Mari's 365 Photos 2010

This is not the Daily Shoot challenge today. Instead this a great meal we had today.

It was a really great pork with sauteed apples out of the October Cooking Light magazine - check it out.

Today's challenge: "Bathrooms are full of hard surfaces, textures, and personal implements. Fins an inspiring photograph in a bathroom today."

This is Joe's mega shower head. It seemed to fit the challenge for today.

Today's challenge: "Fences and walls can divide or demarcate. Make a creative photo of a fence or wall today."

Well, it looks like I not only got the retaining wall, on the back of our townhome, but the fence that sits a few feet behind it. If I sit at my computer, I'm about the same level as the top of the wall - and the foxes run along there.

Today's challenge: "Make a photograph that shows an interpretation of your favorite indulgence or guilty pleasure."

Who doesn't have an occasional indulgence with chocolate?

The story here is, we're celebrating birthdays tomorrow (mine, Joe's and Tom's). I asked Joe what kind of cake he wanted for his birthday. He said he wanted a Tunnel of Fudge cake, like his mom used to make. Okay - a tall order, but I was up for the challenge.

After lots of research, emails and phone calls across three time zones, I found that Pillsbury no longer makes the Double Dutch Fudge frosting mix that was in the original recipe (the one that won the Bake-Off). However, Pillsbury was kind enough to come up with a from scratch recipe that they said was as close as you could get to the original.

This morning I set out to bake my cake. This is one HEAVY cake! It is a good thing I only bake like this every so often, we couldn't eat this sort of thing on a daily basis - no matter what Joe says!

Celebrating my birthday at the Rockies vs Giants game. Beautiful sunset, even from the stands. Game was disappointing. The fireworks after the game were a bit bittersweet after 5 losses in a row in late September.....so I may just say the Rockies were celebrating my birthday too!!!

Today's challenge: "Some carry a talisman, amulet, "lucky charm", or just a comforting thing in our pocket. What do you carry?"

Okay - ANYONE who has lived in Colorado will understand this. When haven't I carried Chapstick or Carmex in my pocket?

Challenge: "Showcase the beauty of living foliage! Make a photo of a single leaf or an entire "greenscape" today."

This shrub was just bursting with color in Breckenridge.

Today's challenge: "unday challenge: Play with scale today. Make a photo of something small that looks huge."

I'm not sure I succeeded in the challenge, but I like the photo I took, so I'm going with this. Thank you to Ann for the Kiwi last year on my birthday.

Today's challenge: "Plastic or glass, make a photo of a bottle or grouping of bottles today and post it."

A favorite of mine - the Petite Syrah from Concannon Vineyards.

Today's challenge: "Find a strong series of horizontal lines or elements and make a photograph of it today."

Maybe I should consider new blinds - as well as new flooring!

Today's challenge: "Make a photograph of the front of a building today. Could be your house, the bank, or city hall."

I chose GM High School as the subject for my challenge today.

Today's challenge: "How did you get around today? Make a photograph of your transportation and post it."

Love the color of my car - it looks great when its clean. 9 yrs old and dependable too.

Today's challenge: "Make a photograph with either a 9 or 6 (components of today's date) in it represented in some way and post it today."

Played with the exposure a bit to get this one.

Today's photo is the smoke from the fire up Four Mile Canyon to the west of Boulder. This is what the smoke looked like over Flatiron's Mall, about 2:30 pm.

We took advantage of the nice days and hiked today. We started on the Glacier Gorge trail up to Mills Lake. We had an early lunch there and enjoyed the view for about 1/2 hour. Then we headed toward Dream Lake on the Lake Haiyaha trail. It was a gorgeous day, not too hot in the mountains, although still warm when we got back home.

Today's challenge: "Make a photo of a tool today. Screwdriver. Pliers. Computer. What's the tool you find most important on a daily basis?"

Well, it may not be the tool I find most important on a daily basis.....but I so wish I could still carry it with me on an airplane!

Today's challenge: "Make a low key photo today with lots of dark areas. You might need to use exposure compensation to make it work."

Well - maybe too much dark area. I thought the kitchen shutters would provide a good subject for today's challenge.

