Out of Focus

Photo 52, Week 34: Wheel 

I loved being at Navy Pier at dusk.  The evening possibilities were numerous.
Thankfully, knowing that "wheel" was coming up as a theme helped me know exactly where to focus.

 

Photo 52, Week 33:  Out of Focus

The thing about focus is that it doesn't come easily at this time of year.
So it was a good time for an out of focus theme.

These from a very fun event on my birthday that made me feel completely spoiled.
Even though it rained and I had to put the big camera away.
I love how when I am at my most scatterbrained in August,
people go out of their way to love me anyway.

Urban (Chicago, to be exact!)

Photo 52, Week 32:  Urban

One good thing about being in charge of Photo 52 is that I get to set the theme schedule.

Believe me, I am not above choosing "urban"
(although it was suggested by another participant)

when I was about to head out to Chicago with my family.

A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do--

within reason.

I have come to love cities by exploring my own.

Of course, the biggest cities are all on rivers or large bodies of water.

For Chicago, it's beautiful Lake Michigan.

Our first stop was Navy Pier the evening we arrived.

In one direction, the fabulous skyline…

…and in the other, the lake.

One of the highlights of that evening 

was finally meeting my friend Laura face to face

after a few years of online photo projects together.

We just picked up as though we had seen each other a week ago.

Another place we chose to visit was Shedd Aquarium.

I love how stately all the old museums are--

and beautifully state of the art on the inside.

Next stop, Museum of Science and Industry.

I went here twice as a little girl.

It's grown up a lot!

The kids loved the science experiments.

I loved experimenting with having long legs.

Since it's our tradition to squeeze one too many things into the time we have,
we walked up Lakeshore Drive, past Buckingham Fountain
to The Bean and Crown Fountain at Millennium Park.
Thankfully the fountain was more than willing to pose for me
with or without the family.

If you go to Chicago, you need to relax and enjoy Millennium Park!

Thankfully my family managed a smile for the nice lady who volunteered to take our picture.

They had tired feet.

But it was worth it!

Photographer's Prerogative

Apparently it was this photographer's prerogative to quit blogging for the summer.  

I mean, it wasn't intentional, but that's what happened.  

Playing Photo 52 catch up today for July, which was a total blur.

Photo 52, Week 27:  Freedom

On an early July day as I sat talking to a friend near a playground, a guy walked up and got very busy with some chalk.  When we were ready to head out, I had to go see what he had done.  Apparently he was in the business of helping provide freedom from hopelessness.

Photo 52, Week 28:  Wind

The view from baseball practice.  With my phone.
Not all that I had envisioned for wind, but hey.



Photo 52, Week 29:  Fur, fins and feathers

All through the winter and spring you cannot miss the birds in our yard.
In the summer, through the leaves, they are much harder to see.
In the middle of the flurry that is July, I was happy for the day
I was paying enough attention to notice.







Photo 52, Week 30:  Dramatic Light

This week started right out with some great dramatic light opportunities.
This old farm has been preserved as a local public park.  Pretty cool!



I loved this opportunity as well…





Dramatic light at golden hour.



Had to try it in Waterlogue!



Photo 52, Week 31:  Photographer's choice

Lee went with me to scope out good light for my one-year-old session.



He was such a trooper!





Thanks, Buddy!



The other big July event was Bethany in "Annie".  It was so cute!





And to top off a super-busy month, there was a grandma in the house for the play,
and also the last day of baseball.
Ben had a family fan club (truly a rarity!), and he put on a clinic out at 2nd base!
Couldn't have asked for them to see him on  a better day!!

And thus ended our crazy July.