20/52 Mother’s Day Tribute: Driving Miss Rosie

My mom celebrated her 75th birthday on Easter weekend. I surprised her with another angel (she has about as many angels as she has Elvis memorabilia),  a tube of  lipstick (she won’t go out in public without it) and a “celebrity” photo session.

Mom never learned how to drive. My dad chauffeured her around for more than 50 years. When he passed, I and mom’s karaoke friends drove her wherever she needed to go.

Actually Rosie, is not her real name. To her dad, she was his “little rosebud.” When I was growing up, everyone in my family had CB radios, so mom went by the CB handle Rosebud.  She got the moniker Rosie when she started wearing a western outfit and matching rose to karaoke night out with the girls.

Along comes the second love of her life and what does her doting husband buy his Rose who has everything angel, everything Elvis, everything but a driver’s license – yup, a car! Since he passed last year, I have been driving Miss Rosie around in her Cadillac Eldorado.

Photo of the Week series: Every Sunday in 2012 I will either share a photo from my archives or something new I just can’t wait to get feedback on for future art shows/exhibits.

Blogger participation: My hope is to receive enough input on each week’s photo to later post a Bloggers’ Choice of the Month and wrap up 2012 with a Bloggers’ Choice of the Year.

17/52 Help! My people skills suck!

I have yet to produce a blue ribbon quality people/portrait entry for our county fair this summer. I have what I believe are contest quality photos for the insect/animal, scenery/landscape, flower, human interest and unclassified categories but … my people skills suck! My granddaughter is most cooperative and very photogenic, but to achieve a really good portrait, I knew her smiles had to be spontaneous and not forced. So I planned an Easter egg hunt in a park setting where the deep blue sky and lush green grass of an early spring would complement her pretty pink and white outfit. Not!!! Mother Nature was most uncooperative. The temp turned chilly so my model shivered throughout the entire shoot. The afternoon sun muted the landscape.  One idea did work well. Instead of filling her eggs with candy, I used Peeps for an element of surprise. This is my pick of the day; if you think one of photos in the gallery is better, let me know. Feel free to comment, critique …  share advice, tips, tutorials … help!

Photo of the Week series: Every Sunday in 2012 I will either share a photo from my archives or something new I just can’t wait to get feedback on for future art shows/exhibits.

Blogger participation: My hope is to receive enough input on each week’s photo to later post a Bloggers’ Choice of the Month and wrap up 2012 with a Bloggers’ Choice of the Year.