Google search 'jowling'. The trend has its own page. Essentially you try to keep your cheeks loose. Then you shake your head back and forth and have someone snap the camera in a rapid fire fashion. The goal is to capture your face at its peak of the path when you look the most deformed.
Here is the before photo.
I used four different cats. If you look at the orange one, it kind of hissed at me in one image, but my face was not desireable.
So what's the loot at the end? I'm hoping to win this bag .
It is displayed on the site containing camera gear and baby stuff. I'm sold. My camera will be going everywhere the kid is. :D
So, if you wouldn't mind voting for my entry, please follow the link.
My husband and I are fortunate to live in a special area. We live on the migration path of so many animals.
In the spring its so noisey outside due to the birds quacking as they pass overhead.
Then they come back through the following fall as they abandon us for warmer regions.
I never mind that too much because that means that it is only a few months until the eagles come back in late February. I spend much of the weeks into March going over to scout the birds each morning before work and again at sunset.
Winter, spring and most of summer came and went.
Yesterday I noticed an insect on its migration journey. There were several Monarch butterflies flitting around the yard. Then, I looked out the bathroom window and spotted a tree branch filled with them. I counted around 60 and discovered other trees loaded with the winged creatures throughout the yard. I imagine that they moved down the road this morning.
There are more camping out yet tonight!
I really do love taking in the wildlife and scenery around me. Whether I have the opportunity to photograph a majestic bald eagle on its way to spring fishing grounds, or a monarch passing through... I feel blessed to just take it all in. And I am lucky to be able to share these things with others.
Time has certainly flown by this year... like years before. I have been taking a photo every day, though admittedly some are snapped with a cell phone or my ipod in the interest of just getting one done. That isn't what I intended to do with this project, but that is what happens occasionally.
I think that's okay. I think that it's been fun to document some aspect of my life each day, no matter how mundane.
For instance, I find interesting things on my walks from my car to work, or when I go for a stroll around campus.
We managed to get some tomatoes canned this year. While we wish that we would have more, we are pleased to have at least this batch.
We have kittens on our farm, so of course many images have been dedicated to them. How can I not photograph them? They have been so fun to watch while they figure out their world and how to move about it.
The animals on our farm are great subjects. You'll see chickens, our cows and our dog appear throughout my album. We also have the benefit of seeing wildlife moving through the area during the change of season. Today I noticed a tree filling with Monarch butterflies. It truly was awe inspiring to stand on a step stool for a half hour watching them.
I've always loved photography. However, it has truly had a special place in my life over the last three years. My husband and I have been trying to start a family. It's been a challenging journey with so many variables out of our hands. We've sought out assistance from specialists, had so many tests and diagnostic procedures it nearly makes my head spin. We've been through two miscarriages and at times its been too much to wrap our minds around.
Photography has been something that I could turn to and consume my attention in a creative way.
I started the 365 project in 2012 for inspiration and for motivation to tackle new ideas more frequently. I enjoy creating portraits and documenting weddings. This project documents my faves from those sessions, serves as a testing ground for ideas that I'm developing for clients, and serves as a visual journal.
In July, though, we got some very happy news. I had something else to document in this project, though I had to set the photos as private for awhile.
Who knows what the next 119 days will bring. We are very happy to be anticipating the arrival of a baby in roughly 204 days. We've seen the heartbeat three times and are feeling confident that I will likely begin round two of the 365 project in 2012.
In the meantime, I've begun taking photos for a stop motion animation of my pregnancy. I look forward to seeing how that turns out and sharing it with all of you.
I was going to sleep in until at least 7:00a.m. The dog had other plans, she wanted to come up and say hi. While laying in bed we got to see a few streaks of lightning cross the sky outside our window and the sun was starting to come up. The combination of the rainstorm and sunrise made the light take on redish hue.
Of course I had to jump up, slip on shoes, grab camera and go outside at 6:30.
I walked across the yard trying to figure out what would be best to photograph in the light. The bean field next door is usually a good bet, but I noticed a rainbow arching over our sweet corn!!
Just before going back to the house I happened to look toward the northwest. No way, a full rainbow! Those are sort of uncommon. While I did have a 18-50mm lens, but it wasn't quite wide enough. I couldn't back up any farther, trees became an issue blocking a portion of the rainbow.
I wished for a wider angle lens or a fisheye or something.
No luck.
I did my best to register the same bit of land in each of my photos as I rotated myself holding the camera to get the rainbow in its entirety. That worked out fairly well. Here is the result stitched together before I edited it further.
I did do some photoshop work to even out the exposure, cover the seams and extend the missing bits of ground. You can see a spot along the rainbow where the fit wasn't perfect, but I think it worked out pretty well.
I also had my ipod in my pocket. I do have a pano app on it, though it will scold you if you don't have the unit directly vertical. I had to tilt the ipod to try and get the appropriate ration of rainbow and land in the frame, about a 15 degree tilt away from 90. So, the app didn't work. For that the DerManDar app loses points. I will search out a better pano option.
