RXA

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Originally uploaded by RXAphotos
One of the things I find fascinating about flickr is you never know which of your photos will have the most impact on others.

This is a sentiment shared by a few people I know and it always surprises us which photos get the least & most comments. I guess it really does come down to personal taste.

My case in point is this photo of L. It still remains one of my favorite photos of her. There is nothing special to the composition, it was captured at a totally natural moment and I love the way her hair falls on her face. The towel slung over the head is a bonus. Her expression is not forced, it is as natural as she is. This is a pure and natural look of a beautiful woman. To me this is a winning portrait photo.

Yet this photo has received only moderate views and no comments. Most of my photo’s attractive a few comments (often before I finish adding descriptions) and it always amazes me which ones do not get any.

Obviously I am emotionally connected to this photo as I am with any photo I take … and I would not be telling the truth if I said I was not more emotionally connected to this photo than most, therefore I see it in a different light.

Another example: David has a photo of a Major Mitchel Cockatoo that has had over 1000 views (and climbing). He has no idea why this of all photos is streaks ahead of the rest.

Just wanted to write this down as I find it both strange and funny.

Update (19.10.7): Someone has asked that the photo be included in a flickr group called ‘Beautiful Women’. Nice to know someone else has good taste.

63/365 - Watching the weekend away

Originally uploaded by RXAphotos

Sunday morning came a little too early but it continued a great weekend.

It didn’t take long for the camera to come out (I don’t know how it happened) and even though I have been pointing the camera at myself for 62 days in a row, L took one of the best photos of me have ever seen. What cheeses me off is that I can’t use it as a self portrait.

After throwing down some breakfast I bid farewell and drove to Mike’s house for the monthly family photo walk. Every month on the second Sunday Chris, David, Mike and I hop in a car and venture forth the capture the world as we see it.

Today it was Mike’s turn for the location choice and he chose well. Into the urban jungles of Fitzroy and Collingwood we went. By no means my photographic forte I had a difficult time creating images, but I managed a few good ones. The day was enhanced by Mike having prepared some “challenges” to shoot for. I drew out of the bag “three in a row”, “green”, “different” and “leading lines”.

After the walk finished I was back in the car and back to the waiting smile (feel free to groan) of L to help her prepare for a barbecue. One of her menagerie of sisters and family were coming round to “check out the new guy” or “have some dinner” as they put it.

A great meal was consumed and several photos taken of the throng. Apparently I got the two thumbs up from the sister so I was allowed to stay a little longer. We took Jake for another walk and watched him try in vain to ‘further his relations’ with a dog four times his size. But the little bugger has persistence.

Lying in a hammock, watching the stars and the moon in the sky (better get that bucket ready) when this photo was suggested to me for my self portrait of the day. What can I say? The girl has an eye for it.

Finally got up and did the dishes before heading home and posting the photo to flickr.

A great weekend. And due to scheduling conflicts, probably the last time we see each other until next Saturday dammit.

Me and my mate

Originally uploaded by RXAphotos

This is the second week in a row I haven’t posted on a Sunday. I suppose I am entitled to a day off.

On the whole, the weekend was busy, but probably the best weekend I can recall for many years.

As the title suggests, this post is about Saturday so without further procrastination…

I had Matthew until the afternoon and he helped tidy up a little before a rental inspection next week. It wasn’t really his idea of fun but he ended up being a good helper.

After returning him to his mother I headed off to see L. After a morning of housework I was confronted with a broom! I hope no one finds out I did some gardening, my reputation will be shot. I managed to intermingle some photography in with the sweeping so that dulled the pain a little.

After taking Jake for a walk we decided the plan for the evening was dinner in front of the TV and a video (yes I remember them too). After a fine Mexican mains the strawberry crepes came out … this is where I digress…

I like strawberry crepes. In fact I like them so much that my final meal if I was ever sentenced to death would probably be pizza and strawberry crepes.

Back in my younger days (three/four years ago), there used to be a restaurant in Caufield that serves the BEST strawberry crepes IN THE WORLD. My ex-wife and I used to drive from the Country for ninety minutes, order a insignificant mains just to get to the crepes. Yes they were that good.

This isn’t just pancakes with strawberries on top … this is the real deal with alcha-ma-hol and everything. I won’t say what my description was for this as I know I have young people reading this blog. But Oh … My … God … they were good.

Last year I was driving through Caufield when I saw a sight that very nearly slammed me in to the car in front. The restaurant was empty, the building gone to make way for a (I can barely say it), a car wash.

The memory is still fresh in my head and sometimes I wake at night shaking and in a cold sweat … I can still hear the strawberries screaming.

Anyway back to the recap …

After the Mexican wraps the desert comes out. I won’t say that I didn’t know I was getting strawberry crepes, but let’s face it, you read my description above. I knew they would be good … but …

L bought the plates into the lounge room and the presentation alone had me drooling. She had gone full kilt and even done the icing dusting on top (something I might add the original didn’t have).

Once I took a bite I had to put my plate down and go for some serious snogging (my blog, you can’t deal with it … tough). Let me now point out that the BEST CREPES IN THE WORLD title has now been handed over. No I’m not saying this because I no she reads it. It’s the truth.

It was so good that I plowed through mine (and there was no shortage of it) and started on hers whilst she was still going.

My favourite quote for the night was “Well I guess I know the way to your heart”.

My mouth is salivating at the thought of these crepes even now. And for the record I helped cut up the strawberries!