Sunday's Assignment

Sunday challenge time!  Find any sort of wildlife today, and make a photo.  Get in close if you can and focus on the eyes.

How could I expect any form of wildlife to stand still enough so that I can focus on their eyes.  It would have to be stuffed and mounted in order for me to do that.  Come to think of it; we do have a couple of dead fish mounted on our basement wall.  Had I thought about that I could have dusted off the northern and taken a picture of their glass eyeball.  Instead, I forced my husband to stare at the light while I took his picture.  Notice the bloodshot eye.  I wonder if he realized that.  I had to fool around with my lenses. Kept thinking that my telephoto would work close up but then finally got the hint that I needed to step back.  I don't know why I thought I could get relatively close.  Makes me think that I need to invest in a macro lens, just so I can say I have one.  Then I would look official as I swapped out lenses depending on the situation.  Eventually I will have to label each as I never know what kind of lens I have in my hand.

It's a late night by my standards (almost 11:32 P.M.) and I had to use automatic settings.  Otherwise I would never have gotten this posted.

Friday's Assignment

Clocks are omnipresent in modern life.  Make a photo of the clock, watch, or other device that you use most to tell time.

None of our clocks tell the correct time.  It's so frustrating to look at both battery operated and electrical clocks and know that none of them are accurate.  The only one that I can really count on is the clock on the cable box- but then again, it's odd that I think even that is the correct time.  Who's to say that perhaps they are a minute off and I just assume it's the right time.  My most favorite clock was one that we purchased when we were first married.  It was black like this one but all it had was a white circle where the twelve would be.  Neither kid could tell time using that clock but I thought it was pretty cool looking.  I discovered somewhat later that it was a replica of a clock that was hanging in the Museum of Modern Art.  Sure do wish I hadn't gotten rid of it- don't remember if I just grew tired of it or if it actually stopped working.

Shot with automatic setting today.

Thursday's Assignment

Shiny things attract attention.  Make a photograph of a shiny object and post it today.  Focus in on the reflections.

Would have much rather taken a picture of something outside that had a shiny reflection.  But landed on the couch when I got home from school and it's only minutes ago that I actually got moving.  I thought this picture would be much more shiny but it's as shiny as it gets for 9:00 at night.  Too bad I didn't focus closer on any and all reflections- I guess I was just going for the shiny aspect.

In a hurry- shot with automatic settings today.

Monday's Assignment

Focus the viewer's attention.  Make a photo of a single subject with as plain a background as you can.

Here's a face only a mother could love.  And of course I neglected to follow the instructions- shoot against a plain background.  I wanted a photo of this face and not surprisingly it was difficult to get him to sit still and look at me.  I took many pictures thinking that eventually I'd get a good one.  Now if only I could figure out how to fade out the background....another day another time.

Shot with automatic settings today.

Monday's Assignment

Today's color is purple.  Maybe you''ll find it on a fruit.  Maybe a flower.  Or, maybe a sign.  Make a photo and post it.

Only serves to remind me that I've been working on this project since February.  I wanted it done for Mother's Day and that didn't happen.  A one year, sad kind of anniversary might have worked but it didn't seem the time.  Now her birthday is coming up in a couple of weeks and I'd really like to have it done by then.  Too many interruptions to keep me on task I guess.  I only hope the finished project will be meaningful.  It meant a lot to me so I hope it does the same for her.

Taken with automatic settings today.

Thursday's Assignment

Work the angles today.  Make a photo that gives us a unique perspective on an otherwise ordinary scene.

Once again I am looking at the assignment literally when perhaps I don't need too.  I assumed this assignment meant to view the angle of an item when perhaps all it meant is the way the camera is angled.  So as it is getting too late in the evening I've decided to stay with my original thought.  I've looked around the house for something that had interesting angles and the only thing I could come up with were a carton of eggs.  It's a jumble of curving edges and squares and rectangles.  The actual shot is not very interesting but it does offer me a different perspective on what is otherwise an ordinary egg carton.

Shot with manual settings today and removed color with photoshop.

Wednesday's Assignment

Make a photo today that distills some simplicity from the complexity of the world.

