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Our Daily Challenge - "Game":
The hours I spent playing this game on our back porch! and yeah...that was a hundred years ago. :)
For a description of Jacks:
www.ehow.com/how_2964_play-jacks.html
Nikon D5000, 105mm
214/365 - Our Daily Challenge - "Set":
My grandmother's set of Limoges demitasse cups from France. Sadly, I never use them as neither of us are coffee drinkers. I still love them tho'. Love how delicately they're painted and that they remind me of Nana. I thought about shooting some of the silverware I inherited from her also. She was in the habit of shopping estate sales, collecting odds and ends. She left me some wonderful silverware, but none of it matched. Well...I take that back...14 matching pickle forks...the rest...not so much. lol.
Nikon D5000, 50mm
Getty Sales: 2
Available for purchase at Getty Images
346/365 - Our Daily Challenge - "Out with the old":
I SHOULD take these old bottles out to the recycle, but do you think I will? Um....no. I'm becoming a pack rat since joining this group. Coke bottles make great cliche props, right? You will, however, be happy to know that today is the absolute last Christmas tree bokeh shot until Christmas 2012. The tree goes down today. I'm not looking forward to it. My house is a wreck and I have so much to do! Time to close out of flickr and get busy! Wishing you all a Happy 2012! Thank you so much for your comments, suggestions, and encouragement in 2011!!
Happy Cliche Saturday! Let's see...coke bottles, selective color, reflections, Christmas tree bokeh, a little vintage...This thing is dripping with cliches! :)
Nikon D5000, 105mm
Alternate shot for Our Daily Challenge - "Water":
Honestly don't know which shot I prefer. Love the energy in this one!
Stopped at the fairgrounds to take a picture of the old mill restaurant. Never did get a shot of the wheel that I liked, but while I was shooting I finally noticed this little fence. Yay! And I love the mill wheel bokeh...
Happy Fence Friday! Hope you all have a great weekend. Tomorrow is Grammy Day here, which means my granddaughter is coming to try on her Halloween costume. Hoping she likes her monkey suit and doesn't freak out. lol
Nikon D5000, 35mm
216/365 - Our Daily Challenge - "Letters":
I decided not to write a lot of text this time and let the image speak for itself. I hope you'll write your own story. I will however say that I'm in love with the morning light in my neighbor's yard.
Happy Texture Tuesday!
Textures by Kim Klassen (Warm Sun & If Only)
Quote by Seneca
Nikon D5000, 50mm
Our Daily Challenge - "Gnarly":
Yesterday, we visited our local arboretum. It was my first time to see the Chihuly glass exhibit which has been there for several months. This particular work was one of my favorites, especially when they started the mist sprayers on the pond. Spooky, right?
If you'd like to read more about Chihuly and his work, follow this link. www.chihuly.com/
Nikon D5000, 50mm
215/365 - Our Daily Challenge - "Fake":
...make lemonade...but only if the lemons are real! lol. I used to keep a centerpiece of fresh lemons on my kitchen table, until I realized how expensive it was getting. It didn't take long to decide to buy fake ones. I think these look exceptionally realistic, but sadly... no lemon juice and none of that lovely lemon fragrance. In keeping with the fake theme, I added textures. Old Canvas 5 by ShadowHouse. And I made the lemon text texture myself...a first for me...just experimenting. I'm not too sure about it...so suggestions always welcome. I'm in it to learn!
Nikon D5000, 50mm
352/365 - Our Daily Challenge - "Film Noir style":
This is so not where my head is right now as we are all sweetness and light with the new baby. :) It's my lame 5 min. attempt to throw something out there for the challenge before we run out to the hospital. I hate guns....seriously hate them....And I'm sure this looks fake. It's a pellet gun.
Oh well...tomorrow is another day and another challenge...and in the meantime, I have two precious granddaughters to enjoy!
Nikon D5000, 50mm
Our Daily Challenge - "Odd":
In a rush...will be back later tonight for comments.
