I thought January was going to squeak by without any snow… it was not to be, although we got less than 2 inches.. so very little shoveling…but it’s cold and windy!… this shot was taken with my little Canon G11 standing in my garage. No, I don’t live out in the country…If I tilt up…power lines, tilt down…the street, pan right…telephone pole… pan left…another pole..
I’ve done this trip dozens of times in the last 2 1/2 years taking Brian back & forth to school…on his return after Christmas break I rode shotgun and using my snapshot Canon G11 documented the ride out the window…
and back home in West Hartford…..roundtrip 5 hours
Every January I organize my files and calendar for the new year… usually I use functional but boring manilla file folders and a simple black daily calendar. This year I decided to bring some pretty to my office and went in search of colorful office supplies. I found this daily organizer and beautiful folders at Staples.
I wanted to see the Rembrandt show at the Wadsworth Atheneum before it closed so I asked Brian if he wanted to go with me. To my surprise he said yes…act casual Julie… whenever my almost 21 year old son wants to do something with me I’m thrilled… So we went down on a cold Sunday afternoon to see the show. It was small group of paintings but worth seeing… any photographer that wants to learn about beautiful portrait lighting needs to study Rembrandt and the old masters.
My favorite painting in the museum is this one by Panini…I wonder if the sandwich is named after him…anyway… it’s really amazing in person.. following is a description from the Atheneum:
Interior of a Picture Gallery with the Collection of Cardinal Silvio Valenti Gonzaga
Artist: Giovanni Paolo Panini
(Italian, 1691-1765)
1740
The Ella Gallup Sumner and Mary Catlin Sumner Collection Fund, 1948.478
Cardinal Silvio Valenti Gonzaga (1690-1756), whose picture gallery is shown in this painting, was secretary of state to Pope Benedict XIV (1740-1758). In addition to his duties in the papal service, he took a keen interest in the arts, helping to found and install the Pinacoteca Capitolina, to reopen the Accademia di San Luca, to preserve ancient museums from plundering, and to regulate the exportation of works of art. Cardinal Gonzaga was also an avid collector, and the fruits of his collecting are partially depicted here. (The Cardinal stands with the artist in the center of the composition beside an enlarged copy of Raphael’s Madonna della Sedia).
We ended up seeing pretty much the whole museum.. a great way to spend a winter afternoon. Here is Brian in a contemporary gallery pondering shades of gray.
My favorite color is being honored this year by Pantone. I love it in all it’s shades and variations from aqua to sea glass. Turquoise is sprinkled all over my house in vases, dishes, jewelry, clothing, bedding..you name it…I like it best in small doses paired with a neutral color like tan, cream or white. Here are a few of my favorites from my home…ok, more than a few…
sources:
hand blown glass: tag sale
flower pot: Putnam Antique Market
earrings: Ten Thousand Villages
frame: hmm, don’t remember
globe: 26th St flea market, NY
lamp: Restoration Hardware
paperclip holder: gift
plastic tumblers: Target
Qtip holder: tag sale
quilt: Target
sarong: shop on Martha’s Vineyard
seltzer bottles: various antique shows
soap dish: tag sale
Last January I photographed Mr Whitlock in New Haven for Parade Magazine… the story never ran and the embargo is up so I thought I would post a few shots here. At the time he was 92 years old and somewhat suspicious of getting his photo taken but he allowed me to do my thing while he did his…repairing typewriters as he has done for most of his life. He hasn’t raised prices in 30 years and has a backlog of a couple years worth of repairs.
