Natural fun

My son Allston having fun in all things Natural, well except for the shovel.

Au Natural, Baby

I WAS going to snap a picture of my (not-so-silky-smooth) legs for this challenge (oh how I LOVE euphemisms). But Hubs slowly shook his head no and told me that would be inappropriate. And a little embarrassing (for me, of course). And not to mention gross. I think he even shuddered. Real nice, Mr. Wilson, real nice. So I settled on the next best thing... my stash of never-seen-the-light-of-day crappy disposable razors. While I snapped away, Hubs wondered aloud, "Why do you even buy razors in bulk?"

Hey, I (sort of) resent that! I claim my "Asian-ocity" allows for me to do minimal maintenance.

and I'm stickin' to it.

ps. I'm sorry for punkin' out on last challenge... i was having "a day".

CHALLENGE: Natural

EEEK! I don't know what happened with the post for this morning, but I am stepping in getting it done now. Sorry everyone!

Challenge for today: Natural

Let's get a move on since this was a late post!!

P.S. I am finally back from my month long vacation! :) I will be back on Monday with some Mission 24 news and a few changes and updates for all the newcomers. WELCOME to you!

Hope you guys are all having a wonderful weekend!
--Rachel

Winners: Everyday

Good morning everyone! Great pictures on this challenge by all who participated!

Susan takes top honors for Everyday with nature. Alynn and Teryn tied for second place with An Everyday Dilemma and Garden Guest, respectively.

Congrats, ladies!

Voting: Everyday

Sorry this is late... I forgot to prepost, and I slept in. Ahhh, heaven! ;)

Vote for your TWO favorites, and give shout outs if you like! :)

Its all about ME!!!

Hello chaps I'm Erin Wageman, and I'm the featured Photographer... (feeling so special!)

(okay I know you can't see my face in this picture but it makes me laugh, I like my daughters worried look! Or is it my worried look?)

My Camera you ask?? Its a DSLR Sony Alpha 200.. Oh yeah bringin out the big guns! Ok really it isn't a down and serious photographers kind of camera, but I still love it! If you know about Minolta and liked them, then you would love this!

What is your favorite photography subject? My favorite photography subject would probably be my kids, they are really cute! But lately I've really been liking the scenery! Someday I'm going to shoot for National Geographic (I love how their pictures are so real and tell all the story that you need)! Really!! I should actually put that with the wish stuff!

What camera equipment is on your wish list? Everything!! I really wish I had a tripod of all things! That’s just how far behind I am!

What are your hobbies outside of photography? I like to play! I love the outdoors, hopefully soon I will love my new dirt bike (very excited!) I love fitness, my family, crafts, friends, traveling, skiing, boating, rollerblading, 4 wheeling, heck you name it and I’m usually game! (just don’t ask me to jump out of an airplane).

Tell us about your family! (married? Kids?). I have been married for 6 years now (wow, feels like yesterday) to the man of my dreams! Jeremiah is a wonderful, sexy man, (I hope he reads this). I have 3 kids. Kennen is turning 6 in September (Our little princess). Carson will be 3 at the end of June (usually the man of the house because daddy is gone all the time!!!) and Brooke beans will be 2 at the beginning of July (she is the little rebel... hilarious). They crack me up!

Where do you live? (you don’t have to be specific if you don’t feel comfortable) I live in Mount Vernon WA. Next to an ugly gray house (its okay no one has ever lived there!) For now. In about a year we will probably be joining you Easterners… again. My husband is in the Navy so we get to move a lot. It has been a wonderful experience for our family!

Do you have a blog you would like to share? (family blog or photography blog?) Heck yeah! You can look at anything that you like, but you better leave me comments so I know you looked! I have my photography blog that is whatadandy.blogspot.com. and then my family blog is wagemancircus.blogspot.com.

What is the best photography advice you have ever received? Learn how to use your camera, and then relearn!! And, you can never take to many pictures! Snap away! I know its simple but I totally live by it!

What (if any) editing program do you use? I love Photoshop CS4!!! (that’s right I’m up to number 4!) Okay really I have no idea how to use any of the new features, but someday I will be a pro… and that is when they will come out with the new and improved version!

Can you share your favorite 3 pictures with us?? Absolutely... I don't know if they are my favorite, but I like these a lot... for now.

Alright these are all pictures of my kids, I must really love them! I think B&W is my favorite! Toodaloo!

My Everyday

I see these everyday as I drive all over the town. Now if I see them is another thing. :)

Nikon D60, 200mm, 4.2, 1/60

CC always welcome

Everyday cat

ISO 100, 1/25 sec, f/5.6, cc

My brother recently pointed out that I never post pictures of my cat to my blog. Every morning she comes in and cuddles with me, and lately with my daughter as well, until we get up and she feels more free to meow until I feed her. I love that time with her, and yet I never think to do anything to commemorate it.

Like Blake, runners up are at my blog.

