31/355 Self Portrait

"The greatest things ever done on Earth
have been done little by little."
- William Jennings Bryan

This weeks challenge for me, is to take a self portrait each and every day.  That would be a portrait of myself.   I just realized that I have very few photos of myself due to the fact that I am the one always behind the camera.  This is going to be hard, tricky, frustrating, embarrassing and I hope worth it.

Also portraiture isn't something that I feel I am very good at so by a weeks worth of practice I hope to see some improvements.

Not a good photo but it shows what I am up to today,  studying on how to set my D90 to self-timer so that I can us it instead of my point and shoot PowerShot.
 

30/365

Bold
Bold, something that make a large statement.
What did I see when I looked out m backyard this morning?  I saw what looked like popcorn all over the trees.
Heavy blankets of nightly fog have left the trees and everything else covered.  The patterns are amazing, one frost crystal added to another.
The air is so clear and crisp you can see for miles and miles. 

Natures way of flocking trees.

Bold, delicate ice crystals.

Cattle behind the house.  They really stand out against all the white.

All were taken with my 85 macro.  It's amazing what this little lens is capable of.
No post processing on any of the above photos, just re-sized for web.

Cattle Rescue 101

For the past 2 weeks I have been evolved in the rescue efforts of  cattle that were left in the mountains.   We were able to get them down out of the snow to (greener pasture).  I videoed the whole process of what it took to get them down 32 miles out of snow country.  So if anyone following along would like to see what it take to rescue large animals,  check this out.

2010 Catllle Rescue from Winter

29/365

 Bold yet Delicate
Another foggy night. The end result, frost on a wire.

Exposure:	1/2500 sec
Aperture:	f/5.0
Focal Length:	85 mm
ISO Speed:	200

28/365

Pattern

"If you don’t have time to do it right,
when will you have time to do it over?"
- John Wooden 


Frost is just winter frosting on the overlooked.  Take my last summers sunflower.  Without the new frost covering that it got last evening it would be anything but interesting.  Now it has a new life,  fleeting as it is, it is still new.  Frost patterns are so unique, everyone is built upon the next.

 There are no do-overs in frost pattern making.

Exposure:	0.001 sec (1/2000)
Aperture:	f/5.6
Focal Length:	85 mm
ISO Speed:	200

 

 

27/365

Chaos
"There may be Peace without Joy, and Joy without Peace, but the two combined make Happiness."

--John Buchan

So what does two pair of boots have to do with, Peace, Joy, Happiness or Chaos?  Lots if you consider what they offer.
Peace - knowing that my feet will stay nice and toasty warm.
Joy - as I can enJoy the outdoors in the winter.
Happiness - because I get to spend time with others as we experience new winter activities.
Chaos - they make scenes out of the the cold.

Exposure:	0.2 sec (1/5)
Aperture:	f/3.5
Focal Length:	85 mm
ISO Speed:	640

26/365

Meditative

Black and White that is what this photo called for.  Trees are heavy with snow.  Birds are no where to be seen and I am just ahead of another snow storm.  Photo is of the trees behind the Caribou Gaurd Station just past Bone, Idaho. Had to leave the big camera home as there wasn't any room on my snow machine this time
Canon PowerShot S3 IS.

Exposure:	0.003 sec (1/400)
Aperture:	f/8.0
Focal Length:	9.7 mm

25/365

Layers and Layers

of pure and all natural goodness.

Just one of my all time favorite, hometown made, candy bars. Notice that it is even from Idaho?

My DH remembered how much I like these and he got me some for my d_day today.  The photo doesn't look near as good as they taste.  Yummy chocolate, chocolate marshmallow cream inside and sprinkles of coconut.  Did ya notice the name, they are even called an IDAHO SPUD bar, go figure.

Exposure:	0.013 sec (1/80)
Aperture:	f/4.0
Focal Length:	85 mm
ISO Speed:	800

24/365

This is my take it easy day.  Day devoted to religion, family, rest and recuperation.

