Black & White Sunday: On Angel Wings [again]

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Just a quick note to say I haven’t forgotten you all and thank you so much for all your lovely comments recently. I’m slowly making my way around to visit you all but again this week is going to be a doozie!!

As you can see I’ve become a little obsessed with my Angel here! [sorry everyone who has now seen this for the 3rd time]. She is one of ten Angels on the Pont Sant’Angelo in Roma. This bridge was built to accommodate the pilgrims making their way to the Vatican City. I myself walked this path on my way to the Vatican without ever knowing the relevance. My Angel here [official name ‘Angel With Cross’] must of spoken to me as she was the only one I stopped to photograph. I think she posed quite well and the clouds floating in didn’t hurt either.

I can’t stop looking at the movement of her gown and the way it drapes and folds around her feet, and thus the light and shade it creates [reminds me of Caravaggio]. Her face is one of compassion and looks upon you with care. The sculptor was Ercole Ferrata. A quick read of his background explains why I have become so obsessed. He was an ardent follower of Gian Lorenzo Bernini [i.e. the Four Rivers Fountain in Piazza Navona - here]. Both artists seem to have the ability to express raw emotion through their work. Well it certainly speaks to me.

Apparently this bridge was built to mark the end of the plague which was foretold by a angel visiting this spot. Well.. I think we could all do with a little of that. Seems there is a lot of sickness this year.. Swine Flu and other. Two of my colleagues from my project are out of the game now and hospitalized with ‘unknown causes’. Maybe my Angel will help us all get back to good health and good spirits.

Wishing you all good health, good cheer and a relaxing Sunday

Pop over to Anne Marie’s [Na-Da Farm Life] to see other B&W Sunday participants

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IMAGE SOURCE: Photo and editing by me [Being Ruby]

BLACK & WHITE Sunday: Leaving Tenterfield [Part II]

Continuing on my Tenterfield Theme, here are a few more shots in Black & White .

Now I didn’t give you the back story to this trip. It was taken at Easter back in 1995. A friend was driving up to her Uncle’s shack, 2 kids in tow, for a spot of country air and R&R. She failed to tell me we were about to embark on a 10+ hour drive. She also failed to tell me what the ‘shack’ would look like. Of course I had romantic notions of this simple country shack and, although without modern day conveniences, I still imagined it would be somewhat romantic and restful. The ‘Shack’ turned out to be a ‘Shack’, no frills about it.. ha ha..

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Her Uncle lived on a horse farm with just a few working dogs for company. It seem the dogs didn’t mind the 4 inches of dust and dirt on the floor and the cupboards and the chairs and the old sofa. Nor did the dogs care there was no electricity or hot water and the only shower was an external cold water bucket shower.. The dogs didn’t care … cause the dogs didn’t have to use it.. ha ha. I am such a wuss at the best of time, but this was extreme to say the least. We spent the first hour boiling water and scrubbing a wash pan so we could then boil water and scrub some cutlery and plates to eat off. After all this scrubbing, it was off to bed .. socks and hiking boots still on. I don’t think those boots came off the whole 4 days.

Now bear in mind this was back in the days when I still thought blow drying my hair was as essential to my daily rituals as brushing my teeth. So the first day or so was full of ‘resistance’ on my part. After that I seemed to relax into the rhythm of the country. I stopped fussing over the unnecessary things and spent my time focussing on more important things like the people around me and the ‘drop dead gorgeous countryside’.

On the long drive home I felt somewhat liberated from my everyday necessities that really aren’t necessities at all. The radio was playing George Michael’s ‘Freedom’ as if it knew I had discovered the secret to this elusive state of ‘being Free’. This first image below is the Bruxner Highway leading out of Tenterfield on the long trip home, as seen through the eyes of a newly liberated Country Soul!

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See the Magpie above!!

You can see this week’s Black & White Sunday participants over here [don’t forget Sunday comes early to Sydney]

Hosted by ‘Anne Marie of Na-Da Farm Life’

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IMAGE SOURCE: All images by me [being Ruby]

Thoughts For A Sunday: The concept of Freedom is a strange animal. I was sad to leave Tenterfield and the sense of Freedom I had found escaping the paraphernalia of city living. Paradoxically, Peter Allen, a son of Tenterfield, found his Freedom by embracing the big smoke and a life of fame.

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BLACK & WHITE Sunday: And a little bit bit pink

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I can't show you this man's face

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No ... He is not a dentist…

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He is another of Gianlorenzo Bernini’s blatant ‘tongue in cheek’ digs at his rival Francesco Borromini. When I posted the 2nd guy below [here], the lovely and knowledgeable Simone from The Bottom of the Ironing Basket pointed out that Bernini had made yet another dig at Borromini by placing a statue with his back turned to Borromini’s facade! [if you are getting confused with the Bernini’s and Borromini’s try writing this post!]. Anyway… Simone’s comment encouraged me to go on a search.. and digging through my photos.. alas.. I found the second guy!! Sure enough he has his back turned to the facade AND has his head draped to protect himself from this vision!! How funny.. those whacky feuding sculptors!!

