Winter of a Broken Heart

"Oh it seems the sun will never shine, The skies are so gray...
and the heart you left broken is lonely" - Alison Krauss

Barren and lonely, grey with a chilling breeze...

This is Green Space East, a small (-ish) natural spot in our area. It is a little isolated, the nearest public parking is just under a mile along the bike trail. Which gets you to a 0.8 mile loop around this open area. If I did my math right, the open space is probably 30-35 acres. In the past, I've seen deer, coyote, lots of birds. and rarely people.  That last part is a favorite.

Anyway, I did the (not quite) 3 mile walk this day, and didn't see more than a couple of people walking their dogs. This was the most interesting photo I could manage. Some days are like that.  Especially January days.

2019 Year in Photography... Post 1 of ???

Not sure how many of these I'll end up doing, no more that 2 or 3....   But this is the first.

As the geeky person I am, I track my participation at 365project.org.  So what are the numbers from last year?

I posted 461 photos to the site just over 5 photos every 4 days.  Of course, the actual number of photos per day would vary quite a bit, within the range of 0-5 (I had 5 albums available during the year).  From those 461 photos, I had 144 selected for the site's "Popular" page, not quite 33%.  And 53 selected for the "Trending" page, a bit over 1 in 10 and a bit over 1/week average.

I'm pretty pleased with that.  By comparison, I had 344 photos in 2018, with 67 "Popular" and 13 Trending.  So, my rate of "Populars" was up 60%, and my rate of "Trendings" was up over 200%.  So, not just quantity, but (by one set of measures) quality.

One of my specific goals for the year was to enter more of the site's Challenges.  I already did a post on that (here).  I don't have numbers for 2018, but I'm sure my participation was a lot higher in 2019, and I'm satisfied with my rate of getting finalists (which was 43%).

I do plan to stick with 365project in 2020.  In fact, today (1/6) marks the first day of my 6th year there.  Pretty cool!

Muskrat

Had a nice walk at Watershed Nature Center the other day, a bit cool, but sunny.  On the Marsh Walk section of the trail, I saw several muskrats.  But only one who was polite enough to sit still while I took some photos.

Still, he (she?) could've been more helpful, perhaps facing TOWARDS the camera.  And a bit less of a grumpy glare?

Oh well, maybe next time.

Happenstance Photography - Top Images of 2019

OK, last one of the series, until next year, at least.  I was looking back over the past few years at my Happenstance Photography blog, and decided to see what my Top viewed photos have been year by year.  Pretty easy, I just copy-pasted from the stats page to Excel, and sorted by views.  I'll go with the Top 5, + ties.

So, to continue, here are the most popular posts from 2019, sorted by most view to least.

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Seagull

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All Alone Together

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Arc, Ice

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Water's Edge

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A Leaf Aloof

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January Sky

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There you have it.  Not necessarily my favorites (but could be!), nor my "best"...  maybe not even "Top" just most viewed.  Check back in a year for 2020!

If you didn't know, Happenstance Photography is my blog dedicated to my black an white photography.  No frills, no fuss, no music or rants.  Not better, nor worse.  But just images..

Here's the others in the series

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

Mushrooms

A couple of mushroom shots from yesterday's walk at Watershed Nature Center.  I noticed these little mushrooms on a dead log along the trail, had to work on my macro...  I tend to stink at macro, but I'm actually pretty pleased with how these turned out.  

The cluster in the top photo were probably 1.5" across, the bottom one was a little smaller.

My phone ap was not able to identify them, so we'll just say "Mushrooms".  If there are any mycologists out there, feel free to help out!

Happy 2020!

First post of the New Year, hope everyone had a good 2019, and has a great 2020!!

The past week or so has been particularly bad from a photography standpoint, but it was a pleasant day today, so I dragged myself (and my camera) up to Watershed Nature Center to see what I could see.

And one of the things I saw was muskrats!  I saw 3 or 4, but this was the only one to hang near the trail long enough for me to snap a couple of photos.  It would've been better if he (she?) were facing towards me, but you take what you're given...

ACC-112: 47 Commando - There is no reason

Over at 365project, Album Cover Challenge #112 is just about closed.  I just got an entry in, almost missed it with the holiday business.  Meanwhile, it doesn't look like I ever posted my entry for ACC-111...  I suppose I ought to, or you can just click through and see it on 365project.

Anyway, here's my entry for ACC112.

Explanation of the game here:  Album Cover Challenge, round 112.


