Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Silhouettes

This week, Patti has chosen Silhouettes as the subject for the Lens-Artists Photo Challenge. I should probably state at the outset that I don’t think I’ve ever taken a picture of something or someone specifically as a silhouette. They’ve just turned out that way, either due to my woeful inability to manually set the camera to cope with the stark contrasts of light and shade or the failure of my camera’s auto mode to do the same. The following ‘silhouettes’ were captured, however inadvertently, at the Chicago Botanic Garden, Volkening Heritage Farm at Spring Valley, Old World Wisconsin and the Stephenson County Historical Museum in Freeport, Illinois.

 

 

Weekly Photo Challenge: Motion

The Weekly Photo Challenge on The Daily Post this week is Motion and for this theme I’ve decided once again to use b/w images in order to put more emphasis on the topic rather than the colors. I’ve also tried to show just enough blur in the pictures to demonstrate motion without having the subject totally unrecognizable.

How I miss competing in this sport but advancing years, the loss of most of my fencing equipment in a flood and various medical issues have me thinking that this kind of motion is no longer in my picture. Now I can only stand on the sidelines at capture the moment on camera.

A little bit of fan-twirling going on here as one of the performers at the Japan Festival in Arlington Heights goes through the motions of a very graceful dance.

Continuing with the twirling theme, dancers with Ballet Folklorico throw all their energies into the performance; definitely motion with emotion.

Horses in full motion, racing for the finish line at Arlington Park.

A blacksmith working at his anvil in Old World Wisconsin.

For more on the Weekly Photo Challenge go to https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_photo_challenge/motion/

Travel Theme: Wood

Ailsa’s Travel Theme challenge this week on Where’s My Backpack? at http://wheresmybackpack.com/2014/01/24/travel-theme-wood/ is Wood.

Once again I go back to the wonderfully intricate architecture of the Hindu temple in Bartlett. The wood carving on this entryway is stunning.

In contrast, this simple wood fence at the Volkening Heritage Farm in Schaumburg seems to blend nicely with the flowers in the background.

A large wooden barn at Old World Wisconsin.

Also at Old World Wisconsin, this white, wooden church stands out against a blue sky on a summer’s day.

A beautifully polished wooden locker and bench on board the Sorlandet at the Tall Ships Festival in Chicago.

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Wheels

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge on Cee’s Photography at http://ceenphotography.com/2013/10/22/cees-fun-foto-challenge-wheels/ is Wheels.

Wow! Once I got started on this one I couldn’t stop. I didn’t realize that I’d taken so many pictures of wheels! The first shot was taken at a farm in Old World Wisconsin.

Some fancy wheels on a car at the Volo Auto Museum.

White wheels on a carriage waiting to be hired in downtown Indianapolis.

Just across the road from the horse and carriage at Monument Circle in the center of Indianapolis were some more modern wheels parked outside a café.

An old, wooden wheel at Spring Valley Nature Center in Schaumburg.

Also at Spring Valley, a wagon with bright, red wheels in a barn at the Volkening Heritage Farm.

Beside the Barn