Alphabet Photo Challenge - F

[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 F. It could be your comfy Floor rug, a well-loved Frying pan, your decorative Flower vase, or the handy Flashlight in your drawer!

What will you showcase?

[Rene Marker]

F is for Flag.

My father was a veteran, serving in the US Navy for 4 years including time spent in the Korean War. His ship, the USS Montague, was part of a mission to evacuate an Army corps from Hungnam. Ironically, many years later when he went to a reunion for his ship, he met an Army colonel that he rescued during that evacuation. Dad was one of the sailors that took the small boats from the ship to land to pick up the men. His was the last trip and the colonel had to detonate the munitions on the beach. The munitions blew up before Dad's small boat with the few men was far enough away from shore and it capsized. All were able to get back on it and make it back to the Montague. This rescue mission was in December 1950 and the waters of the Sea of Japan were freezing cold. The Army colonel and Dad became life long friends at that Navy reunion. The Army colonel was career Army and had achieved that rank many years after Korea. He also attended every one of the Montague reunions while his health allowed.

When Dad passed away in 2016, he had military rites including the 21 gun salute and an US flag on his coffin. I was given both the flag and the shells. They are proudly displayed in my living room.

[Ann Seeber]

F is for FLOWER

This orchid was a supermarket buy in the spring last year. Except for a short, 2-week rest, it has bloomed continuously. A bargain at $10!

 

Edited March 15 by Ann Seeber

[Julie Magerka]

  On 3/15/2025 at 3:16 PM, Ann Seeber said:

F is for FLOWER

This orchid was a supermarket buy in the spring last year. Except for a short, 2-week rest, it has bloomed continuously. A bargain at $10!

 

Expand  

I keep buying those little orchids at the supermarket as well. Sometimes they thrive, sometimes I kill them - not on purpose! You're doing great with this one.

[Julie Magerka]

  On 3/15/2025 at 12:37 PM, Rene Marker said:

F is for Flag.

My father was a veteran, serving in the US Navy for 4 years including time spent in the Korean War. His ship, the USS Montague, was part of a mission to evacuate an Army corps from Hungnam. Ironically, many years later when he went to a reunion for his ship, he met an Army colonel that he rescued during that evacuation. Dad was one of the sailors that took the small boats from the ship to land to pick up the men. His was the last trip and the colonel had to detonate the munitions on the beach. The munitions blew up before Dad's small boat with the few men was far enough away from shore and it capsized. All were able to get back on it and make it back to the Montague. This rescue mission was in December 1950 and the waters of the Sea of Japan were freezing cold. The Army colonel and Dad became life long friends at that Navy reunion. The Army colonel was career Army and had achieved that rank many years after Korea. He also attended every one of the Montague reunions while his health allowed.

When Dad passed away in 2016, he had military rites including the 21 gun salute and an US flag on his coffin. I was given both the flag and the shells. They are proudly displayed in my living room.

Expand  

I got chills just reading this. Lovely.

[Rene Marker]

  On 3/15/2025 at 4:19 PM, Julie Magerka said:

I got chills just reading this. Lovely.

Expand  

I was lucky enough to meet Jim (Army colonel) at a subsequent reunion. I listened to the two of them discussing this and if you think you got chills from just reading it, just imagine the feeling I got hearing them relate all the actual details.

[Corrie Kinkel]

  On 3/15/2025 at 3:16 PM, Ann Seeber said:

F is for FLOWER

This orchid was a supermarket buy in the spring last year. Except for a short, 2-week rest, it has bloomed continuously. A bargain at $10!

 

Expand  

Wow, I buy them too, but they don't like our current house! In the old house I had one for 4 years, sometimes it stopped flowering but after a rest period it started flowering anew. I really should stop buying them 😪

[Corrie Kinkel]

  On 3/15/2025 at 12:37 PM, Rene Marker said:

F is for Flag.

My father was a veteran, serving in the US Navy for 4 years including time spent in the Korean War. His ship, the USS Montague, was part of a mission to evacuate an Army corps from Hungnam. Ironically, many years later when he went to a reunion for his ship, he met an Army colonel that he rescued during that evacuation. Dad was one of the sailors that took the small boats from the ship to land to pick up the men. His was the last trip and the colonel had to detonate the munitions on the beach. The munitions blew up before Dad's small boat with the few men was far enough away from shore and it capsized. All were able to get back on it and make it back to the Montague. This rescue mission was in December 1950 and the waters of the Sea of Japan were freezing cold. The Army colonel and Dad became life long friends at that Navy reunion. The Army colonel was career Army and had achieved that rank many years after Korea. He also attended every one of the Montague reunions while his health allowed.

When Dad passed away in 2016, he had military rites including the 21 gun salute and an US flag on his coffin. I was given both the flag and the shells. They are proudly displayed in my living room.

Expand  

I like the tradition in the States that veterans can get such military rites! In my country that isn't done and only very few people have been buried with military honors. 

[Julie Magerka]

Okay folks, I was feeling silly and playful when I thought of what I would use for the Letter F. Once this thought got into my head, I couldn't think of another possibility.

