photomom-april

Come take a look!

2011-10-02T22:12:00.000-04:00

You can go see my new blog just by clicking! Confessions of a Momtographer Hope to see you there!

I am moving!

2011-09-27T12:12:00.000-04:00

Due to some recent issues I've faced with Blogger, I am moving my blog to wordpress. Follow this link: http://www.confessionsofamomtographer.wordpress.com Thank You to everyone who has followed my blog thusfar. I hope to see you in the future.

What if?

2011-09-20T14:37:00.000-04:00

Since deciding that I wanted to pursue photography as a career, I knew I needed to save for a photography course. I researched schools. I looked for grants. I even applied for a Pell Grant to attend a traditional four year college. In the meantime, I joined communities focusing on photography. I joined in challenges and workshops to expand my creativity. While these were great learning tools, I knew I still wanted some type of "schooling". Something a little more structured. Projects, deadlines, and tests. Fast forward to a couple days ago when I realized I had saved enough money to begin the New York Institute of Photography's pro photography course. That's precisely when the doubt monster entered the picture. You know him? He's the one sitting on your shoulder filling your ear with all those "what ifs".

1. What if I'm not making the right choice? OR What if I try and fail?

One thing I've recently realized is that all those wonderful people out there, those photographers whose blogs I follow, didn't start out knowing if they would succeed or fail. I tend to be a perfectionist. This means I CANNOT fail. Not that I CAN'T fail, just that the fear of failure can often determine whether or not I even pursue a goal. They were nervous too but they didn't let that stop them. Neither should I!

2. What if I need this money for other things?

Of course I do! With a house and a family, there are always things we need! There is a difference between investing in my future (and that of my family) and being frivolous. Maybe you look at what I am doing as being frivolous and that's okay. I see it as investing in myself. For nearly twelve years, since the day I gave birth to my first baby boy, I have taken care of everyone else. It's time to take care of me. If worse comes to worst, then I have invested in a hobby that makes me happy. This argument is sure to rear it's ugly head later when there is need for new equipment or marketing.

3. What if nobody likes my work? OR What if no one likes me?

The question is do I like myself? Do I like the work I have completed? Do I know my style? Is it dreamy? Edgy? Am I aiming for an editorial feel? What I've learned from all the challenges and workshops is that everyone has their own opinion. I may never win a challenge. I'm okay with that possibility. It doesn't mean my photography isn't worthwhile.

4. What if I never make a dime?

I am fortunate enough to not need to replace an existing income. However, if I want my photography career to be successful, then I need to earn in order to invest. I have seen some photographers refer to this situation as an expensive hobby. Why should I be concerned with what another photographer thinks of me, my work, or my business model? I'm not pursuing photography to please other photographers. I pursue photography to please myself and to please my client.

5. What if I'm not as good as (insert favorite photographers name here)?

To make matters short, I never will be! It is their unique voice that makes them "them". My unique voice is what makes me "me". I need to focus on my voice. I can use their photography as inspiration and add my own point of view. Not copying, but seeing a vision and using it as a spring board to form my own.

Not every one's situation is the same but many of these arguments are present for nearly every life choice. The choices I make are my own. It is when we avoid making choices that we cease to grow. I am ready to grow!

It's ba-ack!

2011-09-07T22:18:00.000-04:00

My computer has finally come home! I didn't think it would be that much of a deal but I was a little lost without it. Not because of any addictions but I kept finding myself thinking "Oh, I'll just look it up on the internet." and then realizing that I couldn't. I couldn't download any photos to critique myself. Whenever I took I photo, I couldn't edit. I couldn't network or follow any of the people who inspire me. I found I had been using my computer as a learning tool more than anything. I am excited to get back on track. As things have been moving along in my daily life with school beginning for the boys, my husband working nights, my baby had his first big boy dentist appointment and started kindergarten I am going to be concentrating on photography more. So here is a photo I took while hiking with the boys. It wasn't until I was able to upload my photos that I realized a bee had flown into the shot. The butterfly is nice, but the bee flying straight for the flower is mesmerizing. Makes me wish I had a macro lens! In due time...in due time.

