EMPS 150: A walk in the Park

I haven't participated in one of Carly's photo shoots in a loooooooooooooong time. I'm here to fix that. This week Carly asked for pictures from a walk in the park. I was in a park-like place. It's a nature center that I go to all the time close to the house. It has a little bit of everything in one spot. I always feel very relaxed walking through there.

Anyway, on to the pictures.

As you can see, fall is pretty much done here. There are barely any leaves left, and most everything is brown. At least we are snow free. 

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #93: Fire

Carly wants some pictures of fire in some form in the week's photo assignment.

I call this, Andrew Jackson by candlelight.

I know, I was kind of reaching for this one.


I took this last summer at Disney World. Now that is a fire. We could feel it from our seats.

That's all I have for this week. Go check out the rest back on Carly's site.

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #91: Ready, Set...Go!

I wasn't sure what I'd have for this week's assignment, but I managed to get something. This week Carly wanted us to post something ready, set, or go. Or, all three if we wanted. Here's what I have for this week.

For Ready (maybe, set?), we have my son getting ready for a simulated match in fencing class.

For Go, we again have my son. This time he is on attack. He didn't like this one since he is cut off, but I like it myself. It seems more like a surprise, or something.

That's all I have this week. Go to Carly's site to check out the rest.

Have a great weekend!

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #88: Upside Down

Carly gave us an easy assignment this week. Well, according to her, at least.

EMPS # 88: Upside Down.
Here is an easy assignment. Simply find something that is UPSIDE DOWN and photograph it. It's all up to you what the object is. Big. Small. Old. New. I can't wait to see what you come up with!

I wanted to try to get some reflection shots, but I never got around to it. But, since I was washing some wine glasses I came up with these. One is with flash and one without flash. I'm not a fan of the lighting in the flash, but I wanted to try it out. Our kitchen is kind of dark in the evening so I thought I'd have a better chance of getting a good shot with flash.

That's all I did for this week. Check out Carly's blog for the other entries.

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #87: Lamps

I'm up late posting this week's photo assignment because we have the family coming over for our daughters birthday tomorrow. I'm just that dedicated.

Anyway, Carly wants some photos of lamps. No problem

This is a small lamp that sits in the family room. I like the reddish colored lamp shade. It gives off an interesting color at night.

This is a floor lamp that sits next to the couch in the office area. Exciting, I know.

Lastly, this is the view of the street lamp out of the living room window. It's right off the end of our driveway so we get a lot of light there. Don't mind the ghosts in the window. They won't hurt you.

Go check out Carly's site for the other pictures this week.

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #7: Numbers

Carly wanted some shots of numbers. Sounds simple enough, but I only have two photos.

First, is my current addiction. See the 23 on the Dr. Pepper can? I don't know when it happened, but drinking this stuff has become an addiction. A sweet, sweet addiction. I've been trying to cut down, but it isn't working so well.

This is a picture of my GPS running watch. I'm showing some old data since it looks better than my current numbers.

That's all for me. Go to Carly's site to check out the others.

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #78: Still Life, with food

I've been bad these past two weeks with both assignments I usually participate in. With my daughter getting her tonsils out and working midnights, it's been a bit difficult. But, since my wife got me a new camera for my birthday, I have to participate this week, right? This week Carly wanted some still life photos of food. I hope I did it right.

I only had one day to do something so here it goes:

This I took at my mom's, I liked the contrast of the bananas and the candy next too each other. Which will you choose?

Then, at home, I was playing around with the mini- and full-size bananas we have.

That's all I've got. I need a lot of time with this new camera to get used to it, and learn how to use it. I'm also planning to take some lessons, so that should be fun.

Go to Carly's site and check out the rest of the photos, won't you?

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #76: Peaceful places

For this week's assignment I need to dig into the archives. It's too cold and snow out this week to go get any photos of peaceful places. Well, I could put up a picture of my bed, but that's no fun.

Most of these are of little ponds and park-like places tucked away in my town.

This first one I found by accident during the summer. It's right next to a busy street and completely blocked by trees. But, this summer while on a run, I noticed people in the trees taking pictures, so I checked it out a few weeks later. It's a nice little place to get away from it all.

This little pond is in the heart of town, actually across the street from the first one, and is surrounded by stores, including an ice cream shop, and the library. Even the ducklings find it peaceful.

Here are more ducks, this is in front of our city hall building. It's a big pond with some sculptures around it. It's a nice little place.

This is a quiet spot behind the city hall. You may remember the gazebo from the winter landscapes post. This is a little more nicer looking since there isn't snow everywhere. It would look better if it was sunny out, too.

And, lastly, if you are a dog you can find a peaceful place anywhere. Even on top of another dog.

Pardon the look of the carpet, it has since been replaced.

Now go to Carly's site and see what other people posted.

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #75: Houses of worship

For this week's assignment I need to dig in to the archives for the most part. It's been a very cold week, highs in the teens(!), so I didn't get out much. But, Carly wanted some pictures of houses of worship. Let's see what I have.

First, a new one. Now technically you can't worship in this church, but you can in the real one.

We went to Legoland yesterday so I took this. It's supposed to be Holy Name Cathedral I believe. Sorry for the weird blue color, that was the lighting in there. It was supposed to be night, I guess. This made it difficult to get a good shot.

Here is one from the church at the kid's school. This is actually the old church that is used for special occasions. They built a new one not long ago on another part of the property. I originally took this for the way the ice melting made the roof look.

