Project 2012 -- Week 29

Project 2012 -- Week 29

July 15-21

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!

I was so excited to be back up at Lake Bonaparte!  We hadn't gone up there for last year's vacation, though I did get to go up in October of last year for an awesome autumn getaway.

You know how I love my macro lens, and I certainly couldn't resist my mom's beautiful hollyhocks.

[197] Bonaparte hollyhocks

Fort Drum began new military maneuvers while we were up there, so we got to see--and hear--jets fly over.

[198] F-16 Fighting Falcon

As always, the sunsets did not disappoint in beauty and awe.  I feel so close to the Lord as I sit and watch the sun's descent, and the colors that are painted on the sky.

[199] Sunset at the dock

In addition to shooting my family, I had lots of opportunities to shoot with something else always going on.  I loved having a go at sports photography a few times.  Below, a young boy comes into the bay at the end of his waterski trip.

[200] Skiing on the lake

We love getting in the boat and taking a leisurely trip around the lake, just to see what we can see.

[201] Sisters Islands

While playing at Winter Bay, a couple came in on their boat, and they had two German shepherds, Jake and Riley.  These dogs loved snapping at the water that anyone would splash up at them.  I stayed far enough away to feel safe (German shepherds are the only dogs I'm nervous around, since I was bit by one when I was five), but close enough to get some seriously awesome action shots.  We hard a loud snap each time their jaws clamped down.

[202] Snap!

Later that first week, our friends came up to visit!  We took them to the rope swing on Round Island, and Jacob, Thomas, and Nathan showed off for the camera.

[203] Rope swing

What a great first week.  The above pictures aren't even a snippet of a highlight, really.  You'll have to keep watching my blog for the fuller story.  :)


Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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Project 2012 -- Week 27

Project 2012 -- Week 27

July 1-7

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!

I took so, so, so many images last week!  Independence Day is a very special holiday; I am passionately excited about the birth of our nation, and about the ideals upon which it was founded.  With get-togethers, fireworks, friends, and other activities, it sure made for a busy week.  Here are my seven favorites from last week:

Danny brought my camera to church to document the sound system, since we'll be on vacation and we trained some new "recruits" to work the sound board during the service.  Danny very thoughtfully created a how-to manual for the sound system.  Since I had my camera at church, I took it outside and wandered the grounds at Naper Settlement, took a few shots, and then the girls came around.  Miss S (below) loved hamming it up for me.  :)

[183] Silly girl

Below is my friend's clematis; it's beautiful, don't you think?

[184] Purple clematis

Independence Day dawned bright and cloudless and hot.  Hot.  Did I mention hot?  It had hit 100+ on July 3, and on the 4th our car thermometer registered 104 degrees at 1:40pm when we reached our destination:  a back yard church Independence Day picnic.  One of the dads has a genuine Jeep; I took the opportunity to experiment with lens flare and sun stars.  I'm kinda proud of how the below image turned out.  :)

 [185] American

My friend's little boy seemed to enjoy the day, and especially the watermelon.  Isn't he just darling?  I think so, too.

[186] A day for watermelon

I'll have a whole separate post for the fireworks, which we actually went to on July 3.  We're so glad we did, too--I was feeling rather sick at the end of our Independence Day celebration, what with being out in the heat all afternoon and all.  We had gone to the fireworks with a bunch of friends the evening before in Naperville, and felt totally fine with skipping a second night of fireworks in Warrenville.  Below is from the fireworks finale.

[187] Fireworks finale

Aaand, even though it hit 104 degrees again on Friday, Frisbee was on the schedule and so we bravely drove to the designated Frisbee field.  The guys and girls decided to play on the smaller field so they wouldn't have to run as much, but they were still super sweaty and thirsty at the end of the evening.  Below, Thomas impeded Adam's chase of the Frisbee.  Adam is pretty hart to block, and we're all proud of Thomas "taking one" for his team.  ;)

[188] Blocking Adam

I brought my camera to the Frisbee game to practice taking action shots.  Not being a sports photographer, I think it's fun to try a different aspect of photography.  But, a baby came along and I kept switching between action shots (of Frisbee) and action shots (of little Keaton and his adoring family and fans).  Here he is below with his auntie.

[189] Adorable, adoring

I love babies.  I'm glad I have a camera to capture all the sweetness they give.  I hope you had a super week filled with memories!  Can't wait to see what you've been up to!


Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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Forgotten Autumn

I looked back in my online photo albums and realized I had never blogged about this!  I've used several of the photos in various posts, and some even ended up getting some published in the local section of the Chicago Tribune!  Woo-hoo!  So here's the story as I look back at this autumn walk...

After I came back home from Lake Bonaparte, I longed for nature and the outdoors.  I love autumn with all its colors, the crisp air, the oh-so-blue sky.  One busy Monday, I was able to snag about an hour and head out to explore this little section of woods for the first time.

Just a couple miles from home, the woods beckoned me to come and walk.

A brand new footbridge spans a little ravine.

Of course I brought along my macro lens, just in case.  Good thing.

Interesting tree shapes.

I had my back to the trail ahead while I took some shots.  When I turned, this young buck was standing there, still as a statue.  I thought he was fake (really!) until I saw his ear twitch.  He even let me stoop down to change lenses so I could get some better shots!

At one point, he looked off into the distance.  I also turned, and spotted his "girlfriend" on the other side of the bushes.

See the nubs that will be antlers some day?

Bye, buck!

Deer prints on the trail

Back on the trail, I used my macro to shoot various weeds.

Looking back along the little trail.

It's amazing that one hour spent in God's creation can restore a soul!


Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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Project 2012 -- Week 3

Project 2012

Week 3 -- January 15-21

1.  Take pictures
2.  Share at least one--and up to seven!
(Click on the graphic if you're interested in joining us!)

My favorite photos

I was a little desperate to use my camera the beginning of this past week!  I walked around the house taking pictures of everyday household items.  I ended up in front of my flute music stand, experimenting with music, notes, angles, aperture...  In post edit, I tried for an antique look, and added some grain to the photo to achieve a look I was satisfied with.

[15] Favorite music

I guess I'm a true Northerner; I sat on my front porch without a coat and with slippers on while I took some shots of my flowers trying to survive winter.

[16] Coral bells in snow

Then it was back inside, and I ended up in the kitchen.  These fortune cookies were bright and cheerful to photograph.

 [17] Fortune cookie

I drove out to a little trail in the woods near my home for a short, snowy nature walk.  I took my kit lens along, which I used to take this shot.  I wasn't awed with the image when I saw it in the camera viewfinder, but after downloading it and really studying it, I fell in love with it--the way the sun is shining on the leaf, the angle of the sun so low to the right, the sparkles and shadows in the snow, the brightness of the leaf.  I just really like it.

[18] Leaf on snow

I love shooting the sun through the trees.  I'm not so great at sun flare, but I do like to try.

 [19] Winter sun

I found a great perspective leaning against a tree, looking up into the sky.  I love the contrast in color, and in the shadow and the sky.

[20] Up through winter trees

As the sun descended, I hung around the capture the sunset, always a calm and peaceful time.

[21] Winter woods sunset

I'll post the whole of my little snowy nature walk soon!


Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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Into the Sun

I've been experimenting with shooting into the sun.  Surprises sometimes appear on the finished product!  You might already know all about this, but since it's new to me, I'm excited!  Below are a few of my experiments.  I hope you enjoy them!

Jacob's tree

Sun-dappled leaves

Sun, tree, jet trails

Sunstars in Jacob's tree

Jacob's tree again

Sun through leaves

Fence post

And my personal favorite:

Grass against the sky

Living life.
Capturing life.

Christine

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