For this particular project – geared to photographers and travelers – there is a weekly theme. A few weeks ago, I contributed some photos of DOORS for that week’s theme.  Today’s theme is SKYLINE.  The theme is usually pretty open to interpretation, so you can go the traditional route of cityscapes and twinkly lights or something more natural.  That’s what makes it fun! Here are some of my contributions this week from various travels over the years:

Chicago 2007

San Diego 2009

Juneau, Alaska 2010

Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite 2011

Hashtags are powerful little tools.  They can be quite useful metadata tools, but can be easily manipulated – like so many things on the web – by commercial interests and spambots.  If you do participate in social media circles, however, hashtags are a great way to meet new people with similar interests.  Using #FriFotos are an example again: I share a photograph from this year’s trip to Yosemite National Park.  When I tag it, everyone can see that.  PersonX just got back from Yosemite and has a photo to share that is very similar.  Shared interest and common bond.  Added bonus when I see that PersonX is also into the same kind of music as I am.  New acquaintance and new thread in the web of life – all because of a hashtag.  From there, it can just keep on going.

Another hashtag that I particularly enjoy and participate in each week is the #FridayReads group on Twitter.  While they have been mired in a bit of controversy lately, the fact remains that it is a community of readers who like to talk about books.  Each week, I report which book I am reading and attach the #FridayReads hashtag.  The moderator (@TheBookMaven) calculates how many people participate just for fun, and when you click on the hashtag, you can see what everyone else is reading.  Maybe that book that you have been meaning to pick up? something long forgotten? or an author that you like that has a new piece out?

While the concept sounds so elementary, social media really just comes back to community building and engagement. How do you meet new people? how do you interact? The hashtag for #Socktoberfest on Twitter was really fun this year with several updates and interactions.

As the tweet above suggests, I have been reading up a storm lately… I’m planning a little Reading Year in Review post soon. Stay tuned!

We had planned this trip for months – it was the first big “together” trip for my family since our family has grown by marriage and babies. Along with my youngest sister Sarah and her husband, Andrew, we decided to visit Yosemite National Park first, and then rendezvous with everyone several days later in Lake Tahoe. Extension to Yosemite was worth every second. As you know, Kris and I love hiking and photography, and Yosemite is a paradise for both.

We stayed outside the southern entrance to the Park; each day we drove in with plans to hike new trails.  We technically hit the Park in its off-season, so the crowds were down.  That was a nice perk on many of the trails and in-roads so we could take our time and stop whenever we pleased.  Kris and I should have made a sticker for the back of our rental car: Vehicle Makes Frequent Stops to Photograph.  Our feet were the best mode of transportation though – with the vast trail system, we were out and about every single day.

We hiked with all of our camera equipment, which made the hike a little heavier, but worth the effort after seeing the processed photos.  Long exposures, HDR, and macro photography – all things that I had the time to play with and the scenes to shoot.  If we had had more time and the appropriate gear, I would have jumped at the chance to do some back country camping and backpacking.  However, this trip focused on the highlights – Yosemite Valley, Glacier Point, Mariposa (Giant Sequoia) Grove, the various falls, Tuolumne Meadows, and the glacial lakes.  Maybe next time on the backpacking?

[Full Set of Yosemite Photos on Flickr]

Since we took over 20 gigs of photos in the Park, I have many more to add to this photo set… it takes time to go through them all!  As you can see, we had beautiful weather and clear skies – a perfect combination for memorable hikes and photographs.

Project Spectrum’s focus shifts to GREEN this June – and what a perfect time to do so.  Over the weekend, I went through some of my photographs from last year’s trip to Alaska.  We took over 1500 photographs while we were there, but only uploaded a handful to Flickr… Alaska offered some amazingly beautiful green scenery, but chances are that you have some amazing greens right outside your door as well!

I will admit that the GREEN themed month is usually my favorite month – it is the easiest for me because for me, “green” is a personal philosophy as much as it is a color in the spectrum.  My friend Andrea recently posed the question on the Ravelry Project Spectrum board about the love of green and the love of nature:  does one love the color green because of nature or vice versa? It was a simple answer for me – my love of nature is first, and nature really does encompass the whole spectrum of colors, although green does play a very dominant role.  I have a feeling that if trees were pink, I would feel the very same way…

Take this photo challenge:  capture some of the greens in your neighborhood, your backyard or the park down the street.  Let me see some of your local green nature!  Link back to this post so I can see them all!