Nikon D5000, 105mm
220/365 - Our Daily Challenge - "Blue":
Well, unlike Anna, I have TONS of blue things in my house. I LOVE blue but, rather than shoot more china or glassware, I was in the mood for something more natural today. Thankfully, I found some blueberries in the fridge. They're getting kind of old, so I really had to hunt to find some that weren't shriveled! :) After my heavy overprocessing yesterday, I restrained myself today. lol. Just a little vintage tint and otherwise SOOC.
Nikon D5000, 105mm
Getty Sales: 1
Available for purchase at Getty Images
Alternative shot for Our Daily Challenge "Rule of thirds". I like this, but was not overly thrilled with the light.
Nikon D5000, 50mm
281/365 - Our Daily Challenge - "Through a hole":
OK...technically not a hole and instead through glass....but I've seen these shots before and always wanted to try one. And it looks like it's through a hole, right? lol... I notice John did something similar today, but I shot this before I saw that and don't have time to change it now anyway. That said, this was a little challenging for me. I had to hold the aperture blades open using sticky tack and it didn't really want to stay. So, there are things I would probably like to try changing on this, but it was just too much trouble to deal with the blades closing repeatedly. My students will be arriving shortly...so I'm off! Hope you all are having a good day and I'll catch up with you in comments tonight!
I'd appreciate your opinion on something. Does this seem too dark to you? Sometimes, I process and think things look good on my monitor...then I upload and they seem too dark. We have extreme cloud cover today too, so my light is not what it usually is.
Looks better on black...hit L if you have time!
Nikon D5000, 105mm (shooting through 50mm)
Pulling from the archives this morning again. Really need to go out fence hunting soon! No time today tho'...It's Grammy Day...visit from my granddaughter comin' up! :)
Happy Fence Friday!
Nikon D5000, 105mm
277/365 - Our daily Challenge - "Purple"
Busy, busy day...and a bad case of title block. We had a hail storm last night with high winds that shredded all the trees in our neighborhood. Thankful for the 1.5 inches of rain...but what a colossal MESS!!! I've wanted to do a flowers in the jar shot for a long time. Not sure I got what I was aiming for, but I'm done. lol.
Nikon D5000, 105mm
The literal ones, that is. The figurative marbles are permanently lost, I'm afraid. lol.
This is my first submission to Macro Monday. Hoping for many more in the future!
Macro Monday: Blue
Nikon D5000, 105mm
Our Daily Challenge - "Primary"
Theme of the Week - "Shape"
I've been seriously lacking inspiration lately. This little quote helped me today. Gonna try to use my eyes less and my imagination more. Kinda fun what you can see when you stop focusing on the definition and simply focus on the form and shape.
Nikon D5000, 50mm
311/365 - Our Daily Challenge - "Bricks":
Bricks? Seriously??? I had a hard time getting inspired about this topic but, 64 shots later, I found one I could live with. lol
Our maple tree is my absolute favorite! This year, it dropped most of its leaves before they turned tho', so it only looks good as bokeh. Good thing I love shooting wide open!
Quote by James Broughton
Nikon D5000, 105mm
314/365 - Our Daily Challenge - "Fences":
We don't have too many beautiful fences here in Dallas, but I enjoyed my walk on this brisk afternoon to try to find one. Didn't really find anything spectacular, but there was the moment when the light shone through the pickets just so. Ahhh....the sweet spot.
Nikon D5000, 50mm
Our Daily Challenge - "Through"
Can I see?....only through the looking glass it seems. Aging really is the pits! Lol
Nikon D5000, 50mm
Getty Sales: 2
Available for purchase at Getty Images
For Teleidescope Week 5 Memory and ODC shine. This is my second attempt at an image built from some my old photographs from the days of film. I am far more pleased with this compared to the original. I applied a number of new techniques I learned to create this image. I also used my SB 800 at 1/128 off camera to get that shine effect on the selfie. The idea for placing the flash in the box came from something I saw on ODC and a truck's image "its alive". The idea of playing with the perspective came from pianogram's Fine I also had the idea to save a copy of my work flow for this image before saving it as a jpeg.
