I was excited on Sunday, after church, when I found my very first challenge from photochallenge.org had arrived in my inbox. Maybe it’s a little funny to get excited over an email like that but I was using my phone and just scrolling through the emails kinda quick to get them out of the queue on my phone (something about the clutter of icons makes my skin crawl…) when I saw “PhotoChallenge.org” and realized what it was!
The first two days after the challenge was issued, it rained. Poured really. I considered photographing a puddle of water on the road/sidewalk but since one of the requests of the challenge was that there be no evidence of human interference, I nixed the idea, waited two sunny days, and grabbed my son for a Golden Hour trip to a local creek. He soaked himself to his bellybutton! I have a feeling morning light would have been nicer, softer. So, soon, I’ll have to visit this location again as it is a spot I have been eyeing for a while for a potential fashion shoot sometime mid-October to early November.
I also took the opportunity to practice a technique I have not had much use for in the past as it held no interest for me. Since I was photographing a creek, though, there was some reason to try and employee the method of greatly slowing my shutter speed. Unfortunately, I didn’t consider this perspective as I was packing my bag and failed to include my remote shutter release. I did bring the tripod, however; that helped a little but since the sand was pretty soft under water there really were not many places to stably set it. So, I did the best I could do hand held (on a tripod) and, considering, I am actually quite happy with the results of one of my very first attempts with this method.
It was surprising (and exciting), in such an urban area (the creek is next door neighbor to an apartment complex FULL of kids, a ball field, and a busy road which passes over it), to discover this: 
On a side note, I was very disappointed by the state of affairs the creek was in. The state/county/city, whichever, has several open pipes in this area (there is a fire hydrant literally right next to the creek and one pipe hangs over the creek from it’s general vicinity). There is one large and broken green pipe which has been left in the creek. Glass from broken beer bottles. Styrofoam takeout boxes. Tin cans. Paper trash. Oh, and a $5 bill! My son found it. I would usually make him try to find who it belonged to but given the circumstances….he was delighted. Now, I am not an environmentalist. As a matter of fact, I think they often take things too far. The earth’s resources are meant to be used by us. But we should do it well. I am, however, a Christian. In Genesis 1:28, God says to Adam and Eve, …“Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it…” This, in my humble opinion, means that we bear a burden to take care of the earth. If you continue to read, you see that it is not so much for the sake of the earth’s existence as it is for the existence of all the creatures (ourselves included). Because of my belief, I practice, and teach my children, not littering and picking up found trash to be thrown away, and trying to find ways to use things other than their original intent. I understand not wanting to hold onto something you know you will throw away, especially if you need your hands for something. I get accidents, too. But it is possible for us all to be more vigilant about keeping this planet clean, rather than gorgeous spaces ending up looking like this (please click on images to see them enlarged):
