Scavenger Hunt Sunday & Sweet Little Photo Swap

This week I had to do a little research on what the prompts for Scavenger Hunt Sunday really meant. In doing so, I was rather excited about meeting the challenge and I'm proud of what I manage to get in order to participate this week. I think the hunt has really given me what it's intention is - to challenge us and stretch our photography skills.

I'm also linking up with Sara for her Sweet Little Photo Swap. She saw my link here at Scavenger Hunt Sunday and kindly asked me to join in on her link too. How could I say no when someone asks you to join in cause they like your photography?! I'm stoked to be asked. Next time I'll do it's own post, but for now I'm linking up just like this, I hope that's all ok :)

1. Low Key

Low Key is a term I had to google. I wasnt' sure how to really set up a shot to achieve the 'low key' I desired, so I found this one in my archives and I think it works ok?!

It's of Lu at her birthday party in May, just before she blows out the birthday candles.

2. Monochromatic/Analogous Colour

I went with monochromatic colour. I had made lots of plans for different shots, but this one happend quite by chance when I was gardening yesterday afternoon. This is exactly why I always garden with my camera handy.

3. Circle

I love how well this turned out, it's so simple. It's a champagne flute with a black stalk and base.

4. Scarf

I wasn't too sure  how to make a scarf shot interesting until I flung it over the back of my door and focused on the tassles. Now I have hundreds of scarf shots to play with!

5. Phone

And once again I struggled to come up with an interesting way to photograph 'phone', until I decided that simplicity was the key.




 

I'v been featured!

I'm so excited! One of my black & white photos has been picked as the 'daily feature' on the Mortal Muses blog. It's a photography blog for amateur photographers like myself. Daily they feature a Black & White photo, an 'Everyday Beauty' photo and a photo on the current theme. I read this blog everyday and I submit photos every week.

For me, having a random stranger look at my photo and think 'I really like that, so much so that I'm picking it to feature today' is soo encouraging and exciting. Yes I understand it's just for one day, and Yes I know it's just a small fish blog, but who cares, my photography was chosen, picked, liked, FEATURED. Ha! *big smiley face grin*

To check it out click on this blog button:

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

I took all my photos today on our outing to the Island Bay Marine Centre. They are a small marine centre that opens for private functions and to the public once a month. For a $2 entry fee you can see and even touch the sea creatures. Our wee outing fit perfectly with this weeks Scavenger Hunt prompts.

1. Street Photography

The more I read about Street Photography, the more it appeals to me and my sense of photographic style. I love to try and capture those unplanned moments and what better medium than unsuspecting strangers, like this family here.

2. From a Distance

After the marine centre, Lu and John went rockpool exploring. I stayed back on the beach and watched.

3. Sunday

The marine centre has always opened to the public one Sunday a month, but over the spring/summer, they are open every Sunday. It was fantastic to see so many people, young and old, enjoying learning about the sea creatures in an interactive way.

4. Liquid

I was fascinated with this Octopus that was all curled up on the side of the tank. Not only are her tentacles very beautiful, but the bubbles made for a great photo too. Shame about the light reflection in the glass.

5. Behind

There's something about a ledge that makes every child want to climb it or walk along it. I followed along behind. I almost wish I'd gotten up there too.

Happy Birthday's

Happy Birthday Jacky!

5 on 16th September

Happy Birthday Ele!

30-something on 17th September

I hope you girls have fantastically, wonderful days and many happy adventures in the year to come.

xxx

Faces

The more I photograph the more confident I become at capturing the beauty and emotion a face can show. These very special little people have very quickly become my most favourite subjects to photograph.

Revisiting old photos

Have you ever looked at old photos years after you took them and rediscovered the magic of that time?

'Travel' is the theme this week of a blog that I was invited to contribute too (they probably asked hundreds of people but I was stoked none-the-less). Anyway, so I was looking through my photos from my trip to the middle east two years ago to find some good 'travel' photos. I did, but I also realised that my editing skills, while not fantastic, are better than they were then and I could re-edit some of them now.

So I did. I've only a done a few, but check these ones out. Let me know what you think.

Now that I've started playing with these old photos (and by old I mean, they were taken on my small compact camera before I even bought my DSLR!) I'm keen to keep playing with them. I took hundreds of photos on this trip and lots others. So be prepared to see lots more 'old' photos.

The last task for Brownie Badge #1

I've stalled slightly on the Brownie Badge tasks. Not for lack of wanting, but for lack of time. I had nine tasks done and just needed to do one more.

I decided to make a game or puzzle. Last night I made a crossword puzzle. I used the photo subjects of photos I've posted on this blog and the dates of the posts were the clues. Perhaps it's a little to hard? I have given it to John to do, so we'll see.

So I'm done! Brownie Badge #1 is complete. I'm keen to move on to the next one, but I better wait for John and Rachel to catch up.

A Random Page. . .

Page 106.

Things you need to know about Doctors dealing with Cosmetic Procedures.

1. Plastic surgeons are trained throught the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS). It takes a minimum of eight years after graduating as a doctor to qualify as a plastic surgeon. The RACS is recognised by the Australian Medical Council, and only plastic surgeon members of the RACS are affiliated with the Australasian Society of Plastic Surgeons. You can check whether a doctor is a fully trained plastic surgeon by ringing the society's hotline on 1300 367 446 or visiting the website (www.plasticsurgery.org.au).

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

Another week, another Sunday, and that means another Scavenger Hunt. I loved the prompts this week. Enjoy!

1. Stairs

It turns out that my back stairs are not that interesting. That is until the sun and the outdoor chair work together with the stairs to great fabulous shadows.

2. Clouds

Would you believe that there were simply NO clouds in the sky every time I picked up my camera this week!? I dove into my archives to find this photos from my trip to Australia in March. I like the grainy feel of it, not sure why. That's Jessie galloping along the beach.

3. Abstract

Before I pulled up a dead lilly plant front my garden I photographed it. It's now one of my favourite things to photograph and I refuse to remove it from the garden. How could I when it provides such beautiful shots such as this one?!

4. Macro

I adore my macro lens. This wee fella posed for me for several minutes before taking flight.

5. Smile

My very good friend Ele and her newborn son Luke. I love her super proud smile! You can just feel the love she has for her son radiating from her.

Negative Space

Mortal Muses has been musing on one of my favourite photography techniques/styles. I love negative space in photos and I had hundreds of photos to show you. But instead I'm showing you three that I took this afternoon while enjoying the sunny garden.

Check out some more beautiful negative space photos here: