Eastern Utah
EMAIL ME AT: mgypsy97 at aol dot com

Thursday, September 8, 2016

A clean house?

My house smells very clean, in fact, PineSol clean.  I noticed a few sticky fingerprints on the coffee table last night and went to grab what I thought was the Old English furniture polish.  The bottles look similar at least in color, although the PineSol is much larger.  I opened the bottle and started pouring a little out - wow!  I had Pine Sol running all over.  I quickly dabbed it up and then went over the table with the real Old English.  No matter what, the house has a strong Pine Sol aroma.  That was a pretty dumb mistake for me to make!

I enlarged some photos taken in Alaska at Costco this morning, to a 9 x 12 size.  They are some that I might like to use as something to match in acrylic paint eventually.  I have the canvas I worked on last night sitting on the table, and every time I walk past it and don't focus completely on it, I find it looks pretty good.  Not really good, mind you, but in an out-of-focus sort of way I can see the potential.  Every time I look at it though I have questions to ask, and the list will be long by next Wednesday evening!

The woman who printed the Alaskan enlargements at Costco was unhappy because a slight line was showing up in the pictures.  I couldn't see it and told her what I was going to use them for - as potential models for a painting class, but she felt like she owed me as perfect a product as she could get.  She cleaned the printer but the line remained, so she told me to take the photos with me and come back when I can, and in the meantime she will do a deep cleaning on the printer and make me some perfect copies.  I really am awestruck at some of the views enlarged to that degree, especially of the glacier, as well as some seals on the rocks, birds, and other shots.  I also enlarged some animal photos just in case I want to try painting them some time - I want to stay away from trying to do people for now.

I described in a comment on yesterday's post, that I am going to attend the class once a week for at least 10-12 weeks, which should give me a pretty good idea of the direction in which I want to go.  The classes are $25 each, pretty much standard for anywhere, according to Pam in Alaska.  Michael's is having a sale soon where you can pay for classes in advance at 1/2 price, but the catch is that you have to assign a date to each, which I hope can be changed if necessary.  I'm going to buy 10 classes for $125, so I've decided to forego the idea of getting a new camera yet.  I can still use the old one that doesn't have a good battery cover, and I've found an old Olympus Styles film camera that I want to try again.  That thing is heavy though!  The first thing I found out is that the battery was dead, and the stores I checked this afternoon don't sell that battery.  I found it on Amazon and ordered two of them although they won't get here for a couple of weeks, but I can use the other camera in the meantime.  It's not as though I take that many pictures.  Walmart carries film but I was disappointed to find that it is for 27 photos.  I would rather try it out at 8 or 12, or something less than 27.  I'll look around some more and maybe even find a camera store at the mall.  

It is pretty disheartening when I see the difference in pictures I take now as compared to those of 20 or 25 years ago.  I truly believe the film photos have a warmth and depth to them that digital does not, although digital is probably more technically accurate.  I noticed that when I began to go through my old pictures with the intent of sorting and categorizing them all.  I haven't done much on them lately, but I'll get back to it one of these days.  I was surprised to see how good many of them are, and how well I set up some of the best shots.  Those days are gone forever!

 

11 comments:

  1. Sounds like you really hit on something you like to do. Classes at Michael's sound like a real bargain. Hope you enjoy them. The sales rep at Costco was really nice and you don't find many like that around anymore.

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    1. I love my class but I think I'm going to quit buying so much stuff there. I never ever get a discount - they told me one time that the discount was only on regular priced merchandise. Today I bought a $10 item (reg. price) but do you think I got any kind of discount? I'm going to write the company, as well as get off their mailing list and rewards program. I'm in there often enough to see what they have on sale.

      I don't think I've ever met a Costco employee who wasn't top of the line. They get some great employees, but I'll admit the person in the photo dept. was special.

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  2. I haven't used a film type camera for a long, long time. Had an Argus C4 many years ago and loved that camera and slides that it took. I took some great pictures with it on a trip with my uncle and Aunt and cousin back when I was 16 years old. Went from Pa to Colorado, up to British Columbia, back east through Canada, entered the U.S. at Niagara Falls, and finally back home. Will never forget that trip.

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    1. That would be a really great trip now, and back when you were 16 it must have been outstanding - not all the touristy stuff. You must have seen some gorgeous scenery.

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    2. I wish you would scan and post a couple of pictures; also, what were the people like? Probably pretty much the same as they are now, although life is not as hard now as it was in those days, so the folks who were attracted to it much have been a hardy bunch.

      Why don't you do a blog or two yourself on that trip. You have led an interesting life, and still do!

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  3. So glad you are enjoying your art classes. I never could take a good picture even with film. My sister still uses those throw away film cameras.

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  4. So glad you are enjoying your art classes. I never could take a good picture even with film. My sister still uses those throw away film cameras.

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    1. I was never a great photographer but enjoyed taking pictures, and I amaze myself sometimes when I see the excellent composition in one of my old photos. Wonder if it was just luck or my good eye? I'm paying for it now because I don't have a good eye left!

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  5. Oh dear about the pinesol. I'd have to move out of my house since anything strong or with chemicals sets me sneezing and coughing. So nice to find an employee who really cares about the service she gives you.

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    1. I don't normally mind the aroma of PineSol but this was a LOT! I think PineSol is relatively low in toxicity, and I think it cleans better than the high powered stuff.

      The photo saga isn't over with yet - I went back this morning and she told me that when she examined the photos I wanted enlarged, she found lines on them as well. I told her I had had them printed at Costco, so she said the next time bring my flash drive in and she will see what is going on. It would be ironic if it is a flaw in my camera!

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