365-day challenge Officially Ends Today

To my millions of readers (not!), today I will officially end my posting of much backlogged 365-day photo challenge...

What the heck is the 365-day photo challenge? It was my personal challenge to shoot one photo over the course of one year. I started on September 7th, 2014. It should have ended on September 6, 2015. I took a flurry of photos on that time frame, but somehow I wasn't able to keep up first with the daily routine shooting, and second with the posting. Up until last week, I was posting backlogged photos into the space. I got tired. I got lazy. I didn't see the point of going on. But then, somehow I needed to end it. I needed to close the book. A year and a half hence, here I am ending my own challenge.

However, my unfinished finished challenge did not end as a failure. In fact, I found this challenge to be enlightening and fun. Below are two reasons why I think this challenge was a success even if I did not finish it:

1. It made me appreciate the mundane things. During the first few weeks of the challenge, I struggled to find the right subject and object since I had a day job and I work on a routine: commute to work with wife, walk to office, work for 8-9 hours, walk to wife's office, commute home. With my hands full I cannot seem to insert this challenge into the routine. But that routine also made my challenge a bit more interesting. I started appreciating the world around me while I do the routine: the symmetry of my office's stairs; the architecture of our neighboring building; the happy musician in the corner; the flowers and the trees; the lampposts. The challenge gave a new color to my seemingly dull day.

2. It made me read more about photography. Yes, the geeky stuff: from aperture, shutter speed, and ISO up to chromatic aberration, ghosting and all those terminologies that people read about to bring about beautiful photos. But one thing I also learned is that knowledge of the technicals is power, but the icing on the cake is the composition. The Dance. This challenge made me want more, do more and be more in photography. 365-days hence, I think I have improved, but I still have way much more to learn.

3. It made me realize my favorite based on the subjects I posted. I posted more on travel, landscapes, street photography and food. Expect more of these kinds of topics in the coming posts of this blog.

It was indeed a fun 365 days. I will do it again but maybe on a shorter time frame. :)

With this, I am posting the last photo of the 365-day challenge, which I took on September 6, 2015. We went for a tour of the Statue of Liberty in New York City. As we were docking to the island, I took this view of the NYC skyline with Lady Liberty:

Lady Liberty and NYC

September 6, 2015

New York City

Nikon D7100, Nikkor 10-24mm f3.5-4.5

If you want to read about my journey to the 365-day challenge, click here.

Now on to my next challenge. :)

Flowers of Monticello

Flowers of Monticello

173/365

Red Rock Canyon

Just 15 miles from the Las Vegas strip, one can enjoy the marvels of nature by visiting the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. The park, which is officially part of the great Mojave Desert, boasts the beautiful red and orange streaks of sandstone formations.

The park has a visitor center where you can strategically take photos of the panoramic view, and a 20-plus mile scenic drive which gives you different perspectives of the canyon.

This area reminds me of my favorite video game, Red Dead Redemption. Makes me want to play that game again... :)

Red Rock

158/365

Vegas Cityscape

It was good to see Las Vegas for the first time. It was unlike any other city we've been in here in the US. First of all, it's strategically situated in the middle of the Mojave Desert. Second, I don't know any other city that thrives in fun... and "sin..."

Vegas was so laid back and relaxed despite the busy sidewalks and the bad traffic. It seems like everyone knows that everyone's here to have fun.

Took this photo while we were strolling along the "Strip."

Busy Vegas

157/365

Sunset with Birds

Birds being back from migration is a good sign that spring is near!!! Whooopee!

Sunset with Birds

154/365

Such Great Heights

"They'll see us wavin' from such great heights, 'come down now!' They'll say." --The Postal Service

Photo was taken from the top of the Washington Monument. This is the view of the tower's East Side, showcasing the Smithsonian museums and the US Capitol.

Such Great Heights

146/365

©JReyes

Capitol

This photo was taken in winter 2014, when scaffoldings have not yet enveloped the Capitol dome. This year until next, the Capitol will have its "braces" for its restoration.

