This past Friday brought me two photo challenges or better said pressures. I have been trying to take photos of hands with my new Canon PowerShot G1 x but the results are so disappointing (sometimes working under pressure can be counter productive). Still as I am not the one to pass on a challenge I dug up some old photos that can account for both hands and summer.
Some might argue that hands are not instrumental in the one of me in a Nike shirt, but I say hell yes. Just takes an attentive eye to notice all the hands in the photo and most of all to give credit to the one pressing the shutter button.
Listen to the attached music here 12 – Take My Hand (Bonus Track)
Loved your shots, Well taken! =)
Thank you
I can’t take credit for taking them though 
, but I agree with you.
Lovely picture. One post for two photo challenge, brilliant. Hehe, but the hand is not really the main focus, isn’t it?
Of course it is!!!
Excellent idea, two challenges in one. Brilliant!!!
You look lost in thought in the last one, but my eye is drawn to the kids in the background as well, with their outstretched hands. Perfect for this week.
Thanks Jeff… the only thing that makes me look kind of “smart” today is to serve both challengers with one post…. Otherwise, completely useless here as I did not even press the shutter button for any of these….
And I don’t mean to be ungrateful, I really believe your judgement and if you say the pic is perfect for the challenge I do believe you. I whish I had been behind the camera instead of before it .. that’s all.
I didn’t take it as you being ungrateful, and I know exactly how you feel about wanting to be the person behind the camera instead of in front of it. At least it is you that is in the photos, and since your blog isn’t strictly a photo blog, I still think they are great for the challenges. They give people another slice of your life. Nice.
Yes they are, and very nice shots of the two of you. The first one of your husband is going to drive me nuts though. He looks like an actor, but I can’t think of the name and it’s going to bug the heck out of me until I figure out who I think he looks like.
The reason I commented on the last one was that the first two are nice shots of the two of you, possibly on vacation?, but the last, you and your “lost in thought” look, and especially the children in the background, make an outstanding, story telling photo.
I wish I knew who the skimpy rater is to return the favour
.
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It’s always fun but slightly frustrating trying to get to know a new camera, isn’t it? And the best way to learn is to make mistakes – so consider every disappointing shot as one shot closer to a kick ass shot
I really enjoyed these photos, and like Jeff, love that you combined both challenges into once clever series with lots of hands and a real summer feel. Where was the second one taken? The scenery looks spectacular. And yes, I love that last one, it is incredibly evocative. xxx Ailsa
You are right Ailsa… and sometimes it can be less fun and more frustration depending on the mood and the day
. I am a total beginner used to small compacts and automode and till now I was happy with just chosing a frame and snapping,but now I wanted more and am not ready yet 
. Working under pressure sometimes can yield good results as I hope it did with my journey and unfocused themes, but this hand thing got me really frustrated…. I had two models, made one really tired and upset (hubby) and made a friend of mine get out of the house at minutes notice, made her run to catch the last rays of sun, made her pose, do gestures with her hands and all the time she craved for an ice cream which she never got 
. Finally, I got tired, peeved and I left her in the city and came back home. Well, maybe I should make this blog a babbling blog instead of posting pics 
. Now, to answer your question, all three pics were taken in the same region which is the peninsula of Istria in the western part of Croatia, very close to Italy 
.
Thank you for your support Ailsa. I just need to train my patience.
One of my favourite quotes comes from a playwright called Sam Beckett. “Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.” It’s something I do every day – makes you a better photographer.
Next time, take the pressure off, have ice cream with your friend and try photographing a spontaneous moment, you might surprise yourself, and take the pressure off at the same time. If you want a really good exercise in patience, try photographing wildlife – it is perfectly possible to sit for an entire day trying to get a shot and come away with nothing. It teaches you a lot about watching behaviours, and about being in the moment without expecting results. Sometimes, you can learn more by not getting a photo. 
Istria looks like a very beautiful part of the world, I am adding it to my ever-increasing list of places to visit! xxx
Do pigeons on my balcony count as wildlife? If so, I am on top of it
. Anyway I am not a photographer, or a photographer wannabe nor I will ever be. I thought this was going to be fun. I have to reconsider having a blog here in the first place.
Pigeons totally count!
