Mirkwood II by Ricky Tims

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 My two favorite features on my mountain parcel is Autumn Rock, the magnificent outcrop and a stand of gamble oaks that I call Mirkwood. I've made several small art quilts based on this little magical forest. This particular quilt was made in 2021. It features confetti appliqué and the quilting/stitching is a very large irregular jump stitch.

The Spring Fire burned through Mirkwood in 2018, but fortunately most of the burn was in the lower grasses. About 1/3 of the gamble oaks were lost, but about 2/3 of it recovered. 

 

 

 TRY THE JIGSAW PUZZLE

Choose your own difficulty. Click the 9-patch grid to change number of pieces. Click the circle arrow to make the puzzle pieces rotating instead of stable orientation. Also, there are tips under the "?" on the upper right of the puzzle. If you'd like a full screen version, click the button below. Have fun!

  

 

2021 Smart Phone Group

Smart Phone Group: Upside Down
Photo by Deb Story

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Deb says:

This may not be what you think it is…or maybe it is! Another treasure found in our recent clean out. My son’s old tuba mouthpiece turned upside down with a few added balloon flowers from the garden makes this week’s photo challenge easier than I first thought it would be. Edits made in iPhone plus BeCasso filter.

 

2021 52 Week Challenge Group

Challenge: Footwear
Photo by Jim Sollers

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Jim says:

These shoes have great soul in their soles. The texture accented with the chartreuse lines was set off by the red triangles. Editing was simple in Lightroom; whites and blacks and a crop. Then I boosted the red to make a focal point of interest. As I was shooting this I was struck by the thought that the only way anyone would see these intricate patterns is if I fall down.

 

2021 Critique Group

Challenge: Selective Color
Photo by Rodney Hughes

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Rodney says:

Cooling off in the shower after a polo match.

 

Ricky's Challenge Photos:

Challenge: Upside Down
from the 2021 Smart Phone Group

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Ricky says:

The wildflowers have been glorious and these came inside for a beautiful bouquet. As they began fading I decided to hang them upside down to dry. For this shot I put them on the antique Egyptian market door leading to my studio. Edited in Prisma app with Dallas

 

 

Challenge: Selective Color
from the 2021 Critique Group

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Ricky says:

Since 2019 I have attempted to grow things on the mountain. Last summer I discovered that Califorina poppies are very happy here so I sowed more seeds this Spring. They are bountiful and make me very happy. I took this into photoshop first, to do the selective color and to add a dreamscape layer of blur (it's minimal), then in LR I made additional basic adjustments. 

 

 

2021 Smart Phone Group

Smart Phone Group: Year Word Revisited
Photo by Warren Lee

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Warren says:

This year‘s word is ‘Wonder’. Most of this year I have focused on the amazing natural beauty around us. This week I had the opportunity for a PhotoSafari to Northern NV for the Milky Way with the mirrorless camera. During the daytime we explored the Northern NV Railway museum. The town of Ely, NV inherited a railway when the local mine abruptly ceased operation. This became an opportunity to preserve a portion of our history. Two steam engines have been in operation. This one, old 81, is in the final stages of restoration. The working docent is the father of the program manager for this effort. As a young man from Florida, the son became entranced with steam engines. It became his calling and profession with a subsequent relocation from Florida to rural Northern NV. What a wonder (and joy) to be able to pursue your passion as a profession each day. I processed this image in PhotoShop Express using the ‘Carmine” treatment. Wishing you amazing journeys of discovery and wonder - not too far from home.

2021 52 Week Challenge Group

Challenge: Flowers and Macro
Photo by Karen Kay Buckley

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Karen says:

Was taking some shots of my Hydrangea when this little guy landed. He turned ever so slightly and the sun hit him perfectly.

 

2021 Critique Group

Challenge: Year Word Revisited
Photo by JoAnn Banks

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JoAnn says:

My year word for 2021 is Artistic. I have loved taking photos of my sunflowers this summer. I snapped this one using my iPhone when I noticed the lovely sun highlighting the pedals. I used an artistic effect from Smart Photo Editor which turned the sky into a wood texture.

