Fourteen iPhoneography Favourites on Friday

Since April of 2011 I embarked on a journey to take photos with my iPhone; and alter some of those shots that appealed with iPhone apps. There are a number of the photos scattered through my blog but I thought I might celebrate the journey so far by sharing a few of my favourites.

Originally there were to be ten photos but, as Fiona says, in the spirit of indecisiveness I have settled on fourteen - after all there is a phonetic likeness with iPhoneography and Friday.

Barry Smith © Gum leaf after rain-  Pirlangimpi

Barry Smith © Hawk against storm clouds - Pirlangimp1

Barry Smith © Grass seeds - Umbakumba

Barry Smith © "Ghost dozer"  - Umbakumba

Barry Smith © Monoliths at dawn - 601MVR

Barry Smith © Ken's paper stack

Barry Smith © Sand wash - Rainbow Beach

Barry Smith © Mattress springs and dog print - Rainbow Beach

Barry Smith © Moth on the door - 601 MVR

Barry Smith © Collected feather  - 601 MVR

Barry Smith © Metal feather - 601 MVR

Barry Smith © Storm clouds on the Glasshouse Mountains

Barry Smith © Spider's web at dawn - Treehaven Way

Barry Smith © Poppy reflected in the kitchen window @ 601 MVR

I think the photos, in the main, demonstrate that I like contrasts - guess we will see where 2012 takes me on this journey.

Wishing all the best in 2012 - joy, peace, fulfilment, creativity and daring. 

Blissful coffee and other stuff on the block

Back in September I posted on our coffee harvest for this year (about 3kgs). Given we have a bit more time on our hands now our work-work project is finished for now,   we are now doing the husking, sorting, roasting, grinding, brewing and drinking of the coffee that has travelled 50m across the block - zero food miles!!!

Barry Smith © Coffee blossom

I thought I'd share a few photos of the process and end result. First the beans dried and ready for husking.

Barry Smith © Dried coffee beans with husks on

Husking using a small hand operated machine.

Barry Smith © Husking 

Barry Smith © Hand operated husker

The green de-husked and roasted beans.

Barry Smith © Green coffee beans 

Barry Smith © Roasted coffee beans

The beans above were roasted for 15 minutes at 245F. The cup of coffee made from these beans tasted smooth but a little light - needs more edge - will do 17 minutes next time.

Barry Smith © Green bananas off the block

Barry Smith © Ripening bananas 

We have also been busy with our bananas - harvested a couple of bunches - and of course with the warm weather they have all ripened over the last week. So we have been: eating them - frequently; giving them away by the dozen; baking with them - banana bread and muffins (Fiona); drying them (Barry); and making banana jam (Fiona).

Barry Smith © Fiona's excellent banana jam

Fiona has asked me to refrain from using the 'b' word in the house for a little while.

Christmas wishes and winners

Wishing all peace and joy today; and for all at all times.

Barry Smith © Leaves of peace for Christmas

Just over a week  ago I posted on my 400th blog post and offered a giveaway. The draw was to coincide with Christmas Day - and so it has. Fiona selected the three names for the three give-aways and they are:

Brian Sylvester for the strap bowl.

Barry Smith © Strap bowl

Jann Gougeon for the rusted leaf.

Barry Smith © Rusted silver leaf

And Leslie Avon Miller for the prototype pendant.

Barry Smith © Prototype pendant

Thanks heaps to all the folk who took the time to leave a comment on the original post. It means a lot to me to have the interest and support of fellow artists. And I wish there was a giveaway for all. Thanks to Fiona - great hand model!!

If the winners can send me their postal mailing address I will send those items off early in 2012.

Wishing all the very best for 2012 - may it be a year of peace and fulfilment.

Friday fragments

Whilst I have had the opportunity to do some art related stuff today it has mostly been background work like: make a wooden cutting v for jewellery work; putting a new blade into the bandsaw and make sure it is working safely; cleaning the workbench again after a long time; and cutting up metal - finding 'found' earrings in the edges and handles of trays.