If you live with animals, you know this to be true!

[Rene Marker]

  On 3/15/2025 at 6:50 PM, Corrie Kinkel said:

I like the tradition in the States that veterans can get such military rites! In my country that isn't done and only very few people have been buried with military honors. 

Expand  

In May, it is so inspiring to go visit the cemeteries with all the flags on display next to the tombstones. The flag holder at Dad's indicates he is a Korean War veteran. Dad, 7 of his brothers and his father all served. Only the youngest son didn't. Dad also lost a brother in the Battle of Leyte Gulf in WWII. Only one grandson served but there have been a lot of great-grandchildren in the family that have served. The granddaughter of one of my closest cousins (so a great-great-granddaughter) is at the US Air Force Academy. Grandpa was Army, 3 sons were as well. Dad and 4 other brothers were Navy. The grandson was a Marine. The great-grandchildren were a mixture of Army and Navy. The great-great-granddaughter is the first in the Air Force. My family is quite proud of the military veterans in the family.

[Ann Seeber]

  On 3/15/2025 at 7:31 PM, Julie Magerka said:

Okay folks, I was feeling silly and playful when I thought of what I would use for the Letter F. Once this thought got into my head, I couldn't think of another possibility.

If you live with animals, you know this to be true!

Expand  

I hate to point this out, but cats are not prone to f**ts! 😹

Edited March 15 by Ann Seeber

[Corrie Kinkel]

  On 3/15/2025 at 8:13 PM, Rene Marker said:

In May, it is so inspiring to go visit the cemeteries with all the flags on display next to the tombstones. The flag holder at Dad's indicates he is a Korean War veteran. Dad, 7 of his brothers and his father all served. Only the youngest son didn't. Dad also lost a brother in the Battle of Leyte Gulf in WWII. Only one grandson served but there have been a lot of great-grandchildren in the family that have served. The granddaughter of one of my closest cousins (so a great-great-granddaughter) is at the US Air Force Academy. Grandpa was Army, 3 sons were as well. Dad and 4 other brothers were Navy. The grandson was a Marine. The great-grandchildren were a mixture of Army and Navy. The great-great-granddaughter is the first in the Air Force. My family is quite proud of the military veterans in the family.

Expand  

That is quite a military tradition in your family! In the Netherlands are a lot of war cemeteries and some are only for Americans and they always have small flags next to the graves. There are cemeteries that are mixed and have Americans, Canadians and British soldiers even with some Gurkhas as well and there the flags of the different nations are on display but not always next to each grave. Most of the French have been brought back to France over the years. 

[Julie Magerka]

  On 3/15/2025 at 8:33 PM, Ann Seeber said:

I hate to point this out, but cats are not prone to f**ts! 😹

Expand  

Don't know what kinda cats you've had, but mine sure were! 😆

[Ann Seeber]

  On 3/15/2025 at 8:54 PM, Julie Magerka said:

Don't know what kinda cats you've had, but mine sure were! 😆

Expand  

Oops, guess I'll revise that to MY cats... 😉

[Corrie Kinkel]

For the F,  I used this bronze figurine, a present from my son and daughter in law. We received it 3 years ago at our 50th wedding anniversary. We have it on display on a shelf in our partly open closet.  In Dutch we would describe it as a "bronzen beeldje" and the "-je" is the diminutive of the noun "beeld".

[Julie Magerka]

  On 3/15/2025 at 8:56 PM, Ann Seeber said:

Oops, guess I'll revise that to MY cats... 😉

Expand  

You are lucky, Ann!

[Jacques]

Foot !

[Corrie Kinkel]

  On 3/19/2025 at 6:55 PM, Jacques said:

Foot !

Expand  

So sweet!

[Susan Ewart]

Alphabet Photo Challenge - Letter F

Film... Thanks to Jeni I got an F word. I know, I love photography and you would have thought I'd be able to come of with that word but I was 'F"loundering what to use for an F word.

This is for my American friends in the Campus, to remember the amazing, positive and inspiring accomplishments you made in history. There are no borders in Friendship!

This didn't come together the way I wanted (the background moon looks like a dusty screen and I found myself trying to wipe the little dust particles off), but it's time to let it go.

the darkest on the background and the movie camera was intended so the spotlight would be on the film itself.  I think  should have tried to stretch the title down.  And, it was faster to pick a moon off pixabay than find the moons I had shot.  I also found out somehow I deleted my Build a Kit psp files from the first kit.  I had made film strips and I see that I missed deleting something and now I cant go back and fix it because I lost the PSP files.  I clicked something bad one day because it's gone in the back up too.

[Ann Seeber]

  On 3/23/2025 at 8:58 PM, Susan Ewart said:

Alphabet Photo Challenge - Letter F

Film... Thanks to Jeni I got an F word. I know, I love photography and you would have thought I'd be able to come of with that word but I was 'F"loundering what to use for an F word.

This is for my American friends in the Campus, to remember the amazing, positive and inspiring accomplishments you made in history. There are no borders in Friendship!

