P52/Week 4:"My Daily Routine"

"My Daily Routine" is the theme for this week's Project 52.

One load of laundry, a made bed and a cup of tea all were taken into consideration for my subject this week, but none of them would have been as cute at this:

I can't tell you how happy it makes my heart to hear them play. They work hard and it shows. So, I very happily chose listening to their musical routine as the featured, photographed part of 'My Daily Routine'. (Sorry to all of those of you who would've loved to see my laundry baskets.)

My little musicians are working particularly hard on the score for a high school musical they'll be playing in. It's very different from anything they've done so far, since they'll be part of an orchestra and only playing a very distinct part of the music. (Explained by a musical nobody, so please excuse me.)

 

This I do know:  It's all rhythm, which is Nico's forte, so while it's new and challenging for Nico, it's at times overwhelming for Enzo, who usually plays melody.

In exasperation yesterday while they were practicing, Enzo blurted out, "I can't believe I'm doing this for free!"

Grandma and I just about rolled over laughing... The jaded outlook of a child professional musician.

But, wonderful big brother that he is, Nico takes the time to turn around and help Enzo figure out the chord formations and Enzo plugs away.



I can't wait to see how proud they are of themselves when it's all said and done and they've managed to get in there and play with the high school orchestra like the true professionals that they are.

P52/Week 3: "Pieces of Me"

All these things I've been reading about putting together a photography portfolio have taught me nothing if they've not taught me that all of my photos should have a cohesive feel. That someone could look at my work and fill in the blank of "Kel is a __(name any genre here)__ photographer."

That I should be a portrait photographer. Or a lifestyle photographer. Or a wildlife photographer.

Aaaaaannnndddd, sure, maybe I can occasionally venture into the wilds of street photography and even a few (kitchen) studio setups. But, I'd also like to be much better at landscapes and creative composite images. I want to do it all.  WAAAA!

So, when I took this photo of myself for the P52 "Pieces of Me" entry....

I realized it shows how I feel about this photographic journey I'm on.  I don't want to pick just one... I want to be good at them all!
(And maybe I should add fine art photographer to my wannabe list.)

P52/Week 2: "Fresh"

The P52 theme this week is "Fresh." Anyone who knows me will not be surprised at my quick turnaround time on this one. 'Bread Woman' that I am. So only one thought came to mind, as opposed to my many last week, but I knew if I did it right, it would be good.

I'm not claiming great originality or artistic license here, but I really wanted to see if I could make my very-homemade-looking bread look appealing and, of course, fresh. And (excuse me while I polish my nails on my lapel) I think I did. It's exactly what I was going for, which is always a good result.

P52/ Week 1: "Time"

I'm off and running with the new year P52. The theme is time and I can only hope that for the following 51 weeks I have as many ideas as I did with this one. I took a few, tried a few more and couldn't even get to others that I thought up.

But, ultimately, this is what I came up with:

 

As planned, I didn't write anything under my entry over on Flickr. But, I like the way this made me think about time.... Short term vs. long term; Geologic time; Seasons; and of course, the golden hour. :-)

Here are two others that I considered submitting:

The first felt more like an exercise in Photoshop to me since it's two photos (Nico's watch cropped and Christmas tree) together with effects applied. 

In the second Nico was waiting the allotted time until the glue was dry on his model figures.  I liked the storytelling feel to it, but felt like maybe it was more about 'waiting' rather than 'time'. I know... I'm thinking too much about this.

I chose the rock layers for my entry.

Thanks to my ever-willing creative team, Jt, Nico and Enzo, for idea generation, photo execution and entry decisions (not necessarily in that order). 

P52/Week 52: "Celebration"

Did you catch that? Week 52 of 52. Done and done. Well, sorta. As a I start this post, I'm not really sure what I'm going to choose for my 'Celebration' theme. Which only means there's lots of room for improvement and I should start all over again next week, right?

..... (talk amongst yourselves, while I look)....

I'm back.
I went instinctively to my folder labeled 'Christmas' but, found nothing worthy there. (More room for improvement. ahem.) Then thought about the fun the boys had out in the snow yesterday.

And, whoop, there it is. That boy knows how to celebrate the small gifts in life.

