Photos of the Week - Week 49

Critique Group Challenge: 

Week 49, Self Portrait

Photo by Wendy Bennett

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Wendy  says:

I haven't missed a portrait challenge yet, but came close this year. I've been dealing with my 89 yr old mom's multiple health issues for the last few weeks and this week learned that my sister (who is 3 yrs younger and lives 3 hrs away) is also having life threatening health issues. So not the usual Elf portrait this year. I took this selfie in front of several photos from past years assignments that I have hanging in my bathroom. I was treating myself to a night out with friends to attend an intimate Curtis Salgado concert. He is a well know Bluesman and it was incredible.

52-Week Photo Challenge Class
Week 49 - Self Portrait

Week 52 Photo Challenge:

Week 49, Self Portrait

Photo by Denis Gilbert

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Denis  says:  

Smart Phone Photo Challenges
Week 49 - Self Portrait

Smart Phone Challenge:

Week 49, Self Portrait

Photo by Virginia Knab

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Virginia says:

Wishing you the best for the holidays! God’s grace protect and guide us!

2024 AI Image Club

 2024 AI Image Club:

Week 49, Holiday Card

Photo by Cyndi Johnson

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Cyndi says: 

This was done in AI Artist with the prompts “an abandoned red 1950’s truck sitting in a field with snow. There’s a Christmas wreath on the front grill of the truck.” This reminds me of a card we get each year from a dear friend from Virginia who always sends a card with a vehicle on it.

Photos of the Week - Week 49

Critique Group Challenge: 

Week 49, Self Portrait

Photo by Ricky Tims

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Ricky says: 

Pretty much this entire year I have been working on this quilt featuring the Raven. It is a significant quilt with tremendous meaning. As many of you may know my life word is TIME and time is ticking. I won’t go into all the symbolism, but since this quilt is such a significant part of me for 2024, I decided to just take a casual shot in front of it for my 2024 portrait. .

Photos of the Week - Week 48

Critique Group Challenge: 

Week 48, Thankful

Photo by Carol Fredar

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Carol  says:

I planned on doing some distortion in Photoshop but then decided to go with some in-camera ideas using a fisheye.

52-Week Photo Challenge Class
Week 48 - Thankful

Week 52 Photo Challenge:

Week 48, Thankful

Photo by Jennifer Morlock

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Jennifer  says:  

Smart Phone Photo Challenges
Week 48 - Thankful

Smart Phone Challenge:

Week 48, Thankful

Photo by Joan Marycz

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Joan says:

I am Thankful for the two weeks spent in Canmore, we enjoyed the mountains every day.. Edited InFrame

2024 AI Image Club

 2024 AI Image Club:

Week 48, Decadent Feast

Photo by  Beckie Belsaas

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Beckie says: 

Bing:a large round table heaped with empty take out containers from asian resturants, fast food burger and taco resturants. Numerous take out disposible glasses with lids and straws,glasses are mostly tipped on their side on the table. Chairs around the table are all empty and broken into numerous pieces.. Trash all over the floor

Photos of the Week - Week 48

Critique Group Challenge: 

Week 48, Thankful

Photo by Ricky Tims

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Ricky says: 

I could not be more thankful than I am for Hugo. He has been a great companion. Everyone who meets him quickly discovers what makes him such a great guy. Edited in Prisma app with Aircraft

2024 AI Image Club -  Decadent Feast

2024 AI Image Club:

Week 48, Decadent Feast

Photo by Ricky Tims

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Ricky says:  

Photos of the Week - Week 47

Critique Group Challenge: 

Week 47, Distorted

Photo by Chris Maher

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Chris  says:

I planned on doing some distortion in Photoshop but then decided to go with some in camera ideas using a fisheye.

52-Week Photo Challenge Class
Week 47 - HDR

Week 52 Photo Challenge:

Week 47, HDR

Photo by Olivia Edwards

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Olivia  says:  

Smart Phone Photo Challenges
Week 47 - Night Lights

Smart Phone Challenge:

Week 47,  Night Lights

Photo by Kathleen Kennedy

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Kathleen says:

I have learned from this class to look in all directions including “up”. This is inside a Christmas decoration at a professional building nearby. Not edited with any apps. The phone original was the best.

2024 AI Image Club

 2024 AI Image Club:

Week 47, On The Farm

Photo by  Karen Kuske

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Karen says: 

Used Bing
Prompt: a fruit farm with orchards in the distance and a large barn with apples, peaches, and pears for sale

Photos of the Week - Week 47

Critique Group Challenge: 

Week 47, Distorted

Photo by Ricky Tims

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Ricky says: 

I'm not sure I should say what this is - and just leave it to you to guess. Which you probably can. It's obviously "distored" - using Liquify in Photoshop.

2024 AI Image Club -  On The Farm

2024 AI Image Club:

Week 47, On The Farm

Photo by Ricky Tims

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Ricky says:  

Photos of the Week - Week 46

Critique Group Challenge: 

Week 46, Storytime

Photo by Chris Mccarthy

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Chris  says:

Calaveras County, Circa 1878. This is Sam, a charming, fast talking, slightly roguish gentlemen. Sam just seemed to appear in town one day and proceeded to make his living playing cards, betting on almost anything, and doing some writing/reporting for the local newspaper. Well, here in Angel’s Camp, on the second Sunday of every month, there was a frog leaping contest held inside a barn on Old Man Yasgur’s farm. A big circle was drawn on the floor of the barn and inside that circle, in the dead center, was a much much smaller circle. The frogs were placed in the center circle and released on the word go. The first frog to cross the outer circle won. The prize money didn't amount to much, but the betting did!

