Sunset

The whole sky looked like this. I could only capture a small part of it.

flip-flops

1. flip-flops on the rocks, 2. flip-flop in the dark, 3. flip-flop down the stairs, 4. flip-flops on the grass

Flowers

1. pink flowers, 2. white flowers, 3. orange, flowers, 4. purple flowers

I used the Mosaic Maker tool at Flickr.com to condense my post a bit, but the photos themselves are unaltered.

Face

The list didn't specify whose face it had to be, so I chose my son's ball python Monty.

Weather

The Charlottetown Yacht Club

Well I really thought we were in for a down pour, but it stayed like this all day.

Summer Rain

I tried again, putting your advice into practice, Becky and it did work out a little better, but it is still not as good as your picture of rain on the window.

Patch

Flower

Word Verification.

My apologies to those who don't like it, but I'm tired of deleting spam. I have turned on the word verification, however, if you are listed as a blog author, I don't think you will see it anyway.

Face

This is my 2 year old grandson Nate on the way home from the beach...My favourite Face in the whole world!

Small Town Square

This is Rochford Square One of four historic squares within the boundaries of historic old Charlottetown: Rochford Square, Connaught Square, Hillsborough Square, and Kings Square. These squares were laid out in a plan drawn by surveyor Thomas Wright in 1771. These squares have been sources of civic pride since the first community tree planting took place in 1884.

In 2000, as part of a millennium project for the Charlottetown Kiwanis Club, and in cooperation with surrounding neighbours, one of the four historic green squares was redeveloped. Rochford Square, a four-hectare rectangle across from the Provincial Buildings on Pownal St. was developed into a Victorian-style Garden, complete with new pathways, ornate flowerbeds, benches and new shrub beds. This is now a popular location for wedding photographs and tourist pictures.

Word Verification

I just got through removing a butt-load of spam comments from the blog. If this continues, I'm going to have to turn on the word verification. I know some of you don't like it, but it's better than all these weird spambot comments.

Tree Branches Against Blue Sky

Red Button

Flower

Weather

They say, if you don't like the weather, wait a minute. These two pictures were taken about 10 minutes apart.

Challenge #1 Photographer's Choice

Photographer's Choice

Since we started the project a bit early, we are going to mark the official start of summer with our first photo challenge. To kind of get us into the swing of things without too much stress, our first challenge will be Photographer's Choice. Go out and take a picture of whatever catches your eye, whether it is on your list or not.

Ah, but there is a catch. You knew there had to be one, didn't you? I couldn't let you off that easy now, could I?

So what is the catch? Just this: instead of running out into the yard and snapping a picture of the dog or the garden gnome and saying you're done, I want you to think about your picture. Really think. How can I make this a better shot? How can I make this picture more pleasing to the eye? Use your rules of composition, your depth of field, and your exposure triangle (ISO, Shutter speed, and Aperture) to take, not just a shapshot of Uncle Fred, but a portrait.

Now I know that many of you have the rules of composition down, but for those of you unfamiliar with them, I will summarize them. For further review, an in depth article can be found here.

The first rule of composition is: Get Closer. When I was in the Navy, I went to one of my schools in Orlando, Fl. While there, I briefly dated a guy I'll call Randy. One weekend, Randy and I went to Disneyworld. While walking through the Magic Kingdom, Randy said, "Sit down on that bench and I'll take your picture."

I sat down and Randy promptly turned and walked to the other side of the park. Ok, I exaggerate, but he did walk at least 50 yards away. That's yards, not feet.

"What are you going to take a picture of?" I yelled. I had to yell because he was so far away, he wouldn't have heard me otherwise. "You won't even be able to see me from that far away. Come closer."

Randy took a couple of steps closer.

"Come closer than that!" I yelled, and Randy took a few more steps towards me.

"Closer!!!" I called again.

"What do you want me to do?" Randy yelled back. "Stand on top of you to take the #@*& picture?"

I gave in and let him take the picture he wanted to take. This is the result:

It's an --eh--picture, but not really a great one. I don't know why people think they need to take pictures from 1/2 mile away, but it is one of the most common mistakes beginning photographers make. How much better this photo would have been had Randy gotten close enough. (I employed a little creative cropping to get this image--thus the poor quality.)

To get even closer to your subject, don't be afraid to turn your camera sideways:

While you are getting closer, don't forget to check your background. Is it cluttered? Is there a light pole growing out of Aunt Rosemary's head? Are there Spongebob eyes peering over the Miller Lite monster's shoulder? That actually looks kind of cool, but in a nice portrait, the only eyes you want to see are that of your subject(s).

Rule #2: The Rule Of Thirds. Divide your photo area in to thirds, both horizontally and vertically. If you have a horizontal plane in your photo, place it along one of the horizontal lines. If you have a vertical object, place it along one of the vertical lines. For a single object, place it at the intersection of two of the lines. For some reason, the lower left intersection seems to be my favorite, as in this picture of blueberries:

Now, I'm not saying you should measure and divide your photo. Just eyeball it and you'll be close enough.

Rule # 3: Diagonals. Positioning your subject diagonally across the photo is also a pleasing composition. Notice in this picture of the polar bear and the picture taker:

the diagonal line from the upper left to the lower right. (Not to blow my own horn, but this has got to be my very favorite picture I ever took.)

Rule #4: Depth of Field. If your camera has a setting in which you can change the aperture, just remember, the smaller the aperture number, the smaller the depth of field. I can get into a long, boring explanation of focal lengths and whatnot, but really that's all you need to know. Why is depth of field important. The picture of the moth I posted on my blog, how cluttered would it have looked had all the details of my front yard been in sharp focus?

