In a Row

Leaves in a Row

3/24 Photograph A Line

In a Row / The Usual Suspects / Organized

Keeping the lines in a photo is a challenge for me, especially when I look at the horizon in pictures that I have previously taken.  In the photoshop element class, this was the most common fix that the instructor did on my photos. I was off to the beach today after my "senior" zumba class for a quick walk to get in some miles while also looking for my daily photograph opportunity. The picture from today was taken in the sand dunes and I was able to use it without having to straighten the line.  It helps that in both iPhoto and Photoshop elements, there are tools that can be used to straighten a picture based  on a straight line which should be straight. Which I did have to do for the photo on the left, using the horizon as my line to straighten the picture.  The sky really wasn't that blue today on the beach, we had overcast skies which scared away many people from the beach.  The usual walkers, runners, shell seekers and fisherman were out on the sand, but not many sunbathers.

I thought I would find a line of birds, but only solitary birds were about. No lines or organization for bird pictures today.  I wish that my camera battery hadn't died while I was heading back, since there was a sea gull who was very possessive of the dead fish that it was devouring. The gull took the fish and brought it into the water as I walked by. As if  I would want to take the fish away.  It would have made a good picture.

I played it safe and drove up to the beach in case it rained. The first thing that I saw on the beach was this remnant of a sand castle without any kids around.  Not a very straight line with the towers built in a row. It wasn't a very good choice for today's picture, but I liked how desolate it appeared without anyone around playing. I miss those days of my kids making their castles with the road leading to the ocean for the waves to come up and wash it away. Truth be told, they used to call it "poo poo" castle, I don't know why, they're boys. Even when we went to York Beach at the end of August in 2003 when they were older and the shovels and pails were long gone from their summer toys, they were building a sand castle, with their bare hands along with their Dad. Good times.

In Good Hands

My Parent's Hands

1/11 Photo Inspiration- Photograph in Good Hands

Holding/Converted/Secure

Today we made a drive down to Massachusetts to return my Mother's pocketbook that was left in my car and to bring down the turkeys and roast that we got at a smoking deal after Christmas. ( Did you know that you can get prime rib and turkey 1/2 off the day after Christmas?) For the picture prompt, I knew that I would want to photograph their hands since there is so much character in their hands. I mean, there's got to be a lot of character in hands that have shaped 3 children! After about 4 shots, Dad had enough and it was all good when I looked at the photos.

 I love it in black and white versus the color, even though I do like the color contrasts in this one:

On the ride down, I used the drive to re-read my camera manual and I actually learned a few things that I did not know. It was helpful to read up on the focusing modes that the Canon has. During the drive, I also took some pictures of my husband's hands on the steering wheel. I am going to submit this photo to the Consumerist flickr group.

While at my parent's, I enjoyed looking at some old photos and used my iphone to make copies. This is one of my favorites as it shows me at an early age trying to shut my younger brother up. He claims that I am trying to kill him. 

Summer day spent on the coast- Photography

Today we headed over to Ogunquit Maine to walk along the Marginal Way. I love this shot of my friend Terri, it catches the essence of who she is and what she loves best. Nice day spent with Terri and her lovely daughter. 

What doesn't Terri love? When her ice cream falls off her cone, epic fail.

Photoshop Instagram Attempts

Thank you Photoshop Elements user.com, tonight I worked on making instagram photos from some of the photos that I took this summer. It's good practice in learning how to use layers. I don't know how I will remember it all. Makes it nice that there are "cheat sheets" that can be downloaded. I first follow along with the video and then try it on my own with the printed instructions. 

 

Sports Poster

An early effort using following directions from  a Photoshop elements user web site. The capture tool was  the hardest thing to use and it took me awhile. It was frustrating and I had to find a video that showed it best. I cheated in the end and used a layer mask on the smaller copy to erase the sand from the background.

I loved the pictures that I took this on this day on our vacation to California. Always nice to be able to wear shorts in January someplace warm.

