2 Things Challenge - Abundant/Emptiness

This weeks 2 Things Challenge was Abundant/Emptiness.

The housing collapse has drained a once ABUNDANT city budget, creating an EMPTINESS on an entire floor of the City Hall.

Abundant / Emptiness

2 Things Challenge - Sharp/Dull

This weeks 2 Things Challenge is Sharp/Dull.  When I saw the words, all that came to mind was pencils.  I built a little box with an upper light and bounced an external flash for more fill.

Sharp then dull, sharp then dull, sharp then..........

Sharp focus on the tip, fade to dull background.

2 Things Challenge - Emerging/Satisfaction

It has been a couple weeks since I have touched my camera.  I finally got back into shooting with this weeks 2 Things Challenge, Emerging/Satisfaction.  It was taco night in the Johnson household Friday night, so I decided to try my hand at shooting food.  Below is a picture of a couple stuffed tacos with the the melted cheese EMERGING.  Soon, I will have the SATISFACTION of devouring their goodness.

2 Things Challenge - Instant/Delay

This weeks 2 Things Challenge topic is Instant/Delay.  This week I actually took the picture, instead of using an old photo.

In the morning, my hatred for INSTANT coffee always
creates a DELAY in my caffeine satisfaction.

Just a few shots

Early morning sun casts long shadows on a vacant floor.

Lonely stapler on my desk.

2 Things Challenge - Bumper/Crop

Another 2 Things Challenge entry.  This weeks theme words are Bumper and Crop.  The two submissions I have are both from a car show that coincided with Pie Day in Braham, MN.

This is a cropped bumper from a 1953 Ford Pickup.

I believe this is from a 1959 Chevrolet Impala.  

Weekend at Lobster Lake

Spent a nice weekend at Lobster Lake (near Alexandria, MN) with my wife and dog.  Didn't take a lot of pictures, but here are a few.

2 Things Challenge - Wooden/Eye

This weeks 2 Things Challenge words were Wooden & Eye.  While walking around the Great Minnesota Get Together (State Fair), there was this large wooden clown statue.  The clown was very colorful and I especially love the blue in the eye.

2 Things Challenge - Stone/Stare

For this weeks 2 Things Challenge, the subject was Stone/Stare.  I actually have two photos I would like to submit for this subject.  The first kind of meets the criteria because technically the statue is not stone.

This statue of Harmon Killibrew outside of Target Field
in Minneapolis is staring at the stone buildings
of downtown.

It is tough not to stare at the stone that
marks where your father is buried.

Canoeing the Rum River

Foggy Morning Walking the Dog

Got up yesterday morning and took my dog for a walk at a city park.  It was just a beautifully still and foggy day.

Photo project for my nephews and dad

My nephew Aiden turned 10 this summer and I got an idea (albeit not original) to do nameplate for him, his brother and my dad.  I went around and took pictures of objects that looked like letters.  Some of them I had to take some "artistic" license, but I think they turned out like I wanted.  They all have 5 letters in their name, so that made the construction process a little easier.

The names are:

Terry

Aiden

Riley

Walker Sculpture Garden

I am probably the last person in Minnesota with a camera that has never been to the Sculpture Garden at Walker Art Center.  It was a beautiful day yesterday for a nice stroll and drive with the top off my jeep.

2 Things - Master / Control

For this weeks 2 Things Challenge, the topic was Master/Control.  This is one of my older photos of my nephew walking my dog.  

Song of the Week (Dragon's Song by Blitzen Trapper)

With one under my belt, here is my next attempt at this project.  Getting the correct lyrics was tough and I still don't think they are totally correct.  Either way, I really love Dragon's Song, and hope to catch Blitzen Trapper at First Avenue at the end of this month.

Dragon's Song

Make your way to the beat of the drum

Make your way to the beat of the drum

Pray this day may be blessed as one

Make your way to the beat of the drum

Hold me tight in the light of the running sun

oh oh oh

The running sun

oh oh oh

The running sun my love

Yeah

Make your way to the crack of the guns

Up through the heat of the running suns

Treetops sway as they pray for the the wind and the rain

oh oh oh

Just what the earth can contain

oh oh oh

Can we take the blessed as one

Hands raised clap through the gathering haze

Let the sun burn through to the ancient days

You are half my heart set apart to the end of the age

oh oh oh oh

Make your way to the beat of the drum

Pray this day may be blessed as one

High winds race to the place of the dragon's song

oh oh oh

The dragon's song

oh oh oh

The dragon's song my love

Hands raised clap through the gathering haze

Let the sun burn through to the ancient days

You are half my heart set apart to the end of the age

oh oh oh oh

Song Of The Week Photo #1

It took me longer than I wanted and it was not what I originally hoped to do, but I finally got the photo done for my first Song of the Week.  The song was Whirring by Joy Formidable.

Disappointed in myself

It has been a pretty hectic week, as well as pretty emotionally draining.  Suffice to say, I did not get out with my camera at all this week.  Hopefully, this will be a much calmer week and I can catch up on some of the projects I want to accomplish. 

Song of the Week (Whirring by Joy Formidable)

For the first installment of Song of the Week, I will be using the song Whirring by Joy Formidable. Following are the lyrics:

Whirring

This much delight, fills columns to new heights

All these things about me you never can tell

Colors burn bright

Take a picture so bright

All these things about me you never can tell

Make me sleep so badly, visible friend

Turn the dial on my words

I can feel them fall short

Turn the dial, chime along, chime along

Watch these hands pull apart

Turn the dial on my words

Love can't see, stay there

These steps shadow

Life's will, gone shallow

All these things about me you never can tell

Make me sleep so badly, visible friend

All these things about me, you never can tell

Make me sleep so badly, visible friend

Turn the dial on my words

I can feel them fall short

Turn the dial, chime along, chime along

Watch these hands pull apart

Turn the dial on my words

Love can't see, stay here

New Photo Project Idea - Song of the Week

Since I started following the photo blog 2 Things Challenge, I have been trying to get out more and take more and better pictures. I feel I am still learning, with no formal training mind you, and want to continue to do so. Projects like 2 Things force me to think outside a comfort zone and put meaning behind a photograph.

Now that I have a little more desire, I have decided to start a new project of my own. Like 2 Things, I will have a weekly subject to photograph. However, rather than two words as the subject, I have decided to use music. At first, I was envisioning using my iPod to determine the song for the week, but I felt I would "cheat" at some point if I did not have any inspiration or did not like the song. So, I am turning to Minnesota Public Radio for inspiration.

Every Monday at 10 am, 89.3 The Current plays their song of the day. I will use Monday's song from that week and have a photo on this blog by 10 am the following Monday. If any followers would like to join me, I would love to see some of your interpretations.

2 Things Challenge - Fringe/Focus

While walking around Fort Snelling today, I stumbled upon a feather. For this weeks 2 Things Challenge, I FOCUSED on the ends of the feather and cropped it to the FRINGE of photo. I have a color image, but I preferred the contrast of the black and white.

Said / Done (Poem)

G od, I can't believe the word came out
O ur love was fading into the night
O bvious in thought, oblivious in action
D enial was all we had between us
B lame is equal and weighted
Y our silence tells me you agree
E ndings should end and not linger

Poetic attempt for this weeks 2 Things Challenge, Said/Done.

2 Things Challenge - Organic / Chaos

This is my first posting to 2 Things Challenge. This weeks topic is Organic / Chaos. Dunes and ripples are created on the Organic beach, but because of the Chaos of wind and sand, no two "ripples" are the same.

Empty Bench, Empty Beach

Empty Bench, Empty Beach, originally uploaded by pjoyn2000.

Just testing my blog settings.