My random band name is:  47 Commando. 
"47 Commando (Raiding Group) Royal Marines, formerly 1 Assault Group Royal Marines (2001-2019), provides the Royal Marines expertise and training in small boat operations, both amphibious and riverine. In addition, it trains and parents the Assault Squadrons of the Royal Marines (ASRM) and their landing craft detachments.[1] It is based at RM Tamar in HMNB Devonport, Plymouth."


My album name is from a John Cage quote: The first question I ask myself when something doesn't seem to be beautiful is why do I think it's not beautiful. And very shortly you discover that there is no reason."

This is a older photo, just something I dug up on my hard drive that seemed to fit the title.  I think I was a little inspired by the album cover from Rusty Young's recent album.  Operative word being little.



Check out all of my album cover challenge entries here.

Happenstance Photography - Top Images of 2018

Time for something a little different.  I was looking back over the past few years at my Happenstance Photography blog, and decided to see what my Top viewed photos have been year by year.  Pretty easy, I just copy-pasted from the stats page to Excel, and sorted by views.  I'll go with the Top 5, + ties.

So, to continue, here are the most popular posts from 2018, sorted by most view to least.

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Deer Plain

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Quiet Moment

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Randomness #9415

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Private Entrance

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Stumped

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There you have it.  Not necessarily my favorites (but could be!), nor my "best"...  just most popular.  Check back in 2 weeks for 2019!

Birding

Today was one of my "off" Fridays, so I ran up to Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary, in West Alton.  I managed a few photos...

Pretty sure this is a pair of Trumpeter Swans.  Well, I'm quite sure it is a pair, pretty sure it is Trumpeter Swans.  My phone Ap says some sort of swan, some internet digging suggests Trumpeter rather than Tundra.

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Great Blue Heron, hanging out on the ice on Alton Slough.  There were several of this herons hanging around on the ice, but mostly backlit.  Challenging lighting, but I managed a few decent shots.

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2019 Looking back – themes and competitions

One of my goals at 365project for 2019 was to be more “intentional” about entering themes and competitions.  While I’ve frequently entered these challenges, it’s only been when I notice them. I decided to pick a few, and make an effort to enter the regularly.  To that end, I reviewed Wendy’s S-list, and selected 9 ongoing challenges to focus on.   And, being an engineer, I made a spreadsheet.  

Here’s the list of 9 challenges for 2019.  Sorted by frequency of entering:

• Song Title – 100%
• Eye Of The Beholder (EOTB) – 92%
• Edit The Stuffing Out Of It (ETSOOI) – 91%
• Landscape – 90%
• Scenes From The Road – 85%
• Album Cover Challenge – 75%
• What Would You Do (WWYD) – 70%
• Abstract – 67%
• Minimalist – 55%

Note, these are not the only challenges I’ve participated in, but I did follow and stress these 9.

So, how’d that work out?  Well, through today (12/19), there were 102 editions of these challenges (8.8 challenges of the 9 topics).  And I had at least 1 entry in 82 of them, an 80.4% participation rate.  I entered 100% of the Song Title challenges, and also had over 90% participation for EOTB, ETSOOI and Landscape.

I don’t have numbers for 2018 (or earlier) but I’m confident it was MUCH lower.

And since I tracked it, I can tell you that I made finalist in 41.5% of the challenges I entered, and I had at least 1 finalist in every category except "abstract".  I only had 3 wins (3.7% of entered), though.  Frankly, I can live with those numbers.

So, what does this mean for 2020?  Well, I think I’m going to continue the program, but tweak the stable.  Here’s my list of challenges to focus on for 2020. (keeping it at 9 for consistency)

• Scenes From the Road
• Album Cover Challenge
• Edit The Stuffing Out Of It (ETSOOI)
• Song Title
• Eye Of The Beholder (EOTB)
• What Would You Do (WWYD)
• Black and White
• Technique
• 365project Monthly Theme

Each of 3 additions are challenges I’ve participated in, at least occasionally.  And it seems odd that I didn’t pick Black and White last year…   The three I’m dropping (Landscape, Minimalist, Abstract) are ones where I just didn’t seem to be enthused.  I’m sure I’ll still enter each of them all along, just not as a focus.

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Do you want to build a snowman?

My granddaughter made this little snowman this week. Not quite 3' tall, more Olaf than Frosty... or even Sam the Snowman...   Regardless, she named him Freddy.


