Self-Portraits in conjunction with The 52Frames 2015 Project

Here are some of my self-portraits from the first part of the year while working on the 52 Frames Photo Project.  The themes are listed under the photograph.

#52Frames

"Silhouette"

"Greetings from…"

"Reflection"

"Single Light Source"

"Dress-Up as Microwaving Housewife"

 Last night I dreamt that I missed the deadline for a Challenge.  Luckily it was a dream-I've been working on this project without missing a week since January of 2014.

"Coordinating Colors-Fashion"

Family Photo Session at Sugarloaf in the Fall, Frederick County Photographer

Sugarloaf Mountain in the fall is bustling with hikers, families and rock climbers.  It holds a special place in my heart. Not only did I spend afternoons of my childhood hiking thorough it's leaves but I was also married on the mountain. A Chicago developer wanted Frank Lloyd Wright to design a parking garage for motorists in the shape of a spiral, similar to an upside down Guggenheim Museum on the mountain.  While I love Wright's architecture I am so glad that idea never came to pass.  

When one of my clients asked me to photograph their family again this fall, I suggested Sugarloaf due to it's various backdrops and fall colors.  I think their son and dog want to go back and have more time for exploring.  Here's a sampling of the session.

A boy and his dog

Family and the East Vista

Hamlet!

This boy loves to laugh!

Every kid loves a piggyback ride!

A Stop on the Underground Railroad at Cooling Springs Farm, Frederick County Photographer

Along a winding country road I pass a lovely farm on my way to work.  I've known of the farm's history but never had a chance to explore it until the other week.  I have always wanted to photograph the farm, especially when their tenants in the front field were out grazing.  The miniature donkeys are no long there, but the beauty still remains.

I contacted Peter Michael and asked if I could photograph in his field for my 52 Frames assignment featuring Furniture.  He obliged and met us in his front yard at about 8am on a beautiful spring morning.  He is the 8th generation to live in the house and farm, which is known to have been a stop on the Underground Railroad.  Situated just 2 miles north of the Potomac River slaves seeking freedom were able to use the spring house on the Michael property for shelter before venturing north.

Here are some of the resulting images (with and without furniture).  Many thanks to Mr. Michael for letting me, my friend and our boys play in fields!  As the kids climbed on the hay bales I asked if it was okay, and he replied, "That's what a farm is for. "  For more information visit the Cooling Springs Farm website.

The image I used for 52 Frames, "Furniture"

The Spring House

The Approach from the South

Heading North

I invited my friend and our boys to come.  The boys explored the creek and spring house, jumped on hay bales and even played musical chairs.  

This image will printed large for both sets of brothers.

Can you hear the music?

52 Frames, January 2014, Frederick County, Maryland Photographer

The "52 Frames" project is a collaboration of artists from around the world, sharing the best of their weekly-work, according to different themes.  Below are my first several weeks in the project, with the theme listed as the title.  I received a photo critique as well for my Black and White image.  

Week 1 "Self-Portrait"

Week 2 "In the beginning…."

Week 3 "Black & White"
Photo Critique about this image may be viewed here (at the 4:00 mark).

Week 4 "Greetings from…."

Week 5 "Out of MY Comfort Zone"

Point of Rocks Family Rockin' the Photo Session, Frederick County Maryland Photographer

This family lives in Point of Rocks and I've known them since their first born was was a toddler in my daycare. Since that time they have added to their family with the younger daughter and the girls are full of energy.  When asked the girls to run towards me they did not hesitate.  

Lots of personality 

2013 Potomac Watershed Cleanup, Alice Ferguson

One day each year my family and I walk across the street to a National Park and help pick up trash.  We've been doing it since our sons were toddlers.  It's become a tradition everyone in the household looks forward to.  We are lucky enough to live near the C&O Canal and the Potomac River and as we pick up trash we are teaching our sons about stewardship and an appreciation for nature.

This year we got to know the river very well as I lost my phone during the cleanup.  I spent most of the day retracing my steps until the third (or was it fourth time) I fished it out of leaf covered water by the shore.  I thought that at least finding it in the water would save me from needing to buy a replacement case for the new phone I would be buying later that night until I realized that the phone had turned on.  It had been lost for six hours and was submerged in about a two feet of still water and debris on the side of the shore.  I don't know how I was so lucky to not only find it, but to also find that it still worked, make phone calls and even connect to the Internet.  I was afraid I wouldn't find it until next year's clean-sweep!

Here are some of my photos from the 2013 Alice Ferguson Potomac River Watershed Cleanup.

Point of Rocks Group

Fueling Up

Empty bags at the start.  I think some of the bags were even leftovers from past years.
Talk about conservation.

Fishing….for a CD.
  Wonder if it still plays and if the library in which it was borrowed from will waive the late fee.

We found a lot of golf balls.

One of the most unusual items was a ski that I found.

Send the kid into the chained off area for some trash.

My son (in red) is taking lots of grief from the hooligan in the jean jacket.
He wants my son's golf balls and won't just sit back and enjoy the found rubber duckie.

Start 'em young!

Cleanup Crew

My husband with a "Relax" Beer huggie that he found.

Loud Trains and Puppy Love Photos, Point of Rocks Photographer

We started our morning photo session at the train station and it was't long until we were greeting with several loud, squealing trains passing by.  Some of the photos illustrate how loud it truly was.  

I really enjoyed working with Kramer, their dog, who was a good sport.  Each time I called his name he looked at me, sometimes with his head cocked to one side.  He is a bundle of energy and must keep this family very active.

After we watched some trains at the train station we wandered over to the C&O Canal where the boys played on the rocks and ran with the dog.  Here is a sampling of our morning.