A starfish dances by the sea.
I shouldn’t share this one (The rule is: Never share anything less than the best) but even if it’s out of focus because I was busy laughing when I took it, I still think it’s cute. That was one very curious dog!
When I found a real golf course a boring subject I looked around for inspiration.
Parade of Shoes. 🙂
You remember “Dumbo” the Disney elephant that could fly as long as he had his “magic feather”? Well, I think I lost my magic feather. Let me explain.
About 2 weeks ago the chain of camera stores that includes Ritz Camera were put on the auction block. Everyone thought they would be bought out and reorganized but instead the top bidder was a liquidation company. Now they have less than 5 weeks left to sell all and clear out. My first reaction was shock. I think everyone at my favorite Camera Store in Hingham felt the same way.
To make myself feel better I headed off to Nantasket Beach to take some whimsical pictures of Hawaiian bobble head hula dancers. It was a nice day and I really enjoyed myself.
I couldn’t wait to get home and put the results on the big screen of my computer. Everything looks good on the tiny LED screen. When I uploaded to the computer I was confused and  horrified. How could I get such grainy shots on a bright sunny day. I grabbed the camera and checked the settings. What a knuckheaded mistake! I had the ISO set way high from shooting interiors the day before. I haven’t made that kind of mistake in over 2 years!
A few days later I was back down to Ritz to see how everyone was doing. I had a few remaining prints to pick up. I’m not sure where I’ll get my photo processing done now. I didn’t stay long because I had arranged a photo shoot with a young lady that would like to do some modeling. So I was off to Nantasket again to get some late summer beach pics with her in them for Stock Photos.
It looked like I got some great shots and I was all excited. Home I went to check them out on the “big screen” monitor. OH NO! They were all blue!
How could that be? What is going on with me? Once again I reached for the camera. ISO correct…check, white balance on Auto…nooooo. I had set the white balance to incandescent the day before and hadn’t reset to auto or even sun!
That was when I thought of Dumbo and his feather. I haven’t been able to take a decent picture since I found out Ritz was closing. These people have been my mentors and friends, not just clerks and salespeople. Over the past 2+ years my photos have made huge improvements just by getting a little hint here or a suggestion there, all done with kindness and gentle support. They have celebrated my successes and laughed with me over my goofs. They have been my photography gurus always ready to answer questions or give me a boost when I was feeling discouraged or insecure. Now they won’t be there anymore.
So it seems Ritz was my feather. As long as I knew they were there I could fly. But now that they are closing I seem to have regressed…or in the Dumbo analogy…lost my feather.
Dumbo’s little mouse friend convinced him he could still fly and with time I’m sure I’ll get my groove back . To my favorite  Ritz Camera store in Hingham, I will miss all of you. I wouldn’t be where I am today without all the help you’ve given me.  I hope you all find doors open for you and new paths to achieve everything you want. It isn’t the end (even if it feels like it now) but an opportunity for new and greater things.
My friend’s daughter Felicia is always willing to be my model when I want to practice my portrait skills. Here she is wrapped in my Hawaiian sarong at Nantasket Beach. Thanks, Felicia. 🙂
What a busy week that last week in August turned out to be! I had a wonderful day with Nancy, Alex and Dawn at the Roger Williams Park and Zoo. I told you all about that but then I was surprised by a visit from some of my New York relatives. They were taking their kids to the New England Aquarium in Boston and wanted to see if I wanted to meet them for the afternoon. Silly question. Of course I did!
I had a work commitment in the morning but it turned out that I finished at the perfect time. I got a Text from them letting me know they were about 90 minutes away and so was I! Could that have worked out any better if we’d planned it?
I headed into Boston but today I chose to drive in. I knew parking would be expensive and it was. $35.00! And the garage only took cash. Oh well what’s that saying, Admission $20.00,  Imax $10.00,  parking $35.00 , an afternoon with family…PRICELESS!!
George is my Nephew and his wife is Kelly and the two awesome kids are my (dare I say it) GREAT Niece Catherine and GREAT Nephew Patrick.
Of course they are GREAT but in this case I’m referring to the generational fact that I’m not just an aunt but a great aunt..WOW. I am getting old!
I haven’t been into the Aquarium in quite a while so it was fun to go again and to watch the kids get so excited about the great ocean tank. We even got to see the divers go in to feed the fish.
They’ve added a new Shark and Ray Touch Tank since I was there last too. Everyone enjoyed that, adults and children alike.
The sea lions aren’t on a separate boat anymore either. They have a beautiful enclosure where they are out for visitors to see all the time instead of just when the trainers come in to do a show.
Catherine slipped under the sea-lion statue for a photo moment.
Cute and she thought of it all on her own.
We also squeezed in an IMAX 3D show.
We were busy every moment.
The kids were great too. After that long drive they still held up the whole afternoon. I was very impressed. George and Kelly can be very proud.
Finally as it approached closing time we headed out.
The kids, and I bet the adults too, were getting hungry. George, Kelly and the kids headed over to Faneuil Hall to the food court and I headed back to the car. I had things I had to get done so I had to beg off from dinner but the time we had together was lots of fun.
Thanks guys for inviting me along! 🙂