Door Ways

I have always been intrigued with door ways and entry ways, both from a photographic perspective and psychological perspective.  The idea of going through a door, choosing one door vs another. 

This first photo is of my doorway.  The one I pass through everyday out into the world and then back home again.  From safety to possibility.  From  isolation to socialization.  The second photo is one I took several years ago when I went to visit Rachel in New Orleans. 

Old Town School of Music

The Old Town School of Music is one of Chicago's most unique cultural centers.  Founded in 1957, Old Town has moved to various locations finally ending up close to me in Lincoln Square.  The school offers both individual and group lessons in many instruments (including djembe) as well as all types of dance classes.  There are now 6600 students that take weekly classes a third being children.  Concerts featuring music from around the world are a daily happening.  Completion of a new building across from the old building in Lincoln Square boasts state of the art in both acoustics and ecology. 

I bring this all up because I am now one of their newest volunteers having gone through the 2 hour orientation yesterday.  As a volunteer I can earn points to use towards classes and concerts.  I can meet new people and there are an awful lot of old guys taking guitar lessons.  A friend who use to take guitar lessons there says it will be like shooting fish in a barrel.  We'll see about that.   Oh yea and I can help the school promote music and culture with in my community. 



In the new building



Part of the new building



Cute guy playing a Dobro.  Sounded great.  Says he has been playing for years.

 Pictures taken with the new camera.



Indian Dinner with a Friend

Today my battery was charged, but hurrying out the door this morning at 6 am, I forgot my camera.  I would have like to have photographed the colorful dishes and sauces at the Indian restaurant where I joined a friend tonight. Instead  I returned home and I threw a couple of objects together with the left over wine that Wesley had brought to dinner.  The funny thing is he doesn't even drink.  A nice rich Bordeaux to compliment the Indian food.  My previous experiences with Indian food left me a little cold, but tonights dishes (we chose the buffet) were all delicious.  I didn't quite understand what I was suppose to do with the sauces even after the explanation but just over rice they were wonderful.  Nothing too spicey.  Everything flavorful.

Early Birthday Gifts

I bought myself an early birthday gift today.  A high end, compact,  point and shoot, Canon, digital camera.  I have been wanting one ever since I lost mine a few years ago at the Lincoln Park Zoo.  I will not be giving up my Canon Rebel with my 6 different lenses.  This camera though, will be much more portable and afford me the opportunity to take daily photos for my blog.

Unfortunately the battery in the new camera had to be charged before I could use it so I was not able to shoot any photos today.  This picture  was taken a few weeks ago in the Chicago loop during my first Photography Meetup.  It is my favorite picture of the day.  He was happy to let us take his picture and of course we all gave him something for the priviledge.  It had started to lightly  rain as we moved on and he began playing "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head".

Clematis

I don't have to go far to take photos of my favorite subject, flowers.  I pass this Clematis vine everyday on my way to work or play.  Just a few days ago there were nothing but buds.  I was suprised to find the vine so full this morning.

This spring was very odd as we got 2 weeks of very warm weather in early March.  Spring almost came and went before I had time to notice.  But then it cooled and although many of the flowering trees had come and gone the flowers stayed around for quite a while.  The lilac tree  two doors down that started blooming at the first of April is just now turning brown. I can still find a few tulips and dafodills blooming.  The peonies are coming any day. 

Photo Blog

I met my friend Beth in the hallway at work today.  We had a chance to chat for a little while and Beth told me about her friend who takes photographs everyday and then post the one she likes the best to her blog and writes about it.  A follow up to the 365 day project.  I thought it was a great idea.  And so I am going to try to incorporate my photography and my writing.  Every day?  We'll see.  Today would be a good day to start except I didn't take any photographs if you don't count the one I took with my iPhone and published to my Facebook check in.  But I did take some photos over the weekend when I got to gether with my new photography meetup group.  I will start with one of those.

Chinatown.  Such a different look from the rest of Chicago.  I like Chinatown.  It brings back fond memories of when Susan came to visit.  At that time the shop keepers didn't mind you coming into the store and taking pictures.  Now they all say, "no pictures, no pictures."  Someone in the group suggested it was because photographers block the aisles so paying customers can't get through.  I don't know we didn't ask.  My old friend Michael always liked going to Chinatown, looking for wierd things in the shops.  My dining group just had dinner here the week before.  Eleven of us with bottles of wine and the restaurant couldn't find a cork screw.  And my new friend Wesley immediately ran out to find one to save the day before the bus boy finally came up with one.