After Artist's Way - Portrait of a Sometimes Poet

What Do You Believe?

2013-05-18T10:22:00.003-07:00

I'm just curious: what is it you believe today?

Try it - you might just end up in a poem. (And yes, this question is as loose as it seems.)

Just fill in the blank below. Take as much time as you need.

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...

The New Camera, and My Cat

2013-04-05T16:09:00.001-07:00

Poor dear. As it is quite rainy, my cat finds herself the unlucky target of my shooting practice.

This is my practice with the new 60mm lens. Not sure if this was a wise choice, but I'm going to learn how to use it. Best used for copy and close-up work. And for counting cat hairs.

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Well over a year later, my conclusion is that this has been a fantastic lens for me. Love it for macros of flowers, and it's good also for copy work.

Fine Art America link to my photo gallery - Ronda Broatch Photos

2013-04-05T16:08:00.000-07:00

Ronda Broatch Photos on Fine Art America

2012-09-27T15:08:00.001-07:00

Close-up Photos on Fine Art America

2012-07-21T16:49:00.001-07:00

close-up photos

There are some beautiful shots on this site~

Chocolate Shop Window, NYC

2012-07-21T13:23:00.001-07:00

On Fine Art America:

Red Dahlia After Rain

2012-07-21T09:34:00.001-07:00

Rain and Red Dahlia

2012-07-20T18:40:00.001-07:00

A new shot, taken today~

http://ronda-broatch.artistwebsites.com/featured/rain-and-red-dahlia-ronda-broatch.html?newartwork=true

Red Dahlia on Opening Day~

2012-07-20T17:27:00.003-07:00

http://ronda-broatch.artistwebsites.com/featured/red-dahlia-on-opening-day-ronda-broatch.html?newartwork=true

Fresh from the garden~

Checking In Again

2012-07-20T10:44:00.001-07:00

It's been a long long time~ During that time I've taken many photos, had some poetry published, visited Glacier National Park, taught extra classes at the gym, and lost my iMac hard drive.

Yes, 33K photos gone with it. Yikes. Software retrieval doesn't work, so Apple and the Mac Store say the only way is a surgical procedure, in a "clean room." How much? Anywhere from $800 - 2000. Mmmm, maybe not right now~

Fortunately, I have some photos on Flickr, FB (although I found out that those are at greatly reduced resolution), and on Fine Art America. That will tide me over for a little while~

I've been spending some time on both Flickr and Fine Art America. It's been great getting to
know other photographers, sharing the work, and getting feedback. Dangerous, too, as I learn about other cameras and equipment I can save up for!

garden photos

The link above shows some of the wonderful garden photos on FAA (mostly *not* mine).

I'm really enjoying getting out during rains (yes, it's been a weird Northwest summer, with some heavy rains and thunderstorms!), photographing my flowers, birds and insects. I love the vivid colors after a rain, and the morning light on the rain-wet subjects.

Well, the rain has let up and I can see the steam rising from the lawn. The sun is shining, so I'm sure there's a rainbow - a nice one - somewhere. Out I go!

National Photography Month - Day Six

2012-05-06T20:00:00.001-07:00

Grace Flowers today, originally uploaded by salmonbear7.

Grace Flowers today

Super Moon over Puget Sound (seen from Kingston)

2012-05-05T22:05:00.001-07:00

Super Moon over Puget Sound (seen from Kingston), originally uploaded by salmonbear7.

My "extra" Photography Month photo, as today was Super Moon Saturday~

May poem

2012-05-05T19:46:00.001-07:00

May by Jonathan Galassi : The Poetry Foundation

May

By Jonathan Galassi

The backyard apple tree gets sad so soon,

takes on a used-up, feather-duster look

within a week.

The ivy’s spring reconnaissance campaign

sends red feelers out and up and down

to find the sun.

Ivy from last summer clogs the pool,

brewing a loamy, wormy, tea-leaf mulch

soft to the touch

and rank with interface of rut and rot.

The month after the month they say is cruel

is and is not.

National Photography Month - Day 5

2012-05-05T12:28:00.001-07:00

National Photography Month - Day 5, originally uploaded by salmonbear7.

The tulips continue to amaze me every day. I think I derive energy from their vibrant colors.

Day Four of National Photography Month

2012-05-04T16:33:00.001-07:00

Waiting for sunnier days, originally uploaded by salmonbear7.

"Waiting for sunnier days"

As I post this it is raining heavily out there, on the eve of the Super Moon. I hope it clears off enough by 11:30 pm for me to photograph it!

Meanwhile, I've been going through my scads of photos, deleting to make more room on my computer, and I found this shot, take over three years ago.

Day Three of National Photography Month

2012-05-03T20:00:00.001-07:00

At the beach, originally uploaded by salmonbear7.

This was taken in Sept. 9, 2007, but hey - who's keeping track?!

