Assignment- 'Where I do most of my thinking'

I do most of my thinking and work in the den.  Tonight I had a fire going as I corrected papers and so I took time out to capture these images.  The one above is obviously 'lighter' and vertical whereas the one below (my favorite) is darker and horizontal.  Photographing a bright fire in a small, dark room proved challenging, however, unlike last week, I did the assignment!

Have Heart

This week's assignment was 'heart shaped'.  I tried many different subjects, however, this was the best I found -though ordinary.  In this image I used a white background and then altered it to black using my photo editing program.  I then practiced making the image size small enough to email so, as I write this, I am not sure of the quality.  I'll soon find out once I hit the 'publish' button.

Assignment "Rust"

Another building in Amsterdam, NY that is crumbling.  The 'pillar' next to the door was covered by metal, covering the brick.  It has since turned into rust and is nearly gone.  I increased the saturation so that one could see that I did indeed complete my assignment!

Assignment 'Stripes'

 

I was stumped with this assignment until a friend suggested that I photograph a flag.  Duh!  I'm a history teacher but didn't think of that subject on my own!  Sometimes the obvious alludes me.  The photo above is with double exposure and with a filter..so please click for better viewing.  The image below was taken by my friend Nicole.  I'll only take credit for the filter.  The larger than life flag was hanging over a Scotia street.  I like the rainy day and the oil filter that I added.  Again, please click for better viewing.

 

Assignment 'Stranger'

I'm not sure if these photos work for this week's assignment; however, this gentleman is a stranger to me.  I don't know him.  The only information I have is what you are reading on his stone.  Likewise, the man represented below is unknown to me.  Though I don't know them individually what they did for our country is well known!  I appreciate our veterans and I marvel at their bravery and dedication to our country.

The image below was an experiment of mine that didn't really 'take off'.  I wanted to take photos of street life/city life.  I went out early, with my camera, in hopes of finding people at bus stops, walking the streets, going to church, walking in a park, etc.  My plan was hampered by the fact that people were not out and about! at all!  I like the image below because it is exactly what I wanted.  I wanted an 'old feel' and I wanted blurry photos.  I like photos of street life where the subjects are blurred and where the color of the photo is 'off'.  I hope to get back to this style of photography soon.

Calm Before The Storm

This week's assignment was 'storm'.  As I was hoping the Storm of the Century, as it has become to be known, did not affect our area to a great extent.  This was the day of the storm.  Coming home from school early, out of precaution, the sun poked through often in Amsterdam.  As I was preparing for the winds, I snapped this photo out of my garage window.  I wasn't thinking of using this photo for anything but I decided it is an interpretation of the word 'storm'.....loosely interpreted?  You have to give me credit for the one leaf which blew up onto the window as I snapped the photo!  Not exactly a scary scene.

Assignment= Collection

Women like shoes, Men like hats!

Assignment "Nail It"

Sometimes having an old garage full of materials is a very good thing!

Too Early? Assignment Flashlight

MAKE SURE YOU ENLARGE FOR FILTER EFFECT

Is it too early for Halloween?

Assignment Purple- From my backyard

The Sun's Rays

Chamber? Vault? It's beautiful no matter the name

 

Assignment "Mask"

Retro Film Processing

Taking images today and making the final result look like photos in the 1960s.  Pale, yellowish colors were typical of the processing then.

 These are motels found on rt.5S.  Below, a motel of mirrors??  hmmm..odd/creepy.  Above, "Free TV"  Whoopie!  Again, those these motels are operational it is obvious they were opened in the past, maybe 70s?

 Below, the image that inspired it all.  Hard to believe this scene was captured this past summer.

Ghost Hunters- ENLARGE AND LOOK CLOSELY

I had a hard time with the 'ghost' assignment but then I watched the TV show "Ghost Hunters".  On that show, the hunters use a variety of techniques to capture ghosts.  Above, heat sensors can be used to detect ghosts.  Also, many ghost photos capture white streaks or orbs.  I was amazed at the activity in my house as you can see below.

 My den was full of ghost activity.  Near the fireplace I think I see a woman's face.  She or "it" was very interested in my activity.  According to the tv ghosts are pretty shy.

 I thought the breeze blew open the door so the image below spooked me!

The last summer weekend....a good day for a bike ride

Consumption

This week's assignment was to photograph 'consumption.'  I interpreted that as consuming food and beverages.  The above was taken using a lighboard underneath the straws and a large flashlight above them.  Below, I was once again practicing with the program Light Room.  I like experimenting with filters and colors so both images were fun for me to edit.

Blue Moon 2015 is the next opportunity

I thought a 'Blue Moon' would have a tint of blue, of course.  I educated myself to learn that the term indicates a second 'full moon' in a month.  This will not occur again until 2015.  The photo above is full color, not blk/wht.  I did nothing to the image.  It's not award winning but it documents the 'Blue Moon'.

Assignment: TALL/short

I changed the above to blk/wht and added noise. Below I did nothing.  That grass is sooo green like the grass you see in early summer.  Bailey doesn't fit the assignment but is just too cute to leave out! 

Jump!!!

 Both are learning how to land on their feet SAFELY. (inside joke).

Lightroom Practice

These are practice photos using "Lightroom 3"  These images were in very poor quality and composition.  I attempted to make the composition more interesting with cropping and used many processes which affected light.  With Lightroom I know how to lighten/darken parts or specific areas of a photo, rather than making the entire image brighter/darker.  These techniques are simple for some but it is a learning curve for me.  Soooo much I still don't know!

SMART= The next photo scavenger hunt item

Learn, Create, Practice, Perform, Critique, Promote, Entertain, Invest............smart

A clearer look at the photo below.

Scavenger Hunt- Glass/Crystal

I used a 'sponge' filter to capture this image of me waking up.  I'm blessed, or cursed, with some early morning light that fills my bedroom.

Scavenger Hunt

A photo Scavenger Hunt has begun and week one's object to find is 'division'.  I needed to find an object that divides something into two.  Here is my result.  My wall divides the private property on the left and a public hiking trail to the right!  Week one, complete!

Memorial Day Parade Street Photography Practice

Practicing for an upcoming assignment- BLK/WHT Street Photography