Signs of Spring

CYC: Fresh after rain

This photo could work for a few different challenge words, but I chose "fresh." I was at an outdoor shopping center with my mom on Wednesday, and it had been raining a little off and on that day, but never enough that you couldn't comfortably walk through it. I saw these flowers in a huge pot along the walkway, and I heard them call my name and beg me to take their picture. I loved the colors and the freshly fallen raindrops, both in the center of the flowers and on the petals.

CC

Fresh Decorations

I really tried to get three different ones but the pictures of these flowers are all the ones that turned out. Out at the store I saw these Hibiscus and just had to get the plant to enjoy. Its one of my top 5 flowers and it brings fresh decorations and were freshly in bloom! CC welcomed! more here if you like to see!

Hero (and Fresh . . . sorry!)

My Hero: My Grandpa

He has saved me a number of times and I love him more than anything. Since I couldn't get the real thing this weekend, I took a picture of something I have always associated with him: his cowboy boots. He wears them everywhere. When I was little, I would dress up in them.

34 mm, ISO 640, 1/60 sec, F 4.2

A Fresh Perspective

Now I know that Rach has asked us all to try to post our challenges in a timely manner. But during the week I work really long hours and by the time I get home it's dark and I would rather do things like eat dinner and cuddle with my husband than take pictures. So I try to catch up on the weekends. If this detracts from anyone's creative process, then I will not do it anymore. Just let me know.

26 mm, ISO 640, 1/200, F 25

This picture was taken in a light room with a bunch of distracting objects and colors in the background. I had read about this technique where you use a remote flash and really low light settings to underexpose the background and create a black, abyss-like background. It took a lot of trial and error to get this picture (and I am still not completely happy with it), but this is a neat technique to have in you bag of tricks. What I learned: (1) play around with the intensity of the remote flash. The article recommended 1/1, but it looked nuclear. 1/50 worked much better. (2) Don't play around with the intensity of the flash with your husband unless you intend to blind him. :) CC

Fresh & Hero

FRESH:
Okay, I posted a post which I will try to delete about how my cookies didn't turn out for my "fresh" photo. I tried a second batch yesterday and again, no dice. SO Here is a photo of some DELICIOUS fresh homemade pudding, which really, when I hear fresh I think of fresh food and this is my favorite. :)




HERO:
My mom is my hero. Here she is, making the very pudding pictured above. :)

I used "Clairify" and "Oh snap!" from the Totally Rad Actions set for both of these, in Photoshop. CC

Fresh Air, Fresh Smell and Fresh Water...

I wanted to take a fresh start at photography and start playing with settings on my camera. This was for beach setting with vivid color, no flash, auto ISO. It isnt great so I decided to try and zoom with a photo editor in order to make it better. Didnt work as much as I wanted. CC please!

Fresh Flowers?

So I have taken some time off, but Rachel has inspired me to make a FRESH start. I love fresh flowers!!

CC

Fresh Mouth

This is also known as Sassy Sauce... and it works amazingly well for talking back and for biting and, well, for just about any other "fresh" behavior.

I took the photo outside in natural light without a flash. I used the macro function to focus closely. I might just have to borrow hubby's camera so I can play more with lenses, etc. but I'm a little nervous about that. CC

A Fresh New Hair Style

I feel bad posting another picture of myself...but I couldn't stop smiling today because I felt SOOOO FRESH! I rarely get my hair colored...about 2 times a year...and when I do, I feel like a FRESH NEW WOMAN! So here is my FRESH shot. And believe me...I'm feeling it...no more feeling like I have mommy hair!

Taken with a Canon XTI
Iso 200
1/60
F5.6

Studio lighting

CC is always welcome

Fresh Homemade Bread

There is just something comforting about Fresh homemade bread right from the oven with butter and jelly. This is the first thing that came to my mind when I read the topic for this mission. So far all the pictures have been amazing and the tips so helpful. Thank you everyone.

Freshly Falling Snow

Wishing I knew more about camera tricks. The falling snow today was pretty, but I just had a difficult time getting a clear shot of SNOW against the white sky! Also, I'm new to this "burning" tool and such!

A FRESH Cut

Here is my little boy - my Bug - FRESH out of the shower (ok, technically still IN!) after getting a FRESH, new, much needed haircut!

Soft, Cozy, Warm

I love the smell and warmth of fresh blankets and towels straight out of the dryer. I am still using my point and shoot, hopefully I will get a SLR soon. Nothing fancy going on here just set on Close Up Scene Mode.

CC

Fresh: Smell

I think this one is pretty much self-explanatory.

CC

I'm Drowning Here...

So that I actually do a challenge I'm posting this Lame picture. I could not get creative with this challenge. I tried to frame it so that it looks like it goes on endlessly (which, believe me, it does). Any CC if you want!

Fresh and Clean

I took A LOT of pictures for this "fresh" challenge, of a lot of different things--clean dishes, fresh laundry, freshly fallen snow, etc. (many of the pictures of which were much more technically appealing than this one)--but none of them really felt as fresh to me as this picture did. I think it's because it reminds me of the fresh feeling I have just after taking a shower or going swimming. And I realize that the flash washes this picture out a little bit, but I think it adds to the freshness of it all, by making it seem that much brighter and cleaner. CC

FRESH AIR

This picture happened quite by accident. I have been pushing myself to shoot only in manual mode, but I am much more used to the settings INSIDE my house than dealing without outside light. So, in between finding the right settings, I snapped this shot of my little boy on the swings. I know it isn't exact, or perfect to the trained eye, and is overexposed, but I feel so drawn to this picture when I think of fresh air. :)

ISO 200, f14, 1/40 sec

Fresh Box of Crayons

One of my favorite things in the world... a fresh new box of crayons. :)

f5.6 1/40, iso200, no flash, wb auto, photoshop to warm and boost colors, slight burn on edges

cc

Fresh from God

"It is no small thing when those who are fresh from God love us."
-Anonymous

fresh is good

Gotta love a fresh mouth!