Browsing Tag

still life

Photo of the Week No. 51: “Stand Tall”

December 22, 2018

This Photo of the Week is a reminder to take a stand. This image of a vibrant yellow flower was taken in Soweto, South Africa, earlier this year at the Mandela House. When I consider the namesake of the venue, he (Nelson Mandela) is the epitome of standing up for what you believe in. The thing I like most about this photo is the contrast of the foreground and the background. The stately flower commands attention, even amid all the action happening on the other side of those bars. It makes me thing of the saying, “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.”

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Photo of the Week No. 49: “Show Your True Colors”

December 8, 2018

I call this Photo of the Week “Show Your True Colors” because it makes me think of the importance of being yourself. You were meant to stand out, not blend in. This image was captured on a rooftop in New York a few months back. As I was looking through the photos from that particular trip, I was struck by this vibrant cluster of flowers shrouded in darkness. This picture is a poignant reminder to let your light shine, especially when surrounded by dark times. You may feel outnumbered or overpowered, but know that you matter, that you are noticed, and your presence makes an impact — just like these dainty little flowers. Alternate titles: “On the Bright Side,” “This Little Light of Mine,” and “Bright and Mighty.”

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Photo of the Week No. 47: “Docked Boats in the Bay”

November 20, 2018

I call this Photo of the Week “Docked Boats in the Bay” because that’s basically what it is. LOL. I love this image because there’s so much to unpack. I kid you not, every time I look at this photo I discover a new detail that I hadn’t noticed before. The names on the boats. The San Francisco skyline in the background. The beautiful homes. The reflection of the scene in the water below. I can almost feel the crisp air and hear the birds chirping. It feels very much like a painting.

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Photo of the Week No. 43: “Home”

October 26, 2018

This Photo of the Week is dedicated to a place I once called “home.” This image is the address of my paternal grandparents’ house on the westside of Detroit. It’s a beautiful brick wonder full of character, warmth (Grandma has the heat cranked up to 80-something degrees at all times), love and memories. When I was about 6 years old, my Marine father was deployed to Saudi Arabia as part of Operation Desert Storm during the Gulf War, and me and my little brother Robert went to live with my Grandma Clara and Granddad Freddie while he was overseas. When my dad returned safely, this would be our summer home every year when school was out. Last week I found myself back there for a much-needed visit with my dad. My grandparents are getting up there in years — Grandma is 84 and Granddad is 93 — and while their health isn’t what it once was, their spirit is stronger than ever. It did my heart well to go back home, even if for only a few days. (*Cues “Home” from “The Wiz.”)

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Photo of the Week No. 41: “Paint It Black (And Yellow)”

October 11, 2018

This Photo of the Week is striking as an image that captures a special moment in time, as the paint on this petite, square canvas hasn’t yet dried. It’s fresh. It’s as if the artist is just outside of the frame pondering his or her next brushstroke, or whether the painting has reached its completion. The artist deliberately selected black and yellow to fill the canvas, and is generous with covering the block. The stripes and swipes in the piece make quite a bold statement in such a small space. Alternate titles: “Not-So-Mellow Yellow (And Black),” “Abstract Bee,” “Quaint Paint,” and “Madness on Canvas.”

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Photo of the Week No. 39: Tulips by the Twenties

September 25, 2018

This Photo of the Week features a beautiful flower bed filled with lily white tulips. This picture was taken this past spring during a jaunt to Magnolia in Waco, Texas, for their magical Spring at the Silos event. This image is fresh on my mind as I get ready to head back to Texas — this time Houston — for a quick work trip. I love the contrast here of the fresh, lush flowers against the backdrop of the rugged, rust-stained silo. I wonder if the local flora will be as impressive in the fall. I’ll report back, of course. In the meantime, get into these alternate titles: “Too Legit Tulips” and “Tiptoe Through the Tulips.”

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Photo of the Week No. 37: Bouquet of Brushes

September 12, 2018

I could stare at this bouquet of brushes for hours. This Photo of the Week showcases the simple, effortless beauty of a jar of paintbrushes. For some reason, the brushes as a metaphor for people came to mind. Think about it. They’re all intertwined, each unique but experiencing this shared circumstance. The paintbrushes have varying degrees of wear and tear, and exude their own style. Which one are you? Maybe you’re the thin blue brush that’s just over it. Maybe you’re the exact opposite: The skinny white brush — poised, unblemished and ready for action. Or maybe you’re more of the strong, silent type like the brown brush directly behind it. Or the one completely out of place, on the table top. I think I identify with the wild-bristled little brush with the slightest flecks of white paint. It’s been through a lot. Its bristles are unruly but it’s standing tall. It still has work to do. Still has some fight in it. Here’s to seeing the extraordinary in the smallest, ordinary things.

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Photo of the Week No. 31: “Yaaasss to Yarn”

July 30, 2018

This Photo of the Week features a bright basket of yarn that made me fall “thread” over heels. See what I did there?! LOL. This image was captured at a crafting corner. Though the subject is something so simple, upon closer review, it captures a pretty complex scene. There’s a lot going on with the patterned tablecloth and tools, but the yarn in the foreground steals the show with its vibrant hues. And there’s a stray orange string ever so gently draped across the front of the basket. I also appreciate how the polka dots (I love me some dots!) get a little love, too. Alternate titles: “Cooler Threads Will Prevail,” “Darn That’s a Lot of Yarn,” “From Thread to Toe” and “Thread-to-Thread Format.”

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Photo of the Week No. 27: “Plumes of Peonies”

July 2, 2018

I haven’t met a peony that I didn’t like, and seeing these here peonies was love at first sight. That’s why they’re the star of this Photo of the Week. At first glance, my mind takes me to tropical settings, thanks to the popping pink color on the flowers, the vibrant green leaves and the red branches in the arrangement. These flowers look like they’d be in the lobby of a swanky hotel, but reality this image was taken at a café. Always take time to ~~smell the roses~~ photograph the peonies!

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Photo of the Week No. 23: “Langa Landscape”

June 4, 2018

This Photo of the Week is one of many from my recent travels to South Africa — the Langa township, more specifically. You guys, it really was a treasure trove of unique sights and sounds. Saddle up, because this isn’t the last of township images that are bound to make the cut as future Photos of the Week. This image is one of the stark reminders of beauty being any and everywhere. To the lay person, this is an unkempt lawn rife with reminders of scarcity. To me, it’s the manifestation of life at odds. It’s where beauty meets struggle. The colors, the half cab of the truck — they demand your attention. I couldn’t look away. Hopefully this image moves you in some way or makes you see things from a different lens.

To see previous Photos of the Week, click here.