These images are of a bouldering structure that was fabricated to resemble a twisted tree trunk.  Honestly, this thing is the most fun you can have with both hands and feet at the same time. The texture is like rock, perhaps a bit more slippery, but manageable.  There are cracks and hand-holds formed as part of the surface, so nothing can fall off or be stolen.

I discovered this amazing structure while training for a 5K; it’s right at the end of the course, so I was too exhausted to jump on and pull down (good excuse!).  But I am never too tired to whip out the iPhone and get down to the business of photography!

– the Daily Grunge

Kitchen faucet.  My standard trick of using PaintFX’s HDPro and Contrast filters, alternately applied and layered.

Stainless steel is so reflective and beautiful, I never get tired of it.

– the Daily Grunge.

 My good friend and papparazzo, Marv Cashion.  I was taking a picture of the person in front of me who was waving her iPhone around trying to get a good picture, and Marv was in the background angling for a good shot of one of the celebreties at the gallery opening for his wife, Diane  (see her work at DianeCashionPhotography.com).  Just pure happenstance to catch him perfectly in focus.  I cropped out a few unneccesary details, made it B&W, and done.

– the Daily Grunge

 Almost my last shot from Merritt’s, I promise.  See yesterday’s post, and the day before for a description of this unique environment.  There is a little stand tucked into a corner, with these fabulous staw hats for sale. The perfect chapeau for munching on one’s bacon sandwich, and in case a customer has neglected to bring his, Merritt’s will be quick to provide a replacement.

(ed. note:  the postings got out of order, ignore any indications of “yesterday”.  Sorry for the confusion.)

– the Daily Grunge

Recently saw the Fat Bastard Blues Band play at the Carrboro Music Festival.  By recent, I mean about an hour ago.  They totally rocked the place.  These guys all have regular day jobs and only play in their spare time, but you’d never know it to listen to them.  They have an amazing stage presence, sound, repertoire of original tunes, and they’re just plain fun.

I took about 100 pictures, so far this is the one I like best.  Cropped and done up in Photo Jazz, a blue filter applied for … well, you know.  Blues and all.

That figure in the background on the left is “iphoneographygeek.com”.

– the Daily Grunge

 Sometimes you walk out of your house and reality forms itself into photographic subjects wherever you look.  Such a thing happened to be a few nights ago. Not only was there a space right outside the restaurant I was targeting, but lo and behold, a drumming group had set up to play all evening right outside.

I loved their music so much I even shot a little video, something I haven’t spent any time or talent on. My husband is a talented videographer, so I cover the still end of the genre. I’ve settled on just this one pic to share.  Took 100 pics, too hard to choose what to work on, picked one and went with it.

Black and white effect only, plus cropping.  His hands were blurred from motion, not an effect.

– the Daily Grunge

 One of my all-time favorites.  I was primed to get a picture of the window, which is an embellished lead-and-stained-glass affair.  With iPhone trained on the window, I had only to wait for someone to move into the frame.  Soon the hostess (for this is in a restaurant) stepped up, but just then a server flew past her holding a pitcher of water.  Ah!  Another favorite subject, water! Instant happiness! Serendipity and all that.

The picture above was barely edited, just a crop, slight under-tinting, and a border.  The light in the bar was already dim, so there was no need to add any artificial “atmosphere”.

Perfect happenstance, the best kind of planning.

– the Daily Grunge

 One night I was at my favorite watering hole in Carrboro, The Spotted Dog.  It was a rainly night and I was in no hurry to leave, plus being very full on superlative vegetarian fare, it was doubly difficult to move.

So of course I filled up the time by turning my lens upward, choosing Hipstamatic as my app of choice.  The ceiling at the Dog is stamped tin, and there are interesting shutter things hanging down, either for visual interest or to damp it down acoustically. It makes for a fantastic exploration of geometric shapes.

– the Daily Grunge