Reflection Photo Trending on 52Frames

I have been participating in the 52Frames weekly photo challenge for the last three years. And with each year I think my photography has improved. I was never a photographer but someone who always loved to take pictures. So I have learned a lot about new techniques and general principles. My camera is my iPhone so there are some limitations. I really love creating composite images which sort of combines photos with digital art using the procreate app. But in spite of only using an iPhone I have had five of my images selected as the best 52 of the week. Additionally I’ve had two selected on the instagram website. Recently one of my fellow framers told me that my photo was trending on the 52Frames website. I didn’t know what that meant. Apparently the website highlights images submitted for that week - but the criteria for selection aren’t known - number of likes? Number of comments? Anyway, since she told me about that I keep the website open and check it every day to see if any of my photos are showing. Since she told me there have been three in three weeks! The latest was of the image submitted this week about reflections. It seems the photos turnover about once a day so the three trending photos are refreshed. It’s just another way to have something showcased and I am really thrilled whenever it happens - especially when there are typically 2500-3000 entries. Lately I have been notifying fellow framers when their photo is trending as tbey may not know that happens either. Anyway, it’s a fun hobby and I have met people from all over the world. 

52Frames Reflections Weekly Photo Challenge

The subject this week for the 52Frames photo challenge was “reflections” - either contemplating something or mirror images - whichever struck your fancy.  So we set out on the National Mall in search of something. I have photographed the Capitol so many times before so we went to the National Gallery of Art. In front of the building is a huge sculpture that was being washed by the staff. That made for some interesting images. Inside we visited the new textile exhibit. I took several photos there for my daily blog. On the outside are a bunch of glass pyramids in between the east and west building. We spent a lot of time trying to find the right angles. And on the way back to the car the American Indian Museum offers some cool options in the windows above the stream. Later in the week we were driving through Arlington and the tall glass buildings offered some interesting perspectives. After checking all of the photos there was one that my husband liked of some people observing the art - they were reflecting and being reflected. This photo was really cropped and edited - eliminating a third person and changing the overall color to eliminate distracting elements. I rather liked the composite I made of a woman taking her own photo in the glass pyramid - then adding two more and creating a more whimsical view. My husband just didn’t like it. So I posted the photo he liked and he is usually right. But I’m not happy about the entry this week. 

52Frames Reflection Weekly Photo Challenge

There are two ways you can look at the word reflection. A reflection in a mirror or body of water or glass. The other is thinking about something. So I decided to combine these two ideas in to one for this weeks 52Frames photo challenge. I rather like creating a composite - or project - photo image lately. There is more to the challenge when I think about it this way. I really like combining the photo taking with some creative art. After the memorial picnic service we attended in New England for my oldest cousin, we were given a small plant in her memory. It has since been planted in to a small pot that sits above the tv. So I took a photo of the pot, then isolated it from the photo by copying and pasting it in to my procreate app - the one I use for painting custom pet portraits. The printed text was painted over using the clone option and a prettier script was then added - in memory of Judi B. A second copy of this image was added and it was turned in to a mirror image. Additionally a motion blur was added to it so it looked more like a watery reflection. But the image looked a bit stark. So I found a photo of my cousin and enlarged the face to serve as a background layer. It was changed to almost transparent - just enough to show the eyes and the smile. I was very happy with the outcome and it means a lot to me - probably more than any of the judges will feel about it. I really never thought about using photographs with a combination of painting or creative layering before as a part of these challenges. I just know that no one else will have anything quite like it.