I took my evening walk late - taken at dusk, with enough light to illuminate and highlight the fast moving shelf of clouds above. Blue hour light brings out the vivid yellows and reds of the remaining leaves on the lone pear tree. A slender crescent moon rises above skeletal branches, coming in and out of view as the veil of clouds roll by.
Sadly, I spent most of my May in the pool or at the gym. I decided to give my calf a break from running, as recommended by the sports medicine doctor I saw mid-month. I miss the running, the scenery, the chirping of birds and all the stuff along the road that changes each day, but I know that the bigger picture is more important than the present.
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| The Sole Photo I Took While Running in May |
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| Sunset Dance |
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| Half Time |
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| Raiment |
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| Crossing the Michigan Avenue Bridge on a Cold, Misty Day |
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| Impromptu |
What’s the draw of the sunrise? I’m always awed by the brilliant colors breaking through the clouds as the sun rises up from the horizon. But its beauty notwithstanding, the sunrise also signifies the promise of a new day – one full of potential, one just waiting for us to take advantage of it.
Last Saturday, I made sure I saw the sunrise on the longest day of the year – to start the summer off right.
Of course, I was running as the sun rose - it’s the best way to start the day. I followed up the running with a yoga session held outdoors at a local park. The weather was perfect under the trees as the huge group practiced Sun Salutations on the Summer Solstice - an amazing experience.
The start of summer also signaled friend Kellie’s last day on the prairie. We held a Saturday Book Club session just for the occasion.
We ended our first day of summer with a summer storm. Yes, it happens a lot here, but I had hoped for better weather with a vision to take our group’s photo at the park that overlooks the prairie. Oh well, we had great light on Lisa’s porch and what matters is we captured this moment with friends.
Lisa’s hubby, Jeff, took the photos, but of course, I had to run over and check them out. Yes, I insisted on a few more and ran back:
This is one of those “wow, is that what my hair looks like from the back? And dang, my shirt is wrinkled and I'm hunched over!” photos. If you are wondering what Lisa is doing, she is mocking my arm muscles!
Yup, the next shot was a keeper:
The prairie sky gave Kellie a parting gift – a beautiful post-storm sky. A bittersweet start to summer.
For whatever reason, I haven't been shooting as much with my iPhone recently. Maybe because I want to use my DSLR now because it's new and we're still in that Honeymoon phase? Or maybe because I don't want to use Instagram much anymore...
I'm really torn on the Instagram thing. The TOS uproar back in December resulted in me scaling back what I post there. I know the reality of a "free" service is that nothing is free. I was an early adopter of Facebook, love that it reconnected me with old friends but now find it pretty annoying. I fear that IG is headed that way. I still post, but not as often and have considered deleting my account.
I am using the Flickr mobile app more now, but still prefer the IG filters (seriously, the Flickr filters are terrible) and how fast it is. Oh well, I guess the important thing is to make sure I download my mobile photos to my computer on a regular basis (I'm up to date there).
So, here are the iPhone photos I took this past week.
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| Like a Shooting Star |
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| Evening Drama |
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| Slice of College Life |
Where did it go?
It started so beautifully:
With my daughter driving to the stable, I am free to take photos while on the road. Hence the photo above. It was a beautiful Friday evening.
Saturday - can you say a high of 60 degF? It was amazing - running in a shorts and a t-shirt in early January - I'll take it!
Sunday - can you say sleet, ice and winter advisory? What a change from Saturday...
As the temperatures started to drop Saturday night, I made a run to the grocery store just to pick up a few things. The place was packed - undoubtedly because of the impending sleet / ice storm coming our way. What did I pick up? Cake mix, toilet paper (it was on sale), frozen pizza (again, on sale) and these absolute necessities:
I think I had my priorities straight....
The boy spent the weekend with friends in the country where they went 4 wheeling, trapping and generally tromped around in the wilderness. I think they had a great time.
With that, another weekend is in the books.
Linked to Simple Things Sunday
A hint of rainbow....
And just two miles down the road, a huge, tornado spawning cloud.
There were several funnel clouds spotted, but only one touched down and damaged a house to the west of where we live. Fortunately, no one was injured.
Then the Calm After the Storm:
Another spring day on the prairie.
Inspired by Mary at Little Red House, I decided to pull together some recent Instagram photos not associated with my P365+1 collection for her Mosaic Monday meme.
I always have my iPhone with me and handy. I can start the native camera app without looking, very useful when taking photos at the spur of the moment. And that's what I normally do - I see something and snap the photo. Then I go into the Instagram app - sometimes I'll add a filter, sometimes I don't. If I really want to get fancy, I'll take a photo, edit it in Photogene2 or CameraAwesom, then go into Instagram.
When I'm not taking photos for my P365+1 project, I tend to take photos of skies:
I also like taking photos filled with color:
1. Home Pedicure Choices. Care to Guess Which Color I Chose? #nailpolish #colors, 2. Colors of February #rose #red #white, 3. Seeing Red, 4. A #Holga to Match Every Outfit #lux
Or places around town:
1. Illuminations #tree #night, 2. Feeling Academic #eiu #college #iphone4s #cameraawesome #photogene2, 3. Still Life #reflection #mirror #orchid, 4. Blowing In The Wind #grass #prairie
So, if you like mobile photography, what sort of themes do you see emerging in your photography?
