A New Friend for iPhone

May 12, 2009 By 2 Comments

My birthday brought me not one, but two awesome cameras.  I think iPhone was most worried about a pint-sized camera coming in to the home.  Into my purse.  To live together with us and come along where ever we go.  
 But since our “confrontation” last week, we cleared the air and iPhone came to terms with the idea of another camera in my hand.  So that when I was, finally, gifted with two wonderful cameras, iPhone rather graciously accepted the little Canon Elph and even shared shared space with it in the camera bag over the weekend!
I think this is the beginning of a long and harmonious relationship.  And isn’t it sweet the way Canon put its cord around iPhone for the picture – taken by my new, DSLR, a Nikon d 60?

Nikon comes to me compliments of my dear Dad and Canon was a gift from the husband and kids.
Now I am set for a quick snap-and-file-or-email pic (iPhone), taking a good picture or a video-on-the-spot (Canon Elph), and to explore my creative side through real photography (Nikon)!
I couldn’t be happier with all three of these, my new favorite things.
I remember something my Dad said to me last year when he was a bit exasperated with my tendency to over-shoot certain moments, “Live your life, don’t photograph it.”
I’ll keep that in mind, Dad.
Filed Under: Uncategorized

My Birthday Moon

May 10, 2009 By 6 Comments
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Full Moon
Moon rise 9:01pm EDT
over the ocean in Atlantic Beach, Florida
Nikon d 60 Inaugural Photo Event






Filed Under: Uncategorized

Jacksonville Beach on 5/7/9

May 7, 2009 By 6 Comments

I needed a few minutes to clear my soul today so I stopped at Jax Beach before collecting the crew from school.  
It was 82 degrees and sunny with a sea breeze.  Enough of a break to bring the surfers out. The Jacksonville Beach Pier lures surfers, fishermen, people-watchers. There were a lot of people scattered about the beach on a Thursday afternoon, doing what I like to do best  on the beach.  Not power walking.  Not throwing balls to a dog.  Not building a sandcastle.
Just…relaxing.  Reading.  Sitting or lying down.  Swimming.  I do love being in the ocean when the conditions are right.  Today was that kind of day.  
It reminded me of the days when I could spend Thursday afternoons on the beach too.
It smelled like summertime.
I met this guy and we chatted about surfing and the beach.

He talked about surf conditions and has surfboards for sale.  Anyone interested?  I have his name and phone number. He’ll even teach you to surf in two hours, twenty bucks an hour. I have no idea if he really has surfboards or if he really could teach anyone to surf.  Why wasn’t he surfing?  He was waiting for the tide to come in some more.  He was hoping conditions would get even better.  He was a pleasant dude.  He called me ma’am. (Ma’am?  Me?  And here I was thinking of him as a sort of peer. In a way.)  But the sunshine and beachlife had done me some good in just a few short minutes, so I forgave him in my heart and anyway, he was just being friendly.

I stayed there for about fifteen minutes.  I looked around and soaked it in.

I wanted to take off my shoes and stay for a while.  Rather, I stayed for a bit, then carried on for the rest of the day.
It helped.
Filed Under: Blog

iPhone Wins A Photo Contest!

May 4, 2009 By 5 Comments

    (www.iphoneograpy.com Winning Photo from an Easter themed iPhone photography contest)
 

“Oh, oh my gosh,” iPhone excitedly said, “You…um, me…um, w-we, we won a photo contest!”

“Are you reading my e-mail?” I asked suspiciously.

“What? No.  No!  It’s right here, see?” iPhone could barely contain its glee. “It says so, right here on this blog:  http://www.iphoneography.com/journal/2009/5/4/and-the-winners-are.html .  Do you see that?”  iPhone was vibrating with excitement right there on the counter.

 I glanced down at the blog it had  been reading.  Yup, it was Glyn’s iPhone photography site, the one I’d bookmarked as soon as iPhone came into my life.  I didn’t know iPhone’d been reading it too.

