P52 Week 13 -- Details

I'm linking up with Darcy for Project 52.

Click her Project 52 button above to see what it's all about!

This week's challenge:  Details



My photo:

My thoughts:

I am so totally all over this week's theme!  It has been stated that sometimes I'm too detail-oriented.  I'm so thankful I have a macro lens to capture the little details in life that are sometimes hard to spot with the naked eye.  And I'm thankful that this theme showed up during a particularly warm spring in Chicagoland, when we actually have flowers to take pictures of.  We sometimes have snow on the ground through March and even into April, so woo-hoo for flower pictures this month!


The setup:

Nothing special was needed, except for a beautiful Sunday afternoon and a stop at my parents' home to pick up some items to store in our garage (they're getting ready to put their house on the market).  I spotted my mom's bleeding heart plant blooming away against the side of the house in the shade, which was good considering the harsh middle-of-the-day harsh light.

Since I didn't have my tripod, I bumped up the ISO so I could obtain a good aperture and fast shutter speed.  I definitely didn't want to blur a single detail of these beautiful flowers, especially the condensation inside the little hearts!

No crop was needed (thank you, macro lens!).  I nudged up the contrast and clarity a teensy-weensy, but otherwise, this image is almost sooc (straight out of the camera).


Camera settings:

• ISO 500
• Manual mode
• 100mm macro lens
• Aperture at f/5
• 1/400 second shutter speed

Isn't God's creation magnificent?

Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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A Spot of Tea

Tea cup time!

I usually reserve teaup pictures for my family blog.  However, since I took these teacup images at an event for which I was the official photographer, I am making an exception.  I love teacups of all kinds--fancy and plain, white and multicolored, bone china and pottery.

Here are several of my favorite teacups that I spotted at the Mother/Daughter Tea.

The below teacup made it into my favorites a few times!  It looked so pretty in several different shots, and I loved them all.

The teapots were borrowed from different ladies.  Below is one of my favorite teapots.

I'm now in the mood for some tea!  I think I'll go brew me a cup.  See you soon!


Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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P2012 Week 12 -- March 18-24

Project 2012 -- Week 12

March 18 - March 24

How to Link Up With Us

1.  Click here to read the Project 2012 Guidelines, and to get the code to place in your blog.
2.  Fill out the little form below (insert the URL of your blog post, not the main URL of your blog).
3.  Please visit others' links and leave comments; you will receive visits and comments in return!

My Week 12 Photos

I took a mountain of photos last week.  I have a wide variety of images to share--it was hard to choose just seven!

My week started at Lake Renwick and Turtle Lake and taking pictures for my current photography class.  I took the opportunity of being outdoors with my camera and stayed for a peaceful sunset.

[78] Sunset on Budde Lake

Tuesday was primary elections in Illinois, and my young men and I walked down to the polling place.  I got "talked to" when I snapped a picture of Danny (his first time voting!).  Illinois does not have statues regarding photography in the polling place, but the judges apparently decided that I was not allowed to do so.  The crazy thing is that I announced to them that I was going to take a picture, and that I was going to stand away from the voting booths to be out of the way.  No one else but us was there, either.  I have one more up-and-coming voter, so we'll see if the statutes will be changed in the next few years.  (At least I got the shot!)

[79] Time to vote

We saw some turtles and geese at a pond on the way home from voting.

[80] Geese reflections

My brother called me one evening and asked if I wanted to go shooting with him in Plainfield.  (He's taking the same photography class as I am.)  Of course I would!  Below is a frame within a frame shot that I didn't use for the class.  I love the late evening sunlight.

[81] Downtown Plainfield

My young men went to work this week, shoveling extra dirt from their grandparents' home to put in our vegetable garden.

[82] Moving dirt

I received an invitation to join Pinterest, and I've been pinning lots of things, including recipes.  I made my own version of one of the recipes, seen below with homemade tomato soup my friend gave us.  This sandwich was out-of-this-world delicious!

[83] Bacon guacamole grilled cheese

My dearest knight in shining armor spent the better part of Saturday working on our pickup truck.  A couple of bolts were completely rusted tight, so he has to get someone else to do the remainder of the work.  I'm so proud of him trying to save money!

[84] Mechanic for a day

Since the weeks of Project 2012 start on Sunday, I already have lots of photos taken for this upcoming week!  (Being in photography class helps get me out snapping, too.)  I'm hoping the warm weather will hold for a little while--I've been enjoying getting out this early in the year for picture-taking opportunities!


Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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A Needle Pulling Thread

I'm still hooked on the Mother/Daughter Encouragement event that I shot in Georgia this past February.  I've blogged about the food (here and here), but today's post features needlework.  This skill has been largely lost among today's generation, but there are some who keep it alive.  I for one am envious (in a good way) of those who are proficient at crocheting, knitting, and sewing.  I never really picked it up, but wish I had.

