Two Things Challenge - Bent / Straight

Uniform Grazing

These cows lined up straight with heads bent down to gain access to the luscious grass on the other side of the straight line electric fence. Proof that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence.

Camera Model Name Canon PowerShot A710 IS

Tv (Shutter Speed) 1/200

Av (Aperture Value) 4.5

Two Things Challenge - Saturday / Sunday

On a Saturday morning walk on a trail near home, we ran into this pair of deer. I'm not sure who was more surprised, us or them.

Sunday at noon - time to click. Sunday means TV, Sunday means football with the armchair quarterback!

Two Things Challenge - Textures / Shapes

Sliver

The texture and pattern of wood. Also helps to have the texture of moss.

Shapes, the shape and pattern of a cobblestone road in Verona, Italy.

Two Things Challenge - Big / Little

Little Big Dog

Portrait of Winston by Mrs. DL

There is nothing bigger than a little terrier; a little dog who's personality is that of a big dog.

Winston turned 13 this year, and has recently gone deaf. A mixed blessing. We can now say such words as walk, squirrel, car, ride, treat, going to the lake. Yet I believe he takes full advantage of not listening to our commands. He's coming along fine with hand signals. But if you know a terrier, they can be stubborn. Stubborn like me, as I'm told. ;)

Exposure: 0.04 sec (1/25)

Aperture: f/7.1

Focal Length: 70 mm

ISO Speed: 200

Two Things Challenge is Black / White

Glacial Deposit
Much of the shore is scattered with sheared rock of various sizes.

Infrared creates stark white and deep black colors. Or, anti colors. I remember learning in art class that black and white are not colors at all.

Exposure: 6 sec (6)
Aperture: f/9
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 100

Two Things Challenge - East / West

For this challenge, I bring you an old and a new photo.

Old

Sunrise - East

Sunrise over Fourtown Lake in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW)

A camping/fishing trip I took with my father, Bob and Ron. A n annual spring tradition that started for me in 1978; 27 springs of camping in the wilderness, miles from modern conveniences.

This was captured with my old Nikon point and shoot 3 megapixel camera.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boundary_Waters_Canoe_Area_Wilderness

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New

Sunset - West

The new, West. Sunset over Lake Vermilion. And shot with a DSLR and a polarizing filter.

http://www.lakevermilion.com/

Two Things Challenge - Solid / Pattern

Solid patterns.

Patterns of moss growing on solid granite. OK, maybe this isn't a perfect example of solid / pattern. But my 10 year old niece and I thought these "dots" of moss were pretty. They were soft too. She liked how the surrounding moss was "fuzzy" in the photo.

So there you have it, solid / pattern!

Two Things Challenge - Product / Label

Gold Medal Flour is the flour of choice for many of us local bakers. Gold Medal Flour is a label I look for and a product I use for baking the artisan style breads I have posted here before.

If you are interested in baking, check out the links below.
http://www.realbakingwithrose.com/questions_and_answers/bread_questions/ingredients/
http://www.kingarthurflour.com/blog/

My Cardamom Braids, my Grandmother's recipe, made with...you guessed it, Gold Medal flour. Almost like my Grandmother used to bake. Almost, but not quite. She had no formal recipe, it was all in her head. A few scoops of flour, a pinch of this, a dash of that. And somehow her cardamom bread was fantastic. I do need work on my braiding skills.

Another Minneapolis icon on the Mississippi River is the Gold medal Flour mill. Now it is in ruins, devastated from a fire. This is the red sign seen on the header page up top. Except shown above, this sign is off, the backside sign is illuminated and reflecting in the river.

This week's 2 Thing's Challenge is Product / Label brings us to the Hennepin Ave Bridge where this sign can be seen. Of course I have used this image from a similar shot back on January 31. This billboard has been standing here since 1940 in honor of the beer that was brewed here.

Why am I repeating this image? Three reasons;
1. I enjoy this icon of Minneapolis.
2. I really enjoy the colors.
3. After this ongoing media circus behind the real American Idol two years of un-ending hot air election campaigning nonsense, I'm going to need this product. 44 days left of this tiresome blitz, I don't think there is enough beer to ease the pain.

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For more information about 2 Things Challenge;

http://2thingsphotochallenge.blogspot.com/

Two Things Challenge - Music / Note

This week's 2 Things Challenge is Music/Note. Here are a few photos of Mrs. DL's clarinet from her high school band/orchestra days. The antique Clarinet music book is dated from 1847.

