Uploads from GollyGforce, tagged dof

Tiny Spark

nobody@flickr.com (GollyGforce) — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 03:03:47 -0700

Hi all, I am having a difficult time loading pages with this new layout. Don't think I've forgotten about anyone, it's just extremely difficult to get anything to load now on my crappy internet connection. I'm trying still !

Zombie Web

nobody@flickr.com (GollyGforce) — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 19:02:26 -0800

GollyGforce posted a photo:

Spider silk is one of the strongest substances known to man, (aside from the nano carbon tube strand things scientists are trying to perfect). Seriously though, don't they generally deteriorate a bit over time?

I remember the monster spider that created this web. It had to be at least 1/2" across and looked at me like I was going to be fly soup any minute. (some may find it strange that I can handle tarantulas when I do outreaches at the zoo, in fact I love them...but I have no explanation why they do not trigger my arachnophobia. Ask Christine, ladydragonflycc, who's known me for 30 years and a few months ago almost crashed her car trying to get off the road to a stop because a little jumping spider crossed from her side of the windshield and was heading my way and I went into panic mode and was trying to climb through the window to get out because the door was locked and wouldn't open)...

My husband got rid of the killer spider right away knowing the consequences of me panicking and taking it out on him. The thing is, I didn't realize it had started a web, and apparently I unconsciously avoided that corner for what he says has been over 2 months. He was doing some kind of weird psycho experiment on me to see how long it would take me to find it.
Part of me was not amused at all when I finally found it yesterday, but the other part of me was because had the situation been reversed I probably would have enjoyed doing the same thing to him.

Through the Soul

nobody@flickr.com (GollyGforce) — Sun, 03 Jun 2012 03:51:30 -0700

GollyGforce posted a photo:

We lost a close brother and everyone's taking it hard. We were blessed to have spent 5 wonderful days up north with him, but he stayed a few extra days and was killed by a hit & run driver on his way home. I am in shock and pray that driver is haunted and tormented with every breath until they are held accountable.

My mind is already shot from trying to hold my head above water at work, now this.... I apologize for any lackluster comments, I am extremely distracted and am having a hard time finding solace even in my photography.

flood flower

nobody@flickr.com (GollyGforce) — Thu, 10 May 2012 19:28:55 -0700

GollyGforce posted a photo:

The Last Flight

nobody@flickr.com (GollyGforce) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 03:40:01 -0700

GollyGforce posted a photo:

After an impressive aerial battle against an opponent I could not identify, this butterfly landed. There on a sunny patch of ground deep in the woods he rested, spreading his wings wide to catch the sun....or so I thought. Soon I realized his body was starting to lift in the breeze; I had witnessed his last flight.

Boing!

nobody@flickr.com (GollyGforce) — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 21:48:45 -0700

GollyGforce posted a photo:

You all know my obsession with the slinky... (it's slinky - a slinky - so fun - it's a wonderful toy......not to mention 'ooh shiny') On our Chicago trip, my girlfriend bought me a twisty slinky key chain in cool rainbow colors! (yes I probably look a bit like Quasimodo when I say that). It's been 2 weeks and tonight was the first time I had to play with it....

Bud & I took it out in the back 40, hung it from a tree over the edge of the cliff at the sandpit weighted it down with keys, then I climbed part way down the side, and hit it with a long stick to get it boinging around and snap a bunch of shots while he was mushroom hunting nearby. (it was one of 'those' weeks at work, my mind was shot and my back and knees were not about to tolerate me bending over staring intently at the ground, let alone crawling through thick brush)

It worked... my mind relaxed and we had a great time.

Tiffany Room

nobody@flickr.com (GollyGforce) — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 20:46:14 -0700

GollyGforce posted a photo:

The Tiffany room in the Chicago Cultural Center

Shield Shine

nobody@flickr.com (GollyGforce) — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 21:06:37 -0800

GollyGforce posted a photo:

Random oddball shot; the product of testing low light capabilities/range of my lens.

Stem Style

nobody@flickr.com (GollyGforce) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 21:44:48 -0800

GollyGforce posted a photo:

Wonder what type of pollinator this would attract?

My Perspective

nobody@flickr.com (GollyGforce) — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 17:51:20 -0800

GollyGforce posted a photo:

Why not look at the world around you from a different point of view for a change....the view from outside the box has much more to offer.

Zombie Gown Splat

nobody@flickr.com (GollyGforce) — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 17:50:33 -0800

GollyGforce posted a photo:

I couldn't decide if it looked like:
a head sticking out of a formal gown
an egg splat with a smile
or a happy zombie
so I decided to go with them all......yeah it's screwy logic, but it's some kind of logic at least....
(and after the past 2 days I've had it's surprisingly coherent)

Unfurling Beauty

nobody@flickr.com (GollyGforce) — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 05:36:56 -0800

GollyGforce posted a photo:

I thought the this looked cool, like some kind of protective pod opening to expose it's hidden treasures.

