Patty's Project 52 Weeks

Week 20: Anger

2011-05-29T04:04:00.000-07:00

I'm a week late on this theme, but I had a hard time with this one. I came up with this today while editing some tunnel photos I had played around with and thought it worked ok for abstract anger.

Week 19: Up

2011-05-15T04:08:00.000-07:00

Looking up at the roof of the tower at Swan Park

Week 18: Mother

2011-05-08T15:40:00.000-07:00

My friend and her daughter having fun at the park. Happy Mother's Day to all the mommies out there (my own in particular- love you Mom)!

Uh, Weeks 10-17?

2011-05-03T05:20:00.000-07:00

So the earthquake kinda screwed over this little photo project. For a while, taking happy goofy theme photos was just not on my radar. But it is now again, and I want to keep going. Soo... I'm just going to pick pictures I've taken randomly over the past almost 2 months and force them into the themes so I can just start fresh from here. So here we go:

Week 10: Underneath

Underneath the stars. This photo is actually legit for the project (albeit an awful picture). I took this on the night of earthquake. The power was out and this was before we knew the magnitude of what had happened that day, so I naively figured I'd take advantage of the darkness to try taking star shots. HA HA. I failed. First of all, ALL my camera batteries (for both cameras) were dry and it was too dark to get my tripod set up, so I attempted to hand hold. This was one of 3 shots I took, and it was the best one. I'll have to try this again under different circumstances...

Week 11: Spring

Cherry Blossoms! That's definitely spring.

Week 12: Planning

The Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival requires a lot of planning every year to host so many people? Sure...

Week 13: Fools

Fools are what Corey and I feel like when we get suckered in to playing "pony" over and over again when we babysit.

Week 14: Excitement

If this isn't a look of excitement, I don't know what is.

Week 15: Work

A picture from working to clean up Noda Village.

Week 16: Growth

These girls were so excited to take this pygmy pony for a walk and kept wondering when he was going to "grow up."

Week 17: Trees

An aerial shot of more cherry blossom trees.

Ok, that should catch me up! Now hopefully I can jump back onto the weekly track...

Week 9: Vegetables

2011-03-05T20:57:00.000-08:00

I wish this theme came in the summer, living in farm-land and all. A veggie smiley-face will have to do for now. Next week's will hopefully be more thoughtful and interesting.

Week 8: Spirit

2011-02-27T15:36:00.000-08:00

A very spirited dog sitting in front of a Shinto shrine where spirits are paid their respects

Week 7: Romance

2011-02-18T20:45:00.000-08:00

Corey got me some beautiful flowers for Valentine's Day. Aww...

Week 6: Body Parts

2011-02-13T15:54:00.000-08:00

I liked the way the light was hitting Corey's hand while he was playing on his computer.

Week 5: Circle #2

2011-02-04T01:52:00.001-08:00

Apparently my last "circle" picture wasn't accurate enough for the mathematician crowd, so here's a more authentically circular circle photo. :)

Week 5: Circles

2011-02-01T23:59:00.000-08:00

There would be even more circles in this picture, but I've been snackin'...

Week 4: Tired

2011-01-28T20:09:00.000-08:00

I took this picture on a Saturday morning. At 5:52. Corey was up early to go snowboarding, and I have been popping awake at like 3am for no reason for the past few days. Tiiiiired. This picture makes me feel sleepy.

Also, I'm going to change next weeks theme from "sleep" to "circles." I thought this week's theme was sort of tough/boring enough, and sleep is basically the same thing, right? Another weekly project I've seen recently did circles, and that sounds more fun.

Week 3: Macro

2011-01-16T22:57:00.000-08:00

For all the expensive photography equipment I've acquired over the past year, none of it helps me with this week's theme. I can't do macro photography. Sad face. Enter: old point and shoot. It's the best I can do (until I get a macro lens. *sigh* There's always something to add to the list...). Anyway, here's a seashell.

Week 2: Breakfast

2011-01-14T19:19:00.000-08:00

This week's theme is a little boring for me, only because I eat one of the same 2 things for breakfast every day. I figured this would be a prettier picture than a bowl of soggy grey oatmeal.