Onward to 2013 and another P52....

P52/Week 51: "Red or Gold"

Well, I'm almost there. Week 51 of 52. So excited.

I've already decided I'll be doing it again in the new year, along with some other new challenges.

This week's theme is Red or Gold. Mine is mostly gold, but thanks to Nico... a touch of red made it's way into the photo.

 

Merry Christmas! Looking forward to big chunks of family time.  Wishing the same for you.

P52 Catch Up

Ok, I didn't come this far into my Project 52 to let it all go to pot. So here are my catch up posts, including a tremendously early one for this week, on each week's theme:

Week 46 was all about "Out and About." I took this photo while the boys were involved in a "class" about creek health, where they'll take samples of the water and do various chemical tests each month to provide an accurate and on-going picture of this creek's water health to a PA university.

 

This photo looks a bit different than those I took in the summer of the boys at the stream, but it is December after all. He couldn't resist the urge to at least feel the water, if he couldn't de-shoe and wade in.

The next theme in our way-back machine is "Thankful" for Week 47.  I don't find it cliche to say that family tops my thankful list every time. 

I'm thankful that I've got so much of it, that when we get together, we can't fit in one room, nor one table and not even one frame (sorry Jt and Nico). I'm also thankful that regardless of the mistakes I make, they still allow me to be official photographer.

On to "Tradition" (Sung in the most Fiddler on the Roof voice I can muster) for Week 48.

 

This one speaks for itself, I 'spose, with the hidden tradition of me being disappointed in the photos I take for the tree-decorating event. Ah, what would year end be without a burgeoning set of resolutions.

(I do like this photo, but it and the one of the dog are the only ones I care for of the many I took.)

And... last, but not last, Week 49 brings me to "Indoors" which puts to use these photos I grabbed of the boys one night last week. Just doin' what they do.

Only 3 weeks left! Wowza. I think I might pull it off.

P52/Week 46: "Something Old Something New"

I've committed myself to participating in a photography project called Project 52, where each week there's a challenge to take a photo with a particular theme and enter it on the group Flickr site.


I seem to have interpreted the theme of "Something Old, Something New" to mean "Before and After." But, whatever.

I've been wanting to do this for a while. I took the photo on the left of the boys last year, early in 2011. I thought it was pretty good (shaking head), but as soon as it was printed, I could see it wasn't. The biggest crime is that the banjo heads are brighter than their faces. I won't bother to list all of the other problems with it. I trust you to see the crap that it is.

So, I've been wanting to try this again just to prove that I could. And so I did.


I had lots of problems, not the least of which is that the boys are so much bigger now, I had trouble getting them far back enough in our confined space and still fit them in the frame. They're sitting on the coffee table and I was perched on the couch head pushed back against the window as far as it would go. But, that may have helped to not allow the banjos to seem so bright and to keep focus more on their faces.

There's lots more that's better about it, but, again, I'll trust you to compare so that I don't have to call myself names in public. :-)  Let's just say I'm happy I managed to redeem myself, however marginally.

P52/Week 45: "Hot and Cold"

I've committed myself to participating in a photography project called Project 52, where each week there's a challenge to take a photo with a particular theme and enter it on the group Flickr site.

This week's theme is "Hot and Cold." Neither hot nor cold here, which means neither frosty mugs nor frosty noses to photograph. I was a bit stumped, but when I took a break from my computer and headed into the bathroom, I was greeted by the fabulous light that streams in every afternoon into that room.

I've often thought of taking photos in there, but, well, it's not a large room and I couldn't really imagine the toilet as a backdrop in any photo that I'd love. So, I figured all that light was simply for me to admire.  But, today in a last minute surge of the-pressure's-on creativity, I realized hot and cold was right in front of me and illuminated beautifully.

Enzo assured me that it was too obvious for the theme and probably everyone else would be having the same idea. Probably so. But, I'm glad I got the chance to photograph in the bathroom anyway.

P52/Week 41: "Evoke... History"

I've committed myself to participating in a photography project called Project 52, where each week there's a challenge to take a photo with a particular theme and enter it on the group Flickr site.

