Clickin Walk 2013...Finally!

This feels so weird! Blogging, I mean. It has been such a long time, even though it has only been a couple a months. When you go from blogging several times a week to none...I am sure you get the idea. I also haven't been shooting that much :(.

I did however brave the rain and wind to spend the day walking around Seattle with a group of amazing photographers. It was for the annual Clickin Moms' Clickin Walk, which I have gone to 3 years in a row. Here a photo of our group at the beginning of the walk taken by one of our fearless leaders Davina...

It was a challenge to take photos, but the experience was amazing! I got to see people I haven't seen in a year, meet new people and immerse myself in my passion for a day. It is difficult to describe the boost in creative energy one can get from just simply being around people who love the same thing you do and who love it just as much! Here are a few of my photos from the walk...

Settings: ISO 320, 50mm, ss1/3200, f/3.2

Settings: ISO 320, 50mm, ss1/1000, f/2.5

Settings: ISO 320, 100mm, ss1/200, f/3.2

Settings: ISO 320, 100mm, ss1/500, f/3.2

Settings: ISO 320, 100mm, ss1/125, f/2.8

One of the coolest parts of the walk for me was getting to help a fellow photographer I had met first at another photography meet up get a shot she had been hoping to try. As with many photographers, I am not a fan of being in front of the camera. However, I just couldn't pass up the chance to be a cheerleader and model for a photo. I know what it is like to dream about getting a certain shot and I was glad to help make it happen. I also learned about bit about flash because of this photo and a mini-workshop Jennifer put on after the walk. 

How cool is that! I can't wait to see what next year's Clickin Walk brings!

"Life is a canvas of many strokes where shades from different palettes meet into a picture so concrete that some forget it is their own, so become framed themselves." - Vanna Bonta

Reverse 365: Second Look - Day 127/365 5.7.13

I thought I was done with my photos from the Clickin Walk in September, but I found another one I wanted to try and edit. Enjoy!

Settings: ISO 800, 100mm, ss1/500, f/5.0

Date: September 29th, 2012

Location: Seattle, WA

127/365 - May 7th, 2013

"Love at first sight is possible, but it pays to take a second look." - Unknown

Reverse 365: Hidden Future - Day 121/365 5.1.13

I cannot believe it is May already! This Reverse 365 Project has been a challenging and yet rewarding experience. I am finding that I am going through my photos faster than I anticipated and I am to September and the Clickin Walk already. I plan on going back through my files once I get to year's end, but I didn't shoot as much last year as I am this year and that is making it difficult. This project is about making it work though and I will do just that!

Settings: ISO 400, 50mm, ss1/80, f/5.0

Date: September 29th, 2012

Location: Seattle, WA

121/365 - May 1st, 2013

"The secret of your future is hidden in your daily routine." - Mike Murdock

Reverse 365: Universe - Day 117/365 4.27.13

I am much more of a night person, hence my love affair with sunsets. Sometimes, however, I make it up in time for the sunrise. 

Settings: ISO 100, 50mm, ss0.5secs, f/7.1 (on tripod)

Date: September 23rd, 2012

Location: Louisa Boren Park, Seattle, Washington

117/365 - April 27th, 2013

"For most people, we often marvel at the beauty of a sunrise or the magnificence of a full moon, but it is impossible to fathom the magnitude of the universe that surrounds us." - Richard H. Baker

Reverse 365: Wild Nature - Day 96/365 4.6.13

No visit to Seattle is complete without the Space Needle.