Answer Everyday

Thanks for the votes last challenge it is an honor! Apparently I can provoke thought but my skills at the everyday just fail me so here it is. You can guess what it is if you like. Edited photo focal black and white. As always here for the runners up.

What really happens every day...

Dirty face, slobbery fingers, looking away from the camera, dressed in her brother's hand-me-downs.... not the perfect, pink, baby portrait but it's real. Just like I see her every day.

It wouldn't be me without:

I wear these sandals pretty much every day of my life. I resist the urge to wear them to church. My first pair lasted 5 years; these are almost through their first. Love em. Chacos are the best! If you want to know how big my feet are, just click on it to view full size (just kidding).

Now, about the picture, I made it grainy with texture and fun colors. Kinda fun and off kilter, like the shoe set up. No fancy lightbox (though I loved the tutorial and WANT ONE), just the living room carpet.

CC please!

Everyday: Music

I ended up going with something that I hear everyday, instead of something that I see everyday. I almost always have music playing in my house. Sometimes it's the playlist from my blog, or a Pandora station I've created, or just the radio. But I listen to music everyday. A lot. I think part of it is just that I don't like the quiet house. I just bought this iPod this week -- it's the first music playing device I have purchased since I bought my CD discman like 9 years ago. So now I have a way to listen to music when I go walking -- something else I hope to do everyday with good weather.

About the photo: afternoon light, no flash. Saturated colors (such as they are) and increased shadows, added border.

CC

(See runners-up here.)

Everyday View

This is the setup we have at the top of our computer desk. It's something I see every day and I've always wanted to take a picture of it.

Taken with a Nikon D-40. 1/30, f4.5, ISO 1600.

My Life

I was really excited for this challenge, I had grand aspirations. When I got to work this A.M. I had time to get one quick pic then I was off to take care of all those"dying" from the swine flu (I'm rolling my eyes, ugh!). This is my everyday because it seems I'm always working inside this ER or my ambulance is parked in the ambulance bay.

P.S. note Britt's everyday and how it relates to mine.

And the sun goes down

Everyday the sun goes down, usually without us taking notice, but today I did. I wish there wasn't a pole in the middle of my sun but I loved the colors.

CC always welcome!

Taxi Mom

EVERYDAY...Taxi Mom.

I have four daughters, and like adventure, so the everyday event for me would definitely be driving somewhere...

Let's Do the Mashed Potato

Everyday Finds!

Finding something like this is definitely an everyday occurrence! ...My daughters bubble blower inside my husbands tool bucket. SOOC, since I still have yet to find an editing program that is not very expensive and has cool borders and stuff. Any suggestions?

An Everyday Dilemma

"Mom, can I still wear these socks?"

-CC-

Everyday Beauty

EVERY DAY I drive by these mountains, and EVERY DAY I think, "Man, I wish I could get a picture of those." But, I never do, either because I don't have my camera with me or stopping would make me late for work. Thanks to this challenge...I stopped this morning. And I did take a picture of these mountains that I see (very literally) EVERY DAY. It was great. The sad thing is that this picture doesn't even scratch the surface of how breathtaking these peaks are.

* sigh *

It's no secret that I hate living in Arizona. However, seeing these mountains every day is just one of the things that make my surroundings a little more bearable to endure!

Excepting National Holidays...

I love checking the mail. Really. Even if it's just junk, I love seeing the mailman go by after stuffing paper into our poor, beat up little mailbox.

ISO: 400

f 5.6

1/100

In picasa, I added 'warmify'.

I have had the opportunity to borrow my friend's camera, a Canon 20D, and have really enjoyed it. She lent it specifically for the wedding I'm shooting this weekend, but since I needed to practice, I totally took advantage of it. LOVE this! Also, totally random, I just figured out that I can find the stats (like iso and aperature) on my computer afterwards and still post all that good info, so I'll be able to inform you all better after this.

Little Red Bike

I see this little tricycle every day as I leave my house for work. It belongs to my little grandaughter Kylah ( who lives in Hawaii), she is way to big for it now, but it just brings back the sweetest memories for me. When she was 3 she road this bike all over our neighborhood, it was her very first bike and I don't have the heart to give it away or even put it away! I did some photoshopping because I wanted it to have an old fashioned feel to it. I used the vintage, lovely and etheral and burned edges from Pioneer Woman.

rain

it rained tonight, look at the the drops haning on the grass in my front lawn! (thank goodness i didnt mow! lol.

things we dont notice all to often but truly are everyday things!

nikon d 300

18-135 3.5

iso 160

speed 1/2 second

4.2 f cc

Can't live without it...

This was one of those challenges where as soon as I read the challenge I knew what I wanted to take a picture of. My purse. Can't live without it.

