Daily Photos

< June 2009 >

June 1, 2009
I`m so talented, I can take pictures behind my back. Law school sunrise. It would be kind of a shame if renovating the slanted house makes it just like all the others (see May 29, 2008). Go University of Delaware! Or Detroit! Wanna buy a telephone pole?

June 2, 2009
A hidden gem in my neighborhood. Can you guess ware this block is? Other people`s trash. Security risk. Like Helen Frankenthaler, but without the color.

June 3, 2009
Despite the numerous cautions, people still smoke. Morning glory, in a way. Urban renewal. Gesundheit! Dinnertime!

June 4, 2009
In a garden, one can find great natural beauty . . . There are lovely waterfall scenes . . . And attractive plants of all varieties . . . A garden path is full of hidden charms . . . Amid such scenery, one cannot help but feel emotion.

June 5, 2009
Daisy crazy. I`ve done this shot many times before, but it still holds up. Future generations will have a hard time believing that water was once so plentiful we wasted it. Homage to William Eggleston. [Is it possible to pay homage to a photographer I don`t actually like?] Very talented and good looking -- not surprising, since she`s related to me.

June 6, 2009
The Dayton Clodbusters challenge all comers to a base ball tournament. Mighty Casey at the on-deck circle. Gentlemen will refrain from impolite outbursts in the presence of ladies. An all-too-common occurence when the Clodbusters were on defense. There is no joy in Mudville.

June 7, 2009
There are places I remember all my life, though some have changed - Some forever, not for better, some have gone and some remain. JOHN LENNON Today was the re-opening of Old River Park. Like most things in life, anticipation outweighed reality. I watched children run toward the swingset, and then walk away disappointed. It was only the first day, but there were more birds in the park than people. As it exists today, Old River is a place to relive memories, rather than make new ones.

June 8, 2009
Monday: birth. Remember the hood decal of the Pontiac Trans-Am? You previously saw this rock flying through the air on August 6, 2008. I have a book to help identify birds, but if I don`t know what it is, how can I look it up? This early in the season, the destiny of this monarch is to breed and die. Its offspring will fly to Mexico in the fall.

June 9, 2009
Tuesday: youth. Do the dew. Sustainability? Helpless victims of an overzealous immigration policy. Slightly scuffed art.

June 10, 2009
Wednesday: adolescence. Looks like I`ve used the men`s room in the photography building for the last time, but it`s nice to see the paper towel dispenser is still loaded and ready to serve. Destroying the twin chimmneys attached to the photography building (see January 7, 2008). Couldn`t tell you whether this flower is in its youth or adolescence. My camera has just been named Camera of the Year. Does this mean I can get a new one next year?

June 11, 2009
Thursday: adulthood. Bright and shiny new gym floor (see April 14, 2009). I KNEW IT! They`re going to fix Slanty (see June 1 above). Onward and upward. `Beautiful shot, beautiful shot,` a man said passing by, but I was too busy looking through the viewfinder to respond.

June 12, 2009
Friday: old age. Double trouble. Self Portrait in a Bubble -- a metaphor for the brevity of my existence. Paix, paz, pace, frieden, vredem, mír, rauha, béke, mier, amani. Eight more days of spring -- enjoy them!

June 13, 2009
`There are pretty curtains drawn around; the sheets are fine and thin, And if you like to rest awhile, I`ll snugly tuck you in!` MARY HOWITT Would you like sprinkles with that? The hummingbirds were too fast, so you get a sparrow. Fireworks. Not a lucky shot -- a meticulously executed shot.

June 14, 2009
In the 1850s, baseball teams were identified by their belts. Remnants of last night`s alumni party. It was one of those white sky days. The death rituals of other cultures may seem strange to us, but I`m sure they seriously wonder about ours too. Do not disturb.

June 15, 2009
Lowdown lilies. Never park near a corner. Where pine cones come from. A clean bird is a happy bird. Could be an interesting ride.

