This month’s themes were pulled from an AI query to Gemini for “Photography Theme Ideas“. Many we’ve already covered like Leading Lines, Perspective, & Shadows. But these two themes sounded the most interesting to me because we’ve never had similar themes before.
It turns out 10 Shots-1 Spot is pretty challenging especially in certain locations. Funny thing is the AI suggestion was actually 20 Shots from 1 Spot but I cut the number down to our usual photo sharing limit. The concept of 10 Shot-1 Spot was unclear to many of us. I guess my explanation of “take 10 distinct photos without moving from one spot” had a variety of interpretations.
Regardless, one aspect of 10 Shot-1 Spot and last month’s Fishing theme is it makes the photographer slow down and take their time to study their composition(s). With the advent of digital photography, we/I tend to snap away, not necessarily thinking about the compostion for any length of time. Of course, following compostional rules, but not really studying the different angles or elements options that may be included or excluded from the frame. Hopefully, most of us will practice slowing down for future themes, and/or share photos they have already taken that fit the theme upon clarification.
Portable Object is reminicent of the Travelocity Gnome campaign, where the gnome was photographed traveling to different locations around the world. Only Heather embraced this theme and her photos are fun & humorous. Most of us shared Open-theme photos or 10 Shot/1Spot images. Here are the photos that were shared:

Barbara – Barbara had some great photos from Shelter Island – a great one of a person feeding a pelican on the roof, and some of the USS Lincoln arriving in San Diego. These were shot from relatively one spot and documented the goings-on as the USS Lincoln arrives and is welcome home.

Barb Donovan – Barb embraced the 10 Shot-1 Spot theme and shared some wonderful images from Hospital (Pothole) Point, La Jolla at sunrise. Her photos from essentially one spot are a great example of different compositions from one location. Also, since she shot at sunrise, the changing light reflecting off the rocks and water creates distinct images from one spot.

Cathy – Cathy picked a hard location for 10 Shot-1 Spot mainly because my clarification of the theme was confusing. But she shared some great shots from Shelter Island Marina. She also shared a vibrant landscape of lupines that was post-processed with a canvas texture overlay. At first I found the canvas texture a distraction from the wonderful relationship of the lilac flowers & sky. But upon further reflection, I understand her intent for her “Field of Dreams” titled photo.

Gary – Gary’s repeated trips to Sedona and Antelope Canyon with his camera continues to expand his portfolio of the region. I’ve been unable to travel much recently so I am envious of such subjects and locations, being primarily a landscape photographer. Returning to the same locations allows a photographer to improve on their technique and explore similar landscapes under different light & conditions. Gary somewhat explored the 10 Shot-1 Spot idea by exploring the ruins and remnants of a old homestead. Not from one spot, but following a trail of someone’s existance in almost an archeological/anthropological perspective.

Heather – Heather shared some fabulous, humorous Portable Object photographs that were inspired. Her images are a great example of how a thematic idea can be interpreted and only limited by ones imagination.

Norm – Norm took the 10 Shots-1 Spot idea to the extreme. With his 360º panoramic images, sometime a hundred shots, or in this case 114 shots, are taken from one spot. The technical expertise to compose and process 114 bracketed images into a single HDR 360º panoramic amazes me. It really is a special kind of photography and photographer. Norm only shared one shot, constructed from 114 photos. So if you are as fascinated as I am with this kind of photography, go to his website normolsonphoto.com.

Sharon – Sharon loves exploring her house, backyard, and neighborhood with her camera. Sometimes the world flies by overhead – she captured some great moments of the amazing Blue Angels performing their acrobatics above her house & library.

Jim – Jim worked on the 10 Shot-1 Spot theme and discovered how challenging it can be depending on the venue. He had some luck during an overnight trip to Julian, specifically a visit to the 1870 Eagle Gold Mine. The tour through the mine was fun and the history is fascinating. But from a photographer’s perspective, all the relics from the time it was a working mine was most interesting. Jim walked into the working garage, picked a spot inside the doorway and took 10 photos. He shared color and b&w images of the 10 photos – most of his favorites being the b&w versions. Staying the night in Pine Hills, adjacent to Julian at 4000ft, he used his SeeStar S30pro smart telescope to take two galactic images. Andromeda is a galaxy most beginner astrophotographers photograph. 210-20sec images taken in 90mins were processed in Stacking Wizard & AstroWizard. His second astrophoto was the Triangulum Galaxy. Again for about 90mins, 200-20sec images processed the same way.