This past week (including last weekend) feel like they’ve been non-stop busy. Busy is fine really, but I’m hoping that when March rolls around things will start to calm down again for a relaxing start to Spring. So in lieu of actually being able to make some time for photos with my regular camera, this week I’ve got a few more instagram photos to share… just of little things we’ve been doing and seeing this past week or so. Reading books, running errands, playing.

Our final prompt (it’s gone by so fast!) for the Poetic Winter Photography Challenge will be up on Friday, we’ve had a blast and hope you have too! Stop by at 9am CST on Friday to join in, the final prompt is calm.

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Passion is difficult, I suppose. Even the utterance of the word can send me into a little bit of a panic. There are a great many things that I feel strongly about, fewer that I feel absolutely passionate about, but with those few the feeling is always there as a constant, as an integral part of me. Existing in every waking moment and frequently taking up space in my dreams. Sometimes it just wells up inside of my chest, threatening to explode unless I do something about it. Sometimes that makes it difficult to express exactly what I mean, when writing about things that I’m passionate about.

I was thinking earlier in the week about how I was going to write about a passion for photography. But I thought about it further and realised that photography isn’t something I feel particularly passionate about, at least not by itself. I’m not really into all the gear (although it would be nice to have I’m sure) and don’t pay a huge amount of attention to the industry, unless it serves to further my vision. What I am passionate about is photography as a larger part of something else, of being able to see. Looking, finding patterns, seeking, observing, imagining, noticing, reading, visual order or disorder. Photography is an extension of that, or a tool, because my vision is made into something more tangible, something with which I can fulfill a desire to keep or share what I see, either in my mind or with my eyes. I enjoy looking at photographs taken by others too, and all kinds of visual representation… although I lack the talent to do any other forms of art.

With that in mind then, I suppose that really I could have taken photographs of anything for the prompt. With the visual itself being the subject of passion, not necessarily the subject of the photograph. But, I also managed to catch my husband one morning, before he left early for his new internship, and take a few photos of him. So I could get both, the visual and also a subject that I feel passionately about, pulling them together with a couple of “sort of” self portraits and the quotes from a book in my bookshelf. By an author whose books are all filled with intense emotions, someone whom I consider to be an incredibly passionate writer.

“Trust me, I’m telling you stories. … I can change the story. I am the story.”
— Jeanette Winterson

 
We’re so excited to be able to offer you all some amazing tutorials, freebies and exclusive discounts for the duration of the photo challenge! This week head on over to Faith’s blog, Sweet Violet and download some awesome templates to use with your photos, read a wonderful tutorial on how to use templates in PSE and another on how to make a template of your own!

Thanks to the following sponsors for partnering with us to bring you these fabulous deals; created exclusively for Poetic Winter Photo Challenge participants and valid throughout the month of February.

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I’m teaming up with Kristi of Live and Love Out Loud, Alicia of Project Alicia and Faith of Sweet Violet for the Poetic Winter Photography Challenge – an inspiring 4-week photo challenge aimed at capturing the poetic beauty of winter through photography.

Just a few details:

All are welcome regardless of skill level, time commitment and geographic location.

Each Friday, we’ll have freebies, discounts to some of the hottest photography resources, photography tips and inspirational quotes or poems to get your creative photography juices flowing.

Share your favorite images inspired by the weekly prompt. The linky will remain open from 9am Friday – 9am Thursday CST. Link directly to your Poetic Winter blog post or Flickr photo, not your blog’s home page or Flickr Photostream.

Feel free to share your photos in our Poetic Winter Flickr Group as well and don’t forget to visit and comment on the previous entry in the linky list.

This time around, we’ll be pinning our favorite photos to the Poetic Winter Pinterest Board. Not on Pinterest and need an invite? Let me know in the comments section and I’ll be more than happy to send you one.

And last, but not least, don’t forget to grab our lovely button.

Next week’s prompt will be calm. For a complete list of upcoming prompts, head on over to the Winter Photo Challenge page.

