Summer Colors

A subtle difference between above (no manipulation) and below.
Always experimenting which makes this 365 day competition enjoyable.
This flower is really that color!

Friday- Around Town's Shoot Out!

As you can see, I did the wrong assignment Friday, for the Friday Shoot Out. I felt badly because this week's assignment was relaxation not funny signs. I woke up early this morning to fulfill my responsibility. I find morning to be relaxing and I find the country and outdoors to be relaxing as well. I was fortunate to find both components coming together here. What first caught my attention was the one barn window lit with sunshine. Then I noticed the scene around the barn and came up with a relaxing series of pictures. For the Friday Group..I'm sorry I'm a day late..but a week early with my sign!

My Town-Friday Shoot Out

This is the worst picture I have taken in a while...in my opinion; however, it is all that I could do today. Today was one of those days where nothing worked photographically. My Friday Group's assignment was to take signs that are "funny" or "odd", etc. Well I drove past a cemetery, which is in my city, and noticed that it is ironically located on a dead end street.
The cemetery stones are too far away from the sign to make the picture complete so I shot through my windshield and used the blue sky and the cross hanging from my rear view mirror to represent the heavenly quality of a cemetery. I then used the two images and combined them. I had also used cemetery stones; however, the multiple image just didn't work. I apologize for the poor quality photo today but it wasn't because of a lack of effort.

House!!! Hopefully!

Today's (Thursday) assignment was to match a photo with lyrics to a song. I've used this song before; however, the extended lyrics here match what is going on in my life perfectly. I've climbed, I've fallen, I've "won" and I've "lost"...but it is all about the climb :)

I can almost see it

That dream I am dreaming

But there's a voice inside my head saying

"You'll never reach it"

Every step I'm taking

Every move I make....

I gotta keep my head held high....

There's always gonna be another mountain

I'm always gonna wanna make it move

Always gonna be a uphill battle

Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there

Ain't about what's waiting on the other side...

It's the climb....

The struggles I'm facing

The chances I'm taking

Sometimes might knock me down

But no, I'm not breaking

I may not know it

But these are the moments

That I'm gonna remember most, yeah

Just gotta keep going

And I, I got to be strong

Just keep pushing on.... (And I will)

Miley Cyrus..The Climb

The house is definitely not a done deal so please send your good wishes my way...

Early Morning Hike

This afternoon will be stressful for me so I decided to take a nice short hike. These are my favorite images using my macro lens. Hopefully I will be able to share my stress with you tomorrow through my blog. Just what you wanted, someone to share stress with you!

"Old" is In!

Another old car sitting in a parking lot grabbed my attention as I ran errands today. There was sun flare which I liked and I learned how to keep that in color while converting the rest of the image to black and white. Another lesson learned.

INFO

Hello bloggers...I wanted to give some information regarding posts that I have made recently.
1. Most of you felt correctly that the car photo was manipulated. I took a picture of an old car and then created the fire around it. I wanted to see if I fooled anyone...and I don't think I did. But isn't the result sort of cool?? or hot?
2. My photo of my niece's eyes looking through the flower petals...I got a lot of great responses. Clown nose, animal nose, etc. Obviously that is what made me laugh about the photo! Sometimes a good idea just doesn't work out! I'll try again with another photo some day.
3. For those new to my blog, a few friends and I are involved in a 365 Day Challenge. I take a picture and post a picture every day. I'm in the final stretch of my 365 days as my challenge ends around Oct 1st. It has been an amazing learning experience and I strongly encourage anyone interested in photography to give it a try. You will learn a lot about your camera as well as stretching yourself with different themes, styles, etc.
THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE WHO ENJOY MY BLOG. I ENJOY VERY MUCH VISITING YOURS TOO!

Car Fire!!!

Always bring your camera because news happens fast! Last week there was a fire in Amsterdam at the same time I drove by...I was there before the firetrucks!!...but no camera.

Well today I was there when this car was engulfed on the side of the road. The heat was intense and Im happy I was far enough away with the telephoto lens..otherwise I wouldn't have been able to take this. Luckily, no one was hurt..the people were outside with the firemen.

Where else on a rainy day than a cemetery!

I found this gem leaning against a tombstone. In this first image I wanted to make the stone the same copper color as the statue.

Above, I wanted to illuminate her face and I did so with a filter that brightens the center, leaving the rest of the image to become darker. I then applied another filter to get the paint feel.