[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 20 September 2022].
it's got pockets!
[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 24 August 2022].
As promised, this is the second image from a new series inspired during my recent gig cat-sitting Meg and Mog, titled plush.
The cats' mothers' new home features some vivid interior design colour choices. Colour choices they would not have made. But that they have inherited from the previous owners.
Jo and Becky are far less enamoured with these colour choices than I am.
While there, I struggled with going out and about much due to my health issues and the heatwave. So I spent quite a lot of time, when not working, hanging out in the lounge room with Meg and binge-watching the most recent season of The Handmaid's Tale ahead of the new season airing next month.
After my visit to Minera last October to cat-sit Meg and Mog while they house-hunted, Jo had sent me a link to the advertisement for their new home. When she contacted me to ask if I could cat-sit their two cuties again, I dug out the link and almost immediately asked about the decor. Had they torn out those carpets and removed the wallpaper?
Jo assured me everything was as it had been in the advertisement apart from (obviously) replacing the furniture with their own. I might have squee'd.
When I arrived, the carpet in the lounge was everything I had hoped for. However, I hadn't registered the purple carpeting in one of the bedrooms (the one I stayed in) and the blood-red carpet in the playroom (formerly the dining room) from the photos. Jo pointed out, quite rightly, that the red carpet would have helped mask red wine stains.
I enjoyed and shared the colour coordination of my tights and the carpet in my temporary bedroom before venturing out, trepidatiously, on a photo walk on my first full day there.
But, between work, the heat and my anxiety toward venturing out, I wasn't as attentive as I usually would be in thinking about potential photographic projects in the space during the first few days.
Fast forward to late afternoon Wednesday, and I found myself planning a series of self-portraits inspired by - of all things - the carpet.
I didn't have specific images planned out, but I knew the clothing I had with me and the three carpets I wanted to use as 'backdrops'. Anyone who knows me knows I love colour coordination, so that was in the forefront of my mind.
So I took an extended break from work late afternoon on Thursday to roll around on the floor during the heat and play with some ideas, moods and colour combinations.
So far, the other two images from the series are more related to how I've been feeling recently and thus more emotional. But this image is more playful.
As any woman who owns a dress with pockets knows, whenever someone compliments you on the dress, it's obligatory to announce, "It's got pockets!" And to proudly place your hands in the pockets to demonstrate how awesome it is to have those pockets.
Though my pose may not come across as enthusiastically as I would show you in real life, I am no less pleased with these pockets years after I bought the dress.
But, more importantly, this series is a celebration of carpets. Perhaps the series title should be plush: an ode to wall-to-wall carpeting*.
As a child growing up in the late 70s and 80s, carpets in the home were the norm. The thicker, the better.
I had lived in carpeted properties until about 2014. I even lived in a flat with a carpeted bathroom in 2000 (I don't recommend going that far!)
But since then, I have lived in homes sadly bereft of carpet.
I miss the softness of the carpet underfoot. I dislike the amount of noise I make walking on bare floorboards or laminate floors if I have shoes on. I wear my slipper socks to cushion my feet after a long day of walking, even in the summertime, because I don't have carpet to do that.
I spend much more time brushing dust and hair off my feet before putting my tights on while living in an uncarpeted home.
I remember the excitement of walking barefoot on Jo and Becky's carpet in Minera when I arrived. It was like coming home.
I rue bare floorboards coming back into fashion and landlords deciding laminate flooring is cheaper and easier to maintain. And I'm not ashamed to say so.
So, this will potentially become another ongoing series of self-portraits captured while cat-sitting, like wallflowers.
Let's see how the images pile up.
*I can't resist pointing out that this would also make a perfect title for a series of photographs of people sporting their natural pubic hair. A sight that is probably as rare as carpeted homes these days ;)
N.B. Don't worry about the bruising. That appeared to be from the careless carrying of my laptop bag during the journey to Cotton End. It was no worse and possibly less angry-looking than the bruising I acquired from recent blood tests. I decided not to edit it out. It was too large and had purple tones to match the carpet. Colour coordination :)
moth orchid (magenta)
inner turmoil
[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 21 August 2022].
This photograph is the first from a new series, plush, I started while cat-sitting in Cotton End a couple of weeks ago.
I'll share more about the series - its inspiration, my intentions, etc. - with the second image, which I'll share midweek.
That one's a little more lighthearted.
the queen's head
[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 16 September 2022].
jubilee
the sacred heart of balmoral
[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 16 September 2022].
leeds castle
[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 6 September 2022].
Leeds Castle in Kent. Taken in May this year during a visit with friends.
side by side in death
[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 6 September 2022].
plush
Just a quick post for those who may be considering becoming a patron.
I've been sharing a new series of self-portraits I started while undertaking a recent cat-sitting gig. They're still patron-only access until later in the month.
I shared these three photographs early access with my patrons a month before they'll become public. New images from the series (as I create them) will be shared a month early too.
If you'd like to see the images from the series so far, now's the time to become a patron.
moth orchid (yellow)
[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 6 September 2022].
