Photo Challenge Entry #6 Coyote and Snail

A lesson in shot composition:  Sometimes you just get lucky, and everything is already set up and just waiting for you when you get there.  And sometimes you get even luckier when it is waiting for you only three steps out your door.  Little things can be easy to overlook, to miss entirely.  But it is the little things that are often the most important in life, as well as in photography.  Take the time to pay attention to them.  Don't be in such a hurry.  Don't focus so intently on the future that you miss the present.  You will live a happier life, and you will make much better photographs.

Photo Challenge Entry #5 Mini Skullpture

This is a 3-inch concrete sculpture done by Curt Warmbier of Warmbier Farms.  (I added the color, using black ink, wax pencil, graphite, and 24 karat gold paint.)  It is supposed to be a garden decoration, but I use it on my desk as a paperweight.

Photo Challenge Entry #4 Cranial Fissures

Cranial fissures and moss on an "outdoor" skull.  I never get tired of looking at the contrast between the asymmetry of the individual twists and turns of the fissures and the overall symmetry of the fissures as a whole.  To me they are some of the most delicately beautiful lines in nature.  Although functionally similar to a dovetail joint in carpentry, cranial fissures are much stronger and more resilient due to the incredibly large surface contact area.

Photo Challenge Entry #3 Horse and Pig and Hens and Chicks...with a side of seafood.

Before we get to the photo, there is a little housekeeping to attend to.  I have been informed that the "Subscribe To" link at the bottom of the page is not working for some people, so for those of you wishing to get updates to this blog in your email, just enter your email address in the form at the bottom of the page.  (I do not have any ad agreements with anyone, nor do I share your email addresses, so you won't get spammed if you sign up.)

With that taken care of, here is today's skull photo!

Like it says on the label...a horse, a pig, hens and chicks, and a little scallop shell that turned up in the dirt one day.   I planted a wall of red and blue morning glories and white moonflowers behind this, but they probably won't be up and blooming before this project is complete.  It would have been nice, but we can save it for another time.

Photo Challenge Entry #2 Broken Key Chain

A broken and severely pocket-worn keychain. 

June Photo Challenge, Intro and Entry #1 Cat Skull

Well, you are in for what I am hoping will be a treat this month, as I have decided to undertake a photo challenge.  I will be posting an image on the blog every day this month, and each image must follow a theme.  (Trust me, it is a lot more challenging than it sounds!)

The theme I have chosen is skulls, primarily because it is a theme I have always enjoyed.  Skulls are aesthetically very pleasing to begin with, the shapes and lines, the contrasts, the symmetry which is never entirely symmeterical, all these elements lend themselves very well to the visual arts.  In addition, even within species each one is unique.  No two are exactly alike.  I find a tremendous amount of beauty in them, and hopefully by the end of the month you will too.

While I do have a moderate collection of real skulls, not every image this month will contain or depict one of them.  There are just too many great options available on this broad theme, and real skulls are only part of what I want to do.

In addition, as I am not going to be in town every single day this month, I am going to have to fudge the rules a little bit and do a few ahead of time (or pull one from the archives) to cover the times when I am not here to prepare them.

So don't forget to check back here every day this month, or if you'd rather get the update via email every day so that you don't have to remember, just enter your email address in the form at the bottom of the page.  In addition, the "Subscribe to" link will enable the "live bookmark" feed, but I am told that it does not function for everyone.

And now, without further ado, entry #1 in Jonderson's June Photo Challenge.

This is a domestic cat skull.  His name was Pooh, and he belonged to my friend Steve.  Steve was my first blog subscriber, so his cat gets the honor of the lead-off position in this project.  Cat skulls have great curves!

Lucky Charms

I'm not sure if the horse shoe is functional with regard to luck, but it sure makes a nice focal point for the image. :)

I am currently contemplating whether to engage in a photo challenge next month.  If I do, it will mean posting a new photo in the same theme every day during the month of June.  I am not really big on that sort of thing, but it could be interesting.

In other news, I am adding a link to another photographer friend's website over on the sidebar.  Rob Shimmin does wet plate photography...like they did in the 1800's.  Wonderful work, and a really great guy.