AHP 52 Week Photo Challenge ~ Week 52 ~ The final photo

If I said I was happy or relieved that the challenge was over, I'd be lying. I'm sad to see the end of year approaching and the challenge ending. I truly enjoyed every weeks themes, seeing your submissions and interacting with all of you. Next week I will do one final post about this challenge to wrap up the year so to speak but in the mean time we've got one more theme to complete!!!

Last week's KITCHEN theme was funny for me. I had totally intended to take a photo of my kitchen! I cooking project, a utensil or appliance or my family sitting around the kitchen table. But last night, we were putting up our Christmas tree and when I turned off the kitchen lights and looked out at the tree, the view was priceless!! The view from my kitchen is the best view in the house!

So with one week left in the challenge, I wanted to pick something great. Something inspiring and creative. But at the same time- it's Christmas this week and I know we all will be busy busy busy. So I picked this theme as sort of a compromise between the two notions.

The AHP 52 week photo challenge theme for week 52 is....

FACES

www.ahedgesphotography.com

AHP 52 Week Photo Challenge~ Week 51 ~ Albany New York Wedding and Portrait Photographer

When I originally posted this past week's "ART" themed photo I kind of jumped the gun. I wasn't thinking of the challenge at all. That actually makes me think then, that I really did fulfill this weeks challenge 100%. I was simply creating. I was taking a photo for me- of a subject matter that I chose- for no other reason than because it was beautiful and in my moment. 

I read recently that that taking nature, landscape or sunset photos were "cliche" and if you aspired pro level photography you should avoid that subject matter altogether. It's easy to make beautiful things look beautiful in photos. So instead challenge yourself and make unusual things look interesting in photos. This is very true to a certain extent. But sometimes you have to break the rules. I spend so much time watching sunsets- here at the beach, at home, up in the mountains. Sunsets speak to me and  ground me. I have always had a really hard time ending the day. I've always been a night owl and wanted to "keep the party going". So watching the sunset is almost ceremonial for me- a gentle nod to the ending of a great day and the reminder that tomorrow we can do it all over again.

Just because something is beautiful or easy to photograph, that will never cause me to ignore it, not photograph it or discount photos that contain such subject matter. 

Well, today is my last day on this island and tomorrow we make the trek back home. I hear it's Christmas time in Upstate NY....I better get to work :-)

The AHP 52 Week Photo Challenge theme for week 51 is 

KITCHEN

www.ahedgesphotography.com

AHP 52 Week Photo Challenge~ Week 50~ Albany New York Wedding and Lifestyle Photographer

I received the nicest note the other day from one of the AHP 52 Week Photo Challenge participants. She has hung with me allllll year long and I've thoroughly enjoyed her, her work and her enthusiasm for my weekly photo challenge themes!

"Amy, I just wanted to thank you so much for doing the 52 week photography challenge. I'm sure it must have been discouraging to have all but a very few drop out over the year. But, as a brand-new DSLR user in January, it's been a HUGE boost to me - making me take pics every single week when I might not have picked up the camera otherwise. On Monday I finish up a beginner's digital photography class at our local jr. college. We had our class gallery last night and I sold FOUR of the ten pics I included!! I owe much of that to you - for making me keep shooting weekly!

Just wanted you to know how much I've appreciated this challenge. :)"

Thank YOU for participating!! All of you- those who have submitted week after week, for those who started out in the beginning and decided to simply watch from a far. I appreciate the effort you put in. The effort to try, to challenge yourself, to try to grow as a photographer. Thank you <3 span="span">

I'm showing you two shots from last week's SUN theme. The first one is the one I submitted- our new family member, Molly, napping in the sun. She is a pro at finding the warm sun spots and just loafing about.

The second shot was taken just moments after the first. She sat up, gazed outside and then went about her business (back to napping). The sun light on her golden coat was so warm and beautiful! Yes, folks, that's natural light right there. No reflector, no modifier, no artificial light. Just good old, properly executed natural light photography.

I started this photo challenge more for myself than anyone else. While it was nice to have people right there with me during the journey I really just wanted something to challenge myself. I wanted a goal. I wanted to pick up my camera each and every week and take photos of things that inspired ME. That got me thinking, that got me shooting. While I love photographing my clients, their families and events I really needed to make sure I was still shooting for myself. I love photography. I want to continue to love photography and I feel the only way for me to do that is to create works that encapsulates my own vision, in my own style. I don't have to worry about how the paying client will feel about it. I don't have to worry about making anyone else happy. 

