When I was in college, I took a photography class.  A pedestrian student, I loved my camera but lacked inspiration.

The thing I loved to photograph was my cat.  Maybe that’s because he was always nearby, and I didn’t want to work that hard.  Whatever it was, I did take many photos of Frye, processing them in black and white, and happily mounting them for class exhibition.  That cat had the best disposition of any cat I’ve ever had (and I loved him the most, but don’t tell Angel or Pumpkin, because I really, really love them too).

My takeaway from that photography class –

Where Jeannie Made Boring Prints in Photography Class

where I toiled in the Kresge Art Center at Michigan State University on my cat masterpieces – was the professor’s critique of my work.

One day in class he said, “Miss Shmina, this is not a cat food commercial.”

Ouch.

I’ve never forgotten that comment.  I have always associated it with that photography class.

Today, I give you my cats, in macro. Perhaps the images are still ordinary, but since they are always around when I’m in the yard with my camera, I snapped a few of them during my ‘seeds and nuts’ shoot.  They are happy to dine on Purina, Meow Mix, and lizards, with the occasional baby bird if they get lucky.

Perhaps my work has not improved much.  That’s up to the viewer to decide.

At least I have a better lens, now.  But I must say, I did have a 50mm 1.4 on that beauty of a film camera.  They don’t make them like they used to; that’s for certain.

Pumpkin, the Calico, has the best fur, so soft.  She likes to jump onto my back, nuzzle my hair, and then she starts biting it.  Odd.

Angel, the black-and-white part Tiger, likes to drink water from the hose.

They are my yard pals, following me as I roam, looking for better subjects to shoot.  For today, though, this is all I have to offer for Macro Monday.

If I showed a partially eaten lizard stiff with rigor mortis, its eyes open and front legs extended as though the possibility of escape still existed,  its bottom half having been thoroughly enjoyed by one of my pals here, now that would have been a cat food commercial.

“Tastes like chicken, and high in protein.  Fresh, locally-sourced,  and no cost to you.  Serve lizard daily, with a clean bowl of water, and your cat will be happy for years to come.”

Or, how to be with two people at the same time. The one in front of you, and the one in your hand.

This is a seed from one of the many common palms in the yard.  It will sprout anywhere it’s buried, and its appearance will resemble a blade of grass. As a Florida newbie ten years ago, I didn’t recognize this. I thought those blades were grass, but Northern turf and Southern turf is a whole other blog post (and who really cares except Master gardeners and golf course turf managers – or weed-pullers like me?)   That’s the time to yank it though,  before it’s had a chance to develop its ‘tree’ root system.    These weeds are everywhere in my gardens, and are easy to extract when nascent blades,  but dullsville for people who eschew weeding.  Like children. Like my children. Even when I offer to pay them (I naively thought they’d be glad for the chance to earn some cash.  I’m blogging, and taking pictures of weeds,  I’m a bit busy, you understand …)   But  honestly? I actually love weeding.  It’s quiet time, and really satisfying to work in the dirt, removing weeds, and turning the mulch;  prettying the gardens. I used to have more time for gardening and I miss it.   These palm seeds also pepper our decks, and squash when stepped on. Since we painted the decks black, these seeds are barely discernable. Until you step on one.

A tiny acorn, with its friend, the dimpled seednut.  I don’t know what it is, but it has an interesting texture next to the acorn, don’t you think?  Since I focussed on the acorn as the primary subject, the dimpled seednut plays second fiddle in this image. The blurred green in the background is Spanish moss, which you’ll see more clearly when you keep scrolling down.

I have no idea what this … pointy sphere-on-a-stem is, but they are everywhere about my yard.  I love its texture also and doesn’t it just pop when placed in front of my green deck railings?

A composition of the palm seed, tiny acorn, dimpled seednut or whatever-it-is, against a backdrop of Spanish moss.

Three of my favorite colors: black, green, and gold. Do I need to mention that’s a leaf, on the right? It was just there when I set the seed in front of the Spanish moss, and I liked how it looked in the picture.

Red berries. Obviously.  Probably not good for you if you ate one.

The end.

The inspiration.

She wasn’t sure what the homeowners thought of the girl with a camera and tripod, who moved stealthily about the periphery of their front yard. It wasn’t quite dark when she stopped her car, having had an aha! moment when she saw so many lights, twinkling lights.  She definitely knew she ought to knock at their door and just explain her mission; surely they would not mind. The odder way was to do what she did, traversing their expansive yard with her tripod and camera, staying close to the street, until dusk became dark. Then she packed up her gear and drove off. She had no manners left on that evening, none at all. She wonders if they even noticed her activity; it did appear that people were home. She justified that if they were genuinely curious, or concerned that a weirdo was doing photography in the dark in front of their house, they would have come out to have a word with her.

But no one did, and that was that.

This is what she saw:

The end.