One of my favorite books was Simple Abundance.  I haven't read it in years but I know that it had a positive effect on me.  I would love to live a simple life but it does take a little bit of work.  Right now all I feel like I do is my job at school and at home and text and email, watch tv and spend hours on the computer.  Realistically I should reflect on the events of our last year and take into account the little pleasures in life.  Emotionally I know that but unfortunately life goes on and we go back to our bad habits.  Reliving those events today once again makes me think about my life and what I could do to make it better.  Currently we have two little kiddies who deserve the very best life that they can get!

Tried to find some delicate flowers to show simplicity.  Not sure what these plants are called but they are perennials.  Their flowers are so delicate- but as I look closer I see they are covered in ants.  I guess that's the simplistic part of life.

Tuesday's Assignment

Self-assessment is vital to artistic growth.  Look thru the photos that you've posted so far.  Remake one you'd like to improve.

Didn't do too much to this photo.  Just wanted to use it again as currently I need to remember the good times.  I used Photoshop and tried a number of different effects.  The only one I really liked was the one that colorized the center of this photo.  I wish I could change the color as yellow is not my first choice- I guess that's something I'll need to research.

Monday's Assignment

Black can be dramatic.  Go for as much black in a photo as you can with lots of oomph, character, and depth.

Been planning this photo all day.  I actually staged it with a few roses from Mother's Day and some black bulletin board paper.  The vase is not totally clear and thank goodness you can just barely see it.  I think the picture looks pretty cool if I do say so myself.

Shot with automatic settings today- but using the flower selector on the dial.

Sunday's Assignment

Sunday Challenge (by popular request): Make a self-portrait with or without the camera in the frame.

How can this be a popular request item?  I don't want to see myself in a mirror much less in my blog.  But I did as requested and am none too happy about it.  All I can see are dark circles under my eyes, age spots and a frown line!!  I guess on the plus side there aren't too many wrinkles yet.  People must have thought I was nuts if they happened to be looking outside their windows today.  I had my camera propped up on a ledge and had my face as close to the lens as possible.  Must have looked like some kind of fool taking her own picture.

Had the kiddies over today and had a great time with them.  Unfortunately, the little guy gives me a run for my money when I try to get him to nap.  I don't know what it is about the room that he's in or the bed that he naps in.  He fights and fights and fights going into that room.  I try to let him cry it out but that goes on forever.  Finally, after many failed attempts he finally fell asleep, only to waken 45 minutes later, crying inconsolably.  I'd like to have them over more but know that it's kind of becoming an issue.  Without much of a nap he's a terror in the early evening.  As for the little lady, naps are not as necessary- at least not today.  She was in a pretty good mood all day- hopefully she's the same tonight.

Shot with automatic setting today.

Saturday's Assignment

Make a photo that you think would work well as computer wallpaper, and try it out for a week.

Didn't give much thought to this picture- pretty busy today.  But I like flowers and plants for my desktop wallpaper and since my front yard is getting some color I thought I'd take a picture of this flowering shrub.  It's a weigela and it tends to bloom in the spring and then again in the early fall.  I also have some daylillies growing nearby but they haven't begun to bloom yet.  Not captured in this photo is a Black-eyed Susan and then some smaller perennials that also should flower- but can't remember their name. I wish I could remember the names of all of the perennials that I've planted.  Over the years I've tried labeling the items as I plant them but inevitably the indelible ink washes away.

But here's my new problem- why does the picture magnify when I choose it for my desktop picture?  I experimented with some of the other photos and they don't magnify as much as this one.  As a desktop picture I've lost most of the background and foreground as the flowering shrub takes up the entire screen.  I like the flowers but it negates the assignment- especially since I'm trying to enjoy a photo of several plants, not just one.  I guess this is just another thing that I have to learn.

Shot with automatic settings today.

Friday's Assignment

Find an interesting shadow--any shadow--and make a photograph of it.  Consider your framing as you shoot.

Had little sunlight left when I got home so little chance to get an interesting shot.  For whatever reason I always seem to be in a hurry when taking a photograph.  I give so little thought to: frame, light, focus, image, etc etc etc.  Even this picture is off kilter but then again I was trying to keep my own shadow from appearing in the background.  

Shot with automatic setting.

Thursday's Assignment

Make a photograph with motion blur of one kind or another.  Use a slow shutter speed, pan, or both.

