyed trying to capture the photo of the photo.

Here are the results. Thank you Taylor Jones for the cool inspiration. I know the blogging community probably knows all about you and your website already but I’m glad Donald sent me the link to your website this morning. See what you can come up with using your old photographs. Having moved9 times in 16 years, there are a lot of photos of places I can’t return to and take the shot.

My pans have changed a bit from the Farberware to the All-Clad. Not totally but the rack is the same. Different stove. I still have the vase, too.

February 10, 2013February 10, 2013 by Ruth Categories: PhotographyTags: Dear Photograph, digital photography, family, film, high school, home, nostalgia, photography, Pittsburgh, postaday, Taylor Jones, travel, vintage 20 Comments

Happy Chinese New Year- Year of the Snake

Mine is a single photograph today…..For a beautiful and informative post on the Chinese New Year be sure to click here

February 10, 2013February 10, 2013 by Ruth Categories: Cooking and Eating, Pittsburgh PhotosTags: candlelgiht, Chinese Cookbook, chinese lantern, Chinese Zodiac, cooking and eating, fortune cookies, Happy c, Happy Chinese New Year, home decor, How to Cook and Eat in Chinese, Lanterns, Mirth and Motivation blog, tulips, Year of the Snake 11 Comments

Weekly Photo Challenge: Home

Neighbor's Home in a Lawn Ball — Neighbor’s Home in a Lawn Ball

I can’t believe it took me so long to start responding to the Weekly Photo Challenges. All those challenges unanswered.

This week is home. The WordPress Weekly Challenge allows me to go through some archived files and think about the theme.

What I’m drawn to. What caught my eye.

No shortage of photos to post for home this week.

When I drive into my driveway after work I feel I am truly home. What makes you feel at home?

The gallery option isn’t really cooperating for me today. (Ooops. I read in the article Are You Boring? Seven Tips for Knowing if You ‘re Boring Someone on the Happiness Project blog by Gretchen Rubin to never mention computer problems)