This is a project I plan on continuing throughout the 2013 as well. Not the photo challenge, per se, but photography for me.  I still plan on doing a photo challenge for the new year, but it will be a different, less intense format. I'm hoping I'll get a few more participants with this new challenge so spread the word and get pumped. I'll announce the new challenge format in a couple weeks!!

I have a few personal projects I want to tackle as well, I want to refine (discover) my photographic style, I want to create art. This will be a big part of my blog for 2013. I will be sharing more of my personal work. 

The AHP 52 Week Photo Challenge theme for week 50 is:

ART

I want to see YOUR art!!

www.ahedgesphotography.com

AHP 52 Week Photo Challenge ~ Week 49

We're in the final stretch, my lovies, and we did such an amazing job! I'm actually very proud of myself for keeping up with this all year long. Even though I have been tardy a few weeks (a LOT of weeks lately) I still love looking back through the album and seeing all that we've accomplished. Let's keep it up and finish out the year strong!!

Last week, the LAMP theme, wasn't meant to be anything difficult, but I knew that I'd see some variety in the photos- that's what I was really looking for!

I picked to photograph the new lamp in my office. I have a new client meeting room where I meet new and prospective clients to discuss wedding details, photo session plans and to order products. I promised to show photos of my office when it's complete--just hold tight--we're getting there!! :-)

The AHP 52 Week Photo Challenge Theme for week 50 is....

SUN...

...try to find some :-)

www.ahedgesphotography.com

AHP 52 Week Photo Challenge ~ Week 48

Thanksgiving threw me off! I knew I was pushing it when I did the THANKSGIVING theme since it occurred on the week's deadline. I did get my photo posted to facebook and then....crickets. I forgot to give you guys the new theme for this week! I was close, but no cigar :-)

So I posted a photo of my family gathering for Thanksgiving dinner. My husband and I hosted Thanksgiving this year, for the first time! I'm am proud to report we were successful and the day was fantastic!

So this week is a short one since I'm so late getting the theme posted so I'll make it an easy one!

The AHP 52 Week Photo Challenge theme for week 48 is:

LAMP

www.ahedgesphotography.com

AHP 52 Week Photo Challenge ~ Week 47

Last weeks "BORDER" theme was interesting. I actually had a few preconceived ideas in my head for my photo but I wasn't sure which direction I would go in. I thought this was fitting though, since we are in the process of redecorating our home, still, since we moved in 18 months ago. We have removed wallpaper, ripped up rose colored carpet, thrown away billowing custom floral drapes and other such decor left over from the previous owner. We are still a far way off from having everything the way we like it, but we're making progress!!

Here's a shot of some of the wall paper (with boarder) that we have been dealing with. I have to look at that hideousness every single time I use the stairs. Ugh!!

I'm picking an obvious one for this week folks. Take photos of your Thanksgiving, of your family, of your memories- that's your homework!! I want to see those Thanksgiving photos!!

The AHP 52 Week Photo Challenge theme for week 47 is:

THANKSGIVING

www.ahedgesphotography.com

AHP 52 Week Photo Challenge ~ Week 46

So while my "PLAY" photo from last week was really quite work related for me it just goes to show that I do truly love what I do! I pour a little bit of me into each and every photo I create, I love going to "work" and I am thankful I have the ability to have my own business and pursue this dream.

Do what you love, love what you do!

The AHP 52 Week Photo Challenge for week 46 is 

"Border"

www.ahedgesphotography.com

AHP 52 Week Photo Challenge ~ Week 45

This morning I panicked! I realized it was Thursday and I thought I had forgotten to post a photo for last weeks theme! I logged into my blog to see what the theme was because I couldn't even remember--I'm LOSING MY MIND! :-) Well much to my surprise the WORK theme from last week was done days ago! Phew!! I was on top of things...for once :-)

So the reason this week has been crazy:

1) Hurricane Sandy. We never lost power but the anticipation of whatever possibilities the weather man predicted on top of the heart wrenching news and photos coming out of the hard struck areas were just too much for me to bear! 

2) Halloween. Ugh my LEAST favorite "holiday". It's super cute to dress the kids up in costumes and go see their school parades. But the candy and the begging for candy, and the eating of candy and the sugar high from candy- yea I can do without!!

