Monday Photo Shoot: Black and White

Carly at the blog Ellipsis hosts the Monday Photo Shoot, and her challenge this time is black and white photography. I haven't done too much with that yet, but this is one of my favorites so far.

It sums up this year's winter for me. Black and white were the only colors in the landscape that day, so it seemed natural just to shoot it that way. It was appropriate for the season, too; black for the darkness and killing cold, white for the clarity and stillness that snow brings.

Check out Carly's post at Ellipsis to see more entries: Black & White Photography.

Monday Photo Shoot: Stones

I love stones. These particular ones are at Natural Stone Bridge in the Adirondacks, part of the oldest stone outcroppings in North America. We're talking old, as in a billion years.

The one in the first photo contains a little pool under a natural spring that trickles out of a mountain.

This second one is about three feet across and was trapped in a pothole during floodier times.


For more entries in the weekly meme, Check out Carly's Ellipsis.

*Natural Stone Bridge and Caves

Monday Photo Shoot: "Youngins"

Carly at Ellipsis hosts the Monday Photo Shoot, and this week our challenge is to photograph young things--animal, vegetable, or mineral. What better opportunity to show off my first grand-nephew? The little guy is a year old already.

This was a high ISO shot, very noisy and a bit out of focus. I cropped out all but the face and added brushstrokes with Elements to see if I could salvage it. What do you think?

Be sure to stop by at Carly's place to see the other entries!

Monday Photo Shoot: Watching the Clock

Carly at Ellipsis hosts the Monday Photo Shoot, and has asked us this week to show off our clocks in honor of the new year. So here's one that has stood the test of time.

It's an eighteen-foot-tall 1895 Seth Thomas No.5 street clock, and one of these has occupied this spot in Mishawaka Indiana since 1871. Vintage replacements were installed in 1938 and again in 1994, due to unfortunate encounters between their predecessors and passing traffic. Replacing them is not an easy project, as these haven't been made in over a hundred years.

This particular one is the source of some local controversy. It is the official city timekeeper, but only one side of it is working. Economic woes have delayed the needed repairs. I guess you could say it's a sign of the times.

Be sure to click over to Monday Photo Shoot to see what everyone else found.

*P.S. Forgot about the extra credit, which was to show a clock with my favorite time of the day. There's no photo, and it depends on which day. On workdays, it's around 4:30PM to 5:30PM, the time I turn into the end of my driveway and speed through the woods to the Bat Cave. On days off, it's whatever time shows on the clock when I'm done sleeping.

Sepia Scenes: Haunted

Boooo!

This one's a happy accident. The mask is in my brother's garden, and I must have snapped this shot as I moved the camera. I think it turned out better than the in-focus ones.

I'm really short on time these days, so it's doubling as my Halloween entry for Monday Photo Shoot too.

Check out all the entries for both memes here:
Sepia Scenes and Monday Photo Shoot.

Monday Photo Shoot: Reflections

This week's assignment over at Carly's is to find something shiny.

I just posted a pond shot I like, and I considered using that again, but I thought maybe I'd go with something a little different.

This is the nose cone of a little plane in the hanger at the airport where my son flies. Look closely at the first one, and you'll see the reflection of another plane, too. (Click photos to enlarge.)



Be sure to stop by at Monday Photo Shoot at Ellipsis to see what everyone else found, OK?

P.S. October 27: For those who have asked, this is a Pilatus PC12. It belongs to a local business.

Monday Photo Shoot: Fences and Beyond

At a wedding on Lake Erie, guests gather at the fenced edge of a bluff to watch the sun set over the water.

Just beyond the fence, two sisters wait patiently for Mother Nature to open her paintbox and splash the sky with color.

Mother Nature does not disappoint.
(Click the photos to enlarge.)

Please stop by at Carly's place, Ellipsis, to play and to see what everyone else found.

