A Photographic Week

I'm quite happy that I was able to spend much of this final week of 2010 taking and editing new photographs. A very fulfilling way to end one year and start the next!

Cowlick


What Comes

Thoughtful

Owlish Gaze


{Photograph taken courtesy of the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, Roger Williams Park, Providence, RI.}

Travelers

These two tiny shells in their green box made it to Rhode Island from their original home off the coast of northern Washington state, and they're still in good shape, many, many years later.

Astarte alaskensis




View Larger Map


{Photograph taken courtesy of the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, Roger Williams Park, Providence, RI.}

Sea Botany

These specimens were collected, pressed, and mounted between 1889 and 1891. It's amazing how well such delicate plants have made it through 120+ years.

Sea Feathers


Conanicut Park


Sea Mosses


{Photographs taken courtesy of the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, Roger Williams Park, Providence, RI.}

Swaying with the Waves

I love the sense of movement on this page from one of the Victorian Era seaweed albums. The pressed plants paired with that blue paper give me a sense of being rocked by waves.

Seaweed Patterns


{Photograph taken courtesy of the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, Roger Williams Park, Providence, RI.}

A Somewhat Damp Hobby

About 150 years ago, someone created this mandala-like arrangement of seaweed, and preserved it in an album. A week and a half ago, I was privileged to see it. I can get lost in tracing those delicate fronds, can't you?

Sea Flower


From this website, I gleaned a quote regarding seaweed albums:

Seaweed Album Card - Godey's Lady's Book and Magazine, September 1865
"A card, unpolished surface, must be taken into the water, passed under the weed as it floats, selecting only very small pieces. As soon as the card touches it, the weed will unfold. Then it must be lifted instantly from the water. The air will cause it to adhere so closely as to form an almost flat surface. While yet damp, the card must be pressed between the leaves of a heavy book, to remove the wrinkles made by the water. When the seaweed is thus prepared, it is exquisitely beautiful, retaining all its minute fibres and delicacy, and its beautiful tints. Lady bathers will find a new interest in their seaside life, and enrich their albums with most beautiful mementos."

Ah, those lady bathers and their minute fibres! In all seriousness though, I'd love to try this.

On a slightly different note, I spent this morning at the semi-annual book sale put on by the Natural History Museum where the above photograph was taken. It was, hands down, the most fun I've ever had at a used book sale! Between my husband and myself we bought 13 natural history books for $12. Some just for the cover art, some for the illustrations inside, some for the literary content. I have a feeling we'll be going back to the next sale.

{Photograph taken courtesy of the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, Roger Williams Park, Providence, RI.}

Bold and Beaky

I couldn't resist posting one more tonight, from this morning's session...

Thrush


{Photographs taken courtesy of the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, Roger Williams Park, Providence, RI.}

A Collection of Delicate Shells

As promised, I have many new shell photographs to share. I've posted my favorites from today below, and you can view more here, via Flickr.

Cowries


Strombus urceus


Nautilis



{Photographs taken courtesy of the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, Roger Williams Park, Providence, RI.}

Passerine Portraiture

I have a TON of new shell photographs to share, but I couldn't resist posting this adorable titmouse first, to break things up a bit. Isn't he or she beautiful?

Tufted Titmouse



{Photographs taken courtesy of the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, Roger Williams Park, Providence, RI.}

More from the Museum

Two more from today...

Tormia variegata


Turritella communis


{Photographs taken courtesy of the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, Roger Williams Park, Providence, RI.}

The Context of Beauty

One of the things I love most about Natural History is when I can see things in a historical context. There are drawers upon drawers of collections at the museum with shells still in their original vials and boxes. The patina of age, the imperfections in the glass and the corks... beautiful.

The Shell Collector


I love the handwriting and the careful notations of Latin name and location, all on aged, cream-colored paper.

Pleurocera elongatum


{Photographs taken courtesy of the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, Roger Williams Park, Providence, RI.}

Ocean Life

My trip to the Natural History Museum this morning may be the closest I get to the beach today, but at least I was working in icy cold air conditioning. I had a marvelous time photographing shells and corals... and this beautifully displayed, 150-year old sea horse.

Caroline Islands Sea Horse


Sea Horse


Don't you love the way his tail curls?

{Photographs taken courtesy of the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, Roger Williams Park, Providence, RI.}

Flowers of the Sea

I had the privilege today to browse through some of the herbarium books at the Museum of Natural History. They were stunning - albums of carefully pressed seaweed specimens created by Victorian Era women. The personal notes, the little poems, and the image in my mind of Victorian ladies combing the beaches for seaweed, all made today's experience a memorable one.

From Annie (The book this image comes from was dated 1893-1894)


Another book, titled "Bermuda Sea Mosses", included this poem on the inside front cover:



It reads:

Call us not weeds, we are flowers of the sea;
For lovely and bright, and gay-tinted are we,
And quite independent of sunshine or showers;
Then call us not weeds, we are Ocean's gay flowers.

Not nursed like the plants of a summer parterre,
Whose gales are but sighs of an evening air;
Our exquisite, fragile and delicate forms
Are nursed by the Ocean and rocked by the storms.


After browsing through several of these herbarium books, each so lovingly made, I feel inspired to look at seaweed a little differently now, how about you?


{Photographs taken courtesy of the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, Roger Williams Park, Providence, RI.}

Simple Beauty

Step out the front door like a ghost
into the fog where no one notices
the contrast of white on white.
- Counting Crows

Moth Wings



{This photograph was taken courtesy of the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, Roger Williams Park, Providence, RI.}

Ready for Takeoff

Isn't it amazing that such delicate structures are capable of flight?

Wasp Wings II


{This photograph was taken courtesy of the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, Roger Williams Park, Providence, RI.}

Delicate Patterns

I went to the museum today and had a lovely time. I wanted to photograph some more bugs, now that I have the macro attachment for my Lensbaby. I quickly became obsessed with the wings - such lovely, delicate patterns. I'm fighting off a cold (one of the hazards of airplane travel, it seems) but I'm hoping to get back tomorrow for a longer session!

Wasp Wings


{This photograph was taken courtesy of the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, Roger Williams Park, Providence, RI.}

Good News!

I'm thrilled to announce that I'm a finalist in the Julia Margaret Cameron Awards 2010! 445 photographs were chosen from the over 4500 submitted. I am honored that this image was among them:



A special thanks to Marilyn Massaro and the good folks at the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, Roger Williams Park, Providence, RI for the opportunity to photograph the collection there! I'm looking forward to visiting the museum again soon with new lenses and new ideas.

The Victorian Room

Evolve


Wary


(Taken courtesy of the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, Roger Williams Park, Providence, RI.)

Naturally

Friends


(Taken courtesy of the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, Roger Williams Park, Providence, RI.)

From the Past - Posies and Politics

While watching/listening to the presidential debate this evening, I worked on some photos. OK, so most of my attention was taken up by the debate and I only managed to crank out one photo, but that's not really a bad thing.

Tonight's subject is another botanical specimen - collected in June of 1888. This lovely orchid is a yellow lady's slipper (Cypripedium parviflorum).


(Photograph taken courtesy of the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, Roger Williams Park, Providence, RI.)

I think it's interesting that this specimen happens to be from 1888 - another election year. According to Wikipedia, 120 years ago President Grover Cleveland was campaigning against Benjamin Harrison, looking to secure a second term in office. President Cleveland won the popular vote, but lost the election by 65 electoral votes. Apparently, dividing up the Dakota territories into states was the big issue of the day.

And now you have some more useless trivia clattering around in your brain! :-)