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2013-05-19 13:55:24 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 33 +1s)

Do you like faces like I do?

2013-05-17 21:43:04 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 38 +1s)

Just the two of us.. 


#floralfriday   #flowers  

2013-05-17 16:24:33 (4 comments, 1 reshares, 40 +1s)

A Memory Like No Other

man reflecting on a memory 
vivid and clear and every
detail clear and yet slippery
the emotions washing away
one set of truth for another
a memory like no other

- jj bentley


#portrait   #portraiture   #portraitphotography   #poetry   #blackandwhitephotography   #plusphotoextract  

2013-05-17 14:41:43 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

Curious to see what happens here.. 

2013-05-17 14:22:47 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 35 +1s)

3rd Street in Santa Monica is one of the few places where I often will ask people to pose for me.  I like the candid shot, in part because of my introverted nature.  But there are too many really good faces, too many cool faces.  Sometimes, so as not to avoid missing a fantastic shot, I just ask for the shot.  So far, no one has ever said no.

Not in Santa Monica.


#portrait   #portraiture   #portraitphotography   #blackandwhitephotography   #streetphotography  

2013-05-16 21:14:31 (3 comments, 2 reshares, 36 +1s)

In another life...

#portrait   #people  #portraiture #blackandwhite #streetphotography  

2013-05-16 16:51:24 (5 comments, 1 reshares, 30 +1s)

Familiar

Candid street shot.  Woman has a familiar face to me.  Having seen so many faces, I sometimes wonder if I recognize a face because my brain is remembering it from another time, the memory buried and filed away in my subconscious somewhere.  Or perhaps the features of face are similar to someone already well known to me.  

Either way, I am happy with this portrait.

#candid   #portraiture   #portraitphotography   #portrait   

2013-05-16 14:33:41 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 36 +1s)

Street Chillin'

Man relaxing against a wall, a wall perfect for a backdrop.  I think his broken sunglasses say it all.

#portrait   #portraiture  #blackandwhite 

2013-05-15 22:21:50 (35 comments, 0 reshares, 9 +1s)

I can't add photos the way I used to!  Ugh.

I used to be able to click open an album, say add photo, then Google would create a post announcing that new photo.  Now the photo just uploads to the album.  If I try and share the photo afterwards, it creates a duplicate of the photo as a separate post.

Remaining patient... 

2013-05-15 16:07:26 (14 comments, 0 reshares, 51 +1s)

I am the walrus.


#blackandwhite   #plusphotoextract   #monochrome   #wildlifewednesday   #wildlifephotography  

2013-05-15 14:19:54 (6 comments, 0 reshares, 40 +1s)

Never Forgets

An African elephant for #elephantwednesday . 


#elephants     #monochrome   #blackandwhite  

2013-05-14 20:14:02 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 12 +1s)

Inner Voice


Some people do it while meditating with folded legs and arms.  Others while running up a trail.  Perhaps while washing your hair in the shower.  So many different ways, none of the wrong or right.  

How do you listen to your inner voice?

2013-05-14 14:40:38 (2 comments, 2 reshares, 21 +1s)

You Know Now Love
words and photo by jj bentley

laying  
in an open meadow
next to a willow
a soft muslin blanket 
falls ever so slowly
across your smiling face
stroking your skin
in the gentle summer wind
the warming sun
peaks through from above
laughing 
you know now
love


#poetry   #floralphotography  

2013-05-14 14:15:42 (4 comments, 3 reshares, 32 +1s)

I waited patiently.


#portrait   #portraiture   #portraitphotography   #portraittuesday

2013-05-13 20:44:14 (4 comments, 1 reshares, 2 +1s)

If you are on Fine Art America, please consider casting a vote for my image, which has been entered into a contest.  I need 250 votes for the image to qualify for jury voting.

http://fineartamerica.com/contests/national-tv-photo-contest-2.html?tab=vote&artworkid=7400558

2013-05-13 20:25:00 (2 comments, 1 reshares, 22 +1s)

Orange Fish Zen
words and photo by jj bentley

one quiet morning 
turtle whose mama named hop
sitting on a rock

need for awareness
closing eyes to see farther
orange fish water

smiling eyes open
hop lowers head to jump in
orange fish and zen


#haiku   #poetry #plusphotoextract #photography   #turtles  

prints here: http://goo.gl/i0cje

2013-05-13 15:18:34 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 29 +1s)

Catch Me If You Can

Sailboats in the water on a perfect day for sailing.


