Friday - It's Black and White

Capture Your 365 - Week 9

Day 54 - Crowded Around    Gathered | Huddled | Many




(The prompt suggested using a phone today.   I wasn't able to get my hands on a camera phone so I had to use my big camera for this one.)

This was taken very late in the afternoon.  There wasn't much light so I used the flash (which I don't normally do).

I noticed a group of little black ants crowding around some crumbs.

Most people probably would have cleaned this up when they saw it, but I took a photo instead.  I guess that's what makes me a photographer.  LOL

Camera: Canon 7D    Lens: Canon EF 100mm f2.8L macro    Settings: ISO 2500, f2.8, 1/250 sec.



Day 55 - Predictable    Expected | Likely | Anticipated




I can almost always predict that where there's one, I will find the other close by.

It's also predictable that I will take a photo.

Camera: Canon 7D    Lens: Canon EF 50mm f1.4    Settings: ISO 4000, f3.5, 1/250 sec.



Day 56 - Bittersweet    Mixed | Chocolate | Nostalgic




Dark chocolate with hazelnuts.

I arrived home late last night and hadn't even decided what to do for the prompt.  So I looked in the fridge, found some dark chocolate and arranged it on a chopping board underneath the brightest light in the kitchen.

I would have liked to say that no harm came to the subject of my photo shoot ..............................but it was delicious.

Camera: Canon 7D    Lens: Canon EF 100mm f2.8L macro    Settings: ISO 6400, f8.0, 1/30 sec.



Day 57 - Admire    Appreciate | Like | Respect




Today was the day I almost gave up my photo a day project.  It usually happens around this time of year when all of the family commitments get a little too busy.  The last few days I have been taking images at night which is not what I like to do.  But I don't want to give up this time.  So I tried something simple - a definition from the dictionary.

Camera: Canon 7D    Lens: Canon EF 100mm f2.8L macro    Settings: ISO 2500, f3.5, 1/250 sec.



Day 58 - Seize The Moment    Carpe Diem | Present | Now




We are living in constant mess but I must remind myself that the puppies won't be puppies for much longer.  So it's as good a time as any to 'Seize The Moment'.

Camera: Canon 7D    Lens: Canon EF-S 18 - 200mm @18mm f3.5 - 5.6    Settings: ISO 5000, f3.5, 1/125 sec.



Day 59 - Keep Going    Persevere | Endure | Press On




When I saw the prompt, I thought of using one of my favourite quotes from the Harry Potter series:

"Happiness can be found in the darkest of times, when one only remembers to turn on the light."
~ Albus Dumbledore ~

Camera: Canon 7D    Lens: Canon EF 100mm f2.8L macro    Settings: ISO 1000, f3.5, 1/200 sec.



Day 60 - Step Outside    Natural | Outdoor | In The Street




Self-portrait day again.

For this image, my daughter was acting my stand in so I could try and get the focus right.  When I jumped in the frame, it didn't quite work, but I decided to use this shot because it reminds me of the fun we were having.  This photo was taken in my backyard.

Camera: Canon 7D    Lens: Canon EF 50mm f1.4    Settings: ISO 320, f5.0, 1/800 sec.

Advice From A Dragonfly

Printing Your Photo-A-Day Project

As of yesterday - 24 March - I have managed to take a photo every day in 2014.   That's 83 days of photos in a row, which is the furthest I have gone in a photo-a-day project without missing a day.   To encourage myself to keep going, I decided to print my photos at the end of each month.


As part of my project, I'm using the Collect Photo App on my iPad.   The app is very easy to use.   I simply tap on the day in the calendar, add a photo from my camera roll or take a new photo.  Then add a caption which appears underneath the photo along with the date.



At the end of the month, you will have a collage of images.


Here are the steps I follow for printing:



Tap the icon in the bottom left of the screen.



Select 'Export Photos'.



From here you can choose the dates of the images you wish to export along with the style of image.



I choose 3 x 4 for my images.



Select "Export to Camera Roll'.

After my images are added to the Camera Roll, I transfer them to my computer using the Photo Transfer App.

This enables me to work on my images in Photoshop.



In Photoshop I create a new 6 x 4 inch document.



In a 6 x 4 inch document, you can fit two 3 x 4 images side by side enabling you to print two images on one piece of photo paper.   Save the image as a jpeg, then it's off to the printer.



When I get my photos back, I slice them in two with a guillotine to get a nice, straight edge.



The photos are now ready to be placed in an album.



I'm using Project Life for my album.   Design F holds ten 3 x 4 images along with one 6 x 4 image on each page.



And here's the finished product.