This didn't come together the way I wanted (the background moon looks like a dusty screen and I found myself trying to wipe the little dust particles off), but it's time to let it go.

the darkest on the background and the movie camera was intended so the spotlight would be on the film itself.  I think  should have tried to stretch the title down.  And, it was faster to pick a moon off pixabay than find the moons I had shot.  I also found out somehow I deleted my Build a Kit psp files from the first kit.  I had made film strips and I see that I missed deleting something and now I cant go back and fix it because I lost the PSP files.  I clicked something bad one day because it's gone in the back up too.

Expand  

Oh, what a shame about that previous kit, Suz! I'm trying to recall if you sent me a copy... do you remember the naming of it?

Edited Monday at 07:59 AM by Ann Seeber

[Susan Ewart]

  On 3/24/2025 at 7:59 AM, Ann Seeber said:

Oh, what a shame about that previous kit, Suz! I'm trying to recall if you sent me a copy... do you remember the naming of it?

Expand  

I dont think I did send it to anyone.  it was called "F8 and Be There"  about photography.  So weird I cant find my original working files.  I know I was probably "organizing" and meant to copy it to somewhere and then cut it and somehow deleted it.  A good lesson to be more organized.  this is now 2 years later and I am better at organizing what I call my "working files" (pspimage files before they are turned into pngs or jpgs etc).  I've asked my hubby if he has an old hard drive, because we swapped out one a year or so ago.  I'm hoping he does and that it's old enough to have it on it.  

[Ann Seeber]

  On 3/24/2025 at 2:17 PM, Susan Ewart said:

I dont think I did send it to anyone.  it was called "F8 and Be There"  about photography.  So weird I cant find my original working files.  I know I was probably "organizing" and meant to copy it to somewhere and then cut it and somehow deleted it.  A good lesson to be more organized.  this is now 2 years later and I am better at organizing what I call my "working files" (pspimage files before they are turned into pngs or jpgs etc).  I've asked my hubby if he has an old hard drive, because we swapped out one a year or so ago.  I'm hoping he does and that it's old enough to have it on it.  

Expand  

Odd, that title doesn't ring a bell with me. I thought I remembered some clocks?

[Corrie Kinkel]

  On 3/24/2025 at 2:17 PM, Susan Ewart said:

I dont think I did send it to anyone.  it was called "F8 and Be There"  about photography.  So weird I cant find my original working files.  I know I was probably "organizing" and meant to copy it to somewhere and then cut it and somehow deleted it.  A good lesson to be more organized.  this is now 2 years later and I am better at organizing what I call my "working files" (pspimage files before they are turned into pngs or jpgs etc).  I've asked my hubby if he has an old hard drive, because we swapped out one a year or so ago.  I'm hoping he does and that it's old enough to have it on it.  

Expand  

 

  On 3/23/2025 at 8:58 PM, Susan Ewart said:

Alphabet Photo Challenge - Letter F

Film... Thanks to Jeni I got an F word. I know, I love photography and you would have thought I'd be able to come of with that word but I was 'F"loundering what to use for an F word.

This is for my American friends in the Campus, to remember the amazing, positive and inspiring accomplishments you made in history. There are no borders in Friendship!

This didn't come together the way I wanted (the background moon looks like a dusty screen and I found myself trying to wipe the little dust particles off), but it's time to let it go.

the darkest on the background and the movie camera was intended so the spotlight would be on the film itself.  I think  should have tried to stretch the title down.  And, it was faster to pick a moon off pixabay than find the moons I had shot.  I also found out somehow I deleted my Build a Kit psp files from the first kit.  I had made film strips and I see that I missed deleting something and now I cant go back and fix it because I lost the PSP files.  I clicked something bad one day because it's gone in the back up too.

Expand  

I feel for you losing that part of your work 😢 I had that happening to me last year when I had computer problems which also corrupted my backup external harddrive. My son has was able to rescue a lot but some is gone to scrapbook heaven for ever 😇

[Susan Ewart]

  On 3/24/2025 at 3:08 PM, Ann Seeber said:

Odd, that title doesn't ring a bell with me. I thought I remembered some clocks?

Expand  

I did "Time" last year, the first year was photography.  This year hasnt even started for me yet...😪

[Susan Ewart]

  On 3/24/2025 at 6:43 PM, Corrie Kinkel said:

 

I feel for you losing that part of your work 😢 I had that happening to me last year when I had computer problems which also corrupted my backup external harddrive. My son has was able to rescue a lot but some is gone to scrapbook heaven for ever 😇

Expand  

I'm sure it's something dumb I did.  I know how you feel, it's a bummer.  I've decided to just let it go.  Now I can re-do the tutorials and at least I have the pngs of the elements and papers as well.  I can't imagine how you felt thinking the back up would be safe.  I wonder if one needs to have an external back up that they unplug and only connect when the back up needs to be done.  My hubby is still deciding what to do, and it's a low priority as he's in the middle of program change at work so I live in fear of losing stuff.  I told him our relationship might not survive me losing my photos especially (the ones of family and past and current pets, holidays etc - the studio stuff I do would suck to lose but it's just things and not like people, pets and places you cant recover from).