I believe that I over did it yesterday on the rescue ride, so now I am blessed with sore muscles and a aching back.  Good thing I have lots of drugs to take care of the problem.  That would really just consists of my friend, Ibuprofen. Ü

 

Exposure:	0.013 sec (1/80)
Aperture:	f/5.0
Focal Length:	85 mm
ISO Speed:	400

23/365

Masculine
Trying to rescue some lost and forgotten cattle in the high, snowy, cold, only for snow machine area.
My YouTube video of today find.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgJc6Zus27U

Want to keep up to date on the animal rescue?  I will be posting more videos of Mondays rescue on YouTube.  You can follow the links via my blog, right her.  Should be very interesting to say the least.

22/365

Trio plus one

Exposure:	0.001 sec (1/2000)
Aperture:	f/7.1
Focal Length:	85 mm
ISO Speed:	400

Just a few winter fowl enjoying the water until I came upon them.

21/365

I was really hard pressed to find anything I thought would make a memorable photo today.  That was until I passed by some of last summers flowers.  They have out lived there beauty for most.  But, if you look close you can still find them beautiful, interesting and full of life.

20/365

Cold

It's snowing again today, has been on and off all week.  I was beginning to wonder if we would get any more for the winter, I was hoping so.  

There isn't as much snow pack in the mountains this year as last.  You're pretty hard pressed to find a good place with enough snow to ride to.  (on a sled that is)

I hope we have enough snow for spring and summer watering. 

Exposure:	0.001 sec (1/2000)
Aperture:	f/4.8
Focal Length:	85 mm
ISO Speed:	400

19/365

Patterns
As long as I can remember there has always been some sort of plant in my house.  Just something about having something green, alive and growing that makes be feel the same.

  Can you tell what type of flowering plant this is?  Looks like it could really do some damage if you happened to get tangled up with it.  
Not really.  This is my African Violet that I have had for going on 23 years.  I tend to forget about taking care of it most times but it still survives.  I love the pattern of the little hairs as they protrude out all over the leaves.  Can't figure out why it has them.  Perhaps it's some sort of protection or a way to gather moisture.

Exposure:	0.02 sec (1/50)
Aperture:	f/4.8
Focal Length:	85 mm
Focal Length:	84.8 mm
ISO Speed:	400

Two more photos with patterns in them.
All lined up and notice the sugar pattens?

Exposure:	0.013 sec (1/80)
Aperture:	f/4.5
Focal Length:	85 mm
Focal Length:	84.8 mm
ISO Speed:	500
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	No Flash

Oh the pattens of Oranges!  Patterns all over them.

Exposure:	0.01 sec (1/100)
Aperture:	f/4.2
Focal Length:	85 mm
Focal Length:	84.8 mm
ISO Speed:	250
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	No Flash

18/365

Cold

Cold,
I have issues with my peonies. I haven't decided where there home should be in my garden. I move them about every other month, that is a big no no.
They will be moved again this spring and hopefully I wont change my mind. Yah right.

Composition First! – Mini Assignment #1

January Photo Assignment #1

I have a real difficulty with 1/3rds.  I practice on one of my grandsons, he was a good sport with helping out with this assignment.

I find myself not leaving enought wiggle room, as I call it, around the person I am photographing.

I am trying to remind myself when photographing people

1.  get the lighting right

2.  set the right aperture

3.  keep shutter speed above 1/60 or 1/200 for kids

4.  focus on the eyes

5.  keep the eyes on one of the 1/3 intersecting lines

6.  don't crop off limbs

This is a work in progress and is easier said then done.

f/3.5@1/00 ISO 250 50mm withbounced flash

17/365

Edible
With all the snow on the ground you would think that I would be thinking about winter things, skies, sleds, staying warm.  Unfortunately this is the time of year that my mail box is stuffed with gardening magazines.

I can't even begin to think about what to plant in my garden if I can even see it.  Kind of the old adage, out of site out or mind.

I am reminded daily of the bounties that I have been blessed with every time I bring a bottle of last season harvest to the table.

Perhaps, now that I think about it, now is a very good time to start planning for spring.

Peas, nope.

Bean, perhaps.

Corn, let the neigbors do those.