Week 1: Cold 2

2011-01-07T03:57:00.000-08:00

We finally got a solid dump of snow. The weather was intense today, and I looked out on the freeze from behind the frosted window of my warm house.

Week 1: Cold

2011-01-06T05:20:00.000-08:00

I call this my "Holy crap, it's friggin' FREEZING" crazy face.

Scratch That. Restart.

2011-01-04T11:25:00.000-08:00

Project 365... right. I guess that didn't work out so well overall.

I've decided I'll start something new (and see how long it lasts this time...). I'll call it "Project 52" and it will revolve around taking photos each week around a specific theme (as put forth by a list from Digital Photography School). I'll take at least one pic a week- more if I'm inspired. I figure this is a good way to stay motivated and gain some direction to inspire ideas so I don't quit just because I have "nothing" to take pictures of. I like the interpretive nature of doing themes. Plus, it's less pressure if I don't have to post a picture every day. Setting myself up for success here, people.

I've copied the whole list into the sidebar if you want to see what kinds of themes will be coming up. The first one to start off this first week of the year is: "COLD." I haven't taken any real pictures yet, but I'll include a snapshot from our snowboarding trip last weekend since it fits the bill (and it would be pretty sad to not include a picture in the first post of this new project).

Wish me luck! (And if you have any photo goals of your own this year, let me know so I can follow along!)

October 2nd

2010-10-04T19:32:00.000-07:00

I took this pic at Miroku Falls while I was trying to get as close to the flowy water look as I could without having a tripod. I couldn't manage to get anywhere near a slow enough shutter speed to do it, but I was still proud of how (relatively) sharp this handheld pic is at a 1/8th second exposure.

September 22nd

2010-09-22T01:25:00.000-07:00

I had a photo shoot today... with myself. I'm really not that vain, I just have no one else to take pictures of. The rest of my results are here, if you really want to look at my face a lot.

September 12th

2010-09-12T19:20:00.000-07:00

A shot from one of the boats we saw today on Shipwreck Beach.

September 11th

2010-09-11T04:29:00.000-07:00

Nothing but rain today. All day. It made me kinda bummy and low-key.

September 10th

2010-09-11T04:26:00.000-07:00

Gorgeous sunrise morning, described in more detail on my main blog.

September 9th

2010-09-09T01:12:00.000-07:00

I was playing around today and practicing more of a studio-type set up (although I have no lights or backdrop to actually make even a DIY studio). I took a bunch of random pictures. This was one of them.

September 8th

2010-09-09T01:11:00.001-07:00

I tried to go take pictures at the beach today. I got this far when my camera battery died.

Fail.

September 7th

2010-09-07T02:29:00.001-07:00

Starting to look like fall, isn't it? Yay!

September 6th

2010-09-07T02:26:00.000-07:00

This dragonfly got caught in a spider's web during a storm today. Poor little guy.

September 5th

2010-09-07T02:24:00.000-07:00

Driving through a tunnel.

September 4th

2010-09-04T05:23:00.000-07:00

Today was Asamushi Aquarium Day! To read more, click here and to see more pictures, click here.

September 2nd

2010-09-01T22:49:00.000-07:00

Corey's squadron had a BBQ at the base beach today. Our friends' cute little daughters had fun playing in the water.

September 1st

2010-09-01T00:14:00.000-07:00

Ugh, the weather is disgusting. I'm fairly convinced Misawa is sitting in some kind of global crock pot, just simmering away. It's currently in the mid-80's with humidity at 80%. 80%!!! There have been thunderstorms all week too. I'm tired of being damp and sticky.

August 31st

2010-08-31T00:11:00.000-07:00

This is not an exciting picture, but just one I took today with my new Tokina wide-angle lens. I picked it because it introduced me to the problem of chromatic aberration, so I got to learn about that and how to fix it in post-processing. Wish I had learned about it before buying the wide angle, but hey... so goes the learning process. It's still a cool lens.

Day... uh, ?

