A week of composition

For Amy's Photo Week, the topic of interest was composition. I found this to be quite the challenge. The idea was to pick a principle of composition to focus on for the week and shoot with it in mind.

I pretty much failed at this concept! It felt really unnatural to me for some reason. So, I modified the concept a bit. The week was spent shooting whatever I found interesting, then examining the pics I like best, and figuring out which composition principle drew me to the photograph.

Not too surprising, two of my favorite shots I would consider in the realm of lines and curves. Of course, they all have multiple principles within them, but I feel these first two are dominated by lines.

This final shot I would consider negative space in action...

If you want to see the rest of my favs, check out my set on Flikr.

Photo Week - Checkered Flag Style

Is it me, or does time go by insanely fast?! We're already here at Friday, the photo finish day of this Photo Week.  

The challenge this week was to take pictures inspired by the high contrast black and white checkered flag that will be waiving someone to victory next Sunday at the Indianapolis 500. 

This first picture is actually primarily black and white, for the other two I removed the color afterwards. These are flowers from a Lilly of the Valley plant we have out in the yard. 

What I love about black and white photography is how shapes and composition catch the eye. Black and whites always look so graphic. Love'em! 

Photo Week - Checkered Flag Style

May in Indy is an exciting time, so much happening even if you're not a racing fan. And now that I've got the mini-marathon under my belt, I'm ready to take in the rest of the other festivities the month has to offer. So I'm thinking, let's do this thing right with a Black and White Photo Week. You know, Black and White, like a checkered flag...yeah? Who's with me?!

Here's the plan: Shoot all week and post'em on Friday for a photo finish...sorry, had to do it.

What's a Photo Week without a kick off shot? 

Photo Weekend - A Series of Shots

Sue threw out a photo weekend challenge inspired by these sledding shots Scott and I took earlier in the week. The challenge is to create a series of shots telling a story. 

Well, here is the story of the intensity, luck, and heartbreak known as the Farming Game. Special thanks for the brown farmer, Sara, for allowing me capture a roll of fate. 

(click on the pic to see it larger)

To change it up a bit, I tried to get an retro feel by tweaking the color as well as adding some grain and blur. I adjusted the saturation down, contrast up and pushed the hue toward yellow.

Here is the pre-tweaked original for comparison.  

Photo Weekend - Sunday

Red & Green

The jingle bells on my stocking

A few ornaments hung from our chandelier

Seems like this photo weekend just started yesterday...probably because it did! Anyway, thanks for everyone who shared their festive photos. Merry Christmas!

Photo Weekend - Saturday

Sparkle and Spirit

Today, I put up some more decorations and made some cookies to share. It's amazing what a few strands of lights wound through some garland can do for your mood. 12 Days till Christmas.

The sparkle on my ornament Christmas tree

The spirit of the holidays found making cookies

Shout out with a comment if you've found some sparkle and spirit today! And, don't forget tomorrow is red and green.

A quick color weekend?!

Anyone up for a Photo Weekend?!...I know it's crazy,  right, like there's not enough to do... 

But, I've been a little low on holiday spirit the last week or so. The only thing that can save the season is a quick and simple Photo Weekend. Here's the throw down:

Saturday: Sparkle and Spirit

Sunday: Classic Red and Green

If your game leave a comment below or on my Saturday or Sunday post. 

In case your new to Photo Week, here's the gist from Jen who put it beautifully when hosted:

"Photo Week has very few rules. The point is to get out there and use your camera, and observe the world around more than you usually do. To participate, simply take pictures any time this week (starting today). Just be sure to post your pictures on the appropriate day. If you can't participate every day, that's fine too. And don't worry about how advanced of a camera you have. Or how advanced your photography skills are. Just get out there and experiment and see how it goes."

And finally a little kick off photo:

Friday - Happiness (a little late)

Finally posting my last picture of this photo week. Happiness is a being at home by the crackling fire on a relaxing Sunday. All day has been easy, easy like Sunday morning...


Yay for another great photo week! Thanks, Sara, for a inspirational one! This week made the glasses I see the world through a little rosier.

Side note: Saw an ad for this very mobile tripod in the new issue Popular Photography mag. This would be super handy for those shots with longer shutter speeds, without all the hassle of setting up a bigger tripod. I'm adding it to my wishlist! Also, this December issue has a great story about taking better holiday pictures, worth picking up if you're at the store. ( I checked the website, but the entire story isn't there...bummer.) Okay, enough of that plug.

Happy Sunday!

Thursday - Community (Boiler Up!)

My community for four and half years, the wonderful Purdue University. Just so happens, I was on campus today for a conference, and I took the opportunity to snap a few pictures at lunch with the point and shoot stashed in my purse.

A tree still full of leaves

The new Armstrong Hall

A replicate of Armstrong's footprints on the moon.

Are the college folks getting younger every year?! Still love visiting campus, BTFU!

Wednesday - Gratitude

In my book, gratitude is the most under used expression. Monday, I took this picture of a flag flying in the cemetery to honor our country's heroes. A simple and beautiful thank you for our veterans.

Tuesday - Exploration (at the Indiana State Museum)

A (holi)day spent exploring the Indiana State Museum. Yay for hometown exploration. As a side note, we also saw the Grand Canyon Adventure 3D at the IMAX, and it was amazing!!

Snowflakes for the Christmas exhibit currently being installed.
Best looking rope light around, right?!

The Foucault Pendlum that was moved from the old museum.

A collection of pins from the 1970's.

Monday - Acceptance

Photo week if off and running. Sara our gracious host has really thrown down the challenge this time. Get the details here!

Accepting where the wind takes you

Accepting the gym as a necessary evil

The thing I love about my gym is that everyone is very friendly and accepting. It's like we're all here grinding it out, doing our thing the best way we can,
and that creates an intrinsic comradery.

Friday - Yesterday

The Beatles - Yesterday

Friday we spent our day off preparing the outdoors for
the all too long winter season. Above is the aftermath of a day of labor.

"Why she had to go, I don't know she wouldn't say."
Summer, I eagerly await your return!

And with that another photo week comes to an end. Thanks again, Sue, for a great week!

Thursday - Too Much of Nothing

Bob Dylan - Too Much of Nothing

All these corks and no wine...

I'm trying to create a cork board from all these wine corks,
don't worry, I had some help collecting these.
Hopefully within the next week I'll have a finished product to post!

Wednesday - Slippery People

Talking Heads - Slippery People

Beautiful and slippery sea turtles

Don't miss out on photo week! Visit Sue's blog for more info!

Tuesday - Torn and Frayed

Yes, it's more vacation action, but it's cold here and stifling my creativity...must get warm...

Rolling Stones - Torn and Frayed

Super literal!

Monday - Of Angels and Angles

Ok, so I'm a little behind on the new photo week due to a fantastic and just-in-time vacation last week, hence many of these photo week pictures... here goes Monday! (Sue, great theme!)

The Decemberists - Of Angels and Angles

I skimmed through my vacation pictures while listening to the song,
and this picture grabbed me.

Notice the two crustaceans on the sea wall,
they probably fell in love while listening to the Decemberists!

Thursday - Smell

Smells bad (the dump)

Smells good (detergent and fabric softener)

One day left of this fantastic photo week. Tomorrow bring on the touch!

Wednesday - Sound

The Sound of Morning (boo)

The Sound of Fun (yay!)

Viva la photo week! Up tomorrow: Smell.
More info on photo week here.

Tuesday - Taste

Ironically, on Taste Day, I came home from work to find Lex dog had "tasted" the mattress pad on the guest bed. This pad was under a fitted sheet and a fitted mattress cover, which were both unharmed in mayhem that caused the demise of the pad. Grrrr....

What Lex tasted today.

What I tasted after the clean up.