Your moment of Monday Zen: “Outer Space”
Category Archives: Photography
Google Art Project
As an artist, it’s a real treat to watch other people create, whether it be a sketch, painting or sculpture. I am in love with the “process” or seeing how they do it. The abundance of internet sites and mobile apps have made it easy for me to watch hundreds of talented people show their skills. (Thank goodness for Vimeo and YouTube as well as Instagram.) But what about the masters of the past? All we have left of their legacy is artwork hidden away in museums or private collections. Usually I can find a low res scan of “The Starry Night” on some poster website otherwise I need to hop on a plane and head to the MOMA in New York. And even then, I highly doubt security is going to let me get TOO close to the original.
So I present Google Art Project.
A zoomed in view of The Starry Night on Google.
I can’t tell you how awesome this site is for me. Google has over 32000+ pieces of artwork available to zoom in at high resolution INCLUDING my favorites like Van Gogh’s “The Starry Night” and Monet’s Footbridge. Having studied many of these works in grueling Art History classes, let me tell you, an old slide projector doesn’t hold a candle to this type of viewing. Being able to see the paint strokes, parts of the canvases, the direction and impasto, it is amazing.
What a wonderful way to preserve the past.
When Nature Calls
I have been reprimanded many times by friends and family to UPDATE YOUR BLOG! But seriously, summer is so short and I find myself craving the outdoors rather than stuck behind a computer. As do the daughters. “Owside? OWSIDDDEE???”
Also, I’ve taken at least a thousand photos in the last month and I can’t even begin editing them all. But with the thunderstorms of South Dakota, the peace of Canada, mixed with my garden in all it’s glory, I thought I would do a quick post with some of my favorite nature photos. So, here we go!
Day 5 – Black Hills Institute
If you like everything prehistoric, which I do, this is your place. The Black Hills Institute in Hill City, SD has a large collection of cast replica dinosaur bones, fossils, fish and sea creatures as well as minerals and rocks all in one place. And while it isn’t very big, I found we spent a ton of time there just LOOKING at everything. My daughters loved digging up bones in the sand table. It keeps the little kids busy while you get to stroll around museum. Also kudos to the staff for choosing great music to listen to as well. It was surreal listening to Nora Jones while looking at a T-rex! This is also the place that I think I took the most photos.
The Black Hills Institute
My daughter about to get her hand bit off.
So much to look at right as you walk in the door.
One of my favorites.
Another favorite. Crocodile jaws.
Check out the prehistoric fish. Apparently everything prehistoric is supersized.
Again, I couldn't get over the colors or the size.
Fossilized palm leaf
Triceratops skull
Even the youngest loved the sand table.
They took their work very seriously.
This is why I don't have pets.
Don't these just creep you out!?
They had a huge Fairburn Agate collection which ultimately turned me into a rock hound.
I should have taken a large scale photo of their rock/mineral collection. It was impressive.
My daughter wanted me to take this photo since she loves elephants.
Day 4 – Pirate’s Cove Mini Golf
The weather was turning wonderful on Day 4 so we decided to surprise my daughter with a trip to Pirate’s Cove. This was right up her alley. She likes pirates about as much as she likes princesses and who can pass up mini-golf!? Also, whomever does the landscaping on this needs to come to my house. This was the “prettiest” mini golf course I have ever seen, the flowers and trees around this are perfect. I am pleased to say I got a hole-in-one on number 7 but I also took an 8 on a par 2 so I’m hoping they just cancel each other out. I’m not telling you my daughter’s score, she TOTALLY is a cheater.
Ahoy! Pirate's Cove!
Line up towards the cannon and bank it off the second tombstone.
Showing off her golf skills.
There were a few other land lovers on the course as well.
It wasn't until hole 3 that she really started to cheat.
My daughter wanted to know if these bones were "real".
Totally fun course. Waterfalls, bridges and a shark. Perfect.
Giving me her "Yo Ho Ho, a Pirate's Life for me" with her take-home pirate patch, Jolly Rogers flag and hat.
Day 4 – Bobcat’s Ice Cream Pie Shop
If you read my previous post, you know that I bribed my daughter with ice cream to finish the cave. And I wasn’t lying. If you go to Custer you need to stop at Bobcats and get ice cream or rhubarb pie or both. Seriously, how can you not stop at this place.
Look for this sign and stop.
This is "Cotton Candy", she ate it in 34 seconds.
I got a Toffee Coffee Espresso and mom got Strawberry, YUM
This just screams sweet treats.
Day 4 – Jewel Cave National Monument
Alright, HERE are some cave photos. Although it’s funny, without any scale to go off of, they are a little abstract and lackluster. In person, the cave itself is amazing and again, I will say my photos don’t do it justice. The scenic tour we went on took about an hour and 15 minutes with stairs going up and down multiple stories. My 3 year old got a little tired so I had to bribe her halfway with ice cream as her treat for completing the cave. Once you start the tour, there really is no going back! Also Jewel Cave is different from Wind in the fact that it is VERY wet. We were “rained” on multiple times and you had to really watch your step on the the stairs so you didn’t slip. Halfway through the tour, our park ranger turns off all the artificial light and we are completely blind. I’ve never seen “darkness” like this in my life. It’s like your eyes are just straining for ANY small light source. Totally cool.
Jewel Cave National Monument
A close up of the Jewel Cave popcorn structure
This is actually a shot of the ceiling as you first walk into the cave.
Some of the artificial light came out "green" in the cave.
The lights they used to light the cave were well hidden and perfectly set.
This is just awesome.
She compared this to a what soda does to your teeth, we were standing in a big cavity.
Here you can see some scale with the stairs there. Bring your walking shoes.
Our Park Ranger was great, here she is telling us about the "Big Duh" and the "Cave of Misery" as well as her own adventures exploring the cave.
You are not allowed to touch the cave, at all.
Check out those colors. Amazing. By the time I finally figured out the settings I needed on my camera to get good "cave" shots, we were already walking up to the elevators. Booooo.
This looked like Cthulu's tentacles to me.
