Knotty Balls (Homophone & Homonym)

“The English language is like London: proudly barbaric yet deeply civilised, too, common yet royal, vulgar yet processional, sacred yet profane. Each sentence we produce, whether we know it or not, is a mongrel mouthful of Chaucerian, Shakespearean, Miltonic, Johnsonian, Dickensian and American. Military, naval, legal, corporate, criminal, jazz, rap and ghetto discourses are mingled at every turn. The French language, like Paris, has attempted, through its Academy, to retain its purity, to fight the advancing tides of Franglais and international prefabrication. English, by comparison, is a shameless whore.”
― Stephen Fry, The Ode Less Travelled: Unlocking the Poet Within

Disney fans: This photo was taken at Walt Disney World; do you know where these are?

“Knotty Balls”, Fujifilm X-T1, ISO 3200, f/7.1 at 1/125th sec., 83.3 mm

Happy Valentines Day!

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earl harris photography
Photographing people, places, pets and ponderings
throughout Central Florida.

Princess Leia, is that You?

“This is a war we know how to win. Keep fighting until you can no longer fight, then exhaust the enemy chasing you, and turn and fight some more. Keep fighting. I promise you, we will prevail.” ―Leia Organa Solo, to the citizens of Coruscant

When I first saw this grave ornament from a distance in Orlando’s Greenwood Cemetery, there was a subconscious flicker of recognition and a fraction of a second of mental processing that went something like this:
“Who is that? She’s got bun-like things on each side of her head… which means it could only be… Princess Leia? What Star Wars uber-fanatic is buried here? Oh… it’s flowers.”

“Leia in Waiting”, Nikon D700, ISO 200, f/5.0 at 1/1000th sec., 122mm

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Photographing people, places, pets and ponderings throughout Central Florida.

Angry Bird

“Television has done much for psychiatry by spreading information about it, as well as contributing to the need for it.”
— Alfred Hitchcock

Halloween is just over a week away, so today’s photo is another Halloween-themed desktop wallpaper. This wallpaper may appeal to those who are fans of Alfred Hitchcock and particularly his film, “The Birds”. The first time I watched the movie was with my parents when I was pretty young. At one point in the film, I was instructed to close my eyes or leave the room. Watching it again a few years later, I learned my parents had attempted to shield my young eyes from viewing a citizen of Bodega Bay being robbed of hers by angry birds. I will spare my younger sister any embarrassment that may be associated with revealing her particular issues with this classic film.

“The Birds” was the first horror movie I remember ever watching. What was yours?

You can download this free 2560×1600 HD wallpaper by reverse-clicking the image and choosing “Save Image…”

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Photographing people, places, pets and ponderings™
throughout Central Florida.

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Eye Posted on My Wall

Today I present a visual pun for your enjoyment. This image is actually another 2650×1600 Hi-Res desktop “wall”-paper you can download by simply reverse-clicking on the image and choosing “Save Image as…”

You can download this free HD wallpaper by reverse-clicking the image and choosing “Save Image…”

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Photographing people, places, pets and ponderings™
throughout Central Florida.

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Approaching the Unexplained

“I first realized I was psychic next Monday.”
― Dean Cavanagh

Psychics and those who attempt to divine the future using cards and palms are in no short supply here in Central Florida and I confess there are a few questions I have always wanted to ask. Consider, for instance, why one needs a security alarm system installed at their business location; can’t they do their own monitoring? I also have to assume that the lone vehicle one typically sees on the premises at these establishments belongs to its inspired spokesperson; but shouldn’t they know in advance when to come in and when they can just stay home? Finally, I have noticed that many psychics predictably go out of business rather quickly. Shouldn’t they have predicted that?

“Psy Chic”, Nikon D800, ISO 1250, f/4.5 at 1/50 sec., 58mm

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Keep Calm and Pet the Kitty

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Funny, as Hell

“A clown can get away with murder.”
—John Wayne Gacy

Somewhere in a past blog post, I have probably already revealed my dislike of clowns. OK; maybe dislike isn’t a strong enough word—let’s switch it to terror. From Ronald McDonald to Bozo to Stephen King’s diabolical Pennywise, they’re all hell-spawned demons to me. Remember that clown scene in the classic movie Poltergeist? Scariest bit in the whole film, if you ask me. In my most terrifying recurrent nightmare, I’m abducted by sinister clowns, thrown into a clown car and suffocated by balloon animals.

You may think this is silly— or perhaps not, depending on your own clown disposition, but an “irrational” fear of clowns is quite common. So common that it’s clinically known as coulrophobia. I looked into a support group a few years back, when my angst began to interfere with my ability to photograph children’s parties. The only group I found was facilitated by a guy named Barnum Ringling. Obviously, I never went: it just sounded too much like a setup for a bad joke in which I’d be the mutilated punch line.

I hope you enjoy the disturbing photo.

“Funny, as Hell”, Nikon D800, ISO 640 f/10 at 1/200sec., 112mm

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Bioha(ir)zard

“You cannot prevent the birds of sadness from passing over your head, but you can prevent their making a nest in your hair”
–Chinese Proverb

“Landshark”, Nikon D800, ISO 200, f/9.0 at 1/500 sec., 50mm

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Photographing people, places, pets and ponderings.
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Rubber Duck

“With a rubber duck, you’re never alone.”
— Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

I suppose I took this photo because the duck was there and I was otherwise alone. Enjoy…

“Rubber Duck”, Nikon D800, ISO 320, f/2.2 at 1/800 sec., 50mm
Click the image to view larger size and available print options.

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Photographing people, places, pets and ponderings.
Booking family, personal, business and pet portrait sittings throughout Central Florida.

Eastern Redbud

As I drove into Dalton, Georgia on Monday evening, I was captivated by the beautiful purple-maybe-magenta-but-definitely-not-red blossoming trees growing both wild and in people’s yards. They were like fireworks of color lighting up the oncoming shadows of the setting sun. When I later inquired about what kind of tree this was, I was told they were Redbuds. On hearing this, my first thought was immediately vocalized (though in a much different dialect than my own) by my sister-in-law: “I think the guy that named ’em musta been color-blind.” To which, of course, I could only fittingly respond: “Yep, I’d say yur right.”

“Eastern Redbud”, Nikon D800, ISO 400, f/5.3 at 1/160 sec., 98mm
Click the image to view larger size and available print options.

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Photographing people, places, pets and ponderings.
Booking family, personal, business and pet portrait sittings throughout Central Florida.