339/365 - Our Daily Challenge - "All wrapped up":
These carolers are glad they're all wrapped up since it's starting to snow. And yes, fake snow is pretty much all we get here in Texas. Snow is actually in the forecast for tomorrow, but it's doubtful it will stick. Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas! I'm so appreciative of my new flickr friends and all your encouragement to a "newbie" this year!
BTW....I'm thankful one more challenge is "all wrapped up"...only 26 more to go. Woo hoo! I believe I painted these little carolers in about 1972...still remember sitting at my sister's kitchen table to do it. lol
Happy Cliche Saturday! (Holiday scavenger thread)
Nikon D5000, 50mm
319/365 - Our Daily Challenge - "Reflection":
More blatant exploitation of the Christmas tree bokeh. :) I'm not too sure about the addition of the snowflakes but, once I started, I couldn't seem to stop myself. lol ...Channeling my inner Hallmark Card Creator.
Happy Sliders Sunday!
Nikon D5000, 50mm
328/365 - Our Daily Challenge - "Silver or Gold":
Just a few of the pianos I've collected over the years. Many have been gifts to me from students, tho' the one on the left was my gift to students several years ago and the charm in the middle was a gift from my husband. Had to include something silver here. There are actually 4 pianos in the shot as the set up was atop my Steinway. And yes, I know...more Christmas bokeh. : )
Please press L....prettier on black.
Alternate shot in comments
Nikon D5000, 105mm
An alternate shot for Our Daily Challenge "All lit up". I kind of like how this one turned out. I just love shooting in candlelight...should do it more often. Movin' those sliders to aim for a timeless feel...Happy Sliders Sunday!
A different pov from the same set up.. www.flickr.com/photos/53354298@N05/6058515720/in/photostr...
Nikon D5000, 50mm
I'm not entirely satisfied with this. Hot spots galore....tough exposure and only a second to take the shot as it is rare to find this walkway uncluttered with crowds. I could not miss a Cliche Saturday tho'! Hope you all have a great weekend!
Cliche Saturday: Rows of color scavenger thread
Nikon D5000 50mm
Shot at the State Fair of Texas. One of the vendors had these little trees strung with lights...and even a little fence. You just never know when you're going to happen upon something magical.
Happy Fence Friday! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Nikon D5000, 35mm
Our Daily Challenge - "Beginning":
So thankful for the beginning of our fall weather. Yay for acorns!
Nikon D5000
Pulling from the archives today. Too rainy lately to get out for new fence shots.
Happy Fence Friday and have a great weekend! Sorry to post and run. Will be back for comments tonight.
Nikon D5000, 50mm
She wasn't too sure about those bubbles popping in her face, but she had a great time watching her daddy blow!
Happy Cliche Saturday!
Bubbles scavenger hunt thread
Nikon #5000, 50mm
307/365 - Our Daily Challenge - "Abandoned":
A bit different for me. Another dreary, gray day here, so I decided not to fight it and just roll with it. This shot is inspired by one from a contact. www.flickr.com/photos/mekwi/6332602210/in/photostream. His shot is simply stunning. I hope you'll follow the link if you have time.
I wish we could do something about the "hurry up to grow up".
Nikon D5000, 105mm
236/365 - Our Daily Challenge - "Replicate a photo from the ODC Explore page":
I was not able to paste a copy of the inspiration for this photo here, because of the photographer's settings. So here's a link: www.flickr.com/photos/pleasureinpixels/5436968310/ I've been wanting to try this shot for a while, but couldn't think of any way to make it original. Today's challenge at least gave me permission to try. I thought this was such a clever concept, shot for the challenge of "zipper". I've tried to change it a bit , not necessarily to make it better, but just to make it my own...although it's pretty hard to make this concept look original. I first thought this topic would be fun as it gave me the opportunity to try something I've seen without feeling guilty. BUT....I actually found it frustrating and confining.
