DAY 30!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow! It's been a quick 30 days! And I am not going to lie, but I will be happy to not have my camera with me for one day!! Although, I kind of like having it with me, because I get the chance to shoot things that sometimes feel like a once in a lifetime chance. Well, I think I got out a little too late tonight. Another 10-15 minutes earlier and I think I would have had more color in the sky for this silhouette shot. But I am happy with it!

Thank you everyone who followed me these past 30 days and commenting here and there. I will take some time, look back and give some thoughts that I went through as soon as I can get to it! Thanks again for looking! I will be hoping to do a new challenge soon!

Day 29

With a day full of weddings, you would have thought that I would have some pics of people, but I don't!! haha Maybe another day, I am just not confident/comfortable taking photos of people yet. In time, right? These stairs stood out to me right away. We were at the Nicolet Island Pavilion. What a beautiful place!

Day 28

I have been wanting to learn how to take pictures at night, but I am realizing it's going to take more than one night to hone my skills. My amazing wife, Amanda, was kind enough to help me pick which pic was the best tonight. Thank you dear!

Day 27

As I was walking to the bus there was a chair sitting outside a thrift shop waiting to be picked up by the next person with a home with its name on it!

Day 26

Another night and I struggle to come up with another excuse as to why I didn't go out and take pics! Ugh, oh well, I get to take a closer look at the things around me and how I can or how I do look at them. Sometimes you just need to take a closer look. "This little light of mine! I'm gonna let it shine! Let it Shine! Let it Shine! Let it shine!"

Day 25

Not much to say on this one other than it was a great game with great company! Young hit a walk-off single scoring Cuddy to win! Took a few of Justin, a few of Joe, and a few to try to stitch together. Unfortunately, I cannot locate my stitching program at the moment so Justin will do!

Day 24

So, today was what I would call a typical day. I went to work, came home, had dinner, went grocery shopping, laundry, then realized that in a normal day, time flies and doesn't leave a lot of time for taking pictures! I remember seeing my friend take some pictures of a guitar so I gave it my own twist. Here you go....

Day 23

Today was Amanda's Nephew's birthday and so I took my shot at trying some portrait shots. I don't normally like taking pictures of people but this challenge is helping me branch out. Here is my first trial at people.

Day 22

What an amazing day! I was baptized! As we sat around afterwards chatting a few ducks came swimming by so I was able to take a couple shots. I've taken so many portrait pics of ducks that I was hoping for something new. Little did I know that that something different would be the duck giving me the moon!

Day 21

It really is amazing what is on your everyday walk. Think of those places that you walk by without thinking twice about what's around you. I have always loved those Mack trucks! Why? I have no idea, just do. Mainly just the emblem. Apparently, this truck is always parked at the gas station across the street and it just so happens to be a Mack!

Day 20

Waiting for the bus I get to stare at this field in front Breck instead of awkwardly staring at the other people waiting for the bus. So, today I had a couple extra minutes and wandered down to the baseball field and took a couple photos. No bench warmers here....

Day 19

It's amazing in what you walk by everyday and don't notice. As I walk by this gas station everyday, recently, I have noticed this puddle and have been wanting to shoot this puddle. In the past all I have been able to get in it is the telephone pole. Thanks to the wonderful midday storm, I was able to take an actual picture. I am very happy with how this one turned out. Might be my favorite thus far. I like it when I don't have to search all day for a picture to take. Enjoy!

Day 18

Hiya folks! On my walk to the bus that I take Mon-Fri, I saw this wall with random paint on it and a vine growing randomly on it, so here's what I could get out of it....

Day 17

Back to work and back to my camera! Waiting for my bus, I always stare at these buildings! They intrigue me and they just stand out. I don't know....What do you think?

Day 16

This is a great reason for why Brainerd is one of the most beautiful places in Minnesota if not the country!

Day 15

At the wedding, I was able to take a few pictures, but I still wish I had my camera! It would have been fun to try some better portrait shots! This is my brother and aunt! Great models!

Day 14

So, here I am 2 1/2 hours from home for my Brother's wedding weekend and I come to find out that my battery is dead and I forgot my charger and my back-up battery happens to be dead too! GREAT! So, I take out my point and shoot camera and this is what I get!

Day 13

Don't worry I wasn't not taking pictures, I just didn't have internet access, so here we go! Get ready to see a few pics back to back!

Here I was walking home from work and this is the first time a train was going by. I don't recommend getting this close to a moving train but I am a TRAINED professional! haha Enjoy!

Day 12

So, my loving wife convinced me to stay up to try and see the Meteor shower last night. Well, it may have been to bright being so close to the city to see anything, but I was able to take a couple shots at the moon, so it wasn't a total wash! Enjoy...

Day 11

Well, I think I need to start venturing off in more different places, but in the meantime, here you go!

Day 10

Boy did I scramble with this one. And now I see how I need/want a new lens. A macro lens would have helped tremendously with this one!

Day 9

Hey folks, sorry my computer is acting up and I was unable to load the picture last nigth so here it is...A scrambling effort.... Enjoy!

Day 8

Well, I spent the night in lovely Waconia at the World-Famous Carver County Fair (at least if you ask anyone from Waconia). I watched the Demo-Derby and took a few pics. I guess I just don't know what people are looking for when you look at Derby pics, but I liked how this one turned out. Got some good ideas for future pics, so hopefully I get more opportunities in the next 22 days!! :) Enjoy!

Day 7

Trying something a little new for me. A moving object.... It was tough and a lot of room for improvement. I will be back again someday and possibly with a different object to shoot at. It was fun trying new techniques. So far this has been the greatest challenge as I am beginning to venture away from my comfort zone!

Day 6

Well, here we go, there is more than meets the eye when you are focused on the road ahead of you. When you look around you can actually see some nice flower beds! Here you go... Enjoy!

Day 5

After a 12 1/2 hour day at work, I was really worried I was either not going to want to take a picture or I was not going to have a great opportunity to take a picture. Well, I was walking to the Lightrail and never noticed this place with a water fall type thing. Who knew?! Wish I would have taken more time to straighten it out....

Day 4

On my way home I have to cross this track everyday and this was the first time I have shot it. I was just trying to get a good shot of the tracks going off into the distance when I saw this date on it. Seems to work well with the rest of the shot. At least in my opinion... Enjoy!

Day 3

Day 3 and it's already this tough. With a full day of work followed by class only allows few opportunities. So, this is what I got. Wish it would have been a little brighter out so this picture would have turned out better. Sorry, I will try harder tomorrow!

Day 2

For day 2, I was at Minnehaha Falls looking for my company picnic (which I could not find) and have never been to the falls. So, why not take a couple pictures? Well, I wish I would have brought my tripod, so I have to make a ledge work and this is what I got.

30 photos in 30 days

Well folks, I have been motivated and challenged. My friend Derek has started his own challenge of doing 100 photos in 100 days ( derekgriggs.blogspot.com). He suggested that I should do the same, but after hearing how he feels like 100 days is too long, he also suggested to start with a 30 day challenge. So.... here it is!

Day 1

I went out to a favorite location of mine, Willow Creek Park. The location where I dusted up my knee and asked Amanda to be my wife.

I scared off the Blue Heron the first time I saw him, so I popped a squat and hoped for his return. Thankfully, my patience paid off and this was the best I could do for his short, distanced, stay in the creek.