Sign of the Times

Today's picture is a sign of my times. Trying to eat in a more healthy fashion I went shopping tonight. Fruits and vegetables made up the bulk of my purchase. I rashly picked up the Green Giant "Just For One" single servings of broccoli with cheese sauce. Now, those who know me well, know that I am not a fan of vegetables. I try, honest, but I just don't like them. I can eat the starchy ones like potatoes (white and sweet), corn, and carrots. I have learned to be okay with lettuce greens, spinach greens, and celery. I would really like to branch out into other vegetables. First one to try - broccoli.

Thursday 1-6

Today's assignment was to go high contrast. I am not sure I accomplished that, but I did really think the inside of a pomegranate looked cool. I have never eaten one before. I have had the juice and enjoyed it, but I never knew how or what to do with a fresh one. This past week one of my students was eating one for snack. She explained how to prepare one. (It is really easy, just quarter.)

So, I went to the grocery store and bought two. Easy to prepare, easy to eat, and yummy. Now I just need to figure out how to eat it without getting the juice all over me. And I hope it doesn't stain.

Wednesday January 5

Today's assignment was to take a photograph of something ordinary and mundane. I played around with a penny at first because I thought that it was something so very ordinary. However, I didn't really like the way it looked in the photograph. After trying other coins and different backgrounds I chose the quarter where the United States of America is clearly visible with a reflection on the lower half. The background of black wool really set off the quarter.

Tuesday January 4

Today's assignment was to take a photograph with a diagonal line leading the viewer's eye through the photograph. All day I searched for diagonal lines. I took a few photos but nothing that I really liked. In desperation I had a photo that I was going to use, even though I didn't really like it.

However, the following day, I was standing in my classroom when I noticed the flag. I liked the way the angle leads to the light, the windows and the timeline. It seems like a pointer for what we are studying in fourth grade.

Where does the flag lead you? Is it a pointer for you? Thoughts?

Day 3 - A Symbol or an Icon

I have to admit it took me a while to find something I wanted to photograph. I thought of various logos and words but nothing seemed to fit. Then finally, my eyes landed on the iconic #2 pencil. How many tests and scantron sheets have we all filled out using the #2 pencil? What is it about the #2 pencil that makes it the champion of all assessments? Is it really better than the #1.5 or #2.5? And seriously, do they even make different numbered pencils? When these grading machines were made, why was #2 the lead (actually graphite) chosen?

As a teacher who has to proctor those oh-so-important-but-not-really state assessments, I can attest to the fact that not all pencils are #2, Furthermore most of the decorated, cutesy pencils have no numbers on them at all. I now wonder if this is some sort of conspiracy to alter the test results.

Teachers and students of the world - grab your #2s and let's go!

Day 2 - An Interesting Texture

Today's assignment was to photograph something that has an interesting texture. I took some cool shots of paper towels, my dog's hair and other things. It was such a grey day though that everything seemed blah. Finally, I noticed my aloe vera plant 's pot on my kitchen window sill. It has a nice crackled finish with a green that hints of sunny days to come. Just what I needed today - a grey, rainy, last-day-of-vacation day.

January 2011 a New Year

And so a new year begins. My online social networking sites are rife with people talking about the 365 challenge. Take a photo a day for a year. Some people just take a photo and upload. Others, like me, take a photo and write a blog post. I started 2010 with the challenge and didn't quite make it half way. Various things intervened - nothing huge - and the challenge went by the wayside.

And so, here I am again. A new year, a new challenge. I plan on using The Daily Shoot for ideas on themes. However, if I see something that catches my eye or captures my thoughts, I may veer off on my own.

Here's to a great 2011 for everyone and a new beginning. Whatever is past is past, the future begins today.