Photography Board Summer Assignment, 2010: Scavenger Hunt

[Pea-n-Me]

I apologize for taking so long to get back.

I'm trying to read through my chicken scratch, hopefully I can get this right.

PrincessinOz: #776, yes. Pail and shovel, ok. I'm tempted to give you double points for getting an Octogenarian Equestrian in riding gear, also (just kidding!). I think it was your Baseball Stadium in 773 (or whosever it was), sorry that's a no. Your Illusion is ok.

jmskinner: yes to Barnacle, #732; sorry, no to Newborn for seahorses.

RMDavis: I couldn't find your reference to #690. #683 yes for Antique. Two of your shots made for an interesting debate in my house (I bounce these of my DH): the root beer shot and the Mountain Dew shot. Not trying to embarrass you at all, but citing this to show why allowing some of the "stretches" (in general, not with yours, necessarily) leads to difficulty. I really don't want to allow your Mountain Dew shot for Dew because Dew was intended as morning dew on something outside. I've been impressed with how even some of the people newer to photography have gotten these shots (I'm picturing them down in the grass at daybreak trying to figure out how to get the shots; I haven't even attempted one myself yet!). But because I allowed some of the pictures of the words Eclipse, I feel like I have to now allow the Mountain Dew shot. (Next year the wording in the rules on these will be more clear, live and learn for this year.) What would make me really happy is to see you replace the Mountain Dew shot with a real Dew shot.

As for the root beer shot, well I loved the shot itself but was torn about whether it should count because the intent was regular beer, however your shot was nice and frosty, which did meet half the requirement, at least, and it was a beer. Decisions, decisions. DH, btw, says no (even though he has pleasant memories of root beer from Dog n Suds); I say yes. So yes it is. (Next year I'm hiring an independent judge!)

I would be interested to hear what others are thinking here. I just hope you can all appreciate the difficulty of trying to be fair here. (I know you can, you've been a great group!)

tazdev: debate about your locomotive, also. Will not be able to allow it as we have to see a train that holds freight, sorry.

Stargazer: boiling tomatoes, not seeing the sizzle, lol. Show us something else - in the frying pan or on the grill, etc.

funkychunkymonkey - I am unsure if your cow is a Holstein in #815 - can anyone verify?

dizneydaz - #837 Celebration of Independence - please show something 4th of July related (I know you said it was your way of celebrating, but that could have been anywhere, any day, etc). Rollercoaster - that was taken from the top, I believe, then it counts. Unusual mirror, sorry, no - the mirror itself needs to be unusual or ornate. #842 Please explain the Win. Also Kite - is the name of the ride the Kite? (I was looking more for a handheld kite.) Great job finding an ox bow, I didn't know if anyone would get that!

 

[tazdev3225]

tazdev: debate about your locomotive, also. Will not be able to allow it as we have to see a train that holds freight, sorry.

Totally understand your ruling. It was a really short train, and I didn't want to cause an accident trying to stop the car and grab the camera. I have time to try again. I am also withdrawing Delicious from my count. I misread the start date and took it a few weeks earlier than the actual start date.

 

[rmdavis]

Pea-n-me: I really appreciate the work you are doing on the contest, It sems like a lot of time devoted to it. With the Dew shot I actually wasn't planning on using it toward my point total just wanted to add a bit of fun to it, I am intending on getting a real dew shot as soon as we actually have dew here one morning. It has been so hot and dry here lately that I am starting to think that dew (morning dew that is) is merely a subject of myth and fable.

The root beer pic actuallyh wasn't mine but someone else can't remember who posted it.

Did have one more question about my itty bity pic in post 694.

Thanks again for all the work you have put into this, not only does it have me out taking pictures but I am loving seeing everyone else's pics and the history from elsewhere.

 

[pednurse]

Actually it was me that posted the root beer pic.....I don't drink beer, so this is the closest I'll be able to get to frosty beer....thought it was at least worth a shot (no pun intended! lol)...and I do think Dog n Suds has the best root beer around! (BTW, is your DH from around the Lafayette area??)

 

[rmdavis]

Historical ingenuity or invention*(barbed wire) replaces the pulley in post 783 because it seems a bit older in appearance and was a valuable invention when it came into being

 

[AlisonUK]

Katydid - I hope this is right! From what I can make out, a katydid is similar to a grasshopper? It jumped on to our picnic bag! Actually, having looked more carefully at it, it seems to be missing a leg ...

Zookeeper

Reflection

Iris

Ice cream cone

 

[AlisonUK]

Octogenerian

Flowers

Jeep

Owl

 

[Pugrpooh]

I haven't posted for a while, but I've taken a few pictures for this. There are a lot more I can take from just around the house, but I need to get crackin' on it!

