Category Archives: Photo Projects

Personal Projects

Personal Projects

Olympus OMD1M2, ISO 200, f/11, 1/10 sec.

Do you have a personal project? My list of personal projects is longer than I care to admit and includes locations, techniques, gear-specific items, etc. One of my personal projects continues to be shooting water: from ice to oceans and everywhere in between. But the locations range from Flagstaff to International travel. In Flagstaff, one of my favorite “go-to” places to photograph is Buffalo Park. This park is in the middle of the city with great views of Mount Elden and Humphrey’s Peak. After our spring snow melt, the normally dry pond filled with water so I went out for a sunrise shoot. If I only have a little time, Buffalo Park is a great place. I’ve shot portraits, macro, sports, and of course, landscapes at this park. Do you have a “go-to” spot close to your home?

This next image was shot of my son running at sunset. I wanted a light burst, so I stopped down to f/22

Olympus OMD1M2, ISO 200, f/22, 1/20

And another of him running during the day.

Nikon D600, ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec

Below are several more images captured at Buffalo Park. From rock climbing to astrophotography, this location has a lot to offer. Challenge: find “your go-to” spot.

Recycled Photo Frame

recycled photo frame
An old 6-panel window repurposed to display my photos.
photo frame with images
Notice the magnets on one side of the glass with the clips and images on the other.

Finding recycled or repurposed items is my kind of fun, whether I am traveling or searching on online for creative ideas. We repurpose many antiques for modern uses, so finding a use for the old windows left in our 1892 Carriage House felt natural. The windows in our Carriage House aren’t from this house, but from another old building in Flagstaff. For several months, I searched for a creative way to use these windows for my photos and found it on Pinterest. Here is the completed project.

Using a 6-panel window, I spent several hours cleaning the glass and the frame from years of gunk. I purchased strong magnetic clips (Staples) and Neodymium magnets (Home Depot) that would hold magnetically with the glass in between. Since my window panels are square I printed (Walgreens) 8”x8” images to hang in the panels. I liked the empty space around each image as opposed to printing 10”x 10” images. My last task was to add wire to the back of the frame and hang it. Now, above my computer workstation, I have a photo display that is easy to change. I enjoy looking at printed photos to assess if I still like them. So, I’m sure in a few weeks, I will try a few new photos. I also have another window project in process…come back here for an update.

Photo of office area
My new photo frame above my computer work station.