A 'lil HooHaa

Messing with the blogging world since 2005

photo blogging challenge

Photo Blogging Challenge (May 2013): Night

To say I stumbled this month with the Photo Blogging Challenge would be an understatement of epic proportions.

The sad part? I love night photos.

Alas, my plans for this theme fell flat on the face, unfortunately. Still, with a couple of days remaining, I went out and did the best I could to make sure I was in and all set.

I’m still peeved with myself that I didn’t deliver as I wanted.

Ahhh well, such is life, right?

Night could have been interpreted in many ways. Whether it’s a long-exposure image, bumping the ISO or taking something after 6 p.m., when it technically becomes “P.M.,” night is going to be a theme I look forward to seeing what others have delivered upon.

Before I get on with my May photos, a quick note about June. Because I have a weekly feature I run every Saturday, the theme for June won’t be on my blog until Sunday. I hope you all understand, but it’s the hard part when having a family related weekly feature!

Anyway, on with the show…

1. Impending storm

The sky was really getting dark as a big-time storm rolled into the area. My goal here was to get the sky and maybe something else. Alas, the lightning started getting back, so I hightailed it to safer grounds.

A beacon for lightning?

2. Here comes the storm

And then it came down. Oh, did it pour. If I was in a better area, I would have loved to have tried to get some lightning strikes. Alas, no luck. I stayed safe and dry and tried to capture how much rain was coming down!

Rain comes down!

3. The Golden Arches

I don’t like eating here too often (well, love breakfast…), but these arches are pretty much easy to pick off by most people from around the world!

McD’s!

4. Memorial

A year or so ago, one of the parks in a neighboring town got a makeover, which included several new memorials. This is one of them.

A memorial.

5. Caboose

This is a caboose on display in a local park. I dig the look of it at night, but not sure how I like the image. Sometimes being in there in person is better than the photo.

Caboose.

And that’s my five for the month.

As I said earlier, I’m a little disappointed with myself this month. I don’t hate all the images, but I definitely could have pulled off some better shots. I look forward to see what others came up with.

If you took part this month, make sure you link up below. And for those who participated, make sure you try and get to other people’s blogs and comment and visit so we can continue to grow this challenge.

Don’t forget, too, to come back Sunday and see the theme for June!

NOTE: I also set up a Facebook group for those who participate in the challenge and are interested. I’ll post any announcements there and hopefully it can be a place where things are discussed and some interaction etc. You can access it here.



Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog [at] gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook!

Photo Blogging Challenge: May 2013’s theme is…

Hey, hey — two months in the bag! Sweet!

I’m really digging everybody’s interpretation of themes and hopefully we can keep it up and have a lot more fun with this challenge. It sounds like those who are participating are having a fun time, so keep it going!

A few quick notes before I get to this month’s stuff —

  • I have an e-mail reminder list set up. Basically, I’ll e-mail the group with about 10 days left in the month to remind you. When I remember, I’ll also shoot one out the day before the end of the month, as a reminder to post the following day. I can’t always guarantee that one though! If you are not on the list, let me know in the comments below that you would like to be on it.
  • Second, I set up a Facebook group for those who are interested. Reminders and maybe some discussions or other things can be done there.
  • If you haven’t already, attempt to check out everybody’s posts and consider commenting. These challenges are great for personal growth, but it’s also nice to be interactive with all the others in the challenge!

Anyway, April is in the books and now it’s on with May. We’re growing slowly and it’s my hope that will continue as there are some talented people out there and I love seeing all the photos.

For those of you who are a little late, the link for April’s challenge is still open for another day or two, so link up!

Before we hit up this month’s theme, for new people, allow me to refresh the rules a bit.

Here’s how it will work.

  • On the first of each month, I’ll have a blog post here with the theme for the month.
  • Over the course of the month, participants will take photos with their interpretation of the theme. On the last day of the month, participants should  publish their blog post, which will include five photos from the month. (please don’t recycle photos from the past … the idea is to hopefully challenge you to go out and take new photos to interpret the theme).
  • I’ll have a link-up thing at the end of my post so people can come and post the links to their posts so, hopefully, everybody can go go check out and comment on other posts.

There is no rule on equipment or anything. Use a cell phone. Use film. Use a point-and-shoot. Use a DSLR. It doesn’t matter. Just make sure you publish your blog post on the last day of each month, come here and link up.