Unfortunately once I chopped the heads and arms of my fellow tourists out of the picture, this was all that was left. Also below is the original photo I posted of ‘Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi’ .. but this time in Black & White. So although nothing new in way of photos... stick around as there are some awards at the end.

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You might be wondering what the ‘Little Bit Pink’ is. Well the talented Tamerie from A Little of This That and the Other presented me with this ‘I think you’re an awesome girl’ award. What a sweetheart! Tamerie is a talented and resourceful girl who whips up something new to delight us each week. Pay her a visit and say hello from me!! If you pop over now, you'll see some eye candy for sure!! he he

Well as a little Thank You to Anne Marie for hosting Black & White Sunday each week, and also all the talented and charming girls who participate and support each other each week, I’d like to pass this award on to each of them. Plus an award to Jacqueline from HOME as avid B&W supporter. Jacqueline generously participates each week by way of her supportive and flattering comments [best cheer squad in blogland]. So here they are in no particular order;

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Anne Marie of Na-Da Farm Life

Carole of Maynard Greenhouse

Erin of Erin's Art and Gardens

Turquoise Diaries

Eniko of The Secret Garden

Jacqueline from HOME

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I also would like to thank the effervescent Jacqueline of HOME for giving me this very special award below. What a wonderful friend and blogger Jacqueline is. She created some personalized awards for a few of her blogging buddies, uniquely tailored to reflect their own interests and I was lucky enough to be a recipient. Very special indeed. Here is my ‘personal’ award [in black & white]. What a special friend she is!! There is no-one like her!

YES there is even more Pink to come in the form of a giveaway this week. I thought it was time I gave back a little for all the giveaways I have won, so what better than something ‘Pink’ as October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Pop over and check out the great work being done by;

The McGrath Foundation

And while you’re popping around the net… pop over and see the 30% OFF Louenhide Handbag Sale at ‘The Armchair Trader’ [one of our very own blogging gals]. There just might be a pink Louenhide Handbag in my giveaway soon. If pink is not your thing, A-M has other delightful Louenhide choices. But hurry girls.. they are selling out fast!

The Armchair Trader - Louenhide Handbag Sale

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And of course – you can see this week’s Black & White Sunday participants over here.

Hosted by ‘Anne Marie of Na-Da Farm Life’

IMAGE SOURCE: Non Award Images by me [being Ruby]

To The Moon Alice: Oct 2009 [& Black & White Sunday]

I hesitate to miss another Black & White Sunday in lieu of my Full Moon Post, so I am combining the two. I also have some more oddities & mishaps to share.

This image was taken at the last full moon but too late for my post. Once again I took to the balcony, camera wrapped tightly round my wrist and leant over into the abyss to take this shot of the moon hovering over the now leafless and creepy looking Jacaranda Tree. It’s only 2 floors up, but feels like the abyss, in the dark, with the bats flying around.. YES.. bats!! eeek! Do you think they know Halloween is coming?

I also have some colour & sepia versions of this shot, but for now, here she is in Black & White, Bella La Luna;

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So nature seems to have a mind of it’s own this last week or two. The bats are new and have taken up residence in the tree out the front. We do get bats around this area due to the nearby parks but they usually don’t stay so close to human activity. Nor do they usually swoop so low or do flyby’s when you are sitting on the balcony. Every night they get a little closer. It’s giving me the creeps. I'd post some photos of them if they didn't move so fast!

And if bats aren’t your thing, then there is always the wasps. YEP.. must be a nest somewhere close as the wasps keep dive bombing me when I am out on the balcony in the daylight hours enjoying a magazine and coffee. Poor House Beautiful took a beating trying to fend of the wasp as it kept coming at me.. There was a lot of ‘hand flinging, hissy fitting’ going on trying to get back in and close the door. I’ve taken to sitting out there with the coffee in one hand and insecticide in the other. Not a nice way to treat nature.. but nature’s getting dangerous. It came at me again today, but this time I substituted House Beautiful for the more weighty tome of Vogue Living in my defence.

But wait there’s more. Last week we had a Red Bellied Black snake out the front of our office building [did I tell you about the snake already? I can’t remember]. Now this is Sydney CBD folks, not the usual place to find a venomous snake. The Police and Wildlife Rescue were called but couldn’t get it to come out from where it hid with all the commotion. Turns out the following weekend, shopkeepers saw the snake come out and stop traffic as it crossed the road. And ‘Why Did The Snake Cross The Road?’ … to get to the Blood Bank of course.. ha ha Someone suggested I park my car out the front of work the other night when I was working late. I don’t think so!!

There you have it, my latest Full Moon Madness.. and all strange but true stories! Welcome to Sydney and the world of Ruby!!

Pop over to see other Black & White Sunday participants Hosted by

‘Anne Marie of Na-Da Farm Life’

IMAGE SOURCE: Image by me [being Ruby]

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UPDATED: YES I am reposting Sunday's post. Just until I have a chance to put something else up. The Aliens abducted the post subsequent to this one. Something about confiscating evidence! And to all who had commented .. Thanks a bunch!!! The general concensus was Aliens!!