Monday Photo Shoot: First Days of Fall

Here in Indiana, the leaves are changing and the goldenrod is in full bloom. Early mornings and late evenings, it's too chilly for the bees to fly. It's easy to photograph them while they hang there, seemingly in suspended animation.

Stop by at Carly's place to participate or to check out other entries in the Monday Photo Shoot.

Making a Splash

Carly over at Ellipsis has chosen Water in Motion as the theme for her second Monday Photo Shoot. As luck would have it, I shot dozens of frames of water the last time we were out in the boat. I like this one best.

Check out the other entries at Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #2: Water In Motion.

Departure and Destruction

Karen over at Outpost Mavarin has been carrying on the tradition of the Monday Photo Shoot since it was handed off to her by AOL Blogfather John Scalzi. And now, Karen is turning it over to Carly of the blog Ellipsis.

This is Karen's last photo prompt: Departure, preferably involving Destruction.

This discarded shell seemed to fit the bill, split open down the back and abandoned by the bright, green, winged cicada within. I think it's absolutely amazing, with its perfectly intact details, and the gold and silver reflections.

My kids, on the other hand, can't believe I bring stuff like this into the house. To each his own, I suppose.

I'm feeling a bit guilty for not participating more often in Monday Photo Shoot. I'm sorry, Karen. You did a great job with the topics, and I always meant to play along. Mondays are just not a big blogging day for me. I'll try to be a better participant going forward.

To anyone passing through, why don't you come on by to Karen's to see the past topics, and then join us over at Carly's going forward? One of the great things about a smaller group is that everyone gets to know everyone. It's a great way to make some new friends.

Monday Photo Shoot: Fire and Ice

Fire and Ice is the topic of this week's Monday Photo Shoot from Karen at Outpost Mavarin.

Fire is in short supply up here, unless you count these walk lights or the buried gas grill and patio lantern. Ice, though ... yeah, we gots it.
These photos were taken over the last couple of months, but it's been pretty much like this since Thanksgiving. Last week, with icicles hanging all over the house, my older son commented that I should be out taking pictures. Not knowing I'd need some new ice shots, I told him I just didn't want to look at it anymore.


At the moment, we have only a light dusting of snow, but there's more on the way. It seems winter has come to stay in Indiana.

Monday Photo Shoot: On the Clock

I once won a blue ribbon at a craft show for this clock. My husband made the wooden case; I designed and stitched the face. Here it's sitting on a Victorian fern stand, where it would be if the cat would promise not to knock it off.
Detail of the face.
Hello, Dali ... I tried the Aquarium setting on my camera for this one, thinking it might not reflect the glass so much. Weirdness ensued.

Here's the link for the other participants: Monday Photo Shoot. Be sure to stop by and check out the other entries, OK?

Over the rainbow, way up high

This week's Monday Photo Shoot assignment from Karen at Outpost Mavarin is Something Relaxing. So here we are above the clouds, where it's always sunny, clear blue, and pure white for as far as the eye can see. Whenever I'm stressed out, I close my eyes and soar back up here for a few seconds.

This was taken yesterday, Sunday, on my way back from visiting my mom in the hospital. (She's much better now and came home today.) This view made the worry and airport hassles melt away. I could live up there, free at last.

Happy Valentines Day

Here's a virtual cookie for you, and a wish for a sweet, sweet day.

Inspiration courtesy of Karen's Monday Photo Shoot. Stop by there, OK?

*I'll be gone for a while and probably won't be around here much - family emergency in progress. Hope to be back soon.

Monday Photo Shoot: Get Mugged

Here's my mug. My kids gave it to me because, well, YEAH.

You can play too at John Scalzi's AOL blog, By the Way.

Shadows

The Monday photo shoot over at By the Way this week is "Working in Shadow." I couldn't resist.

This shot was taken recently at Fernwood Gardens in Michigan. The shadows were supposed to be the subject, but it didn't turn out as well as I hoped. Still, I like the lines they make on the pavement.