Project 52: Week 22/52

When I sat down to write this post I thought I had a lot to say about my trip to the Oregon Coast over Memorial Day weekend. I planned to write about the halos made by ice crystals around the sun that came in and out of view as we drove to the beach.

Settings: ISO 1000, 50mm, ss1/8000, f/11

I planned to talk about the Baskett Wildlife Refuge where we stopped so I could photograph the amazing blue sky peppered with clouds...

Settings: ISO 1000, 50mm, ss1/2500, f/11

... and about stopping at Siletz Bay, getting some food to take to the hotel we found at the last minute and getting some shots!

Settings: ISO 1000, 50mm, ss1/500, f/16

I planned to talk about walking down to the beach at Otter Crest below our hotel as the sun was setting to get photos of the waterfall there...

Settings: ISO 1000, 50mm, ss1.0sec, f/20 (on tripod)

...and driving up Highway 101 the next day as a storm followed our progress home with rain clouds over the ocean.

Settings: ISO 100, 50mm, ss1/200, f/11

I planned to write about the vista overlooking the hotel we stayed at where this plant that is all over the coast made an appearance...

Settings: ISO 100, 50mm, ss1/200, f/9.0

...and about the other amazing vistas that we found along the way. 

Settings: ISO 100, 100mm, ss1/400, f/9.0

Finally I planned to write about the sunset that started in Oregon...

Settings: ISO 100, 50mm, ss1/640, f/7.1

...and continued subtle, soft and serene in Washington. 

Settings: ISO 800, 50mm, ss1/500, f/8.0

But I am hoping that after the stressful and challenging week I had that the pictures will speak for themselves. I know they bring me back to the recharging feeling of the trip. I hope you enjoy them too!

“It’s hard for me to put into words why I like the beach so much. Everything about it is renewing for me, almost like therapy...Beach Therapy”  -Amy Dykens

         

Reverse 365: May Wrap-Up

Settings: ISO 800, 100mm, ss1/2000, f/16

Date: November 25th, 2012

Location: Astoria, Oregon the Astoria Column Parking Lot

Day 151/365 - May 31st, 2013

"Neither should a ship rely on one small anchor, nor should life rest on a single hope." - Epictetus

Reverse 365 - May 2013 Wrap-Up

Number of Photos: 31

Locations: Seattle, WA / Volunteer Park Conservatory, Seattle, WA / Lousia Boren Park, Seattle, WA / Kerry Park, Seattle, WA / Mount Rainer National Park / Enumclaw, WA / Around my house / Gene Coulon Park, Renton, WA / Squakl Mountain Park / Redmond, WA / Yarrow Point Park / Astoria, Oregon / Astoria Column

Editing Techniques Used: Lightroom Tips

Tutorials Used: 10 Quick and Easy Lightroom Tips

What I Learned: May has been a difficult month in terms of sticking to my goals with all the other things I have going on. I have faltered and felt guilty about that, but I have also felt proud that I start again. In terms of editing I focused on zeroing out my photos before editing. I shoot in RAW and until now I really didn't understand the difference when it comes to editing. I started out with applying the "Zeroed" Lightroom preset to each photo before editing and found that editing was just easier and I had more control over my images. I then found that you can apply that preset when you import your images by choosing it on the left hand side of the import window. I feel like this has truly changed my editing!

Reverse 365: Appreciate the Timeless - Day 150/365 5.30.13

Settings: ISO 800, 50mm, ss1/250, f/16

Date: November 24th, 2012

Location: Astoria, Oregon

150/365 - May 30th, 2013

"Once we discover how to appreciate the timeless values in our daily experiences, we can enjoy the best things in life." - Jerome K. Jerome

Reverse 365: Be Well and Bright - Day 149/365 5.29.13

Taking another look at these photos reminds me of the amazing light on this day. Still feeling a bit uninspired with the editing. 

Settings: ISO 400, 50mm, ss1/125, f/16

Date: November 24th, 2012

Location: Astoria, Oregon

149/365 - May 29th, 2013

"You should always be well and bright, for so you do your best work; and you have so much beautiful work to do. The world needs it, and you must give it!" - Marie Corelli

Reverse 365: Never - Day 148/365 5.28.13

Settings: ISO 400, 50mm, ss1/400, f/16

Date: November 24th, 2012

Location: Astoria, Oregon atop the Astoria Column

148/365 - May 28th, 2013

"May I never miss a sunset or rainbow because I am looking down." - Sarah June Parker

Tones on Tuesday #79 5.28.13

Maboe

The light on the flower is gorgeous and I love the texture. Thank you for sharing!

