2021 WEEK 35: Super Guest Challenge

I had an idea and I went for it… I wanted to give the PhotoChallenge Community an avenue, the possibility to get more involved in our PhotoChallenges. I wanted to give you, our members, more than just the ability to propose a guest challenge!

COWS AND A BIRD BY SANDRA CASHES
DUDLEY FARM HISTORIC STATE PARK

I’ve now been doing my introduction videos for over a year. Some are better than others. It’s all dependent on the time I have on hand and my location in the world. In a nutshell, I wanted to expand these videos to a new level. I decided it would be fun to integrate guest challenges and our community members into my PhotoChallenge introduction videos.

That’s why I call it a “Super Guest Challenge”!

So this is it, our pilot video for the first “Super Guest Challenge”!

I wanted to create a little suspense, let our community members guess who our Special Super Challenge Guest is… I hope that comes across in a good way?

I sought out Sandy Cashes as I knew she was nearby in the Gainesville area. She also worked in a very interesting place, the Dudley Farm Historic State Park. Only a two-hour drive from my home in Florida, It was a simple day trip to get it all wrapped up. I was extremely happy when she accepted the proposition.

Chica - Horse from Dudley Farm Historic State Park — Chica by Sandra Cashes – Dudley Farm Historic State Park

Naturally, like any project you undertake for the first time, the organization of it was a little more complicated than my usual one-person setup. I now had to use multiple microphones and cameras. Upon my arrival, I encountered some technical difficulties that made it all that more challenging, however, I think we surmounted these obstacles like champs.

Sandra was very excited at the prospect of participating in the Super Guest Challenge. That made the day all that much more pleasant. The location was just out of this world, which in itself made the entire experience all that much more thrilling.

We tentatively agreed on theming this particular PhotoChallenge around the word “FARM”, just like we did with the “FISH” themed challenge.

My only regret is just not being able to show you everything I experienced on that day at the Dudley Farm Historic State Park. I highly encourage you all to make plans to visit the Dudley Farm Historic State Park if you’re ever in the area.

THE CHALLENGE – FARM

Boy Walking through a plowed field at the Dudley Farm — Boy walking through a field by Sandra Cashes – Dudley Farm Historic State Park

Let’s focus on our challenge, it’s a simple photography challenge themed around the word “FARM”. Very much like our “FISH” challenge, I’m giving you total artistic interpretation.

That means I want you to think carefully about your subject first and then create to the best of your abilities, an amazing photograph that relates to the word “FARM”.

I want you to play with angles, lighting, reflections and integrate specific techniques which we’ve covered here at the Trevor Carpenter PhotoChallenge.

Sandra has provided us with some amazing images that document not only the farm and life on the farm, they also bring forward a historic element present at the Dudley Farm Historic State Park.

Sir Thomas - Dudley Farm Historic State Park — Sir Thomas the Turkey by Sandra Cashes – Dudley Farm Historic State Park

Yes, we have animals, livestock, and pets on many farms while others focus mainly on agriculture. We often find a variety of fowl from the small quail to large ducks, geese, and turkeys. Chickens at a minimum seem to always make their way onto any farm for the simple reason that we love our fresh eggs.

Mirror, mirror by Sandra Cashes – Dudley Farm Historic State Park

As much as we imagine farm-related imagery to agriculture and livestock, people are an essential part of life on the farm and make great subjects for portrait photography.

Through the looking glass by Sandra Cashes - Dudley Farm Historic State Park — Through the looking glass by Sandra Cashes – Dudley Farm Historic State Park

Maybe more so on a historic farm, decor, and views from the window if not still life can bring incredible value to your photograph.

Kitchen Time by Sandra Cashes - Dudley Farm Historic State Park — Kitchen Time by Sandra Cashes – Dudley Farm Historic State Park

Hard work, especially on a farm, is never better rewarded than with GOOD OL’ COUNTRY COOKIN’. Nothing brings that forward in a photograph better than a historic cast-iron wood stove.

Gourds in a row by Sandra Cashes - Dudley Historic State Farm — Gourds in a row by Sandra Cashes – Dudley Historic State Farm

It doesn’t matter if you’re completing your challenge on a farm or at home in the city, the farm makes its way to your table in all shapes and sizes from cheese, to eggs, meats, cereals, and an endless number of different consumable goods.

COMPLETING YOUR CHALLENGE:

identify a farm related subject – Themed “FARM”
Apply photographic techniques of your choice
Create a photograph showcasing your subject
Post process your image to your taste (Color, B&W, etc…)
give us a small writeup to explain the artistic path to your final photograph

As I often state, the possibilities are endless and you’re only limited by your imagination. Don’t be afraid to experiment. Apply yourself as that’s what will make it all that much more challenging.

If you’re a community member at The PhotoChallenge and you have an idea for a PhotoChallenge and want to participate in the introduction video, just give me a holler… Please be within two hours’ driving distance from Savannah, GA or Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.

The friendly community guidelines are pretty simple:

Take a new photo for the current weekly theme, not something from your back catalog or someone else’s image.
Post your photo each week to our active communities on Facebook or Flickr(or both). Tag the photo: #2021photochallenge #photochallenge #tempusaura
Don’t leave home without your camera. Participating in the 2021 Trevor Carpenter Photo Challenge is fun and easy.