In my desk at work I have a photo, looks like it was from the 40s. Maybe 30s. It’s a woman cantering a horse in an outdoor arena. It’s taken from a slightly higher vantage point, looking down a little and straight on.
If I remember right, the woman is wearing a plaid shirt and jodphurs. She’s riding in an English saddle. Or should I say on an English saddle? Whatever…
I have no idea who she was. It’s just a photo given to me by a co-worker who found it in a stack of old photos she’d bought somewhere. Maybe a yard sale. Memories sold to strangers.
I always thought I’d do something with it someday. There’s something about old photographs that intrigues me. Mysteries faded by time. But now I don’t have to violate other people’s images…
Because (drum roll please) I CAN MAKE MY OWN, my very OWN, faded, crumpled vintage images…from photos I took this morning!
YAY!!! Thank you geeks who grew up to be app designers…I luvvvvvv you!!! Indeed I do. Because with a little bit of digital manipulation I can turn a crappy snapshot into something fun! interesting! And in this case, vintagely ARTY!
Like this one. The three of them were hanging out up by the barn. In the original photo Saki is blurry from a head shake. But throw some aging grunge into it and it turns into something more. Mysterious. Arty.
And this one…I’m calling this one Secrets. Partial faces. Communication. What are they saying? Why am I ignoring them?
Are they whispering behind my back? Maybe talking about my hair???
That’s the writer in me talking. The reality is they’re both checking to see if I gave the other one a treat. And I’m trying to snap a photo before someone moves.
Now this one is a bit self indulgent. A terrible snapshot, all blur and no substance. Then I arted it up and something in it works for me, the sense of movement coupled with the angle of the walls. Every time I look at it I find myself liking it even more. Maybe because it makes me dizzy. Reminds me of when I had vertigo…but that’s another story.
You’ve seen a lot of these, with Saki or Lana standing behind me. But this time we’re both looking off in different directions. Well, you might think that but look again. His eye is soft and he’s watching me. My eyes are in the front of my head but I’m really watching him in the monitor.
Aww geeze…it’s all smoke and mirrors, isn’t it?
As always, my best beloveds, I would LOVE to hear from you in the comments below. If one of these photos jumps out and screams luvvvv to you, tell me about it. And why.
And if you like this, please share it with your friends.
Cool pictures. What app are you using? Are you taking these with your iPhone? Curious minds want to know . . .
xxoo
Judy Shreve recently posted..Where the paints led me . . .
Yep. iPhone 4S. Standard issue photo app then digitally altered in Vintage by Jixipix, another iPhone app. xo
I’m having so much fun seeing you having so much fun with these pony pics. I’m falling for Jasmine…hard. I see a “Tack Box Top Book” in your future. 😉
Michelle recently posted..My Dog’s Life
And Jasmine is falling for you, Michelle. She told me just the other day. She might’ve called you that internet donkey stalker chick. But she said it with affection 🙂
And a book…hmmm…you been reading my mind?
xo
Love your arty photos – very fun and inspiring. Any number of them could be strung together with great story potential……..and isn’t it wonderful how some of the mistakes are the most interesting?!
I’m liking the mistakes. Really liking ’em, Bonnie. They’re not precious so it’s fun to see how far I can stretch in the editing.
And stories! Yes, stories! You’ve been reading my mind just like Michelle up above. 🙂
xo
Susan they are all so Great! Love Looking at them…..Love what you do to them…..Thanks for sharing!
Hey Laura G! Love sharing them…too much fun, y’know. 🙂
xo
I am really enjoying all of your photos. The last one seems to be the one that spoke to me the most… like you said both looking in a different direction, yet ever so softly his eyes are watching you. There’s so much love shining through in your photos with your animals. xo
Suzanne McRae recently posted..Springtime: a time to come alive
It’s a labor of love, Suzanne. It seems to me that I’m getting more excited about this every day. 🙂
xo