Not sure why he doesn't have eyes, I should've asked...

A Know Not Known To All...

So, I was listening to Stanley Clarke's 1976 album "School Days" on the way to work today.  But somehow, between the car and my desk, Maria Muldar's "Midnight At The Oasis" wedged into my mind.  Specifically the lines "I know your daddy's a sultan, a known not known by all"... 

Who knows why these things pop into your head (or mine)?  Guess I'll have to deal with it.

What Would You Do #188

As I've noted before, one of the Challenges over at 365project I rather like is "What Would You Do?" (WWYD).

The host uploads a photo, and participants edit it as they like.  As the rules state:  " ... anything goes! You can keep as much or not as much of the original image as you like."  The host picks 5-6 finalists, and members at the site vote.  The winner hosts the next round.  Anyway,

WWYD is one of the challenges I do pretty regularly.  It looks like the first WWYD was December 2010, long before I joined the site.  There have been 11 editions of WWYD in 2019, and I have entered 8 of them. I've not won this year, and only have 3 finalists. (That's 3 of the 7 completed editions I've entered).

Anyway, here's the start point for the latest edition, WWYD-188:

Angel by Suzanne

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I decided to do this round on my iPhone, using the free aps I have for the tweaks.  And here's what I came up with:

WWYD#188 - edits by LSqrd

The challenge is open until 12/31/20019, plenty of time for you to join 365project.org, and create your entry!1  As of now, there's only 7 entries, will probably less than 20 when it closes.  be Give it a shot!

Album Review: Patrick Simmons - Arcade

Patrick Simmons is one of the founding members of the Doobie Brothers, and the only member to appear on all of their studio albums (Tom Johnston missed 3 albums from '77 through '80).

This solo album was released in 1983, not long after the Doobies broke up (they would reform in 1989).  I had no idea this album existed, until I came across it at a used record store a while back.  Not long ago, after the Doobie Brother were nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame (RRHOF), I saw it at a different used record store, and decided to pick it up.

Overall, it's pretty solid, although it is definitely a product of the mid 80's (early-mid 80's, at least).  Very slick and polished.  A lot closer to Michael McDonald era Doobies that previous.  Then again, McDonald provides Keyboards, Synths, Backing Vocals...  And he co wrote one of the songs (Why You Givin’ Up).  Patrick Simmons co-wrote 6 of the 10 songs on this album, which is pretty respectable for the time.  It includes a cover of the old Chi-Lites song "How You Seen Her?"  Unfortunately (IMHO) it songs toomuch like the original.  I'd've preferred a take more like the Doobie Brother did with the HDH song "Take Me In Your Arms".

There were actually two singles from this album.  "So Wrong" peaked at #30 in May of 1983, and "Don't Make Me Do It" managed #75 in July 1985.  (Billboard Hot 100).  The album peaked at #52.


As I said, it's slick but solid.  Not as memorable as one would hope, but nothing remotely bad, either.  If you like later Doobie Brothers, you'll dig it.  I'd give it 3.5 of 5.0 stars.


 They say a picture is worth 1,000 words, so here's 2 to show what I'm trying to say with "slick".  The photo on the left is Patrick Simmons, on the album cover for Arcade.  On the right is Patrick Simmons on stage, from the early 70's Doobie Brothers.  Neither is right or wrong.  But different

Oh, and GOOD LUCK to the Doobie Brothers, hoping they make it in to the RRHOF.

Interesting side note:  This is the only solo album I have by former Doobie Brothers, though it looks like there are others.  Here's what the internet says, just for the original lineup (1971-1975):

• 1979 - Tom Johnston - Everything You've Heard Is True
• 1981 - Tom Johnston - Still Feels Good
• 1983 - Patrick Simmons - Arcade
• 1995 - Tiran Porter - Playing To An Empty House
• 1995 - Patrick Simmons - Take Me to the Highway

AND:
Check out all my album reviews here:
https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7916868#editor/target=post;postID=772328777258642897

Mushrooms...

Spotted on an old tree stump, on the walking path behind Edwardsville Township Park.  I had a heck of a time capturing this, I do struggle with macro.  This is from my phone, The results from my X-T3 were not acceptable.

There's actually quite a lot of tweaking here.  I didn't log my workflow, but there's a big crop, drop in saturation, big boost to shadows, decrease contrast, and adding some Gaussian blurto the left and bottom foreground.

Below is the starting point, straight from my iPhone: