Monthly Challenge
November 2014 Photo Challenge
Here we go again. Another month's photos in the hopper after trip to tropical paradise (Don) and four visits to the local wildlife haunts (Dave). Hopefully, a few other busy folk will send in their photos soon so we can add to the repertoire. I know December is an unusually busy month, and we've skipped it for the past few years. Some of you may get some great captures that you're dying to share, so we'll break tradition this year and feature a "My Favorite December Photos" theme.
The winter rains have started in earnest, thankfully. I have a feeling it will be open storm doors until March, which will either dampen (PI) our spirits or challenge our commitment to shoot no matter what - a Post Office mentality for some. I'll try to focus on more indoor challenges to keep all of us wusses dry and comfy.
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Mr. Don will start off the Challenge with his submissions. He says, "Here are just a few of the shots from the Maui getaway. I have finally recuperated from the ordeal. Came home with a raging sinus infection probably brought on by snorkeling and flying. I took about 700 shots and spent days in processing them down to 127 'keepers'. In the Green category, we have my favorite tree, the palm where it belongs..... in Maui."
Don and I have a mutual disgust for any palm tree north of San Luis Obispo in our fair state. Northern California hasn't been tropical since before the Noahic Flood, and it is insulting to imply otherwise.
The next three submissions are in the "Strong/Bold Color" challenge category. "For the strong color, there is the Bird of Paradise, Pink Hibiscus and the Rainbow Eucalyptus. All were shot with the Nikon D300 and 18-200 lens. I filled the distracting background on the Hibiscus to make the flower pop."
I always picture a green Maui and environs dotted with these floral bursts of color everywhere. I've never been there, so can't say for sure.
The pink hibiscus has been isolated by Don's use of blacking out here and there in the background. The alternative is to carry a 12" x 12" piece of black velvet in your camera bag to use as a backdrop. The hard part is finding someone to hold it for you! And, no, I don't use one either.
These rainbow eucalyptus are beautiful and very photogenic. I think there are some in Morro Bay down at the landing parking lot below the natural history museum. Maybe not.
Don's Close-Up photo captures the intricacies of an unnamed leaf in Hawaii. I'm going to guess it's a Ti plant with a radical Photoshop hue slider going on - from green to red. That's one way to spice it up. Don, let me know if my guess is correct (about the slider). He didn't say, but I assume he used his 60mm macro lens on this one.
For a final photo that meets the Challenge theme of 'Angle,' here we have Don capturing Janet's favorite burger hang-out. "Shot on a clear starry night with the Nikon Coolpix." Note the starry sky and sharp focus. That means he either used a tripod or propped his camera on something while shooting. Great shot, Don. Pretty cool that there are burgers in space.
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Old Davy's shooting was extremely limited in November, but he tried to cover all four Challenge themes while doing the 'back to nature' thing. With the changing (and still warmish) weather, fall leaves are still holding on here and there. Blue skies are turning gray, which can be a big plus - no horrible shadows and blown-out highlights to deal with - evenly lit landscapes and close-ups - morning dew drops. The waterfowl here in the valley increase, and their habits offer interesting opportunities. Winter sunrises and sunsets are the best, especially before and after storms. And fog can add a somber, ethereal touch.
So let's not give up taking pictures just because it's another dreary looking winter out there.
There's a lot of Green at the Cosumnes River Wildlife Preserve. With so many waterways, ponds and flooded fields, you can't help but run into it. These cattail reeds (and others) are home to red-winged blackbirds, but are frequented by other foragers who flit here and there, like this red-capped kinglet who's giving me the once-over. The kinglets land for maybe 2-4 seconds in one spot before flying to another a few feet away. It's almost impossible to zero in on them. And using auto-focus in the reeds is mostly a joke because it's almost impossible to focus on a bird when it's surrounded by them. This little guy/gal landed in the perfect spot for me to get a pre-focus, then move my camera to the left for the composition. I've used the Paint Daubs filter to give it a grainy look.
This shrub at the water's edge was screaming for me to take its portrait, and since it was Green, I obliged. You can still see some remnant yellows and reds in the foreground trees, but I've purposely let them partially silhouette against the bright green.
My final Green photo shows some of the variety of green in nature. Moss, lichen, leaves - each contributes different shades (tints), intensity (chroma), hues and lightness. This oak branch scheme struck me as worthy of shooting. I could have taken a close-up, but chose to keep the full identity and strength of the tree by including its shape.
Shooting into the sunrise on a foggy morning on Staten Island Road (about 5 miles SW of the Preserve), I've intensified the colors slightly in this next entry to fit the Bold Color category. The original photo included the sun and more field grass to the right, both of which were cropped out.