“They say that every snowflake is different. If that were true, how could the world go on? How could we ever get up off our knees? How could we ever recover from the wonder of it?”

Jeanette Winterson

We had a few snowflakes fall in Chicago again last Friday, some of them the biggest I’ve ever seen! But it melted fairly quickly and now we’re left with patches of ice and muddied snow on the sidewalks. But while it was still snowing I thought I’d take the Lensbaby I recently rented out for a spin. I’m still having trouble nailing focus (as you can see!) but it’s certainly fun to play around with.

I also have another toy that I’ve been playing with over the weekend (I’m all about toys and gadgets lately!). I joined Instagram and have been having a lot of fun, it’s really nice sometimes to take snapshots without worrying about having to pull out the big camera. I’m fully aware that I’m quite late to the fun, I’ve commented to different people a few times that it was something I should really start doing! I don’t take many photos in my house either because I worry too much about the mess or the often poor light, especially with my DSLR. But I feel like I can take a few silly photos every now and then with instagram and not worry about those things!

If you would like to follow me on instagram, I’m satakieli there too (I am almost everywhere, I would likely forget how to sign in if I used a different name).

Don’t forget that the free Poetic Winter Black & White Photoshop and PSE Actions are still available for download! If you haven’t seen them yet, I urge you to take a look at last week’s Poetic Winter Photography Prompt, Warmth, over here. And if you’d like to join in the challenge our next prompt is Passion, have a look over here for more details and stop by at 9am CST on Friday to link up your photos for the prompt!

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I know that a lot of us in the Northern Hemisphere aren’t feeling particularly warm at the moment. I, for one, have been spending most of my time at home, nursing warm drinks and huddled under cozy blankets. When I do have to venture outside into the cold, I’m wrapped in layer upon layer… leggings under jeans, sweaters and scarves over shirts and knee length socks to keep my feet warm.

But I have an excuse for staying inside this week you see, I’ve been working away to bring you this weeks freebie! Each week in the Poetic Winter Photography Challenge we’ll bring you tutorials, tips, discounts and a freebie. This week I’m going to talk to you about taking Black & White photos, and I have some lovely actions that I’ve made just for you.

I have been having a bit of a love affair with Black & White. This may sound a little strange to some, but when I have it in my mind to go out and shoot some photographs I have usually decided beforehand whether I will process them in Black & White or Colour, perhaps pretending a little that I’m using a camera loaded with Black & White film. I’ve almost always decided on the processing of the photo by the time I hit the shutter button. I can go out of the house for an entire afternoon, knowing that the photographs I’m taking will be processed for Black & White. You don’t have to just use Black & White as a last resort because your colours look strange or you can’t get them quite right. Often the photographs that I take with the intention of converting to Black & White don’t really look so great in colour anyway. They can be too shadowy and dark, because I’ve shot deliberately and like to underexpose a little when shooting this way.

When shooting intentionally for Black & White I can forget about how the colours in the scene play together, not worry about fluorescent lights or colour casts and fully concentrate on those things that are often more apparent in this style of photograph. The more subtle complexities, like beautiful pools of light, dramatic shadows, tone contrast and delicious textures. I can consider the less tangible things, like what mood I get from the scene at the time or what emotion the resulting photograph will evoke in the viewer.

How do you like to shoot for Black & White? Have you tried taking photographs intentionally for being processed in Black & White rather than considering it while processing?

I have some lovely B&W actions to share with you too!

The first two actions are for Photoshop users only, they will not work in Photoshop Elements. They are made and tested in Photoshop CS5, so I’m unsure as to whether they will work correctly in earlier versions (I’m obviously not an expert action maker! But if they do work in earlier versions of Photoshop, please let me know in the comments so that I can update this!). These are the actions that I originally made to use myself when editing my own Black & White photos. Both actions can be used as is or customized to your own liking.

You can download Poetic Winter BW Shadow Fade here, it is a Black & White action with a subtle shadow fade.

You can download Poetic Winter BW Total Fade here, it is a Black & White action with a more obvious overall fade.

