Day #31 A Bird And His Peanut

Okay another failed attempt at photographing a squirrel. I was amazed as I watched this bird take a peanut out of squirrel feeder and fly away. How can he carry something so large and fly. As I sit watching I start hearing something similar to the woodpecker but just a little different. So I get up and try to find where the sound is and spot my little bird high in the tree having wedged the peanut in the tree and trying to break the shell with him beak.  If I hadn't seen all this happen in front of my eyes not sure I would have believed it.

Day #30 Mourning Dove

Thought I'd get a good picture of Mr. Squirrels today but they were either napping or camera shy. Did spot this lovely Mourning Dove who also spotted me and took off for the trees. He loves to just sit under the hemlock trees when he's not gathering the seeds that have fallen to the ground from the feeder. He certainly is much bigger than most of the birds that visit my backyard.

Day #29 Look and You Shall See

A new week agains.....

Day #28 Lunar New Year - Dragon

Well, I took 400 hundred photos today and I barely moved an inch because I couldn't. Local mall hosted a Lunar New Year Celebration. They have hosted it for 13 years but this was my first.  There was a big turn out and a huge representation of the Chinese community.Two different dragons danced with help, a tai Chi demonstration, dancing, and a lot of martial arts from the U.S. Wushu Academy.  It was a site to see and I'm so glad I went. This photo challenge is really keeping me busy but I'm not complaining...

                                                   

Day #27 Wind Machines

It was a dreary, foggy, rainy morning as we headed back to Maryland.  I spotted these looking out the window on the Atlantic City Expressway and thought maybe they could be my POTD. Arline was willing to get off at the next exit to see if we could find a better view point. We got lucky (okay they were pretty easy to spot) and found the entrance to the Wind Farm. It was raining so rolled down the window, moved the car a couple times (thanks Arline) and I had my picture. Not so lucky finding our way back to the expressway but eventually we did.

Day #26. Up Before The Sun

Our hotel is steps from the ocean so today's photo seemed like a no brainer. Rain was forecast so I crossed my fingers and set the alarm on my IPhone. Side note need to find out if there's a way to turn ding of email alert off and still hear the alarm. Didn't end up needing alarm since I woke up at four and couldn't fall back to sleep. Keeping a watch on the sky from my window looked like just maybe I would get my sunrise photo, so out to the beach I went.There was only a very small break in the clouds so not an amazing sunrise but some pretty cool clouds. The little small piece in the right hand corner of shot represents the sunrise.

Day #25 Chasing The Sunset

Headed to Atlantic City for a few days with a girlfriend. Hoping to arrive in time to find the sunset. Things change when you commit to taking a photo a day. If you know me you know how directionally challenged I am. Thanks to the sun being so big and up in the sky I had a fighting chance. First stop got some okay pictures. There was water but also building and telephone wires in the back ground. Okay back in the car to see if we could find something a little better. We didn't have to go far and I had a much better spot which is a good thing because the sun waits for no one. Will probably be able to make a sunset/sunrise book at the end of this challenge.

Day #24 No More Snow

What a difference twenty four hours makes. Yesterdays frozen snow has somehow vanished . Guess it's the temperature reaching into the 50's. Couldn't decide between two photos but seeing this cute little guy and the green grass made me pick this one. Sometimes I wish I could chose more than one but rules are rules. He seems to be checking out the peanut shell but I think Mr. Squirrel has already emptied it.

Day#23 The Little Herd

Woke up to pretty thick fog this morning. Took a look out my back window and spotted a couple deer. Got some early morning shots but it was pretty dark. They spent the morning behind the house so when the light got a little better I ventured out back. No way to be quiet since the snow was coated with a layer of ice. Once they spotted me I stopped and took their picture. I'm sure there will be lots of deer pictures in this challenge.

Day #22 A Winter Day

 Sunday the beginning of week four.
 Forty eight weeks seems so far away but I know it will be here before I know it.
 Being it's winter and we have snow on the ground I went to find my picture.
 Liked this one the best and it only needed a little cropping, I blurred the corners and a black and white finish.

