Reverse 365: March 2013 Wrap-Up

Month #3 was a tough month. Illness and loss made this the first month where I did not post a picture a day. However, I am determined to continue to work toward my goal of completing this Reverse 365.

Number of photos: 31
Locations: Around my house / Driving around Washington / Mima Mounds, WA / Tolmie State Park, WA / Cannon Beach, OR / Fort Stevens State Park, OR / Portland, OR / Dosewallips State Park, WA / Quincy Wildlife Recreation Area, WA / Astoria, OR / Illwaco, WA
Edited Techniques Used: Histogram in Lightroom and Adding Drama in Photoshop
Tutorials Used: Histogram Info and Adding Drama Photoshop Tutorial

What I Learned: This month I learned that there are times when life presents obstacles and challenges that may deter you from accomplishing a goal. Unexpected and unwanted things will come and it really is all about how you handle the things in your path.

Reverse 365: Shatter the Darkness - Day 90/365 3.31.13

On my second attempt to capture fireworks it was extremely windy which made the whole process much tougher.

Settings: ISO 100, 18mm, ss2.0secs, f/11

Date: July 7th, 2012

Location: Port of Illwaco, WA

90/365 - March 31st, 2013

“We shall go wild with fireworks...And they will plunge into the sky and shatter the darkness." - Natsuki Takaya

Reverse 365: Tradition Creation - Day 89/365 3.30.13

Two year ago my mom and I stumbled upon the Illwaco Fireworks show that is held at the port there each Saturday on or after the forth. There is a street fair and then everyone sprawls on the grass to await the main event - the fun and beautiful fireworks show. We have been two years in a row and I just love the atmosphere of a small town celebrating the Fourth. Here is the view while we waited for dark...

Settings: ISO 200, 18mm, ss1/320, f/11

Date: July 7th, 2012

Location: Port of Illwaco, WA

89/365 - March 30th, 2013

"There is no creation without tradition; the 'new' is an inflection on a preceding form; novelty is always a variation on the past.”  ― Carlos Fuentes

Reverse 365: Fog Rising - Day 88/365 3.29.13

The view from my dad's house...is it any wonder I like spending time there? :) That is Saddle Mountain in the distance. 

Settings: ISO 200, 90mm, ss1/250, f/11

Date: July 7th, 2012

Location: Astoria, Oregon

88/365 - March 29th, 2013

"...the fog is rising.” - Emily Dickinson

Reverse 365: Tinted Nuances - Day 87/365 3.28.13

Lupines outside my dad's house in Astoria, Oregon. 

Settings: ISO 200, 55mm, ss1/50, f/5.6

Date: July 6th, 2012

Location: Astoria, Oregon

87/365 - March 28th, 2013

"The artist is the confidant of nature, flowers carry on dialogues with him through the graceful bending of their stems and the harmoniously tinted nuances of their blossoms. Every flower has a cordial word which nature directs towards him." - Auguste Rodin

Project 52 - Catch Up Weeks 11-13/52

This is my last post to catch up from being in Kentucky for my grandmother's funeral. I am combining 3 weeks into one. I would love to know which photo(s) is your favorite. Enjoy!

Week 11/52 - Wallace Falls Hike, March 9th, 2013
I was lucky enough to go on a hike with my mom, brother, my brother's girlfriend and my dog niece Cece. I have been trying to do more hiking lately as I enjoy being in nature and it provides amazing opportunities to hone my photography skills. On this particular outing I was able to practice taking photos of waterfalls. I read a tutorial about it before heading out about slow shutter speeds and making sure the whole waterfall is in shade. I didn't know how important this would be until I looked at the photos I took. We hiked from Small Falls to Lower Falls and to Middle Falls. I didn't make it all the way to Upper Falls, but I was proud of the 4 miles I did. I am only sharing photos of Small Falls though because the other shots were a combination of sun and shade and they just didn't work out. It is just a reminder of the power of lighting. The first waterfall shot is on the way in, at the beginning of the hike and the last is from the way out. I was fascinated by how much the light changed!

Settings: ISO 100, 50mm, ss0/8secs, f/16 (on tripod)

Settings: ISO 250, 50mm, ss1/200, f/22

Settings: ISO 250, 50mm, ss1/5secs, f/16 (on tripod)

Week 12/52 - Kentucky Trip
I mentioned that I had to go to Kentucky for my grandmother's funeral. It was a difficult trip, but there were some enjoyable moments. One of them was visiting Devou Park with the fam to see where my mom spent time as a kid. I love the Cincinnati, Ohio skyline in this shot, but without my tripod and the wind it was very difficult to get. Luckily there was a trash can to use even if it involved me plugging my nose :o). The second shot is a rose from the service for my grandmother. I miss you Grandma!