I tried shooting some pictures of leaves blowing today as the wind was really whipping around.  Even tried to catch a car coming down the street with rapid fire shutter snapping but that didn't work out either.  Of course, I had to whip out my handy dandy guide for Nikon dummies to see how to shoot motion.  This type of photography is beyond my grasp- but I did remember this picture of e that I took a while ago.  We had been sitting outside and she and the little guy were playing while I was just doing some random shooting.  I think she was finally telling me she had had enough.  I had the dial set on automatic setting but the one that has a picture of a child on it.  Don't know exactly what happens with that setting- does it slow the shutter speed down or speed it up?  Does it let more light in or less?  When I read what to do in my handy dandy guide it said to set the manual dial to S and then turn the aperature to approximately 500.  After that it lost me- but at least I had this picture I could use.  Plenty of motion blur here.

So for this photo I did automatic set on child.

Wednesday's Assignment

Pick an everyday subject and get as close as you can to it.  Make a photograph and post it.

Can you smell these berries?  Their fruity smell is especially pungent.  Bought them on Sunday and of course they are still in the box.  I have a habit of neglecting to wash newly purchased fruit and generally it begins to mold.  Guess this is my subtle reminder to get moving!

Took a variety of close up pictures today.  As usual, the shutter would not close if I was super close to the object.  But for whatever reason, I could get pretty close to these strawberries.  I don't know if it was the lighting or not- but if the focus feature was on automatic I tended to have more problems.  That did not hold true with the berries so here is my everyday subject as close as I could get.

Shot with manual settings today.

Tuesday's Assignment

What tools do you use and appreciate on a daily basis?  Make an interesting photo of one such tool today.

I am fooling myself if I think I use this on a daily basis- because I don't.  But I do appreciate having it- in fact I appreciate all the uses that natural gas affords us.  That and electricity and water keeps life fairly simple.  As I took this picture I wondered how close I could get to the flame without burning the camera strap- or lens for that matter.  Guess I could get close enough as the fumes became somewhat overwhelming.   As usual, I was in a rush so I decided to shoot this using automatic.  But the flash kept going off and then the blue of the flame would disappear.  So I held the flash hood down and shot the picture with just that little light that flashes on the side- forgot what that is called.  Maybe that's what they call a speed light but I'm not sure :(  Anyway, the picture turned out pretty well, if I do say so myself.

Monday's Assignment

I'm taking a temporary hiatus until I can get my picture link fixed.  For some reason I lost all 86 photos from this blog.  Must have been clicking where I shouldn't have been clicking!

Sunday's Assignment

Make a photo that contain's today's date in it somehow.  Maybe abstract representation of the numbers.  Maybe literally.

I have two grown boys and I am super proud of them- for their sensitivity, their work ethic, their individuality, their domesticity.  I love you both so much!

Shot with automatic setting today.

Saturday's Assignment

Make a photograph that illustrates the last few days of weather wherever you've been.

Should probably have taken this with the flower selector on my Nikon.  I tried to focus in the center of the flower but I see that only half of the flower is in focus.  Unfortunately it started to rain (again) so I wasn't able to hang around to experiment.  It's been pretty cloudy and rainy in my neck of the woods.  I could have taken a picture of a corner of my yard which is overrun with weeds but it's not a pretty site.  It would only be a reminder of the amount of work that I need to do in my yard.  But I do appreciate the color that I now see blooming in several sections of my garden.

Shot with automatic settings today.

Friday's Assignment

Graffiti is something you can find almost anywhere.  Make an interesting photograph of some graffiti and post it.

I assumed I would have an easy time finding graffiti today but unfortunately it wasn't as easy as I thought.  As I was leaving for work I threw my camera in the car figuring I could find something around school- but nope.  I soon learned that as quickly as graffiti occurs it is cleaned or painted over.   I actually drove around town (which is something I don't often do) and discovered we are graffiti free.  Even the train station had no graffiti.  What's wrong with this picture?  I thought that some trash can or stop sign or empty storefront would have something I could take a picture of.  But nope!  So I ended up going home and thought maybe I'd get out E's chalk and draw my own graffiti.   But I did notice a line on the curb that the water department sprayed to mark our water main.  I had hoped that I wouldn't have to resort to that picture.  But my dh came to my rescue and pointed out some writing in the concrete that the boys had done 20+ years ago.  Never considered that to be graffiti but I guess it is.  Kind of hard to see- I took a quick picture as it was raining  so it's darker than I thought.