So on this Friday I wanted to post a few Christmassy type photos and send wishes of peace and joy across the globe; and share a few photos from my morning walk.

Some iPhone photos of a Christmas tree in City Hall Square in Brisbane - naked and altered; and my own little tree made of anodised aluminium leaves - altered.

Barry Smith © Altered detail of the Christmas tree

Barry Smith © Christmas tree in city square Brisbane

Barry Smith © Christmas tree in city square Brisbane - altered

Barry Smith © Altered leaf Christmas tree 1

Barry Smith © Altered leaf Christmas tree 2

And some photos from this morning's walk - after over night rain.

Barry Smith © Cluster of micro fungi

Barry Smith © Garden escapees on the roadside

Barry Smith © Jacaranda blossoms on the road

Barry Smith © Fungi on Pine tree

Barry Smith © Tiny tendrils on pine bark 

Barry Smith © Rose on our block

Barry Smith © After the rain - droplets on petals

We have had some persistent rain showers today. Hope it fines up for the Neighbourhood Centre's Community Christmas breakfast on Sunday.

Wishing all a happy, safe, joy-filled and peace-filled Christmas.


And for those who haven't seen it there is still a little time to take part in the 400th post giveaway that will be draw on Christmas Day.

Yee-hah!! what a gift - peace

The mail delivery contained a special package for me - a gift from SooZeQue - junk 'resurrectionist' extraordinaire. As you can see from the photo below the package contained two of my favourite things: rust and peace. I was veerrry excited when I opened the package.

Barry Smith  Rusted on Peace by SooZeQue

When I looked at this beautiful and generous gift the thought that jumped into my mind, apart from thanks Soozeque, was that this piece could be called Rusted on Peace as in  - the aspiration and actions for peace just won't go away. And thanks SZQ - this piece of art will find a home on a 'timber monolith' (my new name for my 'timber and rust posts') on our block.

And of course given the generosity of artists there was more. A pure copper peace symbol that will patina beautifully.

Some of SZQ's special historic railway nails.

And copper offcuts including this one with rainbow edges.

SZQ - thanks for the gift of peace - may it be something we all attempt to attain and share. Rust lovers and recyclers will find SZQ's blog and website an inspiration - I love the creativity of the resurrected shovels and barrows; but also just love the rusted pick-up trucks etc.

Early Christmas celebration

Fiona and I have just returned from 'the city' (Brisbane) where we went to celebrate (yesterday) her mum and dad's 50th wedding anniversary; and celebrate Christmas (today) with her family since every one was in Brisbane.

Of course too much rich food was eaten; but both events were great celebrations - a peaceful sense of gathering and sharing at both events.

As part of the Christmas get together there was a sharing of gifts. I received books and vouchers that I expressed an interest in including a voucher from Fiona for guitar lessons. To supplement Fiona's gift voucher I made the simple earrings below - I was aiming to create layers, classic lines and keep them light.  Polishing the tiny plates of thin metal and hammering rivets close together was a challenge for my not so delicate fingers.

I think they have worked; they look good on Fiona; they were a surprise; she did say she liked them; and she lent them to me so I could photograph them for this post.

Barry Smith @ Earrings for Fiona - former life backpack sprayer and jardiniere

Barry Smith @ Earrings for Fiona - former life backpack sprayer and jardiniere

Fiona has posted on our Christmas tree; but I wanted to share a few photo of the shadow of one of the paper hearts that I have given the app treatment resulting in some Christmassy colours

Barry Smith © Shadow of a paper heart

Barry Smith © Altering Shadow of a paper heart 1.

Barry Smith © Altering Shadow of a paper heart 2.

Barry Smith © Altering Shadow of a paper heart 3.

Barry Smith © Altering Shadow of a paper heart 4.

I was interested to find that as I did progressive treatments of each emerging altered photo - it resulted in a movement of the heart from shadow to light, to dark and then back to white again. Hopefully we can aspire to white and peaceful hearts for Christmas.

And if you haven't had the opportunity to check out my 400th post giveaway there is still time.