Settings: ISO 2500, 50mm, ss3.2secs, f/22

Settings: ISO 2000, 100mm, ss1/1000, f/6.3

Week 13/52 - Spencer's Island
In effort to get back to my normal routine I went out to Spencer's Island in Everett, WA. The island sits on a slough and has amazing views of the mountains. After about 10 pictures I realized my battery was dead and the extra one was in my other bag at home from the trip. Even though that cut the shoot short I was able to capture a little bit of this beautiful place in the middle of the city.

Settings: ISO 500, 100mm, ss1/1250, f/5.6

Settings: ISO 2000, 100mm, ss1/2000, f/16

"The muffled syllables that Nature speaks | Fill us with deeper longing for her word; She hides a meaning that the spirit seeks, She makes a sweeter music than is heard." - George Santayana

           

Reverse 365: A Matter of Perspective - Day 86/365 3.27.13

My dad and I spent some time exploring Fort Clatsop while I was visiting for the fourth. It was a beautiful day!

Settings: ISO 100, 18mm, ss1/400, f/11

Date: July 6th, 2012

Location: Fort Clatsop, Astoria, Oregon

"It's another day. It's another beautiful day! Life is a matter of perspective. No matter what the weather, no matter what the situation we are in, if we have the right perspective in life, life will always be beautiful!" - Joel Randymar

Reverse 365: Lost in the Sound and Color and Light - Day 85/365 3.26.13

There is something so satisfying about capturing a firework in a photo. It truly feels like I captured something. 

Settings: ISO 100, 18mm, ss13.0secs, f/11

Date: July 4th, 2012

Location: Columbia River East Mooring Basin, Astoria, Oregon

"I often use the word "joy" when describing fireworks.  It is a considered word, deliberate in choice.  Not just amusement, entertainment, astonishment, but joy.  Our art makes us all into children again for a while.  We become one in our experience for the moment; lost in the sound and color and light. We see large forces, stronger than we could ever be, yet beautiful in their effects.  Sometimes violent, sometimes restrained.  Delicate beyond imagination at times, coarse and rude at others." - Bill Withrow

Tones on Tuesday #70 3.26.13

I missed Tones on Tuesday last week because I was attending my grandmother's funeral in Kentucky. I was blessed to get to have such an amazing grandmother and I was glad to be able to go back to be with my family during this difficult time. Thank you for your understanding. Here are the showcases from the link up 2 weeks ago. I look forward to seeing your photos this week!

Leovi at La Fotografia Efectista Abstracta

I love the colors and lines in this photo. It is so fun to see Leovi's photos each week and imagine what the bigger picture might be. Thank you for sharing!

Marissa at A Journey Called Life

Beautiful soft colors and texture make for a dreamy photo. The depth of field adds to this lovely photo. Thank you for linking up Marissa!

Frau B. at Weibsimpressionen

The softness of the clouds and the fog is beautifully captured and the colors are lovely as well. Thank you for sharing Frau B.

Leovi, Marissa and Frau B. please go HERE to grab your showcase button.

Now it's your turn to share your photo with altered tones. Here are the guidelines for Tones on Tuesday:

• The basic idea is to share one photo where you have altered the tones. Such as a black and white, sepia toned, selective coloring or colored photo. Feel free to share the original and edit, or just the edit.
• Please share a photo that you have taken and edited yourself.
• One photo per photographer please. If you have more than one photo in your post please indicate which one is for Tones on Tuesday. If you link up more than once only the first photo will be considered for showcasing.
• Please link up with your permalink and not your blog address.
• Attach the Tones on Tuesday button or a link back here to your post.
• Leave comments for at least 3 other participants, share the love :o)!
• Have fun!

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Disclaimer - By participating you give Scattered Horizons permission to share your photo on this blog. Photographers will be given credit for their work.

Both of my parents were born in Kentucky. My brother and I were born in Oregon and have lived most of our lives in Washington. So when we were back in Kentucky for the funeral, my mom showed my brother, his girlfriend and I around some of the places she spent time during her growing up. My mom's best friend's grandson also came with us. This shot is from Devou Park with the Cinncinati, Ohio skyline in the background. It was fun to see the places of my mom's memories and to capture part of my family. I did not bring my tripod so I had to make do with a bench. It was very windy so the photo was not as crisp as I would have liked. I used the Pioneer Woman's Lovely and Ethereal Action to play up the softness as an asset rather than a distraction. Hopefully it worked! 

