A Photo a Week Challenge: Twins

I have always been fascinated by twins. As a child, I wished I was a twin. (I also wished I had blonde hair, dark brown eyes, and a metabolism that let me eat whatever I wanted — like my sisters — but that’s how life goes.) I love it when I come across twins in nature, like these leaves.

IN A NEW POST CREATED FOR THIS CHALLENGE, SHARE A PHOTO OR TWO OF TWINS.

Everyone is welcome to participate, even if your blog isn’t about photography.

Here’s how it works:

1. Each week, I’ll come up with a theme and post a photo that I think fits. You take photographs based on your interpretation of the theme, and post them on your blog (a new post!) anytime before the following Thursday, when the next photo theme will be announced.
2. To make it easy for others to check out your photos, title your blog post “A Photo a Week Challenge: (theme of the week)” and be sure to use the “postaday″ and “Photo a Week” tags.
3. Come back here and post a link to your image in the comments for this challenge.
4. Follow nancy merrill photography so that you don’t miss out on weekly challenge announcements.

A Photo a Week Challenge: Dead Plants

Whenever we come across a dead tree, my husband loves to take photos of it. I have to admit that I’ve come admire the stark beauty of dead and dying plant life (yes, I know that’s an oxymoron). It can add startling contrast in the midst of life. It can accentuate a bleak landscape. In a forest, it is also a sign of the cycle of life. As the old trees and plants die, they decay and enrich the ground so that new life can thrive.

IN A NEW POST CREATED FOR THIS CHALLENGE, SHARE A PHOTO OR TWO THAT INCLUDES DEAD OR DYING PLANTS.

Everyone is welcome to participate, even if your blog isn’t about photography.

Here’s how it works:

1. Each week, I’ll come up with a theme and post a photo that I think fits. You take photographs based on your interpretation of the theme, and post them on your blog (a new post!) anytime before the following Thursday, when the next photo theme will be announced.
2. To make it easy for others to check out your photos, title your blog post “A Photo a Week Challenge: (theme of the week)” and be sure to use the “postaday″ and “Photo a Week” tags.
3. Come back here and post a link to your image in the comments for this challenge.
4. Follow nancy merrill photography so that you don’t miss out on weekly challenge announcements.

A Photo a Week Challenge: A Change in the Weather

In Utah, the weather can change very quickly. During the fall and winter, you hear people saying “If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes.” I’ve always found it interesting that if the forecast calls for rain, the chance has to be higher than 75% for it actually happen. With snow, it only has to be 15% for it to happen. I’ve watched a weather forecast where they were predicting a 20% chance of snow while it was actually snowing at same the time. On a beautiful fall Sunday afternoon, we took a drive up in the Uintas. As we were heading back down the mountainside, a storm started moving in, and this was our view.

IN A NEW POST CREATED FOR THIS CHALLENGE, SHARE A PHOTO OR TWO OF SIGNS THAT THE WEATHER IS CHANGING OR AN INCOMING OR PASSING STORM.

Everyone is welcome to participate, even if your blog isn’t about photography.

Here’s how it works:

1. Each week, I’ll come up with a theme and post a photo that I think fits. You take photographs based on your interpretation of the theme, and post them on your blog (a new post!) anytime before the following Thursday, when the next photo theme will be announced.
2. To make it easy for others to check out your photos, title your blog post “A Photo a Week Challenge: (theme of the week)” and be sure to use the “postaday″ and “Photo a Week” tags.
3. Come back here and post a link to your image in the comments for this challenge.
4. Follow nancy merrill photography so that you don’t miss out on weekly challenge announcements.

A Photo a Week Challenge: Splash of Color

Images are all about color, or the absence of color. A photo can be more stunning and dramatic in black and white than in color, and vis versa. The presence of a color in a mostly monochrome image will draw the eye to the color. Sometimes the effect is created, like the image of the peppers, in a color image, sometime (with the help of photo editing software) the effect of keeping only part of the image in color, like the wedding picture. With the second one from T&J’s wedding photos, I also blurred the outer portion of the image to draw the eye even more to the center.

IN A NEW POST CREATED FOR THIS CHALLENGE, SHARE A PHOTO OR TWO THAT INCLUDES A FOCUS COLOR.

Everyone is welcome to participate, even if your blog isn’t about photography.

Here’s how it works:

1. Each week, I’ll come up with a theme and post a photo that I think fits. You take photographs based on your interpretation of the theme, and post them on your blog (a new post!) anytime before the following Thursday, when the next photo theme will be announced.
2. To make it easy for others to check out your photos, title your blog post “A Photo a Week Challenge: (theme of the week)” and be sure to use the “postaday″ and “Photo a Week” tags.
3. Come back here and post a link to your image in the comments for this challenge.
4. Follow nancy merrill photography so that you don’t miss out on weekly challenge announcements.

A Photo a Week Challenge: Music

In most countries, culture is infused with music. It is part of history as well as current events. Like other art forms, music not only tells the story of an era, but also helps to shape it. During times of war and conflict, popular music becomes more nationalistic and patriotic. During the Great Depression, popular music not only lifted people up, but also spoke of the struggles of many. When a place is experiencing peace and prosperity, popular music is usually more bubbly and lively. One thing that popular music has always done is shock the older generations. My parents didn’t like our music. Their parents didn’t like their music. And on back throughout the centuries. Johann Sebastian Bach (ah, Bach) was an underpaid, little-recognized chapel meister in Lipzig, Germany for the majority of his professional career. His music wasn’t “discovered” until Felix Mendelssohn conducted a performance of it in 1829 (it was the first performance since Bach’s death in 1750).

I was raised on classical, jazz, and big band, though we all loved the Beatles and Simon & Garfunkel (much to the dismay of my parents).  This picture is of local musician Jed Moss, who is an amazing pianist, all-around artist, and just the nicest guy you could possibly hope to meet. I took this picture of a performance he gave of an incredibly difficult piece (look at all of those notes on that music — shesh!) at my nephew’s Eagle Scout Court of Honor.

So what’s your favorite music?

IN A NEW POST CREATED FOR THIS CHALLENGE, SHARE A PHOTO OR TWO THAT INCLUDES MUSIC IN SOME FORM OR OTHER.

Everyone is welcome to participate, even if your blog isn’t about photography.

Here’s how it works:

1. Each week, I’ll come up with a theme and post a photo that I think fits. You take photographs based on your interpretation of the theme, and post them on your blog (a new post!) anytime before the following Thursday, when the next photo theme will be announced.
2. To make it easy for others to check out your photos, title your blog post “A Photo a Week Challenge: (theme of the week)” and be sure to use the “postaday″ and “Photo a Week” tags.
3. Come back here and post a link to your image in the comments for this challenge.
4. Follow nancy merrill photography so that you don’t miss out on weekly challenge announcements.

A Photo a Week Challenge: In Memoriam

The Latin phrase in memoriam means in memory of, especially in a epitaph. As today is the anniversary of the horrific bombings of the World Trade Towers in New York City, I wanted to honor the memory someone from my life who served his country. My father-in-law served in the United States Army. One of his grandsons is currently serving in the United States Marines (he is the pallbearer in uniform). I feel we sometimes take for granted the sacrifices of the people who keep us safe and risk everything to do so. This week’s challenge is for those people, around the world, who have given their all to protect their country, whatever country it may be.

IN A NEW POST CREATED FOR THIS CHALLENGE, SHARE A PHOTO OR TWO THAT DEPICTS REMEMBERING SOMEONE WHO IS NO LONGER WITH US.

Everyone is welcome to participate, even if your blog isn’t about photography.

Here’s how it works:

1. Each week, I’ll come up with a theme and post a photo that I think fits. You take photographs based on your interpretation of the theme, and post them on your blog (a new post!) anytime before the following Thursday, when the next photo theme will be announced.
2. To make it easy for others to check out your photos, title your blog post “A Photo a Week Challenge: (theme of the week)” and be sure to use the “postaday″ and “Photo a Week” tags.
3. Come back here and post a link to your image in the comments for this challenge.
4. Follow nancy merrill photography so that you don’t miss out on weekly challenge announcements.

A Photo a Week Challenge: Signs

Our world is filled with signs. Some are big and brassy; some are small and easily overlooked. There are also non-advertising signs, like the signs we get from another person’s body language or an amazingly well-timed note from a friend. This sign hangs over the entry to the only movie theater in a small mountain town. It’s an amazing piece of Americana that still looks super at night when it’s lit.

Also visit Weekly Photo Challenge: Signs.

IN A NEW POST CREATED FOR THIS CHALLENGE, SHARE A PHOTO OR TWO OF SIGNS.

