Team Up Thursday

Christina and I chose hands this week and we each looked at them from a different perspective.

I like hands. Some people like legs. Some people like feet. I happen to think hands are interesting. Hands are unique. I love those gritty black and white shots of aged hands that look like they are hard worked. The ones with wrinkles and liver spots that have so much character in them. There are the strong hands of a parent that radiate protection and love. The often dirty hands of a child that explore with such curiosity. And the soft hands of a baby that provide him/herself comfort and show so much potential. Hands tell a story about each person and leave me with questions about their lives in any scenario. I like hands.

What did you show this week for Team Up Thursday?

Team Up Thursday - Week 16

This week Christina and I tackled Motherhood. I remember at the beginning of this challenge I told myself that I was going to try not to use Ella in my photos so that I could stretch out more with photography. Well, I have used Ella in quite a few shots, and I just couldn't get around it this week either. I think Christina felt the same way. :0)

Ella drew this picture of me holding a heart. But it was more than just me holding a heart. She told me I was giving her my heart in the picture. What she doesn't realize is that she IS my heart.

Christina made a fantastic post about motherhood the other day. So when you stop by to see her Team Up Thursday, scoot back and look at the previous post. It epitomizes the feelings of motherhood, along with some more adorable shots that accompany the loving one she used for this weeks theme.



For more "Team-Up Thursday" diptych's, head over to Megan's

Team Up Thursday - Week 15

This week Christina suggested we post the photo that we are going to use for A Moment In Time.

It was on Sunday, May 2nd at 10am here in Minnesota. Ella and I were just getting ready to walk out the door to meet Stacy at the zoo. It was like 3 minutes to 10am and I kept telling Ella that I was going to need her at exactly 10am. What happens at that moment? She has to go pee!! I never pushed that kid to pee so fast in her life. I don't even know how she did it, but we pulled it off. Btw, I have no postable pictures from that day with Stacy for several reasons (I didnt take too many, the ones I did take were either over/under exposed, blah blah blah), so thankfully Stacy was on top of things that day. I will be better next time. :0)

It was the same time in Texas when Christina found herself in the grocery store. What I love about her shot is how glossy it looks. The reflection of the cart on the floor is so great along with the colors on the shelves and almost tunnel like vision looking down the aisle. Ah, the things you can do with a picture of an every day task.



For more "Team-Up Thursday" diptych's, head over to Megan's

Team Up Thursday - Week 14

This week, Christina and I are doing Simplicity. The crisp shot of the dandelion Christina captured is beautiful...and simple. As is the thought provoking quote she added to it. The little red balls (or some sort of eggs?) on the leaf that I shot really stuck out at me for some reason. They lay there as if strategically placed....but are just simply there.



For more "Team-Up Thursday" diptych's, head over to Megan's

Team Up Thursday - Week 13

Since last week, I chose the theme of down low, Christina chose this weeks theme of looking up. For some reason, I had a hard time with this one. Nothing tickled my fancy....in so many words. But after several days of good rain, we are now going into full bloom here in Minnesota. So the only thing to capture was the glorious sun shining down on the new flowers.

Christina chose trees this week too, yet the warm yellow glow of her shot while laying in a hammock gives the picture a completely serene feeling. I love how nothing is quite focused on except for the hammocks metal bar leading you UP into dreamland!

We both captured a little sunlight and a little bit of nature, but to me, there is quite a contrast between the two shots.

*I should note that my original picture orientation should be horizontal. I apparently had a hard time matching it with Christina's vertical shot. The original shot is pictured correctly on Christina's blog.



For more "Team-Up Thursday" diptych's, head over to Megan's

Team Up Thursday - Week 12

This week Christina and I focused on a "down low" point of view.

Christina got a sweet down low view of what being a little girl is all about. Cute little sandals and scrapped up knees are perfect for the season. I feel like this one shot with those adorably banged up little legs could tell a thousand stories.

