Two Things Challenge: Open / Road

On the open road in Sedona, AZ
(Click image to enlarge)

This week's Two Things Challenge (or last's, depending on who's keeping track) is Open / Road. The photo above is of one of the many sandstone formations surrounding the beautiful Arizona city of Sedona. I took this from the back seat of the car.

Photo copyright: Janet Kincaid, 05/09

Two Things Challenge: Free / Range

On the Road

This week's challenge was Free / Range. The photo above is mine, while the one below was taken by my friend, Amy, who is joining us for the first time at 2 Things Challenge. Want to see how others interpreted this challenge or would you like to join in on the fun? Visit 2 Things Challenge.

Gate : Lorton Penitentiary : Lorton, Virginia

Photo copyrights: Janet Kincaid (top) and A.A. Krauss (bottom), 04/09.

Two Things Challenge: Foot / Step

A touch of spring in their foot steps!

This week's Two Things Challenge was Foot / Step. Want to see how others interpreted this or want to join in the fun? Visit 2 Things Challenge.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential / Janet Kincaid, 03/09

Two Things Challenge: Window / View

View out the Windows of the Pro Football Hall of Fame

As a result of being on the road and getting home last week, there was no Two Things Challenge last Sunday. This week's challenge was Window / View. I'm using two photos from my recent road trip. The first was taken at the Pro Football Hall of Fame near the beginning of my trip and features a guard sitting by the window looking out over the parking lot and the interstate.

View of Mount Rushmore in the Windows of the Visitors' Center

This second photo was taken at Mount Rushmore, just outside Rapid City, South Dakota, and shows a view of this amazing memorial to four of America's greatest presidents reflected in the windows of the park's visitors' center.

If you'd like to see how others interpreted this challenge or if you'd like to participate, visit Two Things Challenge.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential/Janet Kincaid, 03/09

Two Things Challenge: Stripes / Stars

Stripes on a New York Giants uniform

I'm a little late with the Two Things Challenge for March 8, 2009, but here it is: Stripes / Stars. I took these photos at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, a couple of weeks ago. It was our first stop on our road trip and I found lots of opportunities to photograph things with stripes and stars on them. Bit of a stretch, I'm sure, but there it 'tis!

Stars on a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader outfit

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential/Janet Kincaid, 03/09

Two Things Challenge: Shadows / Patterns (Color)

Shadow and Pattern : Stairs at a church on Underwood and 5th Streets NW

This week's Two Things Challenge was Shadows / Patterns. I managed to get several good shots for this challenge and am dividing my entry into two parts--a set in color and a set in black and white.

Pattern : Wood Grain : Deck of the Susan Constant : Jamestown, Virginia

Want to see how others interpreted this week's challenge? Would you like to participate in a challenge every week? Visit 2 Things Challenge and join in the fun!

Pattern : Safety Bars : Takoma Theater : Washington, D.C.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential

Two Things Challenge: Shadows / Patterns (B&W)

Shadow and Pattern : Erosion Fencing : Yorktown, Virginia

Here's another take on this week's Two Things Challenge: Shadows / Patterns. All black and white. To see color images for this challenge, go here.

Shadow : Fence : Takoma : Washington, D.C.

To see how others interpreted this week's two words or to participate in next week's challenge, visit Two Things Challenge.

Shadow : Trash Can and Gangplank Grip : Dock for the Susan Constant : Jamestown, Virginia

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential

Two Things Challenge: Shiny / Dull

This week's Two Things Challenge was Shiny / Dull. I've chosen a couple of pictures I recently took at the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria. This is Alexandria's industrial art space where you can not only see the work of various artists, sculptors, photographers, and jewelers, but you can also see them at work. I think the two pieces I've chosen are a good mix of shiny and dull.



What do you think? Want to see how others interpreted this challenge or would you like to join in? Visit 2 Things Challenge and be a part of the fun!

Two Things Challenge: Corner / Door

Corner : Industrial Building : Manassas, Virginia

This week's challenge was Corner / Door. To see how others interpreted this challenge or to participate in future challenges, visit Two Things Challenge.

Door : Empty Building : Manassas, Virginia

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential

Two Things Challenge: Hot / Cold

Hot candles in the chapel

This week's 2 Things Challenge was Hot / Cold. My interpretation includes the hot candles outside one of the 62 chapels in the Basilica of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. The basilica has become a regular stop when friends are in town because of its beautiful mosaics. When my friends Mike and Mary Ellen were here last weekend, I took them to see this stunning church.

Cold and frosty morning as seen through my car window

For cold, I chose a picture I snapped one morning through the window of my car. We had a cold snap that left a layer of frost on everything. I love how the crystals and the blue sky turned out on this one. Just looking at it makes me shiver.

