Anne's Creative Cornucopia: August 2013

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Friday, August 30, 2013

"Hallowe'en" – Moo (1.1" x 2.8")

This week’s Moo Mania challenge was "Lined Up (in a row or column)."

The vintage skulls image is from a DuckDuckGo search. I created the brick wall using the GIMP script here.

The font is PR-Columban

Romance – Postcard

This week’s Take A Word challenge was "Time."

Time is one of my favorite themes, yet this year, whenever it has been a site's challenge, I have struggled to turn any of my ideas into an art piece. That was the case once again. This is similar to a piece I created awhile ago, with a couple kissing as the clock struck midnight.

The vintage couple is from Munchner Kindl Keller by Hans Rudi Erdt.

Ducks - Photographs

This is 1 of 3 posts of photographs I took at Mill Hollow Park in Fairfield, CT this past week.

I'm not a big fan of ducks, because we only have ordinary looking ones around here, but I liked how these swam in formation.

Swan - Photograph

This is 2 of 3 posts of photographs I took at Mill Hollow Park in Fairfield, CT this past week.

I liked how the fallen tree branches looked in the background of this shot.

Woodland Scenes - Photographs

This is 3 of 3 posts of photographs I took at Mill Hollow Park in Fairfield, CT this past week.

New York Mets Baseball Game - Photographs

I took these photographs at a New York Mets baseball game I went to recently. I brought my old camera so I wouldn't have any problems entering the stadium at the security checkpoint. The zoom wasn't as good as I would've liked, so these are kind of blurry, and not level either. Normally I wouldn't post low quality shots like this, but I took these more for practice on capturing action. I also don't usually post photos of people, out of respect for their privacy. Taking photos of athletes while they're participating in their sport is an allowable exception.

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

"Topaz Mucha Woman" – Twinchie (2" x 2")

This week’s Artful Times challenge #36 was "Twinchie" which is a 2" x 2" square.

I made this digital piece using GIMP version 2.8.6.

The vintage Mucha image is from Sunday Postcard Art.

For the background, I used a photograph I took recently, and applied filter GMIC - Artistic - Kuwahara to it.

I made a solid color layer on top of that and applied filter GMIC - Patterns - Cracks. I set the layer mode to "Soft light."

I also drew some brush strokes behind the image and for the border.

Sunday, August 25, 2013

"Secret Garden/Altered Image" – Postcard

This week’s Sunday Postcard Art challenge was “Secret Garden/Altered Image” where the challenge site provided the original Mucha woman image, which I altered. (Click on image to see more detail.)

The other vintage images are by Walter Crane.

The fonts are:

Duvall
JaneAusten

Great Blue Heron - Photographs

This is 1 of 3 posts of photographs I took at the Reservoir in Easton, CT yesterday.

This heron was standing as still as a statue. At first I didn't know what type of bird it was, because I forgot that when they aren't hunting, they coil in their neck.

Great Blue Heron - Photographs

This is 2 of 3 posts of photographs I took at the Reservoir in Easton, CT yesterday.

When this bird extended his neck, I knew he was a heron.

Great Blue Heron - Photograph

This is 3 of 3 posts of photographs I took at the Reservoir in Easton, CT yesterday.

This heron was one of two that were perched on some fallen tree branches, bathing and preening, so I didn't get many good shots of them.

White Wrought Iron Gates and Fence - Photographs

I took these photographs at Redding Ridge Cemetery in Redding, CT yesterday while I was out looking for a natural scene to be able to use in this week's Sunday Postcard Art challenge of Secret Garden/Altered image.

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Bears Statue - Photograph

This is 1 of 4 posts of photographs I took at Collis P. Huntington State Park in Redding, CT this past week.

Howling Wolves Statue - Photographs

This is 2 of 4 posts of photographs I took at Collis P. Huntington State Park in Redding, CT this past week.

Tree Branch Reflections - Photograph

This is 3 of 4 posts of photographs I took at Collis P. Huntington State Park in Redding, CT this past week.

Fish Underwater - Photograph

This is 4 of 4 posts of photographs I took at Collis P. Huntington State Park in Redding, CT this past week.

Moon - Photograph

I took this photograph of the moon this morning.

Great Egret - Photographs

This is 1 of 7 posts of photographs I took at the Reservoir in Easton, CT on Aug 23, 2013.

I will never get bored of taking photos of Great Egrets. These birds are exotic and stunning looking. The Great Blue Heron was also here, but I didn't get any good photos of it.

