As he sits and plays the long awaited spiderman game on t.v. I snap the photo from behind capturing the pure concentration oozing from his little soul. :)<br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellsta/3178953068/" title="Mattso is... Spiderman! by Chica-X, on Flickr">

I quietly made my way into the kitchen crawling on my belly like a snake, and snapped this candid moment of Tonka with all his hard work surrounding him on the floor. <br/><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellsta/3173756775/" title="In the kitchen by Chica-X, on Flickr">

The Stephen King's "Duma Key" book, that I just had to cover in bubble wrap and shoot some photos with, it was too good to pass up, and I had fun with it. :)<br/><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellsta/3172860192/" title="Bubble Wrapped by Chica-X, on Flickr">I'm really enjoying this abstract phase that I seem to be going through. It's what I feel is my strongest area, so it's comfortable for now.

<center> A bit of dry brush filter was used to enhance things a bit more..<br/><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellsta/3165025784/" title="Galaxy by Chica-X, on Flickr">I would like to ask which if the three photo sigs on my main page look the best, I'm having trouble deciding, and would love some outside input. :)

<center>Just some fun with my camera. I'm also trying out new sig/copyrights, so don't mind me. :) <br/><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellsta/3160531458/" title="Inner Storm by Chica-X, on Flickr">

<center>He is such a sweet, funny little man..<br/><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellsta/3160493022/" title="Silly faced Tonka by Chica-X, on Flickr">

<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellsta/3155960521/" title="Peanut Blossoms by Chica-X, on Flickr">

Next time you see me, I'll hopefully be back to posting daily starting on the first, and working my way through another year of photoblogging. It may or may not include more family photos, as through this last year, of all the photos I've taken, I enjoy the ones of my family the most.<br /><br />I can't say that it will be easy though. Sticking to a year of continuing blogging about photography stuff was harder then I had ever imagined. This next year, I'm not going to put so much pressure on myself, and just do what I love to do. I hope that you will continue to be apart of this journey of mine. <br /><br />Don't forget the post below this one, it's got special shoutouts to a few of you in my video, so check it out. In the meantime...<br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.newyearmyspacecomments.com/happy.html">

I first posted here January 1st of this year, and here it is coming up on 2009. What an adventure it's been. Here is just a small look back on all the photography I've featured on this blog, excluding any prison or family photos.. <br /><center><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/EVRcq3iWESE&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/EVRcq3iWESE&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></center><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">I apologize for the lack of quality, not sure what happened there. There are credits to some of ya too. ;)</span><br /><br />Here is a small rundown of what's happened this year..<br /><br /><blockquote>-I've been linked almost 7500 times. Yet I still remain to only link to my absolute favorites. <br /><br />-My most popular post is still that of the <a href="http://photo-projectz.blogspot.com/2008/07/1000-free-photoshop-actions.html">1000 Free Photoshop Actions</a> averaging a hundred hits daily, and counting. with that post I made it into several popular posts on other blogs including the newest one by <a href="http://www.allgraphicdesign.com/graphicsblog/2008/12/15/biggest-list-of-photoshop-freebie-sites-ever-infinite-amounts-of-free-photoshop-stuff/">allgraphicdesign</a>.<br /><br />-I've participated in quite a few challenges from several blogs. Including <a href="http://creativephotographyaward.blogspot.com/">Creative Photography</a>, <a href="http://blog.epicedits.com/2008/01/09/66-faces-of-photography/">Meet 66 faces in photography</a>, <a href="http://www.photochallenge.org/">Photochallenge.org</a>, and so much more. <br /><br />-I've held my own contests and challenges to encourage and inspire my readers. <br /><br />- I sold my first photo this year for twenty bucks.<br /><br />-I started a flickr group called <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/745724@N25/">Second Shotz</a> with Drew, that I still hope to get up off the ground on '09. <br /><br />- I joined Redbubble to hopefully sell some of my work. See my profile <a href="http://www.redbubble.com/people/Chica">here</a>. I've sold three items thus far.<br /></blockquote><br /><br />And there is just a ton more things I have done with this blog, or done with other creative folks. It's been a hell of a year, and I cannot thank all my readers enough to stick by me through my creative droughts, and waterfalls of creation. It's an up and down situation, yet you all are still here, well most of you and some new folk. So thanks a bunch, and here's to a happy creative new year for everyone! I have a ton of ideas to switch things up and make 2009 a better year for Photo-projectz, so stay tuned. As always much love and respect for all of you! ~Chica

