Metal

I'm baaaacckkkk!

Yes, I did take two weeks off of blog writing.  A much needed break from everything and fun with the grandkids.  Especially this dude, who came and stayed with us while attending camp.

It turns out that the themes of blogs during the weeks missed were themes I had covered before, so no harm no foul.  This week's theme (metal), on the other hand, is not one I have done before, but I do have a photo that applies.  A bright red metal bridge in a local park with our Billie girl.  I have used other renditions of this photo, but never this one, so it's new to the blog.

I guess we could call it a day, what with a photo of a small boy climbing on metal playground equipment and Billie on the metal bridge, but I decided to delve a little further into my archives and also to create a new photo specifically for this week's theme.

First, delving into the archives.  Anyone remember this photo of our Moe on another set of metal playground equipment?

Honestly, Moe would rather lay on that piece of equipment all day than walk the park.  This was taken on a Fall day several years ago.  Moe will be 13 this year.  He has been with us since he was four months old and was adopted from Another Chance for English Setters.  Moe is the kind of guy that everyone loves, because he is so very laid back about life.

When I heard the theme for the week, my brain immediately went to the small metal crown I bought several years ago to have as an accessory for photos.  It has been sitting in my closet on a shelf since then, but immediately popped into my mind. My chance to use it. 

Lilah and I trooped over to the studio and after 201 attempts of having her try to sit still with it on her head, we finally got a shot that worked.

I think I like this little metal crown.  Just this week I mentioned on someone's Facebook post that Lilah has achieved the title of Queen of Whining, so it is fitting for her to have a crown.

For the photographers who read, I used a 70-200mm 2.8 Sigma lens on a Nikon D800 body.  Natural light streaming in from the door was my primary light source to a solid white background.  I dropped in the painted background in post processing, and added the wispy look to photo as well.  I also added a bit of pinkish treatment (a little more girly) by not brushing/masking off all of the background in certain areas.  I think Lilah's nose is shaped like a heart in this photo.  What do you think?

For more metal mania, the blog circle starts this week with Jo Lyons Photography - down-to-earth dog loving photographer for cherished dogs of Sydney up to the Great Lakes Region of NSW.  Click on the link to get there, then look for the link at the end of every blog to move around the circle.  Enjoy!