Great Egret and Double-crested Cormorant - Photograph

This is 2 of 7 posts of photographs I took at the Reservoir in Easton, CT on Aug 23, 2013.

For a short time, this Double-crested Cormorant was standing still on the shoreline while the Great Egret was walking back and forth.

This photo is my entry for the following:

Camera Critters #281
I'd Rather Be Birding
Weekly Top Shot #97

Double-crested Cormorant - Photographs

This is 3 of 7 posts of photographs I took at the Reservoir in Easton, CT on Aug 23, 2013.

These photos were taken in two different nearby locations, so these might be two different birds. I spotted the head of the first Double-crested Cormorant as he swam through the water. From a distance, it looked similar to a miniature Loch Ness Monster head. Then it rose out of the water and flew toward the second location where I took the rest of my photos.

White Chinese Geese - Photographs

This is 4 of 7 posts of photographs I took at the Reservoir in Easton, CT on Aug 23, 2013.

The bird with the orange nasal knob is a White Chinese Goose, while the other bird, with the head bump, could be some other type of Goose. (Bird identification comments are welcome.)

These are domesticated birds that some irresponsible person abandoned at the Reservoir. This series of photos shows them in the vicinity of a small island, at the water's edge, then at the road edge. A "Goose Whisperer" was able to coax the "head bump" Goose close enough to be captured. The "orange nasal knob" Goose followed up to the guard rail, and was subsequently captured as well. A benevolent person who could provide a safer living environment took both Geese.

Update: 2013 Aug 28: The "head bump" goose is a Roman Tufted Goose, another domesticated bird.

Synchronized Bathing - Photograph

This is 5 of 7 posts of photographs I took at the Reservoir in Easton, CT on Aug 23, 2013.

I took this photo after the White Chinese Geese were rescued. I thought this looked a little comical, with both Canadian Geese bathing with their right foot pulled up.

Dragonfly - Photograph

This is 6 of 7 posts of photographs I took at the Reservoir in Easton, CT on Aug 23, 2013.

This was a Dragonfly with brown spotted wings.

Purple Flowers - Photograph

This is 7 of 7 posts of photographs I took at the Reservoir in Easton, CT on Aug 23, 2013.

There aren't many blooming flowers left near the Reservoir. These were some purples ones.

Friday, August 23, 2013

Tree Reflections - Photographs

I took these tree reflection photographs at Perry's Mill Pond in Fairfield, CT today.

Great Egret - Photograph

I took this photograph of a Great Egret at the Reservoir in Easton, CT this past week.

Blue Moon - Photograph

I took this photograph the morning of Aug 21, 2013. The moon was full at 9:45pm the previous night. This was a blue moon because it was the third of four full moons in the same season. I didn't realize that was the correct definition of a blue moon. Having two full moons in the same month had been erroneously labeled as a blue moon.

Sunday, August 18, 2013

Great Blue Heron - Photographs

This is 1 of 3 posts of photographs I took at the Reservoir in Easton, CT this past week. I heard this bird before I saw it come walking out from behind some foliage. I was thrilled to see for the first time what I think is a Great Blue Heron! (Bird identification corrections welcome, if I am mistaken.)

The first photo is my entry for the following:

Camera Critters #280
I'd Rather Be Birding
Weekly Top Shot #96

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Friday, August 30, 2013

"Hallowe'en" – Moo (1.1" x 2.8")

Romance – Postcard

Ducks - Photographs

Swan - Photograph

Woodland Scenes - Photographs

New York Mets Baseball Game - Photographs

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

"Topaz Mucha Woman" – Twinchie (2" x 2")

Sunday, August 25, 2013

"Secret Garden/Altered Image" – Postcard

Great Blue Heron - Photographs

Great Blue Heron - Photographs

Great Blue Heron - Photograph

White Wrought Iron Gates and Fence - Photographs

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Bears Statue - Photograph

Howling Wolves Statue - Photographs

Tree Branch Reflections - Photograph

Fish Underwater - Photograph

Moon - Photograph

Great Egret - Photographs

Great Egret and Double-crested Cormorant - Photograph

Double-crested Cormorant - Photographs

White Chinese Geese - Photographs

Synchronized Bathing - Photograph

Dragonfly - Photograph

Purple Flowers - Photograph

Friday, August 23, 2013

Tree Reflections - Photographs

Great Egret - Photograph

Blue Moon - Photograph

Sunday, August 18, 2013

Great Blue Heron - Photographs