Gallery – Page 20 – This is Another Story

Red Roses

Orange Pumpkin Pie

Yellow Tulip

Green leaves with pink elephant ear roses

Yellowstone Lake

I guess this can be classify as violet, right?

I can’t tell, violet or indigo

Rainbow and More…

Published on June 20, 2015November 24, 2015 by Yinglan9 Comments

Last night, I sat in my new basement bedroom and looked around. I see a variety of things that fit the criteria of Roy G. Biv. But under this bright florescent lighting, the photos do not turn out so good. Therefore, I have decided to again, go to my archive and dig. I’ll show more later, if I have time. Enjoy. Continue reading “Rainbow and More…” →

Photo101: Warmth

Published on June 18, 2015November 24, 2015 by YinglanLeave a comment

It’s quite hard to capture something using the sun as the source of light, I think. I’ve tried in the past as you can see in the picture below. It is a picture of the sun on a cloudy day. I was pulling the camera to its maximum zoom (3-times). That’s why everything else look like it’s taken with a cheap phone camera. Continue reading “Photo101: Warmth” →

Definitely Out of Season

Published on June 18, 2015August 9, 2015 by Yinglan3 Comments

This year has been undoubtedly wet and warm. However, it’s not just here. Looking at other people’s posts, it looks like it’s happening around the world as well. Yesterday evening, when my mom and I went for a walk in the park, she pointed out the mountains are not snow-capped anymore because normally, a tiny bit of snow would stay remain on the mountains in June or July but this year, there’s none.

Meanwhile, it’s been raining almost everyday. There has hardly been a day where the dark clouds don’t roll in, where we just have blue cloudless skies and plenty of sunshine. Ugh, this weather is killing my mood and inspiration. Please make it STOP!!!

Unfortunately, I’ve already jinxed it. This post was written approximately four days ago and since then, the clouds had cleared up and it’s been one word, HOT! Guess summer has arrived.

Anyway, enough complaining, I want to show you this picture which is definitely out-of-season, trudging in snow in short-sleeves and sandal. This was Yellowstone in July 2011, by the way, and that is NOT my brother (only-child), it’s my friend’s.

Photo101: Natural Worlds

Published on June 17, 2015August 13, 2015 by Yinglan15 Comments

Talk about an easy task. Even though I don’t interact with nature much especially these days, when I step out of the house and something immediately bites me all over but that doesn’t mean I have to be stuck in the house all day long. Therefore, early morning yesterday, while my mom ran to the post office, I took the opportunity and went out to the garden to take some close-up pictures, hoping I can use them for the POV assignment but this is better.

I tweaked this picture just a little bit with Pixlr, a photo-editing app I use but it is a macro picture. Does anyone want to hazard a guess as to what you’re looking at? Hint: it’s a vegetable you eat almost every day, that is, if you eat vegetable.

It looks like the apples from the combination apple tree is coming in nicely. We are going to have lots of apples this year. This is just the Golden Delicious branch. We’ve got Granny Smith, Fuji, and Honeycrisp. All in one tree!

Lastly, blackberries! Last summer, I remember I was harvesting them like I had just harvested snow peas. I think this year will be more or less the same.

Of the three pictures, I am most in love with the blackberry picture. I think the effect I’ve chosen really suits the picture well. Without this effect, the color would look way too bright and the picture would be missing that, oh I can describe it, element.

Photo101: Connect and Tags

Published on June 16, 2015August 9, 2015 by Yinglan4 Comments

For some of you, this picture is not new while for most, it probably is. Yes, this is the same staircase picture I used for my post a few weeks ago. And I’ve decided to use it again for this assignment.

This rickety staircase happens to connect the lower and upper deck of the yard at the rental property. Without it, I probably will not have enough guts to get on the upper level to clear the weeds and distribute the mulch. So thanks to these stairs, I am able to complete that job without my mom throwing a fit about how I’m a scaredy-cat.

