Day 151 – 365 Days of Photography

5-31-2014

Yesterday, one of the ladies at my outing said to me that she follows my 365 project and thinks that she couldn’t have done it, because she would have run out of ideas.  Another jested that she would’ve been snapping her toenails by now.  Well I am not quite there but close.   Lol!  Looking for things around the house that point to my life, I came up with this little number.

I have a serious shoe fetish, owning close to seventy five pairs, and I still do not think that I have enough, coupled with the fact that I love colorful socks.

I like boots and socks, shoes and flip flops!

Follow on:  http://500px.com/NorDeanCanvas

Instagram: http://instagram.com/rhondaoml

© 2013, Odette M. Lawrence and NorDean Canvas. All rights reserved. The use and/or duplication of this material without the express and written permission of this blog’s author and/or owner are unauthorized and strictly prohibited

Day 150 – 365 Days of Photography

5-30-2014

A gentleman from a photography group that I joined here in Trinidad, started a separate facebook page titled ‘A Flower a Day for the month of May’, and a group of us have been posting pictures daily to this page.  Those of us who reside in Trinidad met today at ‘La Vega Estate’, a local plant nursery/nature resort/recreation park.  It is in Gran Couva, an area known for its cocoa estates.  We spent the day there picnicking, and getting to know each other, many of us meeting for the first time in person.  Some of us ventured off the beaten path on a walk up the trail to a peak high enough to see all the surrounding foliage and homes in the valley below.  This peak afforded a 360 degree view.  Down below at the picnic shed, which our group host was kind enough to rent for us, the kids were fishing in the nearby pond (in which I saw a caiman), and the adults were enjoying the breeze, chatting and nibbling on the assortment of food products brought. 

Many shots were taken today, which I have not yet reviewed, but I have one shot in mind to showcase, since I can only pick one, this is my shot for today of the star that stole my show.

Follow on:  http://500px.com/NorDeanCanvas

Instagram: http://instagram.com/rhondaoml

© 2013, Odette M. Lawrence and NorDean Canvas. All rights reserved. The use and/or duplication of this material without the express and written permission of this blog’s author and/or owner are unauthorized and strictly prohibited

Day 149 – 365 Days of Photography

5-29-2014

The theme is black and white, a realm that I have not really experimented much in.  I took these shots monochrome in camera and the trick was to capture all the different shades of gray in between, including the presence of black and white.  How did I do?

Some additional shots

Follow on:  http://500px.com/NorDeanCanvas

Instagram: http://instagram.com/rhondaoml

© 2013, Odette M. Lawrence and NorDean Canvas. All rights reserved. The use and/or duplication of this material without the express and written permission of this blog’s author and/or owner are unauthorized and strictly prohibited

Day 148 – 365 Days of Photography

5-28-2014

Well I and a friend did an online photography course, to sort of put what we were doing in practice, into a reality in our minds.  It is time to materialize the concepts and to formalize the craft.  To add mustard, ketchup, icing as they say, to our self taught methods.  Well we are nearing completion.  Actually the course itself is done.  Now it’s time to submit pieces for grading.  Thought has to be put into lighting, composition, rules, etc.  As a budding photographer, breaking the rules is something that I love to do.  I love to push things to the limit. This is a piece that I put together for the examiners per say.  It is about composition.

Follow on:  http://500px.com/NorDeanCanvas

Instagram: http://instagram.com/rhondaoml

© 2013, Odette M. Lawrence and NorDean Canvas. All rights reserved. The use and/or duplication of this material without the express and written permission of this blog’s author and/or owner are unauthorized and strictly prohibited

Day 147 – 365 Days of Photography

5-27-2014

Experimentation.  In order to explore the ideas that are swimming in my head, I first needed to see if I understood some concepts and principles.  The sweet sound of time evades me, thus I am peering (through my own eyes/glasses) looking for it in the distance.

