703 (paint and magic)

"A Twig for Rousjh"

(alchemy - magic - necromancy)

When I water non living tree parts I truly am trying to make something come about with a life of its own. It should at least have a spirit that can be experienced by some one who is open to it. There are people who look at this site daily with the hope that I have succeeded. I go on for myself. Knowing that some one is looking and experiencing both my successes and my failures is inspiring to me. When we are in contact the complete idea is that I would inspire them too.

For a while I have been watering these dead tree parts with watercolor and gouache in hopes to be a successful magician or alchemist or necromancer. These crafts much like the craft of art are not guaranteed success. All that I can count on is this. If I continue to do work. Some of what I do will be successful. I am counting todays post as a success. It is perhaps a little too beautiful but that is a favorite problem to have with my work. And then I go on to do more.

Enough said. Each and every one of you go pick up your chosen materials and make something beautiful. Right now.

702 (paint)

"but Never Look Back"

(specialness might be gaining on you)

701 (paint)

"Look All Ways"

(for specialness)

700 (paint)

"Don't Let Go"

(of specialness)

699

"Precursor"

(to Ballard Buick's Table Settings)

698 (clarification - the hours)

The hours other than the opening are on this card from CCAC

(click on image to enlarge)

697 (two weeks from today)

"Beautiful Deception"

(opens 2 weeks from today)

(Chelsea - thank you for the design)

696 (paint & numbers)

"Threes Won't Leave Me Be"

(not complaining)

695 (paint)

"Gift Defanged times 3"

(three of a perfect pair)

694 (paint)

"Three Again"

(lucky lucky three again)

693 (P.A.I.N.T.)

"Seven"

692 (P.A.I.N.T.)

"Five"

691 (P.A.I.N.T.)

"Three"

690 (papa alpha india november tango)

"Unknown into the Unknown"

689 (mike uniform sierra india charlie)

"Contrast"

(.... that pierces my soul)

(waldorf 4-.... filter)

688 (some days)

Traveling and the Beach

(a fantasy)

687 (one more photo for now)

"Outside Looking In"

I have been looking at a lot of photographs recently. In books and my own and some originals by others. Photography. I will be part of a group show having to do with FotoFocus in October. I will give you more details later. Suffice it to say I have been taking photos too.

I have been having trouble using cameras. Almost all of my lenses are manual focus. All except one are prime lenses meaning they are one focal length and do not zoom. Most of my equipment is old. Not complaining I actually like it better. Until now. It is getting harder and harder to focus a lens or spend any time looking through a viewfinder of any sort. That is why a lot of my favorites are toys and/or pinhole cameras. No focusing or f/stops involved. I do enjoy feeling my way into a photograph more than looking my way into a photograph. It's personal. We all have our favorite ways to do things. I am happy that we are all different. The photos I am trying to take right now want to be well composed and sharply focused. I am working on it. I'll keep working on it.

The above photo was taken at a time when I would carefully choose depth of field and focus for each and every image. Really good lenses are nice for that. Medium to large format photography is especially good for that look. This was taken with a wide open lens and selective focusing. I did a lot of it. Eventually I was taking photos that other people considered out of focus. Which of course did not stop me. I liked what I was doing just fine. I still find them to be quite beautiful.

Always feel free to do it your own way.

686 (more photos)

"Photography?"

I have enjoyed this beautiful accident from the time it happened.

685 (more photos)

"When You Come to a Fork Take It"

I know there are people looking at this blog site. It counts the pages viewed. However. It does not tell me who you are or what you are thinking. 

Only a very few of you ever leave comments. Some of you have sent email making comments or asking questions. If commenting on the blog site is not something you would like to do I am leaving an email address again.

ballard@ballardborich.com  

Please feel free to say anything you would like to. I am interested in knowing who is looking and what you think. Honestly I am.

684 (Labor Day USA)

"Dendritic"