The original and favorite Woody Woodpecker

This little buddy has been coming to the Pink-tipped Redbud tree outside my kitchen window for about 5 years. I am certain it is the very same bird, he even looks quite a lot older this year.  He first showed up young and vibrant working like a crazed jack-hammer to create a home for his family in our courtyard. 


This season and last his visits were fleeting SO, I was thrilled to have been at my sink when he arrived. 

This is one of those 'little-big-deals': he arrives, hops about on the branches, gives a few test pokes, circles the branch and quickly wings off but, this time, my camera was at the ready (as I was trying to photograph my art paintings)!   The reason he hasn't moved in for 2 seasons?  We had to remove the largest branch that had been his home the previous 3 seasons (insert sad face).  The very reason he liked it is what took it away: bugs!

I suspect he is somewhere nearby.

Photographing a finished Painting

sub-title: A whole new appreciation of photographers (upon failing at photo-capturing my finished artwork).

This appreciation is not wholly new because I realized a long time ago that I am not equipped OR good at it (if you are looking for a tutorial on 'how-to photograph your finished art', you have come to the wrong place).  I simply appreciate those artists who have taken on and mastered successfully photographing their own art; an art form of its own.

Believe me, I could present 3 dozen failed photographic attempts at capturing the size, texture, color, depth and 16 hours of work that went into creating this 48" x 48" abstract (acrylic) painting (propped up in front of a mounted quad panel piece). 

:

My lack of skill in photographing paintings is a key reason I really do not like to send 'previews' to people (in this case 1100 miles away). 

I can't even get a straight forward picture...and truly hope this picture is 100 times better in person than the reflective, static, plastic dull, glaring spectacle it appears to be in the photograph!

All this being said, I am determined to fix this.  So, watch for improvements, I welcome tips from my audience!


I'm throwing this one in to show how my attempt to present an artsy photograph of a couple of abstract studies...failed as well: