Project 365/ Day 5 symmetry/Day 6 winter

I thought day 5 was the hardest thing ever until I got to day 6. Day 5 was symmetry. There is symmetry everywhere so you would think it would be easy. It wasn't and a lot of other pojecter's felt the same way about this theme. It just isn't easy to portray symmetry. Try it for yourself. I tried different subjects, angles, and light something was always just off,or wrong. Mostly what happened was something else would manage to be in the frame and the symmetry would get lost. It took me all day to get my picture and even after I had it I was unsure of it and myself. I came up with 3 pictures that actually screamed symmetry making it hard for me to pick just one. In the end I did and this is it. 

 When I framed this shot I saw symmetry just about every where you looked in the screen. When I loaded it up on the computer and I could see it better I was pleased with my self that I had caught with the camera what I had seen with my eyes. I really like that there are angles of symmetry in this photo as well as shadows of symmetry. Every where you look symmetry.
  So now you heard how difficult it was to do day 5,well day 6 that one was even harder. How do you shot winter on a warm almost hot summer day. Professionals do it every day,I am the first to say I am not a professional. I had an idea however I went looking in the barn for the props I would need and then went looking for the perfect spot to get a picture of winter in the heat of the summer. I tried this that and the other and nothing was coming together. I tried in the shade, late afternoon, and dusk, inside, up against  a white wall. I tried every setting on my camera. Nothing worked. I was giving up and going to just use the best shot I got whatever that was, and believe me there was no best shot. As I was putting my props back I saw one of my snow children peeking out from behind the shelf and I knew I was on to something so I grabbed the snow child my sled and headed to the sand box. Nothing says winter better then sledding at least not to me. I had been using the sled in all my pictures and it wasn't coming through as winter. Most likely because the sled is modern and not an old fashion wooden one with red handles. Anyway my idea was going to work I just knew but it was to dark and I wasn't getting the effect I wanted so I gave up. Until morning that is I cheated a little and got my day 6 done on day 7. I needed the softness of the morning light and since my themes don't get here until after 10 am I can't get early morning light until the next day. I still wasn't able to get the effect I wanted, I was at least a lot happier with the pictures I took in the AM then anything i had done the day before. I was trying to make the sand look white enough to pass for snow. It just didn't work that way. Well have a look and tell me what you think. Did I make you think of winter.

I still have a lot to learn about shadows and lighting.
 So there you have Day 5 and Day 6 both challenging days for sure. 

Project 365/ Day 4 Water

This photograph made me really work for it. I had to spend my afternoon walking a trail in the woods. I have to say while it was a beautiful day perfect for walking in the woods I was a little tense at being alone in the woods. Not sure why but I was just short of scared.
 Once I got to the lake I realized you couldn't just walk up to the waters edge and walk along its banks, there was way to much foliage for that. I wasn't walking away with out at least on picture of the water. I stood on a park bench that was there and looked up down and all around the body of water and saw nothing,no reflection, or ripples nothing that smacked me in the face and said water.As I stepping down from the bench I saw a small opening in all that beautiful green foliage that was just wide enough for me to step into. I stepped in and again no smack in the face. I felt something under my foot that gave me an idea. I aimed focused and set my camera settings then I bent down and pick up the good size stone under my foot and threw it in the water aiming for the spot I had focused my camera on. Then I just started taking pictures of the ripple. It work well and I got 3 or 4 picture before the water went completely still again. I like every shot I took, focused, framed and good color. Just in case I was wrong and didn't like or they weren't as good as I thought I took a couple of back up pictures of water being poured. I didn't do that one so well to much light and bad angles as well out of focus. I did take a picture of water running in a drinking fountain and I did like that one a lot also but

 I liked this one so much more. It was after all the picture I walked and worked for.

Project 365/ Day 3 Texture

The hardest part of day 3's project was picking my subject. There is just so much to choose from. While I was thinking about it and planing my picture I came up with 3 ideas all involving trees in one form or another. 
 My first idea was leaves we have some real beautiful leaves around our yard and there was this one leaf that kept calling to me through the window. 
 My second idea was the tree itself there is just so much texture in the bark. We are surrounded by trees and I never get tired of looking at them.The many different styles of bark is so interesting.
 My third idea was the wood it self. It was raining yesterday and the ends of the wet fire wood were so eye catching with their rings and variation of colors.
 I took a handful of pictures of all 3 ideas. When I took the picture that I knew in my heart  was the one I didn't stop I finished all the ideas I had. I was right all 3 ideas gave me some stunning pictures and any one of the ideas would be a good one,but there could only be one. When I loaded up my pictures I knew in a glance  which picture it would be. I was absolutely right about the picture when I took it. It was the one 

      The leaf, an entire tapestry of texture.

Project 365/Day 2 Clouds

Day 2 was clouds. Easy right? Wrong! The first two pictures were just what we aren't suppose to do. I just aimed and shot. The result was pretty pictures of trees with clouds behind them. After picture 1 and 2 I stopped and did what we are suppose to do,think about the shot plan the shot. I took a walk around the neighborhood looking for a fluffy white cloud that wanted its picture taken. I took about 10 pictures on that walk. One of them was pretty good and I thought I had my picture.