Today, I present to you those special ladies and young ladies who are carrying on this beautiful art.

It was so special to see the young ladies chatting with one another, teaching each other this skill.

It was just as special to see moms involved with their daughters, sitting alongside them and sharing their wisdom.

This incredible young lady made an entire bonnet!  (I was impressed.)

The below image is my favorite from this needlework series.  I love the side lighting, turning her hair golden, and the soft, sweet expression on her face.  Black and white both complements and emphasizes the light.  Such a beautiful young lady!

Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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More Tea Party Treats

Due to my busy life this past month, I've been negligent in posting.  I'm going to try harder.  Promise.

The Mother/Daughter Encouragement Weekend yielded so many incredible images.  In my last post, I featured the delectable treats that Chef Gregory made.  His weren't the only treats at the tea party, however, so today I'm featuring the rest of the story...er, treats.  :)

Mini eclairs

I don't know what the below are called, but they're chocolate.  They don't need a name.  Sadly, I never got to sample them.

Strawberry frosting and maple-nut frosting

Medley of treats

And, just in case you didn't get enough chocolate...

Below is a sampling of some of all the different treats from the tea party.

Sometimes it's hard being a photographer.  Shooting food is fun--I love using my macro lens and capturing all the delicious details.  However, tasting and enjoying are not too bad, either!  I'm so thankful that I was blessed with just a few of the treats above.  Yum!


Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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P2012 -- Week 11 -- 3/11-17

Project 2012 -- Week 11

March 11 - March 17

How to Link Up With Us

1.  Click here to read the Project 2012 Guidelines, and to get the code to place in your blog.
2.  Fill out the little form below (insert the URL of your blog post, not the main URL of your blog).
3.  Please visit others' links and leave comments; you will receive visits and comments in return!

My Week 11 Photos

I took some photos for a photography class I'm enrolled in, but didn't use them for the class.  The below image was supposed to be an example of an "S" curve.  I didn't like it for fulfilling the assignment, but I like the shapes and colors.

[71] Fallen leaf

Another "S" curve I didn't use.

 [72] "S" curve

I made the below salad for supper with family.  Yum--and it's so good for me!

[73] Raw kale and avocado salad

After Thomas showed off his jumping skills, Danny wanted in on the action.  Another warm winter day (!!) provided the opportunity for both Danny and Thomas to show off.  Below, Danny did a half-turn in mid-air and landed backwards.  Notice how they're using Dad's plastic sawhorses instead of the glass picnic table!!

[74] Fancy jump

[75] Scrunch up!

Warm winter day = break out the grill!!  (Ribs, chicken, and bratwurst.)

[76] March grilling

Storm clouds rolled in around sunset time, creating a beautiful sky.

[77] Evening storm clouds

I hope you had a great week of shooting!


Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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P-2012 Week 10 -- March 4-10

Project 2012 -- Week 10

March 4 - March 10

How to Link Up With Us

1.  Click here to read the Project 2012 Guidelines, and to get the code to place in your blog.
2.  Fill out the little form below (insert the URL of your blog post, not the main URL of your blog).
3.  Please visit others' links and leave comments; you will receive visits and comments in return!

My Week 10 Photos

I had the opportunity for two outings this past week! The week started out with a warm-up, then ended on a cold note with yet another warm-up.  I had an hour to myself the first time, and a date with Fernando on the second.

For my first outing, I drove over to Whalon Lake to sit at the pier and enjoy the (super windy) lake.  There wasn't too much to take pictures of, but I got a few nice ones, such as the below.

 [64] Pier at Whalon Lake

Once it turned colder, I was indoors and happy to spend an afternoon baking bread for my family.

[65] Bread loaves

My photography class was the impetus for my second outing, a mini-date with my dearest.  We ran a few errands together, then stopped randomly at a little area with a walking path, pond, brook, and bridge to try to snap some S-shot images.  (I have to turn in three images by Wednesday evening.)

[66] Trees and brook

I tried to find some S shapes looking up into the trees.  No luck, but the view was really neat anyway.

[67] Treetop

Then we drove down to Lake Renwick Preserve, where we strolled along Turtle Lake and Budde Lake to look for more S-curves.  Below is a nice S-curve waddling into Budde Lake.  ;)

[68] Testing the water

I spotted this sleeping goose on an island in Turtle Lake.  I love the silhouette.

[69] Goose on Turtle Lake

I was blown about again in the wind that c-c-cold midday!  I had my 70-300mm lens attached, so I zoomed in a little to catch the rushes along the shore as they swayed with the wind.

[70] Wind in the rushes

Even though it was cold, I had a lovely time with my honey, just walking around and spending special time together.


Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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