It’s less amazing if you know the effort behind it.  This picture started with a simple idea, me and the three penguins playing poker.

Seems simple enough right? It was until the idea of the big penguin showing Aces came to me. The trick then was how to stage it.

First thought on putting up the cards was a paper clip. Would you believe after 20 minutes of looking around the house, not one paper clip was handy. (Of course now I know where some are.) Sharon came to my rescue with a bobby pin.

Bobby pins are about the right size and do a fair job of holding things, sadly not much beyond the cards. Visions of attaching the five cards to the penguin’s hand were out.

Figure out what I should have thought of at first; photography is as much what I plan for you to see as what’s really there. Cards in the picture above appear to be in the penguin’s hand. Actually they are resting on the right foot.

The bobby pin holds the cards together, while the hand is gently attached to the leg by clothespin. Outside penguins I copped out on and just leaned the cards against them. It worked out well from the angle of the photo.

Things I consider missing:

• the kitty
• chips at each player
• the dealer’s deck

Photoshop was not used nor any other photo magic. All I did with this post capture was to crop it and auto-adjust in iPhoto.

How does this post tie into social networking? It was created with the intent of sharing on my social networks. This is not a ‘photo album’ picture. It’s not for immediate family and friends, not for coworkers, it’s for you, my readers, my followers, my connections.

Why? Because you deserve a bit of effort and a laugh. You’re worth the effort.

Recommendations? Comments? Creative suggestions? Feedback on social networking?

Give it up in the comments!

Find Todd Jordan.

Honest, it taste just like Candy.... by Nanna J, on Flickr

At least that’s what she told me when I had to take it.  She kept me doctored up while recovering from the tonsillectomy.

Nurse Nanna... by Nanna J, on Flickr

My wife escorted me to the hospital for my tonsillectomy. She of course had to scrub in and help.