Shot with automatic settings today.

Thursday's Assignment

Find a grid pattern somewhere- maybe a brick sidewalk or ceiling tiles- and make a photo of an interesting slice of it.

This photo isn't so much about the grid pattern of the brick but of the ivy that's beginning to overrun our premises.  We've been in our house for nearly 30 years and when we first moved in the siding and brick was crawling with ivy.  It went up the front and into the eaves and the window frames.  Knowing the damage the plant could do to the wood (not to mention the problem we'd have with re-staining the siding) we pulled and pulled and pulled until there was no more.  That was not an easy task as ivy has these amazing little suckers that hang on for dear life..  Imagine my surprise to see that it has resurrected itself after all these years.  I wish I could get it to grow as well in my shade garden.

Shot with automatic settings today- too much to do and no time to do it!

Tuesday's Assignment

Breakfast, lunch, or dinner.  Make a photograph of a yummy part of one of your meals today.

Went out with my two very best friends to celebrate one of their birthdays.  It's been awhile since we've been able to get out together.  We always celebrate each other's birthdays- and of course this year was no exception.  Ended up going to a very good Mexican restaurant for some very good chips, salsa and of course, margaritas.  I've kind of stayed away from alcoholic drinks lately but can't resist one of theirs.  So to say this was a yummy part of today's meal is an understatement.  But not quite sure why the glass looks like it is leaning- the chips look level but nothing else does.  Another trick photography shot I guess.

Shot with automatic settings- no time to waste on the finer art of photography.  Just wanted to get a good picture without the guesswork.

Monday's Assignment

Find a statue, sculpture, or fountain and make a photograph of it today.   Consider the time of day and light.

Oops.  I took this picture yesterday and then forgot to post it.  Taking the picture was a pain- trying to get as close to the ground as possible to get a close-up without getting my shadow in the picture.  I always wanted to have a little Buddha in my garden but unable to find one that works- so for the moment this is as close to Oriental as I can get.

Shot with manual settings (I think).

Monday's Assignment

Make a composition of a wall and what is against it: art, shelves, etc.  Consider the rule of thirds and watch your light.

Another unknown photographic term: rule of thirds.  So I did a little research and realized that every time I take a picture I should remember the rule of thirds.  Still don't understand it and at first I thought it meant to shoot something that divided the wall into thirds.  And I had some shelves that we've just built in our second bedroom but they're empty and nothing to speak of.  But then I realized that that's not what I was looking for.  So with a little manipulation and then imagining this picture divided into 9 squares I still don't think I get the idea.   But at least it's better than 3 empty shelves against a wall.

Shot in a semi-dark bedroom with manual settings, lights to the back and the right.

Sunday's Challenge

Sunday challenge: Make a photo of something you cherish today in beautiful light.  Arrange and move things if you need to.

Had trouble thinking of things I cherish.  Of course I cherish my family but I am trying not to include any of their photos until I can figure out how to decrease the pixel size.  And of course I cherish my dog but I've already included many of his photos.  But things?  What exactly do I cherish?  I really don't have things that mean a lot to me but then again, maybe I do.....  There are plants that I've planted in memory of my parents and Cari but they haven't begun to bloom yet.  And then I thought of something and it's the wind chime that I received after my dad died.  I have it hanging off my balcony so that every time it rings in the wind I think of him.   I have my friends Deb and Jan to thank for this very cherished gift!

Shot with manual settings today- much easier to do outside.

Saturday's Assignment

 

Make two photos today of the same subject: one with deep depth of field, one with shallow.  Post your favorite of the two.

Another confusing assignment...not quite sure what exactly would be deep depth vs shallow- obviously a closeup refers to shallow but not sure how I would have done the same with deep depth of field.  Guess my creativity is non existent for this one.

Shot with manual setting today.

Friday's Assignment

TGIF!  To celebrate the end of the week, make an artistic shot of your favorite beverage or libation today.

Actually, I'm a day behind with my photos.  I knew that my beverage of choice is one that I drink in the morning and unfortunately I didn't have my camera yesterday.  So of course I took this picture today thinking that maybe it would be something I could use in the future.  But why wait- no one's looking anyway.

Shot with automatic setting.