Recycling

When you meet or see people on the street sometimes you can't help but ask WHY and What The …

I met him as you see him; a person obviously trying to be as inconspicuous as possible.

Recycling

So, was the helmet a

New adaptation of a sunscreen?

Desire to be alone?

New diet device?

Was he protecting himself from picking his nose or from putting his elbow into his ear?

You be the judge!

He is Rodrigo, a jewelry designer of amazing talent. We met him and his friend, Raquel, on carrer de las Carolinas and we liked him WAY before we actually saw his face.

I would show you the picture but we will keep Rodrigo incognito only to protect the less dangerous.

People are GREAT and Rodrigo was no exception.

View barcalunacy's People of Interest FLCKR photoset.

View this photo and others I've worked on in barcalunacy's Photos Retouched (Redux) FLCKR photoset.

Sixteen Years Without Moving a Muscle

He was grayed hair, smartly dressed and had an appealing face.

I saw him looking out the window shielding the sun from his eyes with his one hand.

But he looked worried and sad.

Who was he waiting for or was he watching someone who had just left?

Had he received some terrible news?

I watched for what seemed like a long time and the old man had not moved as if he were in shock.

I didn’t know what to do. So I took a photo hoping to catch his attention.

He didn’t react.

I moved in closer, took another photo and he didn’t even flinch.

I was surprised, concerned and worried.

Sixteen Years Without Moving A Muscle

I was now so close to the window he would have to be blind not to see me.

His eyes appeared glazed. He was transfixed in this position as if he were made of wax.

So, I took another picture, hoping that the sound of the camera and the sight of ME,taking photos like a MAD Woman, would alert him to my presence,

And then,

Oh, my,

You wouldn’t believe,

I was stunned,

He was a figure from the Wax Museum!

Here’s egg in my face.

View barcalunacy's People of Interest FLCKR photoset.

View this photo and others I've worked on in barcalunacy's Photos Retouched (Redux) FLCKR photoset.

Santiago de Chile

For those of you who don’t know me, I’ll let you in on a little secret.

I’m enchanted, fascinated, awe-struck and nosy when it comes to people in the public eye. Is it just me or are you like that too?

Santiago de Chile, 2006

While living in the United States I was probably the very FIRST subscriber of “People Magazine” when the first issue came out. (I might be dating myself here.)

Remember when the Enquirer Magazine was a newspaper that you didn’t tell anyone you read much less bought?

But, I, I stood proudly in the supermarket line with my Enquirer face-up, looking defensively at those around me, as the paper glided on the conveyor belt toward the cashier. (For those who are not familiar with the Enquirer or People Magazine, they are “gossip or rag” magazines of and about anyone famous, like Star Magazine in Europe.)

So you can imagine how I felt when I saw this fellow. He appeared invincible, manly, and sexy. Maybe you can’t imagine so I will tell you that I stopped dead in my tracks. Literally!

He was dark and handsome, just like the famous Sean Connery of the movies. I hope I don’t have to tell you movies are “real life”. No?

Folks, I’d like you to meet Santiago of Chile and what a wonderful, kind character he was and just a little bit leery of my companion and me. (Hmm .. I can’t figure out why).

One interesting tidbit he told us. He was living in Barcelona with a British woman. He could not speak English and she could not speak Castellano.

Interesting, I thought … maybe that’s the secret to lasting relationships.

You learn a lot walking the streets.

View Santiago and others in barcalunacy's People of Interest FLCKR photoset.

A Shadow of the Man He is: Redux

The past day or so has been a lot of fun learning how to transform a picture from color to an acceptable (at least to my taste) b&w photo.

I've been using the adobe photoshop channel mixer and love it to death.

If you want to feel like your back in kindergarten, just play with any imaging software.

An ipernity member, named Pappion, again suggested making the photo b&w and deepening the shadow on the wall.

So ... I did just that and voila!

A Shadow of the Man He Is: Redux, 2009

This is how the photo originally looked below.

A Shadow of the Man He Is, 2008

See any difference?

When you really think about it, the photo and the story is of a shadow and shadows as the eye see it has no color. No?

Anyway, the story was originally posted and I think you might like it so you can click HERE.

I think you really don't want to miss creative writing at its worst.

Enjoy!

Innocent Sultriness Redux

I belong to two (2) photo storage sites, one flickr and the other ipernity and for the past 6 months, I've been spending a lot of time on ipernity.

A recent ipernity contact, named pappion, whose photos I like very much, for their color, composition and interest suggested that I redo this photo.

Pappion said:

Personally I very much like the composition and lighting. If the photo were mine though here's what I would change ..... I would desaturate the reds a bit ( many of your pics have very saturated reds for my tastes) I would also go in and clone out whatever the little gold/silver spot is between her lips.

While I can appreciate ... To read the rest of his comment, click here.

So, I've redone the photo and I think it looks much better.

What do you think?

Innocent Sultriness Redux, 2009

I cloned out the bright spot on her left side, took out what looked like bubbles between her lips (only g-d knows), used curves and levels removing the reds and making her more bright.

Pappion was right about the red tones in my earlier photos as you can see here.

Innocent Sultriness, 2006

My camera then was a konica minolta Z2, known for overly exaggerated red tones. In those days, I did not have photo imaging software.

For those of you who wish to read the original post about her, click here.

She still generates interest and I am pleased.

Shady Character

This is a goat, but, you probably already know that.

Goats are fun and they are cute to look at.

They are funny and in many ways act like us humans.

Shady Character, 2009

For example, while some humans smoke grass, the goats eat it.