It’s simple!

Your blog posts can be as simple or as in-depth as you want. I’ll likely talk a little about each photo. But if all you want to do is post photos, feel free. The idea of this is to give a small challenge and give everybody a chance to express themselves with photography, participate in a challenge and have something to blog about.

That’s it. Easy, right? So join in! Help us continue to grow this challenge by telling fellow bloggers/photographers about the challenge and hopefully it can become a great monthly thing!

For those still with me, this month’s theme is: Night.

There are so many ways to look at and think about this theme. It doesn’t always mean a long-exposure shot. Test things out, think outside the box, but most of all, have fun with it!

Please make sure your blog post publishes Friday, May 31.

If you think you are going to take part in this, drop a comment below so we can see who all might be trying to tackle this challenge!

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook!

Photo Blogging Challenge (April 2013): Transportation

Ahh, transportation.

You know, the way we all get around. There are so many modes of transportation. Car, train, boat, bus, bike, feet — you name it, there’s transportation.

But when doing a photo challenge, the normal isn’t always what you want to do, right?

So I went with the idea of a more loosely based interpretation of transportation. See, the No. 1 definition of transportation is “an act, process, or instance of transporting or being transported.”

Got it.

I truly am excited to see what kind of things our group has come up with this month. I am sure there are many different ways to do it and with some of the bloggers we have participating, I’m sure it will be fun to see their five photos.

Originally, I was going to do some closeups on things like tires of different types of transportation. Or find still items, such as a bus or a truck. But I also wanted to think outside the box a little bit, which I think and hope I accomplished.

Anyway, on with mine. I hope you enjoy!

1. Taking the ball down the field

I shot a few lacrosse games this month and wanted to use something … so, of course this made sense. The player in gold is trying as much as he can to transport the ball down the field. It’s not always so easy when somebody doesn’t want your form of transportation to get by!

Transporting the ball

2. Paddling

Boating is a great transportation. However, these fishing boats are still waiting the time when they’ll be used to transport the fishermen back out into the water. (Note: I also took this photo for Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day, which is why it has the look it has. Used a digital pinhole lens).

Boats ready to be used.

3. Strolling

Is there an older form of transportation than by using one’s feet? I think not. You can do it so many ways, too. Well, what you wear that is. Sneakers, boots, barefoot — whatever. In the summer, I love my sandals. I’ve had this pair for several years. Though they look a tad beat up, I really do love them!

These sandals are made for walking!

 4. Parking

Much of transportation seems to be with a vehicle of sorts. Cars, trucks, etc. But you can’t always be driving, right? So when transporting things, such as yourself or physical objects, consider parking and taking a rest at times. It’s good for you!

Parking is all part of the transportation process.

 5. My car

I like to walk or hike and ride a bike. But I really love my car. It’s a 2005 VW Jetta and it’s been beat all to hell. By me, too, as I leased it when it was new and then bought it. This car has been through some crazy times and many (160,000-plus) miles, seeing many states, two countries and so many back roads, it’s not even funny. It’s treated me well and keeps on rolling. And, it’s a stick shift, which makes it even better.

It may not be perfect, but my car has done me well and it’s still going.

There’s my five and my interpretation of transportation. I hope you enjoyed.

If you took part this month, make sure you link up below. And for those who participated, make sure you try and get to other people’s blogs and comment and visit so we can continue to grow this challenge.

Don’t forget, too, to come back tomorrow and see the theme for May!

NOTE: I also set up a Facebook group for those who participate in the challenge and are interested. I’ll post any announcements there and hopefully it can be a place where things are discussed and some interaction etc. You can access it here.



Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog [at] gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook!

Photo Blogging Challenge: April 2013

One month down. Infinity to go?

We’ll see about that.

Alas, the March version of the monthly Photo Blogging Challenge is in the books and as I look, we had four people take part. Well, three who knew about it. Then one who wasn’t told by Ziva. And, it was Ziva’s job to market.

Can we all just blame the Fins?

Still, four is better than just me. Hopefully we can grow. The link on the last post is still open for another 10-12 hours, so maybe some forgetful people will join along.

I think with a month-long challenge such as this, we either need to set up a reminder system or people need to utilize and online or phone calendar system that will send them alerts. Having 30 or so days in between finding out the theme and posting might lend to some people forgetting.