Looking for some green inspiration?  Check out these links:

• Project Spectrum’s Tumblr Page
• Green Gala – curated green gallery on Pinterest
• Flickr’s Green Is Beautiful set
• Myoung Ho Lee’s Tree Series – a photographic installation of trees in various natural scenes – lovely aesthetic

Kris and I went northwest of Baltimore – a part of the state we don’t get to very often – to do some exploring over the weekend.  We found a lovely hiking spot (Gunpowder Falls State Park) and a photogenic pre-Revolutionary War historic village (Jerusalem).  The pristine weather and the free time gave me the chance to try some photographic techniques that I have wanted to try for awhile…

This kind of shot is called HDR – High Dynamic Range.  I had seen hundreds of HDR shots on Flickr, and recently Kris and I decided to give it a try.  (His first HDR photographs were done in Alaska – and they are stunning.  See his shot of the Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls, and his other shot of the Treadwell Mines on Sandy Beach).  The process is relatively simple; for the photograph, I used my tripod and our 5D Mark II camera.  You shoot three shots at the exact same spot – one at a lower light, one at standard, and then a higher light exposure.  Using PhotoMatix software (specifically designed for HDR shots), you layer the three photos on top of each other and the result is this multi-tonal image – the highlights and the lowlights.

It has an otherworldly look to it because it picks up on all of the colors – unique and “hyper-real”.  For that reason, there are several critics who say it is too much processing. Of course, like anything, there is a *right* time for HDR, and a *wrong* time.  I figured that Jerusalem Village was a nice chance to try it out.

“Why not today?”

Blinker off. Drove straight ahead into the small lot.  Exploration time.

…

I pass the historic landmark road plaque nearly everyday.  The plaque refers to the grounds of Christ Episcopal Church, established in 1711, and the church that was constructed a century later.  “Old Brick” is nestled right alongside several busy roads – tucked back behind some large poplar and oak trees.  You pass by it on the way to the market… the post office… the library.

After a lovely day with my mom (we spent it searching for a few key pieces at local thrift/consignment shops), we also stopped by “Old Brick” to walk the grounds of the old church, and the adjacent cemetery. Luckily, I had my new camera with me to capture the moments.

I felt like I discovered a little gem – so close.  I had every intention of stopping *some day* but having lived in this area for nearly nine years, I still hadn’t done it.  What places are on your “someday” list?  Do you think you could find a moment to explore and document that place within the next few days?

]]> http://lollygirl.com/blog/2010/06/06/one-day-i-will/feed 21 http://lollygirl.com/blog/2010/05/03/macromay http://lollygirl.com/blog/2010/05/03/macromay#comments Mon, 03 May 2010 10:00:08 +0000 lolly http://lollygirl.com/blog/?p=2787 Two years ago, Maryse had the great idea for a month-long photo gallery entitled MacroMay:  you use your macro lens, extension tubes,  (or macro adjustment) for the camera and you just shoot away ~ it might be the third day of May already, but I will definitely be participating this year!  With the beautiful May weather and the vibrant colors outside, it’s a perfect month to “go” macro – capturing the smallest details of the everyday beauties.

In preparation for the new macro photos – I enjoyed going through my Flickr photos from the past and pulling up some of my favorite macros shots from the past.  You can click on each for more details!

~ENJOY~

Photos from MDSW to come!

Even if it was a bit of a crap shoot, I lucked out with several photographs this year.  Using Flickr’s “Interestingness” algorithm and clicks, comments and favorites from so many of you, I have had at least one photo make Flickr’s Explore (500 top featured photographs) each month since June 2007.  I am so grateful! 

Here are a handful of my photos that made EXPLORE in 2009 – you can click on them for more info:

2009 was a productive year, photography-wise.  I definitely take most of my photos when traveling, and with the trips we fit in, I had the opportunity to snap some fun photos.  2009 was also the year of my (yet again) failed attempt at a photo-a-day experiment with the Year in Photographs (YIP) that I started in September.  Perhaps I should have called it Weeks in Photographs, because that is how long it lasted!  I am not being too hard on myself, however… it is supposed to be for fun.

If you are interested, you can see all of my photos that have made Explore over the months (since 06/07) as well as some of my personal favorites in this photoset.

Kris and I are re-arranging and re-decorating some rooms in the house.  Over Christmas break, he and his brother painted about 90% of the house – it was hard work!  I helped when I could, but he had the whole time off work and I didn’t.  The fresh paint is like a clean canvas.  We bought several frames and were planning to frame some of our favorite photos for wall art.  Now to decide what should go in the frames.  We are still working out the arrangement and the overall themes for the photos, but it sure would be fun to have you all help us decorate by telling me your opinions … so, stay tuned! 

Mimi and I talked about doing a small photo shoot to capture some of V’s early days, so Kris and I brought along some of our photo equipment (umbrella, remote flashes) and set it all up.  Fortunately, we had a very sweet and generally cooperative little model:

With over 200 photos, it just might be my favorite photo shoot ever

~ ~ ~

We arrived in Monterey after one of the most lovely scenic drives – up the Pacific Coast Highway from Los Angeles.  Kris and I took frequent stops and did quite a bit of photography along the way…

[one of the many...]

