Saturday, June 5, 2010

(Day 156) Nelly at her best

It was another demolition day today. Fortunately my son and I had extra help, and good progress was made. I was again recording a few scenes so that once everything is rebuilt and modernized and we're sitting in the new kitchen, we can look at these photos and make statements like "Wow, I can't believe it looked like this only a few weeks ago!" and "Do you remember how sore we were after that day!" While I'm making a few photos, however, I'm also cognizant of the fact that I need a photo to post. So as I walked to the rear of my son's property to capture the growing mountain of old lath and assorted pieces of lumber (destined for the area's hugest bonfire soon), I spied Nelly at her best, up against her trellis.

(60mm  f8  1/60 sec  ISO200)
















(60mm  f4  1/150 sec  ISO200)
















And I thought I'd give you a small view of how the demolition is going. This was taken from the living room looking into the kitchen through an opening which used to house a dishwasher - yes, the walls and ceiling are all lath and plaster. The demolition rhythm is 'tear and clean up, tear and clean up ...'.
(18-55mm  f4  1/10 sec  ISO200)

25 comments:

Scott Law said...

Oh boy. That demolition brings back memories from just a couple years ago when I tore our kitchen out and fixed it up. Fortunately I didn't have to deal with lath and plaster and possibly lead paint???? I hope you're wearing good masks. I can't wait to see the finished product. Oh and Nelly is gorgeous.

Katherine said...

Oh my goodness.. you really are demolishing the place aren't you!! That's a lot of sweat, a lot of sore muscles, a lot of sore backs & a lot of very hard work. Looks to me like a tornado spun through the center of the house... Watch out it's Tornado Rick ...with a camera, Of course!!!
Well Nelly posed quite nicely for you didn't she... she is quite a beautiful blossom that is for sure ... so pretty! Does she have a fragrance?

Rick said...

@Scott - yes, the lath and plaster is a real treat - kicks up a huge amount of dust. We are wearing masks although in the heat they become somewhat uncomfortable. Haven't removed much lumber with paint on it, but the walls were covered with many layers of (really) old wallpaper. Glad you liked Nelly - she really caught my eye. Thanks for stopping by.

Rick said...

@Katherine - yes, you could say we're on a tear! Tonight my legs are aching - was on a ladder most of the day - I think the end is in sight. We did have the right kind of help today - more people with strong backs and weak minds :-)

As for Nelly, no she doesn't have much fragrance, but she makes up for it with her looks.

Dagmar said...

Holy crap....what a mess. But after the rain sunshine will come. Keep up the good work.

Love these flowers have them too but nearly can't take a good picture of them as you did. My old lenses won't focus that great. Sigh...lovely.

Oh and your Sasha is a beauty. Never saw a dog like that. Thanks for sharing.
Hugs D.

Anonymous said...

Awesome awesome shots!!
Your demolition shot is even awesome!

['รด ] Avery

bonifer said...

Beautiful flower,Rick ! The color is gorgeous.
Can only imagine how tired you fellows are at the end of the day, but it will be so worth it !!

S. Etole said...

Beauty caught ... amidst weary limbs.

darlin said...

Wow! Now that's some immense change going on there, no wonder you're muscles are feeling it! I sure hope to see the "after" photo. I love the before and after shots, it creates such a feeling of accomplishment!

Lovely flower, great shots of it. You really should consider becoming a professional photographer, if you don't already sideline! Your photos are amazing Rick!

Anonymous said...

That's one beautiful photo of a demolition and its nice having remembrance of the past.

You know, I took a photo of the same flower today, but didn't like it because I only had one angle to choose from and it was from the top. So, the photo was just ordinarily flat.

I love your photos though, look really lively and very colorful.

Unknown said...

Nelly is one of the most beautiful flowers EVER! You picked the perfect DOF on both of those shots. I love the clarity of the second and the shallow focus of the first.

Demo... WOH! You guys are quite a team. I bet there will be plenty of great memories from this project. AFTER it's done. ;o)

imac said...

What a beauty of a flower.
Rick, thats a shell,lol, some work there, and still to do, I expect soon all will be seen finished.

Rick said...

@Barefoot from Heaven - well we got that mess cleaned up but we still have the bathroom upstairs to do, and now my son has decided that the living room may as well be done too!

I took those with my 60mm macro lens - one of my favourites.

Sasha is a samoyed - very gentle; lots of fur (2 layers, which insulate both in cold and heat). My other sweetheart ;)

Rick said...

@Photog Ave - thank you Avery!

Rick said...

@bonifer - yes, we were pretty bagged by the end of the day. Thanks for your kind comments.

Rick said...

@S. Etole - thank you Susan! (recovered by today)

Rick said...

@darlin - I worked on a step ladder most of the day - my calves were yelling at me last night! :0) I'll be sure to post an 'after' shot, or 2 - hopefully before Christmas :-)

Thanks for the nice compliment - I'm just doing it for my enjoyment; haven't given photography for 'work' much thought actually - I think I still have a lot to learn.

Enjoy your Sunday.

Rick said...

@M. Hassan - thank you M; maybe you'll get another chance to shoot it elsewhere and have better luck. Good shooting this week.

Rick said...

@Krista - thank you Krista; sometimes the shots just come easily, other times it's more work - Nelly was very cooperative! ;-)

My son and I decided yesterday that a career in demolition was definitely NOT in the cards for us! It's looking forward to having those great memories that's keeping us motivated (of course, swinging a sledgehammer through a wall ON PURPOSE can be fun and motivating too :)

Rick said...

@imac - thanks mac; still some more demo left and then the renovation starts. My son is a kitchen/bathroom designer and has designed their dream kitchen - someone else will be building and installing it though. 'Soon' can't come soon enough for his wife!

Polly said...

my favourite theme - flowers and what a beauty you captured here. Love the top one very much

J.J.S. said...

Nelly is hot !

Rick said...

@lavender lady - thank you; I agree, and spring time brings such an abundance!

Rick said...

@J.J.S. - ha ha, thanks Joel!

Rick said...

@chasity - first dumpster has already been filled, on to the 2nd :( Yep - couldn't do it without masks - what a pile of dust!

Thanks Chasity - she was there for the taking :)