Sunday Stills "Bokeh"

This week's Sunday Stills challenge is "Bokeh".

 

 

From Wiki: “Bokeh occurs for parts of the scene that lie outside the depth of field. Bokeh is often most visible around small background highlights, such as specular reflections and light sources, which is why it is often associated with such areas. However, bokeh is not limited to highlights; blur occurs in all out-of-focus regions of the image.” Bokeh is not just for DSLRs with fast lenses. While bokeh is easiest to create with a DSLR due to their larger sensors, it is not impossible to do with a point & shoot.

 

 

Bokeh is created in one of two ways. A short focal length between the camera and the subject and wide aperture (small number, i.e. f/2.8 if your lens will open that wide) while keeping the background as far away as possible. A long focal length between the camera and subject, and the widest corresponding focal length while still keeping the distance between the subject and background as large as possible. A longer focal length will increase the depth of field – a larger focus plain – so the background would have to be farther away than with short focal lengths, otherwise it will all be in focus!Bokeh generally falls into two main categories: Hollywood style and cream cheese.

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Sunday Stills "Portraits"

This week's Sunday Stills challenge is Portraits.

Makenzie. I love side views.

The amazement.

The Firefighter.

 Brothers Caden and Tyler.

 Tyler's eyes, drowling,

and smiles!

Hubby

my first buddy, Starlet.

Sunday Stills "Potluck with a Purpose"

This week's Sunday Stills Challenge is "Potluck with a Purpose".  We are to pay more attention to the anglethat we are taking a shot from.  Some photos could be cropped to make better, or not.

Today, our soon-to-be 3 year old grandson, Caden, came to spend the day. He loves his Pop's tractor. Grandma has a tractor, too, and he knows the difference. 

We have an old lawnmower that he loves to climb on and pretend to turn on and mow. I tried to keep him off of it early this summer, when he was 6 months younger, to keep him from getting hurt. To no avail. I think it's in his blood. We don't have a large farm, but Hubby's family did.

Which is better, the photo with the tractor or the closeup?

Another tractor shot?

Or the close-up?

Then Pop let's Caden on the BIG tractor.

I love his smile!

Caden loves to make the bucket go up and down!

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Sunday Stills "In the Dark"

This week's Sunday Stills Challenge is "In the Dark".

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Sunday Stills "25 and 50 Steps"

This week's Sunday Stills Challenge is "25 and 50 Steps".   Holly suggested this and sent Ed both the instructions and the photographs. 

Choose a starting spot, walk 25 steps in any direction and take 3 photos. The 25 steps can be outside your home, inside your home, in your neighborhood or away from your neighborhood.
Once your steps have been counted out, you must anchor one foot, you can pivot on that foot but your anchor foot may not move.

I walked out my back door, and took 25 steps down the sidewalk.

Off to my left was this tree with bright orange leaves. We have very few trees that actually turn colors, as most of our trees have leaves that start to turn yellow, then go brown and fall off.

Straight ahead is a very special start. I just started turning this area into a perenniel garden this summer.

Off to the right is my horse barn. I just love the double X doors.

I took another 25 steps, and then I could see both trees with leaves that were changing color.

I came closer to the center flower garden area. This area has also become a resting area for one of my son's beagles, who just left us after 12 years.

 Then looking down, the brightly colored leaves.

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