What About Photo Challenges/Prompts

Photo Challenges for 2013

Have you given thought to or revisited the photo challenges you signed up for way back in 2012?  Some of the ones I participated in have concluded and won't be restarting in 2013, some I just couldn't find the time for, and some - well they appeared to be so clickish (I wasn't "in" the right inner circle) - so I didn't feel the need to contribute regularly.  I don't have delusions of successfully completing a 365 project, but like the challenge of contributing more - somewhere - so I joined a group on Flickr  (I'm even thinking of being a rebel and not following the suggested prompts either).  However I will continue to participate in a few challenges that I felt the blogger/originator truly wanted to connect with others and took the time to comment on each photo submitted.  With all that being said - here is the first posted photo for 365/2013 (I have taken more, but they are still living in my camera). 

Although it is not a masterpiece - it is a representation of what I often see driving my area's roads - endless pastures and rolls/bales of hay - all enclosed with barbed wire fences.  This particular day (Jan 2) was chilly, drizzling, and grey.  Winter along the Texas Gulf Coast isn't our prettiest time of year - the grass dies and we don't receive any snow to replace all the ugliness with a pretty winter scene - it is mostly mud (sometimes frozen mud).  I put this image into sepia tones to warm it up - for myself.. I don't care for the cold wetness and with this treatment I still project the same feeling - drab - but it doesn't feel as flat. 

I have found a 52 project that I'm hoping will be fun and will strive to contibute more to flickr & the craziness of Instagram.  Let me know how you are feel about continuing with photo challenges - or have you burned yourself out on them? 

Wordless Wednesday (on Thursday)

Yes, I missed the Wordless Wednesday prompt, but that seems to be the story of my life lately.  I've taken an unexpected, unplanned vacation from blogging (which I'm trying to get back to on a regular basis - a big thank you to everyone who has stuck with me during the past couple of weeks/months when my posts were scarce), haven't taken many pictures, and haven't done much of what I like to do as far as being creative.  What have I done?  The school year started and my house has an 8th grader (yikes - teenage girl!!) and a 5th grader who have taken over my calendar, my energy, my attention, etc... I love it all - but the school schedules always take us a while to get back into the groove.  We are summer people - a few activites, but not really tied to the clock or a lot of commitments. 

This image was taken recently - I stopped on the side of a country highway and watched the tractors do their work - I think this is the second hay cut of the summer (it still feels like summer around here - 89 is our high today).  The image also reminds me to just take a few minutes and watch what is going on around us.  I was trying to do a bit of quick processing to the image for an intended effect - not sure I'm there yet, but wanted to post anyway.  I know of some who are adamantly opposed to any HDR effects, but I still say that done tastefully it can help bring out some details. 

So, take a minute (or 5) today, stop, look around and just watch something (like tractors) or someone (here's your excuse to people watch) and discover what it going on in the world around your own life.  What did you see?