Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge – Men And Their Music

Once again, Cee has given us plenty of options for her Fun Foto Challenge this week and I’ve chosen Men and their Music as my topic. The first two images were captured at the farmer’s market at Wheeler Farm in Salt Lake City, Utah.

This nice young man, David Chiriboga, very kindly allowed me to take pictures as he warmed up for a concert at the Orchid Festival at the Chicago Botanic Gardens.

And, as promised, I’ve brought three talented artists back for an encore from my trip downtown this past weekend.

For more on Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge go to  Music, guitar, instrument, men, coffee, etc.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Everyday Moments in Downtown Chicago

Every day is not just any old day in downtown Chicago. That’s why I love visiting the city; to capture moments such as these. Thanks to Amy for providing the subject for this week’s Lens-Artists Photo Challenge. For more on this challenge go to Everyday Moments.

Whether you’re strolling down the River Walk or Michigan Avenue there’s always someone or something interesting to see.  Stunning skylines or captivating canines, they’re all here to amaze and delight us.

From harbors to parks and everything in between, every moment spent downtown offers new opportunities for photography. Despite the daily bustle of the city there are still places to enjoy nature too.

Familiar faces and places are always a welcome sight and the sounds of the city are music to my ears. Life in the city is made up of every day moments such as these.

 

Weekly Photo Challenge – A Good Match

I’m still getting used to the new Wednesday start day for the Weekly Photo Challenge at The Daily Post so am hurrying to get this one in on time.  There were so many images that looked like A Good Match but I’ll quickly share just two that stood out in the old photo files.

What used to be known as ‘elevenses’ in our house; tea and biscuits, preferably with plenty of jam on them.  A good match.   As the name suggests, this short break from daily activities usually took place around 11am but as the years advance I find that ‘elevenses’ has slowly worked its way forward until now we appear to be enjoying this delightful repast somewhere between 8:30 and 9am.

Two people who obviously enjoyed making beautiful music together;  Violinist Oliver Colbentson and his accompanist.  A good match.

For more on The Weekly Photo Challenge go to https://dailypost.wordpress.com/photo-challenges/a-good-match/

Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge – Music

Cee invites us to listen to the music for this week’s Black & White Photo Challenge.  I remember my uncle once saying to me many years ago, “How can anyone live in a world without music?”  Good question! I know I couldn’t.  Not that I can play any kind of musical instrument and I certainly couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket, as the saying goes, but I can appreciate listening to those who can.

The late Oliver Colbentson, onetime Concertmaster of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, showed a wonderful passion for his music. I always enjoyed going to the recitals that he gave later in his life and he graciously allowed me to take photos at one such performance.

A sing-song on one of the pirate ships for Halloween some years ago at Navy Pier in Chicago.

This gentleman kindly allowed me to take some shots as he prepared to play for the Orchid Festival at the Chicago Botanic Garden a couple of years ago. I think his name is David Chiriboga and he did a splendid job.

A guitarist with a slightly different style of music playing at the Farmers Market at Wheeler Historic Farm in Salt Lake County, Utah.

Another performer at the Farmers Market in Utah, this young man’s enthusiasm for his music seemed inexhaustible.  He played for what seemed like hours.  It was definitely different!

For more on Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge go to https://ceenphotography.com/2017/02/02/cees-black-white-photo-challenge-music/

 

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge – Musical Chairs

Cee invited us to play musical chairs for her Fun Foto Challenge last week.  I’m a bit late to the party but here are a few images that I thought I’d share.  Whenever we take a tour of interesting old houses I like to look at the furniture in terms of groupings when I take pictures rather than viewing the room as a whole.  Chairs very often play an important part in these sets.  There were plenty of chairs at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville and one impressive pipe organ in the Grand Banquet Hall to help supply the music.

I don’t know if they ever played musical chairs at the Cuneo Mansion in Vernon Hills but there were some nice chairs and a beautiful Steinway piano if ever they felt like getting in the party mood.

Personally I dreaded being forced to play musical chairs at kids parties.  I was an only child and probably because of that, I never felt comfortable around other children.  Parties, I suppose, were something that my parents naturally thought I would enjoy but they only made me cringe and playing musical chairs was a nightmare.  These days I love sitting in chairs and listening to music.

More chairs, this time at the Taylor House in Freeport, Illinois, and two musical instruments for the price of one, a piano and flute, also at the Taylor House.  For more on Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge go to https://ceenphotography.com/2016/11/29/cees-fun-foto-challenge-musical-chairs/

 

 

Weekly Photo Challenge – Magic

Seeing the world through a child’s eyes can very often help us to appreciate the magic in the little things in life. I know my grandchildren have given me a whole new perspective on things.

The magic of butterflies.  Watching this amazing thing of beauty flutter its wings and take its first flight.  Keep very still little brother and perhaps it will rest on your shoulder.

The magic of flowers.  Who knew there were so many lovely colors and cool smells! I wonder if there are any fairies at the bottom of this garden.

The magic of exploration. Which way shall we go?  It’s a big world out there and who knows what we might find!  A magic kingdom perhaps.

The magic of music.  What a great new sound!  Now he’s in his 20’s and playing guitar in his own band. Still making musical magic.

Halloween magic. Catching sight of his reflection in a shop window. Wow! Look! There’s a kangaroo just like me!

The magic of unconditional love.  A quiet moment shared with a best friend.  Someone to tell all those secrets to.

For more on the Weekly Photo Challenge go to https://dailypost.wordpress.com/photo-challenges/magic/

Springtime in Chicago

I love going downtown and last week I picked the perfect day for it! Spring was in the air and even among the skyscrapers trees were blooming.

When the sun shows up so do the politicians, especially when there’s a parade in which to participate. Judy Baar Topinka, Illinois State Comptroller, was on hand for the Polish Constitution Day Parade, an event which I inadvertently stumbled upon while I was wandering around. For more pictures on the parade please head over to my other blog Incidentally at http://skfjrifnd.wordpress.com/2014/05/04/sidetracked/

A carpet of spring flowers leads up to the original entry archway of the old Chicago Stock Exchange which is on display outside the Columbus Drive entrance to The Art Institute.

The warmer weather also brings out the street musicians. This young man was entertaining passersby outside the Michigan Avenue entrance to The Art Institute and doing a very good job of it I might add.

I found this colorful display of spring tulips at the base of The Millennium Monument in Wrigley Square which is part of Millennium Park.

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Alone

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge on Cee’s Photography at http://ceenphotography.com/2013/12/10/cees-fun-foto-challenge-alone/ is Alone.

Very often when Mum and I visited the Chicago Botanic Garden she would insist on my leaving her to her own devices so that I could go off to do some photography in other parts of the Garden. Her favorite spot was in the English Walled Garden where she was quite happy to sit alone jotting down notes, about all the plants that had taken her fancy, in her little notebook.

The Frog Goddess stands alone on the banks of Meadow Lake at Morton Arboretum; one of many scarecrows decorated by local Girl and Boy Scout Troops.

A solitary heron wades about in a pool at River Trails Nature Center looking for lunch.

A man, alone with his music, plays on the streets of Chicago.

I admit the quality of this pictures is not quite as sharp as I would have liked but I did crop it down considerably in order to show the person standing alone on a ledge less than half way up Devil’s Tower in Wyoming. I didn’t even realize he or she was there until after I’d had the picture developed. Of course this intrepid climber wasn’t really alone. There were others in the party obviously, for safety reasons, but, perched there on that spot, I imagine they must have felt very much alone.