2 Things Challenge: Table/Holiday

'Tis the season to gather around a Table with family and friends for the Holidays.  Over at 2 Things Challenge, the very appropriate theme was Table/Holiday.  Our family table is always filled with food, love and good times.  And no Scandinavian holiday celebration is complete without lefse.  Thank you Eeyore for allowing me some extra time on this.  Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone.

2 Things Challenge: Delay/Early

So, it has been way too many months since I added anything to this blog, let alone taken many pictures.   This morning presented me with an opportunity to get outside, in Minnesota, in December and play with my new camera, Nikon D5100.

The weekly challenge over at 2 Things Challenge was Delay/Early.  The fog EARLY this morning was thick and no doubt caused DELAYs all around the Twin Cities.  It was especially thick near the Rum River Bridge in Anoka, MN.

2 Things Challenge Exterior / Round

This past week I was lucky enough to be able to take pictures of our City's annual Safety Camp.  The camp is for kids going into 4th grade and they learn about all kinds of safety (fire, electrical, animal, etc) for two days.  The camp is held at one of our Fire Stations, and that's where I got the inspiration for this weeks 2 Things Challenge, Exterior/Round.

I love all of the lines, curves and sharp colors on fire trucks.  Looking at this EXTERIOR chrome lamp on the front of this truck, gives the world around a very ROUNDed perspective.  I hope to be a part of this event next year.  

2 Things Challenge Home/Image

A little over a year ago, my father retired from his job at Anoka County and began an 8 month journey to creating his retirement house on Third Silver Lake in Minnesota.  He officially moved in after Christmas 2011 and had all of the landscaping finished in the past month or so.  He has created more than a cabin, it is truly a HOME in every sense of the word.  It is comfortable, beautiful, and a place I am in love with.

A couple weeks ago, while sitting around a late-night fire, I was playing with some long exposure settings and captured this IMAGE.  This weeks 2 Things Challenge was Home/Image, so this seemed like an apt entry.  You may see more of these as time goes on, but that is only because I photograph things I care deeply about.

2 Things Challenge Blue/Fresh

For this weeks 2 Things Challenge the words were Blue & Fresh.  Blueberries were the first thing that came to mind, so I bought some blueberries and raspberries and played around with them a little.  For some reason, the idea of photographing still life is still foreign to me.  I don't think I had enough natural light for really effective photos.

Any constructive criticism would be much appreciated.

2 Things Challenge Road/Shadow

I am lucky that my wife has really taken to baseball in the last few years.  Because of this, we spend a lot of time at Target Field during the summer.  Sitting there, in the hot sun, I am always amazed that I we are watching grown men play a game for a living.

The ROAD to the "show" can be a long one for many of these players.  However, when that call comes to step onto a major league diamond and have the sun cast your SHADOW across a lush, perfectly mown patch of grass, it is all worth it.

2 Things Challenge - Ghost/Art

I can't draw.  I can't sing or dance.  I don't write all that good well.  That means, any ART I attempt will be in the form of photography.  That being said, this weeks 2 Things Challenge is Ghost/Art.

While down in Mexico this past April, I awoke to an amazing morning.  The sun was just off the horizon as this cruise ship made it's way to Cozumel.  The backlighting and sharp outline, made it look like a GHOST ship that had risen from the sea.  All the poor souls on board, sentenced for all eternity to sail the seven seas.  Passing close to beautiful ports of call, but never making landfall.  The horror.  The horror.

2 Things Challenge - Saturday/Hard

It has been a long while since I have participated in the weekly photo challenge over at 2 Things Challenge.  I am finally getting back to messing with my camera, so it was nice to get out this weekend with a goal in mind.   The two topics for this week was Saturday/Hard.

The City of Blaine Parks & Recreation Department sponsored a triathlon on Saturday, May 19th, at Lakeside Commons Park.  The event consisted of a 1/3 of a mile swim, 16.7 mile bike ride, and finally a 3.5 mile run.  Needless to say, an event of this magnitude is Hard on a body.  It is made even harder by the fact that the winner did it in 73 minutes.  Wow!  These athletes are amazing.

Weekend @ Third Silver Lake