There you have it! Want to see how others interpreted this challenge? Visit 2 Things Challenge and find out.

Two Things Challenge: Many / Few

Pigeons: A few or too many?
(Click image to enlarge)

This week's Two Things Challenge was Many / Few. I give you a picture of pigeons: many taking off after being spooked and a few sticking around.

Want to see how others interpreted this challenge? Visit 2 Things Challenge.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 01/09

Two Things Challenge: Local / International

Two of my hats. On the left, the local brand.
On the right, the international brand complete with flair.

This week's Two Things Challenge was Local / International. Originally, I was going to take pictures of the U.S. Department of State's main lobby with the flags of nations, but I didn't want to find parking in Foggy Bottom and I had visions of contending with some overzealous State Department police officer about security and prohibitions on photography. (Besides, I had to make German's Chocolate Cake for dessert this evening, which is not German, by the way.) So, once again, I looked around the house.

Local: Washington National's baseball hat. International: Pins on my Bergsteigerhut from Austria.

These two hats are from totally different parts of the world. The one on the left is my baseball hat for our local team, the Washington Nationals. The one on the right is my Bergsteigerhut (alpine hat) from when I lived in Austria 20 years ago. My Bergsteiger has a pin on it from every city I lived in and each city's respective province. In order: Linz in Upper Austria/Oberösterreich; Vienna; Wiener Neustadt in Lower Austria/Neiderösterreich; and Villach in Caranthia/Kärnten.

Want to see how others interpreted this week's challenge? Visit 2 Things Photo Challenge. And, if you feel so inclined, please join in the fun!

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 01/09

Two Things Challenge: Paper / Plastic

Annual reports about the paper industry

"Paper or plastic?" Two words I said for years as a courtesy clerk at Albertsons, Inc. and as a cashier at Giant Food Inc. Those jobs paid for college and I'm grateful. In my current line of work I'm a writer and editor, so my life involves lots of paper. Professionally, I cut my teeth as an editor for the Pulp & Paper Newsgroup at Miller Freeman in San Francisco, later Paperloop, and now RISI. Eventually, I took a job with the American Forest & Paper Association, working on tissue and toweling products and recovered fiber (a fancy way of saying paper recycling) issues. The latter led to a brief stint at the National Recycling Coalition. Now, I work for myself. Recently, my job has included reading and writing about paper companies--a throwback to my first professional stint. Hence, this first shot: copies of some of the annual reports, printed on paper about the paper industry, that I've been reading for my research and writing.

Legos and Star Wars: The best combination in plastic. Ever.

And, for those who know me well, there are two things they know: I like Star Wars and I love Legos. Those little plastic bricks can keep me entertained for hours, if need be. The above picture combines the best of plastic into Legos' version of the the Millenium Falcon from Star Wars. So, there you have it: Paper / Plastic.

To see how others interpreted this challenge, go to 2 Things Challenge. And while you're there, join us in all the fun!

Two Things Challenge: Partial / Whole

Whole : Ham and Pineapple on the left and on the right Pepperoni, Mushroom, and Black Olive

This week's Two Things Challenge was Partial / Whole. You'd think this one would be easy, but darned if I could find anything to shoot for this. So, in a fit of desperation, I went with last night's dinner: pizza. Hilariously, several other interpreters of this challenge chose another kind of pie--the one in the sky. Be sure to check out how others responded to this challenge, which calls to mind that great song of the 1950s, "That's Amore!" And now, I think I'm going to re-watch Moonstruck...

Partial: No fuss, no muss!

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 01/09

Two Things Challenge: New / Hope

Our Lady of Hope Chapel : Basilica of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception

This week's Two Things Challenge was New / Hope. Originally, I was going to do something along the lines of Barack Obama's use of the word "Hope" in his campaign, but then I couldn't find anything for that. What I finally narrowed it down to was a mix of secular and religious interpretations. For New, I chose this picture (see below) of my new color printer and the latest book I bought yesterday.

New book and new printer--a great way to start the year!

For Hope, I've chosen two photos I took at the National Basilica of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. In the crypt church on the lower level are a number of chapels. These two pictures are of the Hope Chapel. The chapel is dedicated to Our Lady of Hope and the money to build the chapel was given by Bob and Dolores Hope in memory of his mother, Avis Townes Hope.

Our Lady of Hope Chapel

Want to see how others interpreted this challenge? Would you like to participate? You can do both by visiting Two Things Challenge.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 01/09

Two Things Challenge: Real / Fake

The real deal: The Lincoln Memorial at sunrise

This week's Two Things Challenge was Real / Fake. To meet the challenge, I give you Daniel Chester French's real memorial to our 16th president, Abraham Lincoln, and Hallmark's version of the same as a Christmas ornament. Personally, I prefer the real thing!

