365 Project - Days 356, 357

"All is how it should be. Just be. Just breathe." April Peerless

Happy Halloween!

Yesterday I celebrated the 1 year anniversary of breaking my ankle by going out for a short run. I used the opportunity to reclaim my body. Later in the day and this morning, I was filled with agonizing aches and pains in seemingly every muscle, groaning with each step as I climbed and descended stairs. The feeling has been fantastic. Every ache, every pain is like a long, lost friend. I have enjoyed feeling like I'm on my way to taking better care of myself. Those pains are familiar. It has just been far too long.

I was surprised at the strength of my legs and concerned at the weakness in my breath during the run. I felt all my anxieties knotted up in my chest, tightening my breath, making it nearly impossible for me to catch the next one. In that moment, I faced the dichotomy of my existence: one part ready to fly, the other anxious and restrictive. As I was about to try to stretch out a second go, my husband texted to remind me that we had a conference call and our appointment was on the line. I paused; took a deep breath; turned around and with confidence wrought with urgency, ran home. In that moment, my breathing relaxed. There was no time for anxiousness. That deep breath immediately provided fullness and strength that carried me home.

Sometimes when life's messiness makes us crazy, we need to pause and breathe before we get back in the race.

Today's Photos: Just Breathe

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“Your breathing is your greatest friend. Return to it in all your troubles and you will find comfort and guidance.” ~Unknown

365 Project - Day 338

"If there is anything in us, it is not our own; it is a gift of God. But if it is a gift of God, then it is entirely a debt one owes to love, that is, to the law of Christ. And if it is a debt owed to love, then I must serve others with it, not myself.

Thus my learning is not my own; it belongs to the unlearned and is the debt I owe to them ... My wisdom belongs to the foolish, my power to the oppressed. Thus my wealth belongs to the poor, my righteousness to the sinners.

It is with all these qualities that we must stand before God and intervene on behalf of those who do not have them, as though clothed with someone else's garment ... But even before men we must, with the same love, render them service against their detractors and those who are violent toward them; for this is what Christ did for us." Martin Luther

I had an interesting conversation the other day about retirement and the person said they feared that if they retired, they would become reclusive. I find that in retirement, I am less so. I have had the time to become rejuvenated and with that rejuvenation I am more determined to serve and participate in activities that change the world.

Each of must decide if we are up to the task as Martin Luther describes above. Living in the fullness of our gifts can be exciting and fun, but our gifts were designed to be of service to others. Artistic gifts, gifts of leadership, and others - all intended with one purpose, service. I suspect that is why as much as I love photography, the photograph itself is never enough.

Perhaps this is where sacrifice and service merge with our self. As I was driving home from a nonprofit board meeting the other day, stuck in traffic for hours on a rainy evening, I was reminded of the sacrifice that accompanies service. Yet, it was a good reason to be stuck.

Blessings!

Today's Photo: Traffic Bokeh

"Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth." Muhammed Ali

365 Project - Day 328

"Arise, shine, for your light has come." Isaiah 60:1

The other day, I was inspired to combine two articles I had read into a single photograph. One article was about backlighting photographic content and the other discussed the quality of Bokeh, the out of focus background in photos. I was fortunate to have a beautiful Fall afternoon for this project.

It took a few attempts to get this right without blowing out the highlights and to incorporate my bonus element - the setting sun. I needed the sun glare as a reminder. I am in the midst of a project that seems to be taking an extraordinary amount of time to complete. I pray for the wisdom needed to complete the project and the guidance necessary to direct my steps along with the combination of the two to speed my way to conclusion. The light shimmering through in this photo is a reminder that, though, the progress may seem little, fuzzy and slow, God is directing a bigger play. And, I can have confidence in tossing my anxiety into His light and in return, He will light my path.

Blessings.

Today's Photo: Light and Bokeh

"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:21

365 Project - Day 58

I had several Christmas photos of our fully decorated tree (finally!) to choose from for today. I am most excited about this second attempt at a holiday lights bokeh effect. This time I shot further away to illuminate the shape of the tree, incorporate more lights and include the star on top. In post processing, I opened up the shadows and softened the lights by taking both contrast and clarity negative.

I believe this is a special photograph and I am pleased with the results. The one funny thing is that the star looks quite large, but I love that it is brighter and brings in different colors. The star adds unique charm to the photo.

I considered breaking the rules and posting more than one photo, but I like this one enough to go with it for the day. Holiday wishes!

Today's photo: "Christmas Glory"

"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"
Luke 2:13-14




EXIF: Nikon D7100
ISO 800
35mm
f1.8
1/45

365 Project - Day 51

I received an email from Nikon Learn & Explore the other day. An article on how to shoot the classic holiday light bokeh effect quickly caught my eye. I immediately read it and decided that I would complete a holiday bokeh project before the end of the week. Our Christmas tree has been up with lights only for some time and it seemed the perfect opportunity to get the bokeh correct in a completely uncomplicated environment before we clutter the tree.

The project sounded so very simple. I was excited to give this a try. As I glanced around the tree to determine which side to photograph, I worried that the lights were too big, not colorful enough and there was too much space between each strand but nevertheless, I was committed - this was the time. I placed my camera on the tripod, defocused the lens and went for it. I was shocked when I saw "Christmas bokeh in the first photo". Now that's a well written article ;-) I still wish I had more lights and more colors, but this was a good start.

After comparing my photograph with the one in the article, I believe I need to re-process mine to de-saturate, but for now, I'm pleased.

Best wishes !

Today's Photo: "The Magic of Christmas"

"Great little One! whose all-embracing birth
Lifts Earth to Heaven, stoops Heaven to Earth."
~Richard Crashaw



EXIF: Nikon D7100
50mm
ISO 100
f/1.8
1/60

365 Project - Day 36

I have decided I need to be more focused on specific photography projects at least once or twice a week. I recently saw an article on Digital Photography School entitled, "How to Create a Unique Bokeh Portrait for Under $10" by Nick Fancher. I quickly skimmed the article, picking up the basic premise of shooting with Christmas lights in front of the subject. The photos were intriguing and I knew I wanted to give this a try. Yesterday when my husband brought out all of the Christmas decorations so he could hang the lights outside, I decided to work on this project. What I failed to do, was re-read the article for the execution details until this afternoon (oops). Now I need a do-over to properly complete the project, in the meantime, here's my version - haha.

Since my family won't model, I chose one of our little Christmas men we set out around the house as my subject. I wasn't creative enough to think of hanging the lights across my tripod at a 90 degree angle, which is really the proper way to do this. Instead, I struggled with wrapping the lights around a large Christmas ball decoration. To add creative flair, I placed my man in front of French doors capturing bokeh from the reflection of the lights. I actually preferred a photo in which the only bokeh was in the reflection, but that's not this project.

In addition to the challenge of not being able to shoot through the lights to create the dancing bokeh effect, the lights created a bright flare. I did not check to see if they were low wattage lights as suggested in the article and the lighting in the room was quite bright, so I did not want to use flash. The project, however, requires one or two flash units gelled red. So you can see, I had quite a few missing ingredients. It was fun to practice anyway.

Best wishes!

Today's Photo: "Christmas Bokeh - Hope"

(EXIF: Lens 50mm f1.8, 1/125, ISO 400)* (from memory, will update if necessary)


"And in despair I bowed my head;
'There is no peace on earth,' I said;
'For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!'

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
'God is not dead, nor doth he sleep!
The Wrong shall fail,
the Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men!' "
― Henry Wadsworth Longfellow