Connie Hanks Photography

formerly Clicky Chick Creates

Twist // Blue Spin {Photo Challenge}

Connie Hanks Photography // ClickyChickCreates.com // Little girl twisting in her twirly skirt
Connie Hanks Photography // ClickyChickCreates.com // Little girl twisting in her twirly skirt
Canon 60D | Tamron 28-75mm | 1/15 sec at f/2.8 | ISO400

Birthdays and art shows and parties, oh my! The past two weeks have been beyond bananas! Not just as a mama and wife, but as a room mom and fine artist volunteer at school. My baby turned 5 this week – so of course we celebrated in many ways on many days: Tuesday with just our “4-family” as my girls call it on her actual birthday; Wednesday we had a Chuck E. Cheese party for her with friends and family; and Friday (today) she had a class celebration. My 1st graders open house and art show at school was scheduled for last week, but you may have heard in the news that San Diego, California had quite a few fires burning? School was closed and open house / art show was postponed to this week. Teacher appreciation week was also last week, which was split and rolled into this week. Are you as exhausted as I am just reading this stuff?

Connie Hanks Photography // ClickyChickCreates.com // Little girl twisting in her twirly skirt
Canon 60D | Tamron 28-75mm | 1/15 sec at f/2.8 | ISO400

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been a night owl. Between 1am and 3am is my usual “call-it-a-night” curtain call. Once the kitchen is cleaned up, kids are in bed, kids are asleep (because “in bed” and “asleep” are sometimes hours apart), laundry is rotated and folded (wow, I kinda sound like Cinderella!); once all of that mama and wife stuff is done, then I get to edit photos, write blog posts, and work on other creative or room mom stuff. But this week? Pure exhaustion took over and not a single blog post was written! Eeek! Please forgive my absence, but know that I am now full of energy and ready to post!

Connie Hanks Photography // ClickyChickCreates.com // Little girl twisting in her twirly skirt
Canon 60D | Tamron 28-75mm | 1/15 sec at f/2.8 | ISO400

I missed last weeks Daily Post Photo Challenge, but am happy to jump back in this week. The theme is “Twist” and just last week I was having fun with my little one with a motion shot… pretty perfect for today’s theme! I definitely would have had better results using my tripod, but getting a (then) 4-yr old to twirl in the exact same spot is a bit challenging! The settings were exactly the same for each shot: 1/15 sec at f/2.8, ISO 400, with Canon 60D and Tamron 28-75mm 2.8 lens. Clearly the slow shutter speed captured the movement of the sequins on her skirt, but had it been on a tripod, there may have been a tad bit more sharpness in the outline of her skirt. Just a tip in case you’d like to replicate with your own twirly skirt 🙂

Connie Hanks Photography // ClickyChickCreates.com // Little girl twisting in her twirly skirt
Canon 60D | Tamron 28-75mm | 1/15 sec at f/2.8 | ISO400

Is it weird that in just one week I now feel totally rusty in blogging? How do you get your creative mojo back? What do you do to get back on the horse, so to speak? Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

As always, thanks for stopping by. Have a joyful, creative, blessing filled day!

Live creatively!
xoxo,
/c

E Q U I P M E N T   U S E D  (Affiliate Links)
Canon 60D
Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8
Check out all my camera bag goodies here!

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56 responses to “Twist // Blue Spin {Photo Challenge}”

  4. Great motion shots! Happy belated Bithday to your little one. I don’t know how you super Mom’s do it. I am semi- retired with an empty nest, and I still find it hard to make the time to blog.

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  7. Sometimes, when I lose my creative mojo, I just step back from it all and surround myself with pretty things. There’s something so refreshing about being fully present in the moment, not trying to capture it all. And the minute I choose to engage with the foamy latte in my mug or the sweet words from my mama or the smile of the little girl next door, I suddenly realize I do have it in me to document the beauty in it all. I admire your strength! Thanks for being human though, and being honest about your limitations as a wife & mom 🙂

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  9. First, I’d like to say I absolutely adore your images – the blue twirling skirt looks like a magical blue birthday cake…and your dancing daughter is precious 🙂 I have two teens but I remember well the days of b’day parties. I usually had home parties and would give them themes – My favorite was an undersea party – I hung blue and green cray-paper from the ceiling then tied foil starfish to the ends, and tacked iridescent wrapping paper on the walls – the effect was ‘underwaterish…’
    Let’s see as far as returning to blogging – I keep an inspiration file at my desk for the times I’m feeling uninspired. It’s my go to place. I’ll start perusing through various articles or doodles on printer paper I’ve done (I’m a substitute teacher) then take it from there…but with your creativity and busy life, I think hiding in your head are approx. i billion posts 🙂
    AnnMarie
    like “Field of Dreams” sit in front of your computer and the posts will come…
    Best of luck 🙂