Inspired by Joel Robison --  http://joelrobisonphoto.wordpress.com/

Follow on:  http://500px.com/NorDeanCanvas

Instagram: http://instagram.com/rhondaoml

© 2013, Odette M. Lawrence and NorDean Canvas. All rights reserved. The use and/or duplication of this material without the express and written permission of this blog’s author and/or owner are unauthorized and strictly prohibited

Day 146 – 365 Days of Photography

5-26-2014

Looking through the branches,

What do I see?

A little black bird,

Looking at me.

This picture was taken on the lime tree, and this black bird found something to eat in there. I hope it’s not a lime, else that would be SOUR!  I can feel my cheeks sucking in with the sheer thought of it, (shudder).

Follow on:  http://500px.com/NorDeanCanvas

Instagram: http://instagram.com/rhondaoml

© 2013, Odette M. Lawrence and NorDean Canvas. All rights reserved. The use and/or duplication of this material without the express and written permission of this blog’s author and/or owner are unauthorized and strictly prohibited

Day 145 – 365 Days of Photography

5-25-2014

Everyone kept showcasing their multiplicity selfies, so I wanted to try my hand at it.  First time using this software, first time doing this, I guess I will get better at this in time.  There is a first time for everything.

I haven’t taken a selfie in months and in addition folks dress up for these things, well, I am in my home clothes, nothing fancy, matter of fact, Sunday lounging in full effect.

I beat myself in 'Dominoes'!

Follow on:  http://500px.com/NorDeanCanvas

Instagram: http://instagram.com/rhondaoml

© 2013, Odette M. Lawrence and NorDean Canvas. All rights reserved. The use and/or duplication of this material without the express and written permission of this blog’s author and/or owner are unauthorized and strictly prohibited

Day 144 – 365 Days of Photography

5-24-2014

Today I realize that I will have to showcase more than one photograph.  So I will pick a main one for 365 and keep the others on my blog.  Ha, you’re in for a treat, as I am writing without yet viewing any of the images. 

A friend invited me to go with her to “Green Market”, in upper Santa Cruz. 

Green Market  - http://www.sanantoniogreenmarket.com/ Is a place for local vendors to showcase their food products and by products of food.  In addition there were some crafts people, items made out of wood, handmade jewelry, soaps and candles.

We left at 6am to embark on our journey.  As I sat and made myself comfortable in her car, she sprang on me that “you’re quite brave, because I do not know where we are going, but we will find it”.  I smiled and thought – ‘adventure’.  Waze to the rescue, coupled with a data plan that allowed google searching of the address which we sought.  We made it to our destination without any hiccups.  We walked from stall to stall, visiting the different vendors; my friend was in search of a particular item that she had heard of.   I was interested in tasting the pineapple products to compare with the ones that we make for viability.

There was cane juice, coconut oil, honey, wheat grass, fresh fish, rabbit meat, produce, arepas, empanadas, locally made chocolates, fudge, jams, chutneys, coffee, burgers, fried bake with an assortment of fillings, mulch, top soil and manure for sale.   There was a massage shop and an aquaponic booth as well.  It was interesting walking around and chatting with the various vendors.

The candles smelt so good, I wished I could have them all.  This mom (at candle stall) was introducing the value of entrepreneurship to her children and they, brother and sister were doing a good job at it.  Very pleasant, personable and well mannered, they added a touch of smile to it as well, which glorified the experience.  We left ‘Green Market’ with an assortment of products.

We then made our way to Santa Cruz Farms.  There I saw a delightful display of flowers and fauna.  My friend bought some herbs for her home garden.

Then we traversed to Maraval, which was less than ten (10) minutes away via the Maracas route.  We visited a couple gourmet shops and procured some locally made sausages and tasted locally made chocolates.

We then backtracked our way to my house, and sat and tasted the assortment of fudge that was purchased and oooooo’d and aaaaah’d about our day.  Now my husband and children got to hear of our escapades whilst they too feasted on our spoils. 

All Saturdays are glorious here on the island.

More shots from today, showcasing the vendors at the green market and the other places and products we sampled and saw today.