Everyone is welcome to participate, even if your blog isn’t about photography.

Here’s how it works:

1. Each week, I’ll come up with a theme and post a photo that I think fits. You take photographs based on your interpretation of the theme, and post them on your blog (a new post!) anytime before the following Thursday, when the next photo theme will be announced.
2. To make it easy for others to check out your photos, title your blog post “A Photo a Week Challenge: (theme of the week)” and be sure to use the “postaday″ and “Photo a Week” tags.
3. Come back here and post a link to your image in the comments for this challenge.
4. Follow nancy merrill photography so that you don’t miss out on weekly challenge announcements.

A Photo a Week Challenge: Unusual Portraits

Most people are unsure of what to do when they first get in front of a camera to have their picture taken by a “professional photographer”. When I’m shooting portraits (group or individual), I tell my subjects to do funny and unusual things, like scrunch up their faces as tight as they can then open everything as much as they can, or to give me their craziest faces. Most people laugh, which helps them to relax and feel more natural. With this little family, I didn’t even have to ask. They just did this on their own.

IN A NEW POST CREATED FOR THIS CHALLENGE, SHARE A PHOTO OR TWO THAT OF YOUR FAVORITE, UNEXPECTED FACE WHEN TAKING SOMEONE’S “PORTRAIT” (FORMAL OR OTHERWISE).

Everyone is welcome to participate, even if your blog isn’t about photography.

Here’s how it works:

1. Each week, I’ll come up with a theme and post a photo that I think fits. You take photographs based on your interpretation of the theme, and post them on your blog (a new post!) anytime before the following Thursday, when the next photo theme will be announced.
2. To make it easy for others to check out your photos, title your blog post “A Photo a Week Challenge: (theme of the week)” and be sure to use the “postaday″ and “Photo a Week” tags.
3. Come back here and post a link to your image in the comments for this challenge.
4. Follow nancy merrill photography so that you don’t miss out on weekly challenge announcements.

A Photo a Week Challenge: Patience

Let’s face it, no one shows patience at all times, except maybe this young man. This is my nephew. I have watched him his entire life, and he is the most patient person I have ever met. He loves playing with his younger cousins. He lets them climb all over him, hang from his arms and legs, and put strange objects (like this soccer ball) on him without making a fuss. There have even been times when he has come away in some pain, but hasn’t let on until the fun was finished, and then never to the little kids. He is an amazing man.

IN A NEW POST CREATED FOR THIS CHALLENGE, SHARE A PHOTO OR TWO THAT TO YOU REPRESENTS PATIENCE.

Everyone is welcome to participate, even if your blog isn’t about photography.

Here’s how it works:

1. Each week, I’ll come up with a theme and post a photo that I think fits. You take photographs based on your interpretation of the theme, and post them on your blog (a new post!) anytime before the following Thursday, when the next photo theme will be announced.
2. To make it easy for others to check out your photos, title your blog post “A Photo a Week Challenge: (theme of the week)” and be sure to use the “postaday″ and “Photo a Week” tags.
3. Come back here and post a link to your image in the comments for this challenge.
4. Follow nancy merrill photography so that you don’t miss out on weekly challenge announcements.

A Photo a Week Challenge: Water

You can live 20 to 40 days without food (depending on your health before you start fasting), but only 3 to 5 days without water. Water is the main sustaining resource on our planet. We drink it, we clean with it, and we love to play in it. This week, we took the youth from church to a near-by park for our annual Water Party. We had 500 water balloons (yes, we picked up all of the broken balloon shrapnel afterwards), squirt guns of various sizes and abilities, and water bottle rocket launchers. We drank water and ate watermelon. No one escaped dry.

IN A NEW POST CREATED FOR THIS CHALLENGE, SHARE A PHOTO OR TWO OF WATER.

Everyone is welcome to participate, even if your blog isn’t about photography.

Here’s how it works:

1. Each week, I’ll come up with a theme and post a photo that I think fits. You take photographs based on your interpretation of the theme, and post them on your blog (a new post!) anytime before the following Thursday, when the next photo theme will be announced.
2. To make it easy for others to check out your photos, title your blog post “A Photo a Week Challenge: (theme of the week)” and be sure to use the “postaday″ and “Photo a Week” tags.
3. Come back here and post a link to your image in the comments for this challenge.
4. Follow nancy merrill photography so that you don’t miss out on weekly challenge announcements.