I'm away from my computer

2011-07-26T11:19:00.000-04:00

I have not forgotten about this blog or the lovely people who follow it. My poor laptop has been damaged and needs to be sent out for repairs. I am typing this small post at the public library. In the meantime, please don't forget about me as I will be sure to have loads of new photos and post ideas once this little hiatus is over. Thank you to everyone who follows this little blog of mine. Although I have never met most of you, you mean so much to me. I hold my breath whenever I log on, waiting to see if anyone else is following or if someone has left a comment. So if you wanna make my day just leave me a small note. Doesn't have to be much. If you don't want to type anything just click on one of the little squares at the bottom of the post. In the meantime, feel free to browse any of my older posts. I think it's interesting to reflect back on things from the past to see just how far you've come. Again, I will be back in about two or three weeks. Hope to see you then!

I heart faces #107

2011-07-17T15:04:00.000-04:00

Before

After Color

After B/W

Welcome to another Fix it Friday from I Heart Faces. This time I decided to give a black and white variation. My edits include:

Sharpening the face at 20% and the eyes an additional 20% with Pioneer Woman's "Sharpen This".
Adjusted "levels" to taste.
Cropped.
Used JHP actions' "Beautify" and used soft light at 15%.
(Edit #2) converted to black and white and adjusted to taste.

An evening with bubbles

2011-07-09T21:54:00.000-04:00

Jon and I spent the evening blowing bubbles. Instead of me blowing the bubbles and him popping them all, I decided to let him blow the bubbles for a little while. It was too cute to miss. The amount of concentration it took to dip the wand into the bottle or holding the wand at just the right distance in order to blow bubbles instead of putting soap on your mouth. Too soon this time will be past.

I Heart Faces-Fix it Friday #106

2011-07-08T13:01:00.000-04:00

So here it is, another Fix it Friday with I Heart Faces. I like taking someone else's photo and putting my own stamp on it. Above is the before and below is the after.

I went a little wild with the editing this time, so get ready for a pretty long list of edits!

JHP actions "Infuse with Light" 40% on subject and 80% over the rest of the photo.
PW "Sharpen This!" 80% on eyes and an additional 45% on face.
of course, you can tell I cropped
brightened
JHP actions "slidefilm" at 30%

Okay, the list really wasn't as long as I thought it would be. I normally don't like to edit so much for fear of over editing but I really like how this turned out. Let me know what you think.

4th of Ju-fly

2011-07-07T11:46:00.000-04:00

Happy 4th of Jufly! It is a sign we hang every year at our 4th of July celebrations. It was one of those little signs where the letters are all connected. It wasn't until later anyone realized it said Happy 4th of Jufly! Our little sign hasn't got much time left but it's memory will live on in our family! That is what any holiday means for me...spending time with the people I love. Every year, while watching our own firework show, we remember the year Michelle and I were attacked by a renegade firework. Now we are building memories of our own for our children. I pray our children will have that same sense of family as they grow older and have children of their own.

Fix it Friday-I Heart Faces

2011-07-01T17:25:00.001-04:00

Before

After

I adjusted the levels and contrast only slightly. I sharpened her eyes with PW Sharpen This! at 100%. I "Enhanced" the photo through PSE7 by converting to black and white. I then used "Details" to bring out her face a little more. My goal was to bring your eye to her face rather than to the cat. I love the thoughtfulness of this photo.

Day 4-soldiers and sharks!

2011-06-28T22:14:00.000-04:00

Day four marked our last day at Colonial Williamsburg. I had to include a photo of this rare breed of sheep. I can't tell you WHAT rare breed of sheep but that's what the lady told us. For two days we searched for the baby lambs one of the workers had told us about. When we found these sheep and their caretakers we couldn't have been more happy. That was until they told us both the baby lambs who were still suckling and the baby lambs who had already been weaned were in paddocks at the other end of Colonial Williamsburg. After four days of walking from one end to the other our legs were sore! We decided taking a tour of the livestock would have to be something we do NEXT TIME!

The Armory, which in all honesty, was much more fascinating to the boys than to me.

This was more my speed. I love going to old cemeteries to see the old inscriptions and designs they used to use. Not like today where every headstone is glossy with precise lettering. Where else would you find a sarcophagus with cherubs and death?

I love the look of the old stone. Most of what was written on these sarcophagus was illegible.

