SPC - June - #4

I've been hoping all month that I'd be able to take a picture with a tomato out of our small garden for June's 'Environment' theme, but alas, it's the final week for the theme, and -- Yes -- we have no tomatoes -- we have no tomatoes today!



More Self Portrait Challenge entries HERE.

Photo Friday -- 'Dream'

Long-time readers have probably seen this image before, but I'm posting it again for Photo Friday's theme - 'Dream.'

a wish -- a prayer -- a dream

SPC - June - #3

In honor of Father's Day, my Dad suggested to my Sister and I that perhaps we could find a way to perform a random act of kindness for a father in our neighborhood or church -- perhaps one whose children are far away or serving in the military. Well -- I don't know that this is what he had in mind, but Saturday Morning, Hannah and I walked around our block picking up trash along the streets and alleys and sorted out the plastic and glass that could be recycled. It occured to me that this might function as an opportunity for SPC's June theme, 'Environment,' as well, so here's a picture of Hannah and me with our two bags of trash and one bin full of recycling:

More Recent Kid Pics

Films Recently Watched: (the long-awaited update)

Sliding Doors (1998) dir. by Peter Howitt
This was recommended to me by a friend. A really cool movie for anybody who has ever asked (or nearly driven themselves crazy asking) 'What if.' What if a seemingly insignificant decision to, say, stop and get a candy bar from a vending machine puts you 2 minutes closer to (or farther from) some potentially life-changing event? Of course, we don't usually get the opportunity to see how things have have turned out differently. Here, we get a voyeur's perspective on exactly how things turn out differently.

An Inconvenient Truth (2006) dir. by Davis Guggenheim
Biased? Maybe. One-sided? Possibly. Compelling? Definitely. This, I believe, will be Al Gore's legacy. Who would have thought that a movie of a guy giving a lecture could be so interesting.

Inside Man (2006) dir. by Spike Lee
Can't go wrong with a Jodie Foster thriller -- plus Denzel Washington and Clive Owen. Gold!

In The Heat Of The Night (1967) dir. by Norman Jewison
I had a good friend who absolutely couldn't believe I'd never seen this. I really liked how they showed that even Virgil Tibbs (played by Sidney Poitier) was not above the effects of racism when he was convinced the white plantation owner was involved with the murder. This brief exchange between Tibbs, the black homicide investigator and Gillespie, the white local sheriff is indicative:

Tibbs: I can pull that fat cat down. I can bring him right off this hill!
Gillespie: Man, you're just like the rest of us --- Ain't ya?

Good stuff!

Cape Fear (1962) dir. by J. Lee Thompson
Gregory Peck and Robert Mitchum both shine here. As is usually the case, the original is better than the remake -- even when the remake is directed by Martin Scorsese and stars Robert De Niro, Jessica Lange, and Nick Nolte!

Star Wars (1977) dir. by George Lucas
I was fortunate enough to celebrate the 30th anniversary of this landmark film in style. A good friend invited me for a screening on his 10 foot projection screen. We watched the closest thing to the Original Unaltered version as is available (legally) on DVD. It had been a long time since I'd seen Han blow Greedo away in cold blood -- woohoo! Afterward, I stayed around for a demonstration of his new HD-DVD player. It was great fun! Thanks Doug!

Cellular (2004) dir. by David R. Ellis
Plot holes galore, but a fun popcorn flick!

Finding my way back to some unwatched portions of a Hitchcock box set that I own:
Shadow Of A Doubt (1943) dir. by Alfred Hitchcock
The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956) dir. by Alfred Hitchcock
Marnie (1964) dir. by Alfred Hitchcock

Currently enjoying a couple of David Attenborough documentaries (I haven't finished either yet, but I recommend them nonetheless):
The Life of Mammals (2002)
Life in the Undergrowth (2005)

Photo Friday - 'Active'

This bee (I believe it is a carpenter bee) was very 'Active' defending its territory/nest.

SPC - June - #2

We went to the Strawberry Festival here in town this weekend. Afterward, we played for a while at the park where it was held.



More 'environment' SPCs here.

Photo Friday - 'Purity'

SPC - June - #1

The June challenge is up over at SPC and it is 'environment'.

This month the challenge is to show yourself in your surroundings, using your environment as a marker of who you are. It might be the onset of extreme weather or it might be the particular seasonal fruits and foods you like to eat or places you like to visit or activities you participate in that are special to this time of year. Another aspect of ‘environment’ can be how you participate in the care of or how you feel about your special surrounding. There might be woodland area you spend one day month taking care of, or you might be part of a community gardening project, you might join in on national clean up day or tree planting for your local school. Or you might just spend this time of the year taking care of your vegetable garden or reveling in the joyous season. Show us what is special to you in your environment.

Seems to me that this theme is pretty wide open. We'll see how it goes.

After feeling like black and white was somewhat necessary for the 'street photography' theme, I'm planning on showing some vivid colors this month.

This was actually an outtake from the 'on the street' theme from last month, but I felt that it worked for the new theme too. Time for bike rides to the park:

Photo Friday - 'How I See Myself'

Didn't get anything up last week for 'Futuristic' :(

Interesting topic from Photo Friday this week -- especially since they just did 'Self Portrait' back in February.

Oh well -- I guess 'How I See Myself' carries a different feeling than just any self-portrait.

Here's my take -- from an old SPC entry: