Alphabet Photo Challenge - D

[Cassel]

The idea of one photo a week was quite popular in 2024, and it encouraged participants to take photos and showcase them without having to create a whole layout for them.

In 2025, I will offer you a little twist on this. Again, the idea is only to showcase a single photo at a time. You can showcase them as a flashcard, emphasizing the letter (you can use these free cards as a basis to create your own). Of course, if you want a different format, you can use a polaroid frame, a slide, or a playing card (like Susan was doing in 2024). Choose the format you want, and keep it throughout the year. But just make sure to emphasize the first letter!

Every 2 weeks, you will be asked to take a picture of something, at home (or around your home) that starts with a specific letter of the alphabet. The goal is just to be on the lookout for ANYTHING that can be photographed. You can stage the object however you want, or just take a picture of it in its natural environment. For example, you can showcase your favorite Mug, or your Pillow, or your Fireplace.

You can practice your photography skills if you want, but you can just capture things as they are.

Let's just encourage each other.

This is a no-pressure thread.

And if you skip a letter or two, you can always come back. You know your alphabet so you can easily catch up, whenever you need to.

Let's continue with the letter D. It could be your working Desk, a heirloom Doll, your junk Drawer, or even an old rusty Dustpan.

What will you showcase?

[Rene Marker]

D is for dogs. Besides the real thing, I have had small figurines of dogs that I have bought over the years. Only 3 that I bought in the days when there were no real dogs in my life. I also have 3 that were given to me by my grandfather. I don't remember exactly why he gave them to me but it could have possibly been as simple as me admiring them and he remembered that and gave them to me. Then about 20 years ago I added these 2 figurines to my small collection. They are displayed separately because of how special they are. There is an artist that made these figurines of Havanese dogs (and other breeds). They are wood carvings and I bought 2. The black is for Pepper and the white is for Paige. Even though he is still in business, he no longer sells these small figurines for the various breeds. Although with Peyton's coloring, hers would look exactly like Paige!

[Susan Ewart]

D is for Dumbbell. something I've used for over 30 years now.  I got this one when I bought a group of dumbbells.  Someone had painted it gold and it was already rusty.  Since I have rubber hex ones (and some metal ones), and this little guy had no mate, I use it to hold open doors.  I'm letting it continue to rust because it will look cool. Why someone would paint a dumbbull, "dumbfounds me. 😁

[Rene Marker]

  On 2/16/2025 at 10:59 PM, Susan Ewart said:

D is for Dumbbell. something I've used for over 30 years now.  I got this one when I bought a group of dumbbells.  Someone had painted it gold and it was already rusty.  Since I have rubber hex ones (and some metal ones), and this little guy had no mate, I use it to hold open doors.  I'm letting it continue to rust because it will look cool. Why someone would paint a dumbbull, "dumbfounds me. 😁

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Seeing this game me an idea for the letter "I". I had 2 other ideas but I like this one even more 🙂

[Susan Ewart]

  On 2/17/2025 at 12:41 AM, Rene Marker said:

Seeing this game me an idea for the letter "I". I had 2 other ideas but I like this one even more 🙂

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I can't wait to see what you show based on this giving you an idea.  

[Mary Solaas]

  On 2/16/2025 at 10:59 PM, Susan Ewart said:

D is for Dumbbell. something I've used for over 30 years now.  I got this one when I bought a group of dumbbells.  Someone had painted it gold and it was already rusty.  Since I have rubber hex ones (and some metal ones), and this little guy had no mate, I use it to hold open doors.  I'm letting it continue to rust because it will look cool. Why someone would paint a dumbbull, "dumbfounds me. 😁

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This is a unique D!

[Corrie Kinkel]

For my letter D I had to make 2 cards, because in this case the backside is important too. I tried to do both in one card but that didn't work. This is a small plate (15 cm diameter) made of Delfts Blue, or in Dutch Delfts Blauw which is pronounced like now. Delft is the world famous pottery city of the Netherlands for centuries. My dad worked for a big bank with an insurance department. It was in a very stately office building and these plates were on the wall in the canteen. This is written on the backside with the date summer 1949 when they were made especially for the company. Much later when that company moves to another more modern building the plates were offered to the employees. My dad wanted to have one because 1949 is the year I was born. Since then it was on the wall in my parents house until we had to clear the house because mom moved into an nursing home. I took it with me but we never had it on the wall, I sometimes use it for chocolates. It was very difficult to take photos because the glaze on it is so shiny and the light reflected badly on it, but in the end I got something that is acceptable.

[Susan Ewart]

  On 2/17/2025 at 11:50 AM, Mary Solaas said:

This is a unique D!

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I thought it might be too.

[Susan Ewart]

  On 2/17/2025 at 4:56 PM, Corrie Kinkel said:

For my letter D I had to make 2 cards, because in this case the backside is important too. I tried to do both in one card but that didn't work. This is a small plate (15 cm diameter) made of Delfts Blue, or in Dutch Delfts Blauw which is pronounced like now. Delft is the world famous pottery city of the Netherlands for centuries. My dad worked for a big bank with an insurance department. It was in a very stately office building and these plates were on the wall in the canteen. This is written on the backside with the date summer 1949 when they were made especially for the company. Much later when that company moves to another more modern building the plates were offered to the employees. My dad wanted to have one because 1949 is the year I was born. Since then it was on the wall in my parents house until we had to clear the house because mom moved into an nursing home. I took it with me but we never had it on the wall, I sometimes use it for chocolates. It was very difficult to take photos because the glaze on it is so shiny and the light reflected badly on it, but in the end I got something that is acceptable.

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Wow Corrie, this is beautiful.  The layout and especially the plate.  I love the backstory about it. the tablecloth you took the shot on would make a fabulous background paper!  What makes the shot great is just where you have the split between the foreground and background (Red vs White).  It adds to the composition bigtime.  You are going to be shooting still life like a pro in no time.

[Corrie Kinkel]

  On 2/17/2025 at 6:26 PM, Susan Ewart said:

Wow Corrie, this is beautiful.  The layout and especially the plate.  I love the backstory about it. the tablecloth you took the shot on would make a fabulous background paper!  What makes the shot great is just where you have the split between the foreground and background (Red vs White).  It adds to the composition bigtime.  You are going to be shooting still life like a pro in no time.

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Remember this are the photos where I had to lay flat on the ground 😂 and there are a couple more which I have to take that are difficult qua lighting. Luckily with still life you can take your time and try on different moments of the day and with different settings. I'm so happy with my new iPhone 16pro; it has great possibilities.

[Ann Seeber]

  On 2/17/2025 at 4:56 PM, Corrie Kinkel said:

For my letter D I had to make 2 cards, because in this case the backside is important too. I tried to do both in one card but that didn't work. This is a small plate (15 cm diameter) made of Delfts Blue, or in Dutch Delfts Blauw which is pronounced like now. Delft is the world famous pottery city of the Netherlands for centuries. My dad worked for a big bank with an insurance department. It was in a very stately office building and these plates were on the wall in the canteen. This is written on the backside with the date summer 1949 when they were made especially for the company. Much later when that company moves to another more modern building the plates were offered to the employees. My dad wanted to have one because 1949 is the year I was born. Since then it was on the wall in my parents house until we had to clear the house because mom moved into an nursing home. I took it with me but we never had it on the wall, I sometimes use it for chocolates. It was very difficult to take photos because the glaze on it is so shiny and the light reflected badly on it, but in the end I got something that is acceptable.

