Happy Dog

Happy Dog
Originally uploaded by Oogie McGuire

Tried to get her licking her lips but this was the best I could do. This is Winnie one of our Livestock Protection Dogs.

Sunday challenge: Make a photo that invokes or communicates happiness to the viewer. Make 'em feel it, not just see it!

Horizon of Clouds

Horizon of Clouds
Originally uploaded by Oogie McGuire

The Black Canyon of the Gunnison is over there under the clouds.

The horizon can be a strong composition element. Make a photograph that emphasizes the horizon today.

Places I've Never Been

Places I've Never Been
Originally uploaded by Oogie McGuire

Books take you to all sorts of wonderful places you can never go. Whether it's Pern, or the Expanded Universe or the Rabbit Hole or the Jungle or Discworld or hundreds more. This is a tiny fraction of the worlds within our books.

Novelty can help goose creativity. Go somewhere today you've never been, even just a different street, and make a photo.

Negative Space

Negative Space
Originally uploaded by Oogie McGuire

A very difficult assignment for me.

Negative space can be just as important to a composition as your primary subject. Explore negative space in a photograph.

GRiDpad & iPod Touch

GRiDpad & iPod Touch
Originally uploaded by Oogie McGuire

Old and New technology in conflict.

There is often a conflict between traditional and contemporary. Make a photo that shows this tension.

Black and White

Black and White
Originally uploaded by Oogie McGuire

I interpret monochrome to be lacking color.

Monochrome photos don't have to be the result of processing or desaturation. Find a monochrome composition and shoot it.

Kitchen Squares

Kitchen Squares
Originally uploaded by Oogie McGuire

Our sink backsplash.

Squares and grids surround us in our built environment. Focus in on some squares today and make a photograph.

Move Along

Move Along
Originally uploaded by Oogie McGuire

Our Sheep in Colorado Snow

Backgrounds are tricky. They can make a subject stand out or distract from it. Make a photo with a good background today.

Back Window View

Back Window View
Originally uploaded by Oogie McGuire

Snow built up on the roof of the back porch. I filled the frame with snow and I'm on the second floor!

An old adage in photography says if you want to improve your photographs, move closer. Fill your frame today!

Symbols

Symbols
Originally uploaded by Oogie McGuire

Biohazard or Klingon Batleth?

Symbols can be simple, ornate, plain, or colorful. Make a photo of a symbol that represents or stands for something else.

Shadow Cat - Framed

Shadow Cat - Framed
Originally uploaded by Oogie McGuire

Our indoor cat framed by the stair railing.

Frames outline the focus of a subject. Make a creative photo with natural framing: windows, doors, trees, borders, etc.

Fragile Crystal & Hard Rock

Fragile Crystal & Hard Rock
Originally uploaded by Oogie McGuire

WIne glass plus rock fireplace.

Fragility conveys tension. Make a photo today of a person or object in a fragile state.

Knitted Quilt Assembly

Knitted Quilt Assembly
Originally uploaded by Oogie McGuire

One of my events for the Ravelympics. A WIPs Dancing Entry for Team WIP2010. I am trying to finish this knitted swatch quilt before the closing ceremonies of the Olympics. I have 2 pieces attached and a plan for how to do the rest. Doubt if I will finish in time though.

Things are always a-changin'. Make a photo that offers a snapshot of something being built, fabricated, or assembled.

Red, White and Blue

Red, White and Blue
Originally uploaded by Oogie McGuire

Our Patriotic Sheep for President's Day

It's Presidents Day in the U.S today. Make a photo with a patriotic theme for the country you call home.

Love is a Local Dinner

Love is a Local Dinner
Originally uploaded by Oogie McGuire

Our own Black Welsh Mountain Sheep Rack of Lamb, local potato from Small Potatoes Farm, local Salad Greens & local wine, Pinot Noir from our neighbors up the road at Terror Creek Winery.