 I’d been wondering when Glyn would get around to announcing the winners of the Easter-themed photo contest.  The challenge was to photograph anything Easter-related using the iPhone camera,  and  one or more of the growing number of wonderful photography apps to enhance it. It had to be e-mailed via an iPhone to the http://www.iphoneography.com blog.  The prize would be a case for the iPhone 3G donated by Griffin Technology Clarifi. It’s not just another iPhone case; this one comes with a slide across  lens for getting better close up shots with the iPhone camera.

 So I’d participated, just for fun.  And I got the e mail telling me I was one of the winners a few weeks ago. Glyn indicated he’d announce it on his site soon, so I hadn’t mentioned to iPhone, or anyone, for that matter.  (Well, okay, I told my Dad and my family.  But I did not tell iPhone.)

 “And you don’t like to think of me as a camera!” iPhone was bubbling with pride, trying to engage me in the moment, while  continuing to read the  short announcement and admiring our winning photo.

 iPhone didn’t notice that I wasn’t too….surprised, for a few moments.

“Wait a minute,”  iPhone calmed down, “this is exciting, isn’t it?”

 “Mmm hmm,” I murmured, pleasantly.  It was true that I’d been mighty excited when Glyn’s e mail first arrived announcing that I was one of the winners. I’ve never won anything, let alone a photography contest.  

 I was just a little reluctant to encourage iPhone’s photographic aspirations.  I am still pining for a real camera.  iPhone’s been really quite reliable for most of my photographic occasions these past few months.  We’ve had some good times together, made some good pictures, downloaded many entertaining apps.  I can’t deny it’s been a lot more fun than I expected, photographically, when iPhone came to me.

Winning an actual award, with rather a good prize for iPhone too, kind of ratchets up iPhone’s expectation for a future in photography with me.

I had not anticipated that iPhone might learn of the award before I’d had the chance to tell it.  This was a problem, I could tell.

iPhone’s exuberance settled.   iPhone was putting two and two together.

 “You asked if I’d read your e mail,” iPhone stated flatly.

I said nothing, nonchalantly going about my business in the kitchen, acting preoccupied.

“You knew about this already,” iPhone went on in monotone, “and you didn’t tell me.”

iPhone was so disappointed.  I could feel its disappointment in my own heart.  

Should I have told iPhone we’d won, back when I’d found out?  I was feeling so conflicted!  I didn’t want iPhone’s expectations to soar while I am hoping…longing…pining for a real camera for my birthday in three more days.

I love iPhone and it will always be my pocket pal.  My go-to device for just about everything…but its photographic affections will be replaced by a real camera if I get one for my birthday three days from now.

“I know I’m right,” iPhone went on.  It had stopped shimmying about the counter and was still.  “You must have gotten an e mail telling you we’d won.” 

“And you didn’t tell me,” it added. 

I  sighed, and turned to look at my beloved little device, who only moments ago, was giddy with joy over having been a photo contest winner.  

Heck, I was giddy myself when the e mail from Glyn had arrived. 

“All right,” I admitted, “it’s true.  I knew that we’d won and didn’t tell you.  I wanted to surprise you when Glyn posted it on his blog.” 

“Oh really?” iPhone’s tone was  sarcastic, which brought me up a little short, I admit.  I was not accustomed to sarcasm from my beloved iPhone. 

“Well, it’s true.  I waited to tell you because I wanted to write about it on the blog.  Then it would be a surprise for you and the five or six people who read this.  Like, my cousin, Rosie, and a couple of new visitors, Mickey and Debra.  And Sink!” I spoke brightly.  I remembered to smile.  

“Sink?” iPhone spat, “A sink? What the…” 

“Never mind that,” I said quickly. I was making a mess of this.  Explaining the name of my friend Sink would divert the conversation and I knew this needed to be addressed-soon.  Because, my birthday is coming and I just might get a real camera… 

I realized I was treading water on this one.  I needed to feign enthusiasm to pull iPhone back from the brink.  I  want iPhone on my side,  camera or not. I didn’t want to spoil iPhone’s happiness with the contest win. I do love iPhone.  And it did win the contest, that was true. 

