Saying goodbye is never easy . . .

It was not planned this way but with the last post, I think it appropriate to say good by to my "365 Days of Reality"

I've been planning on changing my blog for a while. I had hoped to carry it out sooner, but now seems as good a time as any.

Please continue following my work at S.R.Marek Photography srmarekphotography.wordpress.com

I have also changed my photography site. The new site is: Srmarekphotography.com
I hope to see you there soon. I have immensely enjoyed the past two and a half years of posting and growing, personally, professionally and in my craft. I will always be grateful to my new found "cyber friends" I've learned from you and leaned on you. I hope to continue to grow my circle of friends. Thank you all!

R.I.P Violet Drummond

From the moment I took this photo, two days ago, Janice, my mother in law, loved it.
Today I dedicate it to her and her mother Violet.
Violet Drummond passed away at 10:00 PM

Baby BJ

Some of you have already seen these images but I wanted to share on my blog.

Baby BJ is a newborn who wants to act more like a toddler. I love taking pictures of newborns! Cute cute cute.

These were taken in my home studio with window lights and reflector only.


Today Elli shared this blog with me: Gardening gone wild He has an interesting project called Macro in a Mason Jar. My jar isn't large enough but it was good enough to get a couple of close ones. Next time I'll play around some more.

Low Key

and so I'm back, unable to change my hosting domain or blog accounts yet. Hmmm, grrr
today's challenge is Low Key


I was enjoying the sunshine today so I took a walk in my yard.

and the sun does shine in N.W. Indiana, sometimes

Thorns


Reaching

So frustrated with blogger. I had a lot to say and I did say it but blogger didn't like it so he threw it all away. I'll take care of you blogger!







to know more about these images go to Flickr

To what extreme's would you go for an image?

Do your families think your strange? Do you lose sleep hunched over your computer post processing and learning/reading photography related things?
Are you aware of the light around you at all times? You may be a little bit obsessed. Not to worry your not alone. There are a bunch of support groups around. This is one of them, Facebook Project 365, project 365 there is alot of support out there, but not to help you quit, only to make you better.

This one was a bit eerie. Night shot - hand held because my tripod broke. It's 15 degrees F out. I almost froze!
This was a little strange. Found it behind a church. We pulled up to take a picture of a window and this was behind the church. No fence, no signs. It felt weird so we left right away.



Lonely & cold - here's another park bench.


I haven't been able to warm up so I'm getting some hot tea! Enjoy your weekend.

Team-Up Thursday "New"

Well, you know I couldn't go too long without a challenge. Today's was definitely a challenge because of time issues. None the less I have completed and created a Diptych With Staci .
She took this beautiful classy image of her "new" cologne. I took a picture of Isabella's "new" toy.


How is everyone doing? Those of you who have completed your 365, are you still posting? Have you moved your blogs? Let us know we'd like to follow.

Oh baby . . .

I had an appointment with this little fellow tonight, but he had other plans. So we are meeting again on Saturday to try it again. We will blame it on the clouds again. Wish me luck.




Images Viewed by Jodie Otte

The first full moon of the year . . . maybe

Last night was supposed to be the first full moon of the year. My mother in law called me to tell me about it.
So David and I set out, tripod in tow to try and capture the first full moon of 2011. Again, no such luck, if you remember on the first we were out looking for the first Sun Rise of the year but it was too cloudy. Again, the clouds have won. So instead I tried a little night time photography. I've always been fascinated by Terry and Sasi's night adventures.
While out there in the cold, my tripod finally gave out! It's pretty old, and I knew I would be needing a new one soon, but I just wasn't ready. So now I'm in the market not only for a blog site but also a tri-pod. It's all part of the New Years Challenge. LOL
Twilight and a partially frozen lake

This next one was hand held - i'm surprised it turned out with that slow of a shutter speed, but it worked.
A lonely park bench
.
So if you cannot shoot what you set out to do just turn around and shoot something else. It'll all be fine in the end.
I had a couple of questions about my photography groups - these are local groups I joined just do a google search for "meet ups" and "photography groups" in your area and you should have the information you are looking for.

thanks for stopping by
I appreciate the comments.

Landscape photography . . .

One of my goals for 2011 was to join a photography group. I've accomplished that already. Actually I signed up for two photography groups. One of them is informal. Just getting together for meetups and such. The other is a bit more structured and is based on learning, sharing, participating and showing your work, as in contest(sigh). This is all part of the plan of continuing my photography education and growth.
Yesterday was our first meet-up. We got together in the state of Michigan. It was really cold! We had 9 (total) dedicated photographers who withstood the elements. We spent in excess of 4 hours walking and taking pictures. We walked in town and then went into a restaurant to warm up. Then we went to the lake/beach, then we went to a carousel house. It was so much fun meeting new photographer and making some new friends. I look forward to our next outing.



Pier Workers
please note that they are walking on ice. The Pier was completely frozen over with the waves still splashing over. I was walking on ice but it was not that narrow.








I haven't found a niche in landscape photography yet. I haven't studied it enough to figure out how to make them interesting, now give me a person and I've got that!
The Copper man. Is he real or not?


Read: 11 Surefire Landscapte Photography Tips

Images Viewed: AutoMatt

Helga Kvam

D-365 The end of a 2 year project

I am relieved and yet I have so many unanswered issues. I had planned on presenting my new blog and website today. That hasn't happened. I don't like change and although I've been unhappy, on a business stand point, with my website and my blog I've dragged my feet. Dreading making the wrong choice. I have switched over to Smugmug for my Photography Website but it won't be operational until the end of the month. Since I don't have that up and running I have a little more time on deciding what blog to use. It's between Wordpress and Typepad. I've heard positives and negatives about both. So, for the rest of this month, I'll be on this blog. I'll keep you posted.

I am not committing to doing another 365 day project, but I will probably post frequently. Scott Bourne says we should shoot every day, maybe even several times a day. It's the only way to be a better photographer. I intend on continuing the tradition.

Although this is my second year posting an image a day, the last year I've seen the largest learning curve. I've improved immensely and I attribute that to Tasra Mars Blog/Challenge.This was my article in September 2010

It all started about 3 years ago when I wanted a nice camera to take “better” pictures for my scrapbooking hobby, so my husband gave me a Nikon D-80 for Christmas. I shot in Auto Mode for the first year. One year later, I purchased a used Nikon D-300. I started a picture a day project/blog about a year and a half ago, with a group of photographers of all skill levels.
For the first year, I literally just took pictures. I had no direction, no guide and no plan. Pictures of everything and anything would make an appearance in my blog, once I even included my laundry. Most of these images were not very creative, just point and shoot, but I worked on learning something about photography every day.

On February 14, 2010 I came across Tasra Mar’s Blog in which she says that our photography will improve by 300% if we:

1.Take at least one picture a day.
2.Read at least 1 page in the camera manual
3.View other professional images every day.
That day I signed on – I took the challenge. Six and a half months later I have completely read the users manual for the D-300 and I have followed her recommendation to become a better photographer. I have also taken on a daily challenge (The Daily Shoot) in which they give you a guide line for your picture of the day. My learning curve has tripled in the last six months.

These are a few of the things I’ve learned in my photographic journey:

■We all need a little help along the way and it’s o.k. to ask when you are stuck, there are people willing to help.
■Challenges are good for growth, it makes you think outside of the box.
■I can study other people’s work, outside of a classroom setting, and find out what it is I like about it, then “lift” my own style and include what I have learned from it in my own work.
■The camera is only as good as the person holding it.
■It helps me grow faster when I share what I’ve learned.
■I have to have tough skin, if I want to continue on this journey.
■It will all pay off in the end…
I’m reading the book Vision Mongers by David duChemin and he puts into words what it feels like in my life every day.

It’s the calling, the passion, the vision. It makes me pick up my camera every single day, sometimes several times a day. It makes me look at objects/people and wonder how I can shoot it creatively. I do it because I cannot “not” do it. It may not always be my best but it’s my best for that day.

So I will continue to pick up the camera every single day, I will continue to take pictures because I cannot “not” do it. I no longer shoot in Auto mode and I see the world in a “different” light. I see colors, shapes, light and shadows. I see details. I have a greater appreciation for the world around me. I have found my passion and my drive.

I don't think I know how "not to take a picture" everyday.
My grandiose idea for my 365th post (2010) was a sunrise. What can be better than that on 1/01/11? We went to the freezing beach at 6:00 am, on our day off, and there was not sunrises to be had.



above the moon - it could be Venus. I thought it was a star but further research said that it was Venus. Who am I to argue.

I've been long winded today - so obviously not a goodbye - at least not yet.