I’ll second that!!
Paula, you better not reconsider having a blog! I for one would miss it.
Me too, Paula. xxx
Thank you for the support Ailsa
. I guess I should not worry about getting less than excellent rating on this one. xxx
Ignore the ratings, Paula, they mean nothing (you can remove the rating system on WordPress if you like). What one person likes, another won’t, you can never please everyone. The most important thing is that it makes YOU happy. So hang about and have some fun with us. Hugs.
Thanks sweetie… you are so wise and yet I have a feeling you are very young
. These ratings are a silly thing; I even once tried to rate my own post just to see if this is possible 
, and it is 
If I may chime in.
Ailsa, you hit the nail right on the head with your take on wildlife. I don’t know how many times I’ve gotten all camo’d up, gotten out in the woods at some ungodly hour, waited for hours, only to have my intended subject pull a no show! Or even worse, have the light go to hell and have the animal within my sights and still not get the shot.
Landscapes can be the same way. I’ve been to the Pondicherry National Wildlife Refuge in northern New Hampshire four times now to get the perfect late day light on the Presidential Range. I still don’t have the photo I want! But I won’t give up.
Me either, I’ll never give up, it’s the thrill of knowing that there’s a perfect shot there, just waiting to happen!
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Lovely shots of your and your hubby’s hands
Thank you so much for your nice comment
I love the intimate feel of the second shot!
Thank you: You have no idea how much your comment means to me right now. I was about to remove my blog today, till I read you.
Please don’t give up!!
Thank you. I haven’t seen your name. I don’t know if it is public and I feel silly calling you the retiring sort
. I am having some hard time now, and don’t know what to make out of this blog, but I really appreciate your support.
I’m going to follow you to see how you’re doing. Think of me as an extra grandma!
You can make whatever you want of the blog… let it evolve from day to day!
Thank you dear. You are way too young to be my grandma
Thank you for following this and being all positive. Wish you all the luck and health!
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Hi Paula, I just set a new travel theme challenge http://wheresmybackpack.com/2012/05/25/street-markets/ I’d love you to join in, if you have the time – and if you promise to have fun with it!
xxx Ailsa
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I like the Nike teeshirt photo … the waving hands of the children in the background adds a delightful element to the photo. Well done!
Thank you.
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Nice interpretation…I struggled with this particular challenge. I love the feel of the second one.
Thank you
Which one did you struggle with? Hands or summer? Here I did “two in one” 
. I have seen your street market submission 
I had to pass on that one.
Sorry I should have been more clear. I struggled with the hands challenge. I don’t usually focus on hands and try to keep them out of the photos.
I get it… I was not happy with the theme myself and it made me even upset at some point not being able to produce pictures of hands for the challenge (not for the lack of trying though) and finally I had to upload pictures taken by my husband
and I felt like a cheat, but at least it is about me and my life… We should not feel bad if we can’t respond to each challenge… We can always come up with a third one!!!
Summer is about making happy memories and discoveries with the people we love. Looks like you have a beautiful and inspiring Summer. Wonderful photos.
Thank you Island Traveler… each season should be about making memories and sharing with people we love
Well done!
Thank you dear
I agree with you, Paula. A shot exclusively or considerably about peoples hands doesn’t have to literally be an image of just their hands. As you’ve done, especially with you’re Nike portrait, you can show more of the person while it’s what their hands are doing; how they affect the shot, that draws attention to them and he;ps to tell the story.
Thank you for you nice words themofaman
. It is much appreciated.
Now I know you are Allan, so thank you Allan. Your work is impressive and dedicated
Great entry
Thank you Charlene
Great song!
Thank you Jeffo
and I appreciate your taking time to hear it 
Took me a while to find it. My email had another melt-down where I had every email I’ve deleted over the last few days, re-delivered. So I had to go in a delete everything. I remember you had added a song that you wanted me to hear, but for the life of me couldn’t remember where. On the plus side, I got to listen to a lot of your music again last night trying to find it
After rereading some posts, I was reminded of why I followed you in the first place. Good writing, good pics, what’s not to like?
You poor thing
. Thank you Mr Sweetness 
Awwww such lovely (and sweet) photos! And a clever entry of course!