Follow on:  http://500px.com/NorDeanCanvas

Instagram: http://instagram.com/rhondaoml

© 2013, Odette M. Lawrence and NorDean Canvas. All rights reserved. The use and/or duplication of this material without the express and written permission of this blog’s author and/or owner are unauthorized and strictly prohibited

Day 143 – 365 Days of Photography

5-23-2014

There is something about the tranquility in viewing rambling hills, mountain tops, water, and sky.  It’s as though there is a peace that beckons us to it.  Maybe the precedent was set in movies of old like ‘The sound of Music’ or ‘Little house on the Prairie’, but whatever it is, it calls to my inner being.   I see meadows and fields and think of running down care free, wind blowing through my hair and maybe a summersault or two before getting to the bottom.  These thoughts are of course void of snakes and whatever other critters may be lurking out there.  This Friday was a nice sunny tropical day, driving through the country side of ‘Forest Park, Couva’.  I went there to our mechanic to have my brakes repaired and he took me through an alternate route to avoid traffic.  It was actually shorter and quicker than the one that I usually take, but to top it off it was WAY more scenic.  I couldn’t control myself in the car, and secretly wished that I wasn’t following someone, or depending on them for directions.  I wanted to stop and bask in the aura of the view.  So I slowed almost to a stop and pointed the camera out without looking through the viewfinder or pulling up a view on the screen of my camera, and snapped quickly before he wondered if something was wrong with me or my car, and then sped off to catch back up with him.  Of course the cars behind me probably thought that I was either drunk or lost.  This is just one of the images I captured and thankfully I had the circular polarizer on lens to capture that gorgeous sky.

Follow on:  http://500px.com/NorDeanCanvas

Instagram: http://instagram.com/rhondaoml

© 2013, Odette M. Lawrence and NorDean Canvas. All rights reserved. The use and/or duplication of this material without the express and written permission of this blog’s author and/or owner are unauthorized and strictly prohibited

Day 142 – 365 Days of Photography

5-22-2014

Mexican night at my house and to begin, grilling of the chicken. 

I also made refried beans, and salsa.  Burritos were had by one and all including queso and guacamole.

Follow on:  http://500px.com/NorDeanCanvas

Instagram: http://instagram.com/rhondaoml

© 2013, Odette M. Lawrence and NorDean Canvas. All rights reserved. The use and/or duplication of this material without the express and written permission of this blog’s author and/or owner are unauthorized and strictly prohibited

Day 141 – 365 Days of Photography

5-21-2014

My daughter is a member of the ‘Japanese Club’ at her school.  She draws ‘manga’ of the anime genre, and was thrilled to know that the school had this Japanese offering, where she gets to learn the language and culture.   They have an upcoming festival in Japan and their club is making origami pieces to ship overseas to Japan.  Here are a few that she made practicing for their origami making day.  

Every piece of paper/foil etc now lies hostage to her craft.

Follow on:  http://500px.com/NorDeanCanvas

Instagram: http://instagram.com/rhondaoml

© 2013, Odette M. Lawrence and NorDean Canvas. All rights reserved. The use and/or duplication of this material without the express and written permission of this blog’s author and/or owner are unauthorized and strictly prohibited

Day 140 – 365 Days of Photography

5-20-2014

Today was another drive by day.  I slowed down, got honked, sped up and snapped.  Not quite in the frame how I wanted it, but it was a one chance shot.  No shoulder for stopping, so here goes, a quaint old church in St. Madeline Trinidad.

Follow on:  http://500px.com/NorDeanCanvas

Instagram: http://instagram.com/rhondaoml

© 2013, Odette M. Lawrence and NorDean Canvas. All rights reserved. The use and/or duplication of this material without the express and written permission of this blog’s author and/or owner are unauthorized and strictly prohibited

Day 139 – 365 Days of Photography

5-19-2014

Looking across a big open field, well I guess you can call it a savannah, at a coconut estate in the background and thinking what a nice vista.