The final action is for users of Photoshop Elements, and is as similar to the Photoshop CS5 actions as I could work out for use in Elements. You can use it as is, or customize it for a more subtle effect that is similar to the Poetic BW Shadow Fade above.

You can download Poetic Winter BW Fade PSE here.

Not sure how to install actions in PSE or Photoshop? Check out these awesome guides from Texas Chicks Blogs and Pics!

Both the Photoshop Actions and PSE Actions are Black & White effects only, they are not designed to correct exposure or sharpen your photos and will be at their best when used on properly exposed images.

Thanks to the following sponsors for partnering with us to bring you these fabulous deals; created exclusively for Poetic Winter Photo Challenge participants and valid throughout the month of February.

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I’m teaming up with Kristi of Live and Love Out Loud, Alicia of Project Alicia and Faith of Sweet Violet for the Poetic Winter Photography Challenge – an inspiring 4-week photo challenge aimed at capturing the poetic beauty of winter through photography.

Just a few details:

All are welcome regardless of skill level, time commitment and geographic location.

Each Friday, we’ll have freebies, discounts to some of the hottest photography resources, photography tips and inspirational quotes or poems to get your creative photography juices flowing.

Share your favorite images inspired by the weekly prompt. The linky will remain open from 9am Friday – 9am Thursday CST. Link directly to your Poetic Winter blog post or Flickr photo, not your blog’s home page or Flickr Photostream.

Feel free to share your photos in our Poetic Winter Flickr Group as well and don’t forget to visit and comment on the previous entry in the linky list.

This time around, we’ll be pinning our favorite photos to the Poetic Winter Pinterest Board. Not on Pinterest and need an invite? Let me know in the comments section and I’ll be more than happy to send you one.

And last, but not least, don’t forget to grab our lovely button.

Next week’s prompt will be passion. For a complete list of upcoming prompts, head on over to the Winter Photo Challenge page.

Just a few photographs left over from my little trip out to Michigan Lake, that I haven’t already shared in my Solitude Poetic Winter post. The second to last photo (bottom left) was taken with the Lensbaby I’m currently renting, but I’m still having trouble getting used to using it. Hopefully I’ll be getting the hang of it before I have to send it back!

I’ve been slowly making my way through all of the gorgeous photos that have been linked up for the first Poetic Winter prompt, Solitude. I’m completely blown away by the incredible talent showcased there! We’ve been happily pinning away some of our favourites and you can check out the Poetic Winter Pinterest Board if you’re interested in seeing those!

I’m also very busy working away on an awesome freebie for you for this week’s Poetic Winter prompt, which is Warmth. The post will go live for link-up at 9am CST on Friday February 10th, so be sure to stop by!

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Catching a little moment of solitude for myself, walking the two miles from my apartment through city streets to the beach and taking photographs while listening to the sounds of the water out on the shore of Michigan Lake.

Finding solitude, peace and being alone in the city. It’s a different animal entirely to the true solitude you can find out in the vast fields or trees of the country. There are always people somewhere in the city, even in the worst of weather or the dead of night. I do enjoy that about city living, strange as that may sound.

But it is possible to find solitude even here, to look down an alleyway as you pass and find it empty of people, to come across the odd empty house or lot, or find an empty train stop when it’s not rush hour. In Chicago during the winter, the beaches along Lake Michigan are quiet and empty save for the odd couple walking their dog along the sand. Of course, the evidence of people is always there in an urban environment, it’s almost never quiet and sometimes you just have to take a different view or sometimes squint a little to imagine that you have absolute solitude. But there is a quiet internal and even noble solitude to be found in the city, even amongst the busyness of other people.

 
We’re so excited to be able to offer you all some amazing tutorials, freebies and exclusive discounts for the duration of the photo challenge! Head on over to Kristi’s blog, Live and Love Out Loud today for a wonderful tutorial on using textures with your photographs, with a beautiful exclusive, limited edition solitude texture freebie from Life-n-Reflection!

Thanks to the following sponsors for partnering with us to bring you these fabulous deals; created exclusively for Poetic Winter Photo Challenge participants and valid throughout the month of February.