We are heading to the Iowa State Fair today. I'm sure that I will have the opportunity to take lots of photos. We will see if I find any images that top the full rainbow this morning.
Clara Reitsma is my grandfather's sister and the last surviving member of her siblings. She was born in 1911 in Holland and travelled to America when she was 8.
I haven't had the opportunity to get to know Clara extremely well, but always enjoyed visiting with her at family reunions.
Clara is doing well after having experienced 100 years, she's incredible. She does live in a nursing home now, but is able to walk a bit when she chooses. I guess she still reads. Her family says that she received phone calls on her birthday from friends/distant relatives from Holland. She switched from English to Dutch in an instant and carried on her conversation.
When I greeted Clara, it took awhile for her to recognize me. She said that the last time she saw me I was a young/small gal. She was one of 12 children. That would take some effort to keep track of not only their children, but grandchildren as well. I said that it had been a few years, but I had seen her recently at the Tulip Festival in Orange City.
Not too long later, Clara scooted up to me and grabbed my hand. She said, "I remember at the family reunion you said that you were having trouble finding the right fish in the sea. Well, you must've caught a good one." She points to my husband. The summer before I met him I had been at the reunion with a different gentleman. That didn't work out and ended very quickly. I think perhaps though Nick and I were dating the next year, he may not have attended. There was discussion of possible wedding bells. I do remember that conversation, I remember saying that the guy from the previous year wasn't the right one, and that I thought that Nick probably was. :D I was right!!
I'm amazed that Clara remembered that after at least five years, even if neither of us can remember exactly how it went.
It was fun to catch up with distant family that I rarely see. I also got to visit with a few other relatives that I've met with and visited even less frequently. Still, it is amazing the characteristics that many along the Hamersma family line share. I looked at the photos on display and saw a photo of Clara that looked a lot like my aunt, her niece. If you visit with a Hamersma, you are likely to find yourself looking into a pair of baby blue eyes. My grandfather and his sister had the same eyes. So does my uncle, my dad, my brother and myself... plus many distant cousins.
Happy Birthday Clara, may you have many more joyful celebrations.
Well, July 3 marked 183 days into the 365 Project. I'm halfway through. Seriously, I think that it is making the day go faster.
We had an explosive gathering as a lead up to the 4th. The exploded obect drifted nearly out of the frame, which is too bad. Buddies of my hubby were recording the explosion on their cell phones.
Everyone still has limbs and fingers attached.
I'm quite pleased with most of my photos. I still suffer from procrastination some days. It isn't even that I plan to procrastinate, I just have big expectations for photos later in the day. Then they don't happen and I have to use a cell phone photo from earlier in the day.
Ruby had gone rolling in some mud to cool off.
OR, I go out and document the progress of the plants in our garden or flowers in the yard.
But, that's okay. I wanted to encourage myself to try some new ideas more frequently, but also keep a visual diary of sorts.
We are on the backside of 2011, that's kind of frightening. Have a Happy July 4th and may the rest of your year be a prosperous one!
In the spring of 2003, I went with the producer of South Dakota Focus (Stephanie Rissler) to Pierre. We got on a plane with the secretary of GF&P (Game, Fish & Parks) to get video of the Missouri River during a time of severe drought. The water was YARDS from boat ramps and docks. Intakes for community water systems were at dangerous levels. Nobody knew how long it would be before the river and lakes could return to a useable level.
Fortunately, it's been a couple years since we've been considered in a drought.
Montana had an epic rainfall, water down the Missouri River is already at substantial levels. Reservoirs are full, room needs to be made for the melting snow pack. Portions of South Dakota and regions downstream will flood. Pierre/Ft. Pierre, Yankton and the Dakota Dunes will be substantially most affected.
Tuesday SDPB had a staff meeting to discuss our coverage of this historical conflict. That night I and a co-worker were asked to head to Pierre the next morning to get video of preparations.
Residents of Pierre and Fort Pierre had been hard at work building levees and sandbag barriers around their homes and businesses.
Friday morning the US Army corps of Engineers began to open the gates to increase flow. Big Bend Dam at Fort Thompson typically only opens its gates for maintainance and checks. This is the first time that they've ever opened to release flood waters in its fifty year history.
I also visited with the operations manager, Keith Fink. Listen to a portion of his interview and see more Big Bend video here.
Oahe already was a spectacular sight, but continues to increase its power. Outflow will peak at 150,000 cubic feet per second on June 7.
People in Pierre are frustrated, but have gathered together wonderfully. They are hopeful that the levees will be sufficient, but have worked to prepare the worst. Everyone seems to have followed recommendations to evacuate to higher ground. Despite the grim nature of this situation, people maintain some humor.