Photo101: Solitude

Published on June 13, 2015November 24, 2015 by Yinglan4 Comments

The latest assignment from photo101 is solitude which in my view means a picture of someone looking out into the distance, sad, alone, and may I add, looking completely lost. This kind of photo is quite hard to take and even find because one, I don’t like taking pictures of people because I feel like it’s an invasion of someone privacy to take their pictures without telling them first and two, I’ve never actually seen anyone looking sad, alone, and completely lost. Even when I was in the city today, I didn’t see anything or anyone that fit the description.

So once again, I have dig into my archive and fortunately I found what I needed but first I want to show you this picture:

This is from last May when we went house hunting down by Utah Lake, a large fresh water lake by Provo, Utah. Mom wanted to buy a second house so she wouldn’t have to commute 100 miles daily for work. What you’re looking at is the land. Unfortunately, after we saw the model, we were convinced that it was way too small. It felt smaller than our current home. So we bailed.

That’s me, looking alone. I guess that looks like solitude. I didn’t mean to look like that. I was just standing there when Mom snapped the picture. Honestly though, I felt kind of tired and frustrated because it was all Mom could talk about at the time.

Why is it both black and white and color?

When I messed with the picture just now, I wanted the picture to show that solitude feeling, that loneliness. I guess I failed, huh?

Photo101: Bliss

Published on June 12, 2015November 24, 2015 by Yinglan14 Comments

When I saw day four’s assignment, I was a little stumped. Bliss? I mean I’m not a big gesture kind of person, I mean I don’t do big poses when taking a picture. Where can I find a picture of bliss? Continue reading “Photo101: Bliss” →

Photo101: Water

Published on June 11, 2015November 24, 2015 by Yinglan6 Comments

Have I ever show you pictures of that time I went to Great Salt Lake? No? Continue reading “Photo101: Water” →

Photo101: Street and Established Shots

Published on June 10, 2015November 24, 2015 by Yinglan8 Comments

Yes, I have joined Photo101 but unfortunately, I couldn’t find a picture of home, well, unless, I went on pinterest and just find a picture but that wouldn’t be Photo101, would it. Then Day 2, I could’ve just gone outside and taken a photo of my street but everyone’s already seen that and it wouldn’t be fun to see it again and again. So I chose one from my archive. Continue reading “Photo101: Street and Established Shots” →

Green leaves with pink elephant ear roses

Vivid Flowers

Published on June 6, 2015August 9, 2015 by Yinglan8 Comments

So, I want to ask, do you remember this picture?

Do not worry if you don’t. This was taken at the end of March. Why am I asking? It’s because I took the photograph below two days ago.

I hope you see the tulips are gone and it’s replaced by the roses. What a difference in just three short months!

But this isn’t about that, it is about these pictures which are my contribution for this week’s photo challenge: Vivid. I hope you enjoy.

F.Y.I: The pictures of the roses and whatever those magenta flowers are were taken with my Note 10.1 tablet and then I played with it in pixlr. The other pictures were taken with my old bad-battery camera.

First Attempt at B&W Plus Updates

Published on June 4, 2015November 24, 2015 by Yinglan10 Comments

I have been mostly restricted to fiction this week. If you haven’t notice, I’ve been posting nothing but fiction in the last three days. What can I say, I don’t feel like write anything when I feel like crap and yes, I still do but I seem to be just a tiny bit better this morning after mom pushed open my door at 7 am this morning and woke me in a panic for no reason at all except telling me to get to work. She’s gone for the day though, finally, taking a language exam 50 miles away.

I’m so looking forward to this weekend. She will be gone for training and I’ll have the house to myself for the weekend.

Back to feeling like crap, I think I’m having some health issues. That won’t be the first. I don’t want to see a doctor either. All the doctors I’ve been to offer no sympathy whatsoever. I know it’s not your job but still, I came to you. I’m in pain. You can’t just tell me it’s psychological and there’s nothing wrong with me. Can’t you at least do some digging?

