Underwater snaps at Whytecliff Park
Last night I took my camera down bubble with me and some buddies on a club dive. Our goals were varied but our aim simple: take great photos.
My personal goal from the evening was to try take shots from various angles, rather than just from above- as directly above shots tend to be flat, uninteresting and far from flattering to those fabulous ocean creatures.
I had some trouble with my lighting at the start of the dive, and with our dive being so short, I didn't get many good pictures (I know, excuses, excuses) but I had a great time with lots of laughs. Some laughs curtesy of the critters- especially the crabs and squat lobsters and also my dive buddies.
I don't know what it is about these squat lobsters! They are so hilarious. I think it's the peace fingers.
I don't know what it is about Jonathans! They are also hilarious. I think it's the kelp in their mouths.
This one was my most difficult shot of the evening. I'm not terribly fond of ling cod, but since I had a goal and since this one was a baby and not as likely to side swipe me, I got down below it, got in its face, as close as I dared and snapped this shot. This was a big moment for me, I felt like a Magnum photographer in the field.
Then after my harrowing experience with the ling cod (it didn't even move) I took an easier assignment and got some various angles with the always lovely plumose anemones.
I was trying to get a shot of this tube- dwelling anemone just as my buddy kicked up all the silt around it. Look at that photo journalism! I captured every moment of the silt storm!
And a great time was had by all. Especially the hermit crabs. This guy tucked into his shell and rolled down the wall in what I'm sure was a fun game, to impress the land dwellers.
Posted with BlogsyDecoys
They all found out, much too late, that the joke was on them. Their plotting was in vain as their wooden bodies bobbed in synch, paint chipping as they leaned in each other for support.
Fish
I concocted these little fish a couple of weeks ago using ink, shiny pigment powders and thread.
Each day the little guy middle right with the nice smile has been inching his way out of this situation.
I wonder where he’s swimming off to. Somewhere sunny I hope!
Lovemountain Press
I’ve put the Amy Gillian Etsy shop on a bit of a hiatus while focusing on my new shop, Lovemountain Press. I have listed some of my prints on the shop and will also be printing editions of handpulled prints for artists! email me for details about your project, I would love to collaborate with you and print your very own edition of fine art images for you to distribute/ sell. amy@amygillian.com
MOMAR only wants me for my body. I’m a person too! With feelings! And options! Today my body mutinied again. My ankles really hurt and people keep telling me I look like a zombie but I was determined, by gum, to at least go to Crossfit. Half asleep and precariously balancing dishes in a complicated architectural design, I dropped a plate and my resolve to do anything shattered like the porcelain that went north, south east, west south west and and just straight up everywhere. I couldn’t even cry which is my default response for every situation.
So I’m taking a nap. I think naps are the epitome of luxury. I’ve got stuff to do. I’ve got this ball and chain who keeps making me run up and down hills and obsess about muscles and chaffing and what flavor of electrolytes and how to face the world when my eyelids aren’t cooperating. Here I am, however, having a mini holiday from being conscious.
Reading what I’ve just written I see I need to tack another couple of hours onto my sleep schedule. If it were that easy. Those Downton Abbey DVDs aren’t going to watch themselves.
Reading what I have just written I see I need to adjust my priorities. Does that mean I have to eat, breathe, sleep adventure race? Do people live this way when they take these things SERIOUSLY? My goal in this thing is more journalistic. I want to share this experience with you so you don’t have to sign up for a race in the middle of the night and proceed to put your whole life on hold until the race is over. I’m doing this for you dammnit. For you! And where’s the gratitude? Am I getting paid? No. Am I getting foot rubs? No. Thanks.
Speaking of being unreasonably angry, my race partner and I had the biggest fight we’ve ever had yesterday after a practice orienteering run. He’s type A, and I’m type survive. I am the one who’s more relaxed for a change. I’m not as fast and I have a different approach to orienteering (stop to desperately pant for breath, wait for eyeballs to pop back in sockets and read the map carefully. His approach is RUNLIKEABATOUTOFHELL and BEATEVERYBODY because ICAN’THELPMYSELF. I knew that it was fatigue and hunger talking yesterday during our ridiculous fight but we were so swept up in fury and I wonder if fists will be drawn at hour 6 of the race. Oh you lucky readers, stay tuned!
Orienteering
It’s running, but for nerdy people. “Why just run?”
Beginner trail running haiku
Red ankles on ice
A delicacy most foul
To run is to wail
amygillian 