Last week I learned that … big is not always beautiful!
I have been using my Nikon SLR for year or so and taken some photography courses and become become quite proficient. Using many of the non-automatic gizmos, I have collected a fine gallery. I even took ‘it’ to Brazil and took some memorable shots and plan to take a camera again this year.
However, I have learned that a camera like the Nikon is more of a hindrance than pleasure in more ways than one. First its ‘camera’ like appearance gives the owner at a glance the look of a ‘rich’ tourist and a easy target for the opportunist thief. Suffice to say I am not a rich tourist, but I do not wish to encourage a thief or risk injury.
Number two, I am not able to point and shoot, each shot is carefully considered and staged. Spectacular scenes in a busy city, beside a turbulent sea or in a cable car are feats best left to the experts and those with nerves of steel,.
Three, the said camera alone without its required paraphernalia that looks so attractive in the adverts or slung in the back of a 4×4, on the the back of a 5’2’’ granny it is not such a pretty sight or practical.
Finally having taken the photos I still needed to down load to the laptop; sadly camera, laptop and internet access were not always available at the same time and in the same place!.
So it is with some regret that I will loose my trusty friend; although it was difficult learning experience with my Nikon, it seems we have come to a place of ease with each other.
I have bought a rather nice compact camera which seems more like a computer but with the option to use as a SLR if required.
At first the with its added digital devices and applications I saw a monster and was more than a little anxious. However after a few days and ‘playing’ I appear to have an angel. I can send pictures here there and everywhere. I can use it to write my blog, post pictures and publish, send to Twitter and Facebook anywhere in the world. It is 50% smaller than my old camera with nothing more than a tripod when the light is poor when I use it as an SLR. This means that I can now take my camera anywhere and take advantages of the visual delights or not of my environment
Silent Sunday
Saturday Celebration ….
Today with great joy I celebrate the use of my new camera.
For the last few Saturdays I have tried to photograph an image for my blog and with the lack of light and indeed limited subject matter I have failed.
For other reasons I have decided to buy a new camera. However, I am not a wizz at things technical so it it has taken me almost a week to ‘point and shoot’
Much longer in fact than it would have taken me to take a dozen images with my ‘other’ camera all in focus!!
However it is a proud moment for me!!
I will watch also the growth of these Irises with you _/\_ x
Friday’s library snapshot … Kate Greenaway
Kate Greenaway was born in Hoxton, London in 1846. Daughter of a prominent wood-engraver and artist, her talent was recognised early, and she received excellent art training at local schools and at London’s Slade School. It was her childhood holidays at her aunt’s house in Rolleston, Nottinghamshire, which instilled her love for nature and of flowers. Soon after the publication of her first book Under the window in 1878 Kate moved to Hampstead, London where she lived until her death in 1901.
Kate Greenaway was a pioneer in creating children’s books intended to delight rather than to instruct the young reader. Her success was instantaneous, her fame was widespread, and her popularity has continued to this day.
Further reading The Kate Greenaway Treasury introduction by Ruth Hill Viguers.
Alphabe Thursday … J is for the Queen(s) of Jazz
Queen (s) of Jazz Ella Fitzgerald, Connee Boswell and Mamie Smith
‘Ella Fitzgerald AKA First Lady of Song , Queen of Jazz and Lady Ella was a jazz singer with a vocal range spanning three octaves. She was noted for her purity of tone, perfect diction, phrasing and intonation and a ‘horn-like improvisational ability, particularly in her scat – singing’.
Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996) was born to William and Temperance Fitzgerald who split up soon after her birth. Mother and baby moved from Virginia to Yonkers, New York, where Ella’s mother reunited with an old boyfriend and had another daughter Frances in 1923.
The family were Methodists and regularly attended worship services, bible study and Sunday School at the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Ella wanted to be a dancer and loved to listen to records by Louis Armstrong, Bing Crosby and the Boswell Sisters in particular Connee. Her mother brought home one of her records and Ella ‘fell in love with it’ and went to great lengths to sound like her.
After her mother died in 1932; Ella missed a lot of schooling and was abused by her stepfather. After being in several institutions, for orphans and ‘training,’ Ella was homeless.
Ella made her first appearance at a one of the earliest ‘Amatuer Nights’ at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem where she already pulled a regular audience. She planned to dance, but that night the Edward Sisters a local dance troupe looked favourable, so Ella decided to sing a songs recently recorded by the Boswells; Judy and The object of my affection and won the first prize of 25 dollars.
Connee Boswell, in turn was was influenced by Mamie Smith (nee Robinson) (1883-1946)
It is thought that Mamie Robinson was born in Cincinnati. She began working as a dancer at 10 years old and continued touring with various troupes until she began to sing in Harlem clubs and married a waiter called William Smith.
Soon after this Mamie became recognised as a vaudeville singer, dancer, pianist and actress. She appeared in several films, first was an early sound film Jailhouse Blues. Mamie retired from recording and performing in 1931 but appeared in a couple more films in the early 1940s.
However it was as a vaudeville performer, singing in various styles including jazz and blues, that she made her biggest impact and go on to influence other rising stars.
She made a significant mark in blues history as being the first African American artist to make a vocal blues recording in 1920.