2) We adopted a new dog!!! I haven't had a chance to take any photos of her yet (we've only had her for two days) and she's still getting used to her new digs, her new siblings (both human and k-9). But believe me- photos will come...soon!!

So let's begin a new week- hopefully a less stressful week for everyone. 

The AHP 52 week photo challenge theme for week 45 is:

PLAY

www.ahedgesphotogrpahy.com

AHP 52 Week Photo Challenge ~ Week 44

My "comfy" photo from last week needs no explanation. Seriously if I had one place to sit for an entire day I'd pick right here...getting up only for the occasional potty break or to venture to the kitchen for some nourishment.

That photo is so comfy in fact that I don't even want to move ahead to next week's theme! But alas....

The AHP 52 Week Photo Challenge theme for week 44 is:

WORK

www.ahedgesphotography.com

AHP 52 Week Photo Challenge ~ Week 43

I picked the "MONEY" theme for last week knowing full well that I was going to be photographing a wedding at the Key Hall at Proctors. I had seen the old vault at the Hall during a walk through with a bride and groom and I thought it was SO amazing for a wedding venue. I wanted to shoot the heck out of it and I did. That's why I picked the "money" theme for last week--sheer excitement for what I knew I was going to work with.

This week, not so much. I don't have anything coming up that would work as a good challenge theme. And while last week was premeditated I typically don't think about photo ideas the challenge theme until after I come up with it. So this week is random...we'll see where it goes! 

The AHP 52 Week Photo Challenge theme for Week 43 is:

"COMFY"

www.ahedgesphotography.com

AHP 52 Week Photo Challenge ~ Week 42

I have never been a "MORNING" person, though perhaps my parents would like to disagree with memories of me waking up super early as a young child. But for as long back as I can remember I've always been a night owl. I never liked "giving up the day". I would stay up late watching TV or listening to music well past everyone else's bed time. I could easily sleep till noon on a regular basis.

Even since having kids of my own I've found that we all prefer being up later together and sleeping in rather than waking at the crack of dawn. Now that my oldest has started preschool we have had to adjust our schedules slightly and I am seeing glimpses of what the morning people are talking about!

Everything is peaceful, fresh, clear in the morning. I've even found myself enjoying my quiet cup of coffee alone in the kitchen before everyone else wakes up--yes I'm getting up EARLY!!

I thought the view of Albany was so beautiful that morning. A ceiling of clouds, a floor of vibrant fall foliage and a small little slice of light, illuminating the city!!

This next week's theme should be quite interesting- I'd love to see what people come up with. Get your creative thinking caps on- I want to see some good stuff!!

The AHP 52 Week Photo Challenge theme for week 42 is:

"MONEY"

www.ahedgesphotography.com

AHP 52 Week Photo Challenge ~ Week 41

Last weeks TEXTURE theme got me antsy again about redecorating my office space. I moved in, but the walls are bare as are the windows. I have a yucky MDF desk and no lighting...things have GOT to change. I took this photo to remind myself that it's time to get my grown up pants on and upgrade to nice desk- one that will be with me for a long time. Sturdy, beautiful. One I will enjoy working on. 

Now to find it.... :-)

I mentioned last week that we may be changing to a new format for our weekly photo challenge, but I think that we're ok. Facebook has changed a few things but we can still proceed as usual. That brings me up a few months though to the beginning of next year. I'm thinking of doing a weekly (daily?) Instagram photo challenge. You would get a list of the photo topics for the month ahead of time and you would simply post your photo of the day to Instagram. Give me some feedback about this idea-- would you be interested?? I do a bunch of daily photo challenges and they're super simple - no editing, no uploading- just snap and post. It gets you TAKING photos (which is the whole purpose isn't it???) So let me know what you think!!

In the mean time let's finish this year out STRONG!! We are so close to the end and we've come so far-- "don't give up 5 minutes before the miracle" :-)

The AHP 52 Week Photo Challenge theme for Week 41 is 

MORNING

www.ahedgesphotography.com

AHP 52 Week Photo Challenge ~ Week 40

On the road on Friday, driving to Poughkeepsie, I was going through my mental "to do" list. 

#769: Write Blog post for the Photo Challenge.....

nooooooooooooo!!! 

I'm just losing my mind! Autumn is peak wedding season, busy family portrait season and the season I go loopy! :-)

Well last week's theme, "The Last Thing you Bought" was fun!! Here's my shot of the farmers market bounty...beautiful juicing veg :-)

It may just be me but I can't find my photo on facebook for last week. When I click on the 52 week photo challenge album, I only see some of the images I've posted. This concerns me. That may mean you all can't find the image either and can't post your images in the comments boxes below mine.