Now in some cases, you may want a greater depth of field. In that case, set your aperture to a bigger number.

These are enough to get you started. If you want to read about this subject in greater detail, there are many online photography sites to help you. The Morguefile site that I linked above has some great articles. Do go and check them out.

Local Landmark

The Sand Springs Home was built by Charles Page, an Oilman, in 1906 and originally consisted of one large house for orphans. The orignal house has since been demolished, and been replaced by a bigger, much nicer home. In addition to the main house there are several large group homes that each house 4 or 5 kids and houseparents. Just to the east of where the group homes stand are two sections of duplexes named the Widows Colony, or "the colony". These duplexes are occupied by woman, unmarried/divorced/widowed, with two or more children. There are fairly strict rules that have to be followed if you want to live in the colony, like no alcohol is allowed on the premises, no overnight male visitors, you have to work at least part time and you have to prove that your children are enrolled in and regularly attending school. There are housekeeping standards that have to be met and you have to keep your small lawn mowed raked and trimmed. In the summer you are required to water your lawn every day.

They're allowed to place so many restrictions on their residents because the organization does not now, nor has it ever, taken any local, state, or federal funds. It has always operated on the money, land, and real estate that Charles Page donated for the cause.

The rules are worth it, in exchange for their compliance a woman with two or more children can live there rent-free until her youngest child is 18 years old. The colony pays all utilities too, electric, natural gas, water, trash, it's all included in the rent (which, like I said is $0). In addition to that there are several playgrounds, a swimming pool, a beautiful community center, and they operate a summer camp, each child gets to go to sleep-away camp for a week every summer that they live in the colony...FREE. That in and of itself is priceless, gives the kids a vacation...and the moms too.

OK, that was a long story, and probably way more than you wanted to know. I am just so proud that my community has such a place and I had to share the story.

You might have noticed the plaque on the end of the sign. Here's what it says:

Tree branches against blue sky

This was harder to do than I thought it would be. Our trees are so badly damaged from the ice storm last year...and we haven't had too many blue skies around here lately either.

Furry

Angel...

my border collie mixed puppy. My best friend and in shedding season my fiercest foe

The Dalley Windmill Collection... Portales, New Mexico

Anyone who’s traveled on the American Great Plains knows the landscape is dotted with windmills... most of which are still functioning, drawing water for cattle and other livestock. In some parts of the country the standard joke is the windmill is the Unofficial State Tree. That’s probably true here on The High Plains of New Mexico, as trees of any sort are in very short supply.

One of Portales, New Mexico’s minor claims to fame… and they’re ALL minor, come to think on it… is The Dalley Windmill Collection. From Southeastern New Mexico (The Arts, Museums, and Must-See Sites):

The Dalley Windmill Collection
One of the residents of Portales has a collection of 75 windmills from around the world. You can drive by and see all of the beautiful windmills. On a good and windy day they will be turning and charming the eyes of viewers.
Address 1506 Killgore St., Portales, NM
Phone (505) 356-6263

“A good and windy day” would be nearly any day in P-Ville, except for today. I took a ride out to the Dalley’s place to take the pictures you see here. I had hoped to talk to Mr. Dalley and get some background on his collection but no one was home…alas and alack. I was able to take pictures, though… and this post contains three such.

Tree branches against blue sky

Believe it or not today was the first day in 2 week with a totally blue sky

Historical landmark/item/place

The birthplace of The Confederation of Canada and the seat of Prince Edward Island's provincial legislature since 1847, Province House National Historic Site stands as a landmark in Charlottetown.
Designed and built by local architect Isaac Smith to accommodate the provincial legislature and administrative office.

Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and Vegetables (still growing)



Blueberries



Blueberries



Fig--not ripe yet

Weather

This seems to be the only weather we get around here these days.

Sunset

Flower

Local Playground

Tree Branches Against Blue Sky

Circles

The List

Airplane
Architecture
Blue
Brightness
Child
Circles
Cooling Off
Decay/Decrepitude
Emotion
Face
Farm or Zoo animal
Festival or Fair
Flip-Flops (on someone)
Flower
Food and Drink
Fruits/Veg
Furry
Historical landmark/item/place
Light
Lines
Local landmark
Local Playground
Nighttime Event
Peace
Rain (Summer Rain)
Red Button
Simplicity
Small Town Square
Something defining your region
Sport
Summer
Sunset
Texture
Tourist
Transport
Tree branches against blue sky
Water
Weather
Wig (someone wearing)

Welcome!

Welcome to the Summer Photo Project 2008 group blog. Thank you for your interest in participating in what I hope to be a fun and inspiring time. Though I would love to take credit for this idea, I swiped it with permission from someone on Ravelry. The rules are simple. I will provide a list of things to photograph, and you take pictures of them. There are no wrong answers. Everything is up to how you interpret it. You may take one photograph, or 100 photographs. It's up to you. Every so often, I will provide a surprise theme that is not in the list. There is no time limit on the themes. If you want to add something to the list, just let me know. I will add items until June 30th, then will close the list. I think it would be too frustrating to have the list constantly changing.

The project will run from now until September 22. If interest is still high, we can compile a new list and start again.

I know that most of us know each other, but for those who don't let's begin by posting a brief introduction.

Finally, if you know of someone who is interested in joining us, don't hesitate to send me his e-mail and I will certainly invite him to join.