Ups and Downs
UP-The recital on Friday was very nice. Jon played very well and his hard work was evident. All the kids did so well and ought to be very proud. Melissa, the violin teacher, opened the recital with Beethoven Romanze in F. She plays like an angel. She is an angel, a nicer more talented person would be hard to find. We Love her! I know she is proud of the work her students have done and she's a terrific teacher.DOWN-Jon went to the CJMEA Region II auditions and try as he did, he didn't quite make the cut. The pool of talent was amazing around 138 kids vying for about 48 spots in the violin sections. While disappointing for Jon he's still not discouraged and will try again next year. After looking at the results, the only regret is that he didn't audition on viola as well as violin. He has only been playing the viola since summer, and didn't think he was ready for viola, but I think he would have had a stronger chance in making it in had he auditioned on viola as well. It appears that all who auditioned on viola got in and some of the scores were fairly low, so next year he will work towards both and we will see what happens.
UP-Rob called on Saturday evening. We had not heard from him in several weeks because his field training made it so he could not contact us often. He will be headed back to GA in a few days. It was really great to hear his voice again. God, I miss that kid!
DOWN-Rob will be heading to Iraq very soon, within weeks in fact. I am scared of course, and I wish he didn't have to go. He fully expected to go when he signed up for the military back in 2005. This is what he's well trained for and is ready to do. I just pray that he will be safe. I know people who have been through this and they are a great support system and I thank them. Jerry Moores is a fellow photoblogger I "met" through the blogs recently who's son, Charlie, is a Captain in Special Forces has lent me an ear, and offered support and suggestions since his son has been there twice already and is due home soon. It's good to know there are others out there that understand. For now we just have to deal with things as they happen and trust that my son is well trained and has a good head on his shoulders.
As you can see it's been an Up and Down weekend. I am tired from it but I am ready to distract myself with work this week. I have some exciting things happening so that should be a good distraction.
This was shot at the recital, which was held at a lovely church, after all the kids finished as we were packing up to go down to the Fellowship Hall for delicious refreshments. I took shots at the recital which I will process and give to Melissa. The light was low so they need a little work which I will do this week. I am not going to post them on-line since they are of kids and I do not usually post pictures of other peoples kids without express permission which I did not get.
I may post on of Jon taken while he was warming up. His hair is so long that you can hardly see his eyes in any of the photos...I really need to convince him to get a hair cut. He wore a buzz cut for about 10 years while he was doing gymnastics, but the scissors have only touched his hair once since he stopped competing last winter.
Labels: black and white, minimalism, music
posted by Laurie at 6:25 AM
25 Comments:
sounds like a tiring and emotional weekend, far removed from the workaday when-am-i-going-to-do-the-shopping routine of the most of us! there's also an emptiness about the image that seems to mirror the space in your narrative for your son that's away from home.
A subtle but impactful image. All the best to your young man in uniform.
Your weekend certainly was one of ups and downs. the photo as an illustrations was a perfect choice.
You have my support for your son too. Our kids are so precious.
Laurie, this is a great shot. Lots of anticipation of music. I'm sorry to hear about the downs and your son going to Iraq soon. My thoughts are with you and your family.
April
An excellent perspective for this shot. Nice job!
I also hope for safety for your son as he heads to Iraq.
there's life for you, dealing different hands all the time...anyway, onto the shot before i get caught up in cliches...like the dof and the central focus, but i find the stand a bit too dark...
Very nice, this says it all - the lone stand - brilliant. Wishing your family all the best during these trying times.
Great one for me ! It really makes me feel the starting of the concert :)
Very simple, but I really like it. The DoF is effective, and I really love the contrast. Nice job.
Lovely shot ... and very symbolic of music and loneliness ... both of which comes through in your narrative. I can understand how you must be feeling. My thoughts are with you.
wow...! hectic weekend eh...
nice shot laurie,love the feeling of stillness if you know what i mean,
anyhow....hope everything works out perfectly for you....
Wow, Laurie! What an a roller coaster week! My best to your son!
I remember these music stands, from back in my high school band and orchestra years! I was in the percussion section, the most fun place to be, in my opinion! :-)
Interesting life of Laurie, sweet capture, could be used on the poster for a church or some thing. Nice one.
Suby
Good use of DOF, I like this.
The beauty in simplicity, the art is to see it in the world around us.
Hi Laurie,
Thank you for youre comment at vazaar!
I see a lesson standard.. which reminds me at the time a had lessons at the music academy.. but for what the photograph; it is ok but not really (how do I say) .. stunning?
Greetz Michaël
Update my comment, after reading the whole story behind the images, I want to say, best for you're son! And now I understand the symbolic of the photograph.
I love the simplicity of this photo, the B&W and great DOF! Awesome Laurie!
very simply but powerful image
how perfect!
A very elegant composition!
wish you had people in the frame, but the seats replace the images of people which creates the composition and carries the message: This is some place, ready for a performance. Narrower aperture --lower of f would be better here, since seats add to the composition.
I transferred all of your comments on older photographs to the new website finally. Thanks :-)
sorry that would be one more f stop.
Emre thanks...The seats you see in the shot are actually used for the church choir, not an audience. I think they call it a choir loft. (The recital was in a church sanctuary). There were no people in them at any time during the recital since that was actually the "stage" where the students performed. The audience sat in the pews.
It was also shot at high ISO (ISO 1600, f2.8, 1/100s) with no flash and only limited available light so it would have been extremely underexposed had I used a higher f# and at 1/100s I didn't dare slow the shutter any more it was already as slow as I could handhold that (large, heavy) lens and still get a clean shot. I used that lens as heavy as it is because it is a faster (f2.8) lens and got me in close enough from where I was sitting. I do have a faster lens (f1.8) but it's fixed at 85mm and wouldn't have gotten me in close enough for the types of shots I needed to take.
Being a great fan of simplicity and clean photography this one really appeals to me! It is nice how the chairs in the background kind of fill you in about what the scene is like.
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