Scarlett at House of Emery

Simply stunning! I love the moment captured and the way the black and white adds such a softness. Thank you for sharing with us Scarlett!

Bi Ti at Ready to...Waltz

I love the perspective and the feeling of being small. The sky adds such a great feel as well. Thank you for linking up!

Maboe, Scarlett and Bi Ti 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.

Lately things have been getting more stressful in every aspect of my life. My plans for the Memorial Day weekend were to catch up on some work. I planned to take one day to go out and shoot to keep up with my Project 52 goal, but other than that I was going to get work done. When I went out to shoot at the beach on Saturday I did not intend to stay overnight and I did not intend to be so grateful that I did. Come back on Thursday to hear more about how events came together to help me recharge and be ready to face another week. Until then, here is a shot I took off a side road on the trip to the Oregon Coast. Isn't the sky amazing? What have you been shooting lately?

Settings: ISO 1000, 50mm, ss1/1600, f/16

"Rest when you're weary. Refresh and renew yourself, your body, your mind, your spirit. Then get back to work." - Ralph Marston

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: Brilliant Stuff - Day 147/365 5.27.13

Settings: ISO 400, 50mm, ss1/2000, f/9.0

Date: November 24th, 2012

Location: Astoria, Oregon

147/365 - May 27th, 2013

"Late afternoon on the West Coast ends with the sky doing all its brilliant stuff." - Joan Didion

Reverse 365: Watch in Awe - Day 146/365 5.26.13

A completely creative edit with a colored gradient overlay in Lightroom. 

Settings: ISO 500, 100mm, ss1/320, f/11

Date: November 11th, 2012

Location: Yarrow Point Park

146/365 - May 26th, 2013

"One of the most satisfying experiences I know is fully to appreciate an individual in the same way I appreciate a sunset. When I look at a sunset...I don't find myself saying, 'Soften the orange a litle more on the right hand corner, and put a bit more purple along the base, and use a little more pink in the cloud color...' I don't try to control a sunset. I watch it with awe as it unfolds." - Carl R. Rogers

Reverse 365: Dilated Moment - Day 145/365 5.25.13

Sunsets make me happy, I cannot put it any more simply than that. I love watching the colors and light change. Editing this series of photos reminds me how much I adore photographing them and how long it has been since I have been witness to the beauty. I am in need of sunset!

On a side note, the quote today comes from a book I am reading for my book club!

Settings: ISO 500, 50mm, ss1/400, f/11

Date: November 11th, 2012

Location: Yarrow Point Park

145/365 - May 25th, 2013

“...in that dilated moment after sunset when the sky holds all the light...”  - David Wroblewski

Reverse 365: Spray Painted Graffiti - Day 144/365 5.24.13

I have felt like I am in a bit of a rut with editing lately. I have been focusing on Lightroom and zeroing out photos to use the full potential of RAW, however, I am still in need of tutorials for the month. If you find any interesting ones I would love hear about them!

Settings: ISO 500, 100mm, ss1/640, f/11

Date: November 11th, 2012

Location: Yarrow Point Park

144/365 - May 24th, 2013

“Bursts of gold on lavender melting into saffron. It's the time of day when the sky looks like it has been spray-painted by a graffiti artist.” - Mia Kirshner

Project 52: Week 21/52

Sometimes we take for granted the things that are right outside our doorstep. Sometimes things that disappointed you may be leading you to appreciate the beauty that surrounds you on a daily basis. After a weekend filled with events that conspired to keep me either working or at home, and not out shooting, I came home on Monday night a little early from work and it was like the flowers were lit up especially for me. I spent a good portion of my evening just appreciating the poppies, weeds, winning flowers from a bridal shower movie quote game, window box flowers, rhodies about to bloom and above all...light. Sometimes it takes a change of plans to remind us that we are blessed! After the events around the country this week, I feel lucky to be reminded!

Settings: ISO 320, 100mm, ss1/320, f/5.6

Settings: ISO 320, 100mm, ss1/800, f/4.0

Settings: ISO 640, 100mm, ss1/1250, f/3.5

Settings: ISO 640, 100mm, ss1/800, f/4.5

Settings: ISO 1000, 100mm, ss1/200, f/3.2

Settings: ISO 1000, 100mm, ss1/500, f/3.2

"Flowers have spoken to me more than I can tell in written words. They are the hieroglyphics of angels, loved by all men for the beauty of the character, though few can decypher even fragments of their meaning." - Lydia Maria Child