Please note: You can get your 3 x 4 prints printed directly through your Collect Photo App.   Here is a tutorial I found online to show how to do this.   The option I have shown is convenient if you would like the option of printing at home or have someone print your images for you.

Capture Your 365 - Week 8

Day 47 - Visiting    Talking | Traveling | Outing






Visiting our possible new home site.

Camera: Canon 7D    Lens: Canon EF-S 18 - 200mm @35mm f3.5 - 5.6    Settings: ISO 200, f5.6, 1/1000 sec.



Day 48 - Where I Stand    Right Now | Look Down | Your Place In The World






Working while Bella is laying at my feet.

Camera: Canon 7D    Lens: Canon EF 50mm f1.4    Settings: ISO 6400, f3.5, 1/200 sec.



Day 49 - In The Front Yard    Outside | On Location | A Grassy Area






Looking up into the treetops in my front yard.

Camera: Canon 7D    Lens: Canon EF-S 18 - 200mm @18mm f3.5 - 5.6    Settings: ISO 1000, f9.0, 1/160 sec.



Day 50 - Two    The Number | 1+1 | Dos






Two - perfect for a tug-of-war.

For the prompt, I had pictured getting the puppies to pose with their faces close together as they looked cutely at the camera. Instead I ended up with two attack dogs savagely ripping apart an old pair of shorts. I guess pet photography may not be for me. LOL

Camera: Canon 7D    Lens: Canon EF-S 18 - 200mm @18mm f3.5 - 5.6    Settings: ISO 4000, f5.6, 1/40 sec.



Day 51 - Escape    Get Away | Leisure | Flee






My destructive puppies have destroyed the screen on one of our sliding doors. So, I decided to turn it into a photo opportunity.

Camera: Canon 7D    Lens: Canon EF 100mm f2.8L macro    Settings: ISO 1000, f5.6, 1/125 sec.



Day 52 - Notice    See | Take In | Observe






It's amazing what you notice when you look through a macro lens.

This is a close up of Khaki Weed. When this weed gets into your lawn it is quite difficult remove. As the heads get older, they dry out and turn into prickles.

But if you take the time to notice, you will see that they are quite pretty and have tiny yellow flowers scattered within.

Camera: Canon 7D    Lens: Canon EF 100mm f2.8L macro    Settings: ISO 800, f8.0, 1/125 sec.



Day 53 - Oh Boy!    Surprise | A Boy | Excitement






Will getting ready for his first club trial game for the season.

Camera: Canon 7D    Lens: Canon EF 50mm f1.4    Settings: ISO 400, f3.5, 1/1600 sec.

Capture Your 365 - Week 7

Day 40 - A Little Heart    Sentiment | Candy | Decor






I found some heart shaped cupcake sprinkles and arranged them into the shape of a heart.

Camera: Canon 7D    Lens: Canon EF 100mm f2.8L macro    Settings: ISO 200, f2.8, 1/160 sec.



Day 41 - It's Still Summer    Seasonal Tools | Signs of the Season | Cozy Clothing






It was a lovely 30°C (86°F) outside, so we went out into the backyard and played with the super soaker water pistols. By the end it was beginning to feel quite hot so Will tipped out the water onto his head - and that was the shot.

Camera: Canon 7D    Lens: Canon EF-S 18 - 200mm @200mm f3.5 - 5.6    Settings: ISO 400, f6.3, 1/2000 sec.



Day 42 - Retail Therapy    Window Shopping | Price Tags | Choices






A collection of pretty price tags from my daughter's shopping trip.

Camera: Canon 7D    Lens: Canon EF 50mm f1.4    Settings: ISO 3200, f3.2, 1/80 sec.



Day 43 - Red    A Heart | A Card | A Candy






My new babushka measuring cups. These were a gift from a beautiful friend. The great thing about these is that they also include 2/3 and 3/4 measuring cups.

Camera: Canon 7D    Lens: Canon EF 100mm f2.8L macro    Settings: ISO 1250, f3.2, 1/100 sec.



Day 44 - Conversation    Words | Written | Sentimental






My kids having a conversation.

Camera: Canon 7D    Lens: Canon EF 50mm f1.4    Settings: ISO 1250, f3.2, 1/250 sec.



Day 45 - Amore    Someone Special | Loved | Held Dear






Me and my valentine.

For this photo, my hubby and I decided to go out into the backyard to get the shadow of the afternoon sun.

Camera: Canon 7D    Lens: Canon EF 50mm f1.4    Settings: ISO 400, f3.2, 1/1600 sec.



Day 46 - Geared Up    Ready | Prepared | Set






A close up of my son's bike.

Camera: Canon 7D    Lens: Canon EF 100mm f2.8L macro    Settings: ISO 1600, f5.6, 1/250 sec.