Day thirty: Self-Portrait

...as if there aren't enough of these on here
(heh)

day twenty-nine: BOKEH

Remember the photography challenge?  Well, I have to finish up because I'm going to start another challenge tomorrow.

Ugh - today's challenge is called;

BOKEH

After looking it up, I realized I was in a bit of trouble.

Bokeh basically involves composing a deliberate blurriness (in a way)  - you know those photos that have a focus point that is crisp and sharp, and then everything else around it kind of blurs together in the background?    Some people even use special lenses to break up light into dots.  Occasionally people will create heart shaped or star shaped lenses to break the light up into tiny, pretty shapes.

Pretty cool.
Pretty impossible with my point and shoot.
Shoot.

I gave it a go anyway!  And here's what I came up with:

Not great, but I kind of did it.  This was hard.  I think I could do better with a little more practice.

It's been fun to learn a little more about my camera.


ONE more to go, and then I can start the new challenge!

day twenty-eight: Flowers

day twenty-seven: Hands

1.



















2. 

3.

day twenty-six: Black & White

July 2011:  Cherry Hill campground.

day twenty-five: Closeup

Not just a closeup photo, but a closer look at some of my issues:

Who needs this many pairs of pants?  Do you know I live in a relatively small house with 4 other people and 2 cats and a bird?  My husbands also works in the home.  Every square inch is like gold around here.

I am determined to make the most of my space!  I am on a quest to UNLOAD as much as possible this summer.

Why, why, WHY do I have all these clothes?!

I have been holding on to so many clothes, thinking that I will eventually fit into them.  Clinging to this ridiculous hope that someday, someday soon I will get there - that super lean weight.  But, it just ain't gonna happen. 

..Besides, even if I could - even if I do - who in their right mind needs to house this much denim?  Really?  I need a pair for every day of the month?

Eh, no.


Today marks the beginning of a most liberating summer!  I will make the best of what I have (and what works) and the rest I will UNLOAD.  If it doesn't fit, it's gone.  If I don't love it, it's outta here.

This will be a process, because I have some cute things, dresses, books, etc.  I don't want to let go of (even though I never, ever use them). 

Today, I am starting with a tower of pants.

I am looking forward to:

• being able to wear everything I own
• not having so much clutter to shift around and clean
• a happier, more purposeful living space
• a functional garage (oh mama,  I can't wait)
• free time, free space, MORE time to play and explore a do fun projects with the kiddos.  

This is long and silly I know, but I'm excited (note all the italics) for what lies ahead the rest of this summer.

day twenty-four: Shoes (or not. In my case)

I really wanted to finish the 30 days in 30 days, but...it's not going to happen.  I will be occupied this coming week and unable to finish it.  This last week was kind of a bear, no time for blogging.

I will finish it up over July. 

I will probably end up taking a picture of some of my shoes, but really, this is exactly how I like my feet to be:

I mean, what better way to dress up a foot than sun-warmed sand?  Am I right?

day twenty-three: animal

[our kitty Marmalade, interrupting my photo shoot of "something green"]

[turtle at the zoo.  this little guy was hilarious.  If I ignored him, he came right up to the glass and acted crazy, dancing around.  Then, when I'd walk up to him, he just walked away and ignored me. We did this, like three times.  He was so cute, it kind of made me want a turtle.  Kind of. ]

day twenty-two: From a Distance

This photo may not seem so spectacular, but it makes me laugh everytime I come across it:

 

Last year, as Sam and I struggled to put up the sail on our new boat, we were constantly being distracted by arguing twins.  

After a short period of time, I'd had enough.  I walked over to Jack, grabbed him by the elbow, then dragged him over to Ada (grabbing her by the elbow) and took them to the car for a time out.

Before we'd even made it to the car, they started up again.  I thought to myself, "They need some alone time.  They're just going to tear each other up in the car."  So I split them up.

Far, far away from each other and far, far, far away from us.   (But still in eye-shot.  Barely.)

Here's a closer look:

They did not like this.  Not one bit.

day twenty-one: Something Pink

You may have noticed that I'm going out of order and a little behind.
 Prudence requires it.

I will be camping all week next week.  I will try to set things up so that the photos post on time, but I can't make any promises.

There won't be many more photos from my iphone during this challenge.  It was stolen. (waaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!!)

ahem.

