Not for jumping

120 : 365
Leaf pile

Web

108 : 365
Glistening web

Berries

106 : 365
Berries

100+ What are we learning?

100 : 365
Young Buck

101 : 365
Pumpkin Graveyard

I didn't sign up for this project365 because I thought I took great pictures and wanted to show them off. When I signed up for this project, I wanted to use it, like Sue, to improve my photography skills. So... how am I doing?

-Using my DSLR more. I'm getting better at taking the good camera with me when I'm going someplace I know I'll be taking pictures. It also pretty much lives on the my kitchen counter, so it's the camera I grab to take a photo around the house. I'm always amazed how the better camera improves even the average photo. A prime example of this is back when I took the pictures of my brother in laws ashes at the bottom of a jar. I began with my tiny point and shoot, then grabbed the DSLR. The difference in the pictures was great.

-Using more of the functions on my DSLR. I'm pretty much failing at this. There have been several times when I WISHED I knew how to do something, and several things I've planned to look up how to do, but I haven't done a single one yet. I did get out the manual. Months ago. I haven't actually used it, though. I want to do that. I also want to dig out the tripod.

-Taking more pictures that aren't of people. I am FAR more likely to grab the camera and take a picture of something that strikes me as pretty (a sunrise) or interesting (a dead mouse) or fun (the May Queen jumping). I've also tried to take more pictures of non humans that tell a story. I do, however, still fall into the trap of mostly taking pictures of my kid and pretty things in nature that strike my fancy.
***As I scan back through my pictures, though, I find that pictures of people are rarely the photos I post (even though I take a lot of them), and are really not among the top pictures. And since one of things I wanted to do was have better pictures of the people in my life, maybe I need to focus MORE on pictures of people. Hmm....

-I'd like to play more with setting up shots. Most of my pictures are spontaneous things I take when the mood strikes. Maybe if I paid more attention to the prompts I would do this.

-I don't take many urban pictures, or pictures of everyday things inside. They don't tend to strike me as photo worthy. However, I have seen some really cool shots of everyday items by others participating in the project and hope to do more of that, if for no other reason than to stretch my muscles. Mostly, to stretch my eye. How can I make this inanimate thing interesting in a photo?

-I am learning that perspective changes a photo A LOT. I play around with the angle from which I'm shooting. I've also played around a bit with the manual focus, particularly when taking closeup shots, and like how that can change the quality of the photo.

What about you? What are you learning... both about photography and yourself... though this project?

Seasons change

97 : 365

Lit

The sun was hitting the tree from the front, with the dark clouds behind. It looked otherwordly. The picture just can't capture the contrast, but I tried.



98 : 365
Frost
OR
We're not in Louisiana anymore

Fill the sky with color

90 : 365

91 : 366
Sailors take warning

78-80

78 : 365
Fairy food


79 : 365
Sunrise

I had just dropped the May Queen off at school, and the light was so cool I had to stop and get some pictures of the sun shining through the leaves, even though I only had my point and click camera with me (it's easier to keep in my purse at all times than the DSLR). Got lots of great pictures that morning, but this is probably my favorite. Probably. I both love and hate when I can't decide.


80 : 365
Rust

76-77

caught up. whew.

76 : 365
2 wishes


77 : 365
In motion
Another "mistake" that I just love. I took several pretty leaf pictures, as well as some much sharper pictures of the May Queen playing, but this one strikes me.

71-75

71 : 365
Tiny Dancer
My daughter is taking ballet for the first time this year. I tried to snap some quick photos before they closed the door on the studio. This one is blurry, but I just love the way she's standing, and the blurriness makes it very soft in a way I rather like. I played with different effects, but liked it best just the way it is.


72 : 365
Mixed signals


73 : 365
Before her first race

My daughter, aka The May Queen, has just joined her first swim team. Here she is getting advice from her coach before her first race ever. She was the breaststroke leg of a medley relay. This was probably the best she did all night. I love the coach and how positive and encouraging he is. And he's known her name since the very first practice.



74 : 365
On Saturday she walked in a CROP walk and raised $600 to feed the hungry. She was tired, but proud to be the first local walker ever to earn that little green shoe pin for raising over $200.


75 : 365
Fire truck

62-65

62 : 365
False Fuel


63 : 365
Changing


64 : 365
Crafty Party Preparations


65 : 365
On Your Toes

There are a lot of things wrong with this picture, like the too bright feet in the foreground from the flash, and the blurriness of the subject. But I like the way it's framed, and the full bodied concentration. This is a group of girls making friendship bracelets (the only REAL way to make friendship bracelets is to anchor them to your big toe) at her birthday party.

54-61

54 : 365
Pinata



55 : 365
Braced
self portrait #2



56 : 365
Leaf



57 : 365
Another Little Piece of My Heart
(notice the shape of the hole in the leaf. My daughter found this when I challenged her to find the prettiest leaf. I had to concur)


58 : 365
Smile



59 : 365
Sleeping like a baby




60 : 365
Leaping over obstacles in a single bound



61 : 365
Flowers and fall leaves