I need feeback----

Can you see my image from last week? 

Can you see ALL the images I've posted so far in that album?

Is the new Facebook format going to make this challenge impossible? 

We may have to start something new.....Instagram? 

Let me know what you think and we'll proceed. In the mean time...

The theme for the AHP 52 Week Photo Challenge is:

TEXTURE

www.ahedgesphotography.com

AHP 52 Week Photo Challenge ~ Week 38

This week is all about getting back on track. I was late posting a photo one week, then late posting the theme and this week I barely squeaked my photo in by the deadline! The "Liquid" theme was fun for me. I did a few things- experimented a while and had a blast playing with my final decision of water with food coloring. The images I got were beautiful.....new artwork for my office walls??? hmmm.....

I ended up with three favorites from the hundreds of liquid shots I took:

The one I actually used for the challenge:

This week I'm going to go along with the theme of keeping on track and use it as inspiration.

The AHP 52 Week Photo Challenge theme for Week 38 is:

TIME

www.ahedgesphotography.com

AHP 52 Week Photo Challenge ~ Week 37

It became quite obvious to me this past week that no matter where you are in the school time continuum, having your kids go to school always seems to be an emotional and stressful time for both the parents and the child. I saw so many pictures of little ones on their very first day of their very first year of school all the way up to the first day of the LAST year of their schooling career. And the same sentiment rang true, I can't believe we're HERE already! 

I'm so glad I did the "SCHOOL" theme last week and I'm so glad I took the time to recreate the photo taken of my and my sister on MY first day of preschool. My daughter now going to preschool at the same place I did, and being taught by MY teachers' daughter...full circle of sorts :-)

This next week will hopefully be far less emotional for you all and a bit more creative and fun!

The AHP 52 Week Photo Challenge for week 37 (though posted slightly late....SORRY!!) is.....

"LIQUID"

www.ahedgesphotography.com

AHP 52 Week Photo Challenge ~ Week 36

I  have to be honest, when I picked the "UNDERNEATH" theme for this past week I reallllly wanted to crawl under my truck and take photos, but it struck me as I was approaching the twin bridges on the Northway that they would make a pretty kick butt image- so I went with that. It didn't turn out as great as I wanted, but live and learn, right? 

I did take a second shot that I posted to Instagram and I actually liked that one better...

Speaking of Instagram- I'm completely obsessed!!! I got to thinking that next year, instead of doing a 52 week photo challenge on Facebook I would host a daily or weekly Instagram photo challenge instead. I think it would be easier for many of you since you won't have to upload your images from your cameras to the computer and then post them on facebook. It's just a quick SNAP on the phone directly to Instagram....what do you think????

And getting back to business...

The AHP 52 Week Photo Challenge theme for week 36 is:

SCHOOL

www.ahedgesphotoraphy.com

AHP 52 Week Photo Challenge ~ Week 35

This past week made me HAPPY!! ORANGE is my go-to color right now and picking that color for last week's theme was a no-brainer. 

It made me so happy to see all of the orange colored photos in my feed this week! 

They're all very similar but I did have a few different versions of my "orange" collage to share! I was surprised how easy it was to find orange items--maybe I just gravitate to them, or them to me :-)

I also noticed a few of you going back to weeks past and adding photos to themes you missed. I LOVE THAT!!! 

I'm still having fun with these challenges and I'm 

glad you are as well. 

If you are on Instagram, feel free to follow me there as well (username AMYHEDGES)- I give a peek into my personal world and I also participate in a DAILY photo challenge--it's wicked fun and I encourage you to join on in!!

This week is going to be fun I think, I already have a few ideas I'm going to try out and I can't wait to see what ya'll come up with.

The AHP 52 Week Photo Challenge theme for week 35 is:

UNDERNEATH

www.ahedgesphotography.com

AHP 52 Week Photo Challenge ~ Week 34

My favorite things- I have lots. Favorite places to travel, favorite foods, favorite wine, favorite workouts, favorite comfy jammies. When the idea for this image for last week's FAVORITE theme came to me, I was checking my mail box. It was later in the afternoon, quiet, my favorite time of day. The sun was golden (any photographer will say that's their favorite light) and I turned to look at my house. The golden hour sun was just peeking over the roof, I could see my favorite spot to sit through the window. I saw the chimney and thought of how my favorite way to spend time in the winter is curled up by the fire. So yes, a few of my many favorite things, all wrapped up into one photo. I even managed to get a great rainbow sunflare at the bottom of the shot- definitely a favorite effect, though technically a photographic imperfection.