Many houses have signs, "For Sale, Pool Included..." One home had boat oars outside with a sign, "Have oars, need boat."
Still, its hard to maintain enthusiasm when your house is surrounded by water. By Friday night and into Saturday morning, homes between Oahe and Fort Pierre were already inaccessible. That neighborhood had been without electricity for about a week. They were running generators and now were having trouble getting gasoline to their power units. When I stopped by at 9a.m., people had begun to use canoes, kayaks and amphibious vehicles. Plus, carp had already moved onto the block. Fish were flopping in the water while I was recording video.
For updates and coverage of the Missouri River flooding, follow SDPB online: www.sdpb.org/flood
Governor Dennis Daugaard
Thankfully, no lives have been lost. Officials say there have been a couple small injuries. Even if property is damaged, hopefully everyone can come out on the other side whole. Despite the hardship and frustration, Governor Daugaard and everyone that I visited with maintain a fighter's spirit. I hope that this sense of community endures after the river returns to its banks.
I truly believe that the 365 project makes the year go by more quickly. I know that my day goes by faster. I still have days where I have to scramble to try to create a meaningful photo of some sort.
Today I documented the first asparagus spear:
Last weekend I was very proud to watch my only cousin on my dad's side of the family graduate from college.
And I'm still having fun using some of my created tools. This is a photograph that I made with the disposable camera lens housed in an altoid tin. Visit that project in the previous blog post or two.
I read www.diyphotography.net fairly regularly. It contains all things homemade or hacked for your camera, including lenses. I've ripped the lens off of a toy camera and attached it to my Canon 40D with some success. Many other photographers modify their camera similarily.
I stumbled across someone who had used the lens from a disposable camera. Many people have done this, here is one example.
So this was my project for the day. I used one canon body cap, one altoid tin for fun and one lens from a kodak disposable camera.
The intial version today had the lens extended about an inch away from the tin bottom. I could focus the image if I moved the 'lens' about three finger widths away from the subject.
So, I decided to put it back as you see it above. That extends the distance to about four finger widths.
I tweaked the color and lighting a little bit on the above eye photo. I didn't sharpen it any further.
I'm pretty pleased with my homemade lens effort with built in lens cap. I had to reglue everything because intially the altoid tin was crooked to the camera, that bugged me. Also, the tin opened up if it was on right side up. I found that it worked better if the lens opened down. It wouldn't keep shutting on itself as I tried to make a photo. Though the other down side to this set up, you have to be so close to the subject that it is difficult to use a flash. If you keep the altoid tin right side up, the lid can be used to bounce the light.
It's your call!
All of this and I only shocked myself once when I picked up the ripped apart camera - battery still connected. If you use a flash camera, please disconnect the battery immediately when you rip into yours.
Today begins month three, so far so good!! My difficulty with this project is that I place big expectations on myself. In my mind, I should post stellar work everyday. Really my primary goal has been to try to get as many photos 'right' in the camera and do as little post processing as possible. So far I've done alright with that. I try to make a point to mention if I've done any editing on an image. I still forget occasionally.
I used this opportunity to try to work through skill sets, like lighting portraits on location.
I've enjoyed working on light stencils and light painting ideas.
And I've posted some scenic images that I'm fond of.
But other days I end up taking a photo of the food that I'm heating in the microwave for the day. I'm not going to post that pic here, but you can find it my flickr photo stream. Click on one of the posted pics and explore!
I am doing better at thinking ahead to possible photo options as the week goes on. I try to stage some of my more creative attempts for days that are lackluster. Photos that use light stencils take some time to prepare, so I try to pile up ideas with those.
A person wouldn't think that it's difficult to take a photograph every day. But, it kind of is tricky to try and find something compelling to take a picture of. Even if it is just different colors of dish soap on the shelf in a grocery store. Chilling out and not making the project a burden takes some practice. If you try this activity some day, don't be too hard on yourself, that's no fun.
For me, photography has been very therapeutic. My husband and I have been trying to start a family for two and a half years. We started 2010 recovering from a miscarriage. We ended 2010 healing as well, from a second miscarriage in August/September and preparing for a diagnostic surgery. It has been a blessing to have photography to distract me and keep me occupied. Even if the project drives me crazy on occasion.
As the year goes on, I'm sure my stream may reflect a few ups and downs. I try to find positive things to photograph. I want my stream to show the things that make my life meaningful too. I expect a lot of photos of my cats and dog. And maybe a few with my husband. We have a lot of fun together and he's nice enough to go along with my photo ideas.
What a blessing to be able to document life through a lens. I feel that I look at things differently already and am more creative for more of my photos. Hopefully I can keep that attitude for the next ten months!
If you have ideas regarding themes, or techniques that I should consider for future photos, please comment below!! I've gone to www.m-w.com a few times to see if the word of the day inspires me. It has been the theme of a couple photos. I look forward to reading your suggestions!