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BLACK & WHITE Sunday: Introspection [& Chandeliers]

Today I am going to let you in to the inner workings of my mind! [Run now it’s the safest option!!]

Luckily for me, I seem to have finally found an outlet for my constant ruminations. A visual outlet where the mind can take a holiday, the calculations and hypothesis are left at the door.

I am an analyst of detail, by trade and nature. Unfortunately there can be both positives and negatives to this attribute. Constantly re-reviewing and reconsidering every aspect of your work will sometimes spill over into your daily life and the results are never pretty. Analysing every finding can alienate and ‘ruin-ate’ precious moments as quick as you can say ‘Dr Freud’ I have a problem! Finding the ‘off’ button for these invasive mental permutations, can in itself become a laboured task resulting in temporary insanity, raised eyebrows, and the instant clearing of a room!!! Yes those men in their little white coats are just biding their time!!

Lately though, I seem to have found a creative outlet for this annoying trait. A method to review, refine, invert, revert and 'per-mutate', that does not require mental acuity and in fact allows me to unwind, relax and just find beauty and calm in the ‘sometimes accidental’ resulting images. Yes the beauty of this technique is.. there is no technique at all!! In fact I think it has become almost a meditative process for me. So today I bring you the results of my latest creative meanderings. The positive, the negative, the introspection and retrospection, conversion and inversion [without the angst!! ha ha]

My poor unsuspecting subject is the St Sophia Basilica in Istanbul. I never tire of my two favourite images of her, taken on vacation in 1993. The full versions of these images were posted in previous Black & White Sundays [here] and [here]. I am yet to bring you the original colour, but if you can take some more B&W … here are some permutations of those previous images showcasing her wondrous chandeliers. All happily devoid of any technical decisions. [Naturally, I deliberated over which variations to post!!!]

And the long awaited third Basilica .. Basilica di San Marco in Venezia. Yet more permutations of travel snapshots using similar ‘non-technique’. I’ll bring you more of these another Sunday.

Hosted by ‘Anne Marie of Na-Da Farm Life’

Pop over there to see other Black & White Sunday participants [don't forget Sydney posts early]

Enjoy Your Sunday

FOOTNOTES

#1 For those that enquired... I don't have Photoshop [yet]. I just use a basic photo editor and play around with the contrast, tone and colour

#2 Strangely I had not previously researched the namesake saint of this beautiful Basilica until today. St. Sophia is the patron Saint of martyrs, widows & orphans and her name means Wisdom. She was the mother of the three virgin martyrs, the virtues … Faith, Hope & Love [Agape] and their memory is celebrated on September 17

IMAGES: All by me [being Ruby]

BLACK & WHITE Sunday: Inspiration & Remembrance

No. My photography skills haven’t suddenly improved. This Black & White Sunday I’d like to share with you one of my favourite B&W photographers, Ruth Orkin. This 1st large image below, simply named ‘American Girl In Italy’ has been part of my life now for many years. It once held position of privilege, hanging larger than life in my lounge, fuelling my dreams and imagination. It currently sits amongst other treasures in my garage waiting for it’s new home.

By no means forgotten, nor abandoned. Just waiting.

Art and photography can impact one on many levels. It fuels the imagination and allows one to dream and travel to places never seen, or always remembered. This image has influenced my life on many levels. It encouraged my dreams of one day travelling to Italy. Encouraged me to travel alone even when my mind was telling me I couldn’t do it. It reminds me to be strong and walk tall, and perhaps to walk a different path and be true to one’s own sense of uniqueness. It reminds me that inner beauty and inner strength is the substance required to make change and have purpose. Being different will always attract attention, whether it be admiration, or mocking. It stands out in the crowd and up to the bullies, and says quietly… I’m here…!

Some years ago, this image became somewhat cliché and over used in the Hairdressers, Cafes & Shoe Shops of Sydney. When art becomes cliché it is easy to overlook it, or reject it, but for me this image will always be a classic. An inspiration, a friend, a reminder. This image also brought me a new blogging friend by way of my first comments on her blog. This image has enriched my life.

It is a constant reminder of the diversity of people, cultures and the freedom of travel. You can't see all the fascinating details here, but the full version is overflowing with gorgeous details of Italian design, architecture & style and takes you on a stroll through the romance of Italy in the 50’s.

I recently found these further delights by way of these fabulous images below.

All taken in Florence in the early 1950’s, all of the same unique, mesmerizing subject. I also now have a moniker for my inspirational traveller… As unique as the owner herself …

For more fabulous Photography by the talented Ruth Orkin, head over to [this website]

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Today marks the 34th anniversary of my mother’s death. Jinx here reminds me a lot of my mother. Tall, Brunette [in her younger years], Strength of Purpose and Daring to be herself. I had intended to bring you a post celebrating her life, but it will have to be another time as I’m still searching for the right words and images to do it justice.

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Hosted by ‘Anne Marie of Na-Da Farm Life’

Pop over there to see other Black & White Sunday participants

Enjoy Your Sunday

IMAGES: Black & Whites – Ruth Orkin Colour Image: belongs to the family library of Being Ruby