Sunday (Valentine's Day) challenge: What is love? Make an interpretive photo today. Keep it clean, people. :-)

Odd and Even

Odd and Even
Originally uploaded by Oogie McGuire

New Feeder for Ram Lambs, 1 feeder 2 pieces Both odd and even.

Odd or even: Compose an image with an odd or even number of subjects today, and make a photo.

Fifth Elephant and Splinter Cell - Endgame

Fifth Elephant
Originally uploaded by Oogie McGuire

FInished this one recently, Fifth Elephant by Terry Pratchett

Splinter Cell - Endgame
Originally uploaded by Oogie McGuire

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell - Endgame by David Michaels

Continuing the Friday fun theme, make a photo that goes with the title of a book you've read.

Wide Angle

Wide Angle
Originally uploaded by Oogie McGuire

I rarely zoom in for my pictures so I used this daily shoot exercise to play with taking pictures and using my camera and photo editing software to stitch pictures together.

We often get stuck in a rut of always zooming to the longest focal length. Break out today by making a wide-angle photo.

Hobby Sampler

Hobby Sampler
Originally uploaded by Oogie McGuire

Spinning, knitting and making scrapbooks. Just 3 of the things I enjoy as hobbies along with weaving, reading, quilting, and even some sewing although the latter is mostly for sheep.

We all have some sort of hobby or favorite activity. Make a photo that shows something you enjoy doing.

A Rose By Any Other Name...

A Rose By Any Other Name...
Originally uploaded by Oogie McGuire

I have a seriously black thumb But I haven't had this lovely rose long enough to kill it. My attempt at capturing beauty today.

Franz Kafka said "Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old." Make a photo of something beautiful today.

Shadow Cat

Shadow Cat
Originally uploaded by Oogie McGuire

This is Shadow, our inside cat.

Pet photos are such a cliche, but they're also cute. Make an interesting photo of a pet today.

Which Came First: The Chicken or the Dinner?

Which Came First? The Chicken or the Dinner
Originally uploaded by Oogie McGuire

We raise all of our own chickens for meat. This is a broiler hen that got into the laying hen pen and escaped the butcher date. She's laying eggs so we are letting her stay rather than joining her relatives on our plate.

Challenge: Practice storytelling today. Look for 3 images that tell a story, and make a set of photos that go together.

Curves

Curves
Originally uploaded by Oogie McGuire

I wanted to get a picture of the bike rack with a bike in it but I guess it was too cold and snowy for any bikers to come out to drink Beer at Revolution Brewing today.

Curves carry the eye along with them. Make a photo that creates a sense of movement with curves today.

Black Sheep - Comedy Horror Movie

Black Sheep - Comedy Horror Movie
Originally uploaded by Oogie McGuire

It's gory, it's sick, it's very, very funny...

Black Sheep, The Movie

More fun on a Friday: Make a photo that goes with the title of a movie you've seen, interpreted any way you like!

iBook? or not

iBook? or not
Originally uploaded by Oogie McGuire

My computer story. Hubby installed Linux on my old iBook and then modified the log to reflect the new system.

Contrasting ideas engage the mind. Make a photo today that tells a story with contrasting elements.

Sharp

Sharp
Originally uploaded by Oogie McGuire

Knitting needles are not very sharp but the other things I thought of I didn't have all the parts I needed to make the picture in my mind.

Make a "sharp" photo today any way you interpret it, either tack-sharp focus or a subject that is sharp itself.

Winter Pruning

Winter Pruning
Originally uploaded by Oogie McGuire

I know spring will come but it sure feels like winter now.

It's Groundhog Day in the U.S. Make a photo that illustrates whether it's more like winter or spring where you live.

Something Orange

Something Orange
Originally uploaded by Oogie McGuire

This is our barn cat Agent Orange. I disturbed his beauty sleep.

Time for another color theme: Orange! Keep your eyes peeled for anything orange today and make an interesting photo.