Magic Glasses

Photos: January 2, 2013

Some years ago a friend brought me one pair of these glasses. When you look at lights through them, each light takes on the shape the glasses make - in the case of the first pair I received, the 6 pointed star. I loved them and found where to purchase more. I got ones with a four point star, snowflakes, an angel...) On a whim, I took them out and looked at my new view at night with the glasses



This photograph doesn't quite do it justice (no tripod, through a window...) but you can get the idea. The most fun came when cars drove by. The headlights took on the star shape which then moved along the street. These glasses now sit on my window ledge.  I love to surprise guests with the way they transform my night-time view. And yes - I, too, enjoy the sense of whimsy they bring to me.

New Icebergs

New Icebergs, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Adventure Canada trip July 23 - August 2

Ilulisaat

A walk around town - it felt deserted at 8:30 on a Sunday morning. We went into a gift shop but goods are very expensive – they had hats made of muskox wool that were hundreds of dollars. It is the softest wool I have ever felt – softer than angora.

Ilulisaat

At 10:00 we joined the hiking group – through town, past an area with many dogs tied up, some with puppies. There were sleds scattered around as well. Uphill some more and past a camp ground.

By now we were on a long boardwalk over terrain that was at times boggy and at times dry – with the same cushiony grass. We turned a corner and saw huge icebergs in the bay framed by hills with a grassy meadow leading up to it. Incredible! This is where the icebergs start – calving from the large glacier.

We saw more evidence of sod houses and were told that in a nearby bay people had lived in sod houses until the early 20th century.

We hiked up a rocky hill and were able to look over the edge of the glacier from which the icebergs calve. A hike back the way we came and then onto the ship where we ate our bag lunch on the deck.

Then onto the zodiacs for a trip through the icebergs – awe inspiring – no words as we slowly floated by ice towers shining in the brilliant sun.

More photos - click here

Jan 8/10: Focus

Jan 8/10: Focus, originally uploaded by susanvg.

While glasses help to focus my eyes, it takes more than glasses to focus my mind. Since I started taking photographs regularly my eyes have been focused on seeing things differently. I notice more and look longer.

When I was teaching my mind would be focused on particular topics the students were studying. All of a sudden I would notice in reading, in the world around me, ideas and objects related to them. One year the grade five class was studying the Middle Ages. On a trip to England all I saw were gargoyles, old churches, winding streets that were laid out so long ago. My photographs reflected this focus and I happily shared them with my students.

My mind's focus changes as I read, listen to music, work and talk with friends. Each of these activities can lead me off into unexpected tangents as curiosity gets piqued and I have new ideas to explore.