March Challenge...spring is in the air...

"In the spring, I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside of 24 hours." -Mark Twain

Mark Twain must have visited our neck of the woods, because the weather can change within an hour or two in our state.  I remember one time I was taking my son to look at colleges.  When we left Roswell, it was about 72 degrees.  By the time we reached Vaughn an hour and a half later, we were in a blizzard.  It was crazy weather...and we were not at all prepared.

Our photo challenge for March is creative...with the theme being "Spring is in the air."  This theme leaves it pretty wide open for interruption.  The photo can be pretty much of anything that occurs in spring time.  Spring is synonymous with new beginnings.  Here are some ideas to get you thinking outside the box.

New babies...human, animal, reptile, bugs, or any other creature.  This could include eggs of all kinds, and nests.

This hawk and its mate were building a nest...

Mama and her babies...

Owl...I could hear him hooting...I was so happy when I finally found him.

The schools have spring break...document family activities during spring break.

Baseball season always starts in the spring...

Fun activities with loved one...see the buds on the tree behind my granddaughter.  We did a spring photo shoot...

Storms...

Get brave, and go photograph them...

Trees budding, and flowers...lots of flowers...

There are lots of photo opportunities with the budding of trees... drive around Roswell...there are lovely trees...

I love tulips...

and weeds...pesky weeds...but they make nice bouquets, and interesting photos...

During one of my walks, I found these weed flowers on the side of the road after the city had mowed them down.  I went back to pick them up, arranged them in a vase, and took pictures of them.  They smelled pretty bad, but they looked pretty...

What can be prettier than a dandelion with all its seeds in a nice globe...

Insects...maybe even try photographing ants...in their ant bed, or carrying something that is 10 times their size...just be careful and don't get bit.

grass turning green...and morning dew...

Fun in the sun...

and planting the flower, or vegetable garden...

The sky is the limit.  You are only limited by your imagination.  Try some new photo techniques...get down low, get high.  Look at your world with new eyes...for the new spring.  Make this your new beginning to see, to observe, to document life, and to enjoy God's creatures, and creation.  Go out and get clicking...

Rules:

• No archives...the photo must be taken between February and March meetings
• Any form of media is acceptable: print--framed, matted, or just printed, CD, or jump drive
• Please no more than 2 photos due to time constraints 
• Know data info in case you are asked
• Explain post processing, or detail of the photo

February Photo challenge...

"A photo remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything,"

2015...another year to capture in photographs.  I am excited about beginning a new year, and I hope you are too.  If one of your resolutions is to learn your camera, and/or to take better photos, then you have come to the right spot.  This year our challenges will be two-fold, like they were when we first started.  One month will be a creative assignment, the next month a technical.

The photo challenges are designed to help you grow in your camera skills, basic composition, and make you more comfortable, and familiar with your camera.  It is not a contest.  It is for your growth, and the pleasure of looking at your photos.  Your participation, and perspective will inspire others, encourage creativity, all the while sharpening your photographic skills and eye.  In order to learn, and get better, you must practice.  What better way, or place than with our photo club.  It would thrill my heart if we had 100% participation.  (maybe you all could do this as a birthday present to me...in June).  Please make it one of your goals for 2015 to participate fully in the photo challenges.

Basic outline of 2015 photo challenges.  (Please know these maybe subject to change due to workshops, and activities around Roswell)

January- creative: sunrise or sunset...beginning/ending
February-technical: Filling the frame
March-creative: Spring is in the air
April-technical: Frame a picture
May-creative: Doors
June-technical: Depth of field (aperture priority)
July-creative: iphoneography
Aug-technical: shutter priority
Sept-creative: try to copy a photo you have seen online/in a magazine, or other media
Oct-technical-low light
Nov-creative-photograph your favorite subject
Dec-technical or creative: show your best photo for the year. Archived or current

                                   ********************************************
This month it will be a technical assignment.  We will be concentrating on "filling the frame."  While the setting is important in a photograph, sometimes our artistic intention is to draw full attention to our subject.  Filling the frame edge to edge by moving closer, zooming, or cropping the image in post-processing eliminates background distractions, and forces the viewer to examine the subject in close detail.

(Note: all photos by Rob McKelvy unless otherwise noted)

Photograph by Rebecca Cull...from iheartfaces website

In a portrait, filling the frame with the subject-particularly close-ups on the face-can capture personality, and mood that would get lost at a distance.

taken with and edited with an iPhone

One for the wall photography (iheartfaces website).  I love the pinks here.

Filling the frame draws attention to the subject, and allows the viewer to see detail often missed if photographed in a normal perspective.

Balloons photographed by our own Oscar

bird -photographed by Cliff 

Filling the frame is often used in macro photography to isolate important details...

photo by Cliff

Rules:
1. No archival photos.  The photos must be between the January and February meetings.
2. Any medium is accepted: print (matted, framed, unframed), jump drive, or CD
3. No more than 2 photos for the challenge
4. Please be prepared to explain how you took the shot, any post-processing, editing you did, and know basic info ISO, aperture, shutter speed.

