D-275 Where the road may lead . . .

Sometimes the path you're on is not as important as the direction you're heading. ~Kevin Smith


The daily shoot: #ds319 Make a photograph of a vanishing point today made by converging lines.

Pretty simple and straight forward. Before I went for my run today thought I'd take advantage of the sun, I had to wait a few minutes for traffic to stop, walk to the middle of the road and get low. Worked really fast only got 3 shots in.


and this one because I really liked the "lines" in it.

I loved the color of the sky today, it was a perfect fall day.
I also wanted to mention that I used the Nikon kit lens, 18-55, that I got when we bought our D-80 a couple of years ago. I Hardly ever reach for the kit lenses but after today's captures it might be worth a second look next time.

Read Nikon D-700 Users Manual pages 170
Images viewed: Cynthia Graham

D-274 Fading Beauty

Macro shot of the white rose that was rescued from my yard last week. The beauty in it is quickly fading


Off camera flash to the left of the flower bounced off of the ceiling.

Nikon D-300 User's Manual 169
Images Viewed: Whitebox blog
Still reading Photography Foundations for Design and Art

On a personal note: I had a portrait session cancel today and it was such a beautiful day I wanted to take advantage of that hour after work so I put on my running shoes and I ran 3 miles. 3 MILES! It's the first run I've done since my knee surgery in April. I'm not feeling any pain and it was such a powerful time. I was able to clear my mind and focus. I'm hoping to be able to keep up this activity that brings me so much joy.

D-273 Just plugging away . . .

The Daily Shoot #317 Power plugs are ubiquitous. Can you make a creative photo of such a common thing? Try it today!
Not sure how to make a power plug interesting and creative so I played with lights.





Reading "Photography foundations for art & design" by Mark Galer

Nikhil asked about the lights in yesterdays post . . .they are a string of "Christmas lights." They are bokehed in the background. Aperature today is F/4.5 yesterday F/1.8

D-272 Brown Challenge

The Daily shoot: Make a photograph today dominated by browns or other earthtones. Explore how the color influences your subject choice.

Made by a local artisian it's my favorite pitcher - even had to order a matching bowl.


couldn't decide on which one I liked best so #2


again viewed images by Nikhil Ramkarran His images are so colorful and clear and thought provoking.

D-270 & D-271 lots & lots of editing . . .

First let me say that Saturday I had a photo shoot with this lovely young lady. Miss H - she's gonna be 8 in a couple of days.


and yesterdays Daily Shoot was: The Daily Shoot #314: Make a photograph that shows an interpretation of your favorite indulgence or guilty pleasure.
Here is definitely my guilty please, sigh, don't know why I cannot just walk away from them.


and today's challenge: Fences and walls can divide or demarcate. Make a creative photo of a fence or wall today.
A fence to separate


Read Portraits and Vision Mongers and viewed some Flickr images
Sammy Collazo's Flicker
Loren Zemlicka's Flicker

Hope Everyone has had a great weekend.

D-269 Friday Challenges

The daily shoot challenge #ds313 Make a photo of an interesting stack of books or magazines. Consider how you handle repeating lines in your composition. Also, Project 365 Face Book's challenges: Lines

These are my Rangefinder Magazines



Read: Seven Elements that Help Make a great Black & White Photo by Scott Bourne

Images viewed: Tru Shots

D-268 The ds challenge & Miss Isabella by the window

dailyshoot Daily Shoot:
Symmetry can be calm and soothing. Make a photo today featuring symmetry, either in subject or composition.
An old high tension power line - had to lay on the ground of this one.


I spent a little time with Isabella today
I must say, I'm completely smitten by her.
She was laying on my new bench by the window and I was able to capture her with available light and ISO 800




Entered this one into the "Love that shot" contest.
50mm, Nikon D-700, window light.