First of all judges, can I get a ruling on this one? I'm entering it for demolition, but didn't know if you wanted a building as it was being demolished or if this one would work. You're doing a great job Linda, there are a LOT of pictures to go through!

Demolition These facades were kept to be incorporated in a new skyscraper downtown. The project was on hold the past two years, but supposedly is back on track now.

This next one was DD8's idea for attractive. This is one of many bike racks downtown; each one is uniquely different. Various artists were commissioned to design them so they'd be more attractive and interesting than your regular utilitarian bike rack.

Attractive

Obsolete The Gemini trainer

Antique Approximately 4600 years old

Seashells Not too happy with this one -- will try to get a better one later.

Sparkler trail

Model This is a glass model of Churchill Downs, 4,000 pieces individually handblown.

Celebrity Calvin Borel, winner of 3 out of the last 4 Kentucky Derbys.

Equestrian

 

[PrincessInOz]

I apologize for taking so long to get back.

I'm trying to read through my chicken scratch, hopefully I can get this right.

PrincessinOz: #776, yes. Pail and shovel, ok. I'm tempted to give you double points for getting an Octogenarian Equestrian in riding gear, also (just kidding!). I think it was your Baseball Stadium in 773 (or whosever it was), sorry that's a no. Your Illusion is ok.

Hope you had a great trip Pea n Me and thanks for getting back to us.

For the other Aussies reading this, Post #776 is the US Government Building - looks like the Consulate General or Embassy qualifies.

And I'm happy with the Pail and Shovel ruling too....this is a bonus because I think I was going to resort to opening up my son's old play sandpit and taking a shot of the bucket and spade in there. I much prefer my Pan and Shovel shot!

I think the Baseball stadium in #773 belongs to RMDavis. I had previously posted a shot of the Melbourne Cricket Ground with a capacity 100,000, which I believed qualified under a previous ruling.

Thanks again for setting up this scavenger hunt. Irrespective of the end date and outcome, I feel like I have already won. This hunt gave me the impetus to get out and about (in winter) to take shots with my new camera.
I'm still not the world's best photographer; but in the last 2 months, I've gone from taking shots like this (which was my first shot I snapped for this hunt on my camera phone):

to this shot (which does not belong in any category).... I love the fact that I have a better understanding of how to compose a photograph.

Thanks again!

 

[shushh]

Thanks again for setting up this scavenger hunt. Irrespective of the end date and outcome, I feel like I have already won. This hunt gave me the impetus to get out and about (in winter) to take shots with my new camera.
I'm still not the world's best photographer; but in the last 2 months, I've gone from taking shots like this (which was my first shot I snapped for this hunt on my camera phone):

to this shot (which does not belong in any category).... I love the fact that I have a better understanding of how to compose a photograph.

Thanks again!

Nicely put! I echo PrincessInOz's sentiment, I have taken photos of things that I would otherwise never have and improved my skills immensely as a result. A big thank you from me as well.

 

[shushh]

As you can see...I got alot of photos whilst in Melbourne!

Weather vane On top of the mission for seafarers, a weather vane with a ship on it! Unfortunately snapped very quickly from a tram.

Watermelon

Waddle A duck in full waddle action

Wind chime

Visitor Centre Information Board

 

[shushh]

Stormy A storm as viewed from ABOVE the clouds. Taken on our way to Melbourne

Udder*

Sundial*

Seashells

Vegetable garden

 

[shushh]

Java The barista making our espresso and cafe latter on a very cold Melbourne morning

Kazoo* I actually had to ask a parent if I may take a photo of their son's kazoo whilst at a playground...

Kite

Model A lego model of the city of Melbourne

Lost tourist reading map*

 

[AlisonUK]

Nicely put! I echo PrincessInOz's sentiment, I have taken photos of things that I would otherwise never have and improved my skills immensely as a result. A big thank you from me as well.

Totally agree - I only got my first DSLR a few months ago and I normally only take photos of people; this has really given me an incentive to get out and try different things and I am learning so much about my camera - and photography in general - as a result. Thank you!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Shushh...loving your pictures of Melbourne!



Here are a couple of replacement shots; no extra points claimed.

Kangaroo...sssssss* What's the point of living in Australia if you can't take a picture so that you can post a whole MOB or TROOP of Kangaroos?

Guitarist* I'm learning to play classical guitar and this is what I see when I practise.

Moonlight This was taken at 5.30 pm today; at twilight time.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Argyle It's a horrible blurry shot, taken with my old Point N Shoot (isn't it terrible that I revert to old habits on the old camera???)...but I was so excited at seeing an Argyle jumper that I took the shot without focussing (pun intended) on what I was doing.