This week's theme is a fill-in-the-blank with the prompt being, "Evoke ____________."
I filled it with history and submitted this shot:

I'm so glad the boys have a friend who is just in love with the story of our world as they are. They spend much of their time together not only acting out the past, but informing each other of what they've learned. It inspires them to keep learning so they can share more conversations.



What a treasure to meet others who are just as passionate at reminding us all of our shared past and the important lessons we should learn from it.

P52/Week 40: "Lifestyle"

I've committed myself to participating in a photography project called Project 52, where each week there's a challenge to take a photo with a particular theme and enter it on the group Flickr site.

ON TIME! This week I got one in on time. Theme: Lifestyle

I thought this one fit well:

Maybe I'm being sarcastic again, because I know I don't look anything like that when I do something as simple and average-life as putting on my shoes.  But, it made me smile too wide not to use it.

P52/Week 39: "Wildcard"

I've committed myself to participating in a photography project called Project 52, where each week there's a challenge to take a photo with a particular theme and enter it on the group Flickr site.

Ok, so even with a "wildcard" theme I had a bit of trouble getting my entry posted.

But, as you can see it wasn't for lack of a "wild" shot. I love this.  These girls were so ready to play and have fun with their photos and let me just tell them what to do. With that arched window and it's lines as a backdrop, I think they look like Greek goddesses. But, maybe that's just their beauty.

P52/Week 38: "Cozy"

I've committed myself to participating in a photography project called Project 52, where each week there's a challenge to take a photo with a particular theme and enter it on the group Flickr site.

Going back a few weeks here to catch up on my Project 52's. I've actually been so busy taking photos that I haven't had much time for this, but that's not a bad thing.

Week 38's theme was cozy and I guess I was feeling a bit sarcastic, because this is what I came up with;

This guy was anything but. I was cold with my sweater on and while he kept that fire going the whole time, I can't imagine it does much when you're half naked. It led to an authentic feeling though, since we were at Meadowcroft Historic Village for their Native American Heritage weekend.

I can't believe I managed to get this shot with none of us "contemporaries" in the background.  It was only a split second, I can assure you since there were many people there.

P52/Week 37: "Places and Spaces"

I've committed myself to participating in a photography project called Project 52, where each week there's a challenge to take a photo with a particular theme and enter it on the group Flickr site.

I've been searching for a certain setting for some of my imagined photos for quite a while. Jt can chime in here and confirm, I've been a tad obsessive about the idea. As we drive past farm steads and rolling hills and even nooks between highway interchanges, I look for places where the land meets the sky. Seems silly, but here in western PA, it's rare to see them together without trees, buildings, trees, rows of corn, trees, power lines and mostly trees. I love me my trees, but, I just can't get above the tree line. 

I even put a call out on Facebook to those in my area, asking if anyone knew of such a place nearby. Apparently my definition of 'nearby' is different than other people's because the closest suggestion was no less than 60 miles away.

Well.

This week, the boys and I went to tour Ft. Ligonier, built by General Forbes during the French and Indian War, which happens to be in the Laurel Highlands, which happens to be in the mountains, which happen to be above the treeline. Yay! (Which also happens to be in the same area as my Facebook friend had recommended.)  So there I was, and there was my space.

 

As predicted and as I said over and over to Jt as I looked for this setting: once I found it I wasn't at all prepared to do the shots I wanted, either in terms of time or the boys' outfits or even mentally. But, I was happy with the "top o' the world" feeling that I was able to get here.

P52/Week 36: "Favorite Things"

I've committed myself to participating in a photography project called Project 52, where each week there's a challenge to take a photo with a particular theme and enter it on the group Flickr site.

Posting this here a bit late, but it did go up on the Flickr site in time.
The theme last week was "Favorite Things." Here's what I wrote:

Lots of favorites in this shot. Seeing my family grow with great additions is top. My nephew got married this weekend and his new wife is just a doll. So happy for them. Catching the perfect moment with my camera is another of my favorite things. Love the look of excitement and love on his face when the moment he's waited so long for has come.

P52/Week 35: "Composition"

I've committed myself to participating in a photography project called Project 52, where each week there's a challenge to take a photo with a particular theme and enter it on the group Flickr site.