I have my own little regiment. They were all putting on their serious soldiers faces!

The church which seemed to be central in Colonial Williamsburg. Did you know that you had to be a member of the church to vote?

After our short trip to Colonial Williamsburg we headed over to Virginia Beach to go to the Aquarium.

This was taken in a tunnel. The fish were swimming all around us. I put aside my claustrophobia for a moment to grab this photo.

The highlight of the trip had to be the sharks. It seemed that they were restless because they started swimming faster.

Then we saw some bits of food being dropped into the tank. The large fish in the tank with the sharks started darting around sucking up the food. This must have been the final straw for this one shark because it attacked one of the large fish. Everyone stood up and flashes were going off everywhere! Kids were squealing and adults stood with their hands to their mouths. One man was singing the theme to "Jaws". The shark ate the fish in five bites. It is one thing to watch it on Animal Planet, it was something entirely different to watch it in person!

Sea turtles-thankfully in a different tank than the sharks.

They had a touch tank for anyone who was interested. The first was a large tank with rays. Just lay your hand on the top and then reach gently into the water as they swam by. This tank had horseshoe crabs, hermit crabs, and starfish. The boys loved it! The rest of the day was spent swimming. It was a welcome relaxation after four days of solid walking!

Day 3-Mud pits, Thumb pots, and axes...oh, my!

2011-06-27T19:10:00.001-04:00

We spent our third day at Colonial Williamsburg having a scavenger hunt of sorts. Each boy was given a special map and as we went to each exhibit they would get a special punch. After so many punches, depending on their age, they would get a free pin souvenir. The top-left photo is when we joined the army. Our Sergeant told us some general rules, like bathing at least once a week, and how to hit the red coats with our axes. Imagine our surprise when we saw some red coats riding around town, as in the top-right photo. We also went to the brick making yard. The middle-left photo shows one of the "cleaner" workers in that area. The middle-right photo is the boys' feet after helping to mix the clay for the bricks. The bricks will actually be used in the foundation for the black-smiths that is being restored. The bottom-left photo is when we visited the Powell house. The lady was showing Jon how to use the thumb pots. The bottom-right photo is a rare picture of Ben and Jon working together instead of the constant bickering they tend to do. Maybe I should set them loose in the garden more often. Anyone know where you can get one of those thumb pots??

Day 2-Colonial Williamsburg and the Mormon Tablernacle Choir

2011-06-26T19:38:00.000-04:00

Our second day at Colonial Williamsburg was quite eventfull. We had visited briefly the night before to pick up our tickets, so we had no trouble finding the ticket office the second time. We were there before most things opened. The upper-left is a photo of some of the actors getting ready for the day. The middle-left is a photo of a gentleman putting out the flag to let us know that the building was now open. The boys had their hearts set on a carriage ride and we needed to schedule one as soon as possible since we knew they sold out the day before. On the lower right is the photo our coachman (actually a woman, but since that was unheard of in the 1800's they had her dress as a man!) took of us. The upper-middle photo is the boys during the coach ride. On the lower left is our coachman. She was very nice and informative. We learned so much from her on our 15 minute coach ride. The middle-middle photo is a group of girls performing one of the period dances while we waited for the re-enactments to begin. The crowd was huge!! The middle-right photo is a small portion of that crowd. We noticed large television quality cameras and microphones but brushed it off as something that Colonial Williamsburg must do occasionally for promotional purposes. At the end of the re-enactments(an hour later)some men in regular dress started singing. We thought, "How quaint! A barbershop quartet!" but thought it a little odd that they weren't in period dress. Then all around us more and more people joined in the song. It was beautiful! Imagine our surprise when another man in regular clothes stood on the stage to inform us that we had just taken part in a performance by the MORMON TABERNACLE CHOIR! We had just been flash-mobbed!! The upper right photo is one of the sweet ladies who sang that day. Her name is Teresa. I told her how beautiful I thought their performance was and thanked her. She left and before we could get very far down the street she stopped me to give me a free CD! How awesome! Sorry for the over abundance of exclamation points but I just don't think I can convey my excitement over the whole thing without them. After a long, hot day we spent the evening in the hotel pool. I cannot tell you how nice it was to go back to the hotel and have the beds made for us and fresh towels waiting. If you are a mom or housewife, you understand!

