Jack, that is one fantastic photo..... I would love to have the full size version if you have time to e-mail?  Think that head shot you posted "over yonder" would be the first painting I do in a long time, if you don't mind.  His eyes seem to speak... even the rock they are laying on is interesting texture.  The more I look at it the more I appreciate the whole photo, their bodies are posed & background more like out in the real jungle/woods.  Look at the size of her paws..... she could hunt if she had to!

Jean and Shirley thanks.   There was a large pit in front of them, hope it is big enough.  Shirley the email is on the way.

Shirley, I always like to read your comments about pictures because you see things I don't and I always have to go back to the picture to see what you see.  Obviously, I am not artistic, at least not in the same way you are.  I don't know that he had a critic's eye, but Norm did some painting.  In fact, my dad did too; he liked to take pictures from Arizona Highways and paint them.  He also would go out on the front lawn of my cottage and paint the views he saw.  The talent just did not go my way.  But I followed both parents with knitting, crocheting and tatting.  So all was not lost.

Mary Ann

Jack, what a wonderful picture of the lions.  Peaceful photo

Looked like that Lion was just staring right at you. I often think when animals are just staring like that. Just what are they thinking about. No one will ever know. This would really be a good one to paint if painting is your thing. Far as I can go is doing the "Grownups Colouring " the books that became so popular last year. Not touched it this summer. To hot to want to do anything

Thanks for the kind words, Mary Ann, and I do believe most people that appreciate good photos are every bit as "artistic" as the people that paint.  Difference being that to paint you have to notice every direction of fur change and every other detail because that brush can't paint what your eyes don't see.  Artists "think" a brush stroke and slight changes of colors.  Jack composes his pictures in the camera.... I see my photos and make changes on canvas.  I am a firm believer that anyone that really wants to paint could do a better job than I do if they had the same exposure to "how to" that I did during my lifetime.  I wish there was a way to show how simple it is to paint, starting is the hard part but not once you know how.  True!

Jack, that looks like maybe a little older lion, you think?  His eyes seem to say, "life isn't too bad in here, I don't have to fight or hunt, large enough space to not have to look at bars.... "  He seems at peace with his world, I think. Guess that is what I like about the photo so much.  I'll go check mail..... thanks again.

Shirley from his looks I do not think he was interested in a conversation.  Believe he did not want to be bothered, and how I would do for dinner.

I think the lion was saying, "don't come any closer, or I'll get up".

Mary Ann

Looks like we all had a different impression of his expression..... like Mona Lisa....

No pic in mail, Jack....  no pressure....         

Radar starting to light up with yellow & red.... better walk the cats to the river & back up before it gets near Wichita.  It got hotter than predicted.

Shirley, I saw this in my weekly email from the Art Tutor. It was certainly fortuitous! 

https://www.arttutor.com/blog/201708/how-paint-male-lion-acrylics


For anyone wanting to paint, this is a good source for tips and advice.

Pat that is a great link, but I will pass.   Hope Shirley will post her painting of the lions.  Shirley, I no longer have it but how about posting the photo of the old farmhouse you once did.

Here is another photo taken the same day, not as good, believe the Tiger thought he was hiding in those weeds.

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Statue of children, on a street corner in town

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and at a different angle

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What a wonderful street decoration, Bubble! 

Bubble, that is a pleasure to view.

Jack & Bubble, great photos!

Ditto!!

Oh what a beauty!  I never saw one with those two hues together.  It looks like there is a baby one growing in the middle.

Sato, have you checked our new discussion: Show Me A Photo Of...  , just under this discussion?

Bubble...
...your " street corner " statues sure make an impact...I am assuming they are bronze, at least the arms and legs? not sure what the grey colour is...

Sato...
...your Japanese Iris is pretty, they do come in an array of assorted mixed colours, below are our British Iris's...Ha ha, you will never forget how to " post a photo, " as the saying goes..." its like riding a bike..." it will soon all come back to you...


https://www.britishirissociety.org.uk/iris-guide/

Sato and Jackie, love the flowers, nice start for my morning.

Busy morning of looking!  Nice shot of the tiger, Jack.... but still think the lion's eyes are telling a story. 

Bubble, such interesting sights on your streets!  Must have a strong rod built into that limb the girl is sitting on.  Looks like the children are a little larger than "life size".   I know we have some sculptures in downtown Wichita, friend & I went down early one morning to look for street scenes to paint.  Don't think either of us ever used any of our photos, but did see sculptures that had been added since we used to do art shows in one of the bank buildings years before. 

I'm off to meet the same friend to visit the Indian Center today.  I will take a camera, not sure if is allowed inside but will look for something to share with y'all. 

Jack, I did get prints made.... didn't know the machines could print 8x12 instead of 8x10.... so didn't have to lose any of the length of the animals.  It printed on a larger sheet of paper so need to trim about 2" off the bottom... paper must be 10x12.  These are new photo machines with about double the colors from the old ones, so good prints.  Thanks, Jack!

Sato, beautiful flowers, always such dramatic light on dark backgrounds.  Glad to see you and your lovely wife's work and that you are feeling up to posting.  Great job!

I'd better get busy, not much sleep last night with cats wanting in & out every hour.  Price I pay to have the bedroom sliding door open, they think it is an invitation to check in for a snack all night, but I love turning off the AC and breathing fresh air all night. 

Sato, so glad to see you posting.  Both you and your wife do such wonderful flower photography.  Every flower is so special.

Enjoy all the photos .

Sato, such lovely flowers! We have both the Bearded and Siberian iris here, both wild and cultivated. But the wild ones are usually growing amidst tall grasses so it is hard to get a good photo. Yours are lovely!

Jackie, thanks for the link! It's how I identified the ones we have here but the wild ones seem to be Siberian.

Anymore, I do more flower and cloud photos. I have been known to go to an event in one of our local parks and return with only cloud and flower photos and none of the events!

Patricia, my favorites also are clouds, flowers, landscape and of course pets.

This is my favorite cloud photo taken at sunset a few years ago.  I call it Passing Angel.

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Jack, I remember that amazing one! Here are three photos from other photographers that Bubble sent me today.


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Beautiful photos of clouds, love to watch them drift by.   One more of mine, and I added a short clip of a Hymn we sing at Funeral Mass.

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Fascinating cloud formations...especially the Eagle and the Angel...

I do like clouds, I think it's because I live near the foothills and am able to watch them seemingly move up and over the ridges and onto our skies. I think those photos from Bubble were mainly from the National Geographic. Jack, lovely photo and hymn!