Okay - I think I've been on vacation from the 365 project long enough! So I'm back in it as of today!

Today's challenge: "Today's number is 5. Make a photo that illustrates the number in some way, either literally or abstractly. "

I moved offices at school, and until I cleaned the phone last week, you probably couldn't have read the 5 on this button. Clorox is a great thing.

Today's challenge: "Visit a park today--national, amusement, playground--and make a photo of something that catches your eye."

While up in Dillon for BBQ at the Summit, we took a little walk down to the reservoir. It was a gorgeous day in Summit County!

Today's challenge: "Fabric: we wear it, sleep on it, decorate with it. Make a photo of an interesting cloth design or texture."

As it was laundry day, captured this when doing bed linens.

Today's challenge: "Weather affects us all. Make a photo of weather or something affected by weather today."

The lake and clouds will surely be effected by the severe weather that is being predicted for this afternoon.

Today's challenge: "How does your garden grow? Make a photo of something growing in your or someone else's garden today."

I pass by these every morning on my walk.

Today's challenge: "Beauty is all around us. Make a photo of some naturally occurring beauty in your area today."

The temperature was in the high 90s again today, and a wildfire is burning on the west side of town (C-470 & Morrison Road) - and the late afternoon thunderstorms are rolling in.

Today's challenge: "Make a portrait of somebody today. It can be somebody you know or a stranger. Maybe even yourself."

Well - this was not my original photo for today's challenge. I had originally taken a photo of Joe when we stopped for a snack on our hike along the Colorado River Trail. However, on the way out I found a much better subject. She had two calves with her, however they were a bit shy, and I was only able to get one of them - sort of in the photo with her.

Today's challenge: "Pavement comes in many flavors. Asphalt. Concrete. Bricks. Stones. Make a photo of some pavement you see today."

It's hot here today. Had to get this early in the morning, otherwise too hot to stand out on pavement!

Today's challenge: "Today's theme is the number 6. Make a photograph of the number six, six objects, or express six in an alternate way."

I don't think I need to explain a lot on today's photo, other than the fact I'm in training all week - so essentially back to school - and always desperate to get my photo in before daylight is gone!

Today's challenge: "Today's theme is the color pink. Find something that's pink and make a creative photo."

I was also thinking of yesterday's challenge to include side lighting and shadows to create depth when I took this.

Today's challenge: "Make a photo that uses negative space to good effect. Give your subject room to breathe, and balance it within the frame."

After a stroll through Boulder's Farmers Market today, and some time at the Boulder Book Store, Joe and I stopped in at a little place for some iced tea, and a cupcake.

Today's challenge: "Double your art today. Make a photo of something you've created or crafted."

These are the covers to my photo books. All photos I've taken the largest ones being from the year we lived in Australia.

Today's challenge: "It's summer in the Northern Hemisphere. Make a photo of a cool, refreshing drink. Go for something creative."

To me there's nothing more refreshing than a glass of iced tea. Not sweet tea or that stuff you can buy in a bottle or a can, just brewed tea served on ice. It is also the one drink I miss when we travel - the only place I've ever been able to get iced tea outside of the US is at a Hard Rock Cafe!

Today's challenge: "Make a photograph that emphasizes a change in texture: smooth/rough, soft/hard, shiny/dull, etc."

What could be more different than the softness of the bathmat and the tile floor?

Today's challenge: "Ads promote removing wrinkles, but they often add character. Make a photo of something wrinkled, crinkled, or folded."

I never really thought I'd be taking a photo of Joe's dirty laundry - but here it is and it seemed to fit today's challenge! Maybe I should take a second when it's clean and folded.

Today's challenge: "Sunday Challenge: Compose an image that has a soft and dreamy look today, and make a photograph."

On a day when the temperature may hit 100 in Denver this one took a little thought.

Today's challenge: "Find something that's out of context today, natural or staged, and make a photograph."

Definitely staged! We did a 10 mile hike today in the Wild Basin area of Rocky Mountain National Park. We made it all the way to Ouzel Lake, and it was a beautiful day! I temperature in Denver hit 102 today - so the lower part of the trail had all kinds of people on it....maybe even some who shouldn't have been there....in this area we did see somethings such as this phone out of context - however it would have been too obvious to photograph them!