Loved this crow. Mom was feeding it popcorn ...

National Photograpy Month - Day Two

2012-05-02T09:56:00.003-07:00

Today is a typical back and forth day: sun, clouds, wind, and the remnants of rain. Here is a photo of my view today:

I have much to do today: proof-reading, home-work coaching, writing. I will make time to get outside, take more photos~

Photo a Day for National Photography Month

2012-05-02T09:13:00.002-07:00

I don't know why it took me until today to realise that this is National Photography Month. I find it kind of wonderful that it comes right on the heels of National Poetry Month. Now I have a new self-set challenge - to post a photo a day.

This one is for yesterday:

Mom and I went to the tulip fields in Mount Vernon, and the day was near perfect. It wasn't overly sunny, but the clouds were nice, and the vibrancy and detail of the flowers and fields as a whole were spectacular.

Doodling in Math: Spirals, Fibonacci, and Being a Plant [1 of 3] - YouTube

2012-04-28T11:27:00.001-07:00

How utterly wonderful is this? Quite~

Just watch:

Doodling in Math: Spirals, Fibonacci, and Being a Plant [1 of 3] - YouTube

Wednesday Poem

2012-04-11T08:20:00.001-07:00

Untitled [A house just like his mother's]- Poets.org - Poetry, Poems, Bios & More

I was instantly taken by this poem by Gregory Orr, drawn to its simplicity, brevity, and depth. For me it evokes memories of living in my grandparent's house - the magic of the rooms, the mystery of the past I didn't live, that was theirs together.

Untitled [A house just like his mother's]
by Gregory Orr

A house just like his mother's, But made of words. Everything he could remember Inside it: Parrots and a bowl Of peaches, and the bright rug His grandmother wove. Shadows also—mysteries And secrets. Corridors Only ghosts patrol. And did I mention Strawberry jam and toast? Did I mention That everyone he loved Lives there now, In that poem He called "My Mother’s House?"

Monday Poem

2012-04-09T17:40:00.001-07:00

I like this poem by George Bilgere, entitled "Robert Frost. I am not an English or Poetry teacher, but have led workshops and am a poetry editor, so this caught my attention. We love what we do, but sometimes the weight and volume of words forms a small wall, and the best thing we can do is sit back and have a glass of wine. Then, maybe we can disassemble it brick by brick. And just how do we nail down ambiguity?

Here is an excerpt from the poem "Robert Frost":

" Every year the English majors of America
must read these poems and analyze their ambiguity
or compare and contrast their ambiguity
in five double-spaced pages.

And the English teachers of America must read these pages
and determine whether they are incisive or not incisive.

I am one of those teachers. I try to do my share.
Because if we don't do this—if Frost's ambiguity
is not discussed, and if these discussions are not assessed,
and then finally graded—well, what's the point of all this?
What are we doing here?"

To read the poem in its entirety, please visit the link below:

Robert Frost by George Bilgere | The Writer's Almanac with Garrison Keillor

Quote for the Day~

2012-04-09T17:34:00.001-07:00

“In certain ways writing is a form of prayer.”

—Denise Levertov

Ascension - Poem for Easter~

2012-04-08T09:43:00.001-07:00

Ascension- Poets.org - Poetry, Poems, Bios & More

Ascension
by John Donne

Salute the last, and everlasting day, Joy at the uprising of this Sun, and Son, Ye whose true tears, or tribulation Have purely wash'd, or burnt your drossy clay. Behold, the Highest, parting hence away, Lightens the dark clouds, which He treads upon; Nor doth he by ascending show alone, But first He, and He first enters the way. O strong Ram, which hast batter'd heaven for me! Mild lamb, which with Thy Blood hast mark'd the path! Bright Torch, which shinest, that I the way may see! O, with Thy own Blood quench Thy own just wrath; And if Thy Holy Spirit my Muse did raise, Deign at my hands this crown of prayer and praise

Heron

2012-04-08T09:40:00.001-07:00

Heron, originally uploaded by salmonbear7.

This is a photo I took last October in Bellingham~

Saturday Poem

2012-04-08T09:31:00.005-07:00

So, this is the penultimate poem in my Lenten challenge. It is a poem that came to me when I was teaching at a gym that over-looked the mud flats. I was on a treadmill that day, looking out at the wildlife so prevalent in that area, and was most captivated by this lone heron. This was my first published poem.

Heron

He blends almost fully

into the pull of tide, a long

stretch of neck arched above folded wings.

He seems to glide backward

in meditation

with all the patience and ease

of Jesus fishing for breakfast at dawn.

His gaze piercing the surface he is lost

in the ripple of migrating waters

only to appear again, stark

as a bone of driftwood against a dark eddy.

In this moment he strikes with such grace

that I desire to imagine his prey

doesn’t suffer; that it comes to him, willing

to die so beautifully.

--Ronda Broatch