Settings: ISO 800, 50mm, ss0.6sec, f/6.3

"Families are the compass that guides us. They are the inspiration to reach great heights, and our comfort when we occasionally falter." - Brad Henry

Joining the link ups below. Be sure to check out the beautiful shots and join the Tones on Tuesday link up found further down!

  

Reverse 365: Performance - Day 84/365 3.25.13

I mentioned yesterday that the Fourth of July is my favorite holiday. I love the history, the patriotism and of course the fireworks! Last year, I spent the 4th with my dad in Astoria and had an amazing time shooting the fireworks. I had shot fireworks before, but this time I did my homework before going and it really paid off. You can read more about the shoot here.

Settings: ISO 100, 18mm, ss7.0secs, f/11

Date: July 4th, 2012

Location: Columbia River East Mooring Basin, Astoria, OR

84/365 - March 25th, 2013

"You can look up at the stars and every night they're going to be in the same place, but you can launch a six inch shell and you don't really know what it's going to look like until it actually performs." - James Sousa

Reverse 365: Catch-Up

I have been MIA from the blog for a bit as I had to travel to Kentucky for my grandmother's funeral. I am still not feeling too creative, but I know that if I neglect my goals any further I may not achieve them by the end of the year. So on with the photos...

This first set of photos is from Quincy Wildlife Recreation Area in Eastern Washington. I love how the sunset started off soft and pastel and then turned a fiery reddish pink. 

Settings: ISO 200, 250mm, ss1/500, f/8.0

Date: June 10th, 2012

Location: Quincy Wildlife Recreation Area near Quincy, WA

78/365 - March 19th, 2013

Settings: ISO 200, 18mm, ss1/125, f/22

Date: June 10th, 2012

Location: Quincy Wildlife Recreation Area near Quincy, WA

79/365 - March 20th, 2013

 Settings: ISO 200, 18mm, ss1/640, f/7.1

Date: June 10th, 2012

Location: Quincy Wildlife Recreation Area near Quincy, WA

80/365 - March 21st, 2013

Settings: ISO 200, 55mm, ss1/80, f/5.6

Date: June 10th, 2012

Location: Quincy, WA

81/365 - March 22nd, 2013

Next up is the Fourth of July, my favorite holiday. These two shots are before the fireworks began. I was scoping out my shooting location for the main event. 

 Settings: ISO 100, 55mm, ss1/60, f/22

Date: July 4th, 2012

Location: Columbia River East Mooring Basin Astoria, OR

82/365 - March 23rd, 2013

 Settings: ISO 100, 33mm, ss0.4secs, f/6.3

Date: July 4th, 2012

Location: Columbia River East Mooring Basin Astoria, OR

83/365 - March 24th, 2013

"Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained." - Marie Curie

Reverse 365: A Must - Day 77/365 3.18.13

Ended the birthday adventure with a sunset at Tolmie State Park...a perfect day!

Settings: ISO 200, 18mm, ss1/100, f/8.0

Date: May 5th, 2012

Location: Tolmie State Park near Olympia, WA

Day 77/365 - March 18th, 2013

"People must feel that the natural world is important and valuable and beautiful and wonderful and an amazement and a pleasure." - David Attenborough

Reverse 365: Curiosity and Fulfillment - Day 76/365 3.17.13

One of the places my family and I stopped at during my birthday photography adventure was the Mima Mounds. No one knows for sure why or how they formed, but they sure are interesting to explore. I used the histogram to guide my editing in Lightroom and then added drama in Photoshop.

Settings: ISO 200, 18mm, ss1/320, f/8.0

Date: May 5th, 2012

Location: Mima Mounds near Olympia, WA

Day 76/365 - March 17th, 2013

"An understanding of the natural world and what's in it is a source of not only a great curiosity but great fulfillment." - David Attenborough

Reverse 365: Life Worth Living - Day 75/365 3.16.13

Settings: ISO 200, 18mm, ss1/200, f/11

Date: May 5th, 2012

Location: Driving around Washington

Day 75/365 - March 16th, 2013

"It seems to me that the natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty; the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living." - David Attenborough

Reverse 365: A Stupendous Gallery - 74/365 3.15.13

Settings: ISO 200, 18mm, ss1/500, f/11

Date: May 5th, 2012

Location: Driving around Washington

Day 74/365 - March 15th, 2013

"Where a love of natural beauty has been cultivated, all nature becomes a stupendous gallery, as much superior in form and in coloring to the choicest collections of human art, as the heavens are broader and loftier than the Louvre or the Vatican." - Horace Mann

Reverse 365: Overwhelmed by Wonder - Day 73/365 3.14.13

I realized that forgot to edit pictures from my birthday last year. I spent it taking pictures, shocking right?