Mamie died in 1946 in New York.
100 Word Challenge for Grown Ups – Week#74
Sun Rise at Leme Beach, Rio.
Extreme weather means or is often likened to a multitude of things; such as a raging warrior, an untamed creature, a runaway train, a cooling shower, walking on hot coals or being exposed to a icy deep freeze.
A thundering lightning storm is as dramatic as any firework display. The fleeting glimpse of the rising sun or indeed its setting would put any theatrical display in the shade.
The weather is beyond compare it will never be corrected,tamed or stopped in its tracks. Its extremes of hot or cold will never be within the confines of an on/off switch or its beauty restrained.
Wednesday’s Wise woman … Connee Boswell
Connee Boswell (1907-1976 ) was singer songwriter born in Kansas City and raised in New Orleans. With her sisters, Martha and Helvetia in the 1930’s she performed as the Boswell Sisters and became a highly influential singing group; making records and radio performances. It is said that she was one of the greatest female jazz singers and had a major influence on Ella Fitzgerald. Connee, in turn was influenced by the African American singer Mamie Smith and and sang in her style on the record Crying Blues.
While the Boswells enjoyed local notoriety it was not until they moved to New York and where they were able to make national Radio broadcasts and sign up to other record companies that they became famous. Then they employed a manager and performed for the ‘soundies’ likened to our music videos played at cinemas as a promotional features for later performances.
In 1936 her sisters retired and Connee continued a successful solo career with Decca.
Due to a childhood malady, it was not known whether it was as result of polio or a fall, Connee always sang from a wheelchair or in a seated position. During the war Connee was not able to travel to overseas to give motivating concerts to the troops. The Army didn’t think a singer in a wheelchair would boost the morale of the soldiers!
The Boswells
Connee performed regularly with Bing Crosby and Eddie Cantor and made several hit records with them both.
Although Connee’s career did slacken off during the 1950s; she did continue to make records and television appearances.
Connee Boswell died in 1976 of stomach cancer
Weekly Photo Challenge … Beyond
This picture taken on Sunday is of the Kennet and Avon Canal at Reading, Berkshire just before it meets the Thames that leads beyond to another world.
Weekly Photography Challenge … Weather
Weather and I are partners; not always the best of buddies. I was born one February night on the River Hamble on a houseboat; a child of the river. From that day, the state of the weather has always been my concern or rather my father’s; a boat builder and recently demobbed merchant seaman from the war. He would have listened to the shipping forecast, the night before and studied the tide tables, to ensure the boats in his care were secure and following day his tasks would be governed by the weather, the ‘state of the tide”and the strength and direction of the wind.
He had an expression that he used often, but not easily understood; ‘We are having weather today’ this meant; I believe that he wasn’t sure what was happening but he would wait and see. Generally he gave weather the utmost respect and space and he managed the situation …and rarely grumbled even in the most extreme conditions.
I no longer live on the river but cycle daily and the weather is still carefully considered as I step out of bed until I return at the end of the and my trusty steed is in the bike shed. However for the last few days I have not taken any chances and the bike has remained at home.
Last week I learned that being a grandparent is a work in progress …
I have five grandchildren a boy and a girl by my son and his wife in Hampshire and three boys by my eldest daughter and son-in-law in Essex. I share a good and fulfilling relationship with all of them. The Essex boys are a lively crowd who play the game admirably. I am a Grandma with traditional values that they meet most of the time. They have learned to press all the right buttons and keep the peace during our visits.
I in turn am expected to know the current fashion in boys wear and be up to date with size, preferred colour and favoured football term. How foolish I would be if I arrived with the strip for Arsenal in size 8 years when he has since signed his allegiance to Tottenham Hotspur! Seriously, I would not buy football wear not just for the above reason; more the cost!! However, my dear boys have, while learning some good manners know that I will not be fulfilling this particular need.
Another requirement in the quid pro quo is that I respond suitably to the toilet jokes that I have been hearing for the last 5 years as each one has reached this particular stage of his development. Then, there is the laughter before and after the noisy and often smelly bodily functions. With raised eyebrows and trying not to encourage them; knowing that any continuation might mean a parent, keen for the children to be performing in other more dignify areas might over react. Whilst I do not wish to undermine the parents, and their need for perfect behaviour during the grandparent’s visit; I do remember trying to fart or burp loudly and I did get over it!.
So in a bid to distract from this attention seeking type of mis – behaviour; I usually arrive with some tools and something I made earlier so we can spend the day making something. It might be food based so the boys and I enjoy preparing lunch or making a cake. As they have grown so the craft has developed and become almost sophisticated. Before Christmas they successfully designed and made ‘hand printed’ greeting cards that anyone would be pleased to receive!
During the summer they enjoyed making herb gardens in containers on a sunny patio.
Encouraged by their enthusiasm and improving dexterity I thought I might teach them to sew. Thinking they would perhaps not want to learn the way I had as child fifty odd years ago; turning cuffs and collars, side to middle sheets and darning socks. I will have to resort to the compromises we had learned over the last few years and begin with something a bit funky … do you think I have gone a step too far.
Coat Hanger Doll's House 