Thematic Photographic 128 #2

Thought I'd share a few more winter pic before moving on. This is the same storm. We ended up getting about 10 inches of heavy, wet snow.

Sometimes, in the early morning light, when there is a lot of white in a  photo, it takes on a bluish tint. I did change this photo to b&w so that you could see things a little clearer. You may be thinking that my lens is dirty, actually, it is water from melting snow. It is snowing like CRAZY. The snow is giving everything a hazy look.

This is my neighbors yard.

The road in front of our house.

Click on FAVORITE PHOTOS of 2010

to see more. Leave a note for Carmi . . .

I get "extra points" if you do (I need all the help I can get)

First Snow Day of 2010 ~Thematic Photograph 128~

It's Thursday!!
That means that it is time for Thematic Photographic 128. This week, actually, for the next 3 weeks the theme will be Favorite Photos of the year. I am sure that I will be posting several time a week and I hope you will too.Being my Father's child, (my Father was one who said there is a place and time for everything) there is no better place than to start . . . but at the beginning of the year.

We live in the wintry state of Wisconsin. There are usually 3 or 4 snow days a season. Sometimes, it's because of the amount of snow we get. Sometimes, it's because of how cold it can get. AND . . . Sometimes, it's because of how windy it gets. 

The day before, the weather channel was calling for several inches of snow. A few had already fallen that day and that night the wind was suppose to kick up a few notches. Several schools had already posted that they would be closed for the next day.My daughter called and asked if my Grand children could spend the night (there school would be closed). 

As predicted, there was plenty of snow. AND, it was very cold. Of course the kids wanted to go out and play. I stock extra snow pants, gloves, scarfs and boots for just such an occasion. It was sssoooo ccccold that the kids were only outside 20 minutes or so.

I love winter pictures!! Each time there is a new snow, I rush out early in the morning to get pictures. I want everything to look as pristine as possible. This was taken just after dawn. It is the street that runs along the side of our house. The pine trees mark our property. This picture was not taken in black in white, but looks this way because of the white balance setting.

Grand daughter and my youngest daughter. Notice the snowballs in hand.

Grand son. See how red his cheeks are. He is trying to look like he is innocent.

The girls have been shrieking and laughing as the snowball fight excels. Our sweet Tillie "thinks" they are being hurt.

I LOVE this picture!

Again ... shrieking and laughing.

Reassurance that all is ok.

I LOVE this picture!

Do you have some favorite photos from 2010? Why not head on over to Written Inc and share them. Make sure you leave a note for Carmi. I know he would love it if you stopped by.

Photo Contest | Pet Faces

This week at iheartfaces the challenge is Pet Faces.

A couple of years ago I went to visit my sister for her birthday. It was January in Denver. The week-end I was there was unseasonably warm. Late one afternoon we took her dog, Chopper, out for a run in the park.

It was at the time of day that the sun gives off it's last brilliant blaze before fading into the warm glow of sunset.

Enjoy more Pet Faces by clicking on the iheartfaces link below.

Thematic Photographic 127 - Family

This week Carmi's choice is Family. As the Holidays draw near, FAMILY, near and far are brought to mind.

Hubby, Me, Son, and  Grand kids @ a family picnic in July

Me and daughters @ a State Park in August

Wishing you and your  Families a HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON!
Have a great week!

 You can view more family pics@ Written Inc

Thematic Photographic 126 - Night post #2

I think I enjoy these pictures because, now, I live out in the country.  NOT in the middle of nowhere, I have neighbors close by, but it is a far cry from what my neighborhood was when I was growing up.
Here, the lights that are visible are the house lights and a few yard lights.

These were taken on a recent vacation.

Looking out over downtown Honolulu.

Thematic Photographic 126 - Night

This week  Carmi (@ WRITTEN INC) has chosen the theme of "Night"

I have several night pictures that I have been torn over using, meaning, I was having a hard time deciding which to post.
If you are familiar with Written Inc, you know that Carmi will post a new picture that fits the subject each day of that theme's week. While the pictures he has posted so far are amazing, the posts that are with the pictures for Dec.3&4 have been depressing to me.

Therefore, I have chosen to share my "Happy Place"
This is my FAVORITE place to vacation. When there, we walk the beach every night.

I can hardly wait until I can visit there again!

I'M SOOOOOOOOOO EXCITED!!!

A few weeks ago I posted some "candid" photos at Written Inc. Carmi Levy hosts a non-competitive
photo meme. For that week I posted twice. Carmi was very encouraging about my sports shots. It's always
a confidence builder when someone who is "out there" (the professional world) makes great comments about something you do. I know I have already said this ... Thanks Carmi!

On to this week ...
As you may know, I am a school photographer. I love taking picture! As a school photographer, things are pretty cut and dry. Everything hooks up together, everything is done by a computer program, it's pretty much fool proof. Yes, there is a measurement of skill and quality that the photographer must have (remember your school pictures ... maybe you don't want to). For many, there are the only "professional" pictures that are taken of their children.

Anyway ... On to this week ...
For awhile now, I have been "following"  iheartfaces. If you are a photographer or just enjoy taking pictures this is a great site. There are posts to help you in your photo taking. There are "Guest" photographer s every week  that offer helpful info about all aspects of photography ... AND ... YES ... There is a photo contest.

This week was the first week that I have ever entered a photo. The biggest apprehension for me was -
1. There are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO many people who enter this contest!
2. Many of them have their own photography business. They are PROFESSIONALS!

Not that I expected to see my picture in the TOP 10 or "Favorites." But , thanks to Carmi, I had the confidence to post a picture AND it made the top 10!!!!

