Sunday Stills - Or The Chicken Chronicles

"Silhouettes: This should be easy, just put yourself between your subject and the sun or bright object and shoot away. It can be anything……"

I really struggled with this challenge. I wanted to try to do something besides a sunset; something that would challenge me to learn to do something new with my camera. This was not the best week for research however, and other than stumbling across an entry on Pioneer Woman's site, I headed out to take my "test" without having done much studying.

I pulled out one of the carriages (it needed to be washed, or at least de-cobwebbed, anyway :-/) and snapped a couple shots. Not right.

Changed a setting and tried again. Hmm.

Let the chickens out.

Came back and tried a different angle. Still not getting it.

Fed the boys and headed back to the house for "the book".



The chickens followed me. Down the driveway. To the house. We don't know why they've started following us all over. Everywhere. They are not moving to (or even visiting) the porch, I can promise you that. And one of those chickens ain't really a chicken.



So, with a little encouragement, they headed back to the barn. And you haven't seen funny until you've watched chickens run. Busy chickens on a mission (the ones out front at least).

Meanwhile, back at the barn (with some helpful hints from the owner's manual), I finally sort of get the exposure right, but realize the composition isn't good. Too much busy fence in the background.

Saint Tim suggested trying to get a simple dog silhouette, so we picked a less busy spot and he stood there while I experimented (once again to no avail).



And look, again with the chickens.



I was about to give up (at least for the morning - I seldom actually give up) but stopped under one of the Red Bud trees and decided to try a leaf and sky picture. Pretty boring, but if you squint your eyes, it almost looks like a silhouette.



And while I was sitting there, surrounded by cats and dogs, I realized that one of the cats wasn't really a cat.



Here's the only picture I took this morning that I really liked. I suppose a shadow is sort of a silhouette. If you squint your eyes just right.

Here's my favorite picture of me and my shadow.

For better Sunday Stills Silhouettes...