Summit Musings

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Two Weeks in Autumn Photo Challenge, Day 14 - "Favorites"

Well, here we are at the end of this autumn photo challenge. We began on September 23, the first day of autumn--blogger/photographers and visitors--and end 14 days later. The challenge for this meme was to look at the world around you and try to capture with your camera the sights, smells, and feel of a new season, each day a different subject. The last subject is "favorites"--share a photo that you've taken in the past two weeks that you really like. Here's mine:

I call this "sky static". It was taken around 8:00 a.m when Willie and I were walking out to the newspaper box. I looked up at the sky and it was clear blue. Then these streamer clouds started crisscrossing each other. And then a plane flew over, leaving a strong jet trail. Yes, lots of "static" happening in the sky so I ran back in the house and grabbed the camera, despite Willie's protests at being rushed!

Now it's not a great photo, but I'm stilling making it my favorite because of what it illustrates about being an amateur photographer. That's learning to look at your environment and being ready to capture a moment in time in a photo.

A few months ago I participated in a 30 Day Good Photos Challenge, but got in on it late. Had to really search around to find all the subjects. So, I'll give you our two weeks of subjects in case any of your readers would enjoy the challenge.

1- First Signs 2- Autumn Flowers 3- Autumn Fruits

4- Soup Weather 5- Fall Decorations 6- Fall Reflections in Water

7- Harvest Moon 8- Fall Fun 9- Early Fall Landscapes

10- Nature Closeups 11- Autumn Sunlight 12- Autumn Walk

13- Fall Colors 14- Favorite Early Fall Photo

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Here are today's possible players:

Pamela @ The Dust Will Wait
Janis @ As Jan Sees It
Joangee @ Musings n Waffle

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Autumn Photo Challenge, Day 13 - "Fall Colors"

Yes, unlike some of the other photographers who are doing this challenge with me, I could share a picture of some already dressed for fall trees--in yellow, orange, red, golden-brown. However. . .

Yep! It's also time to make that all-important choice of fall colors in nail polish. Starting on the left, my neutral is going to be Essie's Over the Knee. In the middle, I chose OPI's Chocolate Moose for orange tone. And, when I need something pinky, will wear Essie's Lady Like. These colors hit the mark right off because I used my little selection secret. You know how colors may look good in the bottle or dabbed on a piece of white paper? Don't buy from that! Instead, put a piece of cello tape on your hand and paint on that. Guaranteed best way to match your skin tones. And since we're sharing beauty secrets, did you know that the best place to test a lipstick color is on the pad of your finger because it's most like your natural lip color?

If you'd like to participate in the Two Weeks in Autumn Photo Challenge--and I hope you do--it's simple. Just grab your camera and take a photo of your interpretation of the day's subject. Post on your blog and then leave me a comment so I can visit you and include your link on the player's list below.

Also, since tomorrow's photo is the last in our two week challenge, thought you might like to have the subject earlier so you can look through photo archives for a "most favorite."

October 6, Day 14 Subject (the end of 2 Weeks in Autumn Photo Challenge--thanks for playing and visiting) - "Your Favorite Early Autumn Photo"
______________________
Here are today's possible players:

Pamela @ The Dust Will Wait
Janis @ As Jan Sees It
Joangee @ Musings n Waffle

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Autumn Photo Challenge, Day 12 - "A Sycamore Walk"

I had planned to walk a different route for today's photos, but Monday acted like Monday all day. So, ended up in the three parks where Willie and I normally walk. This park has about a half dozen full grown sycamore trees, which are lovely in the fall so decided to concentrate on them.

Here the white trunk of a healthy specimen stands out among the still-green foliage:

When the sunlight hits the branches of a sycamore they just sparkle:

A closeup of sycamore trunk with its shedding bark:

And finally, one perfect leaf--looks like it's cut from a rich golden-brown leather:

If you'd like to participate in the Two Weeks in Autumn Photo Challenge--and I hope you do--it's simple. Just grab your camera and take a photo of your interpretation of the day's subject. Post on your blog and then leave me a comment so I can visit you and include your link on the player's list below. Also, since some of the photo subjects may take a bit of planning thought I'd give you a few of them ahead of time.

October 5, Day 13 Subject - "Fall Colors"

October 6, Day 14 Subject (the end of 2 Weeks in Autumn Photo Challenge--thanks for playing and visiting) - "Your Favorite Early Autumn Photo"
______________________
Here are today's possible players:

Pamela @ The Dust Will Wait
Janis @ As Jan Sees It
Joangee @ Musings n Waffle

Monday, October 3, 2011

Autumn Photo Challenge, Day 11 - "Sunlight"

Some days in autumn are just golden, as in these two photos.

I shot this around 8:00 a.m. from the deck in back of my house, my normal spot to catch the sunrise:

This photo was around mid-day. Just loved the way the light filtered down through the autumn colored leaves on this flowering dogwood. I wasn't lying on my back to take this photo, but it was awkward to get in the right position, hold Willie's leash and the camera steady!

October 4, Day 12 Subject - "Autumn Walk"

October 5, Day 13 Subject - "Fall Colors"

October 6, Day 14 Subject (the end of 2 Weeks in Autumn Photo Challenge--thanks for playing and visiting) - "Your Favorite Early Autumn Photo"
______________________
Here are today's possible players:

Pamela @ The Dust Will Wait
Janis @ As Jan Sees It
Joangee @ Musings n Waffle

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Autumn Photo Challenge, Day 10 - "Nature Closeups"

Here are a few closeups of early fall that I've seen just in neighborhood rambles. I still haven't totally figured out the "macro" setting on my camera yet. Picked up some photography magazines last week with a couple of in-depth articles on shooting "macro", one going beyond flowers and bugs! Stay focused here for some evidence of progress. :-)

An "elf house" in neighbor's pin oak tree:

Next year's southern magnolia bloom:

Seedpod of black-eyed susans:

Hydrangea bloom almost ready for cutting, if you want to dry for winter bouquets:

Shedding sycamore tree bark:

And finally, lovely red fruits--I don't know the tree. Leaves look like a flowering dogwood, but I'm not sure because the dogwood "berries" grow closer to the branch w/o hanging in clusters from stems like in this photo. Anyone solve the mystery?

October 3, Day 11 Subject - "Autumn Sunlight"

Saturday, October 1, 2011

First of the Month - Pastel Sun Flare

Pastel Sun Flare - photo taken at 10 a.m. today. Last night was the coldest we've had this season and this morning the sky was clear blue with these white clouds. The sun was shining just as "white". I aimed the camera straight into the sun and picked up these soft pastel rays. Note: this is not recommended as the glare is very hard on your eyes. I tried to turn my head to the side and squint.

All year long I've been scanning Kentucky skies, camera in hand, in order to participate in a monthly photography meme that attracts aspiring photographers from all over. The idea is that we look at our surroundings and record the changes from month to month. The host for this meme is Jan at Murrieta 365 . Here's how it works: "The goal is to capture one thing repeatedly on the first day of each month. It can be a landscape, a person, an animal, a project; whatever your focus is fine. It can be a record of where you are each first day of the month." I decided to photograph Kentucky skies.

Autumn Photo Challenge, Day 9 - "Early Fall Landscapes"

In Kentucky we haven't had the first cool weather to start the changes in leaf colors--at least until this weekend. Still, when you look closely there are promises of autumn color and texture in the landscape:

Here, the camera picked up only a hint of fall color:

And then, voila! With a little photoshop magic, there's even more signs of fall. Although, I'm not sure I've even seen this shade of blue in the sky. I think it works though, in a painterly way: