Day 190: Past its Prime

Today was grey and gloomy all day - this dried up magnolia blossom fit the day.  Even past its prime it is beautiful.

Day 189: Experiments

I had a nice day planned of experimentation.  As most experiments go mine failed.  I really really wanted to do my first HDR - I have not figured out the whole HDR thing.  Luckily for me, I don't put all my eggs in one basket and tried several things today.  I took a series of shots (5 I believe) thinking panoramic & I went out at Twilight to take some more.  Unfortunately for me I didn't take my BIG tripod, I only took my tiny tripod and yes, you guessed it, I needed the big one.  Planning is essential on experimental days. So.....PANORAMIC WINS this challenge.

I love this lake its a mile from the house offers a wonderful path all the way around.  9-10 miles depending on the trail you take.  Its offers me its beauty, but most of the time, it just offers me peace.  

Day 188: The secret garden.

Day 187: Water Lily

I love water lilies.  That is all.

Day 186: Water Dropletts

Day 185: Swimming Prohibited

Day 184: A gorgeous day

A gorgeous afternoon on the lake.

Day 183: Spider Web

Its that time again - walking season.  I took a wonderful 5 mile walk on my favorite trail overlooking Dallas' White Rock Lake.  Beautiful!  I took a few pictures - almost all of them could have been in this spot tonight.

I had just put up my camera in its case, put it back on my back when BAM - this sucker was completely highlighted in the sun and covered in cottonwood cottony goodness.  Well, I couldn't walk by and not take this shot - and needed little processing.

Side note:  This puts me over the 1/2 way point in my 365 challenge - Woo Hoo!!!

Day 182: Theme Thursday, RUST

Theme Thursdays are always fun, because it gives me the opportunity to shoot something someone else chooses.  There are days when I'm bursting with ideas and the shots fall into place and there are days I couldn't find a shot to save my life Ok, usually I gave up and left the camera at home then - BAM - there's the shot.  So today my assignment was rust.  Well, of course, I don't have any of that at my house so I went in search of it at a park that used to be a farm.  There was rust everywhere, but not exactly where I wanted it to be.  I wanted a rusty gate.  I found gates, but all were pretty and not rusted or painted iron.  I did find this which is my 9 year old's favorite:

There was some accidental processing that occurred with the top photo, but sometimes accidents surprise you.

Day 181: At a stoplight

So I was at a stoplight.....

Day 180: On a fence

Day 179 A pink explosion

I love a rose as it is starting to spread but hasn't started to discolor.  Found this walking the neighborhood this afternoon with the boys.

Day 178 In the alley

From the low point of view.

Day 177: A horrible accident

I found this poor toy in a puddle of water - have no clue where the rest of him is located.

Day 176: Really Big Nuts

Not what you expected huh (or I have a dirty mind)?  Every know and then, we have to get a good laugh in.  Remember laughter is the best medicine.

Day 175 Theme Thursday: Negative Space

This is a little over processed, but it gets the Negative Space across for Theme Thursday.  The sign is really rust red so I totally pegged the black after switching it to grayscale.

Day 174: Yellow Squash - Unedited

OK, not the best picture I've every taken, but I have a squash on my plant.  I'm so excited.

Day 173: Blur - unedited

Got up this morning and dropped the kids off at school and enjoyed the peace and quiet of my morning coffee on the back porch when a light bulb went off over my head.  The sun was in the perfect spot for a nice blur through the trees.

Day 172: Chive Flower - Unedited

Nice full flower on my chives plant.  Couldn't resist the light lavender color.

Day 171: Shallots

Today was a bust, there are days like that and somedays you only have shallots.

Day 170: A walk with Mom

First ducklings of the season.  They were so cute sticking mostly to the reeds for camouflage, but eventually I got a shot in focus (those suckers were fast) and that said a little story.  They look a little pensive about jumping off don't they?

Day 169: Progress

 Today was a tough day for me, we all have days like that.  I needed a moment and when my husband who'd already worked 2.5 hours overtime got home, I ran away with my camera.  I took stuff everywhere, I've been trying to take these cranes for weeks. I gave up mainly because I'm beat between life, kids & school, but its so worth it.  I was pulling out of the parking lot and rolled down my window and took this.  I finally got the crane picture I wanted.

Day 168:

I just can't title this one.  For me this just says, I gave it my best, but my best wasn't good enough.

Day 167: White Flower

I have to say the Arboretum membership I purchased really comes in handy.

Day 166: Wisteria

Again, a little different perspective on something.  Have you ever just looked up into blooming wisteria or do you only see the drape of the blooms?

Images:  Jeremy Cowart

Day 165: Driving Home

I shot this driving home from Digital Imaging class tonight.  I uploaded it into blogger, and accidentally hit the Antique Grayscale preset in Lightroom and liked it so much better.  Although the colors are very vibrant - this just looked right.  So I'm going with  my instincts.

Day 164: The trail

I could walk/ride this trail everyday.  I wish that I could capture the sounds that you hear, but alas photography has not quite got that one down yet.

Day 163: UGLY

Day 162: Green stuff

I'm not sure what it is but it's cool looking green stuff.

Day 161: Bluebonnet