Here is a shot of the cross on top. From a different day, of course.

This last one is from the inside of the church my niece was married in this fall. It was very nice inside, but this was the only shot that kind of turned out. It was dark and I didn't have a tripod.

That's all I have. Make sure to check out the others by going to Carly's site.

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #73: Winter Landscapes

I didn't get a chance to go out and take many photos for Carly's assignment this week. I did get out to take one, though. We had some ice in the forecast this week, and while it can be dangerous to drive in, it looks so coo. It didn't happen though, which is probably for the best.

Here is a shot I took near a small park. I realized later that I should have gotten a little closer to the bridge. Oh well, there is always next time.

Speaking of ice, we did have an ice storm of sorts a few weeks ago, I went out the next day and took a few shots.

That's all I have for this week. Go check out the rest by going through Carly's site.

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #71: Weather

Simple enough; Carly wants some photos of this week in weather. Somehow I feel that should be in all caps, like something from The Weather Channel.

Here's a few from this past week:

This first one is my favorite. My daughter noticed that the sky was pink, which was great since it had been grey all day, so I ran upstairs to try and get a sunset shot. But, since there were trees and houses in the way, nothing turned out that great. Then I noticed the icicles hanging from the gutter. So I decided to focus on them and let the pink sky be the background. I think it turned out pretty cool.

This next one is from our recent snow storm. This time my son noticed the lion out of the car window, so I took a picture of it. I like how he looks cold with all the snow on his head.

This last one didn't turn out to great in the focus department, but this was the trailing edge of the clouds that had covered our area for the last few days. I liked the contrast of the grey clods to the blue sky behind.

All of these pictures were taken from the inside of a car or a house, I would have gone outside if it was warmer. Also, I need to thank my kids for the picture ideas this week!

Now, go check out the rest of the shots by going to Carly's site.

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #70: My 2009 Gallery

Carly has a great idea for the end of the year, show off your favorite photos from 2009. Now, some of mine aren't necessarily the best I've ever taken, but some I like for other reasons. Some from the dogs, or just because they are goofy. So, here are some of my favorites from 2009.

This year I took a lot of sunsets, sunrises and moon shots. What can I say, I like that kind of thing?

During September we added a new member to the family. I think Cruise is comfortable here.

Of course, we can't forget Quincy.

We also went to Disney World in June. I managed to get my first shot of lightning. Not the best ever, but I was happy.

In February Jenn took me To La Jolla, California to see a golf tournament. It was very cool out there. When we got back we had a surprise in our freezer, which the grandparents thought was a refrigerator.

This year I joined a 365 Flickr group which been a lot of fun. Here's one I like that I took in the fall.

Also in the early fall, I got a shot of some fog in the forest preserve on the way to work.

Okay, that's enough for now. I also created a set on Flickr with some additional pictures, if you want to check them out.

Now go check out the other collections through Carly's site.

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #66: Under the Hood

Carly wants some pictures of what keeps our cars running. This is the best I have for you:

Here's a relatively wide shot of the engine compartment:

Here is a close-up. Notice there is no battery here, just a plus terminal to use while jumping. I had to read the owner's manual to find out it was in the trunk. Not today, mind you, but the first time I was looking for it.

That's all I have this week. Not very exciting, I know.

Go over to Carly's site to see what other's have posted.

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #63:Downtown

This week Carly wanted us to take shots of our downtown area. Even though I live in a suburb, we have a decent downtown area. We have a several large buildings and hotels, but they are not all that close together. I could have gotten a shot with all of them, I think.

I had a good plan for this week's assignment. I knew where I wanted to go to get a shot or two of the downtown area in my town. Unfortunately, when I had the free time from work I was sick. But, I did get something!

But, I did get these in the outskirts of the downtown area. For some reason we have a little Helistop right in the middle of town. I've only seen it used a few times, but still, it's neat to have it.

To cheat a little and show you what I mean, he is a shot I took a few weeks ago coming into town. You can see a couple of the larger buildings. (Sorry, Carly. I had to sneak in an archived photo.).

Now, go check out the rest at Carly's site.

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #60: Black and White Photography

It's been a while since I've been here on the blog, and even longer since I joined Carly's photo shoot Monday. But, I'm back now. I think I have more time now. I hope.

Anyway, this week Carly wants some Black and White photos. I have a couple. Nothing special.

Here is shot I took earlier in the week. Actually, I took it before I knew the theme for the week. It's part of the kids swing set, but I like the old time-y look it gets in black and white.

This I took today. It was originally in color, but since it was so gloomy and dreary outside, it looked like it was in black and white. I've gone back and forth a few times, and I can't tell the difference. The birds look a little creepy against the gloomy sky. Don't you think?

That's all I have this week. Go check out the other photos!

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #57: Weeds

Carly wants photos of weeds for this week's assignment. That shouldn't bee too hard since they grow everywhere.

Take this guy for instance. He found away to grow on the ledge of our building at work. There is no soil there for it, or anything. This is taken with my cellphone, so pardon the quality of the shot. I would have zoomed in a bit if I had my regular camera. You'll have to click on it to get a good view.

I don't know if these clovers are technically weeds, but they grew here without being planted, so I consider them to be weeds. These showed up in a planter at my mom's house and she has decided to water them and keep them. Not bad looking for some wild growth.

That's all I have for you. Fall is approaching, so the weeds aren't as prevalent as they normally are.

Go check out the other photos through the link back to Carly's page.