Picture A Day Challenge for 12/7/07

This picture a day challenge has got me really trying to figure out better ways to use my camera. I've even pulled out the manual to see what the different settings do. That and seeing photographs from a friend's wedding done by an art photographer, I've started experimenting. I also read a little bit at the Confessions of a Pioneer Woman's blog about how she uses her camera and I learned more than anywhere I've looked, yet. When I drive to work, there's not a whole lot to see except the downtown skyline getting closer and it's hard to take pictures while driving, not to mention downright dangerous. So today, when I got to my parking spot right next to the San Antonio River, I snapped a couple of shots and experimented with depth of field. The first one is a distant focus, then a mid-range focus, then a close up. I'm going to remember these for when I start taking photos of other things just to take pictures. I was really inspired by the wedding pictures and know that I have a lot to learn.




I included these pictures because one of my coworkers said he thought they looked cool. And I kind of agree because of the lines of the crepe myrtle trees and the trunks of the cedar elms. But the picture I want to feature today for the challenge is the Hemisphere Tower of the Americas being kissed by the clouds.

Picture A Day Challenge for 12/6/07

I decided to drive to work today because the bus made me mad yesterday. I know, I'm not hurting anyone but myself, but I can't help it. I got to my stop just as the bus was pulling up and I started waving from across the street, but the traffic was just too heavy to get across before the jerk took off without even looking up! It's really not that big a deal, usually, but I had someplace to be last evening. The next bus was supposed to be there 30 minutes later, but it was 20 minutes late. So that meant I was 50 minutes behind what I had planned.

Anyway, all that's to say that since I drove, I took my camera in my car to see what I could take a picture of today. One of the things that I see nearly year round, but it's especially thick in the fall and spring is flocks of birds roosting at street intersections. We have grackles that live here pretty much year-round and there are certain areas that are especially thick with them. Like the one by the grocery store:


Have a great day!

Picture A Day Challenge for 12/5/07

I decided to take my camera on the bus today because when I got off yesterday at my stop over the Riverwalk, the light was just beautiful. The giant cyprus trees along the river bank have started "rusting" as the leaves turn. They're still somewhat green, but their full color hasn't come in. And the holiday lights are on on the Riverwalk, and although it was already daylight when I took this picture, the lights are still visible in the Westin Riverwalk trees. I didn't notice the ducks until I started browsing my pictures to load one today. Note also the reflection of the lights in the river. I'm hoping that this picture will whet your appetite for what's coming this weekend. I have to work Saturday night and I have every intention of bringing the camera to take pictures of my little corner of downtown lit up for Christmas.

Picture A Day Challenge for 12/4/07

Since I wasn't going to take my camera on the bus and I didn't know what the rest of the day held for me, I took a shot while I was driving to the bus stop. This is what winter in South Texas looks like early in the morning. All that's left of the summer plants are their skeletons, making them look so very stark. We don't get snow here to cover things up.

Picture A Day Challenge for 12/3/07

It's kind of hard to get all the colors of the sunset sometimes. I was driving home and saw these incredible clouds at sunset. I know, don't take pictures while you're driving, but it was impossible to pull over and I was at a perfect place to capture this (except for the billboard!). If you can look past the billboard, it's a typical sunset after a beautifully sunny and cool day.

I'll take all the beautiful sunsets I can get.

Picture A Day Challenge for 12/2/07 - Journey to Bethlehem and Christ Child Service

Yesterday was our church's major kick-off for Advent. The Children's Department provided the Journey to Bethlehem which was followed by a worship service we call the Christ Child Service. This is when we make our special gifts for the month of December in support of ministries outside the walls of our church.

The Journey to Bethlehem was great for children because it gave them a sense of what life was like at the time Jesus was born. We had a farmers' market, the scribe, a weaving station, a carpenter shop, a grain mill, a bakery, a pottery tent, the spice tent, a perfumery, a toy shop, a beggar (that was Larry), authentic food, and farm animals. The animals were rabbits, chickens, ducks, a donkey, goats, a sheep and a llama, which Larry the beggar referred to as the compact camel. I'm not sure they had llamas in Bethlehem 2000 years ago. As they came in, people were invited to put on costumes if they liked, so there were a lot of small children running around in "tunics." They all got to try their hand at all the tents, including grinding grain by hand.


After the village re-enactment, we had our Christ Child Service. We had three choirs singing, our little praise band playing, and an older couple in the church explaining the meaning of the Nativity. One of the choirs was the Young at Heart chorus, then the youth group's "God Squad," and finally the young-in-heart children's choirs. Our adult choir didn't sing, which is unusual because we always sing. It was a nice change, though. I played both alto sax and clarinet in the band. What was strange was that, since we didn't have any praise singers, I played the melody on several songs, most of it sight-reading. It was a trip! Unfortunately, my lip gave out right at the end of the last piece. I haven't played so much in years. Well, the service culminated in the lighting of the Chrismon tree. Chrismons are "Christian Monograms." They are the symbols of Christianity. The ornaments have been made over the years by the children and they include fishes, angels, the Chi-Rho symbol, the bible, a church, and many more. They're made out of two layers of white felt sewn together and lightly stuffed, then decorated with beads, ribbon, glitter, whatever makes them shiny.


I hope you all are successful this Advent in preparing your hearts for the coming Savior. Merry Christmas!

Picture A Day Challenge for 12/1/07

Lisa at 123-scrap offered up a really neat challenge. Post a picture a day to your blog and write about it. At the end of the month, print them out and make a scrapbook about it. I haven't totally committed to it, but I'm going to try. I actually took pictures on Dec. 1 and 2, so I'll start with those.

Saturday morning was balmy and warm, so Breakfast with Santa could be slightly uncomfortable for our Santa and kids in sweaters. I was recruited to be the photographer for our church's Breakfast with Santa, proceeds to support our local Emmaus community. This was after I had just returned from Chicago the night before. The picture for this day is the group of people who put on the event. Sadly, I ended up running the computer copying the pictures to CD for the parents, so I didn't take the actual picture, but it was my camera!


Bill had been growing his beard for a couple of months and made a really convincing Santa. This was only the second year they've done this, so there are still a few things to learn, like don't use shiny paper for the backdrop! Several of the ladies were making the pancakes and sausage, Russ was the moneykeeper, and Karen helped with getting the CD's to the right people. We had 109 kids come by to visit Santa. I think they counted it as a success. I'm just glad I could help.