Weekly Photo Challenge: Contrast

Contrast.

Tonight on the way home from another swim meet, Erika was driving.

And then I saw the lineman working (at 8:44PM), the dark silhouette against the light sky. Camera on my lap from the swim meet. Lens cap off. Click.

Shot from the passenger seat with the 70-200 mm L series lens.  At the intersection of Africa Road and Lewis Center Road, where they are widening the intersection.

lineman

 

The night before I had a similar shot of Michael riding the zip line

 

 

michael on the zip line

 

As the pool closed, Anna spotted a floating Barbie doll.                                          Where?  I had to ask as I didn’t see it right away.

barbie in the pool

 

 

Contrasting styles of shoes at the pool.

shoes at the pool

 

 

 

and a couple of swim moms with contrasting patterns

 

pool moms

 

 

 

 

gas cansRed Gas cans for the engines for the Inflatables, contrast nicely against the green grass.  You saw the fireworks in yesterday’s post but this another view.

 

Early July 4th Celebration at The Lakes in Ohio

When we arrived, Erika suggested taking a photo of the place empty and then later after it filled up. Sounded like a good idea to me.

So here is what The Lakes Fourth of July celebration looked like Sunday night- June 29th.

beginning

The beginning

 

middle

 

 

preparing fireworks at the Lakes

Preparing the fireworks across the lake

 

reflection

Flags and crowd reflection

 

teenagers

Parade of teenagers

 

 

reflectionsThe Kids loved all the inflatable activities

 

family viewing

 

 

 

fireworks 2

The smell of gunpowder lingered in the humid air

 

 

 

 

 

michael

 

During the fireworks- Michael on the right looks up at the sky filled with fireworks

 

fireworks at the Lakes

Lots of teenagers in clumps, enjoying the festivities

 

 

 

 

July FireworksThe fireworks are over.  A large light came on.  Everyone was packing and cleaning up.  Getting to the car and out of the parking lot.  Home in about 15 minutes after this shot!

 

 

end of the night

Memorial Message for a Beloved Coach at Worthington High, Ohio

After the OSCC swim meet at Worthington today, my DIL was driving.

Had my phone out and was able to capture part of this message created with plastic cups stuck into the chain link fence.

When I googled, I found out it was Coach Stephen Gussler, Jr. who taught and coached at the high school, whose name was on the fence – the one who will be loved forever by his baseball players and students at Worthington High School.

Here is a video about him and the lives he touched.  There’s a Guss Strong Community Page on FB,too.

Forever  love Guss

Maybe we’ll be down in Worthington again so I can capture the whole message in the fence.

 

 

 

Running Home for Supper

Maura running home 7 (1)Maura was playing at a friend’s house.  Erika asked if I would watch for her to run across the lawn and help her cross the street to home.

I had the camera already as I was photographing Mark grilling trout on a cedar plank.  The late afternoon light was perfect.

Maura was running running running.

Old Grandma photographed her but Maura didn’t think anything of it and ignored my shooting.

 

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Pressing the Shutter- Too Soon, Too Late and Just Right

Practicing at the Intersquad Swim Meet at Ohio State Thursday night. Here is the process.  Why it is important to practice.

 

Too Early– Not off the blocks yet

too early2

 

 

Ooops, missed it.  Too late, Not just off the blocks but IN the water

too late

 

 

 

 

And then a couple where I felt I hit the mark better. Anticipating when the swimmers would be OFF the blocks but NOT IN the water yet

better

 

 

 

 

better3

Used the Canon 70-200 mm lens on the Canon 5D.  The one that was repaired a couple of weeks ago. It seems to be doing all right.

 

I felt I got some good action photography practice in as I watched the kids swim. Maura made it 100 meters Freestyle. That is a looong way for a 5 year old.

Maura completes 100 M freestyle

 

 

and by the parking garage in the late evening light

Swim Meet 2A quick pose for old Grandma. Thanks family. xxoo They are used to me by now.