Images viewed: The Michael Lam Collection

D-267 Harvest Moon

The first image is for the Daily shoot: Communicate chaos, disorganization or messiness in a photograph. Find some beauty in it. (@divadeb88)

Disorganized Beauty


Super Harvest Moon
It comes but once every 20 years, a spectacular coincidence of summer verging into fall, as a rising harvest moon lights the evening sky just as the last sunset of summer glimmers out.

Called a "super harvest moon" for its spectacular apparent size and shimmering light, the moonrise at about 6:28 p.m. Wednesday rings in fall as the season turns.



To learn about this moon read here: Super Harvest Moon

and about 20 minutes later


Images Viewed: Bert Hardy


Read Nikon D700 User's Manual pg 167-168

D-265 & 266

Abandoned Cement Factory


The Daily Shoot - Use a mirror as part of a composition in a photograph today. Show yourself in the image if you'd like!
The last rose of the season from the garden.





Inspiration: Pebbles Photography Blog
Read Nikon D-300's User Manual pages 159-166
Portraits by Terry Hope

D-264

Articles Read:Ronan Palliser's Photoblog
Also looked at but have not read all: 100 Helpful Photography Tutorials
Inspiration: Jinky Art Blog

D-263 You have to have a plan

Today I walked a 5K with and for my friend Flora, against breast cancer. I am really proud of this strong warrior.

I also had a 2 year old in the studio today. Look at this sweet child! The eyes, the hair, the cheeks! She looks like her mom - just gorgeous.

I normally over shot. I challenged my self to cut down on all of the shooting. There are times when it is neccessary, but not always. It's become a cruch for. To make sure I "got the shot." I'm not talking about practicing everyday. I'm talking about snapping the shutter 20 times to make sure you get the right one. Well, not this time. I had planned in my mind what kinds of shots I was gonna try to get. We got what I wanted in about 40 shots, less than 40 minutes. I'll offer the family about 20. Easy for the family and easier on me. That was a tip from the Professional photographer magazine.






I used my Nikon 50mm 1.4
what a sweet lens!

Nikon D-700 Users Manual read section on custom white balance.

Images viewed: Jose Villa Blog

D-262 Photographic Journey

I have the honor/privilege of being featured in Tasra Mars blog.
I can honestly say that my photography has improved immensely after joining Tasra's Challenge. Read about my journey here

Friday's challenge for Facebook project 365 is "Fall Colors"

This is from the sassafras tree in out yard. In about a week or two it will be completely red and just beautiful.



Inspiration Images: Professional Photographer Magazine September 2010 read cover to cover.
Also viewed Jasmine Star's blog.
Picked up the Nikon D-700 Users Manual again.

D-261 Sunflower

Bought myself a treat

I love sunflowers. They remind me of sunshine.

I've also been inspired by Imogen Cunningham. Her eye for detail is simply exquisite and I wonder how she captured details like she did in 1901, without all of the technology.

I've been reading "Portraits" by Terry Hope

With those 2 inspirations, I'm feeling motivated to do some black and whites.

Who inspires you?

D-260 Shadows

I always work hard at avoiding shadows in my images - but guess what? Shadows add contrast to images, they add dimension and interest.
Today's Daily Shoot Challenge is: Hard shadows can emphasize texture and edges. Find a scene lit with hard shadows today and make a photo.

I didn't "Find" a scene I had to create one. Here's my entry:
Hard Shadows - little elephants




Read: Proper Use of Shadows in Picture Correct

Imogen Cunningham

D258-259 Painting with light

I went looking for beauty in the yard today, I needed to start with a fresh view again.
Today's Daily challenge: The daily shoot: Use a door or window as a framing device to contain a smaller scene today.
Sunshine through a garden window





Nikon D-700
70-200 2.8

I played with the bokeh light and created a couple of other flower images they are posted on my facebook page and my flickr account.


Images viewed:
FLOWER PHOTOGRAPHY TECHNIQUES & TIPS

D 255 - 257

“Life's up and downs provide windows of opportunity to determine your values and goals - Think of using all obstacles as stepping stones to build the life you want”
Marsha Sinetar quotes

I will expound on this quote on a later post.

