Week One ~ Backlight

A new photo challenge, my peeps!  Here is Week One.  A backlight challenge.  I took this at Golf N Stuff today during a charity shoot for Kids of Steele.  Wow.  I am so humbled by the families dealing with cancer and diabetes, by the volunteers who give their time to raise money for these families, by the families who give their money to support all of this.  I was so honored to be a part of the event.  And, hey look, I was able to take this backlit photo for this challenge.

"100 Degrees until Halloween" Day 153 ~ That's right, it's Halloween!!!!

We made it through the heat and I am beginning to get used to wearing socks again.  Thank you all for putting up with my posts and commenting on them and liking them!  I really appreciate the love and support for this career I am trying to make my own.   But alas, the sun is setting on this project...

(P.S. I am starting a new photo challenge with a group of other photographers and commandeered by Carrie Swaills)  No fear, this one is one photo a week.  Much more reasonable for this busy season...

"100 Degrees Until Halloween" Day 152 ~ Like a Cat about to Pounce!

"100 Days Until Halloween" Day 149 ~ Dog With A...

Martini!

"100 Degrees Until Halloween" Day 146 ~ One Week Left!!

One week until this 153 day photo project is complete.  I didn't know if I would make it, but here we are!  

In photographing the light from June 1 to Oct 31 has really made me realize in a new way the changing of the seasons.  Last night, this was the view from the porch at 5:45 pm-- the blue-pink sunset and the darkness that settled in is a far cry from Day 28 where you can feel the red-pink hot sweaty heat.  

"100 Degrees Until Halloween" Day 144 ~ Taking Advantage...

...of our porch and of friends who stop by.

"100 Degrees Until Halloween" Day 127 ~ Aspens in the Fall

Not as much leaf peeping as I remembered...and then I remembered last year when we went to Northern AZ in October we went to the Grand Canyon which is northwest of Pinetop, AZ (side note:  glad we didn't want to go to the GC this year!!!  Darn Fed shutdown).

In any event, I did my very first mountain bike "race" this past weekend.  (I did the 9 mile "fun ride" and there was a 12 yr old girl on my back the whole time...)  It was a fun ride (my favorite ride to date).  It afforded us some COLD temps and some sweater wearing and I didn't get too bruised and battered (actually, I kind of did but it was my own lack of coordination in dis-mounting that led to that).

Here is kind of a lame fall aspen picture (remember my aspen pic from  Day 15 ????

"100 Degrees Until Halloween" Day 122 ~ Channeling Norman Rockwell

This was just priceless...as she turned around to serve, the boys in the window waved at her.  Not distracting at all, right?

See the intensity above?  In contrast, the below is my daughter (with the pink shoes) ...clearly focusing intently on the game.  (Insert eye roll here...)

Ahhh....middle school.

"100 Degrees Until Halloween" Day 120~ This is (adorable) 11 (IMO)

11 looks good on her.  I know the teen years are coming...I know it...but for now, I am happy:

1) being called "mommy" 

2) eyes that don't roll (too much) 

3) spontaneous hugs

"100 Degrees Until Halloween" Day 119 ~This is (almost) Ten

Sweet swagger boy o' mine turns 10 in November...

"100 Degrees Until Halloween" Day 115 ~ Hello.

She is always interested when I am taking pictures (of her).

"100 Degrees Until Halloween" Day 113 ~ Glow!

The harvest moon brings not cooler weather, but cool events to Tucson (or Oracle, AZ, in this case).  One we attended last night called Glow.  It's an outdoor festival of light with artists and vendors and you walk around in the dark and look at the lighted art installations.

The act that I had heard about on Arizona Public Media radio was called Circus Amperean...people in special suits standing on a large tesla coil and shooting electricity out of their fingers, among other things.  They did not disappoint.

"100 Degrees Until Halloween" Day 112 ~ Last day of summer (on the calendar)

"100 Degrees Until Halloween" Day 111 ~ This is an everyday view

Dropping my son off for soccer practice (in the 100 degree heat) this evening, I notice that the view across from the soccer fields is this.  A view of dirt and cactus and scrub and SUN.  

Crap.  I really live in the desert.  And it's 42 more days until Halloween.

"100 Degrees Until Halloween" Day 110 ~ I.Rolled.My.Window.Down.

It was so "cool" this morning on my way to drop the kids at school, I rolled.my.window.down.  Yay Fall!  It takes until 8 am to turn on the A/C (instead of 6 am).

"100 Degrees Until Halloween" Day 108 ~ Afternoon Light...

...on the volleyball floor (@ BASIS Tucson North where my 6th grade daughter plays).  This was taken at 5 pm (where, at this time back East, it's getting kinda dark) and here it was bright shiny daylight streaming through the windows.  (They won, btw).

"100 Degrees Until Halloween" Day 106 ~ Palms Under The Moon

Sigh...these are the days that make this whole project what it is.  June 1- Aug 30? Eh, tough to get through, with the heat and all, but the monsoons DO start and that daily-ish anticipation makes it bearable.  September comes, and monsoons go and it's still hitting 100...until Halloween.  And right now is what this project is all about.  The last 105 days be-damned.  It's the next 47 that is what it's all about...  Hang in peeps.

"100 Degrees Until Halloween" Day 105 ~ Photo Shoot Prep

Practicing taking "hip shots" while waiting for a photo shoot to start...this is my gear.

"100 Degrees Until Halloween" Day 103 ~ A.M. Porch Weather

Ok, ok, so the high was 91 today (5 degrees cooler than average) and they are calling this a "Taste of Fall"  91 Degrees!!!  I will concede, the mornings have a teensy nip in the air.  It's coffee-on-the-back-porch weather again.

"100 Degrees Until Halloween" Day 102 ~ She's (still) screamin'...

...for ice cream (apparently we left it off the grocery list this week).

Summer sure isn't over yet...