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    • Wow AnnMarie! Your underwater party decor sounds amazing! I’m sure it was an absolute hit! Thanks so much for your kind words 🙂 Let’s hope some of those posts start coming out my head, through my fingertips, into blogging magic! I like your system. I have ideas jotted down in different places – giving them one home would be a smart idea 😉 Thanks again and have a blessed day!!

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      • That party was loads of fun –
        I need to keep things in place ’cause if I don’t things fall apart quickly…
        Hope you a find a system that works for you – I’m also a big fan of color-coding…old habits die hard (left over from my years of art directing many projects at one time)
        You’re welcome – all the best 🙂

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  10. i love the color! such a fun take on the theme 🙂 you’ve captured it wonderfully that even the photos speak for themselves. i don’t think you’ve lost your mojo at all 🙂

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  12. The perpetual motion of a young child is perfect fodder for Twirl and you captured it well!

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  13. HI Connie,
    These photos are exceptional. Your post brought back vivid memories of trying to juggle parenthood, run a household, and use the quiet of the night as a writer and storyteller–and also do all the prep work required to lead two Girl Scout troops. Judging from your blog, you are doing an amazing job getting every done, except the sleep thing. I remember being constantly exhausted, but it was also a very happy time of my life–so full of joy and wonder.
    Your photography is really amazing, and I think you are a very good writer. I look forward to reading more of posts. Best of luck in your life and your art.

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  14. Ooooo… love that blue! What wonderful images for the challenge! I appreciate how you included the equipment used as well as the settings. I also appreciate the critique and advice you gave on one of my images for the challenge. Thank you so much!

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    • Thanks Rene! I’m not entirely consistent with adding camera settings or equipment used, but I try to! I know those details helped me in the past when attempting specific shots I admired from other photographers 🙂 And you’re welcome on the constructive criticism – glad it helped!

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    • Aww, thanks Kymona! You would have a blast recreating this with your little girl! One of my favorite rooms to photograph in is our living room, with large of south facing windows, hardwood floors and open space : ) I stood on a step stool near the window, my back to the window but not blocking the light, and my daughter about a foot to three feet in front of me, twirling her little heart out! My focal length was 28mm – 42mm for the various shots. Also, I adjusted my focal point to hit one specific point instead of forcing it to try to auto-focus. Hope that helps! I’d love to see your image when you give it a try!

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  20. Great photo, Connie. Balance is so difficult to find, more so when online time is factored in. I’m so glad that when the girls were little, I had very little internet distraction at all. Even now, when they’re out in the world and I’m “not working”, there’s so much to do and internet time can cut into the day severely.

    I’ve been blogging every day for over two years now and I really like it. Of course there are some days when I think, “Oh no, I have to do a post” but usually it’s fun. Taking part in challenges makes it easier to decide what to do, but then there’s time spent in responding to others in the challenge. It helps me to keep a notebook and online files of ideas for writing, quotes, etc., anything that might be inspirational. Then I can look through them to get ideas. When I have a bit of time, I sometimes write or set up photography posts in advance, then pull on those when I’m out of time or ideas. Hope that helps a little.

    janet

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  25. Fabulous photos! I’ve lost my mojo too ;( working full time has drained my burn to blog, so I’m just participating in the Weekly photo challenges and my project 52. Hope you find your mojo again!

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    • Thank you! I had a chat with a dear friend yesterday – our kids have been in class together for 3 yrs! – she works full time and travels for work – I’m a stay-at-home-mom with a side photography business and volunteer lots at school. We chatted that no matter where you are, it’s so hard finding that balance – she’s concerned the kids will wish they had more of her time, I’m concerned my kids will wish they had more experiences in life that only money can provide. And then outside of our families, finding time for our hobbies and desires, really gets pushed to the bottom of the list more times than not! Oh the balance, will we ever get it right? Love that you’re still blogging with the topics (photos – yay!) that speak to your heart!!

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      • Thanks. You are so right. I was the stay at home mum who regretted not being able to buy her kids everything, and now I’m the full time working mum who wants more time with the kids. Can’t win!

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