Grab your camera, fill that frame, and click away.  I cannot wait to see what you photograph!

January photo challenge...

"God makes the pictures, I just take 'em." -Ed H Urqhardt

Can you believe we have another year under our belt.  2015-Welcome!  I hope all of you will make a resolution to participate in this year's challenges.  This month's challenge will capitalize on the meaning of the name January.  Did you know that January is named after the Roman god, Janus who is the god of beginnings, and endings.  (please stick with me here...I do not believe in other gods. There is only ONE true God.  I only pass on the history behind the naming of the month of January).  The god, Janus, is depicted with two faces...one looking behind, as we say good-bye to 2014, and one looking forward, as we say hello to 2015.

Janus

With that in mind, the challenge for January is to capture first, (beginning) or last light (ending).  Challenge yourself, and awaken just before sunrise.  With longer nights, it will not be much of a problem since the sunrises about 7 a.m.  I know, I am not a morning person.  Grab a cup of coffee, and find a window facing east...as dawn appears snap those pictures.  You do not have an east facing window...no problem, get in your car, drive a short ways, and snap from your car.  For those who are more adventurous, grab a coat, walk to a good spot, and snap away.  Three choices, what more could you want?

This challenge will focus on the quality of natural light: its character, subtleties, and beauty-and how it enhances your image.

If you are not a morning person, never fear.  I have you covered.  Capture the last light of the day.  It is as beautiful, and as specular as morning light.  First light, or last light-its beauty is fleeting, and that is what makes it special.

Rules:
1.  Pictures must be taken between the December and January meetings.  NO ARCHIVAL PHOTOS!!

2.  Submit no more than 2 images due to our time constraints.

3.  Images can be submitted as hard copies, (framed, matted, or plain), on CD, or thumb drives.

4.  Be prepared to answer questions about post processing, or photo information: ISO, aperture, Shutter speed.

5.  Photos can be of any subject, object, or landscape.

6.  Have fun.  Please do not stress out.  This challenge is for you to grow, and learn!

Here are some examples to help you get your creative juices flowing.

Last light...

Morning light...

Get inspired.  Get involved.  Get clicking.  You will be glad to you did.

December light challenge...

"May your days be Merry and BRIGHT." -Christmas Carol

We are in our last "light" photo challenge in our study in light.  Here's a recap of the year's challenge
1. Shadows                                            7. night light
2. backlight                                            8. light at different times of the day
3. hardlight                                            9. artificial light
4. natural light                                      10. Black/white light
5. directional light                                11. Photographer's choice
6. diffused light                                    12. Holiday light

This month we are featuring frosty weather, 

Warm woolen hat, scarves, and mittens

and magical light.

We will be embracing the holiday spirit by allowing our creativity to run wild while attempting to create dramatic, and memorable holiday light.  The sky is the limit...holiday light surrounds us in our everyday, ordinary lives.  YOU will be the one to make it extra-ordinary.  The stores are already filled with holiday goodness in their wares, and decorations.  Soon houses around town will display their magical wonder.

These photos were taken off the web

from www.txchristmaslights. com

Holiday cards will overflow our mailboxes with messages filled with wishes of good cheer, and photos of family and friends.  We connect.  

We want to connect as well, as we focus on the splendor of holiday lights through the lenses of our camera.  Magical moments will happen...right before your eyes.  So get out there.  Put on your creativity hat, and start snapping those photos.  We want to see your holiday cheer.  

Same criteria applies to the December challenge as with all the others.  

• No archival photos.  Photos must be taken between the November and December meeting.
• All media is acceptable
• Please present no more than 3 photos due to time constraints.    

 Get Clicking...
(all photos by Rob McKelvy except the two decorated house photos)

October Challenge...

"There's something strange and powerful about black and white imagery."- Stefan Kanfer

October's challenge will be easy, creative, and fun!  It is all about black and white photography with a twist.  Black and white can include much more than just black and white.  Sepia is a form of black and white with a touch of brown added.  

Your black and white can be faded, so that just a hint of color shows in the photo.

This was taken with my iPhone.  The man was sitting in a booth across from my table at Cattle Baron.  He did not know I was taking his photo.  I thought he was an interesting looking character.

You can have a washed out bleached look.

or try a black and white photo with a specific object left colored.  

Maybe you like the vintage effect...

Okay, I cheated here.  This really is a vintage photo of my father.  Fred S. Norcross.  I like it a lot, and decided to throw it in just for fun.

Basically, the sky is the limit with forms, or types of black and white.  I hope you will get very creative with this challenge, and find some wonderful new techniques.  

The past challenge rules apply as usual. 
1. No archive
2. Any medium can be used
3. No more than 4 images can be presented