(ps. I hope this is what you mean regarding Argyle - and not one of an Argyle Diamond)

Dessert in restaurant*

Sticky Date Pudding

Lemon Meringue Tart

Dragonfly Found on a Birthday Card and taken to claim the point until I can make a trip out to the Melbourne Museum!!

Kazoo* (Taken using my PnS)

Olive

Tourist, lost reading map* (Taken using my PnS)

Train, from inside*

Visitor Center Information Board (Taken using my PnS)

This is the Melbourne Visitor Center.

Here is one of the boards at the Center.

This is the most popular board at the Center.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Emu*

Holstein Replacing previous shot, no extra points claimed

plus definition! I had trouble working out a Holstein from a Friesian...looks like they are considered one and the same in Oz.

Newborn Baby* I have a couple of friends with newborn babies but I feel embarassed about asking them if I can post a picture of their baby on the internet. So, I've gone the animal option.

This is the sign showing that the Alpaca mother (head shown) had delivered about a month ago.

Here's Mocha, the baby.

And there was a newborn Holstein on the farm as well...this one was born 4 or 5 days ago!

Puppy Meet Buzz! He's a 6 month old Australian Kelpie cross; and appropriately named for the DisBoard photography scavenger hunt.

And this is what he does....

Barn Stall* This is not your typical barn stall. This is a stall for sheep; specifically to corral them for shearing.

I also got this as barn stall from Sovereign Hill the other day....for the Clydesdale horses.

Let me know if either of these don't meet the mark



Quarterhorse

Udder*

 

[PrincessInOz]

And tonight, the skies finally cleared over Melbourne...enough for me to attempt a shot of....

Constellation* Replaces the previous photo of the Southern Cross on an Australian Flag. No extra points claimed; but this legitimizes the previous claim.

The Constellation depicted consists of the Pointer stars (two bright ones in the upper left side) pointing down to the Southern Cross, in the lower right side. The inclusion of the Pointer stars is important as it confirms that this is the true Constellation Crux; as there are at least 2 other crosses that could be incorrectly identified as the Southern Cross in the skies.

f/22, 20 sec exposure, ISO 3200, focal length 23 mm. Autofocus turned OFF.

f/22, 20 sec exposure, ISO 3200, focal length 55 mm. Autofocus turned OFF.

f/22, 25 sec exposure, ISO 1600, focal length 55 mm. Autofocus turned OFF.

My husband tells me (after I'd come in to thaw out) that:

• If you draw a straight line from the long bit of the Southern Cross;
• And draw a line between the Pointers, take the mid point between the Pointers and draw a straight line (at 90 degree angle to the line between the Pointers);
• Where the lines of the Southern Cross and the mid-90 degree Pointer meet, that is the South Celestial Pole.

If I had known that earlier, I would have positioned the camera so that we could have gotten that in the frame as well!! As it is, you can just about work out the position of the SCP from the first photo...it's just off frame, bottom left hand side.

 

[1tufgt]

I haven't posted for a while, but I've taken a few pictures for this. There are a lot more I can take from just around the house, but I need to get crackin' on it!

First of all judges, can I get a ruling on this one? I'm entering it for demolition, but didn't know if you wanted a building as it was being demolished or if this one would work. You're doing a great job Linda, there are a LOT of pictures to go through!

Demolition These facades were kept to be incorporated in a new skyscraper downtown. The project was on hold the past two years, but supposedly is back on track now.

This next one was DD8's idea for attractive. This is one of many bike racks downtown; each one is uniquely different. Various artists were commissioned to design them so they'd be more attractive and interesting than your regular utilitarian bike rack.

Attractive

Obsolete The Gemini trainer

Antique Approximately 4600 years old

Seashells Not too happy with this one -- will try to get a better one later.

Sparkler trail

Model This is a glass model of Churchill Downs, 4,000 pieces individually handblown.

Celebrity Calvin Borel, winner of 3 out of the last 4 Kentucky Derbys.

Equestrian

Small world. Great pics.

Hope they move forward with Museum Plaza.

 

[Ellen aka Snow White]

Cemetery:

Club Sandwich with toothpick*

Eggshell

This one became my sister's "torpedo". We went shopping Saturday and of course I carried my camera around with us. I showed her the list and this was the item that she decided to help me hunt down!! We found this on a barn in someone's back yard. The guy was cutting grass so we actually stopped and asked him if we could get a picture! At first he misunderstood when my sister said we were on a scavenger hunt - he thought we wanted THE weathervane!