Shallow DOF

Took this for the Shallow Depth of Field challenge on DPChallenge, but entered the Table Shot challenge instead.

Urban Sunset

I took this off my deck last night. It was prettier when I first saw it, but had faded to this by the time I got my camera and tripod. I like the way it turned out, so I will try this again. We would have some beautiful views if it weren't for all the wires. Maybe someday they will upgrade to underground service.

Strange Ice

These were taken on a walk around the lake in Close Memorial Park. There was ice where the tree limbs met the water. Not great shots, but I have never seen this effect before and so wanted to post these anyway.

Vines

This is the Yellow Bonnet Food Products Building in downtown Springfield.

Favorite Jeans

I was going to take a shot of rope for today, but was not happy with any of my results. When I walked past a pair of my son's jeans that have not made it from the laundry room to his room, I decided to let them take a detour into my "studio". I was pretty happy with this shot.

These are his favorite pair of jeans, and are falling apart, but he can't find another pair like them (they have a dragon embroidered down the left leg) so they remain part of his wardrobe.

Awnings

I was working on a shot this morning of a bunch of carrots on my counter and could not get the lighting right. I did learn about setting the white point under levels, so while I never got the picture to be like what I saw in my mind it was not a total loss. I probably won't have time to post later, so I am using a shot I took yesterday in the Square of Ozark, Missouri. I liked the repeating pattern of the awnings. Not that fond of this shot either, but it is a photo to post for today!

Fill the Frame II

This was my second attempt to fill the frame (DPChallenge contest). Not a great shot, but I probably would have entered it anyway if it was not an expert editing challenge. Still don't have anything in any of this weeks challenges. I predict a severe case of Update Button Withdrawal Syndrome.

Entrance

I took this for the Entrance challenge (on DPChallenge), but it ended up too processed for basic editing, so it is here instead.

Threaded

Another shot of embroidery floss, while it was out.

Wildlife

It was too cold, for me anyway, to set up and wait for a good wildlife shot. This was the best I got, and I have decided not to enter (at DPChallenge) if I don't have something I really like. Even if it means update button withdrawal.

I have not been happy with my attempts for the current challenges. Still might get an entry or exit shot, definitely won't do nude (don't know a model even if I wanted to enter!), and I'm getting tired of trying to fill the frame. Maybe I'll like the open challenges announced Wednesday.

Filling the Frame

Tried this for the Filling the Frame contest on DPChallenge. It didn't come out the way I wanted, and even though I have tried many times, I just can't get it right. I now officially will not try anymore and will not use a geranium in my entry--if I get one!

A Walk around the Lake

Decided to take our dog for a walk around the lake at Close Memorial Park. It was snowing lightly, but really started coming down on the way home. The trees on the right are uprooted, so they will soon be gone. This is the most solid I have ever seen the lake (still not frozen enough to support a person).

It's Melting!

It got up to 40F today, and the ice is falling! Kind of dangerous as it comes crashing down in big chunks or icicle daggers. The trees still have some ice, and I liked the way the white showed up against the blue sky (not much editing). Not long after I shot this it started getting cloudy. We are supposed to have snow tomorrow, but I hope they are wrong. The bottom shot is of ice that has fallen from a tree onto my driveway. I decided to play around and make an abstract.

Red

Decided to shoot something with a little color today. For those wanting to see more ice/storm photos, visit my photo a week and general photo blog (links are on the right). I finally finished processing all my storm shots and will post some more tomorrow. I really need to think of something for the Entry or Exit challenge since I doubt I will do Wildlife (although you never know!)

A Winter Afternoon

This was actually taken yesterday at Chesterfield Park at 2:42 PM. It was about 18 degrees F and snowing. My husband was walking our dog while I took pictures.
We finally got our power back around 8:00 last night, and it took most of the night to warm up the house. I have spent the morning doing laundry and cleaning. Finally decided to take a break and start sorting through my shots of the last few days. Took a total of 224 shots between Friday and Tuesday--mostly of the storm. Schools have been cancelled for the entire week which has made my kids very happy.

Snow

Day 4 of no power! The bottom shot shows our "freezer"--at least we didn't loose any meat. It is only supposed to get up to 14 F today, so our outdoor freezer will be safe for another day. I called our electric company today, and they couldn't even give an estimate of when power will be restored (up to 7-10 days, or maybe today.)

It snowed yesterday adding white to the tops of the icy leaves.

Destruction

Day 3 with no power. This is our neighbor's tree, one of many that have either been destroyed or are now missing limbs. Another straight from the camera shot. I will have a lot to post when we get power and I can really sort through all my shots. I am very tired of this whole ordeal and am so ready to get back to normal! Although I was beginning to wonder what to shoot for my PAD and this has given me several days of photo ops. Additional photos on my general photo blog, http://elainesfstop.blogspot.com

Ice Storm Day 2

Day 2 of no power. My husband and I came to our office to make coffee and upload an image. Going home now to cook eggs and bacon on a camp stove. Two more days of ice storms predicted! If I don't post anything, that means either our office also lost power or the roads are too bad for travel.

Ice

We had day one of what is supposed to be a 3 day storm. I took this shot this morning and am posting it pretty much straight from the camera as we don't have power at home and I don't have photoshop at my office. I may post an edited version later.

Apple

I have decided that apples are very hard to shoot, at least without good lighting.

Under the Overpass

Taken under the Martin Luther King Jr Bridge. This is actually a daytime shot inverted in Photoshop.

Tracks

This is actually the entire length of this track. It is next to the Jordan Valley Trail, which is part of the Ozark Greenways Trails.

Bottles

Took this earlier today and then started working on the newsletter for my camera club, and now it is time to go bowling so there is no time to work on this. I like these bottles, and they will probably be used again later, hopfully in a better shot!

Thank you for your comments. My original plan was to have them by a window with light shining through them. I just didn't have time to wait for the sun to get to the right position.

Pushpin

Christmas finally got put away, the kids went back to school today, all our company is gone. It's back to the regular routine again, symbolized by this simple pushpin.

Bench in the Park

Another day of not being happy with my shots. Went to the park at the wrong time of day, but we have company so I had to go when everybody else wanted to, and I won't be able to do any studio work today. Used the posterize filter on this to get a little contrast between the bench and the hedge.

Ready to Sew

I took a lot of shots today, indoors and out, and I was not happy with any of them. This was the best, so here it is.

Goodbye, Christmas

Our Christmas tree, waiting to go to the recycle center.

Closed

I agree the original (bottom) shot is a little too tight. The top is a cropped version of a different shot that had too much pattern showing and was just too busy. I like the color tone on the bottom shot better, and I could just reshoot, but I need to work on my DPC challenge entries instead.

Bicycle

Taken in downtown Springfield.

Leather Belt

I was working on the Procrastination challenge and got this shot. It would not work for procrastination, so I decided to go ahead and post it here.

Happy New Year!

This is the official start of the photo-a-day project, even though I started a little early. I hope that this project will improve my photography and inspire me to go places I do not usually go. I already find myself noticing things I did not see before!

Here's to a happy, healthy, and successful 2007!