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P52.2 Framed {Week 32} - Color Study 2

Happy Mother's Day and welcome to week 32 of P52.2 Framed. We are in our second week of color study - this time using complimentary colors (colors across from each other on the color wheel) as the foundation of our images.

I was searching all over for useable color combinations this week and at the eleventh hour I hit upon some blue/yellow combinations. First, some bubbly at brunch and then some fun graffiti.

Please check out what the rest of the group has found this week over at our collaborative site, Who We Become!

P52.2 Framed {Week 31} - Color Study 1

It's a new month and spring has finally arrived for most of us. With the improving weather, we are hoping to brighten things up a bit by embarking on a color study. For our first week's assignment, we focused on creating images with analogous colors (colors adjacent to each other on the color wheel, such as the warm tones in my image) or with a monochromatic color scheme - varying tones of the same underlying color or the more traditional black and white.

I admit, this shot was not taken with our assignment in mind, but with the beautiful red and yellow flowers, her orange shirt and her gorgeous smile, I had no choice but to post this image of my dear, dear friend and fellow P52 participant, Kami Chaudhery.

Please click on over to Who We Become to see what everyone is up to as we say hello to the month of May!

April Showers Bring May Flowers

One {April 2014}

So far, 2014 has proven to be an action-packed year for all of us in the One circle. Babies, weddings, school, big moves...we are not resting on our laurels. As April comes to a close, I know I'm not the only one who is struggling to find time behind the camera, but find time we do - if only for the most important things. Like a one-month "birthday"!

Please take a moment to pop around our small circle and see what my other amazing friends have found noteworthy this month, starting with the wonderfully talented Sarah. She has been in the throes of hosting a wedding, so perhaps we'll see some of the fun chaos, or maybe a peaceful moment in between...

Photo 52.2: Framed {Week 30} - Split Tone

It is week 30 for P52.2 Framed, and our final week on utilizing tonality as a compositional element. After three weeks of using lighting techniques to create mood, this week we turn to split tone color. Split toning adds a color tint to the highlights and/or shadows of an image, while leaving the mid-tones alone. It can be used in black and white as well as color photographs, as demonstrated below. Split tones can have a significant impact on the overall feeling of an image and is a fun, creative technique to employ once in a while.

Please head over to Who We Become to see our collective work this week - it's a fun and colorful collage!

Black & white with red highlights, green shadows

Magnolias

p52.2 Framed {Week 29} - Mid Key

Nailing down definitions for our month of tonality has proven tricky - especially this week as we turn to mid-key. While we know it when we see it, it is a bit hard to describe. My take: a pleasing, mid-range palate that lacks the overall brightness of high key and the drama and shadows of low key but that isn't so uniform as to obscure the subject or wash out the image. I think mid-key can be gorgeous, with rich jewel tones and textures, even though I prefer them in color.

My image this week doesn't have an obvious subject, but I played around in the bright sun and liked the feel of this out of focus shot of Madison Square Park. To me, it captures the urban environment and the impression of warmer weather with colors more than form. However, my mother mentioned that she "not a fan" of blurry images so perhaps it is not for everyone. :)

Please head over to Who We Become to see everyone's work this week!

p52.2 Framed {Week 28} - Low Key

This week on P52.2 Framed, we continue to use lighting techniques to add mood to our compositions. Low key lighting emphasizes darks and shadows, giving a dramatic or contemplative feel to an image. While the technique is a favorite of mine and makes for beautiful shots, this week's exercise demonstrates how much more of an impact low key lighting can have when the mood of the subject matches the tonality of the image.

And yes, there was also a hair cut.

Please pop over to Who We Become to see everyone's work this week!

P52.2 Framed {Week 27} - High Key

Merriam-Webster defines "composition" as "the way in which something is put together or arranged : the combination of parts or elements that make up something."

This month over at Who We Become, we are taking a step back from the more physical elements of our compositional study and focusing on other elements in the frame: creating mood. For week one, we are using high key lighting techniques to set the scene.

Examples of a high key technique can often be found in commercial work - bright images that have few mid-tones and even fewer shadows. Photographers may use this technique to create a sense of cheer or playfulness, or evoke feelings of youth. For my shots below, I think the brighter background and haziness of the light results in a dreamy effect and keeps the focus on my sweet subject enjoying a taste of Spring sunshine.

Please click over to Who We Become to see everyone's images this week - the bright palate is striking.

