Friday, July 18, 2014

Creative Scavenger Hunt Finds

As Clara and I picked up a friend of hers for a trip to the City, I looked across the street and asked her friend "are all those flamingos usually there?" She assured me they were not, and I asked Clara to pull over so I could take a picture. (Yes, Clara was driving; she has her driver's permit and is getting in lots of practice before she takes her driver's license test in September). The sign says "You've been flocked." Apparently, a prankster had planted a couple dozen flamingos in a neighbor's yard and left the sign. When I uploaded the photo later to instagram and facebook, I noted something unusual in the background. What is that? My gosh, I think it's an elephant! 
Now, here's my question . . . was I photo bombed by an elephant?
As the summer moves close to its half-way point, I'm pondering the more elusive elements on my 2014 Summertime Photography Scavenger Hunt list. I have found 14 of the 21 items so far, and I think many of the remaining ones (an urban street scene, a bakery, a rural landscape) will be easy.  I think the hardest one for me to capture will be will be a sunrise, but I also think a photo bomb might be a bit difficult. 
So, do I call this a photo bomb . . . maybe one taken with creative license.
There have been some other creative takes on the scavenger hunt that I have really enjoyed. . . 
Amy of the Over At Our Place blog recently published this post called "Lateral Thinking," which included this parade of pelicans:
Julie Kirk, of Notes on Paper, used her typical wry wit to write this post about birds on wire, made of wire, hanging on wire and eventually birds on a wire.
Scrapbook Annie posted about this wonderful day out scavenging photos which included someone juggling invisible balls.
So, how is the hunt going for you? What items have been difficult for you to find? Have you engaged in lateral thinking or creative scavenging?





27 comments:

alexa said...

Golly, that's a prank and a half - no wonder you stopped! There must be a back-story, surely ... What an unusual photo. Definitely counts as Birds on A Wire (or two!)!

Lady Ella said...

Great, chuckle-worthy solutions! :o) Come mid-September, I may also resort to creative scavenging but for now I cling to hopes of finding the real thing. Already shocked myself with the waterfall, while "birds on wire" ... grrr!

Carmen said...

I love the pink flamingos photo bomb! The parade of pelicans is a very good idea... the parade might be the most difficult for me as well as the sunrise.

Karen said...

Here a flock of flamingoes in a yard usually means a youth group has done it for a fund raiser. I once made a donation to have a flock of flamingoes put in my friend's yard. She HATES flamingoes. Of course the youth group left a tag, and she figured out who'd done it, so a flock turned up in my yard as well!

I have about half the items, but it's too early yet to get anxious about the ones I don't have for the scavenger hunt.

Alison said...

Glad we got the explanation of the pink flamingoes from Karen!.....I think the juggler and the sunrise are my biggest problems
Alison xx

Ladkyis said...

I will worry at the beginning of September, until then we have a Cornish holiday and another day out with the Lord and Lady Bluefunnel... onwards! onwards and upwards!

scrappyjacky said...

I think we all need to have a bit of 'creative license' with some items!!

Jo Murray said...

That elephant definitely counts!!!
....and the juggler (lateral thinking personified)

Abi said...

I love the fact you were photo bombed by an elephant! I think that is totally allowed. It makes for a great story and a good laugh!

Amy said...

I didn't even notice the elephant initially so yes, why not?!

I have no idea how I'm going to get a photobomb and I'm still stuck on the person with a tattoo and The Juggler .... but I have ideas, yes, more lateral thinking will appear before the hunt is over!

Julie Kirk said...

Yep, definitely a photo-bombing elephant there, and one very nature-filled front lawn! You've got to wonder at the level of planning that would go into that!

Thanks for sharing my wire bird - I *love* finding lateral-thinking alternatives! My favourite part of the hunt! :-)

Fiona@Staring at the Sea said...

Just imagine coming home to that flock on your front lawn! I haven't started yet as I'm saving it for the Summer holidays, which begin on Wednesday. I've been scoping a few things out in preparation though and I know which items are likely to be the tricky ones!

Lou said...

ha ha brilliant and I'd say you were photobombed! I'm saving your list for our holiday. It will be a family affair!

Rhodesia said...

That elephant is certainly a surprise and a photo bomb I would say, brilliant. I will get my photos that I have taken printed soon. but I do want to get the holiday photos out first. I am finding 9 photos incredibly difficult, some of which if we lived elsewhere would be easy!!!
Never the less is is great fun. Diane

Kat said...

What great finds!! Love the wire bird ... and the invisible juggling!! ;)

I think MY biggest problem is that I forget I've got the list of items on my phone so could just quickly check and then take photos!! :o

I'll also will wait for the end of the Scavenger Hunt time for the "sunrise" I think... very much of a night owl myself, so currently with sunrises at around 4:30am I don't think that will happen!! ;)

Beverly said...

I think he is a very valid photobomb!!! I am having a hard time with birds on a wire and cannot imagine where I will see a juggler.

Susanne said...

Such fun photos - great start to my blog hopping this Monday a.m.

Becky said...

I think that the elephant counts! I am finding the juggler hard - I have heard that Ben's girlfriend juggles so just need to get her to do so in front of me! Also waterfalls are almost non existent in flat Essex!

~*~Patty S said...

Yes you have clearly been photo bombed by an elephant!
Love it!!!
What fun the other photos you shared are too...
the Juggler is quite challenging for me...having a fun time with my hunting!
oxo

Jimjams said...

I thought the elephant was *why* the flamingoes had landed - they add to the tropical feel! Part of what I love about scavenging is the cheeky way some people choose to interpret the prompts - all good fun!
And YES - you've been bombed as you certainly didn't expect to see an elephant in a flock of flamingos!

Melissa said...

Oh I think that is such a FUN photo bomb!! I've just posted some finds from our unexpected Ohio trip. We only had one day at home & are now on my birthday trip, so I'm hoping to find some more. I've found 10 so far! When we return home, I might have to get creative to find any that I'm still missing then! :>)

Audrey said...

I am NOT a morning person and I can't even remember the last time I saw a sunrise. I have no idea how I will get a picture of one! And the parade might be challenging as well.... But it's been fun so far!

Lesley G said...

I don't even think I'm halfway through yet - I intend to get my sunrise when we have to be up early to catch our early holiday flight but it may be too early that my memory will elude me!

Carola Bartz said...

Gee, I think I need to be creative on some of the photos - and some will be difficult as well, like the sunrise. I've found quite some of the items, though.

Deb @ PaperTurtle said...

Love some of these creative interpretations of the scavenger hunt prompts! I think my biggest challenge will be a parade, but I do love Amy's clever take on that one. I have 10 remaining but know where I can get most of them - just need to make it happen.

BJ said...

Love the flamingos. I seem to have come to a full stop re the HUNT this year. Things might pick up, who knows. BJ

Anonymous said...

LOL - some great thinking there. I think I'm going to have trouble with quite a few this year and have resigned myself to not getting them all. (: But we'll see.