#monochromemonday   #blackandwhitephotography   #monochrome  

2013-05-13 14:27:35 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 17 +1s)

can tomorrow heal what's done
you'd better believe it
and then some

J.J.

#macromonday  

2013-05-11 17:28:40 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 35 +1s)

Happy Mother's Day!

Especially to my wife, the best mother my daughter could ever wish for.

:)

2013-05-10 19:40:13 (4 comments, 1 reshares, 47 +1s)

Sad to See You Sad
words and photo by jj bentley

sad to see you sad
in a hurting kind of mood
with a mellow fire flickering
spirit so subdued
but your yellow flame glows
in the dimness pure and strong
sad to see you sad
but i will hold you ever long



#poetry   #floralfriday  

2013-05-10 16:12:57 (8 comments, 1 reshares, 37 +1s)

What Excites You?

Bees are programmed from birth to do what they do until they die.

We are not.  

So why do so many people behave like bees?  Predictable, as expected, and often unfulfilled.  Going to their job for which they have no passion.  Taking care of the same errands, the same chores.  Doing the same thing, day in and day out.  Eating the same things, from the same places.  A new week, and it all starts over again.  Day after day.  Year after year.  Like bees.

But I know you are different.  I know you, at the very least, want to be different. Tell me, what excites you in life?

2013-05-10 14:36:49 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 26 +1s)

Click

Sometimes when I am out shooting, I can spend a half an hour and not find anyone interesting to shoot.  Then there are days like the other day, when I literally spend 15 minutes, photograph 4 people, and all 4 people are really good subjects.  That is an efficient outing!

Although when your environment is at a pier in Southern California, I am not looking for efficient.  

I wouldn't call this a candid shot, as the woman turned to look at my camera.  But it's unposed, because I was waiting for her to do so, and clicked the moment she looked.  She smiled.  Probably wondering if I took a picture or not.  

I did.


#portrait   #portraiturephotography  

2013-05-09 22:19:13 (3 comments, 1 reshares, 29 +1s)

I Love L.A.!

Aside from the god awful traffic, over population of aspiring fill-in-the-blanks, shallow empty headed conversations all around, utter lack of character or beauty in the sky (except like 5 times a year), the inflated property values, the... ah nevermind.

Look at those trees!

I love L.A.!



#close2home #losangeles   #palmtrees  

2013-05-09 17:55:23 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 28 +1s)

Abstract Study of the Face Series

This series, Abstract Study of the Face, originally began as an attempt to salvage some of my street shots that did not appear to make good portraits.  The subject had looked away, or their eyes were closed, etc.  

But since I began adding works to this album, I have found myself looking for these kinds of angles and perspectives when I am out shooting.  There is definitely a type of face and expression that works very well with this kind of processing.  It has opened my eyes to new opportunities, where before I may have passed up on a shot.

I am not sure what I will do with this series, or when I will consider it completed, if ever.  But who cares, anyways?  The journey is always the only thing that matters.

J.J.

#portrait   #portraiture   #plusphotoextract  

2013-05-09 16:11:41 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 30 +1s)

Gave Up
words and photo by jj bentley

my world looked like a wet letter
but i gave up and feel a lot better

loads lifted
priorities shifted
the heaviness drifted away

i opened my hand to release the pressure
i gave up and feel a whole lot better


#poetry  

2013-05-09 15:06:25 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 22 +1s)

Paul

Paul had been fishing all day without much luck.  He was hopeful there could be something coming later.  I am not sure he really cared too much one way or the other.  Sitting on a bench at the pier, staring out at the ocean, isn't the worst way in the world to spend a day.

My personal preference for shooting in black and white versus color is pretty simple.  Process the photo in black and white unless there is specifically something unique or special about the color in the photo.  In this case, I liked the colors of the hoody.

