365 Project - Day 61

This was the Bible App bible verse of the day and one that I bookmarked. I thought it would be fun to try to isolate the verse in today's photo, while continuing with the black and white theme. I had more trouble narrowing focus to just these words than I had anticipated. I was determined to capture the bible for the day, but I almost switched to a different verse simply out of frustration - yes, I was getting dismayed!

It was an interesting exercise. This particular bible has lots of papers in it that kept sliding out, making the photograph less neat than I wanted. Also, this page has a coffee stain on it. It seemed little would go right in choosing to photograph this verse. In the end, I believe I was able to settle into a photo that provides what I wanted, clear focus on this verse. I will try this again, I'm certain, but for now, I'm pleased.

Happy Holidays!

Today's Photo: "Fear Not!"

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10




EXIF: Nikon D7100
ISO 100
35mm
f3.3
1/250 (on camera flash)

365 Project - Day 60

I enjoy black and white photography. It is how I got started with film media when I was a teenager and I have never forgotten the feel of looking at photographs I had taken and developed myself: the educated guess at the camera's technical features / settings; the smell of our laundry room converted into a dark room; the tedious, but exciting work of watching the photo come alive from the negative. It is fitting, then, that my day 60 photo is a black and white. I wanted something dramatic as the creative, regardless of content, and I wanted this to be more about my approach to the craft.

I took several photos with my SB700 on camera and in a variety of positions. I have been working on getting more comfortable with flash and had fun moving the head around. The flash position that offered the greatest depth and variance of shadows was with the flash bouncing off the wall behind me, but slightly to the left (large due to how I was holding the camera, more than an elaborate plan!).

Happy Holidays!

Today's Photo: "Elegance in Light and Shadows"

"Everything that we see is a shadow cast by that which we do not see."
Martin Luther King, Jr.



EXIF: Nikon D7100
ISO 100
75mm (70-200mm f/2.8)
f/2.8
1/250 (on camera speed light)

365 Project - Day 59

Photographing one of our violins has been on my project list for awhile. I decided to take the opportunity to combine a photograph of the violin strings with our Christmas tree lights. I was convinced we had a larger violin available for this project. What I found, however, was an empty larger case. I had to settle for a small violin sitting on the piano bench, but I believe this works. I tried a variety of different positions and some of the photos included only white lights and others, like this one, included a variety of colors.

I chose this photograph because I like the in and out focus of the strings. When I look at this, the strings actually appear to be in motion. This shot is handheld and taken with the light available in the room.

I have been hurried when taking my 365 photos this week and this one is no exception. The good news is I still have more than 300 days left to improve!

Holiday wishes!

Today's Photo: "Festive Dancing Strings"

"Silent night, Holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord at thy birth
Jesus, Lord at thy birth."



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

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 57

These days, melancholy moments come fairly easily. I look at my 17 year old son, a senior in high school, and think, "this time next year ...," or "this is the last time, we will ..." I try to savor much. At the same time, however, it is difficult to imagine the change. I cannot comprehend how he grew to this age. Just a moment ago, I was pushing him on a swing in Texas. It makes no sense to me that he will be graduating from high school.

I glanced over at the piano the other day and noticed that this song was sitting on top of the music stack. My heart sank. "I'll be home for Christmas." How appropriate - next year, we will be discussing when he'll be coming home. He loves to play the piano and I will miss that music in my house when he leaves for school. I added one of our special ornaments from our time in France when he was in 1st and 2nd grade to complement this photo.

As you can likely tell by the shadows, this was taken without flash. I simply leveraged the existing lights in the music room.

Holiday Wishes!

Today's Photo: "A Child Grows"

"Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6



EXIF: Nikon D7100
ISO 400
35mm
f/1.8
1/45

365 Project - Day 56

Wahoo! My cast is off! The cast removal process is remarkable. I was fiddling with my iPhone as the medical team prepared. Horrified that it kept telling me that I could not take a picture because the storage was full and barely hearing a voice saying, "blah, blah, blah, don't worry about this tool. We only use it to cut off the cast. blah blah blah" I'm frantically trying to delete things on my phone. "It cannot cut skin. So do not be alarmed. Some people get a little freaked out," she went on. Meanwhile, I'm deleting, deleting. Still no room on my phone. She continues, "just be still and be sure you do not flinch." Then I hear the drill and look up! Whoa, woman! Why is there a circular drill on my leg? Perhaps, this whole 365 Project got away from me in this moment and I should have been paying attention! I nearly passed out while she pressed that drill on my cast. I thought to myself, "now what was it she said? It really cannot cut my skin? OWWW - breathe, breathe, breathe!"

When I settled down, there were no scrapes, no scratches, but also no pictures and the cast was in the trash! My leg looked like it had been in a goth cocoon and I was back to frantically deleting photos as I asked my husband to dig my cast out of the trash. "Say what?" He said. But alas, he did it anyway. I had terrific news from the doc: though it isn't visually appealing, my leg is healing well and I can begin to put the tiniest bit of weight on it, 25lbs. Also, I may be off crutches in 4-6 weeks which is way ahead of the last schedule he gave me!

If I'm truly candid, my primary concern now is - have I learned the lessons I was supposed to learn during this time? These are the thoughts in my crazy little head.

Today's Photo: "Strength Renewed"

"But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31


EXIF: Apple iPhone 5C
ISO 50
33mm (translated)
f2.4
1/40

365 Project - Day 55

I feel badly that my husband has had to try so very hard to encourage us to decorate the tree. He did an excellent job of getting the tree, standing it up and putting on the lights. He's also been a terrific steward of the tree; ensuring that the lights are turned on each day and the tree is getting plenty of water. The rest of us have simply not done our part. We have prioritized other things over decorating the tree, stepping over and around the many boxes of ornaments rather than taking an hour or so to decorate. Shame on us!

Well, in honor of his tremendous efforts, I opened one of the ornament boxes and prepared this photo for him. This is my promise to him that we will get it done before Christmas Day. It might be Christmas Eve, but it will be done! This photo was taken with my camera on my monopod and the flash off camera bounced at the ceiling.

Best wishes for the merriest of Christmases!

Today's Photo: "The promise of hope at Christmas"

"This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world, that we might live through him." 1John 4:9



EXIF: Nikon D7100
ISO 400
35mm
f/8
1/250 - Flash off camera