Sweet readers and shutter bugs,
Had high hopes of posting photos I have taken in a new series dedicated to The World Through My Lens but life. You know LIFE? There aren’t enough waking hours in a day! In July, I shared the first post of what I had hoped would be a series. But then LIFE. Going to try a new post today. Maybe by the year’s end, I can get the series going.
The World Through My Lens, 10.2018
For the first half of the year, I participated in the 52Frames photo challenge, where we took a weekly photo to fit a theme or photography technique. I was very much out of my league with that group of photographers, gals! Let me tell you! I did learn a lot and became less intimidated by my good camera. But it was kind of a downer to try hard each week then see how so many of the others (hundreds of photographers, real photographers) could take the theme to this incredible level. And there I was just struggling to decide whether I should use the flash. Ha! So, when LIFE got crazy this summer, I bowed out. Can still see the photos and prompts from the challenge but haven’t been sharing anything of my own.
Sunday Stills
Enter my friend Terri at Second Wind Leisure Perspectives. She has a wonderful eye for photography! Such a talent. And Terri is hosting a series called Sunday Stills. She provides prompts for the week and shares her images on Sunday. For October, the prompts are:
October 7 Pink
October 14 Texture
October 21 Photo-editor
October 28 Orange
Today, I am sharing my photos for pink and texture in one post. Because LIFE. Can’t seem to get posts written! Being out of town this week and the blue screen of death that my computer keeps offering when I turn it on are interfering with my blogging. But I guess that’s….LIFE!
Pink
Have taken lots of pictures this week, some intentionally for Sunday Stills and some just for fun. This is one I took of Lucia, coincidentally wearing pink and holding a butterfly wand I bought for her at the balloon fiesta.
Enjoyed the balloon fiesta in Albuquerque SO MUCH! It was such fun to see the delight in Lucia’s face. And I was mesmerized by the balloons! I like this photo below because the arrangement of the balloon, the shadows of the people in the foreground, the man in the red jacket make your eyes move around the photograph. Even the smaller balloons to the left of the photo kind of work to refocus your attention back on the main image.
I think this next photo works in the same way. Of course, there’s the PINK balloon…which was a darling kitty. But your eye is drawn to the balloon by the other images in the photo. Not that you could exactly ignore or not notice the balloon on its own!
The quality of this next photo is lacking. Partly because we were zooming down I-40 at 85 mph when I snapped it. Hard to hold the steering wheel, keep the car on the road and get a good photo. Just kidding. PC was driving. The rocks and even the soil had a pink tinge in this area near Gallup, New Mexico. If you squint, the grass and clouds even take on a rosy tint. Or am I just looking through a rose-colored camera lens?
I was conscious of trying not to divide the photo in half with ground on the bottom and sky above. Have learned about the rule of thirds. That means that the subject isn’t centered in the image and the composition is broken down into thirds (both horizontally and vertically) so that you have 9 parts. Horizontally, I have 1/3 grass, 1/3 mesa and mountains with the clouds directly above them and 1/3 sky. At 85 mph.
This is basically the same photo below as the one above but divided more in half than thirds. I think the first image works better. What do you think?
Although, I think the quality of the photo above might be a little better. Maybe PC had tapped the brakes and we were only doing 75 mph?
Texture
The prompt for this week’s Sunday Still is texture. I took the photo below when we stopped for gas between Albuquerque, New Mexico and Mesa, Arizona. This image was on the side of an abandoned building. Would love to know what it symbolizes. This photo could serve for last week’s pink prompt, too!
The texture of the old, sun-baked stucco was interesting but then when I looked at the image again on my laptop I liked the texture of the blowing grass, too. Had thought I would crop the grass out but it works to draw your eye up to the stucco. Ha! Accidentally, of course.
The terrain between NM and AZ was so varied. Desert, forest, mountains, flat lands, mesas. Lots of textures. But I was in a car so capturing them wasn’t easy. In the image below, I liked the contrast between the smooth rocks and the cactus. Usually, rocks would have the jagged, spiked textures and the plants would have softer lines.
