52 Week Project - Week35 - August 30-Sept 5

[yellalablady]

Can't believe it's Sept. already. We'll be finished with this project before you know it.

[Sage]

Assimilating all the tips I'd learned at the Hummingbird Festival took a while. Hope I did the hummingbird justice with this one I shot this morning. ~~Peg

http://www.photozo.com/album/data/504/medium/Hummingbird_7655_Edit_Large_.JPG

[JimL]

Very sharp bird. Did you clamp the flower to something or find some other way to isolate the bloom?

Great color pattern capture.

Jim

[Sage]

Thank you Jim. No, I did not clamp the flower. Zinnias, by nature, grow in single blooms and are easy to isolate without manipulation. ~~Peg

[Polly1]

Excellent Peg - what an amazing array of colours.

[byteme]

Wooooooooooooooo That is stunning Peg - well done! ~ John

[Skippy]

Good work Peg. Looks like you have assimilated very well. And just how did you know he was going to come to that flower? :-)

Skippy

[Sage]

Thanks Polly, John, and Skippy. I'm having fun with the wildlife this summer.
Skippy, I watched him for ten minutes before I took any pictures to learn his fav places to go. HINT: This is a tip. LOL. ~~Peg

[sacstoy02gt]

Peg, that's just fantastic! Wow!

[Sage]

Thanks Isaac. ~~Peg

[Bishop]

I can't even remember if I posted last week. It's been a horrible summer for me. Mom just got out of the hospital, again. But at least she's home. Anyway, I got this one on the way out to the beach this morning. Wanted to crop it a bit differently so I hope this works.

35/52 - Old Rusted Wheel

http://lafreed.smugmug.com/Other/2010-52-Week-Project/rustywheel/993167440_pF4NG-L.jpg

[yellalablady]

Sage, what a great hummer shot. I love the colors
Linda, so sorry to hear about Ann being in the hospital, again. Love this shot. It just pops. BTW, happy belated birthday.

[wtlwdwgn]

Well now that it's September maybe those of you in the hot zone will get to cool off a little. Considering our normal yearly precipitation is 12-13 inches we've already had the normal amount and there's still another 4 months to go! Right now we're having highs in the 70's and lows in the 40's and 50's. In the mountains to the west they've had snow already. I took the Saabaru to the car wash this morning and took a couple while they worked.

U+1D11E

[wtlwdwgn]

Well now that it's September maybe those of you in the hot zone will get to cool off a little. Considering our normal yearly precipitation is 12-13 inches we've already had the normal amount and there's still another 4 months to go! Right now we're having highs in the 70's and lows in the 40's and 50's. In the mountains to the west they've had snow already. I took the Saabaru to the car wash this morning and took a couple while they worked.

♫ Down at the carwash...


http://wtlwdwgn.smugmug.com/Other/52-Week-Challenge/Car-Wash-II0011/993243727_NBiHv-L.jpg

[Skippy]

Linda, I like the crop you did for the wheel. Might add just a tad more on of the wheel rim on the left. The colors are great. Sorry to hear about your Mom having a relapse. That's not good. Happy Birthday.

Steve, you have people at the car wash. :-) All we have around here are brushes and jets or do it yourself. Sometimes the guy will hose off the windshield and rear window before he lets it on the track. Cold front coming thru tonight. Yeah..... can shut off the AC.

Skippy

[wtlwdwgn]

Skippy, most of the car washes here are like those most everywhere else. This one is special doing washes, waxes, and details all by hand for not much more and sometimes less than the others. :D

[Sage]

Thank you Monnie.
Linda, what a super image. The light is wonderful and the wheel grabs your attention immediately. Love the crop. *Hope your mom is doing much better.
Steve, it finally cooled here today. It was in the upper 70's...ahhh. Your pic made me sing that awful song...."Working at the car wash, workin' at the car wash, yeah." Nice lighting on the car. ~~Peg

[yellalablady]

John, this one's for you. If you hadn't posted your almost symmetrical spider web, I might not have looked at this one twice. This crab spider has built his web everynight from one of our crepe myrtles to the ground. I pass it going to the mailbox to get the paper in the morning. On this day, I notice just how symmetrical it is. Thought you might enjoy it.

http://www.photozo.com/album/data/9479/AZoIMG_5711.jpg (http://www.photozo.com/album/showphoto.php?photo=169104)

[Sage]

Very nice Monnie. Love the way you placed the driveway behind the spider to give it some depth and the grass like stripes top and bottom. Spiders are amazing architects. They work so long to build what we tear down in a second. ~~Peg

[yellalablady]

Steve, love to see men working. lol We have a carwash like this near us. I have been meaning to give it a try. It's just that this is what I have grandkids for. lol

[JimL]

Looking at Lindas wheel and Steves car wash reminded me that my car hasn't been cleaned for a good while (How dirty was it? The birds were looking for some place else to poop!):-)

Good catch on the spider web Monnie. Try using a plant mister on the web. It may give you a choice of angles where you can see the web.