Settings: ISO 400, 21mm, ss1/4000, f/5.0

Date: July 23rd, 2012

Location: Seattle, WA

96/365 - April 6th, 2013

“Seattle is for people who love culture, but refuse to sacrifice their wild nature to attain it.” - Kimberly Kinrade

Project 52 - Week 10/52

Do you ever have an idea for a shoot that doesn't work out only to have what you do instead be better? That is what happened for me this weekend. In the past couple weeks a bunch of the local photographers I follow were doing shoots at the Pike Place Market. I was inspired and wanted to give it a try. However it was the first sunny day in a while and all of Seattle was out and about. We have to soak it up when we can! Parking was atrocious and frustrating so we had to regroup. We had some lunch and then I remembered wanting to go to the Olympic Sculpture Park a month or so ago. We headed in that direction and were blessed with a parking spot right next to the park. It is such a lovely place that mixes the natural beauty and the artwork gorgeously. The light was stunning and the shapes of the sculptures provided beautiful subjects for photos. The pieces below are the ones I was drawn to, but the park is filled with many others. You can read more about the artwork and the different environments that represent the environmental diversity of the state here. I didn't expect to enjoy the park as much as I did, but now I would love to go back and see more of the pieces. Pike Place Market is still on my list, but I feel like it was meant to not work out this time. The best laid plans...

"The Eagle"

Settings: ISO 800, 50mm, ss1/320, f/22

"Seattle Cloud Cover"

Settings: ISO 800, 50mm, ss1/320, f/22

"Love & Loss"

Settings: ISO 800, 50mm, ss1/500, f/16

"Schubert Sonata"

Settings: ISO 800, 50mm, ss1/400, f/16

Settings: ISO 800, 50mm, ss1/200, f/16

"You have to create your life. You have to carve it, like a sculpture." - William Shatner

           

Reverse 365: In the Experience - Day 19/365 1.19.13

Settings: ISO 200, 194mm, ss1/800, f/5.6

Date: March 18th, 2012

Location: On the ferry from Seattle to Bremerton

Day 19/365 - January 19th, 2013

"Just as the wave cannot exist for itself, but is ever a part of the heaving surface of the ocean, so must I never live my life for itself, but always in the experience which is going on around me." - Albert Schweitzer

Reverse 365: Whilst Aboard a Ferry - Day 18/365 1.18.13

The ferry system is a quintessential sight in Seattle. I have been on countless ferry rides all around Washington and I never tire of the sense of wonder I feel when gliding along the water. There are answers to be found there. 

Settings: ISO 200, 50mm, ss1/1600, f/5.6

Date: March 18th, 2012

Location: On the ferry from Seattle to Bremerton

Day 18/365 - January 18th, 2013

"The answer scrawled on a blank page in a daily newspaper, was conceived whilst aboard a ferry." - Harold Stephen Black

Reverse 365: Natural Characteristic - 9/365 1.9.13

I feel extremely blessed to have such an amazing family who even on an outing for a birthday breakfast they support the indulgence of my photography passion. 

Settings: ISO 200, 250mm, ss1/320, f/7.1

Date: March 3rd, 2012

Location: Alki looking across to Seattle, WA

9/365 - January 9th, 2013

"Just as the bird sings or the butterfly soars, because it is his natural characteristic, so the artist works." - Alma Gluck 

Tones on Tuesday #49 10.9.12

I want to apologize for not commenting on your photos lately. Work has been much more of a time commitment this year than I expected and I am still struggling to get everything done. I hope you know that I look at each of your photos and continue to be inspired and in awe of your talent. I truly appreciate you linking up anyways! Now on with the showcases...

Sivinden at Wait a Minute...

The composition here is lovely and draws your eye back. I love how the black and white softens and creates a timeless feel. Beautiful glowing shot! Thank you for sharing Sivinden.

Stephanie at Creative Indulgences

Such a great whimsical photo with wonderful muted tones and texture. Thank you for sharing Stephanie!

Marlo at Repurpose My Life

I love how Marlo took a beautiful photo and made it look like a piece of art with the texture and processing. This is lovely! Thank you for linking up!

Sivinden, Stephanie and Marlo 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.
• 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="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oheKkR_BFoQ/ToqWTprynwI/AAAAAAAAAJE/eQ5mj0lgqx4/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.

Night turns to day looking out over Seattle from Kerry Park on Queen Anne Hill. I got up early on Sunday morning to spend some time witnessing the beauty that is sunrise. As I waited other photographers gathered to see the spectacle and in silence we watched the sky brighten. Once it was over tripods were packed up and I headed for some much needed salted carmel hot chocolate to warm fingers and toes. Early morning wake up and cold were well worth it to see the dawn. 