Capitol at Winter Night

145/365

©JReyes

Rawlins Park

Images like this make the photographer look like a pro. But in reality, it is mother nature that has painted such a picturesque view. Well of course the monument was man-made. :) 

Rawlins Park at Dusk

135/365

©JReyes

@FollowTheHobo

Winter scenes in the National Mall

It's tough to shoot photos during winter. I have issues dealing with the cold temperature, fearing that my equipment might freeze up. By camera body is weather sealed, but my lens isn't. Oh well. Just have to keep up with the commitment. Thus, I am posting three photos taken on the same day but would represent three days of the 365-day challenge. : )

Cold stones

125/365

Cold way ahead

126/365

Reflecting Pool in Winter

127/365

©JReyes

Overcast

The past couple days after the beautiful New Year's Eve weather were cloudy, making it feel like the weather is also in lazy vacation mode...

I'm still not used to writing/typing 2015. As of this day I have corrected at least 3 typos and 1 check. :)

Overcast

Day 118

3 January 2015

NYC Skyline

We were back in DC this day but just wanted to share another photo I took of NYC skyline from the 86th floor view deck of the Empire State Building. I needed to push the ISO up a bit but to my surprise the noise is still fairly minimal. 

Can't wait to go back in the summer to shoot the Brooklyn side of the city skyline. 

NYC Skyline

365-day challenge, Day 112

©JReyes

The Road (more on autumn)

We went on our regular grocery shopping over the weekend, but this time, we tried the Annandale branch. The trees surrounding the vicinity is just lovely. Thus, my POTD. :)

The Road

365-day Challenge, Day 62

8 November 2014

©JReyes

Towering

That is how I could describe the Washington Monument that night. And every night for that matter. Everytime I take some friends and family for an afternoon or evening tour, the sight of the towering monument never fails to amaze me. Thanks to cousins Froy and Noemi, I was able to capture the tower again, with a renewed appreciation of the towering obelisk as it majestically rules the Washington, DC air.

During this night, Kuyang Froy said: "Do you have a photo of the monument from this point?" I quickly said yes. But then I did it again just to make sure I really do have a shot from this angle.

This was taken from the Franklin D. Roosevelt memorial grounds.

Welcome to DC, Kuyang Froy, Ate Noemi!

Towering

©JReyes

365-day challenge, Day 39

16 October 2014

Day 31 - My Kind of Town

That is the famous song by the legendary crooner Frank Sinatra. From the feel to the people to the food, I can also say that Chicago is indeed my kind of town.

Our Aunt Norma showed us around the City on our first day: United Center, Willis Tower, downtown, Cloud gate, Millenium Park. Of course we had to try the Deep Dish pizza. Thank you Gino's for the tasty spicy crusty deep dish (and thank you Levi and Aja for the tip). 

Photo of the day goes to the beautiful Chicago skyline, taken from the Adler Planetarium. 

My Kind of Town

©JReyes

7 October 2014

Day 14 -- VIP View

I took this POTD at a vantage point that only very few people are able to go. :)

VIP View

©JReyes

20 September 2014

365 day challenge: Day 1

I have committed to begin this 365-day photo challenge. I hope I could keep up to the commitment. 

The challenge: to take at least one photograph per day. :) 

I have started on a very random day of September 7, 2014, simply because when I looked out at our veranda, I witnessed the beautiful blend of reds, oranges, purples and blues in the sky as the sun was setting... Thus, this is my photo # 1. :) 

Fire in the Sky

©JReyes

7 September 2014

See you again soon!

Golden Gate

Nikon D3100

18-55mm VR Lens

Taken on Christmas Day 2013

Of Spraygrounds and Water Parks

Summer, for me, is the best season ever, especially here in the DC Metro area. It's when you get to see real people in the streets! Lots of fun and free activities open in the district, including free outdoors movies, county fairs, concerts and outdoor sports. One of my little boy's favorites is playing in free spraygrounds and water parks. 

It's fun and relaxing to see my son and other kids just enjoy hours of splashing water. I actually envy them... Watching them makes me want to be a kid again. :) 

Georgetown, Washington, DC

Alexandria, VA

Pentagon Row, Arlington, VA

Pentagon City, Arlington, VA

Niagara Falls

One word to describe Niagara Falls: Breathtaking.

The NY view of the Falls

The Observation Deck

Catching Dusk

View from the Observation Deck, NY

Still Icy in April

American, Bridal Veil and Horseshoe Falls' view from Skylon Tower, Ontario

View from the Canada side

American Falls at Night

Horseshoe Falls at Night

All photos taken using Nikon D7100. ©@FollowtheHobo

Just one of those afternoons

There are days when regular afternoons are picture perfect. Scenes like this make you stop and reflect and thank the Lord for your 576-megapixel eyes. 

Just Another Day

D7100

©@FollowtheHobo