Okay, here’s my problem. In the last two days, my head’s been hurting and my chest’s been periodically throbbing. I don’t want to think about it since there’s a chance the pain is “psychological” but at the same time, it feels like it’s getting worse. I want so much to complain but I already know what my mom’s going to say. She’ll either place a large bottle of 600 mg Ibuprofen before me or we’ll bicker.

I couldn’t take it any longer so the other night, I mentioned my discomfort while preparing dinner the other night and we’d just ended up bickering. “It’s all your fault for not drying your hair before heading to bed.” Mom said.

I was, as always, in no mood to bicker and I never went to bed with my hair wet. I always wait until it’s dried before sleeping. “I don’t do that,” I defended.

“If you do that for too many times, it’s bound to happen.” Why do I even make the effort? It’s like talking to a stone.

“Haven’t you been listening to me? I. Don’t. Do. That.” I said through my clenched teeth. There’s no point, my inner voice told me. You’re a minute too late, I snapped.

“I’ve watched you, I’ve seen you do it.” Yeah, like a few months or a few years ago. I didn’t answer. I regret to even brought it up. Forget it.

Aside from that little bicker, so many things had happened this week like I’ve found out a literary magazine HQ in Atlanta is looking for submissions. I have a story for the December issue but I’m afraid it might be too bleak. Should I go for it? I don’t want people to read the story around Christmas and burst in tears. I probably should send another one, huh, one that would cheer people, not make them cry.

I’m going out to work today. This will be the second time this week. I went on Monday and it turned out I couldn’t do much. My boss broke his pinkie last week tripping on a broken sprinkler and now he only has a working right hand while his left hand is wrapped elbow-deep in bandages. I hope he’s there because I went yesterday and he wasn’t there. So I ended up having to have to walk back home but I took my sweet time with the walk.

I’ve always enjoyed black and white photography. I just never thought it fit in with the pictures I took but I just have to try it. What do you think?

On My Way to Work

Published on May 30, 2015November 24, 2015 by Yinglan14 Comments

Today’s prompt asks: How do you manage your online privacy? Are there certain things you won’t post in certain places? Information you’ll never share online? Or do you assume information about you is accessible anyway? Continue reading “On My Way to Work” →

An Unique Wedding Reception

Published on May 27, 2015June 20, 2023 by Yinglan16 Comments

Last night, I was at a wedding and as usual, we were over-dressed, thanks to mom. I was like, I’m going to wear jeans but she was like, it’s other people’s wedding, you need to be well-dressed.

Continue reading →

Random Photos of a Rainy Day

Published on May 21, 2015November 24, 2015 by Yinglan9 Comments

I hope everyone’s Thursday is going well. Continue reading “Random Photos of a Rainy Day” →

Odd-Shape Garden

Published on May 16, 2015February 25, 2023 by Yinglan17 Comments

I feel incredibly thankful to be sitting at my computer right now. The weather’s been horrible and the drive home from school was terrifying and nerve-wrecking. The further north I went, the harder it rained. Several times during the drive, I was down to almost zero visibility. I couldn’t even see the lane lines.

Continue reading →

480 Gallons of Weeds Enveloping the Yard

Published on May 15, 2015February 25, 2023 by Yinglan20 Comments

I should be studying at the moment but I can’t concentrate, not with mom babbling on the phone downstairs. Even if my door’s closed, I can still hear her.

The other thing is, my legs are itching like crazy and no matter what I put on it, it wouldn’t help. Last night, I put some Tiger Balm on it and this morning, it looked slightly better. I sat up in bed and brushed my finger against it and uh oh, I reactivated the itchiness.

This week, as I complained enough, I spent the afternoons on Monday and Tuesday at the rental property cleaning the backyard. Our tenant didn’t care that the grass in the backyard was a foot high or the fact that weeds had taken over the vegetable patch.

It took me two days just to clean up the vegetable patch. We accumulated sixteen 30-gallon bags of garbage. I got the pictures as well as the marks on my arms and legs to prove it.