Thanks for checking out my work.

JJ

#portrait #portraiture #portraiturephotography  

2013-05-08 18:59:56 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 34 +1s)

Ah, Love
words and photo by jj bentley

ah love,
that magnificent awakener of the soul
like a dripping passionate kiss
part rock, part roll
taking it's sensual toll
on the body
and the heart
ah love,
so beautifully tearing us apart

http://goo.gl/28tMI

2013-05-08 15:28:41 (7 comments, 4 reshares, 43 +1s)

Julia Heliconian

This graceful orange southern beauty has long narrow wings outlined in a thin black line. While females usually have more black on their wings, the males are often a brighter orange. The Julia is a swift flier that enjoys tropical woodlands. The female can be observed laying her eggs in a shady location on Passiflora vines. An interesting trait common to the longwinged butterflies is their specialized proboscis that allows them to feed on pollen. They are able to get amino acids from the pollen that they cannot get from nectar. This unique diet allows them to live longer than many other butterflies.

thank you gardenwithwings.com for the text in this post.

#butterflies   #butterflieseverywhere   #butterflyphotography  

2013-05-08 14:15:46 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 40 +1s)

Savanna Elephants

From Africa, these savanna elephants have a lifespan of 70 years.  Unfortunately, these two did not live that long.  They can be found in the Los Angeles Natural History Museum.  Although I don't know the origin of these beautiful animals, the museum does not kill animals just to put into their museum.  They likely died in a zoo, or somewhere they could be collected and donated to the museum.

order prints here: http://goo.gl/k2XD8


#wildlifewednesday   #elephantwednesday   #elephants  

2013-05-08 03:26:09 (10 comments, 1 reshares, 17 +1s)

I wait in my bedroom, after having just tucked in my little girl of 4 years, and lay quietly for her to fall asleep.

I have given her water, tucked her into bed (not half assed but "properly" as she puts it), put her bedtime music on, rocked her, and kissed her.

I have anticipated all requests so she can't ask me anything in a clever attempt to remain awake and engaged.

A few minutes pass by.

"I have succeeded", I say to myself with an internal grin representing both satisfaction and yes, smugness.

And then from the other room..

"Papa?"

"What is it?"

"I poked myself in the eye."

"Why did you do that?"

"I don't know, but you should come check it."

Damn. I lose again.

2013-05-07 15:35:38 (4 comments, 1 reshares, 50 +1s)

Back to Basics

I've been posting a lot of different stuff over the last few days, mainly because I recently visited the L.A. Natural History Museum again.  But I need to get back to the basics for me.  These pictures make me the happiest, and leave me the most satisfied.


#portrait   #portraiture   #portraittuesday  

2013-05-07 14:54:53 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 6 +1s)

Thanks +Jarek Klimek for selecting one of my photographs as one of the 7 TOP Google+ Photographs for May 5.  

Check out the selections at the link below.

2013-05-07 14:14:35 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 40 +1s)

Gulf Fritillary

If you have a chance to visit the butterfly pavillion at the L.A. Natural History Museum, do so!  Incredible.

The wings of this butterfly are like stained glass, artfully designed to maximize the beauty and light in a garden. The Gulf Fritillary is similar in size to the Monarch, but can be distinguished by the large grey patches on the underside of the wing. The wings are quite long and can gracefully carry this butterfly way out over the water in the Gulf region. This butterfly is richly colored orange with orderly dark spots in the center and along the edge of the wing. (description courtesy gardenswithwings.com)


#butterflyphotography   #butterfly   #butterflies   #butterflieseverywhere  

2013-05-07 13:57:25 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 15 +1s)

Just Adorable!

This animal, a warthog, is at the Los Angeles Natural History Museum.  They have a large collection of animals from all over the world which have been preserved through the process of taxidermy.  