Here are some beautiful Phalaenopsis or moth orchids I photographed the weekend before last in the home of a woman I regularly cat-sit for.
My own have also been flowering, and I captured them a month ago when some of the flowers were still in the bud. I'll share images of those in my next instalment of a floral tribute.
I'm playing 'catch-up' again after returning from my latest cat-sitting gig and dealing with some personal bits and pieces.
There may be a break in my regular cat-sitting for a bit, so that will mean fewer hiatus here, hopefully.
I absolutely adore the kittehs and love spending time with them. But the laptop I use when I'm away isn't great for editing photos (or anything creative). Aside from anything, the screen is too small.
I also feel like I should savour every chance for kitteh snuggles when cat-sitting. So, sitting at a desk instead of reclining on the lounge where I'm more likely to attract those snuggles seems silly.
The impact of my vitamin deficiencies has also been heavily felt lately. I'm thankful I'll have a follow-up appointment with my GP next week as I imagine she will start me on B12 injections, and then maybe I can start to get my energy back. The lethargy and fatigue I fight are becoming... well... tiresome.
I hope you're all doing okay. Feel free to leave a comment to check in and say hello!
public footpath
[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 23 August 2022].
For those who aren't aware, England, Scotland, and Wales have a system of public footpaths and bridleways collectively recognised as rights of way.
They allow folk to travel across private land without fear of a charge of trespassing. Or threat or reprisal from landowners.
In rural areas, they can make getting from Point A to Point B on foot a much quicker journey than if you had to stick to the footpaths alongside roads. They also make for interesting routes for those of us inclined to photo walks.
The entrance to this public footpath can be found north of Cotton End.
I didn't take it while I was cat-sitting for Jo and Becky this time, but hopefully, if I have the chance to cat-sit Meg and Mog again, I will be able to explore it further.
Or, at least, others not far away which lead to places that seem enticing to my photographic eye.
If you want to see how extensive the right-of-way system is in the UK, check out the Footpath Map.
bunny
[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 22 August 2022].
amber treasures
[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 19 August 2022].
The last of my Gazania photographs from St Kilda Cemetery from my visit in 2007.
priory country park
[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 18 August 2022].
In 2018, on a drizzly November day, I met my friend, Khanisa, for a walk and a late pub lunch in Bedford.
We wandered along the River Great Ouse out to Priory Country Park and back, despite the rain.
I didn't manage to get out and about as much as I'd have liked while cat-sitting in Cotton End last week, though I did attempt something of a photo walk one day.
And I did catch up with Khanisa for an afternoon for a long overdue face-to-face chat.
So, I thought I'd edit and share some photos from our walk that day in 2018.
faithful unto death
[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 16 August 2022].
While reviewing images to edit for what should have been the past week's #SepulchralSunday post, I decided I wanted to create a new curated series called last words. Photographs from my sepulchre series that focus closely on poignant inscriptions on graves.
This capture and another I took at St Kilda Cemetery in 2007 caught my eye and inspired the idea.
Strangely, I had already edited this particular photograph. Notably, the day before my birthday in 2018.
However, I can't see where I've previously published it online or otherwise, and I don't know why exactly I edited it that day.
As I can't locate where I might have published it, I have to believe I never shared it before, so I stuck with my choice for the first post from this new curated series.
I hope you enjoy this new series as I share them over the coming weeks mixed in with my other series: late bloomers, stained glass and, as we approach Christmas again, season's grievings.
striped treasures
[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 16 August 2022].
More Gazania from the St Kilda Cemetery.
suffer little children
[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 7 August 2022].
self-portrait* in blue
[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 7 August 2022].
I had two other prompts already written down to try with Midjourney AI before deciding it would be remiss not to try something (in theory) more personal.
I was curious how much - if at all - the AI was trawling the internet for references.
I'd seen people entering 'in the style of [artist name]', and I'd obviously used 'art deco' in my previous prompt.
So, my mischievous side came out and for my third and final prompt before my trial ran out, I entered 'bronwen hyde, self-portrait, blue'.
The initial four options and the second four options Midjourney gave me can be seen in the second image.
I wavered a little between the image I chose and the top right and bottom left options in the first four. The second set of four didn't appeal to me as much stylistically.
In the end, as I had only a few variations and upscale "turns" left, I worked just with the top left image from the first four options. This was my final result before my trial ended.
Clearly, it's not me, but I feel like some options remind me of Cindy Sherman and maybe Sigourney Weaver. So it is interesting to think about how Midjourney learns and what it picks up as sources.
I'll probably sign up for a subscription for a month to play with the tool more and see whether it's something I find helpful as a part of my art practice.
But either way, it was an engaging and intriguing way to spend a couple of hours on a Friday evening.
art deco annie
[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 6 August 2022].
The second prompt I gave Midjourney AI was 'art deco, portrait, night, lamp'.
This image was my favourite result, though I have to admit I didn't play too much with creating variations for this. I felt with a few tweaks, it came up well.
I did get the AI to give me an alternative set of options before I received a notification that I had a limited number of free images left to create.
In the second image (left to right), you can see the original four options Midjourney generated for my prompt. And then the second four options.