It’s been a busy few weeks in my household, and I’ll end this post with a few thoughts on where this blog is headed. Before I get to that though, I thought that this week’s photo challenge, on the move, was the perfect time to share a few chicken photos. Those of you who read my last post know that I am photographing a life cycle unit that is being taught in a 2nd grade classroom.
These photos show a bit of what the set-up looks like:
Over the weekend the eggs were checked one last time and then went on lockdown. That means that the incubator will not be opened for several days while the chickens are hatching. One of the things that happens while preparing for lockdown is that we can look at the inside of the egg using a process called candling, basically to check on the health of the egg. Here is a healthy egg:
ISO 3200 50mm 0ev f/2.5 1/50
This one is blank, meaning no chicken in here:
ISO 3200 50mm 0ev f/2.5 1/125
The candling photos were taken on Saturday, just before lockdown, by Monday the first three chickens had hatched. This photo is of an egg that is getting ready to hatch, there is a small break in the shell, so soon there should be a chicken:
ISO 3200 50mm 0ev f/4 1/200
The shell that is completely discarded belongs to the yellow colored chicken in this photo:
ISO 3200 50mm 0ev f/4 1/200
The darker colored chicken is a bantam chicken. The children named that chicken Trouble because it was messing around a bit with his incubator mates.
The photos I chose for this post are all unedited, as for the purpose of this post, I was just telling a story and not focused as much on the art of the actual photo. When I get to the editing process, I will be doing some cropping and sharpening. The photos taken through the incubator window are a bit tricky due to reflections.
As I alluded to in the title of the post, the chickens are not the only ones on the move. I have not been posting as frequently in the past few weeks because I started a new job and finished a school semester at the same time. So, this is my acknowledgement that I am “behind” on my blog. This means that I may have a comment of yours to approve or perhaps you have visited here lately and I have not returned the visit. As I am writing this, I can see that I have 777 visits to make. Thats a lot for me, but having a cup of tea and visiting blogs is actually my favorite way to start the day. I am hoping to get caught back up in the next week or so.
If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know that I have been taking a Photoshop class this past year. I am happy to say that I turned in my final project and took an exam yesterday. My next class is on Adobe Illustrator, so I am not certain how much of that class will turn up on this blog. I am grateful to all of you who have offered me support and encouragement over this past year. I’m very much looking forward to getting caught up and then continuing with this blog over the summer.
Questions or comments about the chickens or about this blog in general? feel free to leave them below!
Cheers!
Photography Journal Blog 
They are adorable! wow what a project 🙂 I take it water and seeds will do the trick feeding these little ones?
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While they are in the incubator it is just water, but that is only for a few days. Once they have hatched they will have a feed and water set-up that will be under warming lights.
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The whole project is just so cute, your family must just be staring at them all day eh 😀
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They are in a second grade classroom at a local school so I only get to see them once a day, which is probably just as well or nothing else would get done 🙂
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An interesting project – what happens to the chickens when they get to a certain size? Do the kids take them home as pets if they want, or do they go to a farm? I’d be interested to know how you overcome the reflections in your finalised shots.
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They go to local farms. In this area, you are allowed to keep chicken even if you don’t really qualify as a farm, so some of these chickens will just go to homes like that where there are only a few chickens and no other livestock. As for the editing, it is a bit of a challenge and my go-to method does not always work. However, I do all my cropping and other editing first. Then I merge my file into one layer, then duplicate the layer. Then filter-blur-other-high pass. I set that usually to about 4 pixels, then change the blending mode to soft light. Like I said, it doesn’t always work, and it will not create the clarity that you have in your shots, but it is a start.
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Happy to read about the chickens and about your life. I always appreciate your visits when you are able but no pressure. Family and life comes first.
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I agree, this blog is secondary to other things, but I do enjoy it 🙂
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whao – did you say 777? that’s a lot – and well, pretty awesome too. and then did you also say Adobe Illustrator? whew – I can already see certain areas of your brain being highlighted as you learn all that great new stuff! how fun….