 

Tuna Melt For My Lunch and Thistle Seed for the Goldfinch

 

Picked up Laura for lunch at the Brown Bag Deli in German Village, Columbus OH.

We had a glass bottle of 1/2 Tea 1/2 Lemonade, some Cape Cod Kettle Chips and a dill pickle on the side.

 

Tuna Melt

Tuna Melt reminds me of my friend Joanne and also my childhood.  As I remember they were on an English Muffin half then.

 

Mark has to keep filling the Goldfinch feeder as they flock in and love to eat the nyjer/ thistle seed.  It hangs in a birch tree in their backyard.

My mother’s parents, Charlotte and Judd Van Sickle,  were real bird watchers and kept a life list of all the birds they saw. Cousin John still has the list and maybe I can get him to guest blog it sometime.

I thought of my grandparents  as I watched the finches gather in to dine.  Only one brave finch stayed to eat as I crept around with my 70-200 lens and camera.  They were attuned to an intruder but this one stayed to eat anyway.

American Gold FinchSo my lunch and bird lunch on the blog today

Goldfinch 3My first shot as I approached the backyard feeder. The question is, how do the other finches know to come to this particular place to find the thistle seed?

Freeze a Moment in Time

Thought these two photos of Anna at the Dive Meet Monday afternoon, illustrate the concept of freezing a moment in time.  

I shoot singly, not in a burst, try to anticipate the moment to click the shutter.   Shot these with my 70-200 Canon lens.  It was a hot day.

 

Anna dives

 

 

Anna dives 2

Man Tree Seen in Mendocino CA by a Friend

Thanks for sending the photo tonight from Mendocino, MaryAnne L. ( friends since 1984-we met in Grafenwoehr, Germany-MaryAnne L. is a fellow art teacher and a master quilter, living in Texas)

Here is what she wrote when I asked her if I could guest blog the colorful tree.

“It’s called ‘Man Tree’ by Corrine Bailey of The Crayon Box. There’s the artist’s name pinned to it. Didn’t ask questions. I don’t know if I have enough info to blog. I do have one more pic of wool wrapped columns but don’t have store name. Have beautiful coastal pics tho”

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All of Mendocino. The buildings are part of the town that faces the ocean. I was standing on a bluff overlooking Pacific with town behind me. Lots of art galleries. If you zoom in on town upper left, you can see the wool columns and part of the name. see the wool columns and part of the name.

Great guest blog, MaryAnne. The coast looks wonderful. Enjoy your vacation and thanks for thinking of me when you saw the “Man Tree”

for more info go to Mendocino Yarn Shop link to see Corinne installing the “color bombing” as they call it

Suitcase Race for Home and Then Off to a Baseball Game

After six days in Pittsburgh- they got out of the car,

retrieved their suitcases and headed up the hill.

They were happy to go to Grandma’s and happy to return home.

 

 

suitcase race for home

 

 

 

suitcase race for home 2Michael stops for a moment to get a better grip on his Playmobil catalog

 

 

suitcase race for home 3

Maura made it to the stoop first, Jack’s suitcase fell over. Michael was watching Jack.

The boys changed and we headed to the baseball field

Michael on the bench

Waiting on the bench

 

little league catcher

Jack as catcher

 

 

 

four grandkids

After the game, Anna set up this photo of the four of them when I said let’s get one of the four kids together.  Cheesy but fun!

Anna enjoyed her week as an “only child”.

 

 

 

 

John and Eugenia’s Wedding at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church

Eugenia and John ceremony2Shot from the choir loft     Eugenia and John crownsI was invited down to photograph the couple from the front, wearing the crowns     Eugenia and John altarThree times around the altar         Eugenia and John ceremony Jaxon checking out the rose petals       Eugenia and FatherA little out of order, Eugenia and her father come down the rose strewn aisle       Eugenia Bridal portrait. Eugenia and I taught together at Arlington.

 

 

 

 

 

wedding party Eugenia and John entrance Eugenia and John make an entrance       Eugenia and John outside A very happy day.