Merry Christmas Everyone

I wanted to wish you all a Merry Christmas and hope you all caught the joy of the Christmas spirit be it from children, giving, present, tradition, football, food and religious meaning. It is a great time of the year for everything.

So MERRY CHRISTMAS to you all! Hang on to your photos you took they will come in handy (hint hint) ;)

Homemade Giving

This year, a few of the gifts we're giving are homemade or gifts of time. This particular one is a tree skirt for my sister in law. (I don't think she checks this blog, but if you do, Katie, please act surprised anyway.) It was a really fun gift to make, from a pattern my mom used for her own, and for mine a few years ago.

Giving Christmas Cards

I took this on Sunday night. Only editing I did was to add the black frame and add text. This was using Nikon d50. This is my sisters family in an inpromto photo shoot so they can give/send Christmas cards.

NICU Holiday Bags

The picture isn't the greatest but a group of Mom's here in FL who had preemies or babies who died, we got together to make holiday bags for families in the NICU on Christmas Day. The christmas card was designed by a little boy who lost his twin brother who were both born prematurely. We put in the bags christmas cookies, layettes, a camera (sometimes when you have a preemie you dont have time to get your camera to the hospital), snacks, water, chapstick, hand sanitizer, teddy bears, lotion, laundry detergent, note pads, pens, etc... We are very proud of this project. I have spent two months of my life in a NICU between our two boys and it was no fun. We're delivering these bags next week to the families in the NICU at varying hospitals in Jacksonville...

Challenge: Giving

Merry Christmas M24'ers!

In the spirit of the season and because I know everyone will be busy this next week I wanted to just slip one more challenge in and then take a break during the week of Christmas. It is a good time of the year to keep giving in mind so lets see what pictures you have for this challenge. Perhaps there are traditions you do or something you did for someone, etc. Show us what you think of the word.

Lets post by Sunday December 20th at 11:59pm PST. It is one day less than usual so get it in if you can then enjoy your Christmas!

Sitting Silent...

This is a water wheel at the Gardner Village near Salt Lake City (there for a family vacay). Using the Nikon D50, I took this picture on Saturday morning and conditions were over cast and gray. I only increased saturation so you could actually see the wood. Because it is old wood, the color was a washed out gray which made it difficutl to see against the gray ice. recent family vacay. (Getting ready for this trip, Thanksgiving, broke camera, and busy schedule have prevented me from posting on recent challenges. Sorry!)

1/125s,
Focal length 18.0 mm
f 5.6

Challenge: Silent

This time of year is a hussle and bussle so I figured a good word for us to have for a challenge would be Silent. Perhaps opposite of the word is what you think of or perhaps something that took deep thought. Lets see what you have in your minds!

Please post by Monday December 14th at 11:59PST. If you do have pervious challenge pictures you want to post for the last few weeks go ahead and do that as well.

Thanks Janelle for the word suggestion.

Busy: Working

I have officially recovered from surgery!!! And boy did I hit the ground running. I have had four shoots in the last two weeks. One of them was going down to see the Christmas lights. This photo was too cool not to share. Everyone just looking up at the huge tree, and the only light was the tree. The only PS I did was cropping.
CC- is always welcome.

Gratitude: A real nativity

Sorry this is so late. It's been a busy couple of weeks for me, but I really wanted to post this. My mom got me this nativity set for Christmas, but gave it to me on my birthday (11/22) to open. I love the Willow Tree brand and the simple figures, and I really wanted to get this nativity set, but there's no way. It would have taken several years, buying separate sets, for me to be able to afford it. I'm very grateful (1) that my mom was so generous and thoughtful to give this to me; (2) grateful to have a "real" nativity set now (the only other one I have is tiny -- small enough to fit in the mini zen garden we have); and (3) thankful for everything that a nativity scene reminds us of.

About the photo: I used flash, but I didn't want to. I'm using a camera that is a step down from what I was used to, and it doesn't have image stabilization. If I turn the flash off (which is generally my preference), my pictures usually turn out blurry. With the flash on, they're more washed out, but not so blurry. I adjusted color and exposure, saturated, increased shadows, and put a brown border around it.

CC

Busy Doing Yard Work

Challenge: Busy

Perhaps this is a word that describes this season or perhaps just everyone's life right now so lets share whatever you can think of. What keeps you busy, what do you do to not be busy, etc. It should be fun to see what comes up with

Lets post by Thursday December 10th at 11:59PM PST

Enjoy the Break

I hope that you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving holiday! I hope you all have enjoyed the extra time without having a challenge to do! Many of you have said that you have previous pictures to add. Go ahead and post them for any topic.

I will again have a challenge up Monday morning for everyone! Merry Christmas!

Leftover Shells

I did a little bit of cooking for Thanksgiving this year - but not my typical amount. It was nice to spend time with family without the added pressure of cooking copious amounts of food. Instead, my extended family rented a beach house at Cape Hatteras.I took this picture Saturday morning when my girls, my husband and I went to the beach to search for shells. We found some perfectly whole shells -- but mostly were so battered by the surf that we only recovered interesting little bits -- little leftovers. Other beachcombers had gone through the piles of shells discarded by the ocean....but we still managed to find a few perfect, whole shells.
Just like our Thanksgiving meal, the leftovers were the best part. My girls were blissful and it was a absolutely beautiful day.

Challenge: Leftover(s)

You still have till the 30th to get in gratitude but I also wanted to give you all a heads up on this challenge. Some people love to have leftovers from Thanksgiving dinner. I know I enjoy a variety of things to do with the leftovers. So lets capture what you do. If you feel so inclined leave a recepie as well (not required though).

So finish off Gratitude and lets post our challenge for Leftover(s) both by the Monday November 30th at 11:59pm PST.

Grateful for Newborn babies

I love newborn babies.. they are just so fresh from Heaven and so adoring and oh the newborn baby smell is wonderful. I have many things to be grateful for at this time of the year so this was a nice topic. I am thankful for my girlfriend who let me come over and to take pictures of her little guy.

Grateful the wedding is over...

...and my life can return to just busy instead of insane. My brother in law got married this past weekend. A few more of the pictures I took are up at my blog.



This picture is of my in-laws watching the bride walk down the aisle with her father. I love the emotion on my MIL's face.

ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/60 sec, sooc. CC.

Grateful for Family

...especially these three. And of these three, especially the on in white in the middle. Even though he was born 2 1/2 weeks early, Carson (who joined our family 2 days ago) is healthy and happy, as are both our daughters. What more could we, as parents, be grateful for? (Oh, and, he's the reason I didn't get a native picture up...give a girl a break!) ;)

Gratitude

I am grateful for my little boy who we almost lost at birth...he reminds us what is important in life each day.

Challenge: Gratitude

This is the holidays and specifically Thanksgiving. In honor of the holiday and the significants behind it lets see what gratitude means to you!

With the holiday I want to give extra time for everyone to get this in so lets do it till Monday Nov 30th at 11:59pm PST!

please also feel free to post any photos you have and werent able to post for any challenge in the month of November as well during this time.

*another great word chosen by Melinda - Thanks!!!

Native Shroom

They are native to every area all over and I swear im convinced that if you dont have them and you water anything too much they pop out everywhere. I actually took this with my cell phone camera which isnt great quality but sadly it is the best one I got this challenge which is even more sad.

Native: Tradition

This is a rushnyk. It's a Ukrainian word that literally translates to "towel," and is pronounced /HROOSH - neek/.

My husband lived in the Kyiv, Ukraine area for two years before we knew each other, and became familiar with a native custom there. As part of the wedding ceremony, a rushnyk would be laid on the floor in the place where the wedding was held. The new husband and wife would -- on the count of three -- simultaneously step onto the rushnyk. Tradition was that whomever touched first was the head of the house. Inevitably, in any home where he asked who stepped first, both claimed credit. Before he left Ukraine, he purchased a rusknyk of his own, to have for when he got married. At our reception, he explained the tradition, and then we did it. Of course, I touched first, but if you ask him...

See my runners-up here, along with a full view of the rushnyk.

