Project 52 - Week 4/52

For what seems like forever, actually only the past week or two, fog and freezing temperatures have been a constant where I live. There is something mysterious and beautiful about fog. I don't know if it is the diffused light or the way that it softens everything. This past weekend I drove around near my house and found some beautiful examples of the frost and fog. This is one of my favorites. The frozen pond surrounded by plants and trees and wrapped in fog made for a beautiful yet surreal scene. I could not decide which I liked better, the color or the black and white. What do you think?

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

 

“The fog was where I wanted to be. Halfway down the path you can’t see this house. You’d never know it was here. Or any of the other places down the avenue. I couldn’t see but a few feet ahead. I didn’t meet a soul. Everything looked and sounded unreal. Nothing was what it is. That’s what I wanted—to be alone with myself in another world where truth is untrue and life can hide from itself. ”  - Eugene O'Neill, Long Day's Journey Into Night

         

Tones on Tuesday #62 1.23.13

I am loving seeing the new participants from around the world linking up photos! And of course those of you who continue to link up each week, I love seeing your photos too!

Halie at Life's Journey

The black and white beautifully emphasizes the lines and the light in this photo. Lovely! Thank you for sharing Halie.

Martine at Behind the Lens

I love the contrast here and the red tones play that up in such an unexpected way. Plus, this was taken with Hipstamatic, one of my favorite iPhone apps. Thank you for sharing Martine!

Peg at A Kilt and a Camera

Peg says that her daughter got her wish for snow and this photo is making me wish for some right about now. I love the softness of the tones and the perspective. The way you captured the snow falling is lovely as well Peg. Thank you for sharing!

Halie, Martine and Peg 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="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.

We have been experiencing freezing temperatures and fog in my neck of the woods. While it can make for some treacherous driving, it also makes for some amazing photos! I was able to capture some plants and trees covered with frost and even found a bit of sun along the way! I am still working on my macro skills. Especially in the cold weather, reducing camera shake can be a challenge. Yet I find the process enjoyable as I get the chance to see things from a different perspective. 

Settings: ISO 800, 100mm, ss1/640, f/5.6

Settings: ISO 800, 100mm, ss1/1250, f/8.0

"That old black magic has me in its spell, That old black magic that you weave so well; Icy fingers up and down my spine, The same old witchcraft when your eyes meet mine." - Johnny Mercer 

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

    

Happy Thanksgiving - Good to Wow Edit: Winter Moments 11.20.11

I hope you had a Thanksgiving filled with food, friends, family and fun. I know I did! Here are my edits for the Good to Wow Challenge, just simple and clean. This is my second post with very little words, I didn't think it was possible (I tend to be wordy as you may have noticed :o). 

SOOC Shot

Settings: ISO 800, 55mm, ss1/80, f/5.6 (full manual, cloudy wb)

Edit

Processing: Basic settings

SOOC Shot

SOOC ShotSettings: ISO 100, 29mm, ss1/250, f/10 (full manual, cloudy wb)

Edit

Processing: Straightened (finally figured it out in Lightroom!) and Basic settings

SOOC Shot

Settings: ISO 200, 55mm, ss1/250, f/5.6 (full manual, cloudy wb)

Edit

Processing: Basic settings

"As each day comes to us refreshed and anew, so does my gratitude renew itself daily.  The breaking of the sun over the horizon is my grateful heart dawning upon a blessed world." - Terri Guillemets

Linking up with Good to Wow: Edit. Check out the beautiful grateful shot edits!

Frosty Leaf 11.20.11

I am thankful for my wild and wonderful life!

SOOC Shot
Settings: ISO 800, 55mm, ss1/800, f/5.6 (full manual, cloudy wb)

"I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder." - G.K. Chesterton

Linking up with Wild and Wonderful Wednesday. Wonderful frosty leaf :o). Also linking up for Wordless Wednesday at Live and Love Out Loud. Take a moment to check out the other shots!

