Project 50 - Week 4 - Abrupt Change

Project 50 - Week 4
Concept - Flying High Sunny Day

Due to circumstances beyond our control (epic accident on highway causing major delay getting back home), I was unable to take the remaining pictures of the Berkeley Kite Festival today.  As such, I don't feel I have enough suitable photos to make a project, so on to Alternate Project #1, Sunny Day!  This is a collection of shots of a remarkably happy sunflower hanging our at my mother's house. 

Not quite kites, I know, but I still think quite a few of these shots came out well.  I tried to get some fish-eye shots (note: When using a fish-eye, be careful of your fingers!) as well, but the lens is totally manual and I have still not quite mastered it! 

Enjoy! 

(photos will also be posted to anttree.org site within a day or two). 

Photo 365 - Day 353 (Daisies)

Day 353 (June 21st, 2011)
Title: Daisies

Theresa likes daisies. 

Enjoy!

Photo 365 - Day 347 (Yellow Coarl)

Day 347 (June 15th, 2011)
Title: Yellow Coral

Today: Yellow flowers from Boulder, CO. 

Enjoy!

Photo 365 - Day 341 (Colorado Yellow)

Day 341 (June 9th, 2011)
Title: Colorado Yellow

I'm not really keen to hang out in the hospital, that's why I go out a lot, which in turn means that why you are getting so many flower photos!  Also, some folks are allergic to flowers in the ICU, so you can't bring them flowers - so this is my way to give flowers digitally! 

Enjoy!

Photo 365 - Day 310 (Smile Ship)

Day 310 (May 9th, 2011)
Title: Smile Ship

When I first saw this photo, I though: Hey, that's another nifty sphere shot that I can use!  Woo!" Then, after looking at it for a bit, it reminded me of the movie "Heavy Metal" (Cartoon movie from 1981, darn good music!).  During one Act of the movie, there are some aliens (and a robot) flying around in a giant spaceship that looked like a huge "Smiley Face". 

Subject: SphereShip of Happiness

Enjoy!

Photo 365 - Day 302 (Cube #2)

Day 302 (May 1st, 2011)
Title: Cube #2

Continuing with squares (cubes).  Different angle, background and focal point.  I was trying to give it a "burning ice cube-y" feel. 

Subject: A cube, made from squares (and plastic)

Enjoy!

Photo 365 - Day 275 (Berth 32)

Day 275 (April 4th, 2011)
Title: Berth 32

Still in catch-up mode. 

Subject: San Pedro Marina, San Pedro, CA

Techie: 135mm, f/13 at 1/800th

Enjoy!

Photo 365 - Day 209 (Drama Lemons)

Day 209 (January 28th, 2011)
Title: Drama Lemons

We had picked up some lemons while in Santa Cruz and it was my task to wash them and let them dry (don't ask why I have to do this - lets just say other folks in the house are a bit picky).  While setting them out to try, I started joking around that they were getting in Lemon Action Formation.  I mentioned: "These are going to be some mean lemons!  You can tell because they have a 'Sour' look on their faces!"  Of course, I was worried about their ability to fight "'Cause you all look a bit yellow to me!" 

Clearly, what was really learned, was that I just shouldn't be put in charge of some tasks...

Enjoy

Photo 365 - Day 204 (Ribbon)

Day 204 (January 23rd, 2011)
Title: Ribbon

Secrets of Scrapbooking: Ribbon!

For today's secret of scrapbooking, we are looking at ribbon!  Ribbon is a very inexpensive embellishment (you can get a whole roll for around $1-3) that can be easily added to most projects with just a little glue.  It is very versatile, in that is can perform a lot of roles.  First, it adds a great slash of color and you can get ribbon in just about any color known.  Second, it adds texture to the project, you can get ribbon with many different textures, like silk, satin, cotton and more.  Third, ribbon can add more depth to the project, depending on how it is used (see tomorrow for an example ribbon used for depth).  Lastly, ribbon can add sparkle (or shine) to your project.  Many ribbons include metallic threads and other "ingredients" that add more sparkle and almost a "glitter-y" look. 

In this example, we see two ribbons stacked to add color, texture and a nice shine (there is a little depth added, but not too much) to this project.  Paper could have been used in a similar manner, but much of the unique texture and shine that the ribbon brings would have been lost. 

Enjoy

 Card by: Theresa A. of Our Results My Vary

Photo 365 - Day 202 (Head Brad)

Day 202 (January 21st, 2011)
Title: Head Brad

Secret's of Scrapbooking: Brads!

