Team-Up Thursday

Week 14 Theme - Fruit

Gini’s on top, mine on the bottom.

I love Gini’s interpretation of this theme. It’s unexpected, in that there’s no real fruit depicted. Love reading the names of all the fruits instead, and looking at the painted pictures of them.

I must admit that I pulled this one out at the last minute. I had a hard time deciding what to do this week. I had planned to hit the grocery store, but didn’t manage to get there yet this week. Probably just as well – I’m not quite sure how I would have looked taking photos in the produce section. And, since my Peapod order is not coming until today, I didn’t have much for fruit in the house. I did, though, have these last few bananas, which to me are just now at the perfect ripeness. Can’t wait for breakfast….

Team-Up Thursday

Week 13 Theme - Shape

Gini's photo on the left, mine on the right.

I love the heart-shaped leaves in Gini's picture - beauty in nature. I also love how the greens are carried through in both pictures. Appropriate for publishing on Earth Day, no?

Giggly Gabriella

Just had to share this little video of my girl. I just love to hear her giggle!!

Team-Up Thursday

Week 12 Theme - From Lying Down

My picture on the left, Gini's on the right. Love the blue sky in both of our shots, and how you really get a sense of lying down in Gini's.

This one posed some challenges for me. When I first read the theme, I was very excited at the prospect. I liked the idea of changing up the perspective on things, and the first thing that popped into my head was a photograph I saw years ago by Dewitt Jones, a National Geographic photographer. I first saw it at work in a training video he put out called "Celebrate What's Right With the World". The message of the video was about choosing to see possibilities rather than focus on what's wrong. The message stuck with me, as did the stunning photos he used to make his point. As I remember it, he told the story of how one day, he'd gone to capture photos of a field of yellow dandelion flowers for a spread in National Geographic, but when he got there, they'd all turned to seed. At first he was disappointed and frustrated, but then he decided to think of what was possible. He laid down, looked up, and this photo was the result. Simply beautiful.

So, all that to say that I loved the idea of "from lying down". I actually took my picture in Court House Square in Springfield on Sunday, after we'd taken Matthew to a hockey game. We were walking back to the car, on that gorgeous afternoon, and I saw an idea for a shot before me. I'm sure I looked hysterical lying down on the ground in downtown Springfield, but I figured - who the hell cares? Matthew popped into view as I was taking my series of shots, and this one ended up being my favorite.

Putting the diptych together, though, was a challenge. I tried it a bunch of different ways, and just couldn't get excited about any of them. I sent one off to Gini, but then stewed about it all night. Then this morning, after taking some time away from it, I gave it another shot and was really pleased with the finished product. I just love how the tree branches seem to line up - totally unplanned, but I love how it worked out.

Now if I could just get myself back to remembering Dewitt Jones' words of wisdom on a more regular basis.....

Team-Up Thursday

Week 11 Theme - Color

Once again, Gini's on the left, and mine on the right. This pair makes me happy. So bright and cheery. I love the spotlight effect on the eggs - it makes them just pop off the screen. As for mine, it's not the shot I thought I was doing, but I saw this box of markers while at Gini's the other night, and grabbed the shot in case I wasn't able to get an opportunity to shoot the one I wanted. Not bad for my little $150 Canon point-and-shoot.

And never you mind about the shot I had planned - I'm hoping maybe an upcoming theme will lend itself to my idea.

Team-Up Thursday

Week 10 Theme - Book

Gini's on the left, mine on the right. I struggled with this one this week. Couldn't seem to get very creative. I think I got stuck in my own head because I used a book in my close-up shot a couple of weeks ago.

Gini, on the other hand, was able to think outside the book...I mean box. Nice job balancing, Connor!