Still Life

Freakshow x5

While wandering in Costco today, I found some really unusual or interesting wine labels. I used my cell phone to capture a few of them. This was one.

True Myth

I liked the butterflies on these wine labels, and the name, True Myth. They were in the wine department at Costco today.

Phantom

I was intrigued by these kind of creepy wine labels, and the name, Phantom.

Freakshows, All in a Row

Quite a row of Freakshows in the wine department at Costco today.

Cirque Du Vin

Another unusual wine label at Costco. I had fun shooting some of them while shopping today. I'm finally getting some use out of the camera in my cell phone.

The Rooster Glasses

There's something quite cheery about wine glasses with roosters on them! Of course I'd never seen wine glasses with roosters before, but I did find them bright and cheery.

Flowers & Lemons

These pretty bouquets of artificial flowers in lemon lined glass pots were part of a display at Pier One.

Autumn Pinecones

This grouping of pinecones and other fall themed items made a nice arrangement at the Pier One Imports store.

Sunshine in a Vase

This pretty fall arrangement was photographed at the local Pier One store.

The Rooster

This still life was from a cute restaurant that I had lunch in recently. I added some texture for a different effect.

Memories

~ This still life was created to accompany a poem in my book, The Captured Heart. It is in memory of my old childhood friend Judie, who has been gone now almost 30 years. It is always good to look back and remember a true friend.

Temple Prayer

This portion of a bas-relief sculpture was photographed in Lake Arrowhead, California. I liked the peaceful feeling of the praying hands.

It's the Berries!

My daughter-in-law was fixing these strawberries for dessert on Mother's Day, and they looked so good I asked if I could take some pics beforehand. Strawberries and balsamic vinegar and whipped cream...

Pomegranates

Still life from pomegranates I was given.

Just Us Chickens

These fun fowl sculptures were found in a garden gift shop at San Diego Safari Park.

Holiday-Ready

~ All we need is a whole lot of wine! A display at Pier One during the holidays.

Seeing Stripes ~ A trip to Pier 1 Imports with my camera today resulted in all kinds of fun shots. Some were holiday-based, others just for fun.

Ms. Piggie ~ This colorful ceramic pig was in a garden gift shop I visited recently. I liked its colors and expression.

Flowers and Tin

~ Browsing in the local antique mall, I had fun finding small vignettes to photograph. I liked this floral arrangement on a cabinet with pressed tin backing.

Hope Chest ~ This old chest was in the local antique mall. I liked its decorative details, including pressed leather and metal fittings.

One, Two, Three...~ Close-up of the numbers on a beautiful old ornate cash register at the local antique mall.

Ring Me Up!

The antique mall included many beauties of times gone by. This was a huge and beautiful old cash register, fancy and ornate. I couldn't resist taking a few shots of it.

Lilies on Display ~ Browsing in the local antique mall, I enjoyed finding small vignettes to photograph. This one combined real lilies placed in front of a painted floral scene.

Lavender Lambs ~ These adorable lambs were in a booth at the Lavender Festival. I couldn't resist taking a few shots of them.

Monkeys Three ~ These stuffed monkeys were in a booth at the Lavender Festival. Notice their spiffy lavender plain ties??

Teddies Three ~ Or should I say Teddies 6? These bears were hugging their baby teddies very lovingly.

Potting Shed ~ A different view of the antique mall still life.

The Potting Shed ~ This still life was actually a grouping of items in an antique mall booth. I liked the rustic look of the image, and used vignetting to give it a more antique look.

Exotic Bottles

Perfume Bottles at The Getty ~ These beautiful and graceful perfume bottles were a display at the gift shop at The Getty Museum in Los Angeles. I liked all the colors and shapes. I couldn't resist taking several shots, and fortunately no one told me to stop!

Art Glass at The Getty

~ A visit to The Getty isn't complete without a peek into the gift shop. Even if you don't want to buy anything, the displays are interesting and sometimes beautiful. These glass vases were such a display. I like the shapes, colors and textures.

Getty Perfume Bottles ~ Another shot of the gift shop display at The Getty. The shapes and colors were enchanting. In larger sizes, notice the refracted bottles in the round bottle stoppers.

Circles of Light

~ I love glass and photographing it. I have many shots of my glass paperweight collection. A friend offered to lend me some glass to shoot, and this one was a result of that offer. The hobnail glass plate in the background is mine, and stays in my livingroom window, but the brightly colored glass was his; it makes a nice still life, I think.

Flagons with Dragons ~ The title is suggested from the old Danny Kaye movie. This was part of one of the displays for sale at the Renaissance Faire. I liked the shapes and colors, the decorative touches.

The Royal Goblets ~ This was part of a display for sale at the Renaissance Faire.

The Purple Flutes ~ These were part of the displays for sale at the Renaissance Faire.

Toast to the Snowy Owl

Toast to the Snowy Owl ~ 2010 was the year I saw my first Snowy Owl in the wild. Who knew there was a wine label of a Snowy? It seemed worth a toast and a photo, to commemorate this epic bird!

Celebration ~ Fun with wine bottles on a rainy day, loving the jewel-like colors of light coming through layers of glass and wine,

The Ladies Sing the Blues ~

Novella on Blue ~ I bought this bottle of wine a couple of years ago for a featured artist's reception I held for my show at the local gallery. I selected the bottle because I loved the label, and then kept it, planning to use it in a still life photo shoot. I finally pulled it out and did the set-up with light coming through my livingroom window. I still love the label, and think it works well for this image.

A Bottle of Novella ~ I bought this bottle of wine a couple of years ago for a featured artist's reception I held for my show at the local gallery. I selected the bottle because I loved the label, and then kept it, planning to use it in a still life photo shoot. I finally pulled it out and did the set-up with light coming through my livingroom window. I still love the label, and think it works well for this image.

Artifacts of the Past

~ I had been thinking of pulling out some old family "artifacts" to photograph. The base of this piece is an original deed of property from one of my ancestors, John Nichols, who purchased 72 acres in what is now Massachusetts, for "thirty and four" pounds in June of 1772. I added a very old pair of glasses, old playing cards, and a photograph of another family member. When winter weather keeps me inside, my shutter finger gets itchy, and I start looking for things to photograph at home. Here is this week's offering.

The Lamp and the Blonde ~ This was one of several stained glass lamps in an antique shop along Route 66. I liked the way it not only lit up, but also cast a pattern on the picture of "the blonde" behind it.

The Antique Shop ~ I liked the ornate cash registers displayed, with stained glass lamps and other items.

The Lamp & The Sheep ~ A beautiful stained glass lamp at the antique shop along Route 66. It cast a warm glow on the for-sale items around it.

Bottles in the Window ~ These varied bottles were in the window of an antique shop. I played with filters a bit to try different effects. I love the colors, shapes and textures.

Magic of Glass ~ These antique electrical insulators were in an antique mall shop along Route 66 in California. I liked the varied sized, shapes and colors.