Challenges for 2009

The "Painting With Light" Challenge...06/08/09 The Challenge:Show us your interpretation of "Painting With Light". The Participants: Kre8ive, John (300m), The Curious Camel, Karina, Creative Deviance, Johnloguk, FotoEffects, Hillary, CSPics, and myself. The Result: Silliman Crest, Sequoia National Park This last Friday night, I was having dinner with my friend Ella in the Wuksachi Lodge. This is the sight that was appearing, as I was gazing out the huge picture windows. "Ella....I'll be right back!"

The Pen Challenge...06/01/09 The Challenge:Show us your interpretation of the word Pen. The Participants: Kre8ive, John (300m), The Curious Camel, Karina, Creative Deviance, Johnloguk, FotoEffects, Hillary, CSPics, and myself. The Result: Pretty Purple Poultry Pen Our son, Steven, presented me with the gift of this Pretty Purple Poultry Pen!! He handed it to me saying "I saw this in a store today, and it reminded me of you!" ROFLMAO !!!! The pen stands upright in its little stand inbetween uses. The first of my Daffodils had opened on this particular morning, so when I was inspired to photograph the 'pen' , my creative side suggested I combine the two subject matters for the contrasting color coordination. I did use a different image from this 'photo shoot' as a DP late in February. However, being given 'Pen' as the Challenge, I chose to share this subject matter again because it's so damn cute and unique!!

The Place I Like to Hang Out Challenge...05/25/09 The Challenge:Show us your interpretation of, "The Place I Like to Hang Out." The Participants: Kre8ive, John (300m), The Curious Camel, Karina, Creative Deviance, Johnloguk, FotoEffects, Hillary, CSPics, and myself. The Result: In my comfy patio chair on the deck of our home!!

The Black and White Challenge...05/18/09 The Challenge:Show us your interpretation of Black and White. The Participants: Kre8ive, John (300m), The Curious Camel, Karina, Creative Deviance, Johnloguk, FotoEffects, Hillary, CSPics, and myself. The Result: "Fletching-in-Red" I posted a different version as my Daily Photo.

The A Rose is a Rose Challenge...05/11/09 The Challenge:Show us your interpretation of A Rose is a Rose. The Participants: Kre8ive, John (300m), The Curious Camel, Karina, Creative Deviance, Johnloguk, FotoEffects, Hillary, and myself. The Result: I had been asked to photograph the wedding of Marissa and Eric, which was this last Thursday. It was a beautiful late afternoon ceremony, on a gorgeous day, with some outstanding light. This is SOOC, except for a slight crop.

The Lexicon Challenge...05/04/09 The Challenge:Show us your interpretation of your chosen Lexicon word. The Participants: Kre8ive, John (300m), The Curious Camel, Karina, Creative Deviance, Johnloguk, FotoEffects, Hillary, and myself. The Result: A great shop on Pier 39 caught my attention because they 'glitz' up their window displays, which 'resplendently' capture the afternoon sunlight. glitz  (glĭts) n. Ostentatious showiness, glitter or sophistication; flashiness tr.v. glitz·ed, glitz·ing, glitz·es Origin: 1970–75; perh. b. glitter and ritz Back-formation from glitzy, flashy, showy, probably from German glitzern, to glitter, from Middle High German glitzen, to shine, from Old High German glīzan; see ghel-2 in Indo-European roots.] glitz'i·ness n., glitz'y adj. ....................................................................................................................... re·splen·dent (rĭ-splěn'dənt) adj. shining brilliantly, dazzling in appearance, gleaming, splendid, radiant; gorgeous, magnificent Origin: 1400–50; late ME < L resplendent- (s. of resplendēns), prp. of resplendēre to shine brightly, equiv. to re- re- + splend(ēre) shine (see splendor ) + -ent- -ent [Middle English, from Old French, from Latin resplendēns, resplendent-, present participle of resplendēre, to shine brightly : re-, re- + splendēre, to shine.] re·splen'dence, re·splen'den·cy n., re·splen'dent·ly adv.

The Furry Friend Challenge...04/27/09 The Challenge:Show us your interpretation of "Furry Friend." The Participants: Kre8ive, John (300m), The Curious Camel, Creative Deviance, Johnloguk, FotoEffects, Hillary, and myself. The Result: Princess Margie

The Tree Challenge...04/20/09 The Challenge:Show us your interpretation of "Tree." The Participants: Kre8ive, John (300m), The Curious Camel, Karina, Creative Deviance, Johnloguk, FotoEffects, Hillary, and myself. The Result: The Lone Soldier In my DP for yesterday, I mentioned "Take note of the reddish-colored, bare promontory"; in this image, we are now standing on top and towards the highest part of that bare 'dome'! With absolutely no other growth nearby, this "Lone Soldier" is proud and stately. Quite a unique tree and is rooted precariously close to the drop-off edge, and that is one heck of a drop! Please reference here for a different perspective of this bare dome area. And if you really look, you will notice this tree at the highest part of the dome, in the middle! After I took this shot, I turned to my right and this magnificient scene was greeting us!

