Days 292 - 305

Are you so sick of hearing me talk about catching up? I am! I've just resorted to knowing this is just how it's going to have to be until the end of the year. 

How'd everyone's Halloween go? We had kids running from one end of the neighborhood to the next. Kids everywhere, eggs everywhere (oy!), police out in full force (and they were going to glare at me for parking crooked to say hi to some friends? Go get the bad kids!)... Lots of fun, lots of face painting craziness all over my bathroom, but all in all, great day!

Day 292

Along side the road on our way to Great America!

 Day 293

Sand mimicking an avalanche at the Museum of Science and Industry Chicago

 Day 294

Wave making at the MSI/Chicago

 Day 295

Static electricity...muahahaha!

 Day 296

Some cool vapor you could walk through. You couldn't feel anything, but they put images on the wide angle, but it was too hard to photograph as there were light tunnels in front and back.

 Day 297

Wright Brothers exhibit MSI/Chicago

 Day 298

Fall colors in my yard.

 Day 299

Scary Skulls!

 Day 300

Oooohhhhh...

 Day 301

The carousel "haunted up" with full reflection in the "moat" at Fright Fest - Six Flags/Great America

 Day 302

Fun adjusting my settings to get the shadows and lights with fog machines in the distance across the pond.

 Day 303

My first attempt at Street Photography! I asked this kid if I could take his picture, and he was totally on board to do it. So cool, because I painted my son's face this same detail for Halloween. Turned out pretty awesome!

 Day 304

Happy Halloween! My youngest dressed as "Mad Hatter" after an hour of trick or treating. The makeup had faded but she looked cute, although even cuter in the bright pink fake eyelashes she had that "came off somewhere." (oh my)

 Day 305

Pretty autumn mums. My favorites!

Day 289-291

I'm getting there! Another shoot today was great! I am behind... in a good way. Here's 3 more, and I'm closing in on it.

Day 289

Little one and I were practicing our "art" for her to be Mad Hatter for Halloween. What we found, was this white was not fun to work with, luckily we had bought another type of white, and that it was going to be a blast to work on! 

 Day 290

Some of the good makeup, and the false eyelashes we will be using to dress up. This one just can't wait!

 Day 291

My plumeria tree! It's blooming, and I just got it from (bum..bum..bum..) a garage sale! Funny because when we were in Hawaii last we bought one for my mother in law. That one is absolutely gorgeous, and I just fell in love with this when I saw it. It really brings back Hawaii. The flowers are so beautiful and fragrant!

Days 286 - 288

OY! Is anyone still doing this?  I'm the little train that could.....

*snicker*

I've been blessed with some paid shoots lately, so I've been a little photo'ed out as I've been editing, and pulling my "normal" life's routine. So, I shall post a few, come back in another day and post some more...

Thanks for your support, all of you who have so faithfully stuck by me, come by to comment and are interested in what I'm doing. Hugs to all of you!

I have to comment on the next one. I was sitting in the living room, and my daughter was sitting at the table doing homework. I sat there thinking this time will just fly by as our oldest two are already living the teen life. I thought I should run up and get my camera, because I'd look back on this day and wish I had this scene not only impressed into my mind, but in a photo. It is precious to me.

Days 281 - 285

Okay, behind agaaayaan! Only 5 days this time so I feel pretty good. I'm working down backwards from today's photo to day 281. 

Today was just one of those days! 

I got ready for Bible study, 

left the house and dropped of my daughter's forgotten extra credit homework, 

went to grab some coffee and realized I'd forgotten my purse at home. 

Backtracked to grab my purse, 

and saw that even if I left now, I'd still be almost an hour late to Bible study, 

so I decided to scrap it all and get my flat tire repaired. 

That didn't work, so 1 new (used) tire for me! 

And, luckilly, a pretty park nearby to just relax, reset, and try some new techniques!

I tried some panning with falling leaves, that was HARD to get right. I got close, but still not that easy to focus on that "one" falling leaf (blowing in the wind). I also did something fun I saw on Isabelle Frances Photography page. That was the twisting of the lens while taking a photo up a tree.

Day 285

 Still shot. I like the rustic look, and it was such a happy surprise to find the acorns all over!

 ISO 100, f/3.2, 1/60, 50 mm

Day 284

Fun technique! 

ISO 100, f/5, 1/25, 18 mm

 Day 283

Trying hard to capture ONE leaf and focus on it. Had to pan a bit, but finally got ONE image where you can somewhat tell what it is. Right? Maybe not...

ISO 100, f/18, 1/40, 60 mm

 Day 282

Lovin' the beauty of the dying thistles beside the road. 

ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/500, 200 mm

added texture

 Day 281

FINALLY grasping the sunburst, thanks to my wonderful friend, Carolyn! She's fabulous in this department. So I hopped out of the car this particular morning and grabbed it through the trees. Yay!

ISO 800, f/22, 1/3200, 50 mm

Days 278 - 280

More Chicago street photography - Thanks for walking through this with me. I just have so many fun photos to share! And, when thinking about my 365 for the year, Chicago is where I am, so Chicago photos I shall have!

Day 278

The bridge over the Chicago River - lunch hour.

ISO 400, f/8, 1/1600, 60 mm

 Day 279

 By the bridge - I loved the lines.

ISO 400, f/8, 1/600, 18 mm

 Day 280

Chicago Theater! An icon for State Street.

ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/1250, 50 mm

Day 277

On our photo walk, I couldn't get over the fire escapes. They are so vintage looking, so primal, but something you'd desperately need in an emergency. I wonder how often they are actually used? Maybe only in movies? I've never seen anyone on one, but I just think, "what would you do without them?" 

Something just drew me in on this. The lighting? The emptiness? In a city that's so bustling with excitement, no movement to be seen here. 

Okay, enough deep thinking...

Day 277

ISO 400, f/5, 1/60, 18 mm

Day 276

I love reflections! This little girl was all bundled in the most perfect bright pink jacket, hat, boots and all.. I couldn't resist! That water had to be cold, though. Our morning started with the high 40's.

I will be putting up more from our walk and using them as my 365 for several days. Since I figure 6 hours a day at just taking photos, I've been working hard at settings, switching lenses at the drop of a hat, switching my ISO and metering like it was going out of style! If you want to see more photos ahead of time, I put several up on my facebook. I made the album public, so you can all see. Find it HERE!

Day 276

 ISO 200, f/5.6, 1/125, 210 mm