Brads are small metal embellishments that are great for linking two (or more) layers together or adding a nice 3D (aka: depth) aspect to your work, or both!  Brads have two thin, pointed, metal shanks that are bent at 45 degree angles after inserting into the object(s), to secure them.  No glue or tape is required, the metal shanks are stiff enough to hold the objects together.  If the brad needs to be removed, you just "un-bend" the shanks and release the items.

There are a LOT of creative (and simple) brads out there, including (really): cocktail glasses, trout, sock monkeys, and of course, rhinestones, just to name a few.  

As soon in this photo, a simple yellow brad is used to enhance the flower in the woman's hair by giving it a color element and a depth element.

Enjoy

 Card by: Theresa A. of Our Results My Vary

Random Note: Back in my school days, these were called Fasteners and were used to hold paper projects together.

Photo 365 - Day 198 (Sweet Love)

Day 198 (January 17th, 2011)
Title: Sweet Love


Perhaps, just perhaps, I might be taking this macro thing a tad bit far.  I stacked all my "zoom" related items together to take this photo - 100mm macro lens, extension tubes, and 10x macro adapter.  I think I've gone a bit too far on this one, but I just wanted to see what I could get.  To put this in perspective, the candy is about 1.5cm tall (the word "love" is only a few millimeters tall).  This photo, if printed full size would be 13x9 inches.  That's a whole lot of sweet love! 


Enjoy

Photo 365 - Day 196 (Heart Trail)

Day 196 (January 15th, 2011)
Title: Heart Trail

Who knew that the meaning of life and happiness could be found in a little box of candies?!  As I was sorting through the candies to take some shots, I realized there was a path or "trail" and that if you put them in the right order, happiness could be found!  And all this time listening to Oprah and Dr. Phil, buying tons of 'Self Help' books, and all I needed was a small box of candies...


Enjoy

Photo 365 - Day 195 (Candy Hearts #1)

Day 195 (January 14th, 2011)
Title: Candy Hearts #1


Ah, little candy hearts, the epitome of school Valentine's Day candy.  Cute to get, but taste like chalk mixed with sugar.  I've always thought some of the thoughts on them seems a tad out of place for a kids candy ("Marry Me", "Let's Ride", and "Love Me").  But then again, when I was a kid we had candy cigarettes, so who's to say what's strange.  I shot these little candies for two reasons, first they are quite cute and second I really wanted to play with my macro teleconverter. 


Enjoy

Photo 365 - Day 181 (Heart Assembly)

Day 181 (December 31st, 2010)
Title: Heart Assembly

There was once a time, many moons ago, when I was unaware of scrapping and the "joys" that scrapbooking can bring.  My wife has informed me, that scrapping is in fact the way to world peace and if we could just call follow a few scrapbooking rules, the world, nay, the universe would be better place for everyone (at least, everyone who scraps). 


Now I, previously an uneducated non-scrapper (aka: heathen), did not know there were scraping rules.  I, in my insanity, would sometimes cut paper.  Using scissors.  And after cutting said paper, I would (for all you scrapbooker folks out there, I apologize profusely) throw away the piece of the paper I didn't need!!! I didn't know!  There I was, cutting a square out and throwing away the rest of a perfectly scrappable shred of paper!  I never knew that, that small, tiny, nearly microscopic particle of paper that I was going to dispose of could become an amazing card or could be the center-piece of a 20' wall hanging depicting the beauty of flying tree squirrels! 


Luckily, through long, extensive "re-education" training with my wife, I now know better.  All bits of paper, no matter the size, will be saved into one of many, many 'Scrap Paper' folders so that they may live again. 


Amen, and my the Scrap be with you.


Enjoy

Photo 365 - Day 172 (Worst Sale)

Day 172 (December 22nd, 2010)
Title: Worst Sale


I, like many others I am sure, am always trying to save money while shopping.  While walking down the isles of the store, browsing for the random things I need I look for the "sale stickers" on whatever item they are trying to push that week.  Now, normally when I see the little yellow sticker, my brain immediately goes: "Ooh!  It's on sale, get that one!" 


Lucky clearly recognized this shopping behavior as well, so they've decided to really mess with us 'attentive, cost-cutting, shoppers'. Basically, this picture is one of two things: Lucky employees are idiots or Lucky employees are evil.  Either way, I still bough six cases... stupid sticker.