Here's the original picture. Note that lenses do weird halo things when you shoot directly into the sun. That's one reason for the crop. And I wasn't really happy with the dirty yellow color. I wanted something warmer.
Driving back home from the Preserve one day, I pointed my telephoto toward this power line parade just north of Eight Mile Road on Interstate 5. [Warning: Do not attempt to take pictures in a vehicle traveling 65 miles per hour unless you're an expert like me!] I've cropped and colored it (remember, the sky is gray overcast). This fits the 'Angle' theme for November.
While stumbling through the underbrush by the kayak/canoe launch at the Preserve, I found this wonderfully rare (I think) anomaly on a blackberry bush. The leaves didn't separate at birth and formed the appearance of a butterfly. Pretty cool. This is both a Bold Color and Close-up entry. Taken with the Nikon D5100 and old MicroNikkor 55mm close-up lens.
Here's another macro shot, taken on Bruceville Road at the Preserve. Everything was dripping wet. Tripod, manual focus and settings. Nikon D5100. Nothing spectacular, but it's fun to see water drops on spider webs. Note the extremely shallow depth of field, due to using an f3.5 aperture.
One more 'Angle' theme shot, taken in the middle of Franklin Blvd. at the Preserve, near the oak tree photo I posted above. I was intrigued by the hexagon pattern in this manhole cover. The oak leaves added a sense of place and color contrast. D5100 Nikon and MicroNikkor 55mm.
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Ginnie has skated in just under the wire to add a most unusual macro capture of a poor victim of the fly swatter. She says, "You should know better than to give me a beautiful hand-tooled leather flyswatter for my birthday, little brother. Canon S3 IS, f/8, 1/1600 sec, 400 ASA. Set on Super-Macro, lens touching the window."
What a way to go! My sis has a terribly warped sense of humor, but we all still love her!
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Again, we've come to the end of the show, sans Bugs Bunny. Hope you've learned a little more about what to look for when you're clicking away and been encouraged to get into the spirit of giving by making more memories for yourself, family and friends.
Our December Challenge theme will be "My Favorite December Photos." Easy to remember. I know we're all extra busy this month, so you won't be hurting my feelings by not participating.
Let's all remember the Reason for the Season: celebrating the birth of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ - loving each other - and giving out of that love.
October 2014 Challenge: "O", Event, Black and White, Aged
Winter is approaching. The clouds are opening. The rain is starting to fall. Leaves are turning color. Time to bundle up and drink some hot cocoa. And it is the perfect time to grab your camera and find some memories to capture.
October's challenge themes were:
- "O" for October
- Event
- Black and White
- Aged
This was one of the busiest month's of the year for me. Barb and I headed to Paso Robles for a week of visiting friends and family, enjoying the Pioneer Day festivities and traveling to the coast a few times. Thankfully, Liz and Angel were able to go also. Good memories and great shooting. Don and I traveled the area, looking for great sunrises, moonrises, fall color, old barns, sentinel oaks, and ocean spray. My cameras got a real workout after taking more than 1500 pictures. Great fun.
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We'll start with Megen's submissions, noting that only pumpkins were injured in this first photo. "O" for Orb Launch is the title, and let's note that Meg didn't really have a choice but to include another orb - that small star, otherwise known as the sun - in her picture. Her camera is shooting at a rather high shutter speed, freezing the mid-flight pumpkin and launcher to a large degree. And I'm guessing the flash was on since the launch posts are showing a lot of detail in what would normally be dark.
Meg's second entry is called Aged Extreme to fit the "Aged" theme for October. Looks like this guy has been left in the weather for a few years and getting ready to celebrate another Xmas.
Meg's family went to Yosemite and had a wonderful time biking around, seeing the wildlife and being awestruck by the beauty of God's creation. The drought is affecting all of California, even Yosemite. Here's her shot of Mirror Lake, sans water - much different that when Don and I were shooting there in February, 2013. She's entered this in the "Event" category with the title, "Drought."
Pumpkins also qualify for the "O" theme since they're "Orange" in color. Nice detail in Megen's close-up:
Meg's "Black and White" theme entry fits the bill, as her pup, Timber, smiles for the camera.
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Let's peruse Don's photos next, starting with "O" for Old Guys Rule. Check out that guy with the red hat on, looking like a photo geek in the middle of the street. Don used Photoshop Elements to add the 'flash' on my camera. I like the slower shutter speed, which added movement to the little Chiquita's swirling dress.
Here, Don worked hard to balance the light in his Cripple Creek barn for the "Black and White" theme. This barn is located east of Paso Robles and is a favorite spot for photographers and artists with brushes. The grizzled oaks add to the western aura of the scene, and the low sunlight position makes for great shadows.
One of the biggest "Events" in Paso Robles is the Pioneer Day Parade. Here is wonderful example of Mexican American horsemanship, which was an important influence in the area's early ranching days. It looks like Don was using his flash for this shot, as the rider's face is perfectly lighted, and her black horse shows a lot of detail. Great photo, Don.
I guess we can fudge on this Caterpillar Yellow tractor by saying it borders on "O" for Orange, and thus fits the "O" theme. Whatever it is, it's sure BRIGHT! Did we say BRIGHT? So bright that the driver had to wear sunglasses. Nice details here, too. Don shoots with Nikon's 18-200mm zoom, a great lens.
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Dave has culled four shots from his October vacation time in Paso Robles. The first is for the "Aged" theme, taken at the park by the Pioneer Museum, where the old steam engines were on display. These two old birds were chewing the fat while their picture was taken. Dave should have been a little lower for a better angle, but he's still learning the trade.
Hearst Castle is a true diversion from the mainstream tourist spots. Extravagance on display. Dare we say "Opulence?" Here we have the "O" theme covered with a montage of art and architecture.
Dave really likes shooting events, but more so, the people at the events. These girls capture the fun of girlhood, the spontaneity of the moment, and pure American patriotism! Unfortunately, they'll probably never see this photo.
Dave's favorite vacation photograph was taken on Ranchita Canyon Road, northeast of Paso Robles. He and Don were out before sunrise, scouting Hog Canyon and vicinity for some great shots. When this bend in the road offered a nice minimalist abstract with clouds doing "the Dance," Dave knew this would be a memorable composition and decided to convert it to "Black and White." He'll probably get this one printed and framed, even though it's not perfect (a bit too much empty space in the upper left).
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Miss Ginnie is our last guest for the month's Challenge, but certainly not least. She wasn't going to send anything in, but this reflection shot of her patio chair and table during an "O" for October Rain caught her eye, and she had to get it. Thanks, Gin.
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Well, another month is in the can. Thanks to everyone for sharing their favorite photos. It's fun to see each other's handiwork.
November's themes will be pretty simple:
- Green
- Close-up
- Bold Color
- Angle(s)
This will let you get all the fall color you want, do a food shoot of some split-pea soup, put a magnifying glass in front of your eye and take a selfie, and find a few buildings to focus on. Easy-Peasy. Have fun, and be sure to thank God for His beautiful world and the fact that you can enjoy and appreciate it and the fact that you are healthy enough to get out and capture it on 'film.'
". . . God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy." I Timothy 6:17b
September 2014 Challenge - "S" for September, Morning, Reflection, Over-My-Head
Yes, September is past - October is here. Change is in the air, as John Updike aptly put it:
"The breezes taste
Of apple peel.
The air is full
Of smells to feel-
Ripe fruit, old footballs,
Burning brush,
New books, erasers,
Chalk, and such.
The bee, his hive,
Well-honeyed hum,
And Mother cuts
Chrysanthemums.
Like plates washed clean
With suds, the days
Are polished with
A morning haze."
~ John Updike, September
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Whatever month it is, it's a great time to take pictures, but September usually isn't too hot or too cold or too wet or too crowded with families with kids. And the Challenge themes were tailor-made for it. We've received a good number of photos to peruse and enjoy, starting with Don's "S"s and Reflections.
He says, "I stuck with the "S" and Reflection categories. I was going to try to shoot some star trails for "Over my head", but the weather conditions weren't cooperating.....until this morning. Unfortunately I got up too late. I've been getting up early every morning for almost 2 weeks now, only to see fog or high overcast. I got up at 5:30 this morning and didn't even bother to look outside right away. By the time I did, I knew I'd missed my opportunity. The sky was just starting to go from black to deep blue and it was crystal clear. Not enough time left for a long exposure. I've got 2 days left....don't count out one more submission."
We're still waiting for that star trails shot, Don! But we aren't holding our breath.
Don says, "Four of the photos fall into the reflection category. Janet and I were coming back from a jaunt to Morro Bay when we pulled up behind this polished tanker truck. I would entitle this, "Objects in mirror are much closer than they look". The last two are in the "S" category, "sea" lion and "sea" otter. These 2 were posing for the tourists in the harbor. All were shot with the Nikon D300 and 18-200mm lens. Cropping, contrast and color enhancement done in Elements 11.
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Megen is our second featured artist for September. She monopolized the "S" theme with all of her entries, using creative alliteration to title each one.
Sometimes, getting in really close is the best choice for a portrait, as you can see here. It allows for extra detail and a realism.
