Week 52 - Old Barn (Dec 30)

What a shocker - another barn! I had to end this with a shot of my favorite subject matter.

Finally, this thing is finished and I don't plan on continuing with it in 2008...it was a little more difficult to keep up with than I originally thought.

So.....
All's well that ends well. Happy New Year and have a great 2008.

Week 51- Old Mailbox (Dec 23)

I drive by this mailbox on my way into town. It's not at a very good location - a curve and blind road - so I've never actually stopped to take a picture even though I've thought of it a billion times. The other day I finally got brave and stopped to take a picture of it - granted it was really early and I knew the road would be practically deserted.

Week 50 - Old ish (Dec 16)

Ok - not actually an old photo, but a modern one made to look old. These two were cheesing it up in a photo booth we made in my classroom. They are working on a project for the yearbook and I just took it one step further by adding a tad bit of age.

I had to play too!

Week 49 - Old Transportation (Dec 9)

The idea is old, this particular engine - probably not so much. Amazing to think that trains used to be the major form of transportation for stuff and people. I love trains.

Week 48 - Old Shoes (Dec 2)

These shoes have just about hit retirement age. They are part of my small theatre costume collection for our high school plays and musicals. I believe they have been used in about seven shows over the years. They have served us well, but are really starting to show their age. I think think the time has come for them to be put on a shelf in my classroom and serve only as subject matter for drawings/paintings and pictures.

Week 47 - Old Flower (Nov 25)

A simple dried flower still in the field. I was out shooting an engagement session a little while back, when I stumbled upon this little gem. We were out in the middle of a sunflower field on one of the hottest day of the summer and I just had to take a few minutes to capture some of the beauty around us. I have numerous lovely sunflower images, but this little wild flower stands out among the others. I also used it in a challenge on DPC (Rolling Stones Lyrics).

Week 46 - Old Camera (Nov 18)

Another image use for a contest on DPChallenge (Old). I found this jewel at an antique shop in a nearby town. I went looking for something 'old' for the challenge and was head over heals when the camera leaped out at me.....literally.....I knocked the it off the counter and just barley caught it before it hit the ground. Perfect find!

Week 45 - Old Typewriter Keys (Nov 11)

I use this in a DPChallenge contest (Half) back in September. I called it "The Middle Half". I specifically looked for something different for the challenge and wanted to shoot from a unique perspective. I was pleased with the result - I like this image.

Week 44 - Old Funny Car Details (Nov 4)

Close up detail of the Old Funny Car. I put a great deal of processing into this shot to help bring out the wonderful detail and character in the old girl.

Week 43 - Old Chicago River (Oct 28)

Lots of 'Old' in Chicago. Lots of new as well. It has the perfect mix. This was taken off of the bridge on Michigan Avenue. It is such a Beautiful city!

Week 42 - Old Farming Traditions (Oct 21)

I just love the gum bichromate action and rural scenes are the perfect subject matter. Put the two together and bam - a real beauty.

Week 41 - Old Backyard Barn (Oct 14)

This old barn sits right outside my classroom window. Sometimes you can see the barn cat sitting on the roof near the big hole towards the front - she had three little kittens up there with her one time. She must be a psychic kitty - every time I see her and go get the camera, she crawls back in the barn. One of these days the moons will align and I will get a wonderful photograph of her perched on that roof!

Week 40 - Old Farm (Oct 7)

Another beautiful barn. I pass this one when I travel the back roads to my parents house. I've discovered a new action in photoshop that will helps give character to an image. I love it! It will probably be used very often.

Week 39 - Old Tractor Emblem (Sept 30)

I don't know what it stands for, but it makes for a good picture. Lots of old beauties still sitting around on the Yantis family farm. I thought some details might be a good change of pace. The black/white really gives the hood a little more character.

Week 38 - Old Funny Car (Sept 23)

Week 37 - Old Creepy Doll (Sept 16)

I picked up this little doll at an antique store in Sullivan, IL. I really don't know why? She was kind of pretty and a little creepy at the same time. She photographs well.....sorta.