2010-08-30T01:52:00.001-07:00

Back! What prompted me to start taking pics of the things I get excited about during my day, you ask? This baby:

Ooooohhh boy!!!!!

Day 81

2010-05-17T04:24:00.000-07:00

A self-portrait of us at Cape Shiriya (fully written about HERE)

Day 80

2010-05-08T00:42:00.000-07:00

Still can't promise this will be the last cherry blossom pic...

Day 79

2010-05-06T23:37:00.000-07:00

Lake at the park

Day 78

2010-05-05T23:23:00.000-07:00

Flowers

Day 77

2010-05-04T22:28:00.000-07:00

More cherry blossoms (with some kinda goofy editing)

Day 76

2010-05-04T02:30:00.000-07:00

I came upon this sign as I exited that little path from the woods on a walk at the park this morning. Ugh, I so do NOT want to meet any of the infamous giant Japanese hornets. Wish I had seen the sign before walking into their midst.

Day 75

2010-05-02T18:27:00.000-07:00

Cherry Blossom Festival! Full post about it HERE and more photos HERE.

Day 74

2010-04-30T04:04:00.001-07:00

This is my kind of juicebox! Don't give it to your kids though, because it's 100% plum liqueur- complete with a handy dandy straw.

Day 73

2010-04-26T20:04:00.000-07:00

Yummy homemade bread

Day 72

2010-04-25T23:12:00.000-07:00

I got to play around with a friend's 50mm 1.4 lens and now I want one BAD!

Day 71

2010-04-24T19:53:00.000-07:00

Bowling in Misawa

Day 70

2010-04-06T21:32:00.000-07:00

My cousin Béa is such a cutie!!

Day 69

2010-04-06T21:31:00.000-07:00

My little Bernie Bear!

Day 68

2010-04-06T21:28:00.000-07:00

My sister took a gigantic (can't you tell) jump off the swings at the park. Wimp. :)

Day 67

2010-04-04T12:42:00.000-07:00

Stanley is a monkey.

Day 66

2010-04-04T12:37:00.000-07:00

I spent hours going through all the old pictures of our childhood at my parents' house and taking pictures of the pictures so I could have digital copies. Here's a goofy one of my sister and me.

Day 65

2010-04-04T12:30:00.000-07:00

I tried to take a picture of a cool looking moon the other night, but I obviously have no idea how to do night photography. And I need a tripod...

Day 64

2010-04-04T12:23:00.000-07:00

A picture taking on my day in Monterey with Stanley

Day 63

2010-04-04T12:16:00.001-07:00

Flowers in my mom's garden

Day 62

2010-03-27T12:14:00.000-07:00

Corey was here (in Monterey) for work for a week and came up to visit. Here he is with the Bernster.

... Day 61

2010-03-27T10:56:00.000-07:00

I have officially dropped the ball on this blog. It all started with my new camera: I love my new camera, but it isn't conducive to quick, daily picture posting. My photo-storing system is non-existent and spread out over 2 computers on 5 different organizing/editing programs. So I got disorganized and fell behind, and then stopped posting altogether. But I love doing this, and want to continue, so I'll just pretend the past 27 days didn't exist, and start up again (going back to post a few pics I've been taking).

Here's a pick I took on March 12th of the plane that brought me to CA for my visit here.

Day 60

2010-03-01T05:52:00.001-08:00

I had so much fun taking pictures at the swan park today. I posted my favorites on my main blog here, so this is an extra.

Day 59

2010-03-01T04:19:00.000-08:00

New running shoes! The past few weeks I've been alternating between shoes that give me blisters and shoes that give me shin splints (switching back and forth before either ailment got too painful), so these beauties are a welcomed relief. Happy feet!

Day 58

2010-02-27T05:31:00.001-08:00

A Japanese mailman on a rainy day

Day 57

2010-02-27T05:29:00.001-08:00

The main gate of Misawa Air Base, taken from the car as we drive in

Day 56

2010-02-27T05:24:00.000-08:00

Today is my dad's birthday! I'm cheating, and using a pic that I didn't take today (because my dad isn't here to take a picture of). I did, however, play around with an originally not-great picture of us waltzing at my wedding and turned it into something I like. A good father-daughter moment.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!