These are the before and after pictures of the vegetable patch. I should’ve taken pictures on the first day but I forgot the camera. You can see three of the sixteen bag of weeds in the after-photo. It was madness. Vines, weeds, and dandelions enveloped the area.

My mom’s kicking the tenant out next month. Why? He’s unappreciative, that’s why.

She complained that after all the hard work we did, not only did the tenant not say thank you but he wants to modify his lease from one-year to month-to-month. All because of what? All because he’s still pissed because mom didn’t notify him first before helping him to mow the lawn that’s why. He said we invaded his privacy and threatened to sue.

Have you seen a more ungrateful person in your life?

The least you can do is say thank you but instead, you used the law against us. Mom said, “At least I’m a tolerable woman, otherwise, I would kicked kicked him out this second.”

Uh, I don’t think constantly complaining to me is consider really tolerable. Anyway, I just want to show you the before and after pictures. You can click on each one to enlarge. This is before.

After…

So much better, right? And here’s the garbage.

Now if you’ll excuse me, have to go study. 🙂

The Impact of a Mountain Range

Published on May 11, 2015November 24, 2015 by Yinglan11 Comments

I took Utah Geography a few years ago, it was filled with hard work (typically university level classes). Continue reading “The Impact of a Mountain Range” →

Forces of Nature

Published on May 8, 2015November 24, 2015 by Yinglan4 Comments

For this week’s photo challenge: Forces of Nature. Continue reading “Forces of Nature” →

All the Intricacy I’ve seen

Published on May 2, 2015November 25, 2015 by Yinglan16 Comments

I almost forgot about my trip to the Hearst Castle a few years ago. It’s a beautiful private landmark in Central California. It’s worth a visit. Each room in the castle is decorated with its own unique touch and from what I was told, most are hand-made. Continue reading “All the Intricacy I’ve seen” →

#AtoZChallenge – Y For Yellow

Published on April 30, 2015November 23, 2015 by Yinglan2 Comments

An obvious choice, isn’t it?

I went out into the garden yesterday. The storm from two weeks ago and last week had managed to kill all the blossoms. Though the trees grew tremendously, there was nothing but leaves. I doubt there’ll be fruit this year. Continue reading “#AtoZChallenge – Y For Yellow” →

Rainbow

Published on April 20, 2015November 24, 2015 by Yinglan6 Comments

This photograph was taken right outside my home on May 15, 2013 at approximately 8 pm.

I know, it’s a bit weird that it’s still quite bright outside but that’s what time on the photo said.

A storm had just ended that day and a rainbow appeared. Where I live, a rainbow isn’t a rare event. I’ve seen a rainbow maybe five or six times in the eight years since I’ve moved here. I think I saw a little bit of the rainbow after a summer storm last year but it was too small for me to capture it on camera.

I didn’t exactly want to go outside with the humidity and all but my mom insisted I go and snap a picture of the rainbow. It was one of the few times the rainbow was right outside my home. Some of the rainbows I’ve seen was when we were driving home and I didn’t have a camera with me. I have to say I’m glad I did manage to capture this one. Otherwise, I would have nothing to write for today’s prompt.

All that fishes for the seagulls

Seagulls

There he was, all alone standing there posing for everyone

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle Sighting

Published on April 14, 2015August 9, 2015 by Yinglan4 Comments

I was browsing through my pictures when I came across these photographs. They were taken early February two years ago during my aunt’s second visit to the U.S. She had spent that Chinese New Year with us and together, we went to the Farmington Bay to watch the Bald Eagles. Apparently, bald eagles fly to Utah for the winter and the spot they settle every year is Farmington Bay which is the fresh water part of the Great Salt Lake.

It was quite a rough drive that day what with unpaved roads and ice but it was well worth it because we got to see America’s treasure up close. In keeping up with this week’s photo challenge theme Afloat, I have decided to show those pictures.

I hope you enjoy these pictures. 🙂