Follow on:  http://500px.com/NorDeanCanvas

Instagram: http://instagram.com/rhondaoml

© 2013, Odette M. Lawrence and NorDean Canvas. All rights reserved. The use and/or duplication of this material without the express and written permission of this blog’s author and/or owner are unauthorized and strictly prohibited

Day 138 – 365 Days of Photography

5-18-2014

Another shot of the setting sun, this time, between the coconut trees as I wasn’t at the beach.  I was actually at a birthday party and realized that the sun was going down, I walked down to the end of the street, and caught this glimpse over the houses and through the trees.   Island life, you can’t knock it.

Follow on:  http://500px.com/NorDeanCanvas

Instagram: http://instagram.com/rhondaoml

© 2013, Odette M. Lawrence and NorDean Canvas. All rights reserved. The use and/or duplication of this material without the express and written permission of this blog’s author and/or owner are unauthorized and strictly prohibited

Day 137 – 365 Days of Photography

5-17-2014

In itself the name ‘Mosquito Creek’ is interesting and deterring at the same time.  Interesting to know how they came up with the name, and deterring in the realization that it must be swamped with mosquitoes.  I had to pick up my husband from work as our Tahoe is at the mechanic having some work done.  Well it was after six (6) and there goes the setting sun.

Island Sunsets!

Another rendition

Follow on:  http://500px.com/NorDeanCanvas

Instagram: http://instagram.com/rhondaoml

© 2013, Odette M. Lawrence and NorDean Canvas. All rights reserved. The use and/or duplication of this material without the express and written permission of this blog’s author and/or owner are unauthorized and strictly prohibited

Day 136 – 365 Days of Photography

5-16-2014

Today I am driving around, hoping to show the vibe of this little island, and some of the influences of the outside world.   Here is HiLo’s (local supermarket) car park packed with cars, and the other business which shares its yard, which is responsible for some of these cars being here.

Follow on:  http://500px.com/NorDeanCanvas

Instagram: http://instagram.com/rhondaoml

© 2013, Odette M. Lawrence and NorDean Canvas. All rights reserved. The use and/or duplication of this material without the express and written permission of this blog’s author and/or owner are unauthorized and strictly prohibited

Day 135 – 365 Days of Photography

5-15-2014

Guilty as charged.  I did not take any pictures today.  So since it happens to be a Thursday, I am featuring a “TBT” (Throw Back Thursday) shot.  This is a wedding cake at a wedding that I captured in England last year. 

Why didn’t I take any pictures, you asked?  I was all equipped with my camera and went to a colleague of my dad’s home to pay him a visit.  This particular colleague teaches photography here in Trinidad.  Knowing that he is from my dad’s era, I printed a few of my shots to take for him to see.  He loved them, critiquing and encouraging me on each one. 

He then started showing me some of the images that he had captured.  Very inspiring and beautiful images, his age (not physical but rather number of years photographing) and experience shows.  He has such vast knowledge of lighting and application.  He spoke fondly of his days using film and his first dark room that he built to wash his film.  He spoke of his preference using transparencies.  He told me of his transition to the digital age and how he learned ‘photoshop’.

He then spoke fondly of a recent exhibit that was done by the high commissioner of his images in England and the letters he received after thanking him.   He doned gloves and pulled out several of the images that were sent for the exhibit, there were thirty (30) in all, twenty (20) depicting Trinidad’s carnival and ten (10) showcasing various scenes around the island, these pictures were printed on a non acid medium which could not be handled with your bare hands.

He told me that he was documenting Cedros and Point Fortin, and asked me to go into the living room, where he had a few images that he had printed that morning, laying on the floor.  The black and whites intrigued me.  There were several beach and river shots in black and white, and his expert knowledge of light showed.  The pictures were perfect to script, they had black and white and every possible shade of gray in between.

They were indeed inspiring, however, I wanted to shoot something in particular after seeing that, and it would require a trip.  So hence, no photo.  Stay tuned though, I will be making that debut shortly.

So I took an old image, and reprocessed it, making it new again LOL!

 

Follow on:  http://500px.com/NorDeanCanvas

Instagram: http://instagram.com/rhondaoml

© 2013, Odette M. Lawrence and NorDean Canvas. All rights reserved. The use and/or duplication of this material without the express and written permission of this blog’s author and/or owner are unauthorized and strictly prohibited