September Slumber
Shabby Shed
Screen Shadow
Spidery Splendor
Spider in the Straw
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Linda, you're next up with a September "S". You said, "a sad smoky sunset. There is so much smoke, it turned the sun brilliant orange. Beautiful except I knew the reason. And then I saw the reflection of the sun in the water running down the street in the drought."
For the Over-My-Head theme, you said, "This tree is dead and brown on the outside, so it was a surprise to see so much green inside. Hope it survives this awful drought."
Poor redwood. There are two redwoods on our north side over the fence. Beautiful, but super messy.
And we finally have a Morning theme photo! But look who our sunrise subject is! Linda says, "The beetle landed on the window before my eyes. So I snapped its picture, since I was standing there with my camera hoping to get a good sunrise." Wow! Looks like an alien to me. Great catch!
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Bruce's new digs in Redding is a nice little development with lakes and access to hiking trails. We'll enter all of his photos under the "S" theme: "S" for Serenity, Stillness and Solitude. Thanks, Bruce. Great composition and color.
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Ginnie also submitted a few pictures for the month, including our only flower photo - California Fuschias. She took it in the morning, so it fits the Morning theme. Note the complementing/contrasting swatch of color behind the flower on the right. Now what if it had been red - or blue?
She also went crazy with the "S"s as these next three shots prove: Sea Splash, Sentinel and Sky, and Seagulls at the Seashore.
What makes this zoomed in crashing wave composition work? It's taken with a fast shutter speed that freezes the water droplets, adding interest, but the dark band of shadow running diagonally across the top of the photo is the reason why. You wouldn't see the water drops in detail without it, and it adds balance to an otherwise non-interesting, uniform cacophony of spray.
I rarely put my subject in the exact center of the picture. But it works perfectly for this shot. Why? First of all, because Ginnie has cropped it to a square, which is more suited to portraiture than landscapes. So she's taking a portrait of this wonderful lonely oak. But she's also blending the simplicity and uniformity of the subject below with an abstract group of clouds, which force our eyes to wander all over the picture, and not just focus on the center. This photo speaks symbolically as well, as we consider the loneliness and weariness of this old sentinel, stripped of any friends, open to the harshness of sun, wind and rain, soon to die --- contrasted with the beauty, wonder and promise of what's above. That's one interpretation of many, I hope.
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At the bottom of the totem pole is yours truly, lover of the frozen narrative, laborer in the visual vineyard, long time hunter of carpe momentum.
Mornings were made for photography and painting (in my most humble opinion). The air is clear, the colors warm, the wind is still and the surprises are wonderful. This Morning theme shot was made to order as the clouds were arrayed spread-eagle, there was no direct sunlight (cloudy behind me with the sun rising), and a warm tone was in the sky. I'm not happy with the little oak tree in the foreground, but couldn't get far off the designated pathway for a better shot close to the water. Nikon D7000, 12-24mm lens, f7, 1/200, ISO 200.
I didn't expect to see this Over-My-Head theme vintage craft flying above the drag strip in early September. My camera settings were less than optimal before this shot. I had been shooting at 1/200 when I first saw the plane. It looped around while I followed it, shooting it while it left a trail of 'smoke' on its first flyby. Then, as it looped around again for a second time, I finally realized how slow the shutter speed was and bumped it up to 1/640, making my last few shots sharper. Nikon D5100, 55-300mm, f5.6, ISO 100.
This next capture fits the Reflection theme. Here is a black-necked stilt plying the shallow waters at Cosumnes River Wildlife Refuge. I placed him to the right to accentuate the water movement and ripples behind him (or her?). These are really fun birds to shoot, especially when they're fighting over females or territory. Nikon D5100, 55-300mm, f13, 1/320, ISO 1250, E.V. +1.3 (which was a big mistake - I ended up over exposing a number of shots).
Here's another Reflection photo, taken at Lodi Lake during General Mills annual Fun Run for kids on a Saturday morning. Nikon D5100, 55-300mm, f11, 1/400, ISO 800, monopod. When shooting telephoto, I try to keep my ISO moderately high so I can maintain a fast shutter speed and keep the details as sharp as possible.
My "S" theme photograph finds a sunset silhouette for the subject. Couldn't resist shooting the golden sky over the neighborhood, including this one taken over the backyard fence. Nikon D5100, 55-300mm, f4.5, 1/320, ISO 800.
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Another month in the can, and October is on the calendar. Should be another great time for capturing your world, making memories and sharing them with us. Thanks to everyone who sent photos. I know it's not easy to plan a photo shoot for most people, especially busy people like you all.
October's Challenge Themes will be:
"O" FOR OCTOBER This seems to be a good way to give folks more latitude and variety in their picture choices.