The Happy Easter Challenge...04/13/09 The Challenge:Show us your interpretation of "Happy Easter." The Participants: Kre8ive, John (300m), The Curious Camel, Karina, Creative Deviance, Johnloguk, FotoEffects, Hillary, and myself. The Result: Happy Easter! *********************************************************************************************************** Here's another Easter image

The Spring Flowers Challenge...04/06/09 The Challenge:Show us your interpretation of "Spring Flowers." The Participants: Kre8ive, John (300m), The Curious Camel, Karina, Creative Deviance, Johnloguk, FotoEffects, Hillary, and myself. The Result: On the night this 'challenge' was presented, my husband and I had our grandson, Colby, for "a sleep-over"! The next morning, I suggested we take advantage of this wonderful opportunity! For whatever reason, God sprinkled an abundance of wildflowers in the Shell Creek area, which is 45 min. southeast of us, in Atascadero. The blues, pinks and purples have yet to show their splendor. We had a fabulous day! When we were almost home, Colby said "Hey, you know what? When I grow up, I want to marry Gramma Kathy!" After thanking him for such a wonderful compliment, he added "Yeah! You're welcome! I've always wanted to marry you,Gramma Kathy!" (Was a shame that his eyes were closed, but I still liked this as the best of the bunch......a boy and his best friend!)

The Shadow from Light Challenge...03/30/09 The Challenge:Show us your interpretation of "Shadow from Light." The Participants: Kre8ive, John (300m), The Curious Camel, Bill Pador, Karina, Creative Deviance, Johnloguk, Trevlan, FotoEffects, Hillary, and myself. The Result: Anini Beach, Kauai, Hawaii

The Something Borrowed Challenge...03/09/09 The Challenge:Show us your interpretation of "Something Borrowed." The Participants: Kre8ive, John (300m), The Curious Camel, Bill Pador, Karina, Creative Deviance, Johnloguk, Trevlan, FotoEffects, Hillary, and myself. The Result: This week, each of the Ladies in our ever-so-fun flock, will be visiting me to 'borrow something'. They will 'choose their color' from my wonderful collection of feather boas!! (The solid purple, solid black, and pink w/black tips have already been selected!) We will be wearing these to the Raul Malo Show this coming Friday night! ........"Because we can!!" I posted a DP and information about the show on January 31.

The Something New Challenge...03/02/09 The Challenge:Show us your interpretation of "Something New." The Participants: Kre8ive, John (300m), The Curious Camel, Bill Pador, Karina, Creative Deviance, Johnloguk, MSpencer, Trevlan, FotoEffects, Hillary, and myself. The Result: Some new colors in our yard, with early morning light peaking through the clouds! 'Kniphofia Uvaria' aka: Red-hot Poker aka: Torch Lily - - originally from South Africa The Hummingbirds are loving these new blooms! I'm hoping to take some time to stand out by this bush, and patiently await the Hummingbirds coming in for a snack! And maybe I'll be quick enough to catch an image!! I had to post late; now I'm looking forward to seeing submissions from the rest of you!! (I intentionally have not yet peeked!)

The Something Old Challenge...02/23/09 The Challenge:Show us your interpretation of "Something Old." The Participants: Kre8ive, John (300m), The Curious Camel, Bill Pador, Karina, Creative Deviance, Johnloguk, MSpencer, Trevlan, FotoEffects, Hillary, and myself. The Result: MODEL #3-A FOLDING POCKET KODAK - June 16, 1914 'Manufactured by EASTMAN KODAK CO., Rochester, N.Y. Made in U.S.A.'

The Looking Up Challenge...02/16/09 The Challenge: Show us your interpretation of "Looking Up." The Participants: Kre8ive, John (300m), The Curious Camel, Bill Pador, Karina, Creative Deviance, Johnloguk, MSpencer, Trevlan, FotoEffects, Hillary, and myself. The Result: "Looking Up Knowledge" I really enjoy coming across new words, and 'looking them up' in our trusty Webster's Dictionary. This afternoon I was 'looking up': ontological argument = Philos. an a priori argument for the existence of God, asserting that as existence is a perfection, and as God is described as the most perfect being, it follows that God must exist; originated by Anselm, later used by Duns Scotus, Descartes, and Leibniz. Also called 'ontological proof' I also like to look up new words to replace more commonly used words; my trusty Thesaurus is a great tool!

