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Sculpture by local Pinellas artist Joyce Curvin. The cap reveals Fido’s thoughts at any given moment. As well as ‘Nap’, these thoughts comprise ‘Eat’, ‘Out’, ‘Sniff’, ‘Scratch’, ‘Treat’. And that’s it…a dog’s life in a nutshell. Our real-life Izzy happily confirms that. She could add ‘Beg’ to this list.
LOVE the new hexagon background! Blogged here scrappinnavywife.blogspot.com/2013/01/thinking-of-you.html
What is at the heart of a relationship between a magician and his audience?
It's a strange chemistry and, since it's one of the things I do for a living, I spend a lot of time thinking about it.
The magician says "I'd like to show you something that will amaze you, something that breaks the rules of this world. C'mon. Give me a minute. Come over here. Stand by me and have a look at something cool."
The audience says: "Sure. Try. I dare you. I'll give you a minute...maybe two. But you better make me laugh...and I had better not see you mess up. If you do it well, I'll reward you with applause and respect. If you blow it..."
It's a dance I have done thousands of times...and it's based on a strange unspoken agreement between performer and audience.
We all know it's a "trick," right? We know things don't actually float in midair without a little help.
We all know I can't actually read your mind -- and that cards never EVER get torn up and put back together again. It only looks that way. See? Magic!
Most impossible things start with the "magician" sitting alone with instructions on his lap, reading through them carefully, line by line, disciplining his body and his mind to do it perfectly.
Sometimes these instructions are badly written, and the would-be mage looks at the words, looks at the prop and then back at the words again saying a very un-Houdidni like "HUH?"
This strange discipline...along with bits of string and tape and tissue and the other things you don't see are the real stuff of magic. It's fragile as gossamer but it must roll confidently along even through the performer is tapdancing on a high wire and there's no net.
The longer I do this, the more interested I am in the people. I watch them carefully, without looking like I'm watching, trying to pinpoint when they're interested, and when they're not -- what makes them laugh and what makes their eyes widen in surprise.
It's always about the timing and entertaining them. The effect is just the icing on a carefully created cake.
And the most interesting thing of all: I am doing exactly what magicians for centuries have done because (if they know what they're doing) it's always completely and totally about the audience and that strange power THEY have to make or break some guy stalking them with a deck of cards or an elegant man in a tuxedo or (in my case) a southern gambler stepping out of the 1800's.
This performer was at the Maryland Renaissance festival. He was standing by himself, desperately trying to attract a crowd.
I know exactly how he felt.
So this is the image of that seduction that takes place dozens of times an hour between the magician...and his audience.
Can you hear the music?
Thanks once again to Peter, Cheryl, Elie and the delightful Mr. J for taking us to this enchanted place. We miss you guys.
his morning I was on my way to Howth when a nice Chinese lady, thinking that I was a press photographer, invited me to photograph the official Chinese delegation so took the opportunity even though I did not have an ideal lens [my fall-back excuse for not being a good portrait photographer].
A delegation from the Shanghai Metro were in Connolly Station this morning as the two-week-long tribute to Chinese poetry was launched. The China Cheongsam Association of Ireland performed traditional Chinese music and dance on platform four from 11am, and there was some Chinese cuisine samples for passengers who got there early as i was planning to have lunch in Howth I did not try the food.
Last year Chinese commuters in the city of Shanghai were treated to the poetry of W.B. Yeats as they travelled on board the local Metro service and as they passed through various stations as part of the Yeats 2015 celebrations. This year CIE will continue the relationship by displaying famous Chinese poems on board the DART and at Stations during February to mark Chinese New Year.
The poems will be displayed in Chinese and English.
Vivitar Ultra Wide & Slim + Cross Processed Expired Kodak Elite Chrome 100. No post processing. Took a bit of convincing to get the lab to xpro it. Next time I think I'll take a waver saying "yes, I know its the wrong chemical and yes, I know the colours won't turn out right >:O" .
I was just thinking about turning around and continuing with my walk but there most certainly was a little bit of rain beginning to fall ... so I began walking a little faster and just made it home!!
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Stay Safe and Healthy Everyone!
Thanks to everyone who views this photo, adds a note, leaves a comment and of course BIG thanks to anyone who chooses to favourite my photo .... Thanks to you all!