Wordless Wednesday

All that remains. Decaying leaf held up to the light. Image: Su Leslie, 2016

Sally D’s Mobile Photography Challenge: mind the cognitive gap

Edited with Snapseed, Stackables, Fused and Pixlr. Su Leslie, 2016

During a storm last week I noticed a single leaf stuck to my office window. I took a couple of photos; one capturing the condensation on the window as well.

I’ve been messing around with both images; trying out different filters, and double exposures in a couple of Apps (Pixlr and Fused).

Double-exposure; leaf on glass. Edited with Snapseed, Fused, and Pixlr. Su Leslie, 2016

While I’ve enjoyed playing with the various tools, I’ve also felt some frustration at the results. I know from experience that my learning always proceeds like this; initial enthusiasm followed by a period of confusion and frustration as my abilities don’t match my expectations.

Double-exposure; leaf on glass. Edited with Snapseed, Fused, and Pixlr. Su Leslie, 2016

Generally, reflection and time away from the problem help me process what I’ve learned, figure out what what’s bothering me and, if I’m lucky, work out what to do next.

This stop-start, round-about process of learning and assimilating used to really stress me. I thought I was the only person who wasn’t “getting it” in a straightforward, linear way.

Then a few years ago I did a degree in library science and discovered there is a whole literature on how people find and process information. What I’m doing — what we’re all doing — is sense-making. Odd how naming something legitimates it!

Edited with Snapseed and Stackables. Su Leslie, 2016

As for my leaf. In the end, while I like the colours and textures of some edits, I really just prefer the pared-back shot above. What do you think?

This week for Sally D’s Mobile Photography Challenge (at Lens and Pens by Sally) the focus is on editing and processing.

PS: The post’s title references Professor Brenda Dervin’s work on sense-making — and of course the wonderful London Transport public service announcements.

DP Photo Challenge: frame #1

At the beach. Long Bay Regional Park, Auckland. Image: Su Leslie, 2015

A feature of Auckland’s Regional Parks, these frames remind us of the beauty and art in nature.

This week’s Daily Post Photo theme is frame.

Six Word Saturday: gotta hope that the brakes work

seen at Sulpher Point, Auckland. image: Su Leslie, 2016

The Changing Seasons: August 2016

Early morning; Hobsonville Point, Auckland, NZ. Image: Su Leslie, 2016

I hope I can look back and say that August 2016 was the worst month of my recent life. Really. Because that will mean that things have got better.

Of course “worst” is relative, and compared to so many people, I’m incredibly fortunate.But internally, on a scale of one to smiling, I’m barely registering a lip twitch.

It’s been a month of sadness; watching the Big T’s mother slip away from us.

A month of worry. About the health of our remaining parents, work issues plaguing family members, our boy-child’s living arrangements.

Of frustration. Too many things are out of our control. Without input from others for whom our issues aren’t that important, we’re left in a holding pattern, circling, running out of fuel.

Add a cancelled holiday, on-going back pain and a wicked cold, and I really am a grumpy little unit.

So my image for the Cardinal’s Changing Seasons challenge pretty much sums up how I’m feeling. I know the means to travel onward is out there; I can see it through the mist. I’m just not quite sure how I’m going to get to it. Pity I’m not a better swimmer.

The Changing Seasons is a monthly challenge hosted by Cardinal Guzman. Please visit to see the Cardinal’s month, and find links to other participants.

There are two versions of the challenge:

Version 1 (The Changing Seasons V1):

Tag your posts with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons
Each month, post 5-20 photos in a gallery.
Don’t use photos from your archive. Only new shots.

Version 2 (The Changing Seasons V2):

Tag your posts with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons
Each month, post one photo (recipe, painting, drawing, whatever) that represents your interpretation of the month.
Don’t use archive stuff. Only new material!

 

Wordless Wednesday

Rare treat: a sewing day. Image: Su Leslie, 2016

In deepest shade

Finding the light #1. Gerbera at the Wintergarden, Auckland Museum. Image: Su Leslie, 2016.

The Big T’s mother died last weekend. She had suffered ill-health for a number of years, and finally, after a spell in hospital, came home to spend her final days cared for by family.

It’s only in darkness that we can really see light. The last few weeks have brought light from unexpected sources; old friends arriving to offer support, grandchildren demonstrating again and again what fine adults they have become, professionals going way more than the extra mile to comfort and assist. These kindnesses large and small have shone bright and illuminated hope.

Finding the light #2. Magnolia branch. Image: Su Leslie, 2016

Where there is much light the shade is deepest.
—  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Written (somewhat belatedly) for Sally D’s Mobile Photography Challenge at Lens and Pens by Sally.

Friday fip through the archive: ten correct answers to pub quiz questions about me

Written three years ago; I’d have to add as favourite films Brief Encounter and Love, Actually.

And I’m wondering if I should revive ’10 things Tuesday’?

Zimmerbitch

The first freesias in my garden; picked September 1, 2013

I’ve worked as a  copywriter on and off for about 25 years; or about half my life writing in my clients’ voices. The consequence is that I rather lost my own.

Blogging is one of the ways I’m recovering my voice, and while I believe it should come through in all my writing, I also thought it would be fun to share some stuff more directly. So here’s the beginning of 10 Things Tuesday; loves, hates, secrets, desires – whatever takes my fancy and I think you might be interested in.

On the assumption…

that one day I’ll be incredibly famous and my life will come up in a pub quiz or trivia game, here are the correct answers to 10 questions that might be asked.

1. My favourite flowers are freesias, though lilies come a pretty close second.
2. I…

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Clear as glass. Or not.

Trapped in glass. Image: Su Leslie, 2016. Edited with Snapseed.

Things turn up in unexpected places. When the boy-child moved out a few weeks ago, he unearthed a glass paperweight — given to me as a leaving present from a job I had about 25 years ago. I probably hadn’t seen it in almost that long.

I love glass art, but have always thought the paperweight, of clear glass with air bubbles, just a bit boring. It still pales into comparison with other pieces I own, but since it’s been sitting on my desk these last few days, I’ve enjoyed photographing it and imagining what other interpretations might be put on the image.

This week macro is the theme for Sally D’s Mobile Photography Challenge over at Lens and Pens by Sally.

Wordless Wednesday

Lunch: rocket, pear and walnut salad with bread and blue cheese. Image: Su Leslie, 2016