Thursday, August 4, 2011

Friday Hometown Shootout -- Shooter's Choice

The theme for this week's Hometown Shootout is "Shooter's Choice."   So I am totally discouraged when I slump into the B&B studio.   I hate having to choose.  Way too much responsibility!   If I upload a picture, it means I actually chose it!  I can't joke my way out of it.  I much prefer themes that give me grist for playing around.  I just hope that Bagman and Butler can help me out.

BAGMAN and BUTLER (in unison, as I open the door):  "Nope!  You're on your own, Boss!"

"Come on, Baggie," I whine.  "Don't you want me to post something risque?"

BAGMAN: "Not my call this week."

"Butler!  Help me out here!  Something kind Mondrian?"

BUTLER: "I'm staying out of this one too."

I think for a long time.  Thinking like this hurts.  For a long time.  I can't make up m mind.  Kind of like Congress except I can't blame anybody else.  On the other hand, if I don't do anything the world economy won't fall apart either.  "Absolute idiots!" I mutter loudly.

BAGMAN and BUTLER (in unison again, oddly enough): "Are you calling us 'idiots'?"

"No," I reply.  "I'm calling politicians 'idiots'."

BAGMAN: "Well, duh."

BUTLER:  "How does one manage to mutter loudly?"

Well, I might as well get this over, so I go ahead and post a couple that I feel comfortable actually liking.  And they are near enough my hometown so they kind of qualify in the geographical sense.



BUTLER: "Hey! Wait a minute!  Those are over two years old and you've posted them at least twice before already!"

"I thought you were staying out of it," I mutter in a not-loud, appropriately mutterful tone.

BAGMAN: "Stop thinking!  Throw in some of your weird Photoshoppy stuff.  Just post something and shut up! 

"Most people don't like weird stuff."

BUTLER: "People who don't at least tolerate weird stuff aren't reading your blog anyhow."

I figure he has a point, so I pull out a picture I took last week in Myrtle Beach when my grandchildren were throwing bread in the lagoon at Broadway on the Beach to feed the fish.

No fish were harmed while filming this picture
although they did exhibit poor table manners


BUTLER:  "Hmmm.  Maybe I stand corrected.  That looks a little like Hieronymus Bosch.  Yuck."

BAGMAN:  "I love Bosch!"


BUTLER:  "Georgia O'Keefe?"


BAGMAN: "Manet! Monet? However he spelled his name!"

BUTLER:  "Two different artists, my animalistic friend.  Probably a bit more Monet, maybe mixed in with some Seurat."


BAGMAN:  "I know this one!!! Salvador Dali!"

BUTLER:  "I hate that one!  Everyone hates that one."

"I agree," I agree, "Karen hates that one.  But it was shooter's choice and you were going to stay out of it, remember?"

BUTLER:  "What kind of writer uses the verb 'agree' to quote the quote 'I agree?"

"What kind of editor uses the phrase 'to quote the quote'?"

Last picture

BAGMAN: "Hot chick.  Why didn't you wait until she came out of the water so I could appreciate her better?"

BUTLER:  "Because he was shooting abstracts!"

At that, I left the studio for another week.  I didn't want them to know that I actually shot her underwater because I didn't want her to think I was a dirty old man.  But it was also true that I really was shooting abstracts. 

29 comments:

  1. Shooting abstracts, eh? I actually like the one with the hands in the motor. The feeding fish reminds me of me when someone orders a Jet's Pizza. You made excellent choices with out BB!!

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  2. Excellent photos for the theme, but the first one simply blew me away. It's a masterpiece.

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  3. Well, I must admit that none of these are expected or boring. YOu have a wonderful collection of odds and ends. I really like the fish photo the best.

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  4. I think that one fish is trying to kiss you!! I agree with Jama, the first photo is awesome!! eerily mysterious and gorgeous at the same time.

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  5. My favorite is the second picture but I enjoyed them all. All though the sixth picture is kind of scary.

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  6. I love the fish photo!! Isn't it so funny when they do that?! :)

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  7. Gosh, you lulled me into a false sense of security with the first two shots, then, wham, I thought those fish were after my blood. Love the last two, especially the mermaid.

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  8. The pier is definitely my favourite here. I'd go there and spend hours, just contemplating.

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  9. I won't like to walk along that jetty in the mist and fall into the water full or mouth opening piranas.

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  10. I didn't pick the first one cause It has been my fav before. I didn't pick the second just because of poor timing, today it is gray and foggy and melancholy here - I would love it on a sunny and hot day. My fav is the fish.... clear, layered, easily interpreted (lol).
    It is hard after two years of Fridays to not repeat yourself -

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  11. Well, I DO pick the first one because I too have always liked it and always will. The naked tree in the sunset is stunning every time.
    But dead fish? Bagman........dead fish?
    Love ya, missed ya!!

    Call me dude........seriously,

    Reggie Girl

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  12. great post, Mark. That fish at the top of the fish one just screaming FEED ME!!!!! GIMME BREAD _N_O_W_

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  13. Suure, sure you were shooting abstracts. ;).
    Love the fish and the Seurat vase. Great stuff, all.

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  14. First shot, gorgeous. I keep going back to it, soaking it in.

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  15. Wow, this is a great set of photos. I think the first is just beautiful. But I really like the fish photo just because of the one making a fish face for the camera.

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  16. my favorite is the fish and 2nd is the dead tree in front of the sunset. beautiful

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  17. I think you made great choices! (I don't like having to make choices either, by the way.)

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  18. The first one is beautiful, the fish are funny and the last one a very interesting 'abstract' photo!

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  19. Oh my this post made me laugh!! My favorite is the swimming abstract because I like to feel I am smart lol!!! The first photo is also very beautiful but I think of dinner looking at it ^_^ Happy weekend! Thanks for the visit!

    My Rose

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  20. Oh my those fish are kinda scary..I would hate to fall in..would be lipped to death..ackkkk! Love your shoot out..as always ..made me smile! Sarah :)

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  21. I like the fish...and the bridge, but the chit-chat is surely fun! :)

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  22. That hauntingly gorgeous tree has always been one of my faves but I gotta say those fish really made an impact on me. They remind me of a movie I saw starring Don Knotts where he turns into a fish. Those fish look just like him.

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  23. That driftwood sunset is stunning. Makes me want to pick up a paintbrush. Loved them all, Mark.

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