EVENT Any event that you happen to attend, like Pioneer Day, a birthday party, or your local police arresting a desperado.
BLACK AND WHITE This is self-explanatory, but you don't have to convert a color picture to black and white to be in compliance. A color picture of a piano keyboard (close up), a color picture of a black and white sign, whatever. Just make sure the photo emphasizes something or black and white.
AGED This can be an aged person, aged barn, aged tree - anything or anyone that is experiencing their vintage years.
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Rules are flexible, but the best guidelines are:
Maximum width = 1600 pixels
Maximum .jpg file size 500kb.
I can make adjustments if necessary, though, so don't worry if you're having a problem re-sizing.
As always: Keep shooting and have fun!
August 2014 Challenge: A for August, Blue, Reminds Me of Childhood, and On the Wall
It's hard to believe we started this Challenge blog three years ago this month. Wow! That's over thirty posts and a lot more pictures. I'm going to ask a favor of everyone: Please email me and let me know if you want to keep receiving the Challenge results. Some of you may have lost interest and don't want to participate any longer, which is fine. Just give me some feedback. Thanks. Email me at: [email protected] Going forward, I'll only send the results to those who reply.
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We had ample opportunities before us as the August Challenge themes were far ranging. "A" for August would have been enough to choose from -- a whole dictionary letter filled with nouns. "Blue" didn't only present color, but emotion as well, although no one went in that direction. "Reminds me of Childhood" focused mainly on nostalgic toys, but could also include a can of Spam or birthday cake. "On the Wall" was more specific and pointed.
Let me remind everyone: the plurality of Challenge theme choices should make it easier for you to choose your subject. They are not meant to be shot inclusively. You can select either one or more or all - whatever you feel like. Most photo challenges only offer one choice, thus limiting the subject and making it much harder to plan and capture it. But we usually let you have a wider field of themes, so you're more motivated to get out there and shoot. Has it been working?
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We'll highlight Don's photos first. He says, "Most of this months pics were shot in Morro Bay. Janet and I took a drive over to pursue one of our favorite pastimes....the antique shops. For things that begin with the letter "A", we stopped at the avocado farm on Hwy 41."
"The antique shops had possibilities for all the categories. The pedal car reminded me of the one I had as a kid."
"The "Antiques" sign covered 3 categories: Begins with "A", is blue and on the wall."
"While Janet shopped in one of her favorite stores, I had plenty of subjects for the "On the Wall" shots."
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Megen's choice for "Reminds Me of Childhood" theme is a picture of her daughter, Jordan. Jordan's dance troupe participated in the annual Pinedorado Days parade in Cambria, CA. When it's hot, the imagination goes to work. Ah, refreshing! She'll love seeing this in another ten years!
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We want to highlight Linda's entries next. She says, " We were driving down the street in San Francisco, and there's a lot of construction going on. You can say there's some blue, there's a letter A, and it's a wall. I thought the angle was interesting."
"Also in San Francisco, which always evokes childhood memories, because my dad used to take us there, and he always told us about when he was stationed at the Presidio. He also has pictures from Coit Tower 20 or so years apart. This day we were obviously at Pier 39."
"This beautiful Automobile was part of a display in Lodi."
"An Angler at Lodi Lake. The clouds were amazing that day. I spent many days at Lodi Lake during my childhood."
"Experimenting again with unusual angles (see #1 LOL), this Arrow will tell you which way to go. Also at Lodi Lake."
Be sure to visit Linda's blog: http://lindyslovelies.blogspot.com/2014/08/photo-challenge-for-august.html where she has more pictures taken for this month's challenge and gives us more comments on them. Thanks, Lindy. Looks like you were having fun.
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We all remember the thrill of jumping on the swings at school or in the park and getting as high as we could. We experienced the rush of wind in our face and new perspective of our little world from such great heights. Some of us were brave enough to launch into the blue, splashing down in the sand feet first - hopefully. Our friends were impressed and we could enter the hero ranks alongside them. Of course, bad timing would reward us with a pride-crushing crash landing. But we'd get up and try again.
John sent us two "Reminds Me of Childhood" photos, featuring his two young flyers in action. It was deja vu all over again. He says, "I think we all can remember taking the leap."
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Adding to the "Blue" theme, Ginnie's entry comes with a warning: don't look if you're a bit squeamish about seeing all things dead as doornails. It's only one picture, but she's figuring it has a little of each of our four Challenge themes in it, so she gets the Everything But the Kitchen Sink Award. I'm not sure whether this is a blue-belly fence lizard or an alligator lizard, but I do know it's not posing for the camera.
She says, "My personal challenge this time is to wrap all categories into one photo as explained:
"A" for Aesthetic response, or emotional response to image.
