Weekly Header Challenge -- Shadows

It's time for the Weekly Header Challenge!

"Headbanger" Participants

Fishing Guy 

Kathy 

Imac 

Lew

I'm joining in the group above for this weekly challenge.

Click on the other participants' blogs to see

what they've come up with!

Theme ~ Shadows

Chosen by Mac.

I went back as far as I could to find some images for this week's theme.  Here's what I found, beginning with the image I used for my header:

I like the interesting patterns and lines of the snow, how the ridges create shadows and textures.  Without the shadows, you wouldn't be able to see the detail and the textures.

Here is another snow and ice picture, edited a bit to show off the brilliance of the ice crystals, with shadows on the sidewalk.

Finally, one last one I pulled up showing one of my first fly pictures with its wings as shadows on the siding of the house.

That's it for this week.  I soon hope to have more time with my camera to focus (pardon the pun) on our photography themes each week; life has been busy, that's for sure!


Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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Weekly Header Challenge -- Shadows

It's time for the Weekly Header Challenge!

"Headbanger" Participants

Fishing Guy 

Kathy 

Imac 

Lew

I'm joining in the group above for this weekly challenge.

Click on the other participants' blogs to see

what they've come up with!

Theme ~ Shadows

Chosen by Lew.

A quick search in the shadows uncovered a few shadow images for sharing this week.  Here is my header image:

My brother Jeff and I took Danny along for a February walk at the Riverwalk in Naperville (beautiful place to wander if you visit the Chicagoland area!).  At one point we stopped to check camera settings and talk about potential shots.  That's when I took this.

I found one shadow image from another winter walk in the woods.

Enough of winter; how about a summer walk in the woods?  I look so tall!

A final fun shadow image from last year's trip to University of Illinois for the ICTM State Math Tournament.  We traveled there to support Thomas' math team, Alpha Omega, which did really well (5th overall as a team!).  Thomas also took 9th place in individual pre-calc; not bad for a self-taught math geek.  I snagged the shot as we were walking back to our car to head to a restaurant for a meal with the team students and their families.

I hope you found some images lurking in the shadows!  I'm off to visit your blogs to see what you've brought into the light!!


Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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Weekly Header Challenge - The Shape of Art

It's time for the Weekly Header Challenge!

"Headbanger" Participants

Craver VII 

Fishing Guy 

Katney 

Imac 

Lew 

I'm joining in the group above for this weekly challenge.

Click on the other participants' blogs to see

what they've come up with!

Theme ~ The Shape of Art

This week's theme could have gone several ways for me.  But, after fighting with my once-beloved editing software for two hours to upload images, I was happy to have anything at all this morning.  :/

I took the simplest route, opting for shapes--rectangles, squares, circles, triangles.  They can be found everywhere, in both nature and in man-made things.  Below is the full image from my header, with all its different shapes of buildings:

Downtown Chicago, at sunset on a September evening.

More squares and rectangles:

A triangle:

Circles:

Throw in some hearts:

And a star!  (Hey, it has five points.)

Almost forgot!  Here's one more rectangle, with some different shapes beyond:

Outside that door's window are our winter icicles, preventing a back-door escape!

On a spring photo session recon (scouting out a location), I started to notice all the shadows cast by some leafless trees.  This image below was my favorite.

I see the "V," but I also see, on the right, a pregnant ballerina dancing.  What do you see?

(Thanks for visiting today!!)


Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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Session Site -- Greene Valley North, Woodridge, IL

I had a group session (more on that soon!) at a playground, and I was concerned that I would be able to take only head-and-shoulders shots.  The playground was surrounded by tennis courts, a parking lot, fences, streets, and houses.  Plus a few other urban sights.  Getting in tight was okay, but I wanted to be able to take shots without having to worry about the angle, or the background.

I visited Google maps to see what was close by, a mile or so around, and found Greene Valley Forest Preserve.  At the north entrance, there was a parking lot, some walking trails, and a dog run area.  I figured I'd better scope it out beforehand and decide the best locations for taking pictures.