Additionally, though I took "grunge" pictures within the time frame, I didn't get around to uploading or editing them until tonight, and I think it's waaaaay past the statute of limitations by now, but you can see them here if you'd like.

CC

Native Roots

This is a picture of my cousin that I took for his Senior portraits. The thing that absolutely blows me away about this spot on the beach is this tree and its roots. It has been there for as long as anyone can remember, and its roots are gnarled and weathered.
But it still stands.
In its native sand, strong and unbreakable.
It's amazing to think about.

I am cheating a little bit --this picture was taken a few months ago with my Panasonic. But I haven't had time to take any pictures this week :( And I was feeling terrible about missing two challenges in a row. This is one of my favorite photos, and just wanted to share.

Naturally Native

Taken on 11/16 using Nikon. Loved how bright it was and the three colors of the leaves.

Greatly Grunge-y

We're not going to talk about *ahem* who's bathtub this is or how it got this bad (or why it's stayed that way for over a week). But it definitely fits the bill.

Challenge: Native

I guess I'm feeling quite festive for this holiday season. I also think it is interesting to see what people come up. Let's see what people come up with the word Native. I could be something relating to a home in a specific area, could be festive, or cultural. Let's see what you got!

Please post by Thursday, November 19th by 11:59PM PST.

Grungy Picture

This is the neighbor boy who "helped" me take a picture of himself at night with my camera. The red is from a light on the camera before focusing happens and a lamp with a very odd shade on it that we got free. Thanks to grungy camera, picture and a grungy smile.

Seattle Grunge

In all honesty I took this picture in early October when I was in Seattle. I just wanted to get a post in before deadline becasue my camera battery is dead (used up at Boise State Bronco football game vs rival University of Idaho. Broncos won by the way 63-25! GO BSU!!!). I figure I can change it out tomorrow after it battery is charged. Background on photo: I was in downtown Seattle going and saw smoke stack. I took a quick shot on my "normal" settings but I just turned off the flash. The night was overcast and the city lights were being refelcted on the clouds which outlined the stack. I have edited it some. I adjusted the lighting, and darkend the edges (using focal b/w in Picasa) to refuce the glare from the street lamp. I have posted before and after. (please be nice in comments as this is my first challenge post!)

Challenge: Grunge

Im sorry Im a little late on getting this out to everyone and I missed the reminder for the last challenge for the emails so I will do better this week. Also if you want you can search on facebook for Mission 24 or become a fan on the right side here and I put reminders there as well! The more the merrier!

This word Im so excited for because of the ability so many have to turn things that arent so nice into very nice things! Or if you are like me and you simply were in that type of music and dress perhaps this is the word for you. The word challenge is Grunge. Perhaps your idea is something I wrote or something different! Lets see what you got!

Since I messed up on the days lets have it done Saturday November 14th at 11:59PM PST. The day is different again so look out and we will get back on track the next challenge for specific days!

*Another great word suggestions by Janelle

Look!

I know it's past midnight. It's been a really rough week over here. When the challenge word came I knew I wanted to do something cool with the sun, since it's the brightest thing I can think of. And I was so excited when the opportunity presented itself at a family shoot on Friday. Sadly, it's been total chaos at my house ever since and I only just now got the chance to upload my picture. (please forgive me) My hellish story will be posted on my blog later today if anyone cares to hear it. I just could NOT not post this picture. I love it! Brothers, checking out a beautiful sunset.

OH! and this is SOOC- how awesome is that!

f/8

1/200 sec

ISO 100

CC always welcome!

Not a Bright Idea

Testing out some things on my camera with a partly cloudy day and no bright ideas on what to take a picture of I just took a picture of the brightest thing I know of. Was going for some sun flare. Mediocre attempt at it but it is a nice set up I think. CC of course is always welcomed!

Bright Idea

Well, it is for me, anyway. Since our baby will be born the first week of December, I'm fairly certain that I won't be able to get a whole lot of that last-minute Christmas stuff done. This is my Christmas List. Well, it's my list of people to purchase for, what they are getting, if I've gotten it, and if it's wrapped yet. *I strategically took this picture so it shows only my kids' sections; that way my family who look here won't get an accidental sneak peak. That's bright, too, right?