Day #21 It Snowed

First major Snowstorm of the winter arrived here last night. Maybe an inch but it was the ice that followed that would cause all the problems. Thankfully I am off today and the car does not have to leave the driveway. With boots on and camera in hand out the door I went for todays picture.

Day #20 The Flying Grey Heron

Thought I'd take a short drive to the local State Park this morning. In October I was here getting some pictures of fall tree colors. Turned camera on and no SD card so back home I went. Decided to go right back. Maybe this happened for a reason because as a walked to the water I think I spooked a Grey Heron that took flight for the other side of the lake. Brought my camera up and started shooting . Not sure what kind of picture I would get since no time to check anything on the camera. I was pleasantly surprised to have gotten some fairly decent shots. Was able to get some shots of him once he landed to. He really blends in with the landscape so if he wouldn't have flown across the water I probably would have never seen him. I will definitely now carry an extra card in my camera bag, just lucky I wasn't too far from the house.

Day #19 Morning Moon

I have admired this crescent moon the last two days while driving to work. Waking up early this morning and off today  I looked out my window and there was my crescent moon waiting to have it's picture taken.Thankfully I could get my pictures from my driveway since the temperature was 18 degrees. Did luck in with no wind. Worked with the bulb feature on the camera. I can cross this off my list for today.

Day #18 illusion

A new lens for my camera was waiting at my front porch today. What to do, what to do....

Okay just finished an online course on exposure. As a stared at the pool table an idea came to mind. I'll practice with shutter speed. Would have been a little easier with a helper but with the tripod and my little camera remote I managed . I experimented with fast and slow shutter setting and the photos really vary in looks. This is the picture I choose for my pic of the day. Thought it looked kind of cool.Think the green 6 ball went in the pocket...

Day #17 Beam Me Up Scotty

Well,  the rain cleared this morning with lots of clouds. Not coming up with any other ideas for a photo today I snapped some shots at the different cloud formations.  This one kind of spoke to me as I was looking at them on the computer. My other choice was the pictures I took of the recycle bins that lined the street. Didn't get the look I wanted so I'll try them again another day.

Day # 16 Oops

Bob spent the weekend building a new cabinet for our new monster tv. It's going to look amazing . With saw dust tracked from the basement workroom through out the house I had a date with my vacuum this morning. Went to pick up bag full of shelf clips off the floor and out they spilled. Well the vacuuming stopped and I grabbed my camera to practice some depth of field shots. Anyone want to play jacks. lol

Day #15 Something Blue

It's going to be a boy. Well,  that's what they say.

It was baby shower day for a friend from work.One of the hosts made a diaper cake. It was so adorable and creative.

Day #14 Looking Out The Window

With the weather in the 30's I'm spending the day indoors. Decided I'd take my camera and pull up a chair to the window that over looks my backyard and bird feeder. Boy were they hungry this morning . I got lots of pictures and really need to get out my bird book and find out exactly who I'm looking at. Was hard to decide but here's the little guy that made my picture of the day challenge.

Day #13 Leaning in the Wind

What a difference a day makes. With a 30 degree drop in the temperature plus the wind chill factor I had the Lake to myself. Even with winter coat, hat, and fingerless gloves I didn't last long but thought this pictures shows the power of the wind.

Day #12 Gone But Not Forgotten

Another spring day in January so I made a date with my camera and out we went to my favorite lake. Took over 200 shoots and then had to pick one. Not an easy decision. With the help of a friend, here it is. Arctic air moving in tomorrow glad I was able to enjoy the sunshine today. Guess today was the calm before the storm.....

Day # 11 Early Morning Moon

Yesterday mornings moon was amazing but sadly I had no time to photograph because work got in the way. Did think about being late but my darn work ethic got in the way.  Not being able to get that picture out of my mind thought I'd take it today. I'm sure I could do a much better job but I only had 10 minutes to set up the camera on tripod and snap a couple pictures playing with the setting and composition before I had to leave for work. Still learning how to use my camera in the manual setting mode it wasn't easy. Now when I don't have to work and the moon calls out at me to take it's picture I will be able to compare and see what I can do if given some time...

