My 52 project

[dizzy]

I've decided to have a go at a year long project called My 52 for 2009, a challenge laid down in talkphotography.co.uk where a different theme is chosen at random every week for the year. I'd never attempted anything with fixed themes, but I really liked the way they make you think and hopefully, being forced to think and probably more importantly spend much more time with the camera there will be some improvement during the year. Hope you guys don't mind my boring you with it too?

It's not a huge step away from how I normally approach capturing images in so much as I'll usually go out to a specific location with something in mind rather than just wander around with the camera so I'm hoping I'll be OK. Of course, I could be rocking gently on the edge of my bed gripping my knees with a tiny amount of dribble flowing down my chin by June...

Anyway, week 1, Reflection. The shot I really wanted to do couldn't be done (sunset reflected in the strip casino skyline) as I am on late shifts all this week and wouldn't be anywhere near downtown vegas at the right time of day. The majority of the ideas I had this week had to be ruled out as I'm working right through to Sunday. Bad times.

Keeping sunset in mind I came up with this image out in the desert taken exiting Creech AFB of the sunsetting in my passenger side wing mirro! The moral this week? Always remember to keep an eye on where you've been, you might just miss out on a treat if you don't!

[dizzy]

Now then, 52.2 - History. As I said before, I knew straight away where or rather what I wanted for this. So, a bit of internet research and a route planned to make it a great family day out and off we went to find a Ghost town! I was amazed to find that there are 10 ghost towns to every living town in Nevada! The one we stopped at was Rhyolite. It had a population of 8000 at it's peak but lasted only 5 years when the mines closed down. I had 3 shots which I really couldn't make my mind up, but this was the in line with what I really wanted to capture. It was inside a tiny, ramshackled 2 room 'house' and I spent quite a while sitting inside wondering what had happened here, who had lived in it and what their life could have been like. Anyway, enough rambling!!

[SmartWombat]

Great - when I get out to PMA I want to go visit a ghost town or two.
Any tips on where to go welcome !

[dizzy]

thanks. I went up to Rhyolite, which is approx 110miles nw of Vegas. It's just before the NE entrance to Death Valley so seemed like the logical choice to do a nice loop rather than going miles and miles just for the ghost town. It was just over 300miles round trip doing an anti-clockwise route. If I manage to get to anymore then I'll make sure I give you feedback on them!

[susaan]

Enjoying your project,photos and stories.

[dizzy]

thanks! I was worried incase nobody wanted me to post it on here. It's an odd feeling having it all out of the way on day one of the week. What am I to do for the rest of the week?? Oh, that's right, I'm in work for the rest of the week...

[dizzy]

This weeks theme was learning. I thought I'd think outside the box a little rather than just take a still life of text books or someone sitting studying. Anyway, this was the result. It's our kitten learning all about hunting (and playing!) with her toy mouse. I wanted to show the action, hence the slow shutter speed and did the colour pop just to make it obvious what she's got!

[SmartWombat]

very good, nice motion, pose, and claws

[Frog]

This is a great project to endeavor and all your shots are working.
Keep it up!

[dizzy]

many thanks. Just had next weeks theme passed to us and it's an absolute shocker! I'm clueless at the moment and desperately hoping I have a flash of inspiration.

[Lori11]

This is great, love the cat shot, his paws/claws are so clear. Cant wait to see more!

[dizzy]

thank you!

[dizzy]

When i was told this weeks theme my initial reaction was, bugger. After a day or so of feeling clueless the ideas began to flow. Thankfully! Unfortunately, most of my ideas would have needed flash or studio lights that I don't have. I enlisted the help of Marcus, our friends little super star and a fun game of peek-a-boo! I new I'd have an issue with noise shooting indoors with bumped up iso, but think it just about escapes in mono. Don't tell anyone, but it was always going to be in mono anyway!!!

So... 52.4 Surprise - Peek-a-boo!!

[dizzy]

52.5 - Opposites. Well, I had quite a few ideas for this weeks theme and I'd still like to do some of the others but times been against me this week. I wanted to think a little laterally this week and enlisted the help of a couple of guys from my Section to be opposite sides of the argument! I would have liked a few more shots but we have been maxed out this week so this was literally 60 seconds in the howling, bone chilling, wind before we had to get back to the grindstone.

[Old Timer]

Nice work! This project should help you improve as a photographer. Your first efforts have been very impressive. Hope you keep us updated by posting your pics.

[dizzy]

thanks for the encouragement!!

[dizzy]

hadn't realised that there was a photo projects forum. Should this thread be moved there? If so, who do I ask to do it? Thank you!

[Old Timer]

No. I think you are in the right place. The photo project is a specific assigned photo type or theme each month.

[SmartWombat]

No reason why you can't work on both projects, if you have enough time

[Shebang]

Very creative and nice work!

[dizzy]

No reason why you can't work on both projects, if you have enough time

Well I have got a couple of weeks leave coming up... :idea:

[dizzy]

Very creative and nice work!

Many thanks, Paula :thumbsup:

[dizzy]

52.6 Special - Our Hollie.

Well... This week's theme (Special) made me want to go and find somewhere that was doing a closing down sale (special deals) or a nice chalk board outside a restaurant for dish of the day. However, it had to be a personal portrait in the end. So here we have a portrait of Hollie! The kids are the most special things in our lives so it fits the bill for me. She's a free spirit and likes to dress how she wants and doesn't care if people like it or not. When I saw her walking down a corridor in bare feet, I had to get the shot! A very special girl, a light in our lives, Our Hollie.

[scott-devon]

Interesting project, I love this last shot, I'm not sure why but it brings innocence to my mind. Great shot.

[dizzy]

Many thanks, this weeks theme is crowds. That's going to involve down town vegas. Yuk!!!