The fake: Hallmark's special edition Christmas ornament

Want to see how others interpreted this challenge? Go to Two Things Challenge and check it out!

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential

Two Things Challenge: Cloud / Nine

Winter Sky : Bethesda, Maryland

This week's Two Things Challenge was Cloud / Nine. As I type this, I'm going through my photos today and listening to the incomparable Edith Piaf. Nothing puts me on cloud nine quite like a good batch of pictures and some good music. I have both this evening. For this challenge, I chose these two photos of clouds. The one at the top was taken early this afternoon in Bethesda, Maryland. The one below was taken in Fairfax, Virginia, at sunset this evening.

Today is also the first day of the winter solistice. Or, as Rob over at Dusty Lens would say, it's the beginning of spring as the days once again begin to lengthen. Too bad the warmth isn't going to immediately show up along with the daylight minutes. Guess you can't have everything, eh?

Winter Sunset : Fairfax, Virginia

Want to see how others interpreted this challenge? Go to Two Things Challenge and check it out. And if you feel so inclined, join the fun! The more, the merrier.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 12/08

Two Things Challenge: Urban / Art

Urban graffiti as art : Silver Spring, MD

This week's Two Things Challenge was Urban / Art. I snapped this first picture a few days ago in downtown Silver Spring. I like how someone took what would otherwise be graffiti and put it on canvas as a way to add some color to the passageway that links one of Silver Springs' parking decks with its downtown shopping district.

Neon triptych : Seattle, WA
(Click images to enlarge.)

These other photos are some more of the neon we saw during our photo walk on Saturday night in Seattle. As the Emerald City is rather urban, I thought these signs were appropriate for the challenge.

To see how others interpreted this challenge, go to Two Things Challenge and check it out!

Tomorrow: Seattle in the daylight.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 12/08

Two Things Challenge: Joint / Venture

Democracy: A joint venture between government and the people

This week's Two Things Challenge was Joint / Venture. This may be a stretch, but I chose two unusual photos to interpret this challenge. In the case of the former, the interaction between government and its citizens. Democracy only works when a nation's citizens actively engage and participate in government and politics. The above picture is a panel of presidents in the National Museum of American History. The panel spans from George Washington all the way to Barack Obama. The gentleman in the photo happened to step in at the right time and allowed me to capture the ideas of governance and citizenry in democracy.

Shopping with your wife/girlfriend/sister: a joint venture in domestic tranquility

In this second photo, I happened to be walking past a shop window the other night and noticed this couple in the midst of choosing a sweater. I know the majority of men don't care for shopping and often have to suck it up. I thought this composition captured the joint venture of shopping that so many couples find themselves in.

There you have it. A stretch, but what the heck! That's the whole point of these challenges, right? And speaking of the 2 Things Challenge, this post represents one full year of weekly entries. My first post for this challenge was on December 5, 2007 and the challenge was Colo{u}rful / Words. To see 52 weeks of interpretations at D.C. Confidential, click here. If you'd like to join in the fun, come on over to 2 Things Challenge!

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential

Two Things Challenge: Apples / Oranges

Santa and the Baby Jesus--apples-to-apples in the spirit of giving,
but apples-to-oranges in the context of commercialization and spirituality.

This week's Two Things Challenge was Apples / Oranges. Today also happens to be the first Sunday of Advent in the Christian calendar and signals the commencement of the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. It's also the weekend when folks start shopping like mad for the holidays. I chose as my subject a contrast between Santa Claus and the Christ child and the Nativity and Snoopy.

On the one hand, I understand the meaning of Santa Claus as a symbol of giving, which feeds into the meaning of Christ (or maybe it's the other way around?) who, as the story goes, gave the ultimate sacrifice. (Ironically, Santa Claus is a commercialization of a Christian saint named Nicholas.) On the other hand, I sometimes struggle to reconcile all of the commercial kitsch and doo-dads that have come to mean "Christmas." I thought the above statuette was a perfect apples-to-oranges. Santa is symbolic of the greater meaning of Christ and yet the two are also completely unrelated.

The birth of Jesus and Snoopy--apples-to-oranges representations of the holiday season

Of course, I suppose Santa and Jesus are closer in meaning than things like the Peanuts Gang and Snoopy. Still, what is Christmas without them?

To see how others interpreted this week's challenge, visit 2 Things Challenge. And a shout out to Dreams with the Fishes for the idea that inspired my "Aha Moment" and resulted in this entry.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 11/08