2 Things Challenge - Hard / Soft

Soft focus with hard light. I really need an external flash. That pop up flash on my camera is, well, pretty worthless. It shines way too bright on the subject for these close ups. I don't care for this hard light from the pop us flash. Unfortunately, an external flash and the cordless remote transmitter is a bit pricey. Maybe for Christmas.

Speaking of which, I am dismayed to report that on Saturday August 16th at Costco, We witnessed our first Christmas display of Christmas gift wrap, ribbons, and Christmas cards. Those are the the hard sad facts of rabid commercialism.

Q-Tips in a glass jar. Soft pillowy cotton swabs inside a hard glass jar.

2 Things Challenge - Window / Shop

In Macy's downtown Minneapolis, Winston's Barbershop.

I wonder what sweet treat is in here.

2 Things Challenge - Over / Under

Our typical walk that takes us past the now closed Dunn Brothers coffee shop and on to the 'Bou for my caffeine fix. This particular Saturday morning we heard this droning humming sound. Looking up, we saw this brightly colored sail glider. You might say we were under this flyer as he was over the trees. Ha, a two fer one special. Also, I must add that I over saturated the red and blue channels while under processing the rest of the image using my humble PS Elements 5.0.

2 Things Challenge is Up / Down

This week's 2 Thing's Challenge, up and down, comes to you from Duluth, Minnesota. Canal Park in Duluth to be exact.

No diving down, stay up.

All along the canal between Duluth harbor and Lake superior are these No diving and No Swimming signs. Here, you are not allowed to dive down; you must stay up on the causeway.

Shooting Mode Manual Exposure

Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/160

Av( Aperture Value ) 11.0

ISO Speed 100

Focal Length 85.0 mm

White Balance Mode Daylight

The up/down ladder. The orange ladder leading up/down on the waterside from the No Diving sign. This canal leads into the canal from Duluth Harbor to Lake Superior. These ladders I believe are for safety reasons in case somebody falls in. Life rings are also present. Of course a Duluth resident will have better knowledge of all this as the North Metro is located 160 miles south of Duluth, Minnesota.

Shooting Mode Manual Exposure

Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/125

Av( Aperture Value ) 11.0

ISO Speed 100

Focal Length 17.0 mm

White Balance Mode Daylight

For more information on 2 things Challenge; http://2thingsphotochallenge.blogspot.com/

Two Things Challenge is Corner / Stone

Corner inside Grandma's Saloon in Duluth, MN. I liked the colors cast on these corner bricks. Thus the 'corner' part for this week's challenge.

Blue Stone at Lake Vermilion. I amintrigued by the color of this rock being so blue. I chose this for the "Stone" part of this week's challenge.

Two Things Challenge is People / Watch

We went to the Blaine Airport in the north metro to see the vintage airshow. Vintage aircraft from World War II; the P51 Mustang, B25, B24 Liberator, and the B17-G. Impressive airplanes that still fly to airshows around the country. What a joy and honor it was to climb inside both the B24 and B17. Impressive to see what it was like inside, but on the ground. The B17 has a maximum speed of 300mph with a range of 1,850 miles flying at an average height of 25,000 feet. At that altitude, the air temperature was -55 degrees F. And they had the mid section windows open to man the 50 caliber guns. Electric suits 'helped to keep them warm.

Pictured here are people for our 2 Things Challenge People / Watch. We enjoyed watching the retired Service Men tell stories about their experiences flying during the war and listening to them answer questions. Shown here, seated, is Junior Gossel, co-pilot for a B17 Flying Fortress flying 20 missions over Europe.

People watch. Watching people stand in line to climb inside this B17.

Two Things Challenge - Litter / Bug

Litter, disgusting litter in and around the pond next to Champlin's pedestrian bridge.

Lake Vermilion Mayfly

The hatch is on! The best time to be on the lake is just before and during the major hatch of the mayfly, or Ephemeroptera. The walleyes become ravenous during the hatch, feeding exclusively on this winged delicacy in larval state. The right tactic and location is key to catching walleyes during the hatch. Last weekend was no exception, with too many large walleyes caught in the slot limit of 17 to 26 inches of length. These walleyes must be returned back to the lake immediately. We caught walleyes mid day, in bright sunny on the bottom, 20 feet down. Within two weeks after the hatch, the walleyes are stuffed, unwilling to be caught for the next few weeks after the mayfly hatch. Know your bugs when walleye fishing. ;-) These bugs litter the lake, shore, buildings, roads, etc.