Even though I chose the theme this week, I found it a little hard to get low to the ground. It was a beautifully warm day when I took this shot of my parents dog, Buttons. If the neighbors were looking out their window, they would have gotten quite an eyeful.....Me in the grass, my over sized cleavage hanging out the front of my tank top and my butt high in the air so as to not lay on my belly. I got as low as I could go. At least Buttons smiled for me! :0)



For more "Team-Up Thursday" diptych's, head over to Megan's

Team Up Thursday - Week 11

This week, Christina and I chose New Life. I have plenty of new life popping up outside my house this Spring, but then I remembered this key chain that I bought a few weeks ago. I love items that have sayings on them, and I always seem to find them on key chains! So I saw this one and it was still in its wrapper here until I took it out the other day to shoot it. I knew it would come in handy some day!

With the new life that will be coming into my world in 9 short weeks, celebration is what comes to mind when I think of our theme.

Christina's cactus is popping new life, but its her processing that I am in LOVE with this week. The grayish green antique color on the shot gives it a wonderful ruggedness. Along with the tact sharp focus, C portrays this simple yet detailed image perfectly.



For more "Team-Up Thursday" diptych's, head over to Megan's

Team Up Thursday - Week 10

Christina and I are doing NOISE this week. How funny that we were both on the same page with this one? We each have sweet little girls either making or listening to NOISE.

I love the expressions on both Nadia and her cousin's face. One listening intently and one enjoying. And their wavy hair flying everywhere is adorable. Ella loved being my model this week, along with being able to make the noise. :0)



For more "Team-Up Thursday" images, head over to Megan's

Team Up Thursday - Week 9

This week Christina and I went with the theme Negative Space. We debated doing the theme Spring, but when we talked, Christina had snow in Texas and everything here in Minnesota was brown and dreary. The funny thing is, we both agreed that our shots could have been used for a theme of Spring as well. Weird how it worked out that way!

I have been into the trees around my house lately because it really is the only thing that is starting to change and show some life around here. The new fuzzy buds just tickle my fancy.

I'm so glad Christina chose a dandelion. I think that they are so delicate and detailed. I told her I cant wait for those weeds to start popping up around here again so I can shoot them.



For more "Team-Up Thursday" images, head over to Megan's

Team-Up Thursday - Week 8

This week, Christina and I did HOME. What I find interesting about both our shots is that neither one of us took a picture from our actual homes. Also, the fact that we both chose to display trees.

Christina chose this fantastic view of a road that she takes to get home. If you visit her frequently, you know that she has taken pictures of this road before during the different seasons. Each time I see this scene, I wish it was a road that I could travel home to everyday! With that fantastic line of beautiful trees, each scene is perfection.

My photo for this week is the home of a family of Cardinal's that was left over from last year. We had such a great time watching those birds grow up and fly away. Since we have seen Daddy Cardinal flying around in the last couple of weeks, along with the wonderful group of Robin's we get each year under our deck, we are hoping that they will decide to make their home in this tree again.



For more "Team-Up Thursday" images, head over to Megan's

Team Up Thursday -Week 7

For week 7 of Team Up Thursday, Christina and I chose the theme Lines/Patterns.

Since it has been rainy and dreary here for the last few days, when I look at Christina's photo I can just feel the warmth of that beautiful sun flare coming through the blinds. What a way to wake up in the morning and what a perfect interpretation of Lines. I also love that she took the shot at an angle, adding depth.

For mine, I have these lilies (youre not crazy Christina...I called them tulips by mistake before) that have held on forever and ever so I thought I would utilize them while I could. I placed the flower in front of a lamp that I have. The shade is sort of a metal like grid and when I shot the photo, only the intersections of the grid showed up.....It also illuminated the curved lines in the lily.

Let another week of Team Up Thursday begin!



For more "Team-Up Thursday" images, head over to Megan's

Team Up Thursday - Week 6

Its Thursday....I have so been looking forward to Thursday's since joining this challenge.

Its week 6 and Christina and I chose the theme SOFT. I have to admit that what seemed like a simple task kinda felt a little difficult to me. As a matter of fact, Christina and I found out yesterday that our intentions for this week were the same thing! Both of our first thoughts were to shoot our little girls blankies. While Christina was successful....The closer I got to Ella's blankie, the more it looked like a worn out and dirty rug to me. So I had to kabosh that idea.

