Person in B&W

To enjoy more images of "People in B&W" and to vote
for your favorite, please visit Photoblog Challenges.

H is for Hat

To enjoy more images that begin with H and to vote
for your favorite, please visit Photoblog Challenges.

"My love of Renaissance Faires"

The Monthly Project over at Photoblog Challenges is a "Free Project"
for July, and it didn't take much thought to come to the fact that I would
be featuring photos from my Renaissance Faire collection.

I've been to twelve Renaissance Faires over the years, and don't see
myself stopping. In addition to the fact that they are such visual feasts
for the eyes, they also offer great entertainment. The absolute only
thing I can complain about is the fact that the backgrounds are often
less than flattering, and almost guaranteed to be cluttered. Here though,
I've managed to find several that are not too bad:

There is always lots of music to be enjoyed...






And lots of fire...






And jousting and swordplay...






A storyline, with talented actors, that's always fun to follow
around as they perform different scenes around different locations...
(Here Little John enjoys the moment of Robin Hood's capture.)



And wandering improv that you can stop and enjoy any time...



And amazing sets (especially at the one in New York which has permanent
structures set up)...



And finally, either fun or creepy acts, depending on your perspective...






If you scroll down further, you can check out images of Renaissance Faires
that I've posted in the past.

In the meantime, please check out more "Free Monthly Project" entries at
Photoblog Challenges and be sure to vote for your favorite!

“Ugly”

Enjoy more photos of "Ugly" and vote
for your favorite, at PhotoSunday.

“Fire”

To enjoy more photos of “Fire” and vote for your favorite,
visit Photoblog Challenges.

“White”

To enjoy more photos of “White” things, and to vote for your favorite,
visit Photoblog Challenges.

“Stranger”

Enjoy other “Stranger” photos
and vote for your favorite at Photo Sunday.

“Familiar Subject Photo Shoot”

I went to a Renaissance Faire today. They are one of my favorite things to
photograph. I took 632 photos. Yup. I have to take that many to get a
dozen that I'm actually happy with. Family and friends tell me that I'm a
“great” photographer, but really, it's all about odds. And I do admit, I have
some decent composition skills.

The thing I love about shooting at Renaissance Faires is that the visuals are so
inviting; I never get bored or tired of shooting, and the whole day flies by.

There are a bunch of things that frustrate me though, all having to do with my
“equipment” (or lack thereof). Some of these things include sun I can't control,
but could deal with more easily if I was able to use a lens hood, shutter lag,
which is a huge issue for me, and finally, aperture setting for good depth of field.

I've learned to get around some of these things, like using my hand over my
lens to block the sun, setting up burst shooting and letting it rip so my lag
doesn't miss anything, and blurring out my backgrounds in Photoshop when
I get my photos home. But it does get most frustrating as I look through them all
and only find that dozen or so out of the 600. Still, I try to look at it as a challenge,
and really it hasn't deterred me from still going to these things and snapping away.
I do feel proud of the few photos I do get and love, knowing that I had to
work so hard for them.

Here are a few of my favorites from today:

“Split Toning”

I must say I am thrilled with the results of split toning,
and am happy to have read through and tried this lesson.

To learn the technique of "Split Toning" yourself, enjoy
other photographs that utilize it, and vote for your
favorite one, visit Photoblog Challenges.

“Dance”

Enjoy other interpretations of “Dance” and vote
for your favorite at Shutterday.

“Texture”

Enjoy other interpretations of this theme
and vote for your favorite at Photo Sunday.

“Festival”

Enjoy other interpretations of “Festivals”
and vote for your favorite at Shutterday.

“Plain - Ornate”

Two 4 Tuesday is a photo meme where the weekly challenge is opposites; hence the title of this photograph. The options are to post:

• a single photo that captures both themes,
• a single photo on only one of the themes,
• or two photos capturing one theme in each photo.

I always try for the first.

Enjoy other interpretations of this theme and vote for your favorite at Two 4 Tuesday.

“Musical”

Enjoy additional interpretations of this theme
at Moody Monday.

“Long”

Enjoy other interpretations of this theme
and vote for your favorite at Photo Sunday.

“Cream”

Be sure to check out the other participants of this photo meme at True Colors Thursday.

“Fat - Thin”

See other interpretations of “Fat - Thin” and vote for your favorite at Two 4 Tuesday.

“Master - Servant”

Be sure to check out the other participants of this photo meme and vote for your favorite at Two 4 Tuesday.

Two 4 Tuesday is a photo meme where the weekly challenge is opposites; hence the title of this photograph. The options are to post:

• a single photo that captures both themes,
• a single photo on only one of the themes,
• or two photos capturing one theme in each photo.

I always try for the first.

“Well Groomed”

(Photo Friday)

“Renaissance Festival”

(Wordless Wednesday)


Learn more about Wordless Wednesday, and find the blogroll of others who are participating here.