I hoped I did not sound false.  We stared at each other.  I noted that iPhone’s screen had not dimmed – as it usually does when it’s idle – during the entire confrontation. 

“I’m so proud of you, iPhone,” I said respectfully, “I-I love you. I never meant to hurt you.”  

“We’ve talked about this before, remember?   You do know I think you’re great, and I admit – your pictures and apps  have been pretty awesome. I’ve had the best time.”  

“But…” iPhone was waiting for the denouement.  Damn, it knew me so well.  (How did this happen?)  

I exhaled.  

“Since you came to me last December I’ve grown to depend on you so much that now I cannot imagine life without you.  If I had to choose between you, and say…giving up acrylic fingernails, I’d choose you.  I’d give up Starbucks for you.”  

I thought it sounded pretty convincing.  And I was speaking the truth. (But Starbucks would go before the nails did.  Just sayin’.)  

iPhone was unmoved.  It knew I wasn’t finished.

 “iPhone, seriously.  I need a real camera.  One that can take pictures and videos and has a flash and a zoom and a close up feature,” I told it quietly, “and you don’t have those things.” 

“I have asked my family to buy me a camera for my birthday which is coming in three more days,” I finished, really ready to be done with this nonsense.  I’d lost my patience with all this.  And with writing this story.  

“Oh, I know when your birthday is,” iPhone snarled, “I think we all know when your birthday is.  You can’t stop talking about it.  What is your freaking problem?”  iPhone’s volume was rising. 

I did not know where to take it now.  iPhone was angry when I wanted us to be happy together.  And, truthfully, iPhone had embarrassed me just a little about my multiple birthday references.  Suddenly, I wasn’t finding it all that amusing anymore.  

“iPhone, let’s stop this,” I said, “Let’s be happy – WE WON THE PHOTO CONTEST on the iphoneography blog! You’re going to get a brand new Clarifi case, with a built-in lens from Griffin Technology Clarifi.  We’re winners, you and me!”  

I had really blown it.  I was so darned excited when I learned we’d won and I knew I should have told iPhone right away.  

“I was wrong to keep it from you, simple as that,” I stated as candidly as I could, “Will you forgive me?”  

What else is there, without forgiveness?  I mean, really?  

“Whether I get a camera or not for my birthday (in three days)   you have to know you that I will never, ever go anywhere without you.  I might get another camera, but I promise you this:  I’ll never get a BlackBerry.”  

At this, iPhone brightened.  The tension between us was gone.  iPhone gave me a very sweet apology in return which it asked me not to write about, and we took some very sweet make up photos with the camera.  I’ll keep those pictures private as well.  

iPhone, you are still my #1 smart phone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Filed Under: Uncategorized

Wrapping Up A Sunday

May 3, 2009 By 7 Comments


By the time I headed out on my  bike for a short look-see at what was going on in my neighborhood, it was already six o’clock on a Sunday evening.
This time of day on this particular day of the week has always made me feel just a little wistful for as far back as I can remember.
And seeing people coming off the beach,  arms full of a day-at-the-beach paraphernalia for the trip home, or just on their bikes or walking but clearly leaving evoked that same familiar yearning tonight, as I paused for a few moments and watched the people wrapping up their Sunday.  I’m sure it’s not unique to me but I wonder why after all these years, it can still creep up on me, even if just a tinge, during that subtle transitional time of day when a Sunday afternoon becomes Sunday evening. 

