Week 28 Photography Challenge – Golden Hour

Week 28 of the 2018 photography challenge was just that, a challenge. Why? Well, let’s think about this for a second shall we? For one thing, I have teenagers. And two, its summer! That combination alone pretty much tells me there is no way I’m going to get one of my teenagers much less both of them up early to capture them in the morning’s golden hour.

All that meant was that there was not going to be any willing human subject in this week’s challenge. So I had to go find a willing subject ok, one who wouldn’t at the very least still be asleep. But that didn’t happen. Even the cats wouldn’t cooperate so I have no choice but to skip this one for now. I will get it done though eventually. Someone has to wake up early someday, don’t they?

(No golden hour photo here) – yes, I’m sad. I was really hoping to knock this one out of the park.

Week 29 High Contrast

Initially, I was thinking about black and white photography for this challenge. Darkest darks and brightest whites but then I realized, it isn’t just about darkest darks and brightest whites, I could use color as well. So this was my attempt. The color contrast vs. the bright white background.

To say I’m a bit discouraged at the moment with these two what I see as failed challenges is an understatement. But I’m trying to remind myself that these challenges are for learning, they are for pushing me to work hard on what I want from my photography. They are my opportunity for learning so, I’m going to keep working on them on my own and hopefully, I’ll get to where I would like for them to be.

But for now, I’ve got to pick myself up, dust myself off and move forward on to the next photography challenge and hope I do better.

I did it! I finally caught up on the 52 week photography challenge I started very late. I’m up to week 26 which had me stumped ’cause it was “use a mirror”.  And wow did this challenge stump me. I couldn’t for the life of me figure out how to make this work.

No matter how hard I tried, it was bad shot after bad shot. This was out of focus or that was out of focus or they just looked silly. Don’t believe me, just take a look. I warn you though, these are straight out of the camera. They weren’t worth editing.

I just couldn’t figure this one out. I kept tinkering and tinkering, changing subjects and camera settings, googling and youtubing? YouTubing? Is that a word? Well, you know what I mean. It just wasn’t working for me. But that’s ok, I can’t expect to do well on every challenge, that’s the whole point of challenging yourself. It’s how we grow.

And yes if I want to master this type of photography then it will require me to keep practicing, keep pushing myself until I get it figured out.

But until I get really good at using a mirror in my photography attempts, these will have to do.

Onward to the next challenge. Ok, I admit, secretly I’m hoping it is easier. We shall see. But before I go, I want to know, have you ever tried using a mirror in your photographs? Was it easy for you? Got any tips you want to share? Obviously, I could use a little help.

Sometimes well, I don’t know about you but I tend to overthink things/situations. Like this challenge for one, I’m thinking oh my gosh what am I doing to do for the week 21: true black and white photography challenge. My mind is blank and it takes me days. Yes, literally days to figure out oh wow, did you really forget there was a piano in the living room with black and white keys? Sometimes life has me so turned upside down. You know how I feel, don’t you? Please say yes. I don’t want to be the only one like this.

Week 21: True Black and White

Week 22: Tools

Finding tools to photograph is difficult if you limit your idea of what a tool is. At first, my only inclination was workman tools – hammers, nails, screwdrivers, etc. But then I stopped and really thought about the word tool. A tool is any physical item that can be used to achieve a goal.  An artist’s tools are paints and brushes, or paper, pencils, and charcoal or some other medium. Each creator, each artist has their own tools which they use to create their art whether an exquisite dish, a breath-taking portrait or a piece of intricate beautifully performed music.

Yes, as you can see music is a huge part of our lives. I photograph it a lot. Art forms come in many shapes and I love that we as a family can share in multiple forms.

Week 23: Partner

If you read my blog regularly you know how much of a Disney fan I am so you had to see this one coming right?

Week 24: 100 Steps from Your Door

These are the days of summer I want to remember. The walks with my kids, the warmth of the sun and every moment we get to share together. Just when I thought there wasn’t anything to photograph 100 steps from my front door, I turn around and catch this glimpse of my daughter and it melts my heart.

Week 25: Overexposed!

The morning sun was perfect for getting an overexposed photo. It was bright and shooting into the sun rather than with the sun behind me made overexposure easy. The tips of the petals are white instead of yellow and the sun really washes out the sky over the fence as well as creates a haze over the entire image.

You might enjoy these other posts:

2018 Photography Challenge Weeks 16-20

2018 Photography Challenge Weeks 11-15

2018 Photography Challenge Weeks 6-10

2018 Photography Challenge Weeks 1-5