[One of the last photos taken with my iphone:  Concert at Red Butte Gardens, June 2011]

[pink sky and rainbow at Bear Lake, Garden City Utah, September 2010  - It doesn't look so pink next to the other sky picture, though...]

[Rose from my garden, á la Gorgia O'Keeffe]

day twenty: Sunflare

So...some of these are an accident.  I think the point of this challenge is to do the daily requirement on purpose - not just dig up some old photos that sort of have what is being asked.  But in most of the photos, I was aware of the light and trying new things with my camera.

Almost all  photos were taken at Arch Canyon in November 2010 unless noted otherwise:

Heber Valley campground at sunset after rainstorm -August 2010.  Not sure if this counts as sunflare...the camera didn't change much (I didn't want it too) - the sunset really glowed like this!  I just wish I could have gotten more color.    

Honestly, this "sun flare" was not entirely deliberate.  But I was experimenting with settings on my camera to allow in more light and was aware that the sun would partially be in the shot.

Also, not a deliberate sun flare shot.  But I love it because Ada is pointing to it.

By now, I noticed the sun flare and  I wanted to see if I could get those streams of light in my photo, but was afraid of having too much sun...  [Arch Canyon, November 2010]

I used the night time setting here and purposefully kept the sun in the shot.  The whites of those plants were really lighting up like that in the natural light but other exposures just wouldn't show it off like this one (and only just barely). 

I know nothing about good composition, but I do like this photo of Jack.

day nineteen: Faceless Self-Portrait

day eighteen...

SOMETHING ORANGE

day seventeen:

" The development of technology will leave only one problem: the infirmity of human nature."

 -Karl Kraus

 [sigh]....  So much for my minimalist ideals.  I just have way too many things.  I realized this (once again) while trying to decide what to take a picture of  - what would represent technology in my life.  "Technology" isn't a bad thing.  Heck, I wouldn't be able to do this fun challenge, would I, if it weren't for computer and internet technology? 

But I have way more stuff than I am able to adequately take care of, or use.


Thanks to this challenge, I see that my simple point and shoot has so many manual settings and options.  My computer has photo editing capabilities that I barely know how to use... I really don't need a fancy camera just yet.  I could learn quite a bit with what I've got.  


So, yeah...

day sixteen: long exposure

I figured it out (kind of)!  I didn't think it would be possible.  Thanks to a google search, I learned there is a setting and some tricks one can do with my camera to get a long exposure... 

I turned off the lights in my kitchen.  To make the designs, I used my iphone and a flashing bike light that I happened to purchase today.  I am so glad I know how to do this now!

I only wish I'd have brought my camera to the concert I went to last night.

I am going to have some fun on the fourth of July!

day fifteen: silhouette

Ahhh, the Silhouette.  The black staple of photography.  Just like that black top or pants or dress, black allows a person to take something imperfect and make it striking, smooth out the lines, and such...   Or at least romanticize it, thus improving the object being photographed.  For example:

Here is a photo of me post bike ride.  Dirty, greasy, and just plain gross: (please do not enlarge this photo.  You will just be sorry you did.)

Now, put the light directly behind me and all you see is a few hair whispies.  Much, much improved self-portrait.  (I did change the "effects" setting, but the concept is the same...)

...And this is kind of fun.  When I put my sunglasses in front of the camera lens it affected the light so that you kind of see me, even though the light is behind me.

Yes.  This was fun.

day fourteen: eyes

I am having a difficult time keeping up!  So my pictures are even more lackadaisacal then usual...

What I WANTED to take a picture of is my son Jack's eyes, when he wears this bold, blue shirt he has.  It is something to see.

Maybe I'll get around to it...
 

day thirteen: Myself With 13 Things...

13 items (give or take) left after cleaning up today's painting job...

Remember when I painted the bathroom?  Well, I painted over it.  It just wasn't working out.  Back in February I wanted something a little daring, interesting, a contrast. 

I got exactly what I wanted but in the end, I found what I really wanted was something clean and cute.  I am happy with the change.  It's like a stone/cream/light color.  Basic, simple, lighter...

so that's my silly picture for the day.

day twelve: sunset

[view from the grocery store, taken with my iphone]

day eleven: something blue

I decided to post a few pictures of some of my favorite blue things (but none of the sky, I've already posted plenty of those)...

A picture of some of my favorite stationery...june 2010??

Our hobie, september 2010

My party doll, which sits on the night stand.  I don't know, I just think she's darling- june 2011

A picture of my most favorite twins in the whole world.