Tomatoes, deffinantly.

Potatoes, that is a silly question.  Idaho, potatoes, they are defiantly in.

Camera:	Nikon D90
Exposure:	0.006 sec (1/160)
Aperture:	f/2.8
Focal Length:	50 mm
Focal Length:	50.4 mm
ISO Speed:	250
Exposure Bias:	-2 EV

16/365

Kids Add So Much
Today was a great day.  I finally got to spend some time with my number 3 grandchild. 
Chris and his dad came up to spend  some boy time away from home.
Chris and I got to spend sometime shopping for snow machine clothes then it was off to the snow fields to practice our turns and speed.

Something about spending time with little people that helps you feel young again.

Tried to tone down the pink in his skin color but the photo was taken after riding in the cold with an open faced helmet.  I think  the pink comes from having cold skin, I know mine would look like that if it were subject to cold breezes.

Camera:	Nikon D90
Exposure:	0.001 sec (1/1250)
Aperture:	f/5.0
Focal Length:	45 mm
Exposure Bias:	-1 EV

15/365

Sun

Another sun photo.  I have been waiting all week to be able to get the sun as it is setting in the west.
No I am all caught up with my photos and I hope to stay that way.

14/365

Sun

Doing a little cleaning on the blinds this morning and I noticed the sun flare coming through the slats.  I am not to great, YET, at photographing these.  This is my first attempt, harder than I thought.

13/365

Chaos

Just a bit of chaos around the bird feeder this mornin.

This is a really bad, out of focus, blurry and noisy photo.  But,  I had to get a shot of all my Dear Hubby's birds  that he is feeding this winter.  It take these birds about 30 minutes to empty the feeder.  I am just hoping that my woodpecker, pheasant and turkeys come back this spring.

12/365

Cold
Just to show my family members just how deep the snow is in my back yard.

I love the wintertime.  Love the cold, white and winter activities.  What I don't like is that I am really limited on colors to photograph.  White, grey, black and brown seen to be all that there is around.

11/365

Cold

We finally made it to freezing, 32 degrees.  YEAH!

10/365

Texture
I was finally blessed with some much needed sunshine today.  I needed it anyway.  Ted, pictured below, was waiting for his daily treat of carrots. I find it very hard to go outside when it is dark and dreary, I need sunshine.

So what does this have to due with texture?  Have you ever felt the winter coat of a horse or mule?  Their coats are so thick and soft.  Best winter texture I know of.

9/365

Windows
I waited all day to try to find something that was inspiring for my photo blog. Something that in a few months I would look back on this photo and it would still have meaning.
I love the mirrored windows on the building downtown and while I was racing around getting my errands done I had to stop and take a look.  The reflection was incredible, they must have just cleaned the glass.  I plan to go back and get some more but with different angles.

8/365

Cold
The weather her has been really cold, finally gotten above zero this week.  Yeah.  The only thing that I can say that is good about having it so cold is that it makes for really clear skies and beautiful sunrises and sets.
This photo was taken at 8am as the sun was still trying to come up over the Teton mountain range.

f/13 @ 1/60 ISO 400 50mm

7/365

Looking Down

You just never know what you are going to come across out on the ranch. It been a long time since I've seen a beadger and this one whas huge. Dear Hubby wanted to know if I was in need of a badger skin cap as that is where this one was headed. So sorry if this hurts your feelings but if you could see all the damage that this one has done not to mention holes that my horse now has to watch out for.

6/365

Arc

Arc (geometry), a segment of a differentiable curve
I recall as a younger person walking over this train bridge, what was I thinking. Below it is the Snake River, fast, deep and unyeilding. The flooring looks solid but don't be fooled, the boards are acutally about 2 feet apart, just enough room to fall through. I have seen in my travels many families that love to stand in the middle of the bridge to have ther picture taken. WHY? This is just so not for me as I have hights.

5/365

Doors

One old building that is no longer in use. I love the rusticness, is that a word, of the building. One of my favorite places for photo sessions. To bad that there is snow all over the ground which makes get there a bit difficult. Love it any way and it will be a sad day when and if they pull it down.