Variable Focus

The photos of 2009

2009-12-26T14:09:00.004-06:00

I have not been dutiful in updating this site, but 2009 was a busy year photographically. Here (in 11 minutes, 39 seconds) are some favorites:

Moving Day

2009-08-18T17:49:00.002-05:00

My daughter moved back to school and into her apartment on Sunday. Dad made photos to pass part of the time while she and her mother did the real work. Created this slideshow as a memory for her. Maybe she'll still have it 40 years from now.

(Notes: 1) There are no scenes of people carrying boxes, unpacking, setting up, etc. The participants specified that they should not appear in any of the photos, and I honored that request. 2) College apartments certainly looked different 40 years ago!)

Photos to oil paintings

2009-08-03T12:35:00.008-05:00

Recent photos -- with a software effect added by FotoSketcher.

(Click on any of these for a 1024x768 version that can be used as desktop wallpaper. Enjoy.)

This is a test

2009-03-10T21:24:00.011-05:00

Blog to be revived. More to come soon. Please check back.

Indian Lake

2008-10-13T10:20:00.009-05:00

Two views

2008-10-07T16:27:00.007-05:00

Sunday Afternoon

2008-09-15T18:49:00.002-05:00

Studying for Finals

2008-07-17T17:48:00.001-05:00

Art Show

2008-07-17T17:40:00.001-05:00

Hydrangea

2008-07-17T17:38:00.000-05:00

Rocking Chair

2008-07-17T17:33:00.001-05:00

Campus light

2008-01-28T21:26:00.001-06:00

Oak Mountain B&W

2007-11-06T22:11:00.001-06:00

Please click on photo for a larger view.

Oak Mountain

2007-10-30T19:35:00.000-05:00

Faulkner's Rowan Oak

2007-10-26T07:19:00.000-05:00

Click on any photograph for a larger view.

Exit

2007-09-30T16:33:00.001-05:00

Gameday

2007-09-11T13:03:00.000-05:00

Campus Views, Tuscaloosa

2007-08-15T16:57:00.000-05:00

In the Woods

2007-08-10T11:53:00.001-05:00

Click on any photograph for a larger view.

Backroad Scene

2007-07-31T18:24:00.000-05:00

Vintage Style

2007-07-10T17:54:00.000-05:00

Japanese Gardens II

2007-06-03T11:29:00.001-05:00

Japanese Gardens

2007-05-18T15:18:00.001-05:00

Click on any photograph for a larger view.

Dervish

2007-04-19T17:55:00.001-05:00

Enmeshed

2007-04-16T14:01:00.000-05:00

Click on photograph for a larger view.

Waiting (earlier)

2007-04-15T16:57:00.000-05:00

Echoes of Blue and Gray

2007-04-13T13:20:00.000-05:00

White Walls and Moon Discs

2007-04-07T23:09:00.000-05:00

Waiting

2007-04-04T17:59:00.000-05:00

Dogwood Blooms

2007-03-23T14:50:00.000-05:00

The Judge

2007-03-18T13:33:00.000-05:00

Through the digital lens

2007-03-14T18:14:00.000-05:00

Birmingham gardens, early March

2007-03-06T15:19:00.000-06:00

Winter Girls

2007-03-05T17:38:00.000-06:00

Rustic II

2007-03-02T10:24:00.000-06:00

Spring Preview

2007-02-23T12:05:00.000-06:00

Day and Night?

2007-02-21T07:39:00.000-06:00

Las Tiendas

2007-02-18T13:07:00.000-06:00

Faded the Color of Rose

2007-02-17T10:28:00.000-06:00

Apples

2007-02-16T16:26:00.000-06:00

A Year, and the Changes That Time Brings

2007-02-12T14:26:00.000-06:00

Today's entry is the 365th for this blog. At first Variable Focus contained news items, notable quotes, commentary and examples--all photo-related. During the course of the year, surprisingly, the photographs pushed all the other content to the sidelines. The blog became something originally not envisioned, a photo-a-day site.

Once that format became dominant, it fed on its own momentum. Photo-a-day efforts typically last for a year, and so, once the die was cast, it was resolved that the blog would continue in that way until the one-year milestone was reached. Not travel, not illness--nothing was allowed to intervene and block the daily posting of at least one photograph.

Now that year is complete. As with all years, whether counted by atomic clock, calendar days or moons, it came and went with an relentless inevitably that, when considered, can catch short the breath of even the most disciplined and persistent woman or man. Certainly it could have been a year done better. Just as certainly, it is final, its record there for anyone to review, day by day, and that, as they say, is that.

And so today the blog breaks free from a structure. One ending becomes another beginning. There will be more photos, but not one each day. There will be text again, and links, but not on a schedule. Variety will be invited to visit, and it will, but only when it will, and only of its own nature, not at the beckoning of anything other than nature, inclination and, occasionally, inspiration.