So I'm kind of keeping the favorite theme for this week too....

Anyone who has seen my website, follows my "BRAND" board on Pinterest or has seen some of my most recent purchases knows I LOVE ORANGE!!! Yes I'm like a 5 year old with a favorite color! I saw this on Pinterest the other day and it's SO true- 

Orange makes me happy!!

I'm in the process of remodeling my new home office and I have visions of sleek tangerine tango accents mixed in with my oh-so comfy cozy rustic decor. A mix of two totally opposite design styles, just like me! A true Gemini with both a sleek, sophisticated, Madison Ave side paired with a crunchy hippie who finds pleasure in meditating on a dock by the lake. This project will be a process I will share with you all as I progress, slowly...

So I've got Orange on the brain and I want to see it everywhere- so I also want to see it in your images. The AHP 52 Week Photo Challenge theme for Week 34 is:

ORANGE

www.ahedgesphotography.com

AHP 52 Week Photo Challenge ~ Week 33

I have no idea how last week got away from me...I had a session, two blog posts, a birthday...yea no idea!! But alas I totally forgot about the "Lyric" theme and at the last minute I had to scramble. I picked a BLAH lyric (from a great song) but it wasn't very creative...not what I had imagined me picking. I love love love music, lyrics, meanings and I was so excited to mesh two of my loves together.

I remember when I was in 8th grade, in Ms. Cole's English class, we had to create a slideshow of mixed media images while music played. We used the overhead projector (there's me showing my age a bit) to show our images while the 2 songs we chose played. For the life of me I can't remember what one of the songs was (I'm thinking Black Crowes She Talks to Angles), but the other was Instant Karma by John Lennon; yes I had quite the taste in music as a young thing!! I remember one of the slides I used was a United Colors of Benneton ad- the one with all the gorgeous, ethnically contrasting, faces. I even hung that photo on my teenage bedroom wall.

So this type of project was supposed to be a revisitation of the project I so loved all those years ago and I truly wanted to give it the same effort I gave as a young 13 year old. I may just keep this theme tucked in my back pocket for a while and when I get something worthy I'll post again!!

So this weeks image:

"It's 5:00 somewhere"

To make up for my lack of creativity in the lyric I made sure I added a creative element to the photo. I used my off camera flash to create this image which is something I dont get to do too often. I love using natural light, especially when photographing people, but off camera flash is an essential skill to have as a photographer and it's important to use those skills often!

Ok so just like an Olympic athlete who didn't quite "get the gold" so to speak, I'm going to brush it off and look forward to next weeks theme!

The AHP 52 Week Photo Challenge theme for Week 33 is:

FAVORITE

www.ahedgesphotography.com

AHP 52 Week Photo Challenge ~ Week 32

I'm kind of over the moon about this next theme--

and I know a few other people in our little challenge family that will also be stoked!

hold up...

pause....

rewind....

Oh yea- last week's recap!!! I was so excited I almost forgot!!

Last week's theme was "Summertime Bliss" . When I picked the theme I had visions of my free-spirited children, squealing with delight, running through the sprinkler. Or with their messy hair blowing in the breeze on the boat. But that's THEIR bliss. Sure it's cute and important, but I wanted to capture something that brought me back to MY childhood "summertime bliss".

I have memories of watermelon seed spitting contests, watermelon toss games in the lake, I ALWAYS picked out the watermelon balls out of the fruit salad and left the mushy brown banana slices for someone else (perhaps that's why my sister doesn't like banana??!!) And...I must add, in the past two months my child has eaten at least 4 times her weight in watermelon and pretty much nothing else!

Play...

Fast forward....

The AHP 52 Week Photo Challenge theme for Week 31 is-

LYRICS

okokok---I don't usually give instructions or make rules but this is what I have in mind....

Think of a song, a line of a song and then interpret it in photo form. I dont want to see photos OF words, I want to see images that represent the words. Please include your lyrics in the photo caption so we can all see the connection! However, if you decide to go in a different direction- feel free!

No rules, just fun!

www.ahedgesphotography.com