<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellsta/3105840118/" title="Heartsy Christmas by Chica-X, on Flickr">Just playin with the infamous slow shutter speed in front of the xmas tree. :)

And this was what resulted from that idea.. <br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellsta/3101791036/" title="Weird Mattso by Chica-X, on Flickr">Done with a broken silver reflective ornament. :)

<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellsta/3093207907/" title="Interruption by Chica-X, on Flickr">

<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellsta/3092442533/" title="The Exit by Chica-X, on Flickr">

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://urlbrief.com/5aa757">

I still have yet to master my pictures taking abilities with things that move and lite up the night. So I decided to have some fun with this one instead, and the following are the two best funky photos I got. If you want to see the actual parade then visit <a href="http://chica-x.blogspot.com/2008/12/we-went-to-light-parade.html">here</a> on my personal blog. <br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellsta/3088917871/" title="Funkier lights by Chica-X, on Flickr">Looking at the photos now, I couldn't tell ya what they were of, but it was fun. :)

<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellsta/3083604000/" title="The Marble and Me by Chica-X, on Flickr">

<center> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellsta/3078870282/" title="Moon Berries^ by Chica-X, on Flickr">I doubt a moon would make a good berry, but eh I was on a photoshop roll, so I ran with it. :)

<center><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/RFoFydVNpT4&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/RFoFydVNpT4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></center><br />Check that out folks!!! Isn't that friggin awesome. The one place that I have featured in detail here on my blog will be on T.V. in my favorite show of the year. <span style="font-style:italic;">(<a href="http://www.travelchannel.com/TV_Shows/Ghost_Adventures">Ghosthunters</a>)</span> Of my favorite place in Idaho nonetheless. Can you friggin believe it??? I can't hehe. I'm definably not going to miss it. It airs December 5th at 9:00 pm ET. So set your reminders, and do NOT miss out. Especially if your a fan of my photos, and of ghosts of course. hehe YAY!!!!!!!!!<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">In the meantime, I will be back on Monday. :)</span>

<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellsta/3058587293/" title="Huston School2 by Chica-X, on Flickr">Anyhoo, Happy thanksgiving to all ya'll out there! :)

<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellsta/3052289381/" title="OIP Lester Moore by Chica-X, on Flickr"> of them, be sure to unselect the embiggen option. Thanks for following along, and now I hope to move onto something else soon. I'm thinking I should conquer fog images, since there seems to be a lot of that around here these days. :)

I cannot believe I didn't post yesterday! lol I had the material all ready to go and just forgot to post it. I was on a roll too! Oh well. <br /><br />This image is the bottom of one of the doors, and I just loved how the colors turned out. All the colors are natural as well, seeing how the place was designed way back there were some mad color combination's everywhere, and between things rusting or peeling, it made for some great grunge shots. <br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellsta/3047632765/" title="OIP Bottom of Cell Door by Chica-X, on Flickr">I have approximately three more images to feature of the prison before I'm completely done with it this time around. I do have plans to go there again in the future, and take it slower and try to go up the mountain behind it all and get some pano's. :)

The following images are pretty self explanatory... It was really eerie being in this area, even though only one person has died there. Here is what the room is in detail:<br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellsta/3043257119/" title="OIP Death Penalty by Chica-X, on Flickr">It was all very surreal, and behind me in that middle photo was where the double doors were.

<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellsta/3041795567/" title="OIP John Thompson by Chica-X, on Flickr">

You had to shower with these.. <br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellsta/3041110108/" title="OIP showers by Chica-X, on Flickr">Definably no glamor involved, at least the color was nice, I mean imagine having a blue shower? Cool no? :D