We had a good time at the orchid symposium today. Both ladydragonflycc & I ended up with a lot of great shots. After doing my first & second cut, I couldn't decide which to post first. Instead of wallowing in indecision, I picked 3 random numbers from between the first & last file numbers, and used the 3 shots out of my second cut with the closest numbers. I may use that method again as I post more shots, it saved a lot of time normally spent weeble-wobbling and second guessing myself.

Beauty Within

nobody@flickr.com (GollyGforce) — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 05:36:10 -0800

GollyGforce posted a photo:

Many of the orchids commonly referred to as Lady Slippers (Paphiopedilum) give people the impression of caricature portraits, so I decided to custom frame one just for fun.

They come in tons of color, shape, and size combinations. I can imagine a comicbook type world populated entirely by orchid people.

They also happen to be one of Ladydragonflycc's favorite type of orchid. We both especially like the ones with long mustache-like arms. She almost talked herself into buying one at the show today, but decided on a different type instead. She has quite the collection going, and they thrive for her..... especially after I almost kill them off and finally surrender them to her to save.

Here Kitty Kitty

nobody@flickr.com (GollyGforce) — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 05:37:20 -0800

GollyGforce posted a photo:

My normal ungraceful manor worked in my favor this time. I was behind one of the exhibit tables when I discovered (by stumbling on them) someone had stashed a couple wilting potted orchids out of sight. I am always careful to not damage others property (especially when I am slightly outside the expected public range), and while trying to catch my balance without toppling head first into the back of the display I glanced up to see how close I was. That's when I saw it.... a cat face!

When standing, the gaps between petals were barely noticeable with exhibit features behind them. However from a lower angle (of trying to avoid an assplant) the gaps were backed by the glass roof. They looked like cat eyes, and the central features of the orchid became facial features. I wobbled into a squat (trying to make it seem like I was intentionally that close to the floor... as if no one saw what really happened, yeah right)

Dissection Flora

nobody@flickr.com (GollyGforce) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 19:24:21 -0800

GollyGforce posted a photo:

This lily was completely wilted, bent over so far the petals were starting to detach. So I thought... why not see if I could carefully pull the last petals off and lay it all out. (with visions of grandeur anticipating something spectacular like the exploding flowers by Fong Qi Wei...yeah like that was going to happen)

Although for a first attempt, it's not a total disaster....
I will use the excuse that I did spend from 9:30am to 4:00pm on an educational outreach for the zoo at a local science fair. There were about 400 attendees of all ages, AND it was the first time I handled the raptors in public on my own, and it was just a long day... so my creative side wanted to clear my head by doing something cool, but it just added to the gelatinous goo that was left of my mind....

Winter Thaw

nobody@flickr.com (GollyGforce) — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 18:06:38 -0800

GollyGforce posted a photo:

Another shot from earlier in the week. I haven't had time to take any pictures since then, so I had to go with something I already had.

We went from temperatures of 15(f)/-9(c) to 52(f)/11(c) at the beginning of the week when this shot was taken, then yesterday the temps dropped to 2(f)/-16(c) and today we have wind chills of -10(f)/-23(c). Driving was like ice skating on wheels this morning... crazy season...

My birthday is this weekend and normally I never know where I will end up or what I will be doing. I have several groups of people wanting me to do different things, but I think I am going to hang with my family and do whatever they want to do...that's usually what makes me happiest :)

Oh and Thanks to Paul for giving me a heads up that comments were closed on my dog shot (2 posts back), big hugs to you! Comments are open now if you want to go back and look at the monsters at play :)

Wet Wait

nobody@flickr.com (GollyGforce) — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 03:57:10 -0800

GollyGforce posted a photo:

Bud was delayed a few min picking me up after work so I amused myself with the rain.

Fasten'ating Frog

nobody@flickr.com (GollyGforce) — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 19:40:39 -0800

GollyGforce posted a photo:

Made from nuts, bolts, screws, bearings, washers, and assorted fastening type hardware...what else could I name it?

Kinetic Energy Release

nobody@flickr.com (GollyGforce) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 08:09:15 -0800

GollyGforce posted a photo:

Objects in motion can be quite a challenge...especially when they are moving extremely erratically...

The Vortex Within....

nobody@flickr.com (GollyGforce) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 08:09:22 -0800

GollyGforce posted a photo:

I can really identify with this shot, it reminds me a lot of myself. A slightly warped inner core of stability holding strong as the rest of me scatters into a myriad of directions.

With all those possibilities pulling me every which way all at once, my 'ooh shiney' side inevitably takes over and wanders the many trails full of twists, turns and countless diverging paths all lined with interesting things that suck me right in.... often before I even realize I've changed direction again.

I'm a master at justifying my random journeys to myself, and those times that I can't I just chalk up to going with the flow. It's worked well for me most of my life, and since I do tend to enjoy myself more often than not I see no reason to change.

ODT - Shine