Week 36 - Old Train Engine (Sept 9)

Another old train. I took these images at the Monticello Railway Museum in Monticello, IL. They have numerous beautiful old engines and rail cars. It was well worth the visit. Once again, the goal was to make the photo look a bit aged.

Week 35 - Old Caboose (Sept 2)

I love old trains. They have sooo much history and character. My goal on this image was to make it look like an old photograph. I think I pulled it off.

Week 34 - Old Traditions (Aug 26)

I have two for this week.
We visited a couple of Buddhist temples while on our visit to China and I came away with a new appreciation of an old faith (and some wonderful pictures). I was very interested in learning a few of the traditions and practices of the Buddhist faith. Very interesting and different from the Christian faith I was brought up believing. A wonderfully educational experience.

Week 33 - Old Chinese Villiage (Aug 19)

Another from my trip to China. We visited this old village that had a river running through the town. We boarded boats and took a river tour.
I felt like we had gone back in time - It was sooo different from any place I've ever been. Women were washing their cloths in the river water while others cleaned their mops and dishes at the next stairwell - in the river.
I felt out of place.....almost like I was intruding on these peoples lives. They, however, were use to tourists. It's how they survive. Us being there meant they would have some money.
An amazing and humbling experience.

Week 32 - Old Fellow (Aug12)

I went to visit the animals at our small local zoo before school started and was intrigued by the massiveness of this guy. His shell is amazing - it has wonderful texture and details.
We had a great time - he was the perfect model!

Week 31 - Old Skates (Aug 5)

Ok. So they aren't that old. 70's maybe???
I remember skating when I was young. We actually took skating lessons!! Our church had a few all night skating parties as well. I remember skating with my dad, eating tones of stuff from the concession stand and playing air hockey. We also use to do the hokey poky in the middle of the rink and had backward skates.

Good times!!

Week 30 - More Old Terracotta Warriors (July 29)

This guy was just hanging out behind a museum we visited while in China. He looked like he needed some company so we got spent a bit of time together. Nice guy.

Week 29 - Old Terracotta Warrior Statue (July 22)

Another picture from my trip to China. One of our stops was in Xi'an at the Terracotta Warrior Museum. An amazing site and well worth the visit. The site houses some 8,100 life-size Chinese warriors in various states of repair and at several different locations on the grounds. These warriors were created around 247 BC - 210 BC and remained undiscovered until 1974 when a local farmer found pieces of terracotta while trying to dig a well.

You can see how they once stood guard of their Emperor's burial tomb and also how many were destroyed by fire when the tomb was raided a few years after his death. It is believed the army was created to help Emperor Qun rule another empire in the afterlife. This particular guy was found totally unscathed and is currently displayed in a glass case next to several other cases displaying the different ranking soldiers.

Week 28 - Old Chinese Architecture (July 15)

This photo was taken back in June at the Forbidden City in Beijing. Beautiful Place!!

I love the architecture of the some of the old historical buildings in China. The old style really stands out against the modern buildings and gives you a good look at what the old China may have looked like at one time. Most places have been restored or are in the process of being repaired (for the 2008 Olympics) and don't quite look as old as they should.

Week 27 - Old Boat Dock Tie (July 8)

This image was taken on a wonderful weekend trip to Chicago. My family and I went up to visit my brother and his girlfriend last Saturday and ended up taking an architectural boat tour along the river on Sunday. It was a beautiful day for a leisurely ride on the river as well as a perfect day for pictures. Chicago is a beautiful city with an amazing history and gorgeous buildings. Tones of old stuff just waiting to be captured by a camera.

Week 26 - Old Storage Barn (July 1)

Another barn again. This one is used to store equipment in the summer. It sits empty most winters and looks very lonely sitting out in there alone in the cold and snow. I love when the spring comes and it becomes useful once again.

Week 25 - Old Teal Farm Truck (June 24)

Yet another farm truck.