Shocking the world and myself (ok, only myself since no-one else cares, really) with an early entry this week for the P52.  But, the answer to my theme just sort of fell into my lap today and I'm in love with it.

The boys are taking a PA state history class, which takes place in a barn. I bring my camera along every week to occupy myself while they attend, especially since it's in such a picturesque setting.
I've raved and gushed about the light in this barn before. And, well, even before that.

Today, I walked in and saw this!!

A still-life composition all set up and being lit with window light as if it were waiting there just for me. I couldn't believe it. The light. The shadows. The texture. The diagonal. Oh my goodness.

In actuality, it was there waiting for the kids as they were going to be making ink from the butternuts and write a state constitution with the goose quills, but that doesn't stop me from swooning over my gifted composition and believing it was all for me.

By the way, the light had completely changed only a short while after I took this. It wasn't as directional and became quite flat. So glad I didn't let my shyness make me hesitate.

P52 Catch Up

I've committed myself to participating in a photography project called Project 52, where each week there's a challenge to take a photo with a particular theme and enter it on the group Flickr site.

Seems I'm playing catch up again with the last couple weeks worth of P52. I managed to get them onto the Flickr site, but not here. So here they are:

Week 33's theme was "Funky." I could've gone with shoes, old cheese or even a monkey, but nope, I went with tree.

What? Yep, a tree.

You have to admit...This tree is pretty doggone funky. Poor thing. The vine crawling up it is choking the life out of it and while it's seems to be okay... or at least still vertical, you can see it bulging in all sorts of places where it shouldn't be bulging.  Hey.. maybe I could've used a self portrait.

Just kidding!

This last week was #34 and with a "Five Senses" theme.

Here's what I wrote:

After 25 (yes, 25) years of vegetarianism and much research, I've changed my mind about what's healthy to eat. So, suddenly in only the last 3 weeks, my kitchen has become a completely different experience for the senses. New *smells*, new *tastes*... that's obvious. But, *seeing* a whole chicken like this on my platter is definitely jarring to my soul...as is the feeling when I *touch* raw meat (and wash my hands about 400 times more than I used to. Leaving no sense unturned, I've been *hearing* words like "legs,' "gizzards" and "loin" in my home too. L.O.L. and W.O.W. Never thought I'd be here, but, I don't regret it. I'm thankful that I found the information and ever grateful to the animal who gave it's life so my family can thrive.

I guess they tie in with each other in that I hope the second makes it so that I'm not so like the first. :-)

P52/Week 31:"Wildcard"

I've committed myself to participating in a photography project called Project 52, where each week there's a challenge to take a photo with a particular theme and enter it on the group Flickr site.

This week's anything goes theme came just in the nick of time for me. I needed the nudge of not feeling the impossibility capturing someone else's ideas. Just a little break and next week I'll be ready for it again.

But, here's my "Wildcard"

Fits with my 'boys as art' that seems to happen every time I'm in front of the museum.

P52/Week 30:"Euphoria"

I've committed myself to participating in a photography project called Project 52, where each week there's a challenge to take a photo with a particular theme and enter it on the group Flickr site.

I'm finding these themes very difficult. I'm not sure that it indicates that this challenge is not the right place for me, or that it is because it's indeed very challenging. The theme of euphoria just struck me as a bit unrealistic. I couldn't very well go out with the intention of "finding" euphoria. "Ok, boys, sit there... pull your arm in a bit, Enzo... Nico, fix your hat... now... look euphoric."  ha ha

So, instead I went looking for it in recent photos. I feel, though that I've stretched the idea and explained with words why something that doesn't really look euphoric, could be construed as such.

Here's the dictionary definition:

noun
1. a state of intense happiness and self-confidence.

So, maybe it's not a stretch, after all. They seem to be having a good time and it does make me intensely happy to see them playing, interacting and enjoying themselves all at once. 

So, there it is.

P52/Week 29: "Me"

I've committed myself to participating in a photography project called Project 52, where each week there's a challenge to take a photo with a particular theme and enter it on the group Flickr site.

This was hard to do and I only did it because I'm committed to having 52 photos at the end of the year. If only the boys could give me lessons on feeling comfortable in front of the camera and, of course, lend me some of their cuteness... but, until then...