Today's challenge: "Everyone loves food photos! Make a close-up photograph of food you're enjoying on a Friday. Arrange for good lighting."

Summertime = Grilling at our house. Usually even dessert gets grilled. Tonight, no dessert, just Chicken/Apple brats with peppers and onions.

Today's challenge: "Get creative with abstraction today. Make a photograph of patterns and/or shapes that aren't recognizable objects."

Can you guess?

Today's challenge: "Corners are everywhere. Make a photo of an interesting corner today, capturing its light and angles."

Using my new camera - which fits in my pocket - I was able to find some corners on my walk this morning.

Today's challenge: Focus on a fragment of an object today. Make a photograph that only shows part of an object, not the whole thing."

My new camera arrived today! After agonizing over what to get....seriously considering a DSLR, I opted for a small point and shoot with a lot of options. Joe and I travel frequently - using our flight benefits, and I don't have the space to carry a DSLR with me. That and the weight of carrying one around were the key factors in my decision.

Today's challenge: "Find a scene that's dominated by one color and make a photograph of it. Use light and shadow to accentuate detail."

On our way home from Crested Butte we stopped in Salida and walked around for a bit. This was in front of one of the many galleries in the Old Town section of Salida.

Just two days before the Crested Butte Wildflower Festival begins, we hiked up the Copper Creek trail out of Gothic (an old mining town - now a Biologic Research Center).

We had sun most of the morning, but about 11:40 it began to sprinkle, so we headed back down. Then it really rained!

We walked around Crested Butte this afternoon. I really liked the look of this bike. Crested Butte claims to have invented Mountain Biking.

Today's challenge: "Today's theme is the color blue. Blue sky. Blue plate. Blue M&Ms. Make a photo of something blue and post it today."

One of my favorite summer flowers is Lobelia. These were at the grocery store today. I'm down a camera currently, so using my iPhone a lot.

Today's photo - I didn't go with the 365 Challenge today. I've discovered these daisies while on my walk this morning. I think the water droplets are from the sprinkler system, not our rain we had last night.

Today's challenge: "Make a photograph of something circular and crop it within a square frame."

Hmmm.....couldn't think of much else tonight.

Today's challenge: "What's your favorite device to access the Internet? Make a photograph of it today."

This was easy today - at least deciding which device to photograph. The last month this has been invaluable! I couldn't have done without it. I was able to list Andy, Tina, Joe and I on flights as our flight path to London (and home) changed. It also served us well in finding some hidden pubs in London.

Since I got my Palm IIe way back when - this is the device I have dreamed of!

Today's challenge: "Go high key today. Make a photograph that's all bright tones or dominated by white."

I took this from the 38th floor of the Grand Hyatt in Denver today. While attending ISTE 2010, I was invited to attend a special reception for Colorado teachers and Colorado TIE members. While I got a little reflection and the clouds in the photo, it was much hazier and whiter looking. I'm sure this is due to the forest fires we've got burning at the moment. Even through the haze I could still pick out Longs Peak to the north and Pikes peak to the South. It was a stunning view and a great place for the reception.

Today's challenge: "Weekend whimsy. Make a photograph of something that tickles your funny bone. Caption it accordingly."

Okay - so I changed it slightly to 'tickles my fancy'. This is my new favorite drink since my holiday in London. Pimm's No. 1 Cup. I think this is the most refreshing drink you could find in the UK when the weather is hot!

My favorite part? They serve it with a cucumber in the drink!

Today's challenge: "Make a photo of elements that are strikingly different from one another to add tension and interest to your composition."

I don't know why, but when I read the challenge this morning I immediately thought of ice cream and the scoop. Maybe I should eat more ice cream!

Today's challenge: "Make a photo composed of interesting shadows today. Try composing with long shadows at the beginning and end of the day."

Shadows this time of the day are good for those of us who are vertically challenged!

Today's challenge: "Look for abstract shapes and designs today. Make a photo of a subject everyone has seen that's not easily recognizable."

I've sort of been on a Daily Shoot break since I returned from our holiday in London. Today, I'm getting back on track.