All posts tagged: photography

An old question from a Heroes Convention: If you could be any villain, who would it be, and why? 

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In anticipation of conventions returning to North Carolina this summer, I’m revisiting an old post from 2017’s Heroes Convention in Charlotte. I would also like to revisit a question I posed when it was originally published: If you could be any villain, who would it be, and why? Keep in mind that isn’t the same as asking who your favorite villain is. As one panelist from the 2017 con, Dr. Michael Critzer, pointed out, “I love Darth Vader, but being Darth Vader would suck.” I would have chosen Alice from the BBC show Luther in 2017. I might have to reconsider my choice though, as Alice got a lot less likable in the final season of the show in 2019. Perhaps Dr. Hannibal Lecter from Silence of the Lambs would be a good choice. ******** Last weekend I attended the Heroes Convention here in Charlotte, NC. I’m just starting to get into reading comics and graphic novels, so I wasn’t originally planning on attending. However, I lucked into free tickets at the last minute, so …

Cabin Fever

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I didn’t notice this taxidermized squirrel tucked behind the woodwork of the pub style bar in a cabin rented with my husband and sister until the second day of our stay. I had a real moment of panic that we had a live squirrel stuck in the basement pool room before I realized it was fortunately not alive.

Exploring Otter Falls in Seven Devils

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When my husband and I approached the start of the trail that takes visitors to Otter Falls, we encounters a mother and her daughter at the end of their hike, huffing and out of breath. “Have you been before?” the mother asked. “No,” we answered. “Its definitely worth it!” she assured us. Given that the trail is under a mile long, her reassurances seemed strange, until we realized how steep the drop in elevation to reach the falls actually was. She was right though, it was worth it.

May Mood Board and Writing Prompts

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When I was college, May was that magical month in Massachusetts where sunny days start to outnumber rainy ones, and the weather is consistently warm enough to spread out blankets and lounge outside. Some overly ambitious students would drag entire couches outside to study on. When rainy days did come, they were warm and gentle, unlike the cold and raw rainy days in March and April. Living in North Carolina now, May is the month when flowers start to bloom in full. It also becomes necessary to keep an eye out for snakes, also emerging with the warmer weather. May Writing Prompts: Moon gardenIvyA rustle of feathersWarm rainSerpentsTell me the wayA longing gazeWild womenDancing at sunrise

Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden (Chinese Lantern Festival)

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I’ve visited the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden many times to escape into it’s captivating displays of exotic flowers and soothing water features, but this visit in 2017 is one of my favorites. A special collection of Chinese Lanterns was layered in between the flowers and foliage, creating a whimsical and colorful atmosphere. The lanterns were created in Zigong China,where the tradition of lantern festivals was born, and then carefully transported to North Carolina for display. Along with traditional silk lanterns, the collection also featured elaborate elephant statues constructed from Chinese teacups, and a peacock sculpture constructed from recycled pill bottles filled with colored water. Visit my instagram feed (everyday.strange) to watch a video of its elaborate display in motion! Usually when I am snapping pictures at an event, I try to eliminate people from my shots as much as possible. This time however, I couldn’t help letting a few children slip into my photos. They definitely help capture the scale, whimsy, and humor in the lanterns shaped as all sorts of creatures, from snails to …

Last Normal Photo

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Like many others have, I went back through my phone’s camera roll to find my own “last normal photo” to commemorate the one year anniversary of the pandemic. It was taken February 15th, a mere month before North Carolina’s stay at home order. My sister took this quick snapshot while I was admiring hand painted furniture at the Oddities & Curiosities convention in Uptown Charlotte.