Day 55

2010-02-24T02:40:00.000-08:00

A stick-broom outside a shrine

Day 54

2010-02-24T02:35:00.000-08:00

I love how the pedestrian stop lights show a little man in a brimmed hat (you can see it in the large view of the pic). He looks so quaint and polite. It makes me not want to jaywalk.

Day 53

2010-02-22T03:04:00.001-08:00

Wilting flowers on a grave in a Japanese cemetery

Day 52

2010-02-22T02:56:00.000-08:00

A shrine in a mini-forest near our house

Day 51

2010-02-20T06:11:00.000-08:00

An igloo entrance at the Towada Snow Festival (read more about it here).

Day 50

2010-02-20T06:07:00.000-08:00

A frozen waterfall in Oirase Gorge (taken while driving 30-40mph- I'm sooo impressed by this camera's ability to take pictures while driving!)

Day 49

2010-02-20T06:05:00.001-08:00

Playing around while driving through a tunnel. This was fun!

Day 48

2010-02-20T06:02:00.000-08:00

Snowy road in the mountains (taken from the car).

Day 47

2010-02-20T06:00:00.000-08:00

A pan on the stove. Exciting.

Day 46

2010-02-20T05:53:00.000-08:00

Alright, catch-up time. So I had a lame week and blew this whole "take a photo every day" thing. But I'm still posting pics to cover all the days. (They just miiiight not be exactly from the day they were supposed to be taken.) That's the beauty of taking lots of extra pictures some days, right?

This is the roof of the ski lodge at Okunakayama that I thought looked cool.

Day 45

2010-02-13T22:12:00.001-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day!

Day 44

2010-02-13T22:10:00.001-08:00

We had the best day of snowboarding so far today at Okunakayama with our friends Ed and Chessa. SO FUN!!!!

Day 43

2010-02-13T21:58:00.000-08:00

This is the contents of our fridge. You know, in case you were wondering.

Day 42

2010-02-13T21:56:00.001-08:00

Nuts, we can't go gun hunting in the field behind our house.

Day 41

2010-02-10T05:04:00.001-08:00

Back in CA we were addicted to seltzer water. They don't have that here, so we go through Perrier like crazy. We love bubbles!

Day 40

2010-02-10T05:01:00.000-08:00

A picture of some snowy weeds I took on a walk the other day. Then I played around with some Lightroom editing presets until I thought it looked cool.

Day 39

2010-02-08T02:55:00.001-08:00

Apparently there are some Texans living in Misawa.

Day 38

2010-02-08T02:49:00.001-08:00

It's been so cold lately, but the sun peeked out for a while today and Corey sat himself on the floor by the big window to bask in it (much like Zoey used to do... :) ).

Day 37

2010-02-06T20:05:00.000-08:00

More snow today. Who else is ready for spring?

Day 36

2010-02-06T19:58:00.000-08:00

The snowstorm clouds parted briefly to give us a a cool looking sunset. I caught as much of it as I could as it peeked out between the houses across the street. (The blue part of the sky was covered in telephone wires before I photoshopped them out. I don't yet have the skill to take out the ones in the more detailed parts of the pic without making things look silly.)

Day 35

2010-02-06T19:55:00.000-08:00

We're having a hermit weekend. It's dreary and snowy, and all our friends went up to Sapporo for the Ice Festival, so we're hanging out doing a whole lotta nothing at home. Here's Corey in our game/computer cave.

Day 34

2010-02-03T05:11:00.000-08:00

A picture of my eye. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out Photoshop today. There's a whooole lot to learn. This and my Lost picture were what I ended up with. Gotta start somewhere!

Day 33

2010-02-03T05:09:00.000-08:00

I'm on a Friends kick lately. It just never gets old.

Day 32

2010-02-01T02:41:00.001-08:00

Tonight I cooked with bison for the first time and made bison burgers. Not bad! Paired with sweet potato oven fries (the best things ever), it made for a tasty dinner.