Something Blue, this guy is either a Bluebelly or a California Alligator lizard.
On the Wall, I'm sure he had been.
Reminds Me of My Childhood, several little brothers used to chase me with these, just to hear me scream.
Sorry about the quality, but I still don't like these creatures and couldn't go back out and do a retake."
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Let's all welcome Sharon to our Challenge Group. It's fun to see another perspective, and Sharon has captured all the theme flavor needed to keep the ball rolling. It's not often you see an ["A" for] almond blossom rendered in metal, especially ["A" for] aluminum. Hence, her title for this shot: Aluminum Almond Blossom. Nice detail and composition. Now we're all wondering about the 'rest of the story.' Just what is this? A picture frame? A vase? A trivet? Such a mystery!
None of us can forget the View-Master travel reels as they ingeniously spun around inside that plastic viewer. Click, click, click. We clicked our way from the Pyramids of Egypt to Yosemite National Park in a matter of minutes. All in glorious color and 3-D! High tech in our low tech worlds. Makes me want to run out and buy one. Thanks for sharing these "Childhood Memories."
Sharon shows her humorous side with "Blue Boy Revisited." Note her choice of composition. She's emphasizing the "Blue" theme by adding the blue sky to the scene. The main subject isn't centered, but placed at the left to balance the two blues so neither is overwhelming. The man logo on the door adds to the message, making it more personal and relational (does that make sense to anyone but me?). Bordering on the abstract, there is an artsy feel to it, as well.
Sharon's last entry reminds us of childhood, also. Looks like this little guy has a lot of memories of his own. Note the complementary colors, use of available light and rule of thirds used here. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_of_thirds Thanks, Sharon. We look forward to seeing more of your photos next month.
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As you can see, we've broken the record for posting the most pictures for a monthly challenge. Thanks to everyone for their participation and enthusiasm for the project. Nota bene --- You don't have to shoot EVERY theme in a given month. One will do. So don't feel intimidated or overwhelmed if you see four themes posted. I only do that to make it easier for you to choose what you want to shoot and add variety.
Wow! August was a long month -- with five weekends. So there was no shortage of picture taking for me. I'm pooped, especially after shooting the Ripon Hot Air Balloon Festival yesterday morning to round out the month. These first two photos emphasize both the "Blue" and "Childhood Memories" themes.
The Stockton Record also hosts reader photo challenges. The latest one was entitled, "The Blue Hour." This is one of two pictures they posted that I sent to them, Burns Tower on the University of Pacific campus before sunrise. It's always fun to wander the grounds when no one is around but the campus police! They let me alone when they saw my tripod.
Another "Blue" capture. This time from work. This is the dumpster bin that sits by the cutter machine I operate. Blue, with a modicum of rust to make it interesting and keep your eyes moving. Yeah, that prop bar used to be straight many moons ago. The recycling company that provides the bins is well known for it's heavy-handed beating up of these poor containers. Ha!
One more "Blue" shot - this time from the Sundial Bridge in Redding. An amazing piece of architecture, you don't want to miss using your camera on it (literally) if you ever scoot by the city. It's less than a minute from the freeway.
I made this shot with my telephoto lens propped on a ground level light fixture, guessing at what was in the viewfinder. It was a trial and error attempt to get an abstract that emphasized both the bridge engineering and blue hour sky after sunset. I didn't have a tripod, so had to resort to any available prop I could find. Don't be afraid to experiment like this. You'll be surprised at the results compared to trying to hand hold your camera when you don't have enough light. I also used the back of a bench seat, the bridge railing, and planter box as make-do tripods that night.
We also visited Weaverville with cousin Bruce and Penny. Their museum is a must-see destination, as well. First class displays. These next three shots were taken with the "A" for Antiques in mind. An old trunk, a bottle display and the guts of a grand piano. You can see the full set of old stuff here: http://wordydave.zenfolio.com/p413007466
For the "Reminds Me of Childhood" category, I chose this old phonograph with the green wool record protector. Lots of brass, dark wood and an easily replaceable needle. Grandpa Skinner had an old Victrola that we kids could use when we got older. Loved playing everything from Irish bar songs to Roy Rogers westerns. All at glorious, scratchy and monotone 78 RPM. Those were the days our kids and grandkids will never experience, sadly. Although, Sister Ginnie bought a portable (retro) player a few years ago so she could play some of the old kid's records for her grandchildren. She was hooked, also. Hopefully, the tradition will continue.