There are days when the wind howls and blows across this flat land, the endless gray skies and treeless prairie strain the eyes.
Then we have mornings like this one, which started out foggy but burned off to a sky of spun silk and golden sun.
Instead of taking the main road to work, I headed down a back road which took me past this cool shed / barn.
Both photos were taken with my iPhone4s and adjusted slightly using Photogene2.
Linked to This and That Thursday and Rural Thursday
So far, 2012's P365+1 has been pretty easy - 6 days down, 300 to go!
I really like using my iPhone for this project. It's so convenient to snap a capture, process it a little and upload it to my flickr and Instagram streams.
Day 1, Sunday Jan 1:
A windy afternoon visit to the stable. The strong wind was coming from the North, so you know it was a cold wind! I could barely keep from blowing over as I took this picture.
Processed using Photogene2 - I think I used the bleach preset as a starting point. Then in Instagram, added the Early bird filter
Day 2, Monday Jan 2:
It was another COLD and windy day - like gusts up to 40 mph. I managed my first run of 2012 - 6 miles in the crazy weather. We received a dusting of snow - enough to cover the front porch. Even Sam, who loves to go outside didn't venture past the refuge of the front porch.
I lightened Sam's face using Photogene2 (yes, you can dodge and burn using the app), created the diptych using PicFrame and added the drop shadow using Photogene2 again.
Day 3, Tuesday Jan 3:
Single digits in the morning as we started the work week. Brrr!! The cold temperatures really emphasize the steam coming from this unit at work.
A simple Instagram Filter applied - Sutro
Day 4, Wednesday Jan 4:
After almost two weeks off, I had to get back to violin practice. As a result of my daughter re-arranging her bedroom, the furniture here is "new to this room", but with the late afternoon sun, it makes for a nice, airy music room.
I applied the Rise Instagram Filter
Day 5, Thursday Jan 5:
It's back to school for the kids! Two weeks of staying up late and sleeping to noon are over. They were dragging a bit this morning, but heck, it's Thursday already, so I think they are getting off easy....
Instagram again, Hefe Filter
Day 6, Friday Jan 6:
A warm end to the week - it hit 60 degF this afternoon. The sunrises and sunsets have been beautiful all week long and today was no exception. Taken at the stable, the girl was taking advantage of the warm weather with the horses.
I had an Instagram version of this, but I messed up the transfer to flickr, so this is pretty much the original photo.
Bonus iPhone photos! Because sometimes you can't stop taking photos....
After this morning's sunrise - contrails in the sky
Spotted at lunch, outside a restaurant. Actually, I didn't spot the pair of boxers in the truck - an observant co-worker did. But I was the only one who took their picture.
I had to lighten up the doggie in the driver's side (Photogene2) and then I brought the adjusted picture into Camera+ and applied the Clarity enhancement to cut away the haze from the windshield.
I hope you enjoyed this week's photos!
Taken while I was on a solitary walk. It was amazing to see him soar in the sky.
The skies this week have been phenomenal - several beautiful sunrises and sunsets.
Monday morning - what a way to start the work week:
Read more...
It rained yesterday. A good, earth soaking rain.
With our lack of rain during the summer, this would normally be a good thing. The lawn and plants certainly enjoyed the gentle rain that lasted for several hours.
But I couldn't enjoy it. I was worrying. Worrying because I realized the cat (Sam, the Siamese) escaped the house sometime this morning, probably in between shuttle service to school. We searched the entire house before coming to this conclusion. Then we set forth searching for him in the cold drizzle.
Nothing.
Four hours later, the rain stopped. A rainbow appeared. I didn't take a picture because I was roaming the streets, calling for the cat.
And he showed up at home.
Hungry and damp.
None worse for the wear, although he seems droopier than normal. And wants to snuggle. Oh wait, maybe we want to snuggle with him.
Then I noticed the beautiful sky, the sun having already dipped below the horizon.
I need not worry, the sky seemed to call out.
I need to remind myself that more often.
Just a couple of quick shots off my phone from last night. I was in the cornfields waiting for my daughter to finish her horse ride and the weather was so perfect, the skies so calm with a little wisp of clouds.
I took pictures with my big camera too, but I haven't had any time to download them. The kids' homework has started in earnest now, and last night was a little crazy.
Wishing you a wonderful Wednesday.
Sitting at the baseball game on Wednesday and the clouds looked so puffy.
The team won Wednesday's game, but lost last night - the baseball season is officially over.
And where did our summer go? It must be hiding behind the clouds - at least it is here in the mid west.
I hope you have a blessed Friday.
Spring brings the most bizarre weather around here - one day there's snow, the next day, warm breezes. As a result, the skies are always changing.
A cloud does not know why it moves in just such a direction and at such a speed...It feels an impulsion...this is the place to go now.Read more...
-- Richard Bach
I am often asked questions and comments about my photography - what location, what camera, what settings, etc. The camera question aside (i...
A chemical engineer working in IT, Wife to Scott, Mom to two great kids + two cats, one horse and numerous fish. Photographer, marathoner, musician, yogi and gourmet cook. I don't think there is time for more, but I'm sure I missed something!
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