Shoot & Edit Challenge - Week One: Winter

Since I'm stepping out of my comfort zone and pushing myself to grow more this year in my photography and editing skills, I have decided to participate in more challenges.  The only way to learn is to practice, and I need to be challenged in order to practice.  And since my editing skills are very beginner level ... Remember in Kung Fu Panda when Po tells Shifu that he wants to start training at Level Zero?  Well, that's me ... at level zero.  But the only way to go is up, right?  So that's a good thing.  :)


Anyway, I saw this new challenge and thought I'd join in.  The idea is that you post your SOOC (straight out of camera) shot on Monday, follow Ashley's advice on how to edit the photo, then post the edited masterpiece {fingers crossed} on Thursday.  This week's theme is Winter.


No problem there.  We've got plenty of winter going on here in Western Pennsylvania.  In fact, we've got some more winter coming our way tomorrow and Wednesday.  :)  Yes, Kathryn, my friend, it's coming your way too, so brace yourself.  Stock up on milk, bread, and TP!!  And frozen pizzas!  What are you waiting for?!  Go!  Now!  Or you could just wait until tomorrow since it is getting pretty late.


So without further ado, here's my SOOC shot for this week's Winter theme:

The boys and I went for a walk through my neighbor's fields and woods this afternoon to get some exercise (since I skipped the gym this morning) and so I could play around with Exposure Compensation on my camera.  I shot this in Aperture Priority mode because I read in my camera manual (yes, I did actually break out the manual!) that you can't use Exposure Compensation in Manual mode.  Only A, P, and S modes.  And after watching the video that Jill posted about getting good snow photos (thanks, Jill!), I wanted to play.


We all had to wear hunter orange on our walk because it is hunting season and Doug and Nick were concerned about us walking back there without it.  Even though our neighbor doesn't allow anyone (except Doug and Nick) to hunt on his property, rednecks have been known to be stupid sometimes.  No, really!  But you'll be glad to know that we made it back without incident.


I took this photo because it cracks me up how Alex (pictured) has to zig zag all around when he's walking through the snow ... making as many foot prints as possible.  And he never really picks up his feet either.  So there are just two paths where he has been.

Tomorrow I will get to work on my edit.  Being so new to editing in Photoshop Elements, I hope I can keep up!  See you back here on Thursday!

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