I actually liked all 10 of the photos but I didn't love any of them. I went for a ride to the grocery store with out my camera and all I could see was clouds. I did however have my Iphone. I took 3 pictures in the parking lot and they looked pretty good. I really liked the lighting behind them,to bad they weren't in frame. When I got home from the store I took a walk all the way out back with my camera in hand. As soon as I looked up at the sky I saw it,I took my time thought about it and pictured it and then I took my shot. 

I love it. This is one of the best photos of clouds I have ever done. 

Project 365/ day 1 windows

I started a new project yesterday with the intent of improving my photography. Each day I am given a suggestion and I need to take a picture of that suggestion. 
 Yesterday was windows. I took 21 pictures of three different windows to get the one perfect shot. well if not perfect then at least good. My hope is that by this time next year I take less shots and I do get the perfect picture. A person can dream. Anyway here is the picture I picked as being my best shot.

 I was thinking about putting all 21 pictures up for your viewing pleasure. That just seemed like to much so I am going with "and the winner is" kind of style and only showing the picture I pick for the project.
 I have checked my email twice already this morning I just can't wait to see what I am photographing today.

FRIENDS!

In this day and age of computers, I pads and so many other means of social communications, it is not unusual to have friends you have never meet. Well never meet in person that is. Some times it seems the people we chat on line with, share pictures, and stories with  we get to know them almost better then the friends we see regularly. If not better at least just as well. You find your self thinking about them, worrying about them,wondering how this that or the other went. Before you know it these images on the screen,the words you read, and the voices you hear thanks to skype become real and important people in your life. Distance and even language is no longer a barrier to making friends. Thanks to the internet any one can be friends with any one.
  We all met on a recipe web site. It started out harmless enough. LOL since when is 20 some women chatting all together harmless?  We were able to share recipes and chat a little on that site and every day we did,but we wanted more so a face book page was made. The 20 of us would gather there and we shared so much, stories about our families,pictures of everything from our kids to our gardens. We skyped when we could,had cyber parties and in general enjoyed a great friendship. We did some good while we were at it and raised money among ourselves for hurricane victims and for a child at Christmas. As with all good things our group came to an end. We didn't stop being friends we just stopped meeting on the page, we got busy,lives change, things happen. We still follow each other through blogs,and a quick chat here and there. A comment on a photo or recipe that sort of thing. Some keep in touch more with this one or that one and less with others but we are all still friends.
 Well thanks to Allrecipe.com and its 15TH birthday celebration 5 of us got the chance to meet. We all flew into Seattle WA from all over the country. Well Laurie lives in WA so she didn't get to fly. She got to be the hostess and guide.

 It was like we had seen each other every day of our lives when we at last came face to face. There was no awkwardness or uncomfortable silences. It was all smiles and laughter.We were in Seattle for a reason and had things to do and many many new people to meet as well as friends to make, but we spent as much time together as possible. We shared a few meals together,took in some of the sites together and made memories to last us a life time. Most of all we were just so happy to be together.We talked about the great weather, how beautiful Seattle was and we talked about how lucky we were to see it together.
  When I left Seattle Saturday morning bright and early while everyone else still slept, I didn't feel sad or like I would  miss these wonderful ladies,because I knew I would see them real soon. Sure enough on Sunday I turned on my computer and there they where.Saying good morning. 
        So lets meet the fabulous five

Laurie our hostess and guide.She took time out of her busy life and made sure we all had a good time. Such a beautiful lady.

Lillian and Peggi getting ready to enjoy a wonderful dinner in one of Seattle's famous restaurant. 2 of the sweetest ladies ever.

Miss Dee.I love her purple hair it is just so her. 

 And then there is me.

Also with us that night was Laurie's husband John and Peggi's husband Harlen.What troopers they both were sitting there contently while we gabbed away.
  I have to say a big thank you to John. He and Laurie took me to Puget Sound my first night in town and John walked every inch of that beach with me helping me find treasures like sand dollars and dead jelly fish. He even got his brand new shoes Dirty. So Thank you John.
 Ladies it was a great gift not only to get to meet you but to be able to meet in such a beautiful city. A memory I will treasure forever.

Christmas In July

Each year in July Cousins Mike and Chris throw a party to celebrate Christmas. If you and your spouse have big families you know how hard it is to get together for the holidays in December. So in our family in July all the cousins  and hopefully their children get together and celebrate Christmas.
 Just like the 25th of Dec. the gifts are a fun part of the party, the difference being that in July we regift and a funny useless gift can be the talk of the evening. We gather at Mike and Chris's beautiful home and swim, eat and drink. We then have the times of our lives trying to pick the most wanted gift from the pile of perfectly wrapped unwanted presents.  
  Like in a few other blogs I have written I am going to let the photos do the talking.


Enjoying A meal together

A little time to visit and swim

Here comes Santa Claus...

Look who is coming!

Oh My Goodness it is Santa!!!! 

Santa's shoes look like Dzidzia's

Santa gets a hug

Pollyanna time

Joe & Karen  discuss the best pick. 

Now our lovely Host and Hostess Mike and Chris.

Mike

Chris

                        Merry Christmas in July Everyone!