Life's been busy and work's been busy.  I haven't been able to be on much or shoot much, but this weekend held ample shooting time thanks to some coworkers asking if I would come shoot a Crossfit event for them (one was competing and did very well!).  It was a different experience, I didn't really know what crossfit was other than a workout regime and I've never shot anything quite like this.  I don't think I did as well as I could, but I did come away with some pretty good shots.  I'll try not to overload you guys (in 2 days I took 1350 photos.  I've narrowed that down to a fitting 200 photos and so far have edited the best 60.  I'm certainly not going to post all those, but I may post a few throughout the week).

I tried to go at this in a journalistic way.  I wanted to document the event a little.  More than just the athletes competing.  I think these two were my best examples of this.

Get your Number

Mental preparation

Thanks for looking and as always, critiques are more than welcome.

edit:  because everyone's complaining it's too dark, a lighter version

Another set from tuesday night.  And please, all you "Nature's better in color" people... don't get your panties in a wad.  I have shots in color coming to post near you.

1          2             3

 A potter concentrates while working on a project 

 A potter delicately works the clay 

 A potter inspects a project prior to firing the project in a kiln 

For the Double-Dog-Dare (and challenge!):  Two shots I never got around to uploading.... probably for good reason. 

Okra Abstract

Come on, let's hear it.  Now I triple-dog-dare YOU to give me your worst!

Need theme photos? Then head for the most photographed place in town. And where, you ask, is that? Why Lime Kiln Park of course!

 Negative Space 1

 Negative Space 2

 Negative Space 3

Negative Space 4

 Colorful 

 Rocking 

 Emotion 

 Colorful Old Town 

The lost shots (not really... but kinda)... All film:

Bisti  Arches (not an arch, but the view when you turned to the left while standing next to one)  Little Molas

Hanging went... not very well.  But that's ok.  It's up and I guess that's all that matters.  I'll get shots of it up at the artist recpetion.  Look for part 4 in April.

Not really that old, but probably about a year ago I went out with a friend to go driving around to places we hadn't been to since we were little.  I'm the only one with cameras, so I had brought along both my film and digital and we took turns switching between the two.  Given that digital is more forgiving, we didn't use that much film (or she didn't) but I did have one roll of color I never got developed, got lost and recently showed back up.  I took it with another roll I had shot with my diana and got them developed last week.  There really wasn't anything spectacular but I had three-four shots of the rocks on the ground that intrigued me.  I pulled the shots into lightroom played with contrast, saturation, curves, split-toning, vingetting and even a little b&w and this is what I got:

Abstract 1  b&w 1

Abstract 2  b&w 2

Abstract 3  b&w 3

Let me know what you think.  I love taking pictures of things out of context, like these rocks and especially leaves.  Sometimes I don't think they're as successful as I'd like them to be, but I was pleasantly surprised with this set.  Honest critiques are encouraged and asked for, so go nuts!

 coif 

 wise guy 

Sleighbells ring,
Are you listenin'?
In the  Lane 
Snow is glistenin'.

A beautiful sight,
We're happy tonight.
 Walking in a  Winter wonderland 

First, the important announcement:

The next challenge (theme) will be presented by smalltown05.... or as some know this popular member... smalls or smally.

My entry in the B&W Challenge is:

 Mourning Dove

Two of Bailey for the b&w challenge.

Bailey

MMMmmmmmm.... Lunch

Thanks for looking!

It only took me three weeks to get all these pictures, but it took me 3 months to get them all done.  Here are the last shots from my southwest trip. 

 canyon wall 4 (arches)  canyon wall 3 (arches)  canyon wall 2 (de chelly)  canyon wall 1 (de chelly) 
paranthesis for location of shot

 Canyon de Chelly 

If I feel a little spunky later in the week, I might upload some of the interesting things I got out of my diana from the trip, but for now the trip is officially over.  Thanks for all the wonderful feedback and critiques on all of my posts from this trip.  I hope you enjoyed looking at the west through my camera!

Just a few for today.  I've finally finished scanning all my negatives. Well... not all.  I've finished reviewing all my negatives and selectively scanning and being even more selective after that as to which ones I finished processing.  So out of 288 frames, I scanned 50.  Out of 50 I only edited about 20.

So today, I'll bring you three from Arches National Park that I liked.  And I would like your opinion on which is the best out of the two Arch shots (one's just a shot of the fins I got to walk across).

 Double O 1     Double O 2 

Sometime next week I'll conclude my southwest trip with one last post.  Thanks for looking and have a great weekend everyone!

But we're moving up in class... or down.  Actually, both!  We're finally past headshots and this past week we had to shoot almost full body.  And we got to use 3 light sources.  Attempting to recreate the Avedon look (two umbrellas lighting the back a stop down from the Soft box that will light the subject).  I'm not sure how I did, but I was pleased with my results.

 My Roommate Katie

These were shot with Ilford FP4 (35mm) and one was with Ilford Delta 100 (120) shot with the school's Hassleblad, 1/125" at f16 for all.

Yes, there's grease on the floor and there's grease on the tables, but.... Oh, my such savory pulled pork..

 Let's stop here for lunch 

  Let's pick a table  

 It's nice and bright in here 

 It is quite a colorful place and not too crowded 

Bisti

Canyon de Chelly

Just two more from the few I scanned in last week.  I hope to get back to my negatives on Monday.  So more should be coming next week... sometime.