Many humans eat junk food ... like cookies, candy, potato chips and generally overeat even good foods.

Goats are the same. They eat overeat green leaves, plastics, metals and rubber.

How do I know so much about GOATS?!

Ah, my fraternal grandmother had a farm with all sorts of animals and the goat was king or queen. That's what the goats thought and I knew that.

You see, I did know because out of all my cousins and friends I was each and every goats target.

When I came out of the house, the goats lined up in a single file (they must have been military goats) and waited for me to take a few steps and voila!

I was charged and let me tell you those horns are no laughing matter.

Can't you tell by this goat's demeanor that maybe just maybe I could be his next toy?

I think that was what he was mulling over.

But! I fooled him ... I wasn't going to let my past catch up with me.

Let him look for another ninny.

View barcalunacy's Travels beyond Barcelona FLCKR photoset.

barçalunacy trying to look important

For the first time folks, you've seen it here.

A self-portrait of me, luna, (well at least half) of barçalunacy.

the luna behind barçalunacy, 2009

I've never considered myself all that interesting as a subject for myself or others to photograph.

But!

In my attempt, and "let me be very clear", to achieve society's grandiose of self, I have decided to unveil myself and become part of the id human race.

View barcalunacy's Travels beyond Barcelona FLCKR photoset.

Sisters ... More than a Kid Picture

Okay, okay.

Today I speak solely in depth about the photo.

A few weeks ago, I shot a series of shots in a RAW format.

I was so curious about the RAW format and I wanted to see for myself what was so great about it.

Well ... as I went through my series of shots, a few were dark and disappointment set in.

But, out of curiosity, I went ahead with the photo and opened it in Adobe RAW image and boy was I super surprised.

There was this shot, the very one you see.

Sisters, 2009

And I was about to discard it!

Oh, heck ... it had a lot of noise but the noise seemed to give the photo an old age feel.

The colors were as you see them.

I used the level feature, a bit of cloning, exposure and curve features but ever so slightly.

I was excited with the results and I've decided to shoot RAW images especially for portraits.

I hope you like it and,

Feel free to let me know what you think.

Anyone and Everyone!!!!

View barcalunacy's Travels beyond Barcelona FLCKR photoset.

Forward to the past

It's not a working farm today but it in its time I believe the owners were very important people.

On their property, they also had a huge white steeple church and a school house.

But, what was impressive from the road was the large RED wheel and the sound of forceful, flowing water.

Forward to the past, 2009

Wonderfully inviting.

I normally try to take photographs with people in my photos, but this day, people were not important.

Notewell: my photo has one of those mysterious "dust spots" that comes and goes.

I could have photoshopped it, but I believe that the mysterious spot does not alter the beauty of the photo.

What do you think?

But the truth is that I am feeling very lazy.

View barcalunacy's Travels beyond Barcelona FLCKR photoset.

The Missing Link

He strummed, hummed, sang and contorted his face and mouth as if his head was made of silly putty.

He was having a good time standing there on a sheet of ice that was slowly melting away.

The guitarist didn’t seem to care and neither did the audience distracted by his flamboyant theatrics, very similar to Jim Carrey.

The Missing Link, 2009

I then realized he was the found missing link to global warming the newspapers had described that morning.

And,

He was at Sea World in San Diego all that time.

View barcalunacy's Travels beyond Barcelona FLCKR photoset.

I knew him before we met

I was in the car just about to leave when I saw this young man sitting on the bench looking so lonely, forlon and sad.

Little did he know that I knew what his future would bring.

You see, somewhere there is a little 10 year old girl learning the aerodynamics of the hula hoop she just got for her birthday.

She plays hop scotch, nock hockey, ping pong and dances to the latest music of Dick Clark's American Bandstand.

I knew him before we met, 2009

She and her friends are the original street corner dancers before street dancing was in vogue.

She shares secrets with her friends telling them how unsure she is of boys.

She's not confident. You see a swing hit her in the mouth and damaged her teeth.

Meanwhile, the fellow on the bench hasn't felt to well himself.

He is shy, awkward and angry.

Some twenty years will go by and by pure luck the little girl and him will meet.

For time has a way of making the wrong right.

They both are in a better place, with many more friends they ever dreamed of.

Their self-esteem, shyness, awkwardness and anger will have dissipated.

If he looks very hard, she will be the one waiting for him to sing to her.

I hope he watches and listens.

Notewell: Photo shot while in a moving car.

View barcalunacy's Travels beyond Barcelona FLCKR photoset.

Complete disregard

Mojave Desert, 2009

It's no wonder the elders of today have no regard for law and order.

No matter how hard she tries, she can't curb him.

Enjoy!

Little Red Pickup

Traveling from San Diego to Las Vegas, we were on a road passing through the Mojave Desert when I saw these impressive mountain ranges.

But! How do you take a picture, while in a car, that would show the beauty and size of the mountain?

I thought to myself a nice red car would do,

And,

Little Red Pickup, 2009

Honest to Pete!

There, in my camera lens, was a Little Red Pickup!

I kid you not!

What luck!

This must be Venice

but it's not.

The Venetian Resort and Casino Hotel, 2009

If you're in Las Vegas, and you've gambled all of your money and you can't take that trip to Venice you so hoped for then you might want to come to The Venetian Resort and Casino Hotel.

The hotel is impressive with a moat and gondolas surrounding the premises and the hotel is not even sinking.

But to tell you the truth, I would still rather be in the real Venice, tracing Aschenbach's footsteps.