Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Something Old

Patti’s choice of subject for this week’s Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, Something Old, New, Borrowed, and Blue, proved to be just that, a real challenge, especially since I wanted to try and get everything into one picture. Trawling through a photo file of miscellaneous topics I came across some old pictures that I had taken years ago with my Minolta film camera. I was new to photography and was trying my hand at still-life shots.  I gathered some old books, a shiny new copper kettle that my husband had just bought me, borrowed an old violin from a friend of my daughter, stuck some flowers in a vase and started taking pictures.  The results were not that great which made me feel rather blue. The film was too grainy, the shadows too pronounced and the reflections from the flash, blinding. But luckily I kept the pictures anyway. I changed the color from sepia to blue and added a frame. This might also work for Nancy Merrill’s Photo A Week Challenge which just happens to be Still Life.

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July Blue – Miscellany

This is my last chance to add something to the Blue Squares photo challenge. Thanks to Becky for organizing this great challenge.  July has been a month of highs and lows for us, with uncertain outcomes and altered plans, so it seemed fitting to finish with a selection of bits and bobs. The first image was captured at Congo River mini golf where the ducks felt safer on dry land than they did in the water, probably because that’s where most of the balls were landing.

The next shot was taken at Arlington Park where we put a bet on number three and it turned out to be a winner. The odds weren’t great and we only risked a minimal sum but a win’s a win!

Spending the day at Navy Pier with two of our granddaughters, we got to see the ‘boys in blue’ take off in a helicopter probably on their way to patrol the lakefront.

Blue gondolas on the Ferris Wheel at Navy Pier. We got a great view of the city from the top.

More car parts from Volo Auto Museum. I don’t know the first thing about cars but I love all the colors and the shiny bits!

July Blues – Car Parts

Today’s selection for Becky’s Blue Squares challenge is made up of car parts from Volo Auto Museum in Volo, Illinois.  We went there last week when our grandson came to stay with us for a short visit. I’ve been to the museum several times before and already had quite a few car images in the photo files which is where I found these shots, but I did capture a whole new set of pictures that I hope to share in an upcoming post.

July Blues – My Kind Of Town

This time, for July Blue Squares, here are some well-known sights in downtown Chicago; The Roosevelt University building, Cubby Blue at Wrigley Field, Lake Michigan on a sunny day and the House of Blues.

Lens-Artists – Blue in Minnesota

Having just returned from a short trip to Minnesota, I find myself with a whole new fund of pictures and, having checked the subject for this week’s Lens Artists Photo Challenge, I see that there are a couple of images that might just fit the bill.  It was rather a gloomy day when we first arrived at the State Capitol in Saint Paul but after touring the building we emerged into a bright sunny day with blue skies.

As with most Capitol buildings, the interior was resplendent with statues, columns and stunning murals including this one with some nice shades of blue.

We did quite a bit of sightseeing while we were in Saint Paul including a trip to the Como Zoo and Conservatory where we saw this awesome piece of artwork.

More on our tip to Minnesota in future posts and for information on the Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, which is hosted this week by Patti, go to Blue

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Blue/Buildings

I seem to have got a bit behind with my entries for Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge on Cee’s Photography at http://ceenphotography.com/2014/09/23/cees-fun-foto-challenge-the-color-blue/. This week it’s Blue and last week it was Buildings so how about I post a few Blue Buildings.

The famous House of Blues on N. Dearborn Street in Chicago.

The new Roosevelt University building in Chicago.

An old blue house that caught my eye in Sterling, Illinois.

Travel Theme: Big

Ailsa’s Travel Theme challenge this week on Where’s My Backpack at http://wheresmybackpack.com/2013/08/16/travel-theme-big/ is Big. I guess there really isn’t anything bigger than the sky but so many of us are hemmed in by buildings and/or trees that we rarely get to see the big picture. I don’t very often take photos of the sky just for its own sake but this shot, captured one summer on a trip to Wisconsin was too good to pass up; a perfect combination of white clouds and blue sky.