Our next challenge was to create a 3 image panel using opposites. All three images had to work together as a whole.
This was very hard. I started out with the idea of using opposite colors
and plants to tell a story. I wanted to use a prickly green aloe vera plant with a red rose. After spending a few hours photographing these items I just was not feeling it. My vision was not coming together the way I wanted. I decided to go back through my files and find something else. This challenge did not require us to use images that we created just for this so I went back to my trip to Kenya. My panel was meant to represent the challenges that women face in other areas of the world that I myself, as a woman born in America, will never have to face. I barely scraped by in this round, mainly because I didn't create something new like everyone else. Either way, I love what this panel says about me.

The next challenge was to photograph an egg! Yes an egg. The egg had to be photographed from directly above and the yolk had to be in one piece. (no scrabbled eggs) The image would be judged on the storytelling aspect as well as composition, photographic excellence, post processing techniques, impact etc, etc.  Crazy right?
Well, one of the points of this competition was to push ourselves as artists. To get us out of our comfort zone and make us think outside the box. This concept came to mind almost at once for me. It came so quickly I thought for sure other would use it too. Lucky for me no one else did. Of all the image I created for this competition, this is the one I am most proud of for some reason. I actually am making myself a 20inch gallery wrapped canvas of this to hang in my studio. One of the judges said this was her favorite of all the images thus far submitted. She thought it could hang in a fancy art gallery in New York! I don't know about that but I still love it myself. Sorry for the water mark on this one I just don't want this one stolen.

Our second, and thankfully final, team challenge was to create a marketing piece for a made up studio. We had to create a logo a brand and a message. This round was judged on team participation along with all the other criteria from the rest of the competition. I can not show you our piece but I was pretty proud of the way my team members came together against the obstacles of running our own studios and family obligations. Our team had the additional challenge of losing our team captain early in the round. My team then elected me team captain and we marched on bravely. Our team was once again on the losing end of this challenge. Both teams put out amazing work.
The amazing thing was that even though our team lost,  I won the over all challenge! This was because of my determination to keep our team motivated and going in a positive direction in spite of the difficulties we faced.
Being the challenge winner I was given the advantage in the next round of picking the challenge and having a 5 hour head start at creating my image.
My options were photographing
A fence
An animal
Food/Drink
Originally I wanted to go with animals since that is something I'm pretty good at. But I knew that my fellow photographers would also be pretty good at that too. I chose Food/Drink.
I set off to the grocery store to round up some food items for the shot.
As I was going through the isles I saw this item with the same name as the fake studio name my team came up with for the last challenge. I had to use it! Since it was the work of my team that gave me the last win, it was only fitting that I gave them a nod. Here is the image I came up with. Our fake studio name was Blue Sky Portrait Studio.  One of our taglines was
Nothing but Blue Skies......

Here are a few other images I created and considered using. I probably should have since I didn't win the challenge. I did get into the next round so that was exciting.

I have been eating a ton of strawberries and blueberries this summer! mmmmm!

The next challenge was very tricky. The assignment was to work as a team to produce an album spread. We would be judged on our ability to work as a team to produce something that would represent all of the team members. This was very difficult to do! Unfortunately I can't show you what my team created since it was a collaboration. We worked hard on the concept and design. Sadly, our team lost the challenge and many of my team mates were sent home. I was one of the lucky ones from my team that got to continue on to the next challenge. I contribute this to my enthusiasm and team work.

Our next challenge was a test of our photoshop skills. The assignment was to take a series of images (we were all give the same images) and work them in photoshop. The image below was the require image. There
were two other images that we could work up too for extra credit. I'm posting the first one, since it required the most skill. I have been using photoshop from it's earliest versions. I eat, sleep and drink this program.
Here is my version of the image we were given. Some folks did some amazingly creative stuff. I worked this image the way I would for an actual client. I enjoy doing copy and restoration work. 

This is the first official elimination round of the game. The challenge was to photograph a single shoe. Not two shoes, one shoe. The image must be of the caliber that would be used in a commercial setting. We had 48 hours to complete this task.
Since I must be the only woman on the planet that does not have a pile of shoes in my closet I had to use my new running shoe.
It was fitting since I just started this year to get serious about my health and working out. I have participated in two 5k's this year and hope to enter in the Blue Ox 5k in October. I'm not "runner" by any stretch, but these shoes have helped tremendously.
Although I was not the winner of the challenge, I was in the top five and continued on to the next round.
I love doing this type of work. It's a highly specialized field that must be done to perfection.

I was so surprised to be selected to continue on in round two. Many very talented photographers from around the world were eliminated.
The second round was the only round that was not an elimination round. We had to post another image we were really proud of along with a brief bio about ourselves. I'll skip the bio and just post the picture. I chose this image because I really love the color harmony. This little guy has been coming to the studio since birth. He was enrolled in our Tiny Treasures program. I have had the pleasure of photographing him four times in his first year. They change so much that first year.

This past August I had the honor of participating in a contest of sorts. I belong to a forum for professional photographers that put on a competition amongst it's members. It was modeled after the t.v. show Top Chef. Each week we would be given a series of challenges to complete relating to photography. The judges voted and people were eliminated. Now that the contest is over I would love to share with you some of the challenges and what I created to stay in the game. Since this is a private forum, I will not be able to show you anything but my own work but I thought you would enjoy it anyway.
Our first image that we entered was just to get in the game. There were over 50 professional photographers that entered their image to see if they could get in.
The requirement was simply submit an image that you have taken in the last year that is your best work. It couldn't be an image that we had already posted on this forum. I am one of those people that shares a lot on there so I had to go back a few months.
This image is one I created for the student of the month at First City Dance Studio in Bemidji. I really love the dramatic lighting and pose.
I really enjoy working with dancers and artistic types. It gives me a chance to stretch my creative muscles.