Jim

[Skippy]

Monnie nice spider web. I wasn't paying any attention either until John posted his. Found a big one. Very, very fine hard to see tried misting it. Water went right thru it. What to do.......... picked up a pinch of dust, tried sprinkling it with that. Wasn't to careful with the dust now have things floating in the yard. :-) still can't see the web and the spiders house is dirty. :(

Skippy

[sacstoy02gt]

I don't have much else. Just goofing around with Nolan, my new remote flash triggers, a small umbrella and a small flash. A little bit of extra saturation added...

http://isaacolson.com/photos/content/Family%20Photos/Nolan%20Todd/nolie_lawn_9137.jpg

[yellalablady]

Isaac, that's a great shot of Nolan. Your setup sure isolated him from the background.

[JimL]

Hummingbird pose.

http://www.photozo.com/album/data/9465/HummingbirdPose-0931.jpg (http://www.photozo.com/album/showphoto.php?photo=169119)

Jim

[Skippy]

Isaac, He's getting to be so big. Seems like you added the right amount of flash.

Jim Must be hummer time. This is a really nice shot. I like the flowers too. Not sure what they are, but know that hummingbirds really like them.

Skippy

[Polly1]

Linda - I love your old wheel, even down to the bits of grass or whatever hanging off it. Fantastic detail. Sorry to hear that your Mum has been ill and in hospital, I wish her well and hope she is feeling better now.

Steve - Wow, that car really is being given the treatment. Can you send those guys over here please,? I live in a 'car wash free zone' so I have to do it myself (or not!). Well captured - were they singing as they worked?

Monnie - well caught. That is one huge web and I too like the way the background is visible but not intrusive.

Isaac - Nolan is growing so fast. I like the angle and slight quirkiness (is that a word??) to this shot. He is isolated well from the background and has good eye contact with the camera.

Jim - nice humming bird and sky. We have these flowers here but I don't know what they are either. Unfortunately we don't have humming birds - they seem really cute.

[Polly1]

I went out today to a small town near me to try and get a shot for the bi-weekly challenge. The church in this town is at the highest point (normal practice round here) and they have a cobbled street (translated name - Crucifix Road) going up from the village to the church. On one side is a high wall and the other side a sheer drop. The wall is covered in plaques and little alcoves depicting religious scenes. On the way up to the church everyone stops at each one, touches it and prays etc. I was hoping to try and catch this for the places of worship challenge but it was just impossible (for me anyway) and I could find no way to do it.

Just in case anyone may have any brilliant ideas here is the scene:
An exceptionally long and steep cobbled street, so steep it is almost impossible to walk down (up is easier). It curves round is some places and the wall is high and shaded by trees and the carved plaques are not too different in colour to the wall. On top of that they are quite high, certainly above my eye line and some old ladies really have to stretch up to touch them. The alcoves cannot be seen as they set back into the wall and nor can the church until you are nearly at the top. I wanted to capture the road, the plaques and the people touching them and praying on the way to church but could find no way round it. Any suggestions will be gratefully received as I think it will make a good photograph.

So, now I have waffled on and on about my morning this is all I have for this week. I took this in the village mentioned above and it is a typical scene in southern Italy at this time of the year of peperoncini hanging outside the house and drying in the sun.



http://www.photozo.com/album/data/9480/week_35.jpg (http://www.photozo.com/album/showphoto.php?photo=169120)

[JimL]

...
Jim - nice humming bird and sky. We have these flowers here but I don't know what they are either. Unfortunately we don't have humming birds - they seem really cute.

Thanks Polly. I shot this using ISO 1600 and the sky was full of color noise so I selected the sky and sampled the blue with the eyedropper. I then deleted the noise filled sky and filled the selection with the blue I previously sampled.

Hummingbirds look ok but they are pretty combative. I have been in a garden where they looked (and sounded) like an aerial combat scene from WWII; perhaps 8 or 10 fighting at once. Needless to say I failed to get a single shot but it was very interesting.

Jim

[yellalablady]

Jim, love the hummer. I believe the flower is called Butterfly Weed or orange Trumpet Flowers.
Polly, nice peppers. I have a bunch of cayennes drying in my kitchen.

[mishlove]

Peg - All I can say that it is "sick", in the Michael Jackson "I'm bad" kinda colloquial vernacular. Sheesh....

Linda - Sharp with a nice DOF.
Steve - Memories of the movie "Car Wash (circa 76).
Monnie - I'm going with exactly what Peg said...thank you Peg.
Isaac - He is the photo, lock, stock and barrel.
Jim - Is the bird small or the flower large ?
Polly - I am sure whatever the peppers enhance...it will go well with a good red.

[mishlove]

Travelling to Haliburton Village (Wenona Lake) to takes some photo's of a colleagues cottage....it rained in waves, and huge waves at that. Saw these field workers harvesting in a torrential downpour.....it abated for a little, got out a took a few, and then it started again. I watched them for about 30 minutes....they never missed a beat...just kept picking.

http://www.photozo.com/album/data/9475/medium/52_Week_Project_-_Week35_-_August_30-Sept_5.jpg (http://www.photozo.com/album/showphoto.php?photo=169122)

[yellalablady]

Good documentary shot. What were they picking?

[Sage]

Isaac, Nolan looks cute against that bg. Such a big boy.
Jim love the beautiful colors in your image. The flowers are gorgeous. I tried yesterday for some hummer shots, but they were fighting so badly I gave up. They need boxing gloves.
Polly, I have no ideas for your shot. It does sound difficult. Like the peperoncinis and the lines in this one.
Michael, I thought it was "sick" too. :D It looks to be a dismal day in your shot. What a miserable job they have. ~~Peg

[mishlove]

Good documentary shot. What were they picking?

Monnie - I was wondering also...but have no idea....to wet to venture closer.

[Skippy]

Polly It sounds like that is a tuffy to solve. Wish I could help, but haven't got a clue. Those chillies sure are colorful.

Michael, seems to be a miserable day there. Tomatoes perhaps at this time of year.

Skippy

[mishlove]

I love tomatoes....have one everyday...good for them (the pickers for picking) and good for me.....weather has turn cold, maybe why they were is such a hurry.

[Skippy]

Did you know that at one time tomatoes were thought to be poisonous? How can you eat tomatoes everyday in the winter time. They are so flat and cardboardy tasting. They have bred all the flavor out of them. :(

Skippy

[mishlove]

lol Everyday I can get them.....Viva la refrigeration lol

[Skippy]

Guess you have never grown your own. lol

Skippy

[mishlove]

Once....just once....but plan to get into a little veggie gardening next summer. I spent 5 years on a farm (school/farm)...just a farm boy at heart.

[byteme]

JLS

http://www.photozo.com/album/data/9549/JLG.jpg (http://www.photozo.com/album/showphoto.php?photo=169125)

[yellalablady]

Nice capture, John. I like the angle you shot this at.
Did you check out my spiderweb?

Skippy, tomatoes are poisonous. They are of the Nightshade family. You can't eat the plants. Isn't it strange how you can eat the fruit of a poisonous plant, but not the plant itself?

[byteme]

Thanks Monnie - sorry , busy week
Thats a cool spiders web - nice circle - was it made to order?? :-)

What I like about this thread is the real variation from babes in a field to people picking to humming birds and chiilis

Good work everyone


"Next week please............................................ .....!!" :-)

[Bishop]

Peg, the hummingbird is AWESOME. You nailed it. Patience pays off. I don't have patience to sit and try to get shots like this.

Steve, you little car is all wet ;) Great capture of the guys working hard on your behalf!

Monnie, love the spider web, it's just about perfectly shaped. Good job. I like Jim's idea
of using a plant mister. Will have to try that.

Isaac, great shot of the little man. My gosh, he's growing like a weed.

Jim, awesome capture of the hummer. I haven't seen many around my place this year.

Polly, I love it. The red pops. Nice composition. Not something I would have thought
to shoot, but it works very nicely.

Michael, interesting shot, looks like they are really part of the field.

John, that is the bluest sky I think I've ever seen. The gull just pops off my screen!

[Polly1]

Michael - good shot, foul weather. How typical of man to take pics of people picking something and not to find out what it is!! It's not tomatoes, way too low, unless of course you have different kinds of tomatoes out there.