Friday D-255
I shot a beautiful wedding. Gorgeous bride & groom


Saturday D-256
This was Project 365 FB challenge - Door


Sunday D257
Changes


Did I forget to mention I roamed this abandoned church for a bit? It's been about a year since my last visit there. Since my last visit, there have been 2 movies filmed there, Nightmare on Elm Street and Transformers 3. It's called City Methodist Church in Gary, Indiana

Life is good - live it to the fullest.

D-254 On weighing things out . . .

I missed yesterdays post. Not sure what happened. I had training all day, then I came home to take care of home responsibilities, David is really sick, he has pneumonia and some other complications. Time sort of slipped by me and today while checking my blog, I was surprised I didn't post yesterday - LOL. Today has been sort of a blurr too but I had Isabella for a couple of hours and I managed to capture this.



She's really not angry, she was just concentrating on making this necklace and I called her, so she looked up really quickly. I am amazed at how much her look has changed in the past couple of months. She's looking older. I could have taken more images but I decided to spend some time with her. I mean really spend time with her.
and so weighing things out, yesterday I had to take care of David and myself, today I had to spend time with her.
Sometimes I just have to give up on the reading and the browsing. I'll get back to it soon, but weighing things out, my health is more important.

Window light

Images viewed: Thayer Hearts Weddings

D-253 The daily shoot the number 9 & 6 and Hands

No portrait work today - today I followed the daily shoot. Two days worth to be exact.
The daily shoot:
"Make a photograph with either a 9 or 6 (components of today's date) in it represented in some way and post it today."

We've had these old milk quarts for a while. I happened to turn them over and there were the numbers.

The bottles were placed on a light box (light is underneath the subject).

A couple of days ago the challenge was The daily shoot
A person's hands can tell a story. Take a picture of someones hands today.


My mom is one of the hardest working people I know. She doesn't let much slow her down. She loves doing yard work.

Images viewed: Jose Villa Blog

Urban Weddings

D-251 & D-252 Wedding and My girls

My daughter is so beautiful

She came home for the weekend (she's in the Army on active Duty in Kentucky) and today we did a photoshoot with her and Isabella.

I love this image
The daily shoot "Welcome the new week (and holiday in the US) by making a bright cheery photo outdoors and posting it today."



Yesterday I second shot a wedding for my friend Shawn. The bride and groom wanted to go to Chicago for some Urban type shots. We had so much fun.


and the last one of the day is another Doxie I met in the park.

This is Audrey. This little one is pretty sick with a rare genetic disease that kills her skin. She's also a friendly little one.

Viewed images: Ed Pierce's Photo Vision.
Range Finder
Frank Frost

D-250 Daily shoot

I went looking for my daily shoot today and met this little lady her name is Sophie she is 7 months old and very friendly.
I love Doxies!



The daily challenge
"Water sustains life. Color enhances life. Make a photo today combining color and water."


While reading Sasi's blog I noticed he has a blog follower who is very thorough in his comments and gives great advice so I took a look at his work. OMG! This guy calls himself an amateur but no, I wouldn't call him that. His images are rich, colorful and lots of contrast. Nakhil Ramkarran

Interesting read about the rights of photographers entering competitions. Worth the read Know your rights

D-249 Vintage baby

The daily shoot was Make a photograph of one of the least expensive things that you cherish. (adapted from suggestion by @heidi)



Probably not worth much but I watch this little figurine, in my grandma's and mom's curio cabinet since I was a little girl. It belonged to my grandma and I snuck it out of my moms house for this picture. I'll have to sneak it back in for it's rightful place on the mantel.

D246 - D248 Do the lines seem a bit blurry sometimes?

Do the "lines" sometimes seem a bit blurry?
I think it's time to revamp my goals and business plan.
Technically this image is totally incorrect, but I did it intentionally.






I've been doing lots and lots of editing and shooting. I will catch up with my blog and blogging friends as soon as I can catch my breath. Thanks for stopping by.

Interesting learning how to light glass.