And, this past Sunday, with brightened skies and warming spring air, afforded the opportunity for Fernando and me to check out the park, specifically the North Gate.  Here's what greeted our eyes at the very first parking area:

Oh, this was going to be great!  What a beautiful location.  I love that tree, especially pre-leaf.  Its lines were beautiful.

My honey makes a good portrait subject, even if he doesn't look like a high school senior any more.  ;)

Yeah, here's that tree again.

If it's sunny on the photo shoot (postscript--it wasn't), we could hop out of our cars and shoot right here!

Across from the parking lot was a wide open grassy area, with walking paths and a dog run area.  Ooh--an S curve!

That'd make a nice area to shoot in if we have overcast weather (postscript--it was way more than overcast).

What a pretty sky!

I started noticing the shadows in the afternoon sun.  Pretty cool, huh?

Looking west toward the walking paths.

The road led northward to more parking and more grassy areas.

The trees were shorter, and a little more dense.  It was a pretty area to wander, but I don't think I'll shoot there.  Well, except for overcast conditions.

Tree branch shadows were cast all over my "test subject!"

Almost back at our starting point, I noticed a little brook.

The brook is down in there among the prairie grasses.

Time for another head-and-shoulders of my test subject.

This tree is pretty even backlit!

Yeah, I kept a goofy one of him.

Same tree, really cool shadow.  On the right side, the guys saw a woodpecker shape, and I saw a pregnant ballerina, lol.  What do you see?

Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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Project 2012 -- Week 37

Project 2012 -- Week 37

September 9-15

Welcome to my Project 2012 weekly post!  This is my time for looking back over the past week, choosing my seven favorites images, and sharing them here with you.  If you have a project you're working on, please leave a comment so I can visit your blog and see what you're up to!

Phew!  I finished editing images from our special trip.  If you aren't my friend on Facebook (why ever not?), these photos will serve as clues for you to figure out where we went.  You will definitely see more specific photos as I have time to post.  Time for a game of Where Did We Go?

[253] Waiting for our plane

[254] A special lunch

[255] A typical scene

[256] Flower vendor at the market

[257] Looking up into steel and sky

[258] In homage

[259] Twenty-five years together

Yes, this trip was just for Fernando and me, for our 25th anniversary.  Silver!  I can still hardly believe it.  I'm married to my sweetheart and best friend.  :)


Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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Project 2012 -- Week 36

Project 2012 -- Week 36

September 2-8

Welcome to my Project 2012 weekly post!  This is my time for looking back over the past week, choosing my seven favorites images, and sharing them here with you.  If you have a project you're working on, please leave a comment so I can visit your blog and see what you're up to!

Yes, I'm behind in my posting again.  But I have a great excuse.  And you won't get to hear about it until I'm caught up with Project 2012 posts.  Sorry.  :)

This particular week was all about Labor Day, and the parade and the time we spent with good friends.  I was busy preparing for a special trip (yes, more on that later), and couldn't take many pictures the rest of the week.  Here we go--featuring...Labor Day in Naperville!

A friend brought along this chair, which made Fernando look small.  If you know Fernando in real life, you know he's as big as a pro football linebacker.  :)

[246] Mini Fernando!

While waiting for the parade to begin, I took some pictures of flowers in my friend's garden.  Here's one I really like.

[247] Pink

The Knights of Columbus was giving out balloons for donations, and they had lots of takers.

[248] Parade balloons

Love this old truck in the parade!

[249] Old truck

When the library display rode by, there were several storybook characters walking along.  We knew Peter Rabbit and the others, but this one eluded us.  Do you know which character this is??

[250] Storybook character

There were lots of dogs in the parade, and I think every one of them was panting.  It was pretty hot that day!

[251] Hot dog

I just had to share this image I snapped of two women walking the parade.  I don't know if they were able to make it the whole way.  I don't think I could walk 25 steps in either pair!

[252] Walking the parade

Hope you enjoyed the parade pics; next week's images are ready to go and will post really soon!  Can't wait to see what you've been up to!!


Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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