John - lovely bright and clear shot of the seagull. But, will you please stop with the initial thing!!! What on earth does JLS stand for?

Skippy, yes, tomatoes were thought to be poisonous and when they were first introduced to Italy the only people who would eat them were the ones who lived in Naples. They were considered mad then and are still considered mad today. Hence the love of tomatoes in that city and the eventual invention of Pizza!
There are so many tomatoes around here at the moment it is ridiculous. I just planted a few as my land isn't sorted and I spent most of today making tomato sauce for pasta (oh what a wonderful lunch we had), parmigiana and ratatouille (which is French I know, but I love it).
All the old ladies are out in force now in their aprons and headscarves. They sit outside and sterilise the bottles whilst shoving tomatoes through their little machines to make passata. Every household around here makes enough to last for a year. Not me as I am not settled in yet, but wait until next year!!

[byteme]

Opps - sorry Polly :-)

JLS = Jonathan Livingston Seagull

Started as a book and was made into a film with Neil Diamond providing the backing music (I think)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Livingston_Seagull

[mishlove]

John - He stands proud.....and then there was the antithesis....JSC - Jonathan Seagull Chicken.

[mishlove]

Polly - I know, is that not just most silly of me....My Italian friends all "make tomatoes" every year...must be same or similar........ Tonights tomatoes was at it's peak..just before is starts it' s decline, boldly ripe, deeply tomato red, yet firm in my hand and firm when cutting....Himalayan course salt, Olive oil, Balsamic, accompanied with English Cucumber, Yellow Pepper, a good Syrah, Bavarian Multigrain bread......as close to heaven as I will ever get. lol

[Skippy]

Gee this has been a busy thread today.

John, love your seagull no matter what his name is.

Jim I know what you mean about the combat zone. My son's back porch was like that earlier this summer. It was really bad for a few days when the parents brought the new fledglings out all at once. He had 3 or 4 pair this year.

Monnie I never knew the plants were poisonous. Someone should tell that horned worm that was pictured here a while ago. They sure can eat a lot of plant.

Polly I used to grow them, can them all that good stuff. It's not really cost effective to do now. Even pick your own are $13. a bushel and by the time you condense that down to sauce, not worth the effort. Will probably can a few pints of tomatoes to make stewed tomatoes out of.

Michael you are waxing far to poetic over a tomato. lol

Skippy

[Skippy]

Gr...... Didn't do much this week. Tried to catch a spider web. Not a good job. Then after the bi linear and bicubic thread, I must have changed something while experimenting. Took a while to figure out what I did and get it undone. So here is my lowly web. Took a lot of sharpening to even see it. I need a bigger construction spider. Even when it was raining the drops wouldn't stick to it. That is all dust before the rain. :-)


http://usera.ImageCave.com/Skippy/Zo/Week%2035-2.jpg

Will try to be creative this week. ;)

Skippy

[mishlove]

Skippy - That is a spider web...yep, with Incy Wincy Spider. lol

[Skippy]

That is the only thing I shot this week. You don't know how many times I walked around it. You really couldn't see it. Everyone kept asking what are you looking at.............. A spider web. lol Not sure that is a spider you see there. lol

Skippy

[mishlove]

:thumb: yep...in on the left side...at least it looks like it to me.

[Skippy]

Yeah I know what it looks like, but I think it's a corpse.

Skippy

[Sage]

John, JLS just pops off the screen. Great angle and color.
Skippy, nice spider web. Looks good to me. ~~Peg

[byteme]

Thanks all - the colour was the pure colour of the sky - no pp on that bit - (OK - I sharpened the eye that was the pp bit)

Hey - we need a Spider Web thread - this is becoming an event............... :-)

Edit:Sorry Polly - PP = Post Processing - opps!!

[yellalablady]

Great web, Skippy. I think it's a corpse, too.

[Skippy]

See what you started John. If hadn't been for you, I wouldn't even had been looking.

But this web is so fine you can hardly see it. It really was just a shot to come even close to focus. lol

On to next week.

Skippy

[mishlove]

Lucky that spider was there on the left so we could get to see it......:angel:

[Skippy]

:p smarty................. :mrgreen:

Skippy

[xjblue]

Nephew number two. September 5th

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/xjblue/Photography/52%20Week%20Project/Neph02_2010_01.jpg

[Sage]

What a doll baby. Nice photo. ~~Peg

[Skippy]

Adorable. He looks so good natured.