SPC - July - #1/2/3

Like the self portrait, itself, some ideas are timeless:

For the month of July, we're scrapping the timeless. I was interested in exploring something relatively new: The internet meme.
An Internet meme (pron. "meem") is an idea, style or action which spreads, often as mimicry, from person to person via the Internet, as with imitating the concept. [Source]


A few prompts I mentioned were:
Dos Equis Man - "I don't always...but when I do..."
Planking
Epic Fail
McKayla (Maroney) is not impressed
LOLcats
Nyan Cat
Despair/Demotivational Posters



On Friday of the July 4th holiday weekend, "Plan A" was a nearby water park, but the weather forecast didn't look promising, so "Plan B" ended up being the Star Wars Exhibit at the Indiana State Museum. We all enjoyed the exhibit and before we left to explore other parts of the museum, I asked a fellow guest to snap a photo of all of us in front of a case featuring full size models of C3PO, R2D2 and Princess Leia's costume on board the Tantive IV.



I think the concept of 'photobombing' qualifies as a meme.

I got this idea some time ago (possibly from here or here -- or possibly from Forrest Gump) and considered using 'photobombing historic photos' as a theme for an entire month of SPC.

Figured I'd use the idea here, for now, and see how it goes.

The original (public domain) photo is here.



Standing alone, the "caption this photo" functions as a meme on it's own and precedes the advent of the internet, I expect.

SPC - 'Blue' - #4

I don't always coordinate my clothing with buildings, but when I do.....





blue & orange.


I'm pretty sure it has been since the 'Blue' theme for June was announced that this building got painted in this manner. I just couldn't resist the opportunity to combine the theme color (blue) with my favorite color (orange) in a self portrait.

SPC - 'Blue' - #3

This is a wall I've had my eye on for some time now.  I conceived a shot like this the last time we did 'Blue' as a theme back in February, 2008, but there were always two hideous vehicles parked in front of this part of the building.  Always nice to have a second chance.

SPC - 'Blue' - #2

This would have been a cool 'transition' shot from last month's 'superpowers' theme to this month's theme, 'blue' if I'd had this shirt last week. Turns out, I got this t-shirt as a (very cool) Father's Day gift today from the kids. The Superman logo is entirely blue, so I knew I had to use it anyway.

SPC - 'Blue' - #1

This is what I wrote to Self Portrait Challenge participants to introduce the new theme for the month of June: 'Blue.'

For the month of June, I intend to honor the founder of Self Portrait Challenge, Kathreen Ricketson.

Kathreen died tragically on May 16, 2013.

I'm revisiting the theme 'Blue' as it was a theme that she chose (February, 2008) and the news of her death has left me feeling a bit blue.

In her own words:

Blue is a cool colour - its the colour of the sky and of the water. But apart from its visual representation blue can also mean a number other things too - lonely and depressed [feeling blue]; sexual impropriety, or racy talk [blue jokes], blasphemous [blue language], aristocracy [blue blood].

The colour Blue in your chakra: Dark, clear Blue indicates a spiritual feeling. Light blue shows devotion to noble, spiritual ideals and the presence of the feminine energies. Muddy blue shows heavy karma, selfishness, possible non-belief in spirituality. Blue shows an active effort to communicate in a gentle way.

(Thanks to the Wayback Machine!!)

Having said all that -- please feel no obligation to adopt melancholy this month. Kathreen had taken her children out of school (homeschooling) and was travelling around Australia for a year, writing a book about their adventures in the process. Kathreen lived life fully and would encourage us all to do likewise, I believe.

For those who are interested in more news, there is more information and pertinent links at this thread.

Here is my first contribution:

SPC - 'Superpowers' - 2/3/4

Apparently, one of my 'superpowers' is NOT keeping my blog current:

Just posting the photos - if you want a brief explanation of the photo, click it and the image on Flickr should have a bit more.

SPC - 'Superpowers' - #1

For the month of May, Self Portrait Challenge is exploring the theme, 'Superpowers.'
    

This was from Mother's Day -- seemed appropriate:

Christy has superpowers in apparently unlimited quantities:
love
joy
peace
patience
kindness
goodness
faithfulness
gentleness
self-control.

I'm glad there's no laws against such things.

Did I mention "patience?"

SPC - 'Video' - #5

For the final week of the 'Video' challenge at SPC, I decided to "recreate" a few old SPC shots I've done using a video format.

Here are links to the original stills:
Yo
Jump
Juggling

SPC - 'Video' - #4

This weekend, we celebrated the end of another year of Christy's work toward achieving her master's degree in social work.

She has a short break then two summer sessions and two more full semesters after that, but if all goes according to plan, she'll be done about this time next year!

This has been a particularly tough semester with her first practicum (and an 80 minute drive, one-way) and another class besides that.

I'm pleased to say that she is doing very well and has achieved very high marks while carrying herself with poise and grace.

Banana splits at our favorite ice cream place was something we'd all been looking forward to for a while now.

SPC - 'Video' - #3