The weather was warm but without the blanket of humidity that will come, with a nice sea breeze.  The light, though still strong as we are approaching summer, was changing.  It was the sun moving westerly as the people were packing it in, in the mild beachlife Spring evening that was redolent of school nights long ago, when I’d had to, finally let go of Sunday and accept the impending week to come.
The feeling that went along with all that was visceral and took me by surprise tonight.  Even the beach, my  beach, gave me that longing-for kind of mood.
So I breathed in that familiar and comforting blend of salt air and marine life, and pedaled home.
Filed Under: Blog

The First of May, The First of May…

May 1, 2009 By 2 Comments

… the countdown to my birthday begins today.
As I sang the above as a little rhyme to my kids this morning, one of them innocently and excitedly blurted my coming age, too.
Age is so important when you’re young.  Reaching that next age, and the next…well, that’s what it’s all about when you’re coming up in the world.
Oh, and the party and wish lists,  of course, for which the plans and ideas start being floated about thirty days after their last birthday.  I’ll just listen without comment or commitment for several months until we get within, say, three months of said child’s birthday (usually it’s just the girls). Then I announce that the real birthday planning may begin in earnest about one month before their big day.  It helps keep their excitement confined to a manageable period of time.  
Me, being all grown-up like I am, I try to keep within the same ‘thirty day out’ guideline.  But once we hit the first of May, all bets are off and let the games begin. 
My date’s the 9th.
So I said to whichever-daughter-it-was who cheerfully announced the age I would become,  come the 9th: “I’m celebrating the mood, not the age.  I don’t care about the age any more.”  
I’m all about the birthday fun and attention,  and since it does come attached to a number, I face up to it, I do.  But it’s not like they have to tell all their friends.
Do they?
If it comes up, I say, in conversation, fine.  It’s okay, I’m not ashamed.  But, kids, I like a little mystery about myself, so…you know?  Be discreet? 
 Do you think people aged 13, 11 and 7 can understand the concept of discreet?
Oh well.  It is what it is (a phrase I’m quickly tiring of in our language but I’m a lazy writer today), and if someone (and many people do!) discovers my chronological age, so be it.
Chronological age…only someone older would even think to use that one when describing their age.  As in, age is only a number. (All the little disclaimers we use when we start becoming a bit dismayed by the passage of time.)
Yea, right.  But it’s my number.  Which is a bit of a startling thought.
Well, never mind all that.  I am still counting down to my birthday because, like my mother before me, it’s a day for celebration and presents and fun!  And if I don’t get this party started, no one will.
Filed Under: Uncategorized

Exploring New Beaches

April 24, 2009 By 4 Comments

Last weekend we visited the beaches on Little Talbot Island and Big Talbot Island, Florida. We took the charmingly down home ferry from Mayport, across the St. John’s River and then drove a few miles north to Little Talbot Island.  It was a beautiful day if a little chilly  (not complaining) and it was fun to explore a beachscape different from our own.  And the temperature didn’t matter to the kids who were completely invigorated by seeing a new beach.  It’s true that they’re getting bored with our own neighborhood beach, lovely as it is.  (Kids these days.)

When we got there it seemed as though we were truly someplace else.  

       
The beaches of Little Talbot Island are sandy white.  So lovely and wild.  I felt like we were on vacation, not merely a few miles from home.  
This:
necessitated this…
         
…before getting back into the car for a short drive north to Big Talbot Island.  We only explored one small area; there’s much more to see and do.  But we headed for the ‘trees beach’, as iPhone and I wanted to take some pictures of a different sort of coastline.
The approach to the beach was so lovely, with all sorts of trees whose species I do not know.  Water oaks, perhaps, or live oaks, or some combo of the two.  But I loved that they were large and glorious, with grand limbs and oh, so picturesque.
That’s the family, standing yonder on the bench.
The view from there to the beach below…
…was so enticing that I just had to brave the climb down an awkward sand path just wearing flip flops and clutching iPhone (and a soda), but it was worth it.  
The kids ran and climbed these terrific, downed trees, while a few other people on the beach were surf fishing.  It was quiet, about six o’clock on a Sunday evening.  
They could have frolicked for much longer than we were able to stay. My daughter loves to climb a tree and rarely do we encounter a good climber.  So she was enchanted. Never mind that the trees were horizontal.    iPhone and I were struck by the photographic possibilities, especially because these trees were prone. 