AND...I had BIG problems with PSE 8 today (using Windows 7)...repeated crashing...could not even open the edit program. SO frustrating. Had to uninstall and reload. It's working now, but I lost all my actions, as I knew I would. Have to reinstall them one by one...colossal waste of time. Am contemplating buying PSE 9...wondering if it's more stable. 8 feels like a piece of junk. Any suggestions???? There's already been one suggestion for lightroom....I'd prefer not to learn a new program, but that may be the way to go. Today was extremely frustrating. ARG.
Nikon D5000, 105mm
M4H 52 Weeks Project - "Composed":
Geesh...another busy week and I never really got time to try any of my big ideas. Hoping next week will be better!
Nikon D5000, 50mm
313/365 - Our Daily Challenge - "I am ________":
I am a lot like this photo, but not anywhere near as elegant. lol... There are as many facets to me as there are facets on this bottle. I'm a believer in Jesus Christ, a mom, a grandmother, a wife, a teacher, a pianist, a photographer, a seamstress, a philosopher, etc., etc. etc. I'm too often scattered mentally...easily distracted... (read "self diagnosed ADD")...Hence the "circles of confusion". I frequently get my priorities turned upside down, like the inverted image in the bottle stopper.
And you know what I ALWAYS am.........on the lookout for bokeh! lol
Nikon D5000, 50mm
205/365 - Our Daily Challenge - "A path or track":
Very rushed morning, so no time to hunt for a new path. Falling back on an old favorite...my neighbor's garden. I just love her flagstone walkway and the way the light shines through in the morning. That little bench in the background feels like a pot of gold to me. lol. I love to shoot wide open anyway, but especially now when all our plants are struggling so. There's green in the background, but the dead leaves in the foreground are a testament to our difficult summer. Supposed to rise above 100 again today with no sign of rain in the forecast.
Nikon D5000, 50mm
Our Daily Challenge - "Faces in Places"
Hanging head in shame over really bad pun! lol.
Nikon D5000, 50mm
217/365 - Our Daily Challenge - "Stand or Standing":
We had a great day today! We went out and picked out paint for her new big girl room as the new baby will move into her nursery. On the way home, we stopped off at a pretty little church to grab a few shots near their fountain. No fountain in any shots, because of the glaring sun at midday. At any rate, there's a reason we don't let Hannah stand on benches by herself yet. But no worries. Her mama is standing right outside the frame with her arms out ready. No babies were harmed in the making of this photo. :) BTW...she loves her new shoes! Aren't they cute?
Nikon D5000, 50mm
Available for purchase at Getty Images
Can't help wondering what's down that path...I'm ascared....(used to say that as a kid....surprised to find it's actually in the dictionary now!) lol
Happy Fence Friday!
Nikon D5000, 50mm
219/365 - Our Daily Challenge - "In the Distance":
I'm feeling very on the fence about this one. It's so different than what I normally do. And yes, I did my standard open aperture, big bokeh shot with some mystery about what was in the distance. But I thought I might should push myself to get out of my box occasionally. I was shooting at the worst time of day tho'...high noon...so I did some serious overprocessing. I wish there not houses in the frame, but, what can I say?...I live in the burbs and this is about as wide open spaces as it gets. lol.
If you squint you might be able to see an egret in the distance. :)
Rerunning for Slider's Sunday, since this is more sliding than I normally do! lol. HSS!
Nikon D5000, 18-200mm
Getty Sales: 1
Available for purchase at Getty Images
In love with the fall colors right now. Not getting any in our trees yet, but at least we have the pumpkins. lol Hope you enjoy your weekend. Happy Fence Friday!