The Looking Down Challenge...02/09/09 The Challenge: Show us your interpretation of "Looking Down." The Participants: Kre8ive, John (300m), The Curious Camel, Bill Pador, Karina, Creative Deviance, Johnloguk, MSpencer, Trevlan, FotoEffects, Hillary, MyKey, and myself. The Result: 'Looking down' on a favorite spot, from our 7th floor lanai, in Maui. This afternoon my husband asked how I'd feel about accompanying him to Hawaii in the near future!! He said he might like to go back to his favorite place again, which is where I took this shot in July of '07. Didn't take me long to answer him............with an affirmative!! :)

The Liquid Challenge...02/02/09 The Challenge: Show us your interpretation of "Liquid." The Participants: Kre8ive, John (300m), The Curious Camel, Bill Pador, Karina, Creative Deviance, Johnloguk, MSpencer, Trevlan, FotoEffects, Hillary, MyKey, and myself. The Result: Winery Fountain The California Central Coast (well....actually, most of California, now) is home to many, many wineries. This Fountain marks the driveway entrance to a winery on Hwy. 46 East of Paso Robles. When they designed their entrance and built the fountain, the flowing 'liquid' was purple! Yes! Their wine was flowing!! It made for a gorgeous and unique fountain, however, apparently problems were experienced. The fountain flowed purple for maybe 1 1/2 years, then the next time I drove by, the flow was clear :( My photo time for this challenge was spent in creating the collage. The purple flow image was taken in summer of '03. The clear flow image was taken last March, as MyKey and I were returning from our Desert trip!

The Motion Challenge...01/19/09 The Challenge: Show us your interpretation of "Motion." The Participants: John (300m), Bill Pador, Karina, Creative Deviance, Kre8ive, Johnloguk, MSpencer, Trevlan, FotoEffects, Hillary, MyKey, and myself. The Result: "Poultry In Motion"

The SOOC Still Life Challenge...01/19/09 The Challenge: Show us your best Straight Out Of the Camera (SOOC) Still Life The Participants: Kre8ive, John (300m), The Curious Camel, Bill Pador, Karina, Creative Deviance, Johnloguk, MSpencer, Trevlan, FotoEffects, Hillary, MyKey, and myself. The Result: "SOOC Still Life"! Recently I was visiting my daughter and her fiancee, Mike. Mike was going to the grocery store and while giggling, he suggested that I go with him and "bring your camera! Last time I was there I saw a display which you might want to photograph!" OMG! I immediately told him of the challenge for this week!! LMAO, he went to finish his shopping, while I was changing the camera settings inbetween several shots. Mike had already checked out, put the bags in the car and couldn't figure out why it was taking me so long. Well........the first Asst. Manager (who had stopped by to ask what I was doing) apparently gathered up and came back with the Manager, a female Asst. Manager AND the Security Guard!! Mike could barely contain himself!! He was envisioning walking in the door at home, and Kamryn asking, "Hi Honey....huummm....where's my Mom?" "Oh, she got arrested! For taking pictures of a nude, headless chicken!" (and BTW: it was a Hispanic grocery store.....and we were the only caucasians in there!) The facts are that it didn't quite come to that, but almost!! At first I told Mike that I wasn't sure I had the nerve (or whatever!) to use this as my submission for this challenge; as we were laughing on the way home, we decided that I now HAD to use this one because of the story! Re: photo info, this was in a glass-front refigeration case. A couple of days later, I also used this as a practice session for using some of the in-camera editing features, which I had never done before. P.S. Kamryn was soooo glad she didn't have to come bail me out!! I have an alternative image in my daily photo gallery

The Coffee Challenge...01/12/09 The Challenge: Show us your interpretation of the word, "Coffee." The Participants: Kre8ive, John (300m), Bill Pador, Karina Boese, Johnloguk, Creative Deviance, The Curious Camel, MyKey, Trevlan, Fotoeffects, Hillary, and myself. The Result: What's YOUR preference? "I'll take a Carmel Latte`, please!" ************************************************************************************************************************ I took this shot while meeting MyKey at my favorite local coffee house: Malibu Brew Coffee 6490 El Camino Real Atascadero, CA My thanks to owners, Paul and his darling wife!! An alternate submission for this callenge--MyKey's favorite local coffee cafe-- is in my Contender gallery. ********************************************************************************************************************** P.S. I never look at the other 'challenge' submissions until after I've posted mine; now I'm checking out the others.....this is so much fun! LOVE all the different interpretations!!