Exposure: 0.05 sec (1/20)
Aperture: f/4
Focal Length: 6 mm
ISO Speed: 100

To learn more about this challenge, please visit, 2 Things Weekly Challenge

2 Things Challenge - Work / Book

This week's challenge is Work / Book.

We, along with everyone else, are preparing for the extended 4th of July weekend celebration. I decided to recycle a few photos that depict Work and Book.

I decided not to show you my fabric box where I work Monday thru Friday. It's depressing enough to reside in a cube Farm 5 days a week. Instead, here are some photos that represent the weekend work I enjoy when not bicycling and on photo shoots.

Putting in the docks.

At the cabin, putting in the lake equipment is actually fun work. We prepare for another summer of lakeside fun. Here we are back in May 2007. That's my Pop, standing on the dock supervising. That's me in the lake at the end of the dock in my chest waders. A beautiful sunny 65 degree, (18 degree C.), May afternoon. Yes, that white stuff you see on the lake is ice. It kept bumping into me as I try to level the dock.

The wood Pile.

Nothing like taking your week's worth of commuting aggravation out on a log pile with a splitting maul. Work. May sound silly, but there is satisfaction of reducing this pile of stove length cut logs into firewood. I have a lot of work to do here.

Ah, you read me like a book. After all that work of spending the day splitting wood, a Finnish style wood burning sauna is the perfect way to relax. The 200 degree heat, (approx. 94 degrees C.), is great on the sore aching back muscles.

'nuff said


The deck at home, a place to read a book.

Actually my cook book magazines. Right now, I am reading Bella Tuscany by Frances Mayes. Next up is either Canoeing with the Cree by Eric Sevareid or A Walk in the woods by Bill Bryson. But back to my photo; on the table is my stack of La Cucina Italiana magazine. Filled with excellent recipes. I'm looking for another variation of Chicken Saltimboca to cook. The other night, my wife made Chicken saltimboca from Giada De Laurentiis' cook book. Which was fabulous.

Our bookshelf in the spare room of favorite books. Missing is the complete works of William Shakespeare. I read that just for fun.

There is is, work and Book. Hope you had a fun weekend.

2 Things Challenge is Round / Square

Round and Square

Square display, round buttons in this Canon point and shoot camera. Square buttons on this round Canon EFS 18-85mm USM IS lens.

Shooting Mode Manual Exposure

Tv( Shutter Speed ) 0.3

Av( Aperture Value ) 16.0

ISO Speed 1600

Focal Length 165.0 mm

White Balance Mode Tungsten

Round handle in a square print. This is the damper handle to our sauna stove.
Shooting Mode Manual Exposure

Tv( Shutter Speed ) 0.3

Av( Aperture Value ) 6.3

ISO Speed 400
Focal Length 85.0 mm

To learn more about 2 Things Weekly Challenge, visit this site; http://2thingsphotochallenge.blogspot.com/

Two Things Challenge - Parallel / Perpendicular

Riding the Rail

The wheel flange rides parallel to the rail and perpendicular to the wheel hub.

Exposure: 0.077 sec (1/13)
Aperture: f/11
Focal Length: 300 mm
ISO Speed: 400
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV

Boat Cart

The cart is used to get a boat into a boathouse. Perpendicular supports keep the rails parallel to each other. Parallel wood bunks supports the boat. The cart is both in parallel and perpendicular to itself.
Exposure: 0.05 sec (1/20)
Aperture: f/11
Focal Length: 300 mm
ISO Speed: 400
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV

2 Things Challenge is Symmetrical / Abstract

This week's 2 Things Challenge is Symmetrical / Abstract. A 2 for 1 special, 1 photo to cover both themes. I was uninspired this week sitting here at the 'puter thinking ahead for this week's 2 Things post. I must have snapped off 32 photos before I tilt aimed at the window in our office.

Can you figure out what it is?

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.

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Mini blinds.

There you have it, symmetrical and abstract.

Shooting Mode Aperture-Priority AE

Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/8

Av( Aperture Value ) 5.6

Exposure Compensation -1/3

ISO Speed 400

Focal Length 300.0 mm

White Balance Mode Auto