Settings: ISO 200, 50mm, ss1/500, f/4.0

Date: May 5th, 2012

Location: Around my house

Day 73 - March 14th, 2013

"I often think of that rare fulfilling joy, when I am in the presence of some wonderful alignment of events. Where the light, the colour, the shapes and the balance all interlock so beautifully that I feel truly overwhelmed by the wonder of it." - Charlie Waite

Reverse 365: Nature Restoration - Day 72/365 3.13.13

Settings: ISO 200, 55mm, ss1/800, f/7.1

Date: May 26th, 2012

Location: Doeswallips State Park on Hood Canal

Day 72/365 - March 13th, 2013

"There is new life in the soil for every man. There is healing in the trees for tired minds and for our overburdened spirits, there is strength in the hills, if only we will lift up our eyes. Remember that nature is your great restorer." - Calvin Coolidge

Reverse 365: That's How Life Is - Day 71/365 3.12.13

Most of the time I would clone out a sun flare like the pink one on the right side of this photo. However, I love how it looks like it was created by a super sonic bird. One of those clicking the shutter at the right moment.

Settings: ISO 200, 18mm, ss1/250, f/22

Date: May 26th, 2012

Location: Doeswallips State Park on Hood Canal

Day 71/365 - March 12th, 2013

“Of course, that’s how life is. A turn of events may seem very small at the time it’s happening, but you never really know, do you? How can you?”  ― Tom Xavier

Tones on Tuesday #69 3.12.13

Cropped Stories

Could this father daughter moment be any cuter? I love the softness of the black and white and the moment captured is priceless! Thank you for sharing!

Evelyn at Within My Focus

The contrast of the white with the dark patches on the birch tree is beautiful. I love the subtlety of this photo. Thank you for sharing Evelyn!

diefahrradfrau at onthewayz

The dramatic lighting and the pattern created from the shadows is simply stunning. Isn't it amazing the power of light? Thank you for linking up!

Cropped Stories, Evelyn and diefahrradfrau please go HERE to grab your showcase button.

Now it's your turn to share your photo with altered tones. Here are the guidelines for Tones on Tuesday:

• The basic idea is to share one photo where you have altered the tones. Such as a black and white, sepia toned, selective coloring or colored photo. Feel free to share the original and edit, or just the edit.
• Please share a photo that you have taken and edited yourself.
• One photo per photographer please. If you have more than one photo in your post please indicate which one is for Tones on Tuesday. If you link up more than once only the first photo will be considered for showcasing.
• Please link up with your permalink and not your blog address.
• Attach the Tones on Tuesday button or a link back here to your post.
• Leave comments for at least 3 other participants, share the love :o)!
• Have fun!

<center> <a href="http://scatteredhorizons.blogspot.com" target="_self"><img border="0" alt="Scattered Horizons" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH_U2oqLh1UmXZMxfX_WPVaPVWJYh_HuiqvmOJi2frJOmTvsFe8rQPCPuzZfqD9Rm5Lz1E9ijR7i5_09GjPNDZeIcGNOwpU1VlkboGqGPGHxc0q-s28fzb99utdKzU6TvONWyodJtseQ/s1600/tonesontuesday2.jpg"></a> </center>

Disclaimer - By participating you give Scattered Horizons permission to share your photo on this blog. Photographers will be given credit for their work.

This weekend I went for a hike with my family to Wallace Falls. I am so enjoying discovering new places in the natural world that are full of stunning beauty. Walking through the woods listening to the sounds of the birds and the water allows me to feel more connected to myself and to the world around me. Despite the sore legs after the 4+ mile hike that felt like it was mostly uphill, I feel blessed to have experienced this place with my family. Pictures of the waterfalls will be up on Thursday. I used this HDR tutorial to edit this photo and bring back the details in the twisting mossy branches. 

Settings: ISO 500, 50mm, ss1/125, f/5.0

"If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you, if the simple things in nature have a message you understand, Rejoice, for your soul is alive." - Eleanora Duse

Joining the link ups below. Be sure to check out the beautiful shots and join the Tones on Tuesday link up found further down!