I encourage all my photographer friends to take a look at iheartfaces. I'm sure you will enjoy it!

ABC Wednesday ~ T~ is for Trail

Wikipedia's definition of TRAIL is:
a thoroughfare with a rough beaten or dirt/stone surface used for travel. Trails may be for use only by walkers and in some places are the main access route to remote settlements. Some trails can also be used hiking, cycling, or cross-country skiing and less often for moving cattle herds and other livestock.


The last week of October, my daughter, her friend, and I took a vacation to Oahu, Hawaii.
Usually when I take a vacation, I plan out several things to do. This vacation was different.
 
Was it a planned vacation? Yes . . . and No.
Yes, in the sense that I knew that I would be taking a vacation at this time.
Hopefully, someplace warm with a beach.
 
No, in the sense that it would be Hawaii.
This was pretty much a "last minute" choice, booked 21 days before the date.
 
The deciding factor in choosing Hawaii:
My Niece and her family are stationed there. My Niece's husband is in the Army and will only be
there until the end on January.
Because it was just "us girls" I felt more comfortable going some place where I knew someone.
I wanted to be able to do things that the "locals" take part in.
 
One of "those" things? Hike to a waterfall . . .

Would we have done this trail if we knew what it entailed?

It started off pretty easy.

For a short time, the trail was fairly wide.

But sometimes, you could hardly tell where it was.

And most of the trail was fairly steep.

Of course there were times it evened out.

All in all the 1 &1/2 hour hike was well worth it.

To enjoy more posts of words that begin with the letter ~T~

go to ABC Wednesday

I heart faces| Scenic B&W

I have had this blog site on my favorite's list for some time now. However, this is my first photo entry.
My purpose is not to "win"something (although that would be WONDERFUL), my purpose is to get feedback ... on what I'm doing right ... on what I can improve on.

                         Sharks Beach,
                         Oahu, Hawaii

Thanks for stopping by! Remember to leave a comment!

Thematic Photographic 125 - Sepia

Another week ... another challenge...



~SEPIA~


To me, SEPIA shows . . .
a weathering . . .
a fading . . .
a place in time that has passed . . .

The days of summer are passed. The brilliant colors of summer have turned to the muted colors of winter. Here is but an echo of what once was.

Thanks to Carmi  and his blog at Written Inc for this weekly challenge

ABC Wednesday ... S is for SCHOOL SPIRIT

WE GOT SPIRIT!
YES, WE DO!
WE GOT SPIRIT!
HOW 'BOUT YOU!?

WE GOT SPIRIT,
THAT'S NO LIE!
WE GOT SPIRIT,
HEAR OUR CRY!

WE GOT SPIRIT,
THERE'S NO DOUBT!
WE GOT SPIRIT,
CHECK US OUT!

Do you remember having "School Spirit"? I was in high school in the 70's and what I remember about School Spirit was wearing our "School Colors" (navy and light blue) to sporting events and shaking small pompoms. And of course stomping on the bleachers.

Well ... "School Spirit" has come a looooooooonnggg way from that ... at least in the small town we live in now.
Now there is "SPIRIT WEEK"! A whole week to get involved, to have fun and of course to show your "SPIRIT".

"SPIRIT WEEK" is in October. It is the same week as Homecoming.
On Monday, well ... I'm told Monday is a LAME day and not too many participate ... so let's just move on to Tuesday.

Tuesday is "70's Day"

Apparently, everyone dressed in Tye-dye in the 70's.

Wednesday is "Class T-shirt day.

On this day you MUST wear a T-shirt that has the year you will graduate on it.

Each "CLASS" has a T-shirt made for this day that the students are able to purchase.

But some students make their own.

Thursday is "Class Color Day"

Each year, the "Classes"  Freshman, Sophomores, and Juniors,  choose what color they will wear for this day. Seniors are always dressed in PINK.

Sophomore year PURPLE was the color of choice.

Junior year, ORANGE was the color of choice (Sophomores are BLUE)

And as always, PINK is the color of choice for Seniors.

Friday is "School Colors" Day.

Almost every student and every Faculty member in the school district wears the colors of the High School.

I LOVE this day!! I LOVE taking pictures on this day!

Here are a few of the reasons why ...

WE GOT SPIRIT! YES!

WE DO! WE GOT SPIRIT! HOW 'BOUT YOU?!

To find more words that begin with the letter "S"

go to ABC WEDNESDAY

Thematic Photographic~CANDID~ What might happen ...

when you have 3 "bored" teenage girls.

One day, this past Spring, I heard my daughter and some of her friends out in the yard. Wait ... let me rephrase that ... First they came in the house, got a small step ladder, took it outside and then I heard laughter. Here is the result of looking, me, out the window.

None of them had the slightest idea that they were being watched, let alone photographed

. . .

at least until a few months later when they got copies of the pictures as part of their Graduation  Gifts.

Thematic Photographic 124 - Candid

This week Carmi has chosen "Candid" as the Thematic Photographic theme.

 People photographed on candid shots either ignore or accept the close presence of the photographer's camera without posing. In some cases they may not even realize that they are being photographed.

My favorite "candid" photography is "sports photography". Yes, people may know I am there. They see me with camera in hand, but they aren't really sure about what I am taking photos of. They are not POSING, they are PARTICIPATING. I may or may not get eye contact. AND I may have to shoot 100 photos just to get a handful of engaging photos. But as a Photographer, isn't that what it is all about ... getting that 1 extraordinary photo.

Here are a few of my favorite "candid" shots.

Take a peek at more Candid Photos here.