The end of the trip was quieter and more reserved – it was all about Baby V, helping my sister and her husband, and generally enjoying our time together.  They just so happen to live in a spectacularly beautiful location… so Kris and I were quite happy!

One day, we went to nearby Pacific Grove for some sightseeing – a yarn shop, lunch, and then a walk by the water.  It was perfect!

~

The trip was wonderful and came at a special time.  Baby V is such a blessing.  She is quite the topic of conversation!

Thanks for all of your comments on my trip photographs!  It is a joy to take them, as well as to share them.  Plus, writing the vacation blog posts takes a little pressure off from the return to the norm around here… the knitting is happening at an alarming rate, but inches of stockinette don’t quite seem as blog-worthy as sharing photos of beautiful scenery and new family members!  Alas, the trip photos are done (but you can see all the ones I have uploaded here on Flickr) for now… but I have other exciting news to share, so stay tuned!

]]> http://lollygirl.com/blog/2009/11/28/new-bud/feed 33 http://lollygirl.com/blog/2009/11/15/desert-dweller http://lollygirl.com/blog/2009/11/15/desert-dweller#comments Mon, 16 Nov 2009 02:21:12 +0000 lolly http://lollygirl.com/blog/?p=2417

…

I figured I would let the photos do the talking

…

Can you feel the magic of this amazing place?  Being in Joshua Tree National Park was a little slice of heaven.  Peaceful with amazing sights are every turn in the road.  Kris and I were just in awe of this foreign landscape.  Neither one of us had spent that much time in a desert environment; and Joshua Tree is even a different class of desert.  Between the trees and the rock formations, we were clicking hundreds of photos.  As you can see, the day was *perfect* with stunning blue skies as a backdrop for the white, red, brown, and occasional greens of the desert.

The Park is the intersection of two deserts – the Mojave in the north, where the Joshua Trees are, and the Colorado/Sonoran desert in the southeast of the Park.  The two deserts are distinctively different, and when you cross over into the next one, the landscape really changes.  We spent the day in the Park enjoying every minute of the hikes.  We saw so much beauty.  We traveled from North to South through the Park and ended the day in the otherworldly landscape of the Colorado Desert, distinguished by the unique chullo cactus and the rugged mountains.

… and perhaps the best treat of all…

Was ending the day with an absolutely stunning moon rise.  Kris and I pulled our car off the road, walked into the nearby field, set up the tripod, and just enjoyed every minute of the moon rising above the mountains.  The bats were coming out, but there was not a single sound.  It was a stunning silence.  One of the most peaceful moments I have ever experienced.

– All Joshua Tree photos here –

… …

Do a birthday girl a favor, and tell me about the last place where you felt absolute peace -

I would love to hear.

We also were able to see the lovely trees in the park and the museum-lined streets of El Prado in the early morning light…

We planned to spend the day at the world-renowned San Diego Zoo.  Once they opened, we headed that way.  It was a very auspicious beginning to the day:  a woman was standing near the entrance gate and gave us a free ticket inside.  She said “Remember how nice the people of San Diego are!”  and so I do

…Once inside…the cameras were clicking all day!

[More animals here... and more to come in the coming days]

Photographing animals is an absolute joy, but also a challenge;  for each photo you get, you miss about a dozen more funny faces.  It was such a beautiful clear day in San Diego, so the factors were right for great photos.  The San Diego Zoo was truly a beautiful spot!

We calculated our walking distances, and it was over 13 miles… no wonder we were so dead tired when we walked out of the zoo.  It was late afternoon, and we were in a bit of a haze, but as we walked back to our hotel through the beauty of Balboa Park, we stopped a few times to rest our feet.  That was when I recognized a familiar group… it started with the sighting of an adorable dachshund… then a very cute baby boy… and then a beautiful familiar face from blogland.  It was one of those funny moments when I was thinking, “Is this real?”

The serendipitous meeting between Disentangled Jenifer and Lolly in the Park!  Millions of people live in San Diego, but what are the chances that 2 knitters who met online years ago  would be in the same area of the Park at the same exact time?  The probability just blew my mind.

…perhaps it blew my mind too much to even take a photo with the camera that hung around my neck…

Either way, I was so happy to meet Jenifer, her husband, her adorable son, and her sweet pup!  I am still shaking my head at the serendipity of that

… We spent two days in San Diego and didn’t even scratch the surface, unfortunately.  It is a lovely city and I truly hope to have the chance to go there again. We totally lucked out when we found one of the pinnacle restaurants of our whole trip on our very first night in the city:

Here I am enjoying the delicious veggie delights of Spread restaurant.  Local produce, prepared in the most delicious and savory way (the chef came out and discussed with us beforehand)  It was sort of a tapas-style, where you order several plates and share.  So memorable.  Now I want to try to figure out what we ate so I can re-create!

Next stop on the SoCal Roadtrip: Mojave and Sonoran desert – Joshua Tree – Palm Springs