So, until I figure something better out, I have one idea. If you are participating and want a reminder, say, 10 days before the challenge is up, leave a note in the comments below. On that day, I’ll send an e-mail to everybody who might one. I’ll leave myself a calendar reminder, too — so I don’t forget!

Anyway, I really enjoyed those who participated this month and hopefully we can grow.

Before we hit up this month’s theme, for new people, allow me to refresh the rules a bit.

Here’s how it will work.

  • On the first of each month, I’ll have a blog post here with the theme for the month.
  • Over the course of the month, participants will take photos with their interpretation of the theme. On the last day of the month, participants should  publish their blog post, which will include five photos from the month. (please don’t recycle photos from the past … the idea is to hopefully challenge you to go out and take new photos to interpret the theme).
  • I’ll have a link-up thing at the end of my post so people can come and post the links to their posts so, hopefully, everybody can go go check out and comment on other posts.

There is no rule on equipment or anything. Use a cell phone. Use film. Use a point-and-shoot. Use a DSLR. It doesn’t matter. Just make sure you publish your blog post on the last day of each month, come here and link up.

It’s simple!

Your blog posts can be as simple or as in-depth as you want. I’ll likely talk a little about each photo. But if all you want to do is post photos, feel free. The idea of this is to give a small challenge and give everybody a chance to express themselves with photography, participate in a challenge and have something to blog about.

And that’s all there is to it!

I hope we see more people next month and this challenge continues to grow and grow.

For those still with me, this month’s theme is: Transportation.

This theme can definitely be interpreted in many ways. I look forward to seeing what everybody comes up with! Please make sure your blog post publishes April 30!

If you think you are going to take part in this, drop a comment below so we can see who all might be trying to tackle this challenge!

Fundraiser: I am, again, trying to raise money for the Relay For Life. If you donate to me — a minimum of $5– you will be entered to win a super-sweet quilted lap quilt or pillow. Click here for all the information!

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook!

Photo Blogging Challenge (March 2013): My World

I can’t believe March is pretty much over.

And so ends the first month of the monthly Photo Blogging Challenge. I’m kind of hoping I’m not the only one who did this for the month. It’s hard to have a month-long challenge because people might forget about it.

Alas, I’ve done what I could.

Let me remind people of the basic premise of this challenge. The idea is to take photos throughout the month and have a blog post with your five favorites. The post can be in-depth or pretty simple. But one needs just five photos.

This month’s theme was “My World.”

This theme definitely left some room for interpretation. The way I went about it was basically taking five photos from the month that showed something about me. At least I hope these shots did. They are in no particular order, but here are the five.

Anyway, without further adieu.

1. Old tennis ball

I find odd things to take photos of, which is part of my world. I see things differently. And I like that. It makes it kind of fun. That’s why as I was leaving a park earlier this month, this caught my eye. I spent probably 15-20 minutes shooting this. And I really like how this one came out. My world is quirky when I have a camera in hand.

Wintered tennis ball.

2. Meow

My cat isn’t always the brightest. She seems to thing cardboard is the best thing. But, Molson (yes, named after the beer) is quite the character. Good cat, too. Even though she can be annoying as sin. Here she is finding some cardboard.

Molson!

3. Geocaching

One of my favorite hobbies — and a major part of my world — is geocaching. It’s a great way to get outside. You get to find something, have fun and see what is out and about.

Geocaching!

4. Disc golf

I love disc golf. I run another blog which is all disc golf. So I knew I needed a shot for that. This one was via the iPhone, but I like it. The bottom disc is the site I own. The other is a wood disc we were trying for a future review. It’s a great game.

Out throwing.

5. Homebrewing

This is new to my world, but an absolute blast. And I’m starting to learn more and more. Hopefully I can keep going with it. This is another iPhone photo, and it’s an Irish Stout I did.

 

Beer!

There’s my five and I look forward to seeing how others (if there are any) interpreted the theme.

Still, another theme will be posted tomorrow.

If you did this month’s, link up below! And go check the other blog posts!



Fundraiser: I am, again, trying to raise money for the Relay For Life. If you donate to me — a minimum of $5– you will be entered to win a super-sweet quilted lap quilt or pillow. Click here for all the information!

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog [at] gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook!