Baci di Dama at Piccolo Paradiso

These little Italian cookies from Caffé Piccolo Paradiso are delightfully photogenic. When I stop by for a Shot in the Dark or a Latte and a small plate of cookies I almost always end up taking pictures of them. I adore their petite shapes, their warm color and the elements of their texture, the way the light falls on them through the window as I sit in one of the front bays looking out onto the sidewalk.

Luckily they are marvelously rich and tasty too with just the right accent of chocolate. There are usually three varieties. At least one of them is called Baci di Dama, the one with the chocolate filling.

While enjoying cookies and coffee it is a treat to look around the small café at what has changed since my last visit; what new painting is on the wall, what new accessories accent the warm Italian décor.

Piccolo Paradiso is still one of my favorite area coffee shops. A stop by is the perfect practical antidote to the dreary weather that is so common to the Pacific Northwest. Stop by and see if you don’t agree.

Gallery Window

This window belonged to a gallery the last time I was in Paducah's Lowertown Arts District. I'll be in Paducah again soon. The soul has grown a little dusty and I am hoping for a bright shower while I am there.

In a Nutshell - Incense Cedar Pods

Sometimes I just can't decide.

Late last summer I sat on the deck in the corner of my backyard and examineed the interesting pods that rained down on it from our Incense Cedar tree. I had never seen pod shaped cones like those before. I liked the way they fanned and separated as they began to open and release their seeds.

Enjoying the sunshine on the deck I arranged them with other bits and pieces I found nearby, a small half shell from the bark around the deck, the husk of a pink peppercorn from my lunch, and began to take pictures.

So many turned out well. Finally I chose some favorites and made some adjustments. I tried a number of different filters and liked the results. I just can't decide which I like the best.


Can you?

Tiny Mushroom

Searching for treasures one afternoon I came across this tiny mushroom among the brown needles, twigs and leaves gathered beneath a tall old tree. In the midst of the debris it stood, blending yet standing proud, alone, apart.

I tried to capture the surprise, the sense that it was a rather unique and exquisite piece of my afternoon's small adventure.

In this treatment of the image the mushroom rises prominently in the foreground. A small dry leaf arches above its form and tiny twigs stretch well above its slight canopy. In the background the color and brightness of spring is evident but softly blurred deferring to the clarity of the dry brown details that welcomed this small wonder into being.

A simple filter and a little extra saturation gave the image a soft polish and a modest intensity to reflect the gentle care with which I hope to add it to my collection of simple treasures.

Searching for the Sun

One of the most wonderful things about pixography is that you can travel with a small camera, capture images almost anywhere, then later, in the digital darkroom, transform those images into something that reflects what you saw in the moment.

Take this flower for example. It is a beauty. I found it in a the cafe in Victoria, BC where I had stopped in with my family for a late breakfast. A beautiful day was unfolding when we followed our direction to The Heron Rock Bistro. At our booth in a dark corner in the back, nestled in a small glass vase, was this single flower.

After we ordered I passed the time making plans for the day and snapping images of this bold blossom resting casually in the simple vase. The table was slate gray, the wall was gray and a downlight shone brightly on the luscious curve of the flower's petals. I captured it from different angles as we waited.

Later, when I downloaded the images, this one stood out. There were shadows that offered depth and dimension and the contrast lent itself to mystery in the leaves arching upward in the background. The curve of the stem and the distortion of the clear glass of the vase subtly ground the flower and add personality.

I emphasized these features by boosting the contrast and saturation. The simple lines benefit from contouring and the texture of the flower itself, the center eye and outstretched petals, are amplified by an artistic filter. The result is a gorgeous portrait of a single blossom open, outstretched and searching for the sun.