Photo Friday: Winter's Reach

Snow-Covered Pumpkin

Click to view on black!

Final Wishcasting Wednesday

I was saddened to learn that this week would be the final Wishcasting Wednesday, but all things must grow & change, and I am so happy to have been a small part of the group of wonderful women who participated. I do hope we will all continue to keep in touch from time to time through our blogs and other social media. May all your wishes come true!

This week Jamie says...
The Sky is wide open. No judgment. No limitations.
What do you wish for? Anything at all.

♥ I wish for a home to call my own. That no one can take away. A smallish house, with windows and and a porch, bright cheery colors inside & out, a peaceful yard full of wildlife, and a garden full of flowers like lilacs and roses, and maybe even a white picket fence.

♥ I wish to marry my beloved. To legally be able to protect her and support her and keep her safe.

♥ I wish to do what I love and get paid well to do it. I wish to paint and create all kinds of art: illustrations, paintings, photgraphy...

♥ I wish for an RV and to travel around the country (especially to warm & beautiful places) with my love, and a cat. =^v^=

♥ And I wish for a pair of sweet & silly rabbits. ^o^


1. Money, 2. Springtime, 3. Cottage Window, 4. Yellow and White, 5. Moss rose 'Maréchal Davoust', 6. Rings and rainbow, 7. Paint Brushes, 8. SIgned with Flare, 9. Just add water Project 365(4) Day 275, 10. garden rabbit, 11. 2013.01.11_13.01.04_P1100229(1), 12. San Francisco Sunset, 13. Bunnies eating apple03

You can be a maker of magic and a tender of wishes. It’s easy. Answer the wish prompt on your blog and then add a direct link to your post in the box [at the link] below. Support wishes by visiting other participants, leaving a comment saying “As (insert name) wishes for her/himself, so I wish for her/him also.” It’s that simple. There is great power in wishing together.
~ Jamie Ridler

Full Moon Dreamboard

Under the Full Frost Moon, allow that fresh chill in the air to wake you up to your dreams. Let creating your dreamboard be a clarifying act, bringing into focus the dreams that are in your heart. As you create your board, hold gently a request for clarity. Notice what is revealed. ~ Jamie Ridler

The Full Frost Moon asks:
What is clear about your dreams? What further clarity do you seek?


Click to embiggen...
The Full Frost Moon was a little over a week ago, and although I had collected images and words for it, I found myself under too much pressure in other areas of my life to concentrate on creating my dreamboard. Last night I had some breathing room and was able to finish.

I had selected a background page from a 2012 Audubon calendar of Pisgah National Forest, NC (Photo by Lori Kincaid), mountains all covered with frost, the valley deep with clouds, in honor of the Frost Moon. Then I trimmed my other images and words and started arranging them.

First thing I placed was the large photo of a hare statue on the left and the "garden" in the right corners. The "EASY LIVING," pretty little house and "sweet cottage dreams" fell into place along the bottom as well. I added the word "Safe" and the glittery red and green hearts later. In all my dreams, it's very clear to me that I need a home of my own, with a garden of course, in order to feel a sense of safety, to not feel on the verge of panic like a rabbit.

In the upper left corner on the side, the words "What I Want NOW!" and "What Really Matters--" give a sort of a title to the collage. Across the top, I arranged the words "Let the Sunshine In" and added "to shine all year" -- sunshine for me represents happiness and the good things in life. Another very clear dream for me; I've had enough rainy days, thankyouverymuch.

Along the right side I arranged words and phrases to say, "I am more than just a Successful Artist, I am Beautiful and at a Great place in Life." These words are an affirmation for me, dreams that I want to see become reality. And they are followed by the part that is somewhat unclear for me: "How to Do It," the reply to which was quite straight-forward: "get started" followed by "You Can Do It!" and a final glittery green heart.

52-Week Photo Challenge: Week 13

Hello again, my fellow photographers!

How did you all do with the MACRO challenge? Remember to feel free to contact me with any questions you might have...

So this week, our challenge is: OLDER

With the holidays coming up (Thanksgiving is this week here in the US), this is a perfect opportunity to capture an older aunt, uncle, grandparent, or even just an older sibling in a photo.