This link, from another museum, explains the process.
http://goo.gl/RG2vb


#taxidermy   #naturalhistorymuseum  

2013-05-07 13:45:35 (4 comments, 1 reshares, 38 +1s)

Sexy Beast

Love the jaguar.

prints available:
http://goo.gl/NQxrH

#monochromemonday   #plusphotoextract   #blackandwhite #monochromeworld  

2013-05-06 17:53:45 (3 comments, 2 reshares, 51 +1s)

Pipevine Swallowtail

This tailed beauty has a shiny blue body and white spots on the upper side of the hind wings. With a wingspan averaging 2 3/4" - 5", these swift fliers are usually low to the ground and do not stay at one flower for a long period of time. They enjoy open wooded areas and forest edges. 


#butterflyphotography   #butterfly  

2013-05-06 16:11:04 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 31 +1s)

Elemental Surprise
words and music by jj bentley

formed upon the heating
an elemental surprise
orange adorns the warm glowing greeting
of the spherical 
of the mystical
beyond what dies


#poetry  

2013-05-06 14:49:48 (1 comments, 2 reshares, 18 +1s)

I don't know.  I woke up, looked in the mirror, and this is what I see.  How do you think I'm supposed to feel about today?!

Happy Bleeping Monday!

2013-05-06 05:10:39 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 58 +1s)

Blah.

2013-05-03 17:59:09 (3 comments, 1 reshares, 31 +1s)

When I Was A Boy
words and photo by jj bentley

when i was a boy
i could not walk
i opened my mouth
but i could not talk
i tried to think
but had only one thought

just a dream that i could fly.

when i grew up
i stepped outside
i opened my eyes
and yes i cried
but with great defiance
and endless pride

i soared above in the sky

don't tell me not to fly.


#poetry  

2013-05-03 15:44:44 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 33 +1s)

Out of Sight Satellite

I flipped the moon on it's side because I think it looks cool with the shadow underneath.  It reminds me how the Earth looks from the moon.   


#moon  

2013-05-03 14:59:26 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 17 +1s)

Lifeguard Tower from a Distance, Redondo Beach, CA

would you like a print?  just go here
http://goo.gl/yIfld


#redondobeach  

2013-05-02 15:41:39 (2 comments, 4 reshares, 34 +1s)

Say No More


#portrait   #portraiture   #plusphotoextract  

2013-05-02 15:23:27 (5 comments, 0 reshares, 22 +1s)

Roy

Roy is normally a musician, but on this occasion, he was a fisherman. He had just started fishing at the pier when I saw him.  I didn't see many people this day that made me want to snap a shot, but Roy was just way to cool to pass up. 

He is easy going, and didn't mind receiving some direction about how to pose.  He has a genuine heart.   And I think you can see that in his face.

Good luck to you, sir!


#portrait   #portraiture  

2013-05-01 19:22:06 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 54 +1s)

#wordlessonwednesday  
#wordlesswednesday  

2013-05-01 16:01:57 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 17 +1s)

i love you

2013-04-30 18:44:34 (6 comments, 0 reshares, 29 +1s)

Milovan

Milovan is an 87 year old man from Montenegro.  

During the World War 2, the Axis powers invaded and occupied Yugoslavia.  Milovan was part of a group called the Partisans which fought against the occupiers.  "That's just what a person did, you know.  You fought the Germans."

When Yugoslavia became a socialist state after World War 2, Milovan decided to move to the United States.  His family stood to lose a lot based on how the government was going to determine property ownership.  

"Later, they changed the rules, and we would have been alright, but I preferred to stay in Southern California at that point", Milovan explains.

Before we started talking, I had asked Milovan if I could take his picture and he quickly declined.  Since we ended up talking for a little while, I asked him one more time if I couldtake his ... more »

2013-04-30 15:33:12 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 31 +1s)

He had the kind of dream you have at seventeen..





#streetphotography   #people  

2013-04-30 14:24:06 (3 comments, 1 reshares, 34 +1s)

Smooch

2013-04-29 21:00:09 (5 comments, 0 reshares, 52 +1s)

The Buckshot War


Sometimes when my mind is blank, and I can't come up with anything to write, not even an interesting title, I go to Wikipedia and click on a random article.  The first phrase or word I see is my title.   

#portrait   #portraiture