Sunday, February 22, 2009

Olive Branch Redux

Click to enlarge
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I was really hoping to show you something other than a piece of one of the plants growing on my patio for this week's mono entry but the weather has been so unbelievably wet and miserable that I can barely set foot outside, let alone take my camera out. Inside it's nearly as bad - my home doesn't get great light under the best of circumstances, so this week it's been positively sepulchral around here. Couple that with atomic levels of stress and the fact that we somehow blew out our living room light fixture this weekend and it's no wonder that I'm not feeling very inspired behind the lens. Instead I've been delving back into the archives and looking for inspiration in the processing of existing images, looking for that special something hidden inside that I missed the first time around.
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I processed this olive branch as a lightly green tinted monochrome as a nod to its organic nature, and then added a bit of a film grain to give it more of that edgy retro feel you find in late night detective movies, or at least the edgy retro feel I suspect I'd find in late night detective movies if I ever managed to stay up late enough to watch them...
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Any of that making any sense? No? Nevermind then. The weather is supposed to clear briefly later in the week and my stressful situation will hopefully be happily concluded by then, so with any luck you may get something completely different to look at next week. Either that or I'll be curled up in the corner in a fetal position rocking back and forth and muttering under my breath.
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20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Your lovely kitchen header belies your situation with gloom all round.
You are up late enough for a Bogart posting this.I have a DVD of the Maltese Falcon to watch again... B&W and grainy.

vincibene said...

Wonderful! I like it very much.

Anonymous said...

Hi Robin, cheer up the weather will change.... :-) I have had the same feeling this awful long cold winter.... lol

Your monochrome or greenchrome is perfect love it....

Leora said...

Lovely, your olives. Subtle and beautiful.

Jane Hards Photography said...

Around my island would be just that as I do live on one. The image is somehow haunting in it;s simplicity.

Catherine said...

What do you think of a B&W comedy of the good old time instead ?

Unconsciously, you present an olive branch, symbolizing Peace. I'm sure tomorrow will be an other day, bringing inner peace.
It's a beautiful present, olive leaves always get that undefinable color, perfect for Monochrome.

Have a better week, Robin. Come and see my oranges and lemons, they'll raise your spirits.

Barbara said...

A lovely shot and I like the additon of the grain. Hope next week is better for you.

Susan Helene Gottfried said...

I want to wave my magic wand and make your house have better natural light. Sounds like you need a good infusion of it.

allhorsestuff said...

Oh it looks as though I may scatch'n'sniff that lovley shot!
KK

Nalini Prasanna said...

I liked this picture! Its pretty cold in this part of the world too!

bichonpawz said...

Take a virtual vacation on the internet! Go to the beach!! Fill your life with color! Color always makes me feel better!

Dragonstar said...

That's really nice. There's so much light on the leaves, and I like the treatment you've given it.

I hope the weather brightens for you very soon!

Mojo said...

Great art is born of great pain. (And just who was the brain surgeon that made that deal anyway??)

I really like this a lot. It has a peaceful feeling to it... as an olive branch should.

Carolina said...

I think your olive branch is very nice! Wonderful effect with the soft green.

Carver said...

That's a lovely shot and I think your post made perfect sense. You asked if the birds were returning for summer (my shot) and I think some of them are. Definitely more and more bird activity where I live (NC in U.S.).

Anonymous said...

Even if someone doesn't quite follow, they'll still enjoy :-)

Daryl said...

Its a soothing photo ... I like it alot!

anymommy said...

Makes perfect sense to me. I love the tone of this picture.

Libby's Library said...

Try some chocolate...it always makes me feel better.

michael bird said...

The photo is pretty neat and the commentary set us down at your kitchen table for a cup of coffee. Cool.