Another childhood memory is lining up for a race. I captured this bunch of kids sprinting off the start line yesterday at the Balloon Festival. It was difficult jockeying for position with so many parents taking pictures as well. Sometimes it helps to carry a big camera and get down really low for the shot. Lots of fun watching them run a false start, being herded back to the line, then getting them ready to go again. Nikon D90, 12mm lens, on camera flash for fill. You can see the full set of Festival photos here: http://wordydave.zenfolio.com/p170207956
Last, and certainly least is my shot of something "On the Wall." This was taken on the wall of the Burger King in Willows, CA where my grandfather Skinner was born. I don't think they had carbonated beverages around in 1894, but maybe. The "Nu" in the NuCO2 isn't a new element. It's the name of the beverage company that provides the CO2. This was taken with my trusty point and shoot, then played with in Photoshop to get this spongy look. An added bonus: the pigeon feather in the right corner. Hey, photography is about having fun, not like so many of those other - boring - hobbies, like playing chess or collecting tiddlywinks.
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Update: Cousin Bruce also sent some of his photos of Weaverville and the Sundial Bridge in Redding. The bridge photos emphasize the blue in the twilight sky, and the museum and classic car pictures remind us of "A" for Antiques, "On the Wall" and "Reminds Me of Childhood" themes. Thanks, Bruce. Keep shooting more shots of the bridge: one of the September themes is "S".
Now, this is camping in style!
That's Barb and Penny watching us take pictures and before they realized there were zillions of spiders right below them, ready and waiting for the lights to come on so they could have their dinner!
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Well, that was certainly a veritable variety of showman(and women)ship. Thanks to everyone who went the extra mile. It was worth every step.
September's Challenge Themes will be:
Morning - a picture that is taken in the morning, like you in the mirror when you first get up! Or not!
"S" for September - anything that starts with the letter, 'S.'
Reflection - we've done this before and it's time to revisit it.
Over My Head - everything from Combinatorics (high math) to the moon and stars.
Again, as a reminder, we need an update on whether you want to continue receiving the blog posts each month, so please email me if you do at [email protected]
Enjoy your September - you're as young today as you'll ever be!
Happy shooting.
July 2014 Challenge - Celebrations, Selfie, Hot-Hot-Hot, Water
There was little trouble finding subject material for July's challenge themes, especially the one for 'Hot, Hot, Hot.' 'Water' also played a big role in trying to stay cool when it was swelteringly blazing. Hey, it's August 1 and still over 100 degrees today where I live. The monsoonal moisture added some humidity and sprinkles to the mix - and great sunrises and sunsets for us 'photo pholk' (another moniker for lovers of beauty in nature who also happen to own cameras). It was a wonderful month.
This challenge blog was started a few years ago with the hope that it would encourage everyone to get out and shoot the world around them - make some great memories - and learn more about their camera gear and technique. It has a counterpart on Facebook: Holding Your Breath. I've started this new Facebook group to give everyone an opportunity to post their photos at any time. There are no challenge themes to deal with; just add any picture you want to share. Very simple, easy and hassle-free.
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I also enter challenges posed by the local newspaper, the Stockton Record. It's a fun way to stay 'in shape' thinking and planning what, where and when you're going to shoot. The last one was 'The Golden Hour' - pictures taken either right after sunrise or right before sunset. Since I really like taking sunrise photos, I headed out one morning to 'Celebrate' (July Theme) another sunrise at Cosumnes River Wildlife Preserve, which hosts a number of sentinel oaks dotting the landscape along the grazing fields by the river. This photo isn't the one the editor/photographer, Clifford Oto, chose to print and comment on, but this one below gives you the feeling of that morning's light as the clouds were forming and moving to the east. I had to laugh after reading the two paragraph comment about my early morning trek and camera gear and then seeing no picture on the page. I got top billing in the story that featured five or six photographers, but the layout editor must have goofed (or Oto never sent them the file). I'm the old kid on the block for these challenges and don't mind the youngsters getting published ahead of me, though. Humility is better than pride.
Clifford has a blog, as well, that replicates what's printed in the paper. The photo is in his blog, anyway. Not my best choice of shots from that morning - I like this one a lot more! Okay, statistics: Nikon D90, 12-24mm lens, ISO 200, 3 bracketed exposures married in Photoshop to bring out the grass and keep the sky dark. Hints: Sunrise and sunset sky colors, clouds and drama change quickly. Be patient, but don't miss the best light, either. Sunrays (and shadows) are fleeting: grab them when you can. You can see the whole series here.
My 'Selfie' for the month was also taken here at the Preserve. This viewing area overlooks a backwater area that usually entertains a number of birds. There are mostly herons and egrets here, but the tide must have been out (yes, the tide affects the rivers even this far inland), along with the birds the morning I was there. This old oak is huge and gnarly, housing squirrels, big ants and local fowl. A nice, quiet place to sit and remove all of the stickers from your socks.