CC welcome

Garden Guest

f/5.6 ISO-400 1/125sec, No flash, Manual Focus
I usually stuggle with these wide open challenges. It's hard for me to narrow down what I want as a subject but this morning this just SCREAMED out for me to take a picture of it. We come across these webs everyday, everywhere but I just thought this one was so beautiful with the dew gathered on it. I had to switch to manual focus to get the detail I want and unfortunately my 35mm lense hasn't come yet so this was done with my zoom. It's tough to get the focus you want with a zoom and no tripod. :) Anyway, I hope y'all like it.


CC PLEASE!

Everyday Bridge

Over on the East side of the country bridges are something you see and drive on every day.

Challenge: Everyday

For today's challenge, go find something that you see everyday... something that you don't even notice because it is so commonplace. Then, figure out how to photograph it in a way that will make it interesting. New angle? Fun lighting? You decide!

Post by midnight tomorrow!

Tuesday Tutorial: Light box

I don't actually have a tutorial of my own to offer you, but I wanted to pass on a great tutorial that I found several months ago. I actually have yet to do this, but I want to. Because I don't have permission to reprint any of the text or photos, I'll just provide you with a link and a snippet.

The Making of a Light Box

A light box is something I've been meaning to construct for some time now. I get so frustrated when trying to take photos of things that I make in the winter time because of the lack of natural light. Everything looks dark and blah.

I hope this helps someone out!

Winners: Circulation

Wow...when you vote on two specific categories, the votes really get spread out!

For most thought provoking, there was a two-way tie between Alynn and Blake, with their rain cycle and library shots, respectively.

There was almost a three-way tie for best idea, but Katy pulled ahead at the last minute with her spin cycle photo.

Great job everyone! Stick around for your Tuesday Tutorial a little later this morning.

EDIT: I mis-tallied the first time. There was a two-way tie for best idea between Katy and LeAnn, with her bicycle gears. Sorry to have missed that the first time.

Voting: Circulation

There has been some great takes and pictures. I hope you all found this challenge really challenging and feel like you also found it was easier than you thought!

Please vote:

Best Thought Provoking Picture
Best Idea for the Challenge - one you said to yourself, "Huh I wouldnt have thought of that".
Shout Outs are always good

Thank you all for your efforts. I know a lot of people mentioned they were busy this week! Hope this week is less busy!

circulation

My son loves playing with money so I thought of money for this one, it gets circulated.

Nikon D60, 55mm, F=4.5

Gears and Spokes

My two older kids got bikes today for their birthdays. I got lots of cool looking shots, but this was my favorite. The wheels must circulate in order for you to ride.

Manual, ISO 200, F 4.2, 1/800

Extra Extra Read all About it...

I know this is lame but it is the first thing that came to my mind.. Neswpapers have been in circulation for hundreds of years. This was a tough challenge, whoever thought it up really put us to the test!!!

Drip, drip, drop!

Ya gotta love the water cycle... but I've had enough of the rain part this week! (Is it summer yet? Idaho's not sure...) We were supposed to be on vacation, but got rained out -- several times (you can read about Part 1 here, more to come). It does make for a pretty picture, though!

-CC-

Air Circulation

The first thing I thought of after newspapers was fans. So here's a pic of our much appreciated living room ceiling fan.






Taken with a Nikon d-40, shutter 1/800, f 5, iso 400. CC Please!

Listen Up!

f/5.6 1/60sec ISO200 D40X 18-135mm

I guess I'm not the first one with this idea. This was a tough one though! I chose to take a picture of my hubby's well used stethascope. He's a 3rd year med student so we've still got a Loooong way to go.

I did some dodge and burn on this one to emphasise the highlighted area.

P.S. Just ordered my 35mm lense today! I'm SO excited! I hope it gets here soon.

CC ALWAYS WELCOME (PLEASE!!!!)

They've been flagged

Just a little light reading from one of my magazines that is currently in circulation - when I have a little time on my hands.

Healthy Circulation

Ready for the big stretch? Exercise is great for your circulation, and hiking is a great form of exercise! :)

Visible Circulation

This picture is pretty self-explanatory. The circulatory system in my hands tends to be very obvious - the veins always stand out really well.

Almost SOOC - just adjusted brightness and contrast a bit.

CC

Spin Cycle

So, I couldn't achieve "greatness" with the lighting and the shadows in our little closet that holds our washer/dryer but after some FUNK-IFICATION you can see the "circulation nation" going on in the washer. Yeah, stretching this one!

twirly circulation

here are my two twirly whirls... pretty circles right? :) i had a blast taking these! shot them both very different for different feels...

the color image was taken at:

d300 ~ 14-24 lens focal at 14 ~ f 14 ~ speed 1/40 sec

i wanted rich color and a slightly blury spinny feel. cc

this one i shot way different to show that no matter what the rainy wheather was like they were out dancing and happy in love! shot at

d300

lens 14-24

focal length 17

iso 100

speed 1/40th of a second

f 16

cc

ps its fun taking a "challenge" to my work!