Settings: ISO 100, 50mm, ss4.0sec, f/11 (on tripod)

"Desire makes life happen. Makes it matter. Makes everything worth it. Desire is life. Hunger to see the next sunrise or sunset, to touch the one you love, to try again. Hell would be waking up and wanting nothing." - Karen Marie Moning

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

      

Wordless Wednesday: The Clickin Walk!

I have been talking in my posts so far this week about the Clickin Walk. 2012 was the 2nd annual walk hosted by the Clickin Moms site. Basically it is a get together where photographers (many who also are moms :o) walk around a city or place and take pictures while learning from each other and enjoying getting to know one another. Last year I went knowing one person and with a bit of hesitation over what it would be like. This year I went knowing more people and ready to fully embrace the experience. I was not disappointed! I got to walk and talk with old friends, get to know new ones, learn about cameras and lenses, get my picture taken by someone on the street and photograph a bunch of very cool locations! Here are some of my favorite shots...

Settings: ISO 400, 50mm, ss1/1250, f/11

Taken at the top of the tower at the Volunteer Park Conservatory (beginning of our walk)

Settings: ISO 400, 50mm, ss1/50, f/22

One of the houses on Millionaires Row

Settings: ISO 400, 50mm, ss1/80, f/6.3

Settings: ISO 400, 50mm, ss1/250, f/6.3

Settings: ISO 400, 50mm, ss1/80, f/6.3

Flowers outside of one of the flower shops on our route

Settings: ISO 400, 50mm, ss1/200, f/8.0

Interesting plant in the Thomas Street Community Garden

Settings: ISO 800, 100mm, ss1/1000, f/5.0

Buds in the Thomas Street Community Garden

Settings: ISO 800, 100mm, ss1/800, f/5.0

Flower petals in the Thomas Street Community Garden

Settings: ISO 800, 100mm, ss1/500, f/5.0

Water spout in the Thomas Street Community Garden

Following the walk one of the leaders was gracious enough to share her tips for shooting macro shots. She is AMAZING and I learned so much from her. Her name is Kara and you should take a look at her work. It was such a great experience to see her passion for this type of photography. Passionate people inspire me! We shot in the Volunteer Park Conservatory which had a TON of macro opportunities. Here are a few of my favorite shots. I have to say that I will without a doubt be out shooting more macros soon. Especially now that I bought a 100mm macro from a friend. I can't wait!

Settings: ISO 400, 100mm, ss1/200, f/4.5

Settings: ISO 800, 100mm, ss1/250, f/5.6

Settings: ISO 800, 100mm, ss1/200, f/5.6

Settings: ISO 800, 100mm, ss1/320, f/5.0

Settings: ISO 800, 100mm, ss1/250, f/5.0

Settings: ISO 800, 100mm, ss1/320, f/5.0

Settings: ISO 800, 100mm, ss1/200, f/8.0

"Art is beauty, the perpetual invention of detail, the choice of words, the exquisite care of execution." - Theophile Gautier

     

I Clicked it Up a Notch - September

September ended with an amazing event that is something I have been looking forward to it since last year, the Clickin Walk! There is just something about spending time with fellow photographers who are all amazing people and all willing to share that makes for a fantastic day. I feel blessed to have participated for a second year in a row. 

During the walk we stumbled upon a community garden filled with amazing photographic possibilities! One of my fellow photographers had a passion for macro photography and her passion was contagious. With my new macro lens (I am in love!) I took this shot. I love the detail of the petals and the way it is a new perspective for me. I can't wait to delve into macro photography further! Come back tomorrow to see all of my shots from the walk and hear more about a macro shoot I was lucky enough to participate in!

Settings: ISO 800, 100mm, ss1/800, f/5.0

“The difference between a mountain and a molehill is your perspective.” - Al Neuharth

  This also happens to be my favorite shot of the week!