A Photo a Week Challenge: Spring

Utah has had a long, cold winter this year, but spring has finally made its first appearance. And my hey fever is going crazy as proof. Luckily for me, I had my camera with me when I pulled into work earlier this week and was able to nab some lovely photos of the blossoming trees that are wreaking havoc with my sinuses. Whether you are heading into spring or it is a distant memory as your summer is coming to and end, this week’s challenge is to post some of your favorite spring or spring-inspired images.

IN A NEW POST CREATED FOR THIS CHALLENGE, SHARE A PHOTO OR TWO (OR MORE) THAT DEPICT SPRING.

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″ tag.
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: Ice, Ice, Baby

With Utah’s winter taking on a life of its own this year, I thought it was time to pull out a cool, icy image for this week’s challenge. Of course, ice doesn’t just mean cold, frozen water. Have a lot of fun this week seeing what you can find for ice, ice, baby.

IN A NEW POST CREATED FOR THIS CHALLENGE, SHARE ONE OR TWO OR MORE PHOTOS FEATURING ICE.

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″ tag.
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: Fresh

With the new year, I thought we should start fresh: fresh challenges, fresh images, fresh flowers (hey, I’m deep in winter here). I’m not sure who designated January 1 as the beginning of the new year, but tradition is strong, so each January 1 many people make the commitment to make this year better than the last. 2016 was actually a very good year for the Merrill Family, so my hope is that 2017 is just as good or a little better. A lot better would make too many people envious of us (wink wink).

IN A NEW POST CREATED FOR THIS CHALLENGE, SHARE ONE OR TWO OR MORE PHOTOS FEATURING FRESHNESS.

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″ tag.
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: White

For the northern hemisphere, this time of year usually bring the flurry, white stuff flowing (or sometimes pelting) from the heavens. Here in Utah, we love to see the mountains snow-capped and looking festive for the holidays. They also mean live-giving water for the coming spring and summer months.

IN A NEW POST CREATED FOR THIS CHALLENGE, SHARE ONE OR TWO OR MORE PHOTOS FEATURING THE COLOR WHITE.

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″ tag.
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: Leaves

Whether your hemisphere is moving into fall or spring, leaves are a sign of the seasons for October and November. These little guys were having fun playing in all of the leaves at the park where I was taking their family fall photos, though I’m not sure Mom was all that happy about Baby S eating a pine cone.

IN A NEW POST CREATED FOR THIS CHALLENGE, SHARE ONE OR TWO OR MORE PHOTOS OF THAT FEATURE LEAVES.

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″ tag.
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: Birds

Now that spring has arrived in Utah, we are seeing an increase in the number of birds as they begin their migration north for the summer. There is a large field close to my parents’ home that is a resting ground for Canadian geese while they are heading either north and south. Like most wildlife, birds don’t really want to you to get too close. I shot this picture with my Nikor 70-300mm lens so I wouldn’t scare them off.

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

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″ tag.
3. Follow nancy merrill photography so that you don’t miss out on weekly challenge announcements.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Seasons

Late February in Utah is usually so that drab we are all pining away for the warm breezes of spring.

For more from this challenge, visit Weekly Photo Challenge: Seasons.

Sunday Stills: Walking in a Winter Wonderland

We are lacking snow so far this year, so this is from a few years ago.

For more from this challenge, visit Sunday Stills: Walking in a Winter Wonderland.

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.