Duct Tape Still Life

You can do a lot with Duct Tape–  and now it comes in an array of colors and prints.  And if you are interested in the history and how it was used in WW2 to seal ammo boxes you can click here.  This assortment is not your grandfather’s Duct Tape!

My friend’s daughter Wylie makes Duct Tape wallets and hair bows and all kinds of interesting accessories with this stuff. I saw her rolls of tape all set up, ready to be turned into various creative forms and although it was dark, a bit of light reflected on the pyramid and caught my eye.  She is really good at making brightly colored wallets and has a few customers who order her wares.  Another time I will show her at work. With the start of the new school year we did not get the opportunity for a photo shoot of her at work making duct tape crafts yet.

A lot of the patterned and multi-color tape  is branded Duck Tape but whatever it’s named, most households have a roll of it somewhere in a junk drawer or tool box or garage, waiting to be put into action.

Granddaughter Anna and I made a few Duct Tape wallets and it was sticky business to start but we mastered handling the tape and were pleased with the results.  There are tons of DIY videos out there and lots of written instructions on the web to help.  Getting used to handling it is tricky and not letting it stick to itself and get messed up is key!

Wikipedia says-

“Duct tape is commonly used in situations that require a strong, flexible, and very sticky tape. Some have a long-lasting adhesive and resistance to weathering.”

 

About to Pop and Professional Wrestling on Grant Avenue

You might remember the post where I wrote how I knew I should ALWAYS carry my camera with me. ALWAYS

Friday night Steve asked if I wanted to grab a bite to eat.   It was a long day at school.  Sure.

We drove down to Park Brugges and the line was out the door.  Plan B.  We drove to BRGR and at least a 1/2 hour wait.  Spoon, no reservation? A table might open up at nine.  Okay.

Plan C.  Let’s drive to Millvale and eat at Grant Avenue Bar.

We got to the front of the place and it was Millvale Days!  Who knew? There was a wrestling ring and ropes and a referee and oh my goodness a Ferris Wheel and games and booths and bands and people. People all over the place. Snack stands and cotton candy trailers and NO camera. Well the phone.

We walked around and of course, I’d left my camera in my school bag. At home.  Oh no.

These were shot with an iPhone with about 13% battery left.

How the Weather Changed at the HS Football Game in a Blink

Friday afternoon, Cupples Field on the South Side, right after school.

I went to my first High School football game in years!

The flag flew at half staff.   (There is a site that lists notifications to fly the flag at half staff.)

One minute it was blue sky and fluffy white clouds, the sun catching the gold dome of St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Church on West Carson Street.

A wind came up and the rain began to spit.  The temperature dropped.  The sky got dark.

I’d taken cameras for students to take photos outside of the classroom.  It was time to head home!

Weekly Photo Challenge: Everyday Life

everyday-life-1lotteryeveryday-life-dinnermurphyandys-dads-screwspine-treelottery-1container-of-milkmark-vacuumschool-bus Annatraffic by centralcoffee-potEveryday life.

Selected a dozen shots for this Weekly Photo Challenge. The photographer who created this challenge,  Jon Sanwell, suggests walking around and shooting people in a variety of settings throughout the day. One of my decisions was to mix it up, peopled and unpeopled shots but the trace of humanity in the unpeopled shots.

What I documented-

Walk the dogs, cook breakfast, make coffee, catch the school bus, sit in traffic,  run out of milk and go to the market, home repairs (thanks to Andy’s father’s screws and nails collection in her basement ceiling)feed the dog, put out the trash, buy a lottery ticket, gather with the family,dine with friends.  Everyday life can be so fine.

 

 

New Route, New Sign

Here’s the message board I saw on my way home from my new job at high school as I waited to get onto Saw Mill Run.   A quick snap with the iPhone-

JOY IS NOT IN THINGS

IT IS IN US

Thought it was a good one to think about as I drove.   In photo class, we’ve been talking  about the Art Element of LINE and there sure a lot of lines in the pic, too.  Not that these lines help the composition of the shot or add interest or draw the eye to a subject- just lots of power lines and wires on the bridge.

I Swear This ’57 Chevy Has a Face

(At least I think it’s a 1957 from the images I could find on google.  

If you think I’m wrong, let me know)

You can see why they made the Pixar movie CARS.  Two eyes and a nose and a mouth are perfect and lend themselves to being humanized, animated and given the ability to talk.

Just in case you need a little something to keep you busy on weekends.

It’s only a mile from my house and I keep seeing her look at me when I drive by.  Cars are female, right? Like boats?   (Except in the movie CARS there are a lot of guy cars)     But do you still  hear comments like, “She’s a real beaut!” or ” I got her up about seventy on the straightaway.”   when referring to a car.  How did boats and cars get designated female  and is that something old fashioned that is totally out of style?  Here’s some debate I was able to find on the subject at English Forums.

 

Lone Protestor on a Rainy Saturday Afternoon

Definition from Free Dictionary

pro·test v.

pro·test·ed, pro·test·ing, pro·tests

v.tr.

1. To object to, especially in a formal statement.
2. To promise or affirm with earnest solemnity
3. Law To declare (a bill) dishonored or refused.
4. Archaic To proclaim or make known

v.intr.

1. To express strong objection.
2. To make an earnest avowal or affirmation.

n.

1. A formal declaration of disapproval or objection issued by a concerned person, group, or organization.

2. An individual or collective gesture or display of disapproval.

As I sat at the light at the corner of Penn Avenue and Highland,  I heard a couple of horns blowing and I thought, huh?   I’d run to the bank and the store.

And then the light turned from red to green, I had to keep moving so there was no chance for a closer shot.

Then I noticed the lone protestor in the rain.  His placard said-  Honk Stop U.S. War ( and something else at the bottom but couldn’t decipher in the rush), 

He was putting up an umbrella.  No time to get out my good camera.  The phone was charging in the console and I lifted it and took one frame.  Had to drive.

There was something stark and incredibly poignant about this solitary figure standing in the rain with his sign.  I wondered if he had a family member in the service, somewhere in harms way. Wants them home. I was still thinking about him today.

Just this week I’d talked to the classes about the purposes of photography.  Today my purpose is to document. Document what I witnessed.  A man whose convictions and beliefs are so strong that discomfort and getting rained upon did not deter his effort.

People think one person can’t be effective in doing anything to create change.

Maybe so, but it doesn’t stop this man from trying, standing up for what he believes “with earnest solemnity”