Around the U. S. in the second month of 2007, the days and nights are cold. However, the pitchers and catchers will report in a day or two. Daylight hours are lengthening. Spring will surprise us, maybe even startle us. One day it will not be here with us, and the next day we will say "Yes, there it is."

Concert, Brass and Woodwinds

2007-02-11T11:52:00.000-06:00

Old State Capitol & Reflection -- Springfield, Illinois

2007-02-10T11:27:00.000-06:00

Note: Unfortunately, blogging software causes compression artifacts. Click on each photograph for a better (and larger) view.

Ice Cold

2007-02-09T14:27:00.000-06:00

Feathered

2007-02-08T20:05:00.000-06:00

Browsing

2007-02-07T16:08:00.000-06:00

Tomes

2007-02-06T16:30:00.000-06:00

Neither Time Nor Distance...

2007-02-05T17:27:00.000-06:00

Click on any photograph for a larger view.

Candy Apple

2007-02-04T21:19:00.000-06:00

Walkway

2007-02-03T12:54:00.000-06:00

Neon Flower

2007-02-02T11:54:00.000-06:00

Workbench

2007-02-01T19:42:00.000-06:00

Illinois

2007-01-31T21:49:00.000-06:00

End of Day

2007-01-30T14:23:00.000-06:00

All others pay cash

2007-01-29T13:17:00.000-06:00

Wish for Luck

2007-01-28T15:24:00.000-06:00

Summer Dreams

2007-01-27T18:06:00.000-06:00

Listening

2007-01-26T13:40:00.000-06:00

Leaf with Background

2007-01-25T16:36:00.000-06:00

Behind the Ropes

2007-01-24T13:09:00.000-06:00

Click on any photograph for a larger view.

Dancer

2007-01-23T15:06:00.000-06:00

Runner

2007-01-22T18:17:00.000-06:00

Chicago Hilton and Towers

2007-01-21T18:20:00.000-06:00

Snow-like Petals

2007-01-20T09:36:00.000-06:00

The Couple

2007-01-19T16:43:00.000-06:00

Crossings

2007-01-18T16:23:00.000-06:00

Passing Parade

2007-01-17T17:58:00.000-06:00

Click on any photograph for a larger view.

Steel and Sky

2007-01-16T18:32:00.000-06:00

Canoe

2007-01-15T18:45:00.000-06:00

Onions

2007-01-14T11:04:00.000-06:00

Barn Window and Door

2007-01-13T18:13:00.000-06:00

The General Store

2007-01-12T08:28:00.000-06:00

Around the table

2007-01-11T17:31:00.000-06:00

Upstream

2007-01-10T13:50:00.000-06:00

Brick Streets, Brick Buildings

2007-01-09T15:13:00.000-06:00

Click on the photograph for a larger view.

Early Light

2007-01-08T15:04:00.000-06:00

Side Balcony

2007-01-07T11:57:00.000-06:00

City Ducks

2007-01-06T15:59:00.000-06:00

Click on the photograph for a larger view.

Up and Away

2007-01-05T13:19:00.000-06:00

Morning Window

2007-01-04T12:26:00.000-06:00

Looking Forward

2007-01-03T11:17:00.000-06:00

Click on any photograph for a larger view.

Dark Paddleboat and Pier

2007-01-02T15:09:00.000-06:00

Best of fortunes for all new years

2007-01-01T07:46:00.000-06:00

Click on the photograph for a larger view.

Full Circle

2006-12-31T13:08:00.000-06:00

Leaves, new and old

2006-12-30T10:40:00.000-06:00

Metal Leaf

2006-12-29T11:28:00.000-06:00

Lamp

2006-12-28T11:58:00.000-06:00

Click on any photograph for a larger view.

Gone Fishing

2006-12-27T12:54:00.000-06:00

Reflection

2006-12-26T15:50:00.000-06:00

Peace

2006-12-25T12:20:00.000-06:00

Click on the photograph for a larger view.

Frosty Morn

2006-12-24T10:06:00.000-06:00

Click on the photograph for a larger view.

Man on Bicycle, Winter

2006-12-23T15:54:00.000-06:00

Click on the photograph for a larger view.

A Narrow Gate

2006-12-22T13:14:00.000-06:00

Through a Fence

2006-12-21T16:38:00.000-06:00

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Contemplations in a Well-Lighted Place

2006-12-20T11:08:00.000-06:00

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Paddleboat

2006-12-19T16:26:00.000-06:00

The Is How Silence Looks

2006-12-18T11:42:00.000-06:00

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General Electric

2006-12-17T17:53:00.000-06:00

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Tracks

2006-12-16T10:04:00.000-06:00

The Last of the Leaves

2006-12-15T19:23:00.000-06:00

Click on any photograph for a larger view.