Circe Invidiosa V

The weather forecast for the day of the photography session was of overcast sky with a chance of rain.  I didn't mind the overcast part of the forecast.  Rain is something we didn't and still don't need here in the Delaware Valley.  This August was the wettest in history with hurricane Irene dumping 5.75" of rain on Aug 27 and 28.  Besides, rain would ruin my day.

Flooding in Manayunk neighborhood of Philadelphia

Actually, an overcast sky is desirable for this location.  The scene I chose for the Circe Invidiosa images was in direct sunlight.  With no overhanging tree branches or a nearby building to hide under or behind, the bright sunlight would be harsh.  An overcast sky will create a soft light because of the large area of clouds lit by the sun.  Light from a large close light source wraps around an object and fills in deep shadows.  Thereby, producing lower contrast ration between the highlights and shadows(the origin of the term soft light).  A clear sky would produce very hard lighting.  This kind of light source produces high contrast ratio between the highlights and shadows(the origin of the term hard light) and specular highlights.  So an overcast sky would be good but, no rain.

In correspondence with Mana, we agreed to meet at Appleford at 11:00.  I paced my day to meet our schedule.  I stopped at Panera Bread for a ham and swiss souffle, a chocolate pastry and large cup of coffee, which I ate and drank as I drove.  (As I sit here and think back, I took a dangerous risk!  I could have spilled my coffee.)  Upon my arrival at Appleford near 11:00, I immediately brushed the pastry crumbs from my shirt front and began to unload my car and set up the first scene.  The sky was overcast with the humidity rising towards an uncomfortable level.  A level when beads of perspiration spontaneously arise from my pores, congregate in large drops then drip down my forehead, nose, forearms and spine.  Not good when wearing eyeglasses.  Good thing I had my contact lenses in.  I walked the props, light stand and reflector over to the scene.  A few 100 yard round trips and my forearms and forehead glistened with non-specular highlights.  I placed the Lemon-Lime unsweetened Kool-Aid and water mixtures in sealed reused 2L Coke and Sprite bottles on the ground near the IKEA bowl and carafe, shear polyester silky chiton that was fused together with black Stitch Witchery and a Harry Potter magic wand pen(to be used to enchant the lemon-lime liquid).

Stitch Witchery

I have carried a large handkerchief, sometimes called a bandana, for most of my life.  I guess it is my working class origins or my 34 year job in construction.  Whatever the reason, it comes in handy for many purposes including, the then needed, mopping of the brow.  (Though I was wearing contacts, sweat still stings the eyes.)  It can also be used for wiping dirt and blood from your arms.  Even if you are not working at a construction job.

In any event, I now waited for Mana.  I took the time to wander the grounds looking for other scenes to use that day.  I noticed large quantities of frogs, tadpoles, gold fish and minnows in the water.  I heard finches, chickadees, cardinals, titmice, robins, blue jays, cat birds and I even spooked a blue heron from the lower pond.   As I walked about glistening and listening, I noticed not one other person enjoying the beautiful jewel that is Appleford.  Such a shame.  I found several scenes and moved some garden furniture to suit my needs.  The day looked promising.  All seemed to be going well and I hoped nothing would ruin my day.

Irene Moving Out

Immediately upon awakening I went to my bedroom window to assess the damage from last nights storm.  A few branches down but no trees.  More importantly, the electricity was never interrupted.  I did the rounds of all the second floor windows and saw about the same.  There is significant water puddled or shall I say ponding in the rear of my backyard.  My neighbor's yard, to my NE, has ponds where water usually never stands.  The fact that the two large trees within 10 feet of my house did not fall on my house has my nerves calmed quite a bit.

This is the rear of my house from the rear of my backyard.  The large trees can be seen on the left of the house.

Irene has Arrived

I write this entry just arriving upstairs from shelter in our basement due to a tornado warning.  This is the first time in my 60 years living in the Philadelphia area that I have ever even thought of taking shelter from a tornado.  Don't get me wrong this area has seen some tornados. A tornado hit in Limerick, PA July 24, 1994 not far from my present suburban home.  That destructive tornado took the lives of a young family and destroyed many a home on that street.  There was another that reportedly lifted a telephone booth (remember them?) along with someone talking on the telephone and set down both the booth and the person across the street.  This happened within the limits of center city, amongst those narrow streets and tall buildings.  Tornadoes rarely happen here.


From my bedroom, I continue to hear tornado warnings on TV.  The Governor of Delaware suggests that all Delaware residents sleep in their basements tonight.  Unthinkable for this area.  Toto, are we in Kansas?  If we are to sleep in the basement tonight, I will need to straighten up down there.  Could be that by the time I am finished, it may be morning.  Looks like a big job ahead of me.  I might not be getting any sleep at all tonight.  I hope the electricity isn't interrupted by a fallen tree.  If the electricity is interrupted the basement may flood because the sump pump won't have power.  It won't be a bad idea if we make ourselves comfortable in some large RubberMaid totes tonight.

Local TV coverage of hurricane Irene

Circe Invidiosa

Today I visited IKEA and purchased a hand blown bowl and a carafe to use in my Circe Invidiosa project.  (I can visualize the green liquid pouring into the pond now)

I also learned, later this evening, that a threat of a huge hurricane hitting the area.  Last year when I visited the photography location, it was after a heavy rain.  The grass was combed downhill, covered with debris and the grounds were muddy.  In that conditon, unusable for the photography session.  If hurricane Irene comes through over Sat-Sun, the grounds will not have time to recover from the rain.  Only to add to my worries, there is the matter of whether the model will show.  I may have to postpone this project as I did my Equality project.   DAMN!  All I can do is hope for the best.

Imminent Hurricane Irene

The East Coast is preparing for the arrival of a hurricane, hurricane Irene.  Click here to see Irene's current status.  This morning I traveled to my mother's house in South Philly to help my brother clean the downspout opening on her flat roof.  (Leaves and seeds from the tree next door clog the opening and then leaks appear.)  I usually listen to NPR in the car and BBC is on from 09:00 - 10:00.  You know world news.  At 10:00 I had no idea Irene was headed as close to Philadelphia as it is now forecasted.  It wasn't until the evening news on TV that my wife made me aware of the panic from NC to Boston.  I should watch more TV.

Winter storms have a rule of thumb for supplies- for each 1" of snow forecast, you must purchase one gallon of milk and one loaf of bread.  I am not sure what is the hurricane supplies rule of thumb.  Could it be one gallon of water per person per day plus an electric generator for loss of electricity, plus a chain saw to cut the fallen trees, plus 10 pounds of ice to keep your refrigerated food cold longer plus batteries for your flashlights and radio, plus gasoline for your car, plus mops, buckets and sponges?  I should watch more TV news, I am sure they will tell me my needs.

Talk is of a cat 2 maybe cat 3 to hit us here in the Delaware Valley.  I will prepare for the worst and hope for the best.  What more can I do?  Stay thirsty my friends.

American Red Cross Hurricane Preparedness

"Mandatory evacuation of Okracoke Island, NC"

"Mandatory evacuation in Cape May County" 

"NYC to evacuate Lower Manhattan - Close Subway Sys"

How to prepare for a Natural Disaster- slideshow

Lowe's Hurricane Preparedness Guide