 

Good to Wow SOOC: Winter Moments 11.20.11

The prompt this week for the Good to Wow challenge is gratefulness. I am of course grateful for my family and the good things in my life. For this challenge, though, I wanted to focus on what I am grateful for when it comes to photography. I am grateful for the journey I have been on since August. I am grateful that I stopped worrying about not being good enough and just tried to figure out this DSLR camera thing. I am grateful for all the talented photographers I have had the chance to learn from. I am grateful for all of the comments and critiques that have helped me to grow as a photographer. I am grateful to have a family who supports my passion, accompanies me on photography adventures and encourages me. I am grateful for the moments I have captured and the moments I have yet to capture. I am grateful that photography brings me joy and peace.

I am grateful for the coming of winter and the new challenges and opportunities it will bring to my photography. These SOOC shots are another step in the journey and I am grateful I had the chance and means to capture them on a journey across the mountains to Eastern Washington.

Settings: ISO 800, 55mm, ss1/80, f/5.6 (full manual, cloudy wb)

Settings: ISO 100, 29mm, ss1/250, f/10 (full manual, cloudy wb)

Settings: ISO 200, 55mm, ss1/250, f/5.6 (full manual, cloudy wb)

"Choosing to be positive and having a grateful attitude is going to determine how you're going to live your life." - Joel Osteen

Linking up with Good to Wow! Head over and check out the other SOOC shots.

Good to Wow Edit: Frosty Morning 11.06.11

I want to thank Michelle and Kimberly for the information on macro filters and extension tubes. While a macro lens is certainly still in my future, I think I know what I am asking for for Christmas :o). Now, for the edits of my macro shots. To see the SOOC shots and learn more about where and when they were taken, head here. For the edits I decided to go with clean edits in Lightroom. I debated on warming up the white balance, but decided that I liked the coolness as it was what I saw in person and it went well with the cold feel of the frost. Mainly I upped the Vibrance and Saturation to the same level, a trick I learned from Ashley, and then played around with the basic settings until I found that it was what I wanted. What do you think? My favorite is still the curving piece of grass. 

Settings: ISO 400, 55mm, ss1/125, f/5.6 (full manual, cloudy wb)

Settings: ISO 400, 55mm, ss1/200, f/5.6 (full manual, cloudy wb)

Settings: ISO 400, 43mm, ss1/200, f/5.0 (full manual, cloudy wb)

"Frost is the greatest artist in our clime - He paints in nature and describes in rime." - Thomas Hood

Linking up with Good to Wow: Edit. Check out the amazing macro shot edits!

Good to Wow SOOC: Frosty Morning 11.06.11

On Sunday I got up early and headed out to photograph the sunrise. As I mentioned last weekend, I normally don't get up early on the weekend, but with the "fall back" it wasn't bad at all :o). My mom and my dog niece accompanied me and I had great hopes of finding a new awe inspiring location to shoot. However, the light was changing fast and I wanted to be sure that I was able capture it before it disappeared so we headed to a spot I have been to before. It looked very different in the morning light. After photographing the sunrise (pictures later this week) I turned my attention to the frost covering everything in sight. I completely forgot that the challenge for Good to Wow this week was macro, but I was drawn to these shots just the same. They are not as macro as I would like but I love the stillness which is exactly what it felt like being there.

I love macro photography and really want to invest in a macro lens, but that is a while off. I have been reading from other photographers that they use extension tubes. What are your thoughts about extension tubes and macro lenses? Should I wait for the lens or buy an extension tube in the mean time? I would love to know your thoughts. Thank you for stopping by!

Here are my SOOC shots:
Settings: ISO 400, 55mm, ss1/125, f/5.6 (full manual, cloudy wb)

Settings: ISO 400, 55mm, ss1/200, f/5.6 (full manual, cloudy wb)

Settings: ISO 400, 43mm, ss1/200, f/5.0 (full manual, cloudy wb)

"Learning how to be still, to really be still and let life happen - that stillness becomes a radiance." - Morgan Freeman


Linking up with Good to Wow! Head over and check out the other SOOC shots.