Motion and Addiction

Sorry, it has been so busy around here. The first picture, Motion, is of a random child I shot while waiting to get Rod taking a jump. The picture of the kid turned out better than the one of Rod (mainly because Rod was moving too fast). It is hard to tell that the kid is off the ground. I'm not sure how to fix that.

This next picture, for the addiction challenge, is of a serious problem I have. I am a purse-a-holic; cheap, expensive, big, small, teeny-tiny, fits my kitchen sink . . . I love them all.

CC

And the winners are.....

Can you believe I am actually posting the winners early this time? Thanks to my 4 a.m. wakeup call courtesy of my sweet little boy, I had some "spare" time this morning. :)

So here are the winners!

Best take on the challenge went to Jackie for her "smokin' cigarette" picture. That was definitely worth of a no smoking poster! :)

And the best overall went to Rachel for her tricky paint picture. Thanks guys for your vote. There are so many great pictures that I thought I would never make the cut!

Another challenge on it's way! Can't wait to see what you come up with this weekend!

P.S. WE NEED SOME MORE FRIDAY FEATURE SIGNUPS! Time has flown by and we are ready to fill another month's worth of spots. Please sign up in the comments if you are willing to post something. It can be simple--there is lots of good info out there that you can share, and it will help you learn in the process. You don't have to be a pro to post, promise!

Time to vote!

What a great challenge everyone! There were some really fabulous pictures and I just love how you are stepping it up and really putting forth your best. That makes this blog more fun!

So let's get voting.

Remember to put:
BEST TAKE ON THE CHALLENGE:_______________
BEST OVERALL PICTURE:______________

And then all your shoutouts and other comments. :)

Thanks everyone for sharing your beautiful art!

(VOTING ENDS AT MIDNIGHT TONIGHT)

Addiction

I to like Mindy have a addiction to running. Call me crazy, but I love it.  I first became a addict when in high school. I ran track and cross country, and loved it from the start. 

It's an addiction when you keep running even though you have blisters, when you go to the mall and the first store you go to is Lady Foot Locker or the running store down the street just to see if they have anything new, when you have 6 or 7  of shoes you never wear but don't want to get rid of them, when you want to run more marathons just to see if you can beat your time, when you add a mile to your run every week just to see if you can go farther, and you wake up at 4:30 just to get in a run.

This photo is of my newer pair of shoes and with my two running bibs from my half marathon, and my full marathon. I ran a vivid action in elements and turned off all the layers but the urban layer. Taken in manual mode, ISO: 200 F:4.8  Shutter 1/4

Addiction: Orangutan

I am addicted to Orangutans. I have been as long as I can remember. I just got back from visiting my sister and we went to the zoo with the kids. I was so excited to go see the orangutans. My sister stood with the kids while I watched the monkeys play for awhile. I think I was more excited to see these guys then the kids were.

Addiction: Blueberries

This photo does double duty with this challenge. My true addiction is taking pictures of my daughter. Wanting to expand my horizons, I decided to take a picture of my daughter's addiction. She absolutely loves blueberries. They are her favorite food, bar none.

About the photo: This photo is straight out of the camera, save a little cropping. No lighting or color corrections.

CC

Cookbook Addiction

I am addicted to collecting cookbooks and recipes. This is just a small sampling of my extensive collection. Most were from the thrift store, or given to me free, because I also have an addiction to getting things cheap!

Battle of the Bulge

I wanted to take a photo of the aftermath, per se, of my addiction. Namely I am incredibly addicted to dessert. I love cookies and brownies and cheesecake and ice cream. Plus I eat way too much of them. I try not to have them in the house at all because then I won't eat them. I hardly ever bake anymore because I have absolutely no self control. That being said, I started an exercise regimen in November and I've been really good at keeping on top of it. I've lost 25 pounds so far and other than a set back or two (like my SIL's peanut butter truffle brownies!) I'm doing well to beat back my bulges!