Nikon D5000, 50mm
“Everything that flickered could be made permanent. That was what drew him to photography, what made every painstaking step worth it: the permanence of the image. That was what fascinated him, the working against time...” (Katie Roiphe)
M4H 52 Weeks project: "Time"
Theme of the week: "Faceless Foto"
Our Daily Challenge: "Begins with P" (photography)
Happy New Year to my Flickr friends. I've been AWOL for a while, enjoying time with my family. I'm watching many of you begin your 365 projects and feeling a little envious, but I just can't seem to manage my time well enough to do it again. I have decided to begin a 52 weeks project instead. I'm not sure yet if I'll regularly contribute to a specific group or have certain weeks where I simply do my own thing. Will have to figure it out as I go along. As it is, I'm squeaking in my first week's photo just under the wire. Only 51 more to go. :)
Nikon D5000, 105mm
I was out last week hunting for sites for Our Daily Challenge on "in the distance" and look what I stumbled upon....a new fence! I've shot trumpet vines for HFF before, but never on an honest-to-goodness wooden white fence. Swoon! And the bee was an added bonus. Wasn't he nice to zoom into the frame just as I released the shutter?!
Happy Fence Friday!
Nikon D5000, 50mm
Get pushed Round 7:
This time I was paired with Ed Runyon, aka Not Too Cool. Check out his stream...adorable kids and a diverse collection of photos. www.flickr.com/photos/46301015@N03/ Ed was a great partner and I'm grateful, because I sort of failed his first challenge. He rightly noticed that most of my shots are close ups and asked me to shoot a full body portrait...and here's the kicker....freelensing. Eeeek! If you've never heard of freelensing, it's a technique for shooting with your lens unattached to your camera body. You're supposed to hold the lens close and tilt it back and forth to mess with the focal plane. I'd been reading a little about freelensing and noticing some of the recent posts using that technic, but had never tried it. The thought of doing it with a portrait was especially daunting to me, but I did set out to TRY. Right about now, you're thinking.....um....this shot isn't a full body portrait and it certainly doesn't exhibit freelensing. Read on...
I TRIED...I honestly TRIED, but I had some major issues. Thankfully, I'd recently read Jordy's discussion regarding the Get Pushed challenges and his suggestion to "communicate, communicate, communicate" with our partner. So I went whining to Ed about my problems! Being a nice guy, he offered me a levitation challenge instead. Thank you Ed!!! Still, not wanting to be a quitter, I continued to try the freelensing, but without a model. I couldn't stand the thought of having someone sit in the 100 plus degree heat waiting on me to figure out a new technique. I did get one decent freelensing shot. NOTHING to write home about..but if you're interested...follow the link. www.flickr.com/photos/53354298@N05/6107509307/in/photostream There is a description with the pic explaining what I learned by trial and error. If you shoot Nikon and want to freelens, you might want to check it out.
Obviously, this is my alternate challenge. I'd been wanting to try a levitation shot and thought it might be fun to use my new vintage camera. I'm pretty new to this, so suggestions for improvement are always welcome. I'm not totally happy with my framing on this but, by the time I discovered that, my model was gone...so this is it. :) I did remember to add a subtle shadow as an afterthought. I hope it's believable. And I hope you like it Ed! Thanks again for being so understanding!
Also, submitting to Cliche Saturday (Levitation shot scavenger thread, of course!)
Nikon D5000, 50mm
362/365 - Our Daily Challenge - "Use a prop":
You know I had to use my favorite prop...especially since I found this really cool variety of acorn I've never seen before. And I LOVE LOVE the way the light falls off at my kitchen table in the afternoon.
Nikon D5000, 105mm
Texture: Primitive by Shadow House
256/365 - Our Daily Challenge - "Alone":
I know...ANOTHER acorn...another bench shot...another shallow dof shot! I was fresh out of other ideas today, without a model, and I needed to be quick. I've tried to figure out why I gravitate towards this type of shot so often...aside from the fact that I love acorns as much as Michael loves otters. I believe I have ADD (self diagnosed), so part of the attraction of shallow dof is that point of focus for a mind that is far too easily distracted. lol. Besides...I'm a dreamer. I hope you're not sick of this stuff! I at least tried to process differently to give it a more lonely mood. :)
BTW...I changed this out from the original version. Decided to try some new processing...something different for me. It seemed appropriate for alone...sort of wintery. Very open to suggestions tho'. What do you think?
Hope you all are enjoying your Sunday! I'll be back for comments tonight.
Nikon D5000, 50mm