Valfal's photos

Saturday Self-Challenge: Photograph something that is "round" and use a square aspect ratio (1:1) Looking into an antique glass insulator. The blue color is from a sconce light with blue light bulb. In case you are not familiar with this item, I have included a photo in the note as a reference. I used the white insulator (back row center) for my challenge image.

Saturday Self-Challenge: Summer (or, if you live in the Southern Hemisphere, Winter). Take a shot of anything that represents your favorite aspect of the season. My favorite thing about summer is going near a large body of water and enjoying the marine atmosphere of boats and sea birds. It was a beautiful day when I took this photo as I walked the boardwalk promenade along the shore of the Chesapeake Bay. We've been seeing the hottest days of the year this past week, and with the heat came thunder storms. This day we saw rather dramatic billowing clouds reaching high into the sky. The sail boat on the water gives a good indication of how large this particular cloud formation was. Another sight of summer I love to see are green farm fields full of corn and grain. In the note is a photo I took the same day of a farm in Southern Pennsylvania.

One of the many scenic farm fields to be seen in Chester County, Pennsylvania, a short distance from the Maryland border.

Macro Mondays 2.0: Toys This is a doll from the line of Mattel's Monster High collection. They have been popular since the dolls were first introduced in 2010. They are collected by children and adults alike. One of my favorites is Toralei, a Werecat, pictured above. Below is a link to a site dedicated to the dolls for more information: mhcollector.com/wave-3-toralei-stripe

Saturday Self-Challenge: Basket(s) Baskets that hang in my living room; one of them is holding flowers from my garden.

My collection of antique glass bottles I've collected over the years.

Macro Mondays 2.0: Gasblasen / Gas bubbles Carbon bubbles seen in a glass of soda.

Saturday Self-Challenge: High Contrast in Black and White One of the biggest challenges was finding an appropriate subject that lent well to ramping up contrast. This antique mason jar qualified beautifully. After converting to black and white, I increased contrast as far as I could go without blowing out the image.

Macro Mondays 2.0: insects This image was taken last summer, but I only just now processed and uploaded it for the first time. This is a praying mantis I discovered well hidden among the plant life. It was dining on on a moth when I photographed it. Original image in the note. ~Best viewed enlarged on black~

Saturday Self-Challenge: "Guess What I am" Hint: I am very "illuminating". ;-) I will post the solution photo tomorrow morning. :-))

Beautiful Throatwort seen in the conservatory at Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA. ~Best viewed enlarged on black~

Fully opened blooms of the Sempervivum plant, better known as house leeks or "Hens and Chicks". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sempervivum ~Best viewed enlarged on black~

Also known as "Hens and Chicks" where I live. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sempervivum

Macro Mondays 2.0: Something Round The buds of Sempervivum, a succulent plant also known by its nickname "Hens and Chicks". ~ Two more photos in the notes ~

Saturday Self-Challenge: The Color Red Thought I would play with two of my toys this week; my crystal ball and a toy bear with the New York Fire Department patch on its belly, honoring the brave fire fighters who were among the first responders during the tragic event of 9/11/01. This little bear was among the many souvenirs made during that time. I also have a similar bear in blue with the NY Police Department patch.

One of the beautiful irises growing in my garden. They didn't last long and we went right into summer! This photo is dedicated to ima for figuring out the problem with PicMonkey and fixing it. I will be forever grateful! <3

Saturday Self-Challenge: Clouds After a week of either having solid gray sky or lack of opportunity to grab a shot of an interesting cloud formation, I had to settle for this shot of yesterday's setting sun while on break at work. The Mid-Atlantic region of the USA has been pummeled all week by heavy rain that at times created extensive flooding, in one case devastating a town that had endured a similar flood only two years ago. The sky finally cleared enough to see the sun sink behind more storm clouds heading our way. A few hours later we had another thunder storm pass through.

Saturday Self-Challenge: "Filling in the Frame" A beautiful Osteospermum flower I just planted in my garden this past week. Have a nice weekend, everyone!!