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Beautiful, Corrie. ❤️ I have always had a soft spot for blue and white porcelain. I only have one or two pieces left. I tended to acquire serving dishes. One was found packed in a large wooden barrel in my parent's basement, obviously from my grandparents. I will get to it as the alphabet continues. 😉

[Corrie Kinkel]

  On 2/17/2025 at 8:32 PM, Ann Seeber said:

Beautiful, Corrie. ❤️ I have always had a soft spot for blue and white porcelain. I only have one or two pieces left. I tended to acquire serving dishes. One was found packed in a large wooden barrel in my parent's basement, obviously from my grandparents. I will get to it as the alphabet continues. 😉

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I'm looking forward to it!

[Ann Seeber]

@Corrie Kinkel Here is my Dutch Serving Dish, front and back. I can't read the back, though.

[Corrie Kinkel]

  On 2/22/2025 at 8:51 PM, Ann Seeber said:

@Corrie Kinkel Here is my Dutch Serving Dish, front and back. I can't read the back, though.

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It certainly has a Dutch image! The marks on the back are difficult to read, but it could be "Porseleinen Fles" which means porcelain bottle. The image resembles a bottle as far as I can see and the blue stripes will be the makers mark. In the old days there were a number of potteries in Delft, but Delfts Blue is also made in England. There are many publications, on line too, about all the different marks. So if you fancy a study.......... 

[Mary Solaas]

D is for Daffodils - they survived the last snowstorm and are coming back.

[Julie Magerka]

I knew what my D image would be since the beginning. But I am just late getting it done. This doll is the only one I have that my mother dressed for me. She did outfits for all my dolls, and I didn't play with them that much. I think she simply enjoyed the work. Sadly, the others disappeared over the decades.

She was born in Moravia and young girls then learned to sew like experts. Most of them made their own "kroj" (pronounced KROY) which was for festive and formal occasions. Even after she was living in Canada, she and her sister would dress for those occasions, wearing their kroj. I have pix of their mother and them in their incredibly complex costumes. Those don't exist anymore either.

This doll has been stored for a long time and is rather squished and needs a good cleaning. But I have to get in touch with some of the Czech community around here to find someone who knows how to disassemble the layers.

Edited March 9 by Julie Magerka

[Susan Ewart]

  On 3/9/2025 at 10:11 PM, Julie Magerka said:

I knew what my D image would be since the beginning. But I am just late getting it done. This doll is the only one I have that my mother dressed for me. She did outfits for all my dolls, and I didn't play with them that much. I think she simply enjoyed the work. Sadly, the others disappeared over the decades.

She was born in Moravia and young girls then learned to sew like experts. Most of them made their own "kroj" (pronounced KROY) which was for festive and formal occasions. Even after she was living in Canada, she and her sister would dress for those occasions, wearing their kroj. I have pix of their mother and them in their incredibly complex costumes. Those don't exist anymore either.

This doll has been stored for a long time and is rather squished and needs a good cleaning. But I have to get in touch with some of the Czech community around here to find someone who knows how to disassemble the layers.

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this shot and this layout is really beautiful.  I'm in awe of anyone who sews, I got two left feet when it comes to sewing.  Even is she is squished she is still beautiful.

[Corrie Kinkel]

  On 3/9/2025 at 10:11 PM, Julie Magerka said:

I knew what my D image would be since the beginning. But I am just late getting it done. This doll is the only one I have that my mother dressed for me. She did outfits for all my dolls, and I didn't play with them that much. I think she simply enjoyed the work. Sadly, the others disappeared over the decades.

She was born in Moravia and young girls then learned to sew like experts. Most of them made their own "kroj" (pronounced KROY) which was for festive and formal occasions. Even after she was living in Canada, she and her sister would dress for those occasions, wearing their kroj. I have pix of their mother and them in their incredibly complex costumes. Those don't exist anymore either.

This doll has been stored for a long time and is rather squished and needs a good cleaning. But I have to get in touch with some of the Czech community around here to find someone who knows how to disassemble the layers.

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It is such a lovely doll and I hope you can find someone that can help you get here in good shape again. Strange isn't it that a doll you didn't play much with as a child, is now a great memory of your mother.