Crafty Addiction

I have a huge addiction to anything scrapbooking or quilting.
I just love working with my hands and creating things.
I also like spending money. It all works hand and hand :)

Totally Addicted to Jane...

Austen, that is. I own 5 of her 6 novels, 4 versions of the movie Pride & Prejudice, and at least one version of each of her other novels made into movies. I've read books about her, books written in the style of her, and books based on the "craze" created by her. So, yea, it's an addiction. =)

I wish I could have taken this picture without flash and have it still been in focus. But I couldn't, so here it is taken in auto mode with flash, and then with the brightness and contrast adjusted to give it back some color and take away a little of the glare. I like this shot (even though several others turned out better technically) because I think it shows the extent of my "addiction"...

Shoe Addict

I'm addicted to shoes!  The first step is addmitting it.  I have it mostly under control, and I'm not as bad as I used to be, but its hard to pass on some really cute ones!  

(ISO 400, F5.6, 1/20 sec) Window light, shaded.

Used photshop to: B&W, Singnature, Border, and croped it square.

(CC)

Running Away

Can running be an addiction? You bet. You get a high... you think about it a lot... you envy others when you see them running... you spend a lot of money on it (yes, I have a lot of shoes)... when you have to stop you go through withdrawals (dang foot and knee!!!)... you do it even though sometimes it's actually bad for you... you constantly push your body's limits... AND other people think you're insane for doing it. Sounds like an addiction to me. ;)

Addicted to paint...

If you read my blog at all, you will know I have a spray paint addiction! I love to redo furniture and all sorts of other projects. And I always do it with spray paint! It's the BEST--the EASIEST--and the most CONVENIENT option for me!

I took this picture standing over a pyramid of spray paint and the other 3 cans. It was on a dark brown drop cloth that I had been painting. It looks like I photoshopped one set in, but in actuality I didn't. Just took it looking directly down at them.

Taken in my garage with only natural light.
(dang it, just realized my ISO was high again from my last photos. Darn it!)
ISO 1250, f5.3, 1/2000 second

Ran a color boost in Adobe Lightroom.

Clean Freak!

My son is addicted to baths. He LOVES them. He would take two or three a day if I would let him! It's a good thing too... he's a very messy boy!

The lighting was bad, so I toned down the color temp and saturation just a little to soften it a bit.

-CC-

Hello...my Name is Melinda and I have a Twilight reading problem...

This book, while I resisted it at first, sucked me in. I don't think I'm quite as addicted to it as I am to the Anne of Green Gables series, but it's a close second. I really enjoy being pulled into another world, especially one so alluring as this.

I only cropped and added a little of saturation. I played with b/w, but I really wanted to keep the red apple and I don't happen to have a camera or program with that ability.

CC

Addicted or Just Engrained?

This is an unused toilet converted into a drinking fountain? Are you addicted to water, clean and things that just look good or are you like the elephant from Tarzan "are you sure this water is sanitary, it looks questionable to me". My wife and kids are addicted to water they always have water near them.
There was a really bright light over this on the right hand side, no flash 320 ISO no enhancements cept cropping out extra background. The light helped backout the background which I experimented with though I didnt want one side light causes too much light, but Im learning! CC

Addicted to cake!

Wrapped around his little finger

I am addicted to my son, he is perfect. He was drawing on the front door with a pencil and when my husband caught him he looked right at my husband and said "Please don't spank me daddy."
How could you be mad at that? I told you pure addicting perfection. When I was taking this picture he was so annoyed that the paint brushes were dry. He thought he was going to really paint and kept saying "they need water!"

Also I might be a little addicted to Photoshop CS but only a little:)

I'm a Loreal Girl

 

I love buying makeup, it is one of my many addictions..is that crazy or what? I went to Target tonight to take pictures of my addictions and this one turned out the best. I just love makeup!

"Addicted"

Going out on a limb with this one. It was just the first thing that came to mind, even though I dont smoke..I adjusted the contrast and added a vignete.