Thursday, November 11, 2010

Killing Time

I always have a book with me, in case I have to wait--in the doctor's office, in line, at the repair shop.

Except when I forget my book, then I always have a camera with me. And there is always, always something to photograph, no matter where you are.

20 comments:

Shell Sherree said...

I'm glad you forgot your book, Petrea. And you've reminded me that I keep forgetting to do the same. {And I don't keep a camera with me either.} Must remedy that...

Genie -- Paris and Beyond said...

Petrea, the textures and colors in this photo are fabulous and I cannot wait to see what else your camera found (after you forgot your book)!

Mister Earl said...

Very nice!

Jean Spitzer said...

I like that you make the waiting time productive.

A lot to see in that piece of wall.

Margaret said...

Um...what exactly are we looking at?

Petrea Burchard said...

Shell, I'll bet you always have a sketch pad.

Genie, this time I took about a hundred pictures of this plus a lot of cars!

Thanks, Earl. Jean, I'll bet you have a sketch pad with you, too.

Margaret, I think it was once some kind of metal brace attached to a cinder block wall. Vines grew around it and behind it (I'll guess bougainvillea.) Someone cut it down but they couldn't get it all out, and little bits of it remain stuck behind the brace.

Trish said...

am guessing it was a retrofitting brace that had the vines grow behind (and thru it looks like---just left of the crack). One good quake and they might shake free.

Tho, based on the crack, I'm wondering if the brace is doing its job?

Around my neck of the woods, the utility companies often trim trees, but leave a hunk of tree that has grown around the wires, just hanging off the wires. An odd site to see a piece of tree in the middle of nothing but wires...will have to see if I can find one and share.

wv:dormaste...when you and your dorm mate are in harmony?

Anonymous said...

A word to the wise: Never go for a walk with Petrea because you'll never get anywhere. It's all step-step-shoot, step-step-shoot...

Bellis said...

She has "the eye," Karin. It's what makes her such a good photographer.

I'm glad to have the strange photo explained because-what with the title Killing Time-I thought they were the mummified remains of little birds.

pasadenapio said...

I love this one, Petrea -- the colors, the horizontal lines juxtaposed with the vertical remnants of the vine stems, the textures -- they all work beautifully together.

Speedway said...

It's gotten so I feel a bit naked if I leave home without my camera in my pocket. Most days, I take 2-3 hour walks, generally following the same route. The camera makes it more exploration than exercise because I'm learning to see the colors of the seasons and to appreciate the changes they bring, however much I dislike the cold.

Petrea Burchard said...

Is it that bad, Hiker? I should only bring my camera when I walk alone. I'm like Speedway--it's not really exercise when I walk with my camera because I stop so much But when I'm with other people I don't take long enough and the photos get short shrift. I ought to do one or the other and not try to do both at once.

And thanks for the compliment, Bellis, I didn't miss that. Don't worry. I posted a dead bird once and it upset everyone, so I doubt I'll do it again. But never say never.

Trish, from the looks of the brace I doubt anyone expects it to do its job anymore. The wall is only a divider in a parking lot. It's not load-bearing or anything.

Ann, I didn't have to pump the color on this one. It just looked that way. I'm glad you like it.

Susan Campisi said...

There is always something to photograph no matter where you are, but not everyone's eyes are open enough to see that. I'm glad that yours are.

J.J. in L.A. said...

I also bring a book and a camera with me everywhere, and some of my best shots are the unexpected ones.

Petrea Burchard said...

I don't suppose I find them all. I delete a LOT of pictures. But that's how you learn.

TheChieftess said...

I always have a book in my purse...but my camera's just too big and heavy to cart around...which is one of the reasons I got my new Droid phone!!! The problem with having a camera phone though, is that when you're looking at the bear by the dumpster and you call the Chief to report it looking into the kitchen windows of the little restaurant...invariably, that's when the bear rises up and stands up with paws up...full extension! Dayam!!!

Petrea Burchard said...

Yeah, Chieftess, that always happens to me, too.

USelaine said...

I love it. I share your affinity for rust.

Amy said...

It's true, even the most mundane of objects should be considered photographic fodder. And you managed to find an awesome peeling, rusty thing to take a picture of. It's lovely.

Petrea Burchard said...

I love rusting, peeling things.