One {March 2014}

March was a big month, and this time around I can't help but break the One shot rule. It's our first month as a family of four and I just can't bring myself to leave either kid out. The big guy is climbing the walls while the little lady is just starting to wake up.

Please take a spin around our One circle to see what has touched the hearts of my dear friends this month, starting with Jessica Remus, who deserves much respect after riding out a rough Chicago winter.

P52.2 Framed {Week 26} - Halfway Point/Photographer's Choice

While I haven't made it back to the streets yet, I have made it to the playground where there are signs of Spring on the horizon. Tentative (and wet) but I have hope.

Those of us over at Who We Become are now at our halfway point in our second 52 week photography project. Please click on over to see what everyone chose during their "free" week and take a peek around. We've updated the site to include images and information on our first year's Project Light as well as our composition-focused posts from this year.

P52.2 Framed {Week 25} - Conceptual Contrast - New Addition

This week on P52.2, we are turning our attention to conceptual contrast. Big and small, old and new...there are some amazingly creative examples over at Who We Become. In our house, "old" and new seemed the most appropriate as we welcomed the newest member of our family. Not enough words in the world to describe how much I love these.

P52.2 Framed {Week 24} - Patterns & Contrast

As March inches onwards, over at P52.2 Framed we have transitioned from featuring patterns in our compositions, to using various concepts of contrast as the underpinnings to our images. This week, we are looking at traditional contrast - light versus dark.

On a family outing to Brooklyn yesterday, I had fun searching for the right light to work with for this week's assignment.

It's a beautiful and dramatic collection of shots over on Who We Become - please click on through to check it out.

P52.2 Framed {Week 23} - Broken Patterns

While there is certainly something soothing about patterns, sometimes it is really the break in a pattern that catches our interest.

This week, our life involved a lot of IKEA construction, leading us all to wish for a bit of an escape, both from our home and from our pattern of doing things at the last minute...

Please head over to Who We Become to see some amazing pattern breaks my co-conspirators found this week.

P52.2 Framed {Week 22} - Planets and Patterns

This week over at Who We Become, we are beginning a new month on pattern and contrast. Our goal this week is to recognize patterns in our everyday surroundings and see how we can incorporate them into our imagery. Be sure to pop over - I have already had a preview of an incredible Senegalese zebra and spiral staircase that are incredible captures for this week's theme.

The camera was not my steady companion this week, so I found myself attempting this assignment during a little outing to the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History yesterday afternoon. I've got stronger examples in the archives, but we did manage to find some lines and circles that fit the bill. We also saw a fantastic show about Dark Matter and took a few shots while in the theater for posterity.

One {February 2014}

It's time once again for our One shot. Oh, February. I'm not sure this is one I will look back on all that fondly, mainly due to the lack of respite in the winter weather. However, we had two gorgeous days and they fell over a weekend, so I am posting a shot of our little bookworm, looking a little less bundled than usual.

Please continue around our small circle, starting with my lovely friend Adele and a teachable moment down in Texas this month.

P52.2: Framed {Week 21}

It's our last week on perspective and having had a gorgeous weekend here in New York, I think I finally have a little of my own. Seems as though this winter has secretly been getting me down and it felt wonderful to be outside in the sun with my camera. And, much like my attitude, our theme this week was looking up. Shooting from below is a great way to get an interesting perspective on the ordinary, or focus on the things that often go right over our heads, literally.

Below are a few of my non-kid favorites (see Friday's post if you missed out on the boy in rain boots). Then, please do head on over to Who We Become to see the full collection.

Red Boots & Rain

P52.2: Framed {Week 20}

Over at Who We Become, our focus on perspective is coming to a close. This week, perhaps a more traditional interpretation of perspective: shooting from above.

This particular vantage point is one every parent is well acquainted with and holds a special place in our hearts. And in our household, now that we've got the big move behind us, next up is this little project. Evidence seemingly to the contrary, I can still see my toes. Big brother is not so sure he likes the idea but he has another few weeks to come around.

Housewarming

My lovely friend Vane stopped by last week with a beautiful orchid to welcome us to our new home. Little did she know the flowers would result in a bonanza of images as well. It's been a while since I have done much playing with reflections and shutter speed but some of those types of images are among my personal favorites so I decided to have some fun on a chilly morning this weekend. These were originally intended for my P52 square aspect ratio assignment but I went completely overboard so had to put them in a separate post.