Most of the vehicles on the Yantis family farm still run. They are no longer used to work the fields or roads, but they were very well kept by the family and still have life in them. They serve as markers in time and represent different stages in the families history. They represent the struggles and hardships as well as the good times and celebrations. I can't imaging going to the farm and not seeing these magnificent machines.

Week 24 - Old Chinese Roofing Tiles (June 17)

Many of the old buildings in China have beautiful tiles that serve as their roofing shingles. I found them to be very intriguing and just simply beautiful. A great deal of them are very ornate and add to the magnificence of the buildings they cover. I once again used the Lucis Art filter - it help ed bring out the details on the tiles.

Week 23 - Old Factory Machine (June 10)

Another picture taken while on my visit to China. We toured a silk factory and this was part of the temperature gauge on one of the machines that separated the silk strands from the little cocoons. I use the Lucis Art filter to help take away some of the ugliness of the machine.

Week 22 - Old Rusty Lock (June 3)

The lock probably isn't that old, but rust has given it that aged look. I took this shot while I was visiting China in June. We toured many historical sites and I found some wonderful hardware in the most unusual places. This was one was just hanging on a post in the middle of a very wide walk way with a small little concrete pillar next to it. The closest actual building was about 100 feet away??? I'm not quite sure what the pole and lock (or the small pillar) were used for? It sure made for a interesting picture though!

Week 21- Old Tractor Parts (May 27)

Ok - honestly - I'm not really sure what this is used for on the tractor. I am guessing air converter or smoke stack? Just shows my ignorance..... sorry. It still made for a fun picture. Once again, it is from some equipment on the Yantis family farm.

Week 20 - Old Rusty Chain (May 20)

This rusty chain is from an old farm truck on the Yantis family farm. It was taken a while back, I just never got around to processing and posting it. I'm not sure what it was actually used for on the vehicle??? but it created for an interesting image.

Week 19 - .....And Yet Another Old Barn (May 13)

Wow - I got very far behind and am now going to try and play catch up. I have been taking pictures, but just haven't had the time to really sit down and process them. The last weeks of school were so very busy and my two week trip to China came right after school let out. Now with about a month of nothingness (well, almost nothing) I can go through my pictures and get them processed and posted.

Back to All Things OLD.

Another old barn near my hometown. This one is very well kept by the owners and is in pretty good condition. They use it to house old farm equipment and odd tools.

Week 18 - Another Old Barn (May 6)

I guess I should have made my theme Old Barns and Old Trucks. This is one of my favorite barns (a.... yeah, I have several). It sits next to the school and I can see it out of my windows in both of my classrooms. I love how it looks when the snow is falling - it's just beautiful.

This was done for the triptych challenge on DPC. It scored above a 6, which is always good - but better than a 6+ score was the number of comments. They are always a boost. I just love the ones that really give good, constructive criticism. They can open your eyes to things you overlooked.

I debated between color and black/white. The b/w just gave it a much more dramatic feel and really jumped out in the triptych frame.

I like this shot. And really like it in the frame. I almost posted it here without the divisions, but it didn't just look right. It felt like something was missing.

So here you go.......another contest entry and another barn.

Week 17 - And Yet Another Old Truck (April 29)

I know....another old truck, but I really do enjoy them. Old vehicles have so much character. I always wonder who drove them and where they have been. I just don't think cars and trucks are as beautiful today as they were 30+ years ago.


I like taking the pictures - but I think I like processing them more. Something about the rust and faded color really gets to me.
It's almost like I'm giving them life again.

Week 16 - Old Rusted Fuel Tank Lock (April 22)

This is a fuel tank lock from a concrete truck on the Yantis family farm. They have a lot of great old farm equipment and trucks just sitting around. On Saturday spent a good deal of time getting up close and personal with some of those wonderful beasts.

Week 15 - Old Rusted Bike (April 15)

My Week 15 image is currently in the voting stages on DPC. It is doing fairly well - Yipeeee!! I will post after the voting has ended. _____________________________________________________________________ April 18

Voting done - 7th place. Not bad. I haven't been in the 6's for a while and it feels good to be in the top ten!