    

  

iPhone wanted to try out some of her apps on the following pictures:
          
The top picture is the original photo. The next image was shown in the Camera Bag app with the Lolo filter.  The last picture uses the Helga filter from Camera Bag app.
                                          
This trio starts with the original image on the top. The second picture uses the Camera Bag app with the Helga filter. Finally, the last tree photo is shown using Camera Bag’s Lolo filter.
The next two photos show the original image first, with Lolo filter from Camera Bag app, second.

 

And finally, these last few photos were taken with no enhancements at all!  
   
It was a fun way to explore the beauty of atlantic beachlife.
Little Talbot Island and Big Talbot Island, brought to you by your host, Atlantic Beachlifer and her trusty sidekick, iPhone.
Filed Under: Blog

Protecting Us From Baby Birds and Lizards, 24/7

April 22, 2009 By 5 Comments

 
The baby bird was maimed and found lying on a garden stone.  Pumpkin,  occasional huntress and domestic garage cat, was toying with her prey.  Her sister Angel was eyeing the goings-on with interest.
Naturally we were all  distressed to see this baby bird on the ground, and the cats deciding which of them would have it for herself.  Lily tried to pick it up so we could at least get it out of harm’s way but the bird fluttered nervously from her hand. It skittered over to and sort of burrowed itself instinctively into the mulch pile nearby. It was remarkable how effectively this former tree camouflaged the baby bird. (None of this fake, dyed mulch here at beachlife house. Real gardeners prefer real mulch. Beachlife housewife’s a bit of a mulch snob.)  

Pumpkin, from whose mouth this tiny bird was rescued, sits proudly in the foreground.

Over the years we’ve become accustomed to stepping over maimed and half consumed bodies of small lizards in the garage.  I’ve actually become blase about seeing a lizard with its top half gone, presumably in the digestive tract of Angel or Pumpkin. Sometime it’s the lower portion that’s missing, leaving a lizard head with its eyes open and front legs outstretched, as though it had a chance, still, to dart away from either of these  hobbyist predators.

These our are sweet family pets, although my husband’s “allergies” require that they live in the garage. Whatever.  Four out of five of us love our cats and appreciate their own little personalities.  The fifth of us doesn’t get cats.  And with cats, I think, you either get them, or you don’t.  There doesn’t seem to be much middle ground about cats.  

So they pretty much enjoy their daily diet of Purina One and water, with the occasional lizard thrown in for sport and maybe some extra protein. I suppose their vigilance keeps those lizards from darting into the house and for that I’m truly grateful.  I know that gecko and small lizard images are beloved by many but frankly, lizards in the house skeeve me out.  So does having to dispose of a mutilated carcass but I’ve learned to look the other way.

I can’t remember a time when either of the cats successfully nabbed a bird or other small creature.  The cat of my youth would often leave her prizes (usually dead birds) at our back door. I suppose my Dad took care of its remains. So when we found Pumpkin with her baby bird, there was much to-do, and wondering what to do.

I sent Lily over to Mr. M for his advice (and secretly hoping he’d come over and get me out of this!) but she was soon back saying “all he knows about are sea turtles.”  Great.  Now I have to be the mom and deal with it.   But wait!  The tree guys were here, finally removing the palm that had cracked a week ago,
so I asked him.   He gently petted both cats, (he gets cats) told the kids it was ‘just nature’ and cradled the bird gently so we could see how badly it was injured.
(iPhone not at her best in these images which really is  why she’s NOT a real camera despite her often splendid performance at times.)
Tree guy decided it was best to let the little bird “rest” in the woods and went off to lay it down, particularly to hide it from the cats.