I love how Christina chose to put some texture in her shot. She has always been very good at adding texture, whereas I never mastered that skill. Besides the texture added in post processing, the texture of the blanket has a strong presence in the picture too. A soft "security" blankie is something a child never forgets! Knowing that it is Nadia's, I just look at it and find myself wondering so many things....When are the times Nadia feels she needs her blankie....Where she got it (as it looks handmade)...When she decided that this specific blankie was going to be "the one"...And so on. It leaves alot of room to figure out the feelings of what the blankie represents. I love an image that makes you think more, no matter what the subject.

So as I said, I found this to be kind of a trying theme since my one and only thought didn't work out for me. I didn't want to do the obvious...but the only other thing that kept sticking in my head was feathers. SOFT feathers. While shopping at Michael's the other day, I came across this feathered boa that was all wrapped up. It was SO SOFT and I thought, "I have to make this work..or I'm screwed." :0)
Thankfully, I am pretty satisfied with my shot for this week.

Looking forward to seeing everyone's dip's!



For more "Team-Up Thursday" images, head over to Megan's

Team Up Thursday - Week 5

This weeks theme was SELF PORTRAIT.

Yup. EEEK was my first thought. But....I decided that I could find a way to get creative. Last week when it was mentioned that we would all be doing the same theme of self portraits, there was no mention of "face only" (I just read your post Megan) :0) So seeing that I am 6 months pregnant, I figured the best way to show what I am all about right now would be to get in the BELLY! Plus, Christina has been asking for a belly shot. So this one's for you C! I had a plan in my mind and I think I executed it ok. It's not as clean and crisp as I would have liked it, but it was the best I was going to get.

I love how Christina made hers so casual and told a little about what she loved. Who wouldn't love these new kickin' boots she just bought?! The processing of muted colors with the black and denim is so great to me. I also like the texture and angled lines of the fence she is sitting on.

Also, it seems every week that unintentionally each person has matched so well with their partner on their theme's. I am expecting that will be different this week for self portraits. I just couldn't get Christina to do a belly shot no matter how hard I tried! :0) In any case, I would normally put her photo ahead of mine, but I liked how when I positioned them with mine first that we are facing each other.

Looking forward to seeing everyone's shots for this week!



For more "Team-Up Thursday" images, head over to Megan's

Team Up Thursday - Variety

It's week 4 of Team Up Thursday. This weeks theme for Christina and I was VARIETY. I loved how Christina caught VARIETY at her Central Market. I never even thought of the different things you come across at a market. A bulk food bin was genius! The first thing that came to mind for me was colors....Hence the colored pencils. I guess I cant wait for Spring to get here because I am dying to get outside and shoot some color too.

Looking forward to seeing every one's post this week!



For more "Team-Up Thursday" images, head over to Megan's

Team Up Thursday - Week 3

Since we had picked the theme WORDS last week, it was only natural that Christina would pick the theme NUMBERS for this week. Right off the bat, I felt stumped, and I think Christina did too. But the funny thing is, we both had our shots taken by Monday of this week.

Shall we play the game "Who took which shot?" since neither one of our beauties are in them this week? Take a guess!



For more "Team-Up Thursday" images, head over to Megan's

Team Up Thursday - Words

It's week 2 of "Team Up Thursday" and the wonderful Christina and I chose the theme "Words". I am enjoying this challenge so much because it is so fun to not only see what Christina and I come up with, but what everyone else comes up with. I think its great how we all chose our own theme's because you get something different at every blog you go to. Plus, new blogs are coming to my attention that I didn't know of before. That's always fun in itself.

This week, you can probably figure out who took which shot. :0) But for anyone new to my blog, Christina's is on the left and mine is on the right.


For more Team Up Thursday images, check out Megan's

Team-Up Thursday - Red

Team-Up Thursday is something new that Megan and Melody came up with last week. You collaborate with a partner, decide on a theme and create diptychs of your shots.

My buddy is Christina, and our theme for this week was RED.

Christina's photo is on the left and mine is on the right.



For more "Team-Up Thursday" images, head over to Megan's