ClickinMoms

ClickinMoms is a community where artists, hobbyists and professional women photographers connect and learn from and with each other. Enjoy a 7-day free trial discount to the ClickinMoms forum with discount code RKAFTRIAL. Additionally, receive 10% off the lovely actions/presets sold in the ClickinMoms store with discount code RKAF10.

AdoramaPix

AdoramaPix is a great source for fine quality photo prints, photo books and all your photo finishing needs. Discount code pxwinpb15 gets you 15% off your next photo book order.

My Four Hens Photography

My Four Hens is your one-stop shop for Photoshop actions and more. Use discount code m4hfun30 for 30% off your next purchase.

Simply Photography

Simply Photography e-classes are perfect for women on the go. Make the big switch from auto to manual shooting, learn how to photograph the children in your life and more with Simply Photography. Click here to receive the special discounted rate of $40 for any spring class.

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I’m teaming up with Kristi of Live and Love Out Loud, Alicia of Project Alicia and Faith of Sweet Violet for the Poetic Winter Photography Challenge – an inspiring 4-week photo challenge aimed at capturing the poetic beauty of winter through photography.

Just a few details:

All are welcome regardless of skill level, time commitment and geographic location.

Each Friday, we’ll have freebies, discounts to some of the hottest photography resources, photography tips and inspirational quotes or poems to get your creative photography juices flowing.

Share your favorite images inspired by the weekly prompt. The linky will remain open from 9am Friday – 9am Thursday CST. Link directly to your Poetic Winter blog post or Flickr photo, not your blog’s home page or Flickr Photostream.

Feel free to share your photos in our Poetic Winter Flickr Group as well and don’t forget to visit and comment on the previous entry in the linky list.

This time around, we’ll be pinning our favorite photos to the Poetic Winter Pinterest Board. Not on Pinterest and need an invite? Let me know in the comments section and I’ll be more than happy to send you one.

And last, but not least, don’t forget to grab our lovely button.

Next week’s prompt will be warmth. For a complete list of upcoming prompts, head on over to the Winter Photo Challenge page.

Olivia came over again on Sunday, for a girls afternoon. She arrived wearing this wonderful red coat and amazing lipstick, so I couldn’t resist taking a few shots and I love how they turned out!

My Lensbaby 21 day rental from LensProToGo arrived on Monday, after hanging around in the house and pacing past the windows waiting for the UPS guy to arrive. I’ve played with it a little since it arrived but my, it’s a whole different animal. It’s going to take some getting used to! I’m hoping to use it to take some photos for the Poetic Winter Photography Challenge that begins this Friday!

I’m so excited to get the challenge going! I’m teaming up with Kristi of Live and Love Out Loud, Alicia of Project Alicia and Faith of Sweet Violet to bring you an awesome Photography Challenge this Winter. It begins this Friday (Feb 3rd) and we’re going to have inspirational prompts, tips, tutorials, freebies, and exclusive discounts to some of the hottest photography resources each week throughout the month of February! Just stop by on Friday and share your photos inspired by the weekly prompt, the first prompt will be solitude.

We’ll be pinning some our favourites to our new Poetic Winter Pinterest board, so please hop on over to follow along! You can find more information and a list of all the prompts on the Poetic Winter Photography Challenge Page.

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I thought I might share a few photographs with you, before I get too far behind on my everyday life Project 52. These are weeks 3 and 4 respectively, (the photographs for weeks 1 and 2 are buried within some of my previous posts) the first photograph being of my reading chair which sits in one corner of our dining room next to shelves sagging with the weight of all of our books. It’s the same corner where my husband keeps his guitars and where Mikey’s little box of writing materials lives. The chair was one of the first pieces of furniture we bought when we were married, we got it used with a bundle of other things from a family who no longer wanted it. It’s been cold lately, even in the apartment, but there is a radiator just behind the chair which makes it the perfect little cozy spot in the evenings. I don’t utilize it as much as I perhaps should, there’s always other things to be getting on with.