After dinner my husband and I decided to go for a short walk here:
and when we opened the door to go into the garage…yikes!  That bird was back.  Right there on the welcome mat. This time, it was Angel who’d claimed it.  (How did that cat find the bird? Tree guy’d hidden it pretty well.) Its head was already gone, and we could hear the tiny bones, crunching, as she licked her lips.  Truly a disturbing sight (which I had the courtesy not to photograph.)  

I reminded my husband (remember? the fifth family member, the one who does not get cats?) that when a cat brings her prey to your back door like that, it’s an honor.  She’s brought her prize home to her family.
Good guy that he is, he did not make me sweep up my cat’s carnage.  He did it, just like the guy should. 

Angel, meanwhile, sat there, content.  You could hardly blame her.  After all, “it’s nature”.
Filed Under: Uncategorized

Sea Turtles, Part Trois

April 22, 2009 By 2 Comments
We were so happy to learn from X that the rescued sea turtle’s health improved, and he’s already been released back into the ocean.  The girls reported this happy outcome to me, so I hightailed it over to X to get the dirt straight from the source.
Diagnosis:  dehydration.  The turtle was fed and hydrated orally.  The barnacles were scraped from his body.  X told me he was a loggerhead turtle, age eight.  
“Will he get any bigger than that?” I asked.
“Of course,” he replied.  
(As if I would know.)
Apparently this guy will grow into maturity of about four feet in diameter.
“Was he male or female?”  I wondered.
X explained that that cannot be determined by a look-over. There’s an internal examination  to determine gender, and the State didn’t do that.  The turtle’s survival was paramount.  Gender in this context, irrelevant.
I was just rooting around for anecdotal information to make this story more interesting.  
I’d brought the sea turtle fact card X had given to the girls the other day.  I’m sorry to realize how little I know about sea turtles given that I’ve been X’s neighbor and have loved this coastline for over eight years.  He told me they made another rescue of a distressed turtle today.
He offered that the turtle who’d made the season’s first nest was a leatherback turtle, who weighs about one thousand pounds. Leatherbacks are rare, this far north up the Florida coast. The nest should hatch around the end of June.  
I’ll be keeping an eye on it for y’all.
Filed Under: Uncategorized

Sea Turtles, Part Deux

April 21, 2009 By 2 Comments

a rescued sea turtle, waiting beneath a damp towel for help that was on the way.

X (“Don’t put me on the Internet”) also rescued a very sick sea turtle over the weekend.
My girls ran home to tell me it was in his little patrol car.
iPhone and I ran over to have a look, and snap a few photos.
Help was on the way for this turtle.  The State of Florida would take the turtle to a rehab center and, hopefully, nurse it back to health.
After taking several pictures of this lethargic but fortunate sea turtle I raised iPhone to X’s face…”Just my Facebook page?” I ventured.
“I don’t want to be on the Internet.”
(Not that any of my Internet gets much action.  X is a dedicated champion of the sea turtles but eschews attention.) I was especially interested in the turtle because of a very recent, well, Internet, discussion I’d been having about…yes, turtles…with some friends in an online group.
 I (finally) got the message.
I will never post X’s picture or mention the name  on the Internet. 
But here are some photos of the turtle.  When I remarked how barnacle encrusted he appeared  X explained that yes, that’s what indicated he was ill.  That and, most likely, the fact that the turtle was lying on the beach.  I didn’t get the full story and X can be a bit laconic, so I didn’t press.
This poor turtle’s eye socket appeared sunken, and when I remarked, X then said that too was an indicator of his poor health.
This is all probably pretty obvious.  But me and iPhone, we like to ask questions.
We got over there just in time, too, for moments later the guy from the State arrived and lifted turtle from X’s patrol car, to the back of his van.
After the turtle was carefully lifted into the State rescue van, I chirped, “Wow, his first time in a car!”
X looked at me, pointedly.
“Um, right, his second time…,” I was sounding like the village idiot.
X had brought the turtle off the beach – in the beach patrol vehicle.
Filed Under: Uncategorized
« Older Posts
Newer Posts »