Before going to the theater downtown last Saturday to see Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (how irrevocably stupid was that!), we walked along the waterfront promenade to get pictures of The Sherman, a 20's vintage boat that has been a restaurant in different locations over the years. Now, it's in Stockton being refurbished (it's a mess right now). They have it moored in front of the Stockton Arena at the end of the Channel across from Weber Point. It was excruciatingly 'Hot, Hot, Hot,' so I had fun taking pictures on Weber Point of the young people playing in the water fountain that displays a number of different scenarios for your cooling pleasure. This kid was really getting down to business as he briskly walked by. The water display is about 25' x 25'. I used the telephoto for these shots, so I could stand back and not get wet. Nikon D5100, ISO 400, f16, 1/1000.
My last shot highlights the 'Water' theme at the same fountain, but on the other side. Mr. Brawney had just walked through the water and turned around, waiting for the mood to strike to return, I guess. Thankfully, he stood there long enough for me to grab this shot. Most of the pictures taken were 'wait and see' photos. Everyone was moving so quickly, it was hard to compose and get thoughtful shots. I converted from color to black and white for a minimalist, high contrast look. Nikon d5100, ISO 800, f22, 1/1000. Series here.
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John is a water lover and you can find him surfing and frolicking in the wild and wonderful Pacific Ocean when his adoring wife lets him go. Here are a few shots he took while 'Celebrating' in Santa Cruz recently. 'Water' and 'Selfie' captures are added to the mix as well.
Cooper is looking for the next big wave, while John bites his tongue. Is that how you trip the shutter on a GoPro camera? Very cool shot.
Scary GoPro selfie: this is what the sharks see. Be careful out there, boys.
And the question is: Where is the sandy beach?
Addie and Pops - nice color here, John. Hey, where can I get a t-shirt like that? Thanks for sharing your adventure with us. It's like we were there in the freezing water with you, wondering 'when can we get out and find that warm, cozy restaurant for dinner?'
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Our month's submissions include those of Mr. Don, who thankfully added the 4th of July 'Celebration' to his photo repertoire. He's used two pictures here to really bump up the theme value. Like, 'Wow!' You're having way too much fun on that computer, buddy.
More celebrating going on here at a July wedding. And more computer fun to boot. Nice composition here, using the oak tree theme in the background to tell a story within a story. Nothing like a wedding to bring out the smiles and the cameras. Hey, have you photogs ever shot a wedding? As the number one photographer? It is a huge undertaking, not to be entered into without courage, physical fitness, a long list of shots, patience, camera knowledge, a good flash unit, and willingness to NOT get to eat a piece of cake (you're too busy shooting). Ask a lot of money for your photos - they're worth every penny and more! If you love stress, you'll love shooting weddings.
Now, on the lighter side, Don has captured a nice little water drop for our 'Water' theme. As an aside, he has calculated the water usage of a drip system and says, "A little trivia: 26,000 acres of vineyards, with 1/2 gph emitters, will use approximately 15,730,000 gallons of water in 1 hour." I'll let you argue the finer points with him. Photo spec note: How fast a shutter speed do you think Don used to record this single drop in focus? Yes, you're right! 1/250th of a second, ISO 500, f11 at 70mm.
Water and more water from the pump. Don says, "I wish my water pump was actually hooked up to a well. I'd be watering my yards with it......free." Don, you couldn't afford the well drilling. Some San Joaquin Valley wells are over 3500' deep. Groundwater levels are the big problem right now. The Central Valley farmers usually pump about 40% of their usage from groundwater each year. This year it will be 65% or more. Can't keep this up. Oh, nice picture, by the way.
And speaking of 'Hot, Hot, Hot', it gets really hot in Paso Robles, in spite of it being only 20 miles from the foggy Central Coast. But Don is tricking us on this on, saying, "For the "hot" theme, I put the heat to the old thermometer in Photoshop Elements 11. Hot enough for you?"
Naughty, naughty, Mr. Dahl!
Don's last photo is a selfie. I'll let you decide for yourself what kind of comments should accompany his picture. Wow! When does the TV series start?
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July was a great month for picture taking, and I'm pretty sure August will be the same. We're all looking forward to some eye-pleasing submissions and stories about them. Theme choices will be:
- "A" for August - Let us see something that begins with the letter, "A."
- Reminds Me of Childhood - Toys, vintage photos, places, faces, etc.
- Something Blue - I think we've done this before, but let's do it again.
- On the Wall - Have fun shooting outside or inside. Just make sure your subject is on a wall.
Happy shooting and enjoy the adventure.