– little ol’ “Trouble” looks so cute. and this project is wonderful – I never heard of candling before so that was nice too.
and curious to see who your summer blog unfolds! On July 2nd I will hit a bit of an anniversary for my blog – because it was on that day last year that I got my flow with my blog – which was my first personal blog ever – (which was a stretch for me…) but in the meantime I am gearing up for my next milestone – which is my 200th post… hmmmm
anyhow, have a great week Amy – and hope your tea is delicious too. 🙂
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Thanks, and yes, that is a lot, but I really do like to take a look at the blogs of folks who have taken the time to stop by and hit the “like” button.
I had never heard of candling either, until I started shooting this unit a few years ago. I do just love this unit, the kids do too. I was in yesterday and they were all excited to tell me about all the developments that I had missed.
That is cool that you are coming up on a few milestones with your blog, always a good time to evaluate and see what is working and what isn’t.
🙂
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Fascinating insight into chicken development, Amy. I love the candling shots.
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The candling shots are a bit tricky to shoot properly, every year I tweak them a bit to try and get clearer shots. It really is a great unit, the 2nd graders always love it.
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Wow!! I have never seen photographs of an incubator before…reminds me of the Anna Paquin movie, Fly Away Home…which was about a pack geese, though! 🙂
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Yeah, this project is really great, it really exposed the kids to things they might not see in their everyday life 🙂
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Such cute little chicks Amy and I like little ‘Trouble’. LOL! What a fascinating project and I loved to read more about the ‘candling’. Really very interesting hon. Thanks for sharing these little cuties with us and the lovely photo’s hon.
Enjoy the new job and wishing you well hon. Don’t worry about being ‘behind’. I know how it feels. Even as being only a housewife, I sometimes have so much to do at home some days I don’t even switch on the computer.
Have a great day and have fun. 😀 ♥ Hugs ♥
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“Only” a housewife Sonel? that’s like a few full time jobs in one 🙂 I do switch on the computer everyday though, if of no other reason than my to-do list is on it 🙂 Seriously though, thanks for understanding about being behind, I figured you would understand when I was talking about trying to balance everything.
This project is really great, the kids love it and learn a lot.
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‘Only’ yes..hahaha and I do my housework myself as I don’t want and can’t afford ‘help’, so yes, it does keep me busy. Sometimes I snap my fingers and the little housefairies creeps out of the corners of the house – that is if they are not on strike… hahahah. I wouldn’t mind having a little ‘Doby’ like the one in Harry Potter. LOL!
If I have to create a to-do list, it will keep me busy longer than all the jobs I have to do in the house and in the garden. hee hee
It’s really no problem hon. I really do understand and like I said, I am way behind as well, but the minute I am finished with the window-cleaning and re-arranging the furniture yet another way I like, I am sure I will catch up soon. 😀
I don’t even try balancing anything – I might fall off during the ride. hahahah
Oh, I am sure it is great fun for the kids. Even as an old lady it sure is fun for me to see how it’s progressing and I do hope you will keep us updated. 😀
♥ Hugs ♥
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We often joke about the fact that out house-elves aren’t good for much as they seem to leave all the work for us 🙂
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Whahahahahaha! That’s a good one! I must remember that! LOL!
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🙂
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Thanks for bringing us along on the journey. I love the photos of candling–don’t recall seeing that before, but I’ve heard of it.
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It’s cool to see, a bit tricky to photograph.
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It is an amazing effect–very sci-fi!
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Thanks 🙂
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The light is really nice! Your pictures are inspiring!
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Thanks 🙂
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Amy … I love your “On the Move” photo project. The chicks are adorable, very photogenic. I like “Trouble” already. As long as he’s only being mischievous, that is. 😉
Best wishes on your new job. Look forward to seeing what you will tackle next. I’ve gotten behind commenting on other blogs myself because I’m finishing grading on essays before the Final Exams. Arghhhh!
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Yes, it always seems there is something to be done, I hope to get caught up one of these days 🙂 It’s funny how some of the chicks seem to have really strong personalities.
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These shots are so cute! Great captures, Amy!
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Thanks 🙂
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