These are the tiny flowers of the Norway maple, which are falling from the trees planted around Leon's "Ideas" sculpture. I came across them on my walk home yesterday. I don't remember ever noticing them before but we had a lot of high winds a few days ago and I imagine that dislodged them from the trees.
I will be out today helping to lead a group of middle schoolers on a street photography walk. I'm giving a little presentation about street photography and then we're going out on the town with our cameras. Should be fun! It's nice to get out of the library and do something different for a day. And we're supposed to have sunshine, which will be a plus.
I also encountered this hefty bulldog, lingering outside a shop. As you can see, it wasn't entirely happy to have me take its picture, at least not at first.
It then posed for a moment, but its single bark made that little kid in the background turn around! The dog wasn't tethered -- it was just standing there -- so I'm sure it wasn't dangerous but all the same I didn't try to touch it. Some dogs give a friendly vibe, but this one was more wary.
That's a very nice idea to take the students out for a photography walk.
ReplyDeleteIt's a good break from routine, and since the high school students are away on trips this week it makes sense to give the middle-schoolers something special too.
DeleteHope the weather is good for your walk - have fun!
ReplyDeleteIt worked out perfectly!
DeleteI love that you are teaching a new group of future photographers.
ReplyDeleteI love teaching photography composition and that kind of thing, but I'm not great with all the technology. I am not a gear-head.
DeleteIt will be interesting to see what the kids choose to photograph.
ReplyDeleteThey did really well!
DeleteEnjoy your day, so much to see when you look at things differently, can't wait to see your photos.
ReplyDeleteIt's all about keeping your eyes peeled, as the expression goes.
DeleteHope the walk is a wonderful experience. Lucky kids! Great photos again today, of course.
ReplyDeleteI hope THEY think they're lucky! LOL
DeleteI can't imagine what sorts of pictures a group of middle schoolers will take but I bet it is interesting to view them through the eyes of an adult.
ReplyDeleteA surprising number of quite good pictures, combined with lots of ordinary ones. :)
DeleteI hope you have an enjoyable trip with your budding photographers. It's cold, but at least the sun is shining.
ReplyDeleteYes! Thank goodness for sun!
DeleteYour photographs are more than quite good. I'm looking forward to seeing you do more in retirement.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Yeah, it's that aspect of retirement I'm looking forward to most -- an opportunity to do more with the camera.
DeleteThat sounds like a fun day! I'm a little afraid of dogs, but that one looks so squishy. I might have wanted to hug it.
ReplyDeleteHe didn't seem very squishy in real life. He was a bit intimidating!
DeleteThat first dog face is the epitome of annoyed!
ReplyDeleteYeah, it did not like me stopping to give it any attention.
DeleteI always wait for the dog to approach me in a friendly way - then they jump up and sink their nails into my knees.
ReplyDeleteAlways a good rule of thumb with dogs! I wouldn't have tried to touch this one.
DeleteYou are the perfect person to take the kids out for a photography walk. You are so good at it! I'm surprised you didn't pick up that sprig of blossoms to bring home.
ReplyDeleteHa! Well, it was a tiny sprig. Even if I'd picked them up they'd have gotten lost in my pocket!
DeleteI wouldn't want to meet that dog in a dark alley! That is just wonderful, your taking the kids on a street photography tour. I would have loved that in school.
ReplyDeleteYeah, that is not a dark-alley dog. (Not that any dog is, really.)
DeleteThat dog is gorgeous, Bulldogs are usually extremely friendly, but dogs left outside shops, even well trained ones, tend to get a bit stressed so it's always best just to leave them alone. Well I always say hello to them ... yep, I'm a softy.
ReplyDeleteYou are the perfect person to take a group of students out and about taking photos, you notice the little details everywhere you go.
Yeah, he was clearly tense about where his owner had gone!
DeleteYes! That beats covering new library books and shelving and, well, all that other stuff you do. I bet the kids have a great time.
ReplyDeleteThat dog looks not to be messed with but I would love to give it some good scratches behind the ears.
"All that other stuff" about sums it up -- LOL! I would scratch it if I knew it was friendly.
DeleteThe sunshine will give shadows for the kids to experiment with. I wouldn't be surprised if you occasionally come back as a volunteer to do Street Photography with Mr Reed.
ReplyDeleteVolunteering might be a possiblity if the school will allow it!
DeleteSometimes a street photo is also interesting because of the busy background.
ReplyDeleteBackgrounds are tricky -- if they're TOO busy they detract from the subject of the photo. But sometimes, yes, they can add to the picture.
DeleteI would have loved to have had a chance to do this as a teenager, go out with a pro and learn about street photography. Lucky kids.
ReplyDeleteHopefully they think so! LOL
DeleteI grew up with an English bulldog and generally speaking they are very gentle dogs but they are also very protective. The only time we saw our dog be aggressive was when she was in "protection" mode.
ReplyDeleteYeah, we had bulldogs too. This one was very large. I think it might have had some pit bull mixed in. Those don't look like English bulldog eyes.
DeleteDoing some street photography with your students will be great fun. The weather cooperating is a nice bonus.
ReplyDeleteNorway Maple is a new tree to me. I will research to see if they grow in MA. Love the yellow flowers.
The bulldog seemed in no mood for a pet...
I never heard of Norway maples in the USA, either. I don't know if they're called something else there, or maybe we don't plant them because they're invasive?
DeleteThe bulldog was busy! Waiting for whoever was in the shop.
ReplyDeleteGood weather for photography is a good bonus for them starting. They can learn later that adverse weather can give stunning images! You don't want them. dissuaded to start with.
Yes, the bulldog had other things on its mind! Rain photography can be good but it's not always easy.
DeleteYour outing sounds like fun. I enjoy taking photos and would have loved to have had an experience like that when I was in school.
ReplyDeleteIt was harder when we were kids because we would have needed film!!
DeleteI love the idea of a photography walk. It's taken me until old age to become more observant of the small and interesting details of my environment. Perhaps I was always in too much of a hurry? My neighbors have a bulldog and she's the friendliest thing. That one does look wary!
ReplyDeleteI think when we're younger we're much more distracted. We pay more attention when we slow down with age!
DeleteAlways carry biscuits in your pocket- rule to live by.
ReplyDeleteI think if I'd offered this dog biscuits he might have taken one of my fingers off!
DeleteStreet Photographer , Dynamite
ReplyDeleteGood On Ya ,
Cheers
Never a dull moment!
DeleteI bet you were right in your element with the photo walk today. I look forward to hearing about it. The bulldog is really cute!!
ReplyDeleteYes, it was very enjoyable. I'm not sure I'd describe the dog as "cute" but I did like his pink nose!
DeleteI think that you are plenty busy in these days leading to your retirement - I would love to do such a tour! Lucky kids.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it has been a wild time!
DeleteThat is one thick dog! My neighbor has an American bulldog. One of his sons has one too and it has a tendency to bite.
ReplyDelete"Thick" is a good word to describe that dog! LOL
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