For the bicycle challenge, I felt I needed an in-your-face shot. I figured most of the entries would be of 3/4 to full bike shots and I wanted mine to stand out.The bike really isn't that old, but it had been left outside for a few years. The constant exposer to the elements aged it rather quickly. I flipped the bike upside down and turned the pedals to get a little motion blur in areas.

This was for an open challenge, so there really isn't much post processing. I did run it through neat image a few times and bumped up the saturation on the reds & yellows. I also played with the hue/saturation and used unsharp mask.

I have to admit that I am really proud of this image. It is what I had envisioned from the beginning. That rarely happens.

Week 14 - Old Junk (April 8)

Old Junk.
I love it.
I love taking pictures of old things - especially rusty ones.
They have an amazing hidden beauty I love to photograph.

Week 13 - Another Old Truck (April 1)

I used this shot for the March Free Study Challenge on DPC. It didn't score as well as I thought it might, but I really like the image. The trucks were a wonderful find and I hope to get many more opportunities to photograph them.

Week 12 - Old Truck Close Up (March 25)

I've gotten behind again, so I am going to post a shot I took to use in the Circle II Challenge on DPC a few weeks ago. It is a close up shot of one of the old trucks on my sister's farm (see week 10). I've processed the heck out of it, but really like the end result. The headlight actually looks new.

Week 11 - Old Barn (March 18)

I already posted this image on DPC, but took it with the intention of using it as part of my PAW.

I pass this beautiful old barn going into town and have never stopped to take pictures. The sky was just right one afternoon and couldn't resist. This is one of my favorite pictures I've taken lately.

Week 10 - Old Trucks (March 11)

Saturday, I went shopping for a few items for my sister Amy's wedding and spent a little bit of time at her house. Her fiancée has a collection of old trucks sitting around their enormous yard. His grandfather collected them to rebuild, but time has taken it's toll on the old things and Nic sells them for their hard to find parts. I was overjoyed at the sight of the truck graveyard and just happened to have my handy dandy camera ready! I took numerous shots of parts, pieces and whole trucks. Not only did I have a wonderful time hanging out with my sisters, but I had a wonderful time capturing some images of several beautiful old trucks.

Week 9 - Old Bike Seat Spring (March 4)

I think I'm finally caught up.

I've had this bike seat forever. I picked it up at a flee market back in college and spray painted it red. Not sure why??
Now, it sits on my desk at school and my students use it as still life subject matter. It does have quite a bit of processing, but I think that's what helped make it more interesting.

Week 8 - Old Fan (Feb 25)

I bought this fan at the old auction place. It came with the dust.
There isn't much post processing on this (shocker) - sharpening and just a little color enhancing to bring out the rusty red.

Week 7 - Old Military Uniform (Feb 18)

Ok..... so I'm cheating a little bit. This photograph was actually taken last year at the Illinois State Fair Opening Parade. I was sorting through the images from that day and came across several from the parade that stood out. I started processing them in Photoshop and just fell in love with the results on this one. I've already posted in on DPC, but thought it fit my theme here and couldn't resist.

Week 6 - Old Cash Register Keys (Feb 11)

My husband and I use to go to an auction place in a small town not far from where we live. We loved it - tones of old junk (and interesting old people). If you went on the right Sunday, you could get some really cool old stuff at great prices. We would come home with the most useless junk and usually had no place to put any of it. Many of the items found their way to my classroom and have served as still life subject matter for my drawing and painting students. For some reason, my husband thought we really needed this old cash register - no one was bidding on it - and it needed a good home. Well, for only $2.00 I added yet another item to my still life collection. It actually is a neat piece and my students love to mess around with it. The place shut down not too long ago and we just haven't had been able to find another regular auction site we like as much as the Bement Auction House.

Week 5 - Old Bones (Feb 4)

I'm a little late posting this, but at least it's getting done!! This is some sort of animal bones - I couldn't tell you what kind of creature or even how old, but it made for a good picture. My fellow teacher is a favorite among the students at OVHS and she is always receiving all kinds of interesting things to add to her classroom. This skull was one of those interesting gifts.