 

Ricky's Challenge Photos:

Challenge: Year Word Revisited
from the 2021 Smart Phone Group

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Ricky says:

Barley is not yet two years old, but he has been an old soul since I got him at age eight weeks. His spirit is deep, calm, even-keel, and insightful. I have come to the point where I tell all my friends, if you are needing insight, clarity, or wisdom on any topic - sit down and have the conversation with Barley. He is a wise old man and I would trust whatever guidance he offered. (I'm okay if you think I'm crazy).

 

 

Challenge: Year Word Revisited
from the 2021 Critique Group

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Ricky says:

My year word is WISDOM. That's hard to photograph and make it visually clear without some sort of explanation - so here's my explanation. I want to make wise choices. This goal has stuck with me daily as I pursue so many things and face so many decisions. I can't make wise choices if I don't have all the facts and see things clearly. I need a light to shine on all my options so that I may see more clearly as to what lies ahead. I chose to not only shoot a light that is partially hidden, but also the pannning to show that even if I find the light, clarity in those choices is not always there. But if I look at the big picture, I will see the light and no matter how fuzzy things may be, I can identiy what it is that I need to see and do. So - that's my round about way to WISDOM revisited.

 

 

Kool Kaleidoscope III by Ricky Tims

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The Quilt Show is featuring my Kool Kaleidoscope quilt class!

My Kool Kaleidoscope quilt is a popular and very fun method for making a kaleidoscopic quilt without fussy cutting individual fabric prints. This strip-piece quilt is quick and easy and great for advanced beginners and beyond. The project will be taught in four sessions over two weeks. The kaleidoscope portion of the quilt measures 36" prior to adding borders, but can be adapted for any size once you understand the process. 

 

 TRY THE JIGSAW PUZZLE

Choose your own difficulty. Click the 9-patch grid to change number of pieces. Click the circle arrow to make the puzzle pieces rotating instead of stable orientation. Also, there are tips under the "?" on the upper right of the puzzle. If you'd like a full screen version, click the button below. Have fun!

  

 

2021 52 Week Challenge Class

52 Week Challenge Class: Celebration
Photo by Katie Leddon

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Katie says:

I didn't have much opportunity for celebrations. For some reason our City decide there would be no parade, fireworks and such. There was a car show Friday evening in the downtown area, which was fun.

I believe this lady is the deejay's wife, who was trying to get people to dance. I chose this shot over some others that were more expressive so I could play with the editing we learned this week. The girl's face was shadowed, a flag pole in the background and a long shadow on the street background. The edits aren't great, but it was fun playing with it.

2021 Smart Phone Challenge Group

Challenge: In Motion
Photo by Laura Minch

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2021 Critique Group

Challenge: Precarious/Unbalanced
Photo by Jess Thompson

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Jess says:

Upon seeing the title I thought I’d head to Pensacola Beach to get pictures of surfers wiping out. The bad news was that both times I went there this week conditions were poor and there was not one single surfer in the water. The good news is that while driving onto the island I happened to look to the left and saw this challenge course which had many precarious challenges. I took about 100 pictures in the time I was there and this little guy was in the most precarious position.. He has his feet tangled but managed to make it to the next section without incident.

Typical LR edits. Moved to PS to apply Topaz DeNoise AI and Sharpen AI. I’m really beginning to like those products.

 

Ricky's Challenge Photos:

Challenge: Unstable
from the 2021 Critique Group

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Ricky says:

I found a great deal of peace one looking at a rock cairns. They are always delicate, and naturally precarious. I attempted to build a rather tall one for this particular challenge.

 

 

Challenge: In Motion
from the 2021 Smart Phone Challenge Group

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Ricky says:

Celebrating the 4th with smoke bombs. I used the Live feature and selected long exposure to blend the smoke and make it feel more in motion.

 

 

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