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Viva Shadow Shot Sunday and Happy New Year!

On New Year's Day I went for a walk with my boyfriend and took some shots of things that took my fancy.  This is the spire of St John's in Darlinghurst which is a suburb or two from where I live.

 

Shadow Shot Sunday is an epic meme established by that awesome Brissy gal Tracy of Hey Harriet! Anyone can enter and here are the instructions on how to do so!

Here are some more New Year photos:

Pussy cat Surrey Hills, pretty blue and white and grey tiles Victoria Street Potts Point, a grand old house converted into a glamorous back packer's lodge in Victoria Street, Giza Hair Salon Macleay Street Potts Point, shingle houses St Neots Avenue Potts Point and a canopy of London Plane trees Victoria Street Potts Point.

I hope everyone had a super New Year's Eve. We, as advertised, took it easy and went round to Rushcutter's Bay park to watch the fireworks which gave us a very decent view. The 9 o'clock crackers were actually a bit average and I was thinking maybe I wouldn't bother with the 12 o'clock ones. I was convinced the dastardly credit crunch had had it's wicked way with them! BUT! Thank goodness I did go out for the midnight crackers because they were over the top spectacular and I think the best I've ever seen!! Here's a link to see them in all their wondrous beauty! After they finished we all applauded and hooted!

 

Angelic Angelica

(All images via here)

Did you know that Angelica Huston is the third generation of her family to be in film and the third generation to win an oscar? Her father was the famous film director John Huston and her mother was a famous Italian-American prima ballerina. Her grandfather was Walter Huston a character actor in Hollywood from the 1920s - 1940s.

I've always thought she was very striking to look at and I've always admired her acting.

Happy Tuesday (already?!) tout le monde!

King of the castle...

Ah! The sweet, dulcet tones of the melodic Australian Cockatoo! Anybody from Australia and anybody who has been to Sydney and has had the pleasure of listening to a cockatoo will know I am being deeply sarcastic here! The cockatoo's call is the most abrasive, screeching, ghastly sound on the planet and yet they hold a special place in every Aussie's heart. Their name is often shortened to "cocky" and boy are they that! So confident and full of chutzpah! As a matter of fact I'm listening to a lone cocky screeching like a madman in the park down the end of my street right now. Bless!

This is my Shadow Shot for this week. Shadow Shot Sunday is a fantastic meme set up by that all round good gal Tracy of Hey Harriet fame! Anybody can enter and here are the instructions on how to do so!

Happy Sunday mes amis!!

Christmas shopping...

(You can find this gorgeous photo "Ring Ring" by Diana of citylight here!)

Well, I don't know about you, but I think the Christmas season is in full swing! I have already started my Christmas shopping. I bought some exceptionally fine prints and cards from Diana of citylight. Did you know Diana was having a sale at the moment? It's the perfect opportunity to pop over to her shop and pick up something wonderful for your wall!

The Patron Saint of Humming-birds : new print!

This is The Patron Saint of Humming-Birds. It was another exceptionally warm weekend but I managed to get this lovely lady out onto paper. I have actually been thinking quite a bit about humming-birds and patron Saints e.t.c lately and I'm quite pleased that this is the end result.

In fact I am quite fond of Patron Saints. This is the second one I have drawn so far. The first Patron Saint I drew was The Patron Saint of Rabbits - I made her into a greeting card. Here she is below.

 

(You can find her here)

I am also a big fan of Roberto Rossellini's film about the Franciscan monks and the Patron Saint of animals: Saint Francis of Assisi. It's called The Flowers of St. Francis. There are lots of delightful scenes of Saint Francis with animals - and having them gather round him in rapt attention. If you haven't seen this movie, I strongly suggest you do so as it is truly wonderful. Astonishingly, all the actors in this film are actual monks and non-professional actors. It is very touching and I think it has left a lasting impression on me.

 

(Image from here)

Speaking of flowers, a very delightful aspect of all this warm weather is my Dad's gardenia bushes. They are bursting forth all over the shop! My Dad has two bushes: one has small button hole blossoms that totally cover the bush and the other has enormous blooms that are as big as your hand! Both smell like heaven so I never mind which ones he picks for me. Below are two photos I took of some flowers from the "big" bush. They are a little yellow but they still look all waxy and fit and of course they smell divine!

 

  I hope everyone had a restful and relaxing weekend!

Palomino wall.

Shadow Shot Sunday folks! Tree leaves cast their shadow on an unsuspecting wall. It looks a little under watery to me for some reason...

Shadow Shot Sunday!! ...or SSS as we say in the trade, is a fantastically addictive meme set up by that awesome gal of Hey Harriet: Tracy! Anyone can enter. Here are the details on how to do so. But beware! Once you have dipped your toe in the Shadow Shot, there's no going back! 

 

Shadow Shot Sunday!

  In honour (!) of today's predicted 41 degree heat (= 106 degrees Fahrenheit), I thought a cactus would be a good subject for today's shadow shot. I love these flowers - they have a bit of personality I think! I took these photos in the succulent garden section of Sydney's Botanical Gardens a fortnight ago.

Shadow Shot Sunday is a fabulous meme set up by none other than Tracy of Hey Harriet fame! It's open to all and here are the instructions on how to enter!

 

Meanwhile, what to do today when the very thought of thinking makes you break out in a sweat? I could either stay at home and drink iced water all day and read a book or I could go into town and hang out in the cool of the shops. Hmmmm...however, the big problem today which is a lot bigger than the dilemma of how I shall stay cool is the bush fire threat. Apparently, the bush is bone dry and there may well be a wind today - I just send all my thoughts out to those people who live in areas close to scrub and bush and keep my fingers crossed for them that today won't be as bad as predicted.

On a lighter note, happy Sunday all!

Jacaranda Tunnel: Shadow Shot Sunday

 

Every year at this time I make a point of going to this particuar road in Kirribilli. I think this photo probably explains why I insist on going there at least once! Actually, this photo doesn't really do it justice because as you're standing under this fantastic purple tunnel, the blossoms gently fall on you like rain. It's hard not to feel like you're a character out of a Walt Disney movie!

Shadow Shot Sunday is a fabulous meme set up by the gorgeous Tracy of Hey Harriet fame! Thank you Tracy by the way - as Gabbi mentioned on her post from last week - it is just so much fun hunting down a shadow shot!

Absolutely anyone can enter and here are the instructions on how to do so!

Meanwhile, it's going to be another scorcher here in Sydney today but I understand tomorrow is going to be even hotter at 39 degrees! 39!!! ...at this time of year - the mind boggles!

Happy Sunday folks!

Renée Perle : Jacques Henri Lartigue

(All images above from here)

The lovely Romanian model Renée Perle was photographer and painter Jacques Henri Lartigue's (1894 – 1986) muse and girlfriend. Although Lartigue is most famously known for hs photos of racing cars at the French Grand prix, the photos of Perle are classics of their time. Isn't she lovely?

Here are some more of Lartigue's photos. Incidentally, did you know that Wes Anderson is a huge Lartigue fan and has paid homage to him in his films Rushmore and The Life Acquatic with Steve Zissou (the protrait of Lord Mandrake in the movie is based on a photo of Lartigue). 

(Image from here)

(Image from here)

(Image from here)

Hump Day pick me up!

(Life Magazine 1922 from here.)

(Andre Kertesz 1928 from here)

(Montparnesse Station Train wreck from here)

(Lee Friedlander Revolving doors from here)

Ok, well these images are a little unrelated but I kinda like them all the same!

Happy Hump Day folks!

P.S. Thank you everyone for all your lovely comments and enthusiasm for my drawings - it's very encouraging!!