Enjoy!

Photo 365 - Day 155 - Birthday Stars

Day 155 (December 5th, 2010)
Title: Birthday Stars

Happy birthday SZ!

Yes, I know this is late.
Yes, I know we already had a party.
Yes, I know I should have posted this picture back when you actually had your birthday.
Yes, I know I'm behind with my photos. 

You know what, I'm taking that "Happy" back! ...

Enjoy!

Photo 365 - Day 151 (Turning Train)

Day 151 (December 1st, 2010)
Title: Turning Train

Woo!  I finally made it to December!  I'm getting there, slowly but surely!

I love trains.  I've always loved trains.  I remember, when I was 8-9 my uncle got me this giant poster of a blueprint of a train engine.  I put it up on my wall and just stared at it everyday.  I'm not sure exactly what it is about trains that I love so much, but whenever I see one, I just have to stop and watch it (much to the chagrin of any friend who might be with me!).  They are a part of American history and culture - without them I don't think the industrial revolution would have really taken hold in the US, and we never would have become the world power we are now (whether that's good or bad, who knows...).

This particular train was taking a curve in Hercules when I shot it.  I heard it coming and this was one of the few times I actually HAD my camera with me (its strange, but 90% of the time when I see a train, I never have my camera with me).  I thought this photo was particularly amusing because it really looks kinda like a train-set train, rather than a huge, massive, machine.  I can almost imagine it falling off the track and picking it up and realigning the wheels to see if off again.  Thankfully that didn't happen, and off it went!

Enjoy!

Photo 365 - Day 122 (Berkeley Biker)

Day 122 (November 2nd, 2010)
Title: Berkeley Biker

Ah, Berkeley!  The land of psycho-bikers who have no concept of traffic laws or that there is a possibility of other things being on the street - like cars, or other bikers, or people, or newspaper machines...  Now, working in San Francisco, you get use to the large volume of bikers and generally they aren't bad (except on Critical Mass days when they make me late to catch my bus home!).  Now, in the City many bikers actually follow the rules of the road (and yes, there are actual laws for riding bikes!), such as stopping at a stop light, following the flow of traffic, hand-signals when turning and the like.  There are always a few that believe they are pedestrians (which, if you are riding the bike, you are NOT), and do things like ride on the sidewalk and whatnot. 

Now Berkeley, even though its just across the bay, is a completely different can o' worms!  Bikers in Berkeley believe they have a protective "I am invincible as long as I ride my bike like a total jerk" field on.  I've seen a biker ride from one corner of the street across to the other corner ("kiddie-corner"), RIGHT THROUGH traffic - and the biker got mad at the drivers for honking at him!  Oh well... At least this biker was "nice" enough to wait for the light to turn yellow.

Enjoy

Photo 365 - Day 117 (Blooming Flower)

Day 117 (October 28th, 2010)
Title: Blooming Flower

Flowers... The macro photographers best friend!  I've always enjoyed taking shots of flowers, but at least for me, I love pictures of them in their naturally (such as in the wild or folks gardens).  Many flower photographers have lots of equipment and entire studios setup for "nature" photography (using flashes, light-boxes, light stands, etc), and you can get a great shot using these items but I feel it is counter-intuitive with flowers.  Flowers are like small living paintings, that when put in such a mechanical environment loose some of their naturalistic effect. 

Now, I'm not putting down using said equipment (in fact, I wish I had such stuff!), but just not for flowers.  I guess my thinking is more: "Why setup a whole fake environment to get a 'perfect' shot of a flower when nature has already provided the perfect stage for them?" 

Enjoy!

Photo 365 - Day 116 (Oakland Docks)

Day 116 (October 27th, 2010)
Title: Oakland Docks


I got these while visiting Hanger One distillery in Alameda.  They are the giant cranes at the Oakland docks.  These are used to unload/load giant steel carriers off the cargo ships and put them either on trains or trucks.  Normally I see them from my house (much farther away) and they look like those little "bobbing-head birds" that slowly raise and lower their heads.  I had to really mess with the timing on my camera to get a good shot, because the lights were really bright but if I metered off them, I wouldn't get any detail in the shadows.  On the other hand, metering for the shadows made the lights just blow-out any details.  So, its was a fun balancing act of shutter speeds to get a nice shot.  I also like how you can see the stars in the top, but at the same time see the light streaks from the planes coming in/out of SFO. 


Enjoy!