Click to embiggen!I took a quick photo of my boyfriend (older by 5 months! :P) and then did some editing to "age" the photo so it looks like it was taken in the 70s or early 80s. ^-^

So let's see yours; share it with everyone at our flickr group! And don't forget to sign up for the reminders via email!

52-Week Photo Challenge: Week 12

Can you believe we've made it 3 months through the challenge already? I can't!

So how did you do with Brown? Remember the goal of the challenge here is become a better photographer, by forcing your brain to think of creative ways to interpret the prompt, and by getting out there and taking more photos! And you certainly don't have to wait until Sunday to post them; please feel free to add them to the group at any time!

So this week, our challenge is: MACRO

It's time to get familiar with the macro setting on your camera. Find something interesting, and get in close. Here are some tips that might help you capture the perfect macro if you're using manual settings:

• ISO, International Standards Organisation, refers to the sensitivity of the camera's sensor (originally, the film in the camera) to pick up light. The higher the number, the more light that the camera will pick up. However, the higher ISOs will also pick up more noise and graininess. You'll probably want to select this setting first; ISO-100 for outside in bright sun, something like 200-400 if it's cloudy or your inside near a window. Probably not more than 800 for your macro shot unless it's a very fast moving spider, if so, then I applaud you! LOL!
• Aperture, measured in f-stops, is how big or small the shutter will open. Smaller numbers for the aperture means a bigger opening; therefore more light is allowed in and more of the image will be in focus. Bigger numbers (larger f-stops) will create a shallow depth of field, giving a nice soft background for your macros.
• Shutter speed, the length of time the shutter is open, is measured in seconds or fractions of seconds usually. To capture a fast moving subject, a faster speed (in fractions of a second) is used. To capture something like star trails or create soft white waterfalls, a shutter speed of several seconds (or minutes!) would be used. (My camera, for example, will take photos from 1/2000 of a second up to 16 seconds.)

Click to embiggen!When I took this picture, I didn't even know the mushroom was there. By the time I had uploaded the image and saw it, the sun had moved and even though I took some more shots with the mushroom more in focus, the lighting wasn't as nice. So this is the one you get! ^-^ I did include another in the comments on flickr for you to see; it features a cute little ant!

So let's see yours; share it with everyone at our flickr group! And don't forget to sign up for the reminders via email!

52-Week Photo Challenge: Week 11

So tell me how you did!

Did you dare ask a stranger to take their portrait? Or were you able to find a friend or family member to pose for you?

I love the one Jena shared of her mom & dog napping; it's so sweet and has a beautiful warm light. (Click here to see it!)

Time for (maybe) an easier challenge! A color challenge! This week let's all find something BROWN

This color predominates the landscape here in Upstate NY this time of year; take a photo that embodies this color to you.


Click to embiggen!I took a photowalk around our property and got some lovely images. This one was my favorite, but I've added some to the comments when you click through to flickr.

So let's see yours; share it with everyone at our flickr group! And don't forget to sign up for the reminders via email!

Please note!
I've eliminated the 2 photos per week limit, so people can catch up if they'd like. However, please only post ONE photo per subject and then add the others as a comment beneath that one. To add them as comments just copy the link to the page where they are (yup right in your photostream, no need to go find the different sizes or anything), enclose it [in brackets like this], and flickr does the rest! Let me know if you have any problems!

52-Week Photo Challenge: Week 10

So how did you all do on last week's challenge of CIRCLES?

I see some great Animal shots and few Landscapes, but Circles seem to be missing on the group page... Shall I assume you found them harder than squares?

This week our challenge might be even harder if you're an introvert like me...

Our challenge is: PORTRAIT

Be brave and ask someone to take their portrait. It doesn't have to be a big production; just a quick snapshot will do. Or you can find a nice location with great lighting and ask them to pose for you.


Click to embiggen!I got lucky and my subject came asking me to take her picture as a marionette, one of several costumes she created and wore this past month. ^o^

So let's see your bravery! Ask to take someone's portrait this week, then share it with everyone at our flickr group! And don't forget to sign up for the reminders via email!