Featured Photographer- It's just me!

My name is Megan. I am so excited to participate. I have been following M24 because of Melinda (friends from high school so long ago). I live in Idaho with my dog TJ, however I live with 5 miles of my parents and 3 of my sisters so life is very busy with family dinners and functions. I work full time for national trucking company as a trainer and customer service. I have always enjoyed photography. I don't do a lot of "sessions" except for family senior portraits or engagements.

I actually use two cameras. My camera is a Sony Super Steady Shot DSC W120 7.2 Mega Pixels. The camera that I covet (and try to steal) is my father's Nikon D50 (I think it is 7 mp as well). I LOVE that camera!! He has worked at Micron Technology for the past 29 years. The camera was a thank you gift at 25yrs and I pray my company is just as nice, but if they are not, I am saving up.

My favorite subjects would be niece/nephews. I love how innocent they are (at least the young ones) and capturing their love of life and happiness just makes me smile. I also enjoy nature. Flowers and water in particular.

My three favorite photos (that I can access from work):

This is my youngest niece Marlee. (taken with Sony)

A veggie stand at Pike Place Market in Seattle WA (taken with Sony)

Train Engine for Thunder Mountain Line in Horseshoe Bend, ID (taken with Nikon)

Challenge Reminder: Bright

Last night for Bright for those who can and want to send a photo in. Thank you to all of those who have replied to the email if they didnt want the emails I have taken you off and will continue as requested. We did lose 3 people but we also have gained one just today! So welcome the newcommer and we appreciate the work past contributors have done!

Bright by tonight remember!!

M24 News

As per suggestions I am attempting to reach out beyond google reader and facebook in an attempt to remind people of challenges in an effort to increase participation for posts. I dont want to guilt trip anyone just a friendly suggestion. So i created a mailing list of all the people who are set to contribute. Check your emails and if you dont want to be on the list follow the insturctions there and I will promptly resolve it and send 1 additional email to confirm it.

Scroll down for the challenge!

Challenge: Bright

I was out of ideas so I asked my wonderful wife and she came up with something I dont find synonymous to fall at all. Bright seems like an interesting word to choose with photography and I hope it can push us all in what we think of or how we take pictures! Nothing better than to Bright-en things up a bit!

Lets post by Monday November 9th at 11:59 PST!

Autumn: Wind and leaves

I liked a lot of the photos I took for this challenge, and had a hard time choosing just one. My kind and loving husband didn't like any of them. He actually said this was his least favorite, but it was my most favorite. I was sitting on the couch inside my warm house, watching the wind blow the leaves outside. I grabbed a sweater, some shoes, and my camera, and ventured outside. I took some pictures, but the wind had died down. It was blowing the leaves around, but only close to the ground, which was not obvious enough for a photo. So I scooped some up, threw them into the air above me, and took this picture. I like it because it shows the colors of Autumn, but it also demonstrates wind (even if I faked it). My husband's comment was just that the leaves looked like they were falling vertically, not blowing aimlessly.

You can see the rest of my photos here, though my husband said "they're not [my] best crop of photos." (Wow, he's getting kind-of a bad rap here, huh? I'm just making fun of him.)

CC

Buried

One of my most favorite memories as a child was getting to jump into a big pile of leaves every autumn and I was so excited to capture my son's first experience.

He Loved it!

f/5.3

1/125 sec

ISO 280

no flash

CC always welcome!

Autumn

I'm back :) and so glad to be!
My son "raking" leaves with daddy, his rake didn't do much good but he felt "big"

f5.6

1/3200
ISO 2000
CC welcome!

Leaves of Change

I love, love, love this time of year!
I love the colors, the weather, the sights, the smells of comfort foods.
I, most of all, love my backyard during the Fall. It's nothing but a blanket of beautiful leaves, and acorns -- and those crazy little squirrels.

And it means Christmas is around the corner :)

Challenge Reminder: Autumn

Havent had any posts for the autumn yet. The deadline is midnight to night if you would like to post. Try and get something in the remainder of the day if you can! Thanks everyone sure hope you had a good halloween!!