My last attempt at capturing texture was taken on our way out to dinner tonight. We are staying in an Air BnB apartment and these palm trees were lit at the entrance. Not sure how much texture there is but I sure liked the way the photo turned out!!
Hope to remember to take photos for the prompts for the second half of the month. Need to find out more about photo-editor for the coming week. Sounds like fun. And then orange for the end of October. That one should be easy as pie!
Your Turn
Hope you will run by to check out the fabulous photographs Terri has taken. She is the queen of macro photography…her up close pictures of sunflowers are my favorites. And maybe you can join the fun for the rest of the month?
The weather has been just crazy out here in Arizona. Ball games have been postponed because of rain! Rain? Rain! But that’s LIFE. Hoping they will get underway tomorrow with a double-header. Keep your fingers crossed for the Austin Express, PC’s team.
Hugs and kisses,
Dara
I often feel overwhelmed in 52 frames with people who are so much better than me. I think I might make it the whole year without being chosen for 52 picks! I love your hot air balloon pictures. I think in the one with the big pink balloon, I would crop out the person on the left though.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thanks for the suggestion about the pink balloon photo. I will go back and have a look. I have always admired your photography and think there must be something more to getting picked for 52 picks than just having a lovely photo!
Carrie @ Curly Crafty Mom
Just love the hot air balloon photos. We used to go to a balloon glow here when the kids were younger, but it gets SO crowded that we stopped going. It takes longer to get there and to get back home than the time we’re actually there. It is always so gorgeous, tho!
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Maybe in a few years, you guys can go to the balloon fest again. Have you ever been up in one? Would you like to? Maybe you and Brian could do that for next anniversary. I always wanted to go up in one as a child and then I grew up and became such a worry wort. But at 60, maybe I can just do it!
ShootingStarsMag
I’d love to have a really nice camera someday, but I’d have to take a class or something to learn how to use it. LOL I’m loving your balloon photos. Beautiful.
-Lauren
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, Lauren. I really don’t know all the ins and outs of my camera and want to take a hands-on class where someone can show me and watch me til I get it right! Tried to sign up for one this fall but we were going to be out of town when it met. Maybe after the holidays. I would bet you would have a really good eye for photography.
jodie filogomo
Those balloons are so amazing, Leslie.
And I know what you mean…those photographers really make fabulous photos. But everyone starts at square one. And you really do a great job. And it’s so much easier when the car isn’t moving… ha ha
OXOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Ha! You always make me giggle. Photography is better when the car isn’t moving and when the darn windshield isn’t in the way!
Kellyann Rohr
Oh wow, great shots! I am just horrible when it comes to taking a photo, I sure do appreciate when others take such breathtaking photos! I love the hot air balloons – I can only imagine how massive they must be up close! Wow!!!!
xo,
Kellyann
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Who takes your fashion photos? Do you take them in front of your house? I need a good spot with natural light. I keep seeing so many gals getting their hubs to help out but mine is dead set against it, unless it is a quick casual shot.
Jennie
These are great shots, Leslie! Love the palm trees photo! I follow 52 Frames on IG and just love the gorgeous photos. I keep thinking I would join and never have. Maybe the other group is more my speed. I will check it out because I need to push myself to do more than just blog photos.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Jennie, come try the Sunday Stills photo challenge. Check it out, here. Get more info here: https://secondwindleisure.com/photography/sunday-stills-photo-challenge/. It is fun to just see what you can come up with for each prompt. And the posts are easy and fun!
Terri Webster Schrandt
You do a great job with your photos, Leslie, it’s all about practice! You have a great eye, and honestly, post-editing does wonders for even a fab photo! So pleased you could join us for Sunday Stills and really look forward to your participation for future posts!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you so much for the encouragement, Terri. Hope to keep joining you more regularly now for Sunday Stills.
Debbie
Fabulous shots Leslie! I’m enjoying the Sunday Stills challenges too and it’s great to see how others interpret the themes isn’t it?
Leslie Roberts Clingan
So wanted to join the photo scavenger hunt but couldn’t get myself organized to do so. The Sunday Stills are hit and miss, too, but I do like participating. And the photography blog posts require so little and are quick to put together.