This was right up Sam's alley. Looking for a big payday he had captured and patiently and carefully trained Henry, and Sam thought he had the greatest leaping frog in the county. The photograph is of Sam giving Henry his final pep talk, and explaining how their joint financial well-being depended on Henry's performance. Upon “Go!” Henry took off like a hero. After his second leap he was 6 inches from the edge of the circle. No other frog had even made it halfway. But then Henry just stopped. Sam started urging Henry on, then he started yelling, and then he started cuss’n. But Henry didn't budge. The crowd roared, the race was over, Henry still hadn't budged. Sam was furious, yelling and screaming, and even threw down his Panama hat. Suddenly a pretty young lady rushed into the circle, picked up Henry, looked at Sam and scolded “don't you yell at him”. Then she kissed Henry on top of his head. A flash of light, a puff of smoke, and Henry had disappeared. Standing in his stead was a well dressed handsome young man, even princely. He looked at the girl, she looked at him, and the two walked off arm in arm, presumably to live happily ever after. Sam just stood there dumbfounded.

But don't feel too sorry for Sam. He wound up doing all right. On his way home that afternoon, he ran into a boy painting a fence. They struck up a conversation, and eventually became fast friends, kindred spirits. A few years later Sam wrote a a couple of books about the adventures of the boy Tom, and his friend Huck. He got them published under a nom de plume, Mark Twain. And so it goes.

This was a pretty simple picture. All it took was a rubber frog, a fake mustache, the back of a local vineyard as background, and Stu Whalen. The adjustments were all done in Lightroom. The vintage finish was added in Topaz. Oh, you might be wondering why the vintage finish didn't apply on Henry. Well according to the the Internet magical frogs never show up as black-and-white!

52-Week Photo Challenge Class
Week 46 - Color Schemes

Week 52 Photo Challenge:

Week 46, Color Schemes

Photo by Joan Policastro

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Joan  says:  

Smart Phone Photo Challenges
Week 46 - Food

Smart Phone Challenge:

Week 46, Food

Photo by Kathleen Madden

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Kathleen says:

Beans at Asian grocer

2024 AI Image Club

 2024 AI Image Club:

Week 46, Snowstorm

Photo by  Bob Greenlee

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Bob says: 

Image app. "Railroad. Steam engine working hard pushing a railroad plow through very heavy snow in a blizzard. The plow is pushing huge volumes of snow as it moves forward. Blowing snow makes it hard to see very far. The train is moving toward the camera. Shot from beside the tracks at ground level."

Photos of the Week - Week 46

Critique Group Challenge: 

Week 46, Storytime

Photo by Ricky Tims

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Ricky says: 

Southern Colorado is known for UFO sightings and alien encounters. Documentaries have been produced about the high percentage of sightings in this area. These have been seen on PBS and there are YouTube videos discussing various sightings over the years. In fact, we have the UFO Observatory located in the San Luis valley. It's true - Google it!

There is a greater phenomena though. That being, all residents of our tiny hamlet of La Veta live among these intelligent creatures and interact with them regularly. It's our best kept secret. (Please don't tell anyone, we'd like to keep it that way).

Donna, a delightful long time resident and army veteran, mans the soda fountain at Charlie's Market during the day where the tourists flock to get their ice cream. It's a tradition! The sidewalks are lined with benches filled with visitors having their Charlie's ice cream.

After hours however, the market closes and the soda fountain transforms into a private speakeasy called Miguel's. Miguel is one of our residents martians, Trust me, nobody makes martini's better than martians, especially Miguel. If you have never had a Martian Martini you are missing out.

This week Hugo, Nick, and I popped in during happy hour and I snapped this photo. I thought would be a good moment for our Story Time challenge topic. We spent over an hour solving the problems of our universe. Of course, it's really helpful to have Miguel offer insights about neighboring galaxies. There's nothing better than a friend who knows stuff!

I created Miguel in AI - using MIdjourney and added him in Photoshop. The same with the martini and the chalkboard.

2024 AI Image Club -  Snowstorm

2024 AI Image Club:

Week 46, Snowstorm

Photo by Ricky Tims

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Ricky says:  

Photos of the Week - Week 45

Critique Group Challenge: 

Week 45, Open

Photo by Brian Savon

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Brian says:

Open Fly, Taken with my iPhone, Edited in Lightroom.

52-Week Photo Challenge Class
Week 44 - Step and Repeat

Week 52 Photo Challenge:

Week 45, Step and Repeat

Photo by Denis Gilbert

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Denis  says:  

Smart Phone Photo Challenges
Week 45 - Sock

Smart Phone Challenge:

Week 45, Sock

Photo by Ray Sisum

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Ray says:

Edited in BeCasso my wife resting with her cozy socks

2024 AI Image Club

 2024 AI Image Club:

Week 45, In the Park

Photo by Ruth-Ellen Flanagan

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Ruth-Ellen says:

Used Firefily with the prompt: Sunday in the park with a lake, a small bridge, and lanterns by its side. Used Art Nouveau, Ink, Watercolor, and Antique Photo styles.

There is a park in Worcester, MA where I grew up called Elm Park. It has a bridge like this and lots of trees and walking paths. The park was designed by Frederick Olmsted the famous landscape and park designer. Well known for Central Park. The land the park resides on was purchased in 1854, making it one of the first public purchases of land expressly intended for use as a municipal park.