June 16, 2009
Like something out of `Riki-Tiki-Tavi,` this robin and chipmunk were engaged in a life-or-death struggle. Outstanding in its field. My advice: just avoid Stewart Street until 2010. Peaceable kingdom. `Got a light?`

June 17, 2009
Muhammed Ali`s twin sister. Before the dawn. Ready for anything. In the past this might`ve prompted a cynical caption from me (see July 24, 2008). But lately I no longer feel so bad about what this flag represents. At least there`s ONE advantage of attending summer school. You can`t do this in the winter.

June 18, 2009
Picnic pastime 1. Picnic pastime 2. Shades of green. In the interest of recycling, I`m reusing a caption from May 24, 2006. She`s very patient with children.

June 19, 2009
Lest we forget (see June 8 - 12 above). Roofing material, or a recurrence of the chicken pox virus? There`s a fungus among us. A teambuilding activity in the hot sun. Whenever I get a little publicity, activity on this Web site peaks.

June 20, 2009
Mary was a patient model today in my photo workshop. I gave a presentation in a classroom about shooting outdoor portraits, then we went outside and practiced. The fact that it was a bright and sunny day made it more challenging to get good portraits. On a sunny day, it`s necessary to find pockets of shade where the person being photographed can hide. I could be wrong, but I think Mary likes yellow (see June 4 above).

June 21, 2009
This was as close as I got before it flew away. Today is the summer solstice: the longest day of the year. This looks like a Father`s Day card. Destination unknown. A picture of infinity.

June 22, 2009
So what color should my house be? Pick 1, 2 or 3. Er . . . 1, 3 or 2. The evil eye. You`re wasting your time, kitty. I don`t go for your species. It was only after I got to work that I noticed there was black grime all over my pant legs. This happens every morning. We don`t notice it. We don`t deserve it. Belated balloon.

June 23, 2009
Tiny teacup just as I found it in a windowsill. A sign of summer. `Here kitty kitty!` Cityshapes. Eighty cents spent at Hallmark will make someone smile.

June 24, 2009
And then the wind changed direction and I got wet. I walked slowly past so I might appear in his painting. Two tone. These next two pictures were taken with my arms deep in bee territory. They landed on the camera and on my face. My theory: dragonflies are the source of fairy myths.

June 25, 2009
One is the loneliest number. Someone else`s idea of art. Workshop on photographing art. Picture frames on my living room floor . . . there must be a photo exhibition coming up soon. The day the music died.

June 26, 2009
Debris under the tires means my street was flooded last night. I must have slept through the whole thing. Things fall apart. And then the wind blew and I got wet. Repairing the sky. Anything looks better during sunrise.

June 27, 2009
This shot justifies the lens I bought myself for Christmas. The Butterfly House opened today at 10:00am, and I got there at 9:59am (along with a troop of Boy Scouts). Planning ahead: this cecropia moth was laying eggs. This little guy was actually outside the Butterfly House. `We don`t have any caterpillars yet,` said a staff member. But I found this monarch-in-progress among milkweeds.

June 28, 2009
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. She`s been a mourning dove ever since she heard about Michael Jackson. `I feel pretty, oh so pretty!` Great spangled fritillary on a purple coneflower. And then it started raining and I got wet.

June 29, 2009
It was a perfect puffy cloud day. In between the puffy clouds, there was sun. Over the past several days, a lot of people have been trying to do the moonwalk. It`s remarkable how that one planter can turn this sidewalk into a thing of beauty. My 80-cent investment on June 23 prompted a 99-cent response that made my day.

June 30, 2009
High noon came at about 1:30pm. Smiling now, but wait until the student loans are due. Think about it: all flowers are sunflowers. Summer is renovation time on a college campus. From the high school photographer last seen on March 14, 2009: I strive to capture humanity`s footprint on this world. Through photography, I can see man`s wake: his patterns, textures, and profound beauty. I believe that in the wink of a shutter it is possible to freeze and showcase a moment, an object, or a piece of honesty in order to dignify it forever. I want to show my viewer what they normally look at, and persuade them to see it in a new, regal light. ANNA BURKE

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