August Kayaking Photos

On Squam Lake looking East

Just time for one quick shot that I played with in Photoshop Elements 10, my latest hobby. We went to Squam Lake ( aka On Golden Pond) to go kayaking with a friend who was paddling with a group. It was hot and muggy and we made it back to the cars just in time before the rain. The lake was quiet and the cabins are all old time summer cottages tucked in the woods. No "McMansion cottages allowed". 

The original shot

Dinner at the Longhaul Farm stand afterwards

Different looking ducks 

Manual Photography

Today I spent time at The Perfect Picture School of Photography learning about exposure. I had bought the book, Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson which came with a link to extra lessons. The choice today was, go into work and get caught up before vacation or stay home and play with my camera. I chose learning over working. Because the lessons involved having my camera in manual mode, this meant that I had to go online and learn more about my options on the camera. It was worth it. I will be ready for my photo time with my friend Terri on Wednesday afternoon.
Here are some "Monet" technique samples:

 Then in the midst of my playing around, I spied this dragon fly on a flower. 

                          Here are some "waterdrop" photos, I had to make do without backlight.

July Garden Shots

 A hummingbird in flight.

 A very choosey butterfly- only liked the purple flowers.

 I loved this color!

When I don't want to stay in and do housework, there's always my camera and a garden to hang out in.

Home Christmas shots

I am still playing with my camera and going for some fun, colorful Christmas scenes from around the house. While taking a picture of the poinsettia, I discovered why the cats were sick last week.

And this is my favorite, I like how the angel reflects the lights. And then there are a few in this badge that I liked. My son thought I was crazy...

www.flickr.com

November Water Reflection Shots

The only color is in the reflection of the sky and pines in the brook.

I love the textures and shapes in the photo.

On Friday, I noticed the red berry reflections in the brook and brought along my camera for Saturday's walk. The sky was overcast, but there were still reflections to be found.

Initial shot of berries reflected in the water.

1/2 of the pond was iced over.

Out back by the Beaver Pond

Photography and my First World Problem

I am enjoying the idea of labeling First World Problems, in my daily life. They are problems that only people in privileged, technologically advanced societies have, in comparison to real problems like food, shelter and safety. This website has more information: Know your Meme.

This was my First World Problem of the week, I was going in to work on the evening shift and had to bring my mini van in for new snow tires and then get home in time for the delivery of a new wash machine. ( There goes the mortgage payment that we didn't have to pay b/c of refinancing this month...)But  what I really wanted to do, was to go out and take pictures of the ice that was forming on the trees overnight as we are in the midst of melting. Which is kind of weird for us to have a mud season in November. After all of my early morning errands, I did get a couple of pictures. They may not have been what I wanted, but it's all good. Because, I do have a roof over my head, a job and my health, plus a great family. No real problems here this week.

My goal for this winter? To get a better close-up shot of our resident cardinal.

Early Snow

 How sad to see the autumn leaves weighed down by snow. It's even sadder to hear that we have a bigger storm in the fore cast for tomorrow evening. Leaves + snow = power outages.

 This is even sadder, we haven't taken care of our summer things in the yard yet, furniture, kayaks and gardens.

A Compliment, Kind of, I think....

 

I was on the phone today with middle son, "How do you like the pictures that I sent you this week?"

"Nice pictures"he replied.

Did I just take the compliment and say thank you? Of course not. Here's the rest of the conversation:

How do you think I am doing?

He pauses and then says, "Well, you are taking pictures of trees in New England in Fall, kind of hard to take a bad picture."

Okay, so I probably took some literary license with the last statement, but that's what I heard and he's right. It's been fun taking pictures in the fall, so many colors. 

Even in my front yard, it's gone wild with flowers.

And in our woods, where some of the flowers were tossed in as weeds this summer.

But snow is in the forecast along with a frost and the colors won't last. The wind and cold will change all of that. Usually the flowers above only last a week after blooming and  I got a week more due to the warm weather.