The second photograph was taken early Wednesday morning. Mikey in his mismatched pajamas: Mickey Mouse pants and a Star Wars shirt. Sleeping alongside him is Luigi, I think Mario and Yoshi must be buried somewhere under the blanket. I was wondering what photograph that I was going to take for this week’s Project 52 and, as I went into the bedroom to grab a sweater that morning after making my coffee, noticed how the light falls so beautifully in that room in the early morning and how comfortable Mikey looks in the bed, despite his somewhat bizarre position. I remember thinking that it struck me as funny, at the time, how deeply I felt that the way he was sleeping came so close to describing his personality when awake. I can’t exactly put my finger on it now as I write, but I felt it so strongly then.

Some photographs, taken a few weeks ago, of our friend Olivia (Mikey says that she’s a princess, I think he’s a little smitten). Olivia and I took a day to go out for coffee, take a few photos and do a little shopping. The portraits are mostly black and white, but I had to show a colour one too because don’t you just adore those incredible shoes? I know I do. I think we’re going to go out and shoot together some more, as soon as Chicago weather decides to stop being as completely bizarre as it has been during this past week, and I’m looking forward to going out together again.

Honestly though, last week was just one of those weeks. I barely even touched my camera, which doesn’t help a whole lot with the project 52 that I’m trying to do and is also quite unlike me. We’ve been busy with various other little things, but for the most part we’ve been either playing in the snow when it’s been there or hiding out from thunderstorms and the freezing rain. I’ve really been battling with a lack of inspiration photography-wise, I think that the long arduous task of pulling photos for the (as yet unfinished) portfolio I’m trying to put together has been taking it out of me. There are plenty of things I think I’d like to shoot but of course it would involve leaving our cozy little nest and venturing out into the uncertain weather!

The Poetic Winter Photography Challenge begins next week, on Friday February 3rd. I know at least for me it is coming just in time to pull me out of this uninspired funk that I find myself in! I’m very excited about being able to host this with such an awesome team of ladies, Kristi from Live and Love Out Loud, Faith from Sweet Violet and Alicia from Project Alicia, and I think we’re all going to have a lot of fun looking through your gorgeous photos and pinning them to our Poetic Winter Pinterest Board each week. We’re also going to be offering hints, tips and freebies along with each Friday’s link-up post during February so I hope you’ll stop by and take part, all are welcome to participate. Don’t worry if you’re not experiencing winter in your part of the world at the moment, you can still interpret the prompts in your own way. During our Shades of Autumn challenge last year we had some amazing entries from all over the world! For more and for a list of the prompts please read through our Poetic Winter information page.

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It started snowing in Chicago late last week, one entire day of snow followed by some short flurries in the days following. The first time since we’ve been living in Chicago that it’s snowed enough for Mikey to be able to throw snowballs, which was something he’s been looking forward to since the first small hint of snow in December last year. We spent an afternoon out playing in it, by the end of which we were both covered from head to toe in snow from throwing it at one another. The following day the snow was even higher, in places it came over the top of Mikey’s snow boots and was taller than the little dog that we take on walks for my neighbour during the week. In the evening I took a moment to try out some low-light photography in the snow on nearby streets, the brightness of it acting as a wonderful reflector for the deep blue evening sky and orange city lights.

The last few weeks have been filled with little spots of busyness, working on various little projects. Ordering some test prints of my photos, organizing a portfolio, editing some photographs from a little photoshoot with a friend and having my husband start back at school after the lovely long Christmas break we had.

I’ve also been working hard, along with the lovely ladies from Live and Love Out Loud, Project Alicia and Sweet Violet on a new photography challenge which was announced on Monday this week: Poetic Winter, A Photography Challenge. We would love for all of you to take part when it begins on February 3rd! You can read the announcement post here and find more details on the challenge right here. Winter can sometimes seem quite uninspiring when it’s cold and grey outside, so I’m very much looking forward to giving my creative side more of a kick start and seeing what beautiful photographs you can all come up with from the challenge prompts.

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