Day 31

2010-02-01T02:36:00.001-08:00

We've had our old Christmas tree out by the garbage for almost a month now. We were told the garbage people would pick it up, but it doesn't look like they're going to. We leave it out like silly fools week after week hoping one garbage day it will magically be gone. I think we're out of luck. Maybe we'll just save it for camping firewood this summer...

Day 30

2010-02-01T02:19:00.000-08:00

Our footprints in a snowy park

Day 29

2010-01-28T23:29:00.000-08:00

One of two dressed-up fox statues guarding an Inari shrine just outside of Misawa. Inari is the Shinto god/goddess of agriculture. Corey and I drove out to see the shrine/park today (and it was freeeezing).

Day 28

2010-01-28T04:32:00.000-08:00

Today was all about playing with my camera! Since I don't have any cute pets or kids to be my models, this monkey served as my test subject for playing with my aperture settings.

Day 27

2010-01-26T19:55:00.001-08:00

Oh, happy day!! Lookie what I got!!!

Day 26

2010-01-26T19:49:00.000-08:00

My meal-planning organization needs updating. Every week I sit down to a stack of papers, lists of my favorite recipes, lists of new things I want to try, and my blog reader for new inspiration. It's all over the place and it's annoying. But it works, so I'll probably keep doing it the way I have been...

Day 25

2010-01-25T03:06:00.000-08:00

Snowboarding has made me painfully (literally) aware of how badly I need to get in shape and gain some muscles! So I'm working on it...

Day 24

2010-01-24T03:12:00.000-08:00

Poor Corey is sporting a seriously bruised tailbone from a snowboarding spill yesterday. I played nurse/servant to my nearly immobile husband today.

Day 22 and 23

2010-01-23T03:35:00.000-08:00

Uhh, so I maaay have forgotten to take a picture yesterday. Oops. I guess I was too absorbed in reading about photography to actually do any myself.

So I'll even it out with 2 pictures from today- one of each of us while snowboarding at Appi (I'm concealing a pile of books under my jacket, not a giant pregnant belly or gut, just so there's no confusion).

Day 21

2010-01-21T04:20:00.000-08:00

This is our friends' snowman. He's much better than ours, even half-way melted.

Day 20

2010-01-21T04:17:00.001-08:00

This is me just before bed, realizing I forgot to take a real picture today. Oops.

Day 19

2010-01-19T02:07:00.000-08:00

The books I've been pouring over in between internet research about cameras, lenses, photography in general. I feel a big hobby coming on (which is saying a lot for me, since I'm not generally much of a "hobby" person)...

Day 18

2010-01-18T05:05:00.000-08:00

Corey's first day of school! His new batch of classes starts tonight. It's almost 10:30pm and he's still not home. Who wants to be doing math at 10pm? Sadistic class schedulers...

Day 17

2010-01-16T23:46:00.000-08:00

Our neighborhood is overflowing with snow. People shovel and plows have come through several times, but there's just no where to put it all. So we have nearly rooftop-high mountains of snow between each house (which the kids in the neighborhood had fun sledding down all day).

Day 16

2010-01-15T20:38:00.000-08:00

The weather is NUTS today! I went to the library to get some books about photography (I'm getting sooo excited about the subject and I want to learn all I can so I can justify getting a fancy camera one of these days).

Day 15

2010-01-15T20:36:00.000-08:00

Corey at the Mokuteki waiting for our pizza

Day 14

2010-01-15T20:33:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the most boring picture in the history of time, but it was the only one I ended up taking today. It's our garage door stuck to the ground at 5:30am when Corey was trying to leave for work. Ten minutes of chipping away ice with a screwdriver and a pot of boiling water later, we got it to open.

Day 13

2010-01-12T22:42:00.000-08:00

We built a snowman today after finally getting some heavy snow last night. About time! Glad we still had our dried out Christmas tree in the garage so we could give him some arms...

Day 12

2010-01-12T02:27:00.000-08:00

What "The Island" would look like in winter (see Smokey there on the right?)