The Reflection Challenge...01/05/09 The Challenge: Show us your interpretation of the word, "Reflection." The Participants: Kre8ive, John (300m), Bill Pador, Karina Boese, Johnloguk, Creative Deviance, The Curious Camel, MyKey, Karina Boese, Trevlan, MSpencer, and myself. The Result: "Fanny", reflecting fun memories of this last year! This morning, I noticed the sun shining right on Fanny and her festive hat! Well...that took care of this weekly challenge! I was planning on choosing my submission for this challenge from my files; I have quite a few that would have fit for 'reflection' ! Since Fanny wanted her picture taken today, I have included two other images in my Contender gallery. Half Dome Reflection In Mirror Lake (Johnloguk: finally! Another image from Yosemite!) SP in Tent City Barber Shop

The Horn CCCAChallenge...12/22/08 The Challenge: Show us your interpretation of the word, "Horn." The Participants: Kre8ive, John (300m), Bill Pador, Karina Boese, Johnloguk, Creative Deviance, The Curious Camel, MyKey, Karina Boese, Trevlan, and myself. The Result: Horn(s), AKA: Antler(s) Here are two of the herd(?) that frequents our property. I was standing on the walkway close to our front door looking uphill. This is actually the slope; I was holding the camera straight. For this particular weekly challenge, I have to include the euphemism that for a while now, these two 'studmuffins' also happen to be very horn(y)!! ****************************************************************************************************************************** This is not the image my creative self was thinking of for this challenge. However, my time this week had to be spent elsewhere, knowing that I had several shots in my photo files which I could choose from, if need be! **************************************************************************************************************************** I'll use this image as an opportunity to provide an update on 'Jane Doe': These two bucks are two of the reasons we were protecting her; she couldn't get away from them. A couple of times, one of these boys jumped the fence, into the area we had her in, and we had to chase him off. Several days ago, we called authorities...again... and the decision was agreed upon to euthanize Jane. It was a tough, but humane decision; she wasn't improving, and we think she had also gone blind in both eyes.

December 15 The Tungsten Challenge...12/15/08 The Challenge: Show us your interpretation of the word, "Tungsten." The Participants: Kre8ive, John (300m), Johnloguk, Creative Deviance, The Curious Camel, MyKey, Trevlan, and myself. The Result: Tungsten: A rare metallic element having a bright-gray color, a metallic luster, and a high melting point, 3410(degrees)C, and found in wolframite, tungstite and other minerals: used in alloys of high-speed cutting tools, electric-lamp filaments, etc. ********************************************************************************************************************** Yeah, Yeah, I know; it's boring! Especially compared to the submission from Trevlan!! But, damn, he beat me to it!! Had to go for plan B!! So, I'm in the hardware store, with my camera; took these three items off their shelves, laid them on the floor, and began taking a few shots. The 'helpful hardware guy' greets me with "Excuse me, do you need any help?" Me: "Well, maybe! Do you have any more 'tungsten stuff'?!" His reply: "Huummm, well.....have you checked out the hammers and drill bits?" Me: "No, not yet........but thanks anyway!....I'm done now! I just LOVE these blades!!" With that, I put them back on the shelves, and made my departure!

The Title Me Challenge...12/08/08 The Challenge: This one is easy for our challenge group. All we had to do was take or present an untitled photo. The challenge goes out to our viewers. Give us a title! It will be up to the artist to choose the winner and it will be posted by Thursday morning. Come up with a great title and you can see it Thursday! The Participants: Kre8ive, John (300m), Bill Pador, Karina Boese, Johnloguk, Creative Deviance, The Curious Camel, MyKey, Trevlan, and myself. The Result: Come on! Let's hear those titles!? *********************************************************************************************************************** Winning title: ***********************************The Queen's Hotline"*****************************************

The Plane (or Plain) Challenge...12/01/08 The Challenge: Create a photo with your interpretation of the word "Plane" (or "Plain"). The Participants: Kre8ive, John (300m), Bill Pador, Karina Boese, Johnloguk, Creative Deviance, The Curious Camel, and myself. The Result: "Just A Plain Parking Place" ****************************************************************************************************************************************** (Because I had a hard time choosing!) Alternatives: "Better Than Plain Air Mail" "Just Some Plain Information" "The Plane Is Leaving"

The TBD Challenge...11/24/08 The Challenge: Create a photo with your interpretation of the letters, "TBD."." The Participants: Kre8ive, John (300m), Bill Pador, Karina Boese, jawsnap, Creative Deviance,Johnloguk, Al Sharp, and myself. The Result: Tiny Bells Dazzling! I wanted to create this one, after thinking about 'TBD' for a while!! (These bells are @3/4" long) However, I knew that I already had two images (taken earlier this month) which I could use for choice! I liked them as well, and they were so fitting for this challenge, that I've also posted both of them in my Contender gallery! Tiny Bird Delighting Temple Bells Delapidating

The Tuner (Tooner) Challenge...11/03/08 The Challenge: Create a photo with your interpretation of the word, "Tuner (Tooner)." The Participants: Kre8ive, John (300m), Bill Pador, Karina Boese, jawsnap, Creative Deviance, and myself. The Result: "Our Lil' Tuner"