Day #10 Bird with a hurt wing

Another nice day out. Let's see is anything going on in the backyard? Nope... So decided to take a drive. Camera , tripod , SD card (yes forgot that once). Think I'm ready. Drove around and ended up in a park near by. Spied an interesting sculpture and decided to make that my daily photo. Thought maybe looking up at it from the middle would be  interesting.  Then saw a broken wire at the top and started focusing on that. As I walked around and snapped at different angles I finally got my photo for the day.   Probably would have never done this if I hadn't challenged myself to take A Photo A Day :)

Day #9 Things I take for granted

It's Monday and that means wash day for me. I only miss doing wash on Mondays if I'm on vacation . It's been that way for most of my married life. Certain days of the week have different tasks , makes life easier for me. I am a creature of habit. While it seemed like an easy picture to take it did take a little rearranging so I could set up the tripod, a flashlight because the light source in the room made a reflection in the dyer window, and a few shots to get what I think is an interesting one. Looks like my jeans are walking in the dryer.  I definitely take my washer and dryer for granted.

Day #8 Birds Eye View of Sunrise at the Ocean

Last morning at the beach and everyone wanted to join me for a trip on see the sunrise.  As I woke them up  they may have been thinking "Do I really want to go". To my surprise they all came with two making a stop at Starbucks for coffee . They did miss the sun breaking the horizon but hey they have a house at the beach. Luckily there's only one photo nut in the bunch ME .... Plenty of pictures taken and everyone happy they came. Back to the house for something to eat,  a bike ride around the development , a few more pictures before heading back to Maryland. So many pictures taken and only 3 to choose. Fifty one weeks to go....

Day #7 Mans Best Friend

Day 2 at the beach. Got up at 6:20 and went out by myself and get sunrise shots at the ocean. Got some great shots but my favorite one happened Sunday morning so sunrise will be day #8. Got back to the house 2 hours later since it was just me and I could shoot to my hearts content. We all went out for a walk including their two dogs . They are very photogenic and I snapped this picture while we took a break at the water. The rest of the day was filled with Reheboth Beach boardwalk , a great dinner out, board games back at the house, and finally running on 4 hrs. sleep, bed. Hundreds of pictures taken. I'm really learning to use the manual features of my camera.

Day #6 Sunset on the bay

Spending the weekend at my husbands brothers beach house in Delaware. The three brothers and sister plus all spouses were invited . While I was a little skeptical about the beach in January it was amazing. The weather was unseasonably warm and you only needed a light coat or sweater. Arrived in time to get sunset pictures and play with the aperture / shutter setting of my camera. This was one of my favorites.

Day #5 Similar yet Different

Got this idea while putting my dining room back in order after the holidays. As I put my tea pots back in their rightful spots, I thought I have an elephant that reminds me of them. Hum ,where am I displaying  that elephant? Found him last night and had my picture for today. Thought cropping the picture improved the look .

Day #4 Birdie in natures frame

Lazy day off .... Decided I'd pick something in my back yard today. I am lucky to have lots of trees that have a woods like setting . My first focus was the bird feeder that my husband religiously keeps full . I set the tripod up by the window and snapped away.... Nothing that shouted Day#4 so decided to venture out in the cold and try to get some shots of them in the trees. Loved the way this little birdie seems to be in a frame of limbs . Now for some hot tea....

Day #3 Baby it's Cold Outside

The weather in Damascus, Md. had been unseasonably warm..Brrr things changed over night . High 50's yesterday to feels like 15 with the wind chill factor today... I have a small pond in my front yard that formed a layer of ice over night since I  procrastinated putting in the little pond heater . Well it did give me todays picture . Love the different ways the ice formed and even got goldie in the picture. On top of the cold we even had some snow flurries. See the little white specks.

Day #2 Christmas time capsules

The yearly tree take down (year 36)...
It's a blur.......... so many memories of my family are stored here in these boxes. How did time go by so fast?

Day #1 Tunnel Vision

2012 begins....

what will be at the end of the tunnel?

only time will tell........