Virginia Welcomes You

2011-06-21T05:55:00.000-04:00

We woke around 4:30 and just couldn't go back to sleep. I guess we were a little excited about visiting a new place. This is our first family trip that did not involve visiting relatives(although there are some we are meeting up with).

We left the house around 6:30a. As we travelled, fog shrouded the hills. I think it only added to our sense of adventure!

Imagine our joy when we stopped at the Virginia state line and tried to take a photo of ourselves with the Virginia Welcomes You sign and a friendly biker with a full beard offered to take a family photo of us so I could actually be in the picture. Who would've guessed? Then there was the town we stopped in to fuel up the car and grab a bite for lunch. We drove in circles thanks to some poor city planning. I have no idea what the name of the town was but we were very eager to leave it once we found our way out almost an hour later! It just wouldn't be a family trip without getting a little lost!

Summer Water Fun

2011-06-19T13:37:00.000-04:00

Spent some time with the kiddos on Friday while the hubby tilled the garden for my Mom(Thanks Hon!).

Patches

2011-06-07T15:55:00.001-04:00

Meet the newest member of our family.

With six "toes" on her front paws, she fits right into our quirky family.

Embrace the wonder

2011-05-23T07:23:00.002-04:00

Aren't her pig tails just too adorable? As a parent it is easy to forget the little details. I have three boys. Whenever I have to fill out health records for them I end up wracking my brain trying to remember how long they were when they were born or when they first crawled. Yes, I have these things written down in their baby books but it isn't as if I go toting them around with me wherever I may go. Sometimes I take for granted what it is to be a child. I get aggravated that they want to act silly when I want them to be serious. I get frustrated that the idea of fun can so easily distract them from whatever chore I may have given them. I get discouraged when they act, well, like brothers instead of the best friends I want them to be. Those are some of the reasons I love photography. It makes me stop acting like a parent for a few minutes and lets me enjoy the wonder of being a kid again. How awesome is that?

I decided to enter this into Allie Photography's Happy Monday. Her theme this week is "Something you love". Click on the link to see other wonderful entries or enter your own. You have till Wednesday.

First place in Botany!

2011-05-20T12:53:00.000-04:00

All the science fair projects were displayed in the cafeteria.

Joey with his science fair project. His original project was "How does different liquids affect germination?"We placed them outside (for sunlight) and had a sudden downpour. His project was ruined. He finished this project in two days!

He won first place for the botany division!

Joey and his friend Wesley.

Joey and his homeroom teacher Mrs. Roberts. She had to squeeze him to get closer. I guess he was afraid of teacher cooties!

Awards ceremony

2011-05-19T20:03:00.000-04:00

She was so nervous she wouldn't know what to do.

Five Pins....count them!

Honor Roll, Student of the Week, Spelling Bee, Studen Council, and Honor Society

In the end, she was radiant!

Melissa and her homeroom teacher. Congratulations Melissa!

5th grade science fair

2011-05-18T21:31:00.000-04:00

Step 1: Place celery stalks in one cup of water with twelve drops food coloring.

My son had to turn in a science fair project this year. Really our family turned in a science fair project this year. He had started out with one project and ended with another thanks to the rain washing it away. So in three days, we had to come up with a new idea, research it and put together a presentation. He investigated how plants move water from their roots to their leaves(osmosis). He learned some colors showed better than others. How awesome would it have been to use flowers and see the difference it made in them? Anyway, here is a collection of photos we used on his presentation board. Enjoy!

After three hours we could see evidence of the water moving up the celery stalk.

We also learned that the reason the dye appears in spots is that the water is evaporating (or transpiring) through holes in the leaves (stomates) leaving behind the dye.

I love how you can see all the individual veins on the celery placed in the red dye.

The yellow dye made the celery look more yellow but left behind orange tips.

Goofy

2011-05-17T23:07:00.000-04:00

What does a five year old do while waiting for the doctor? He plays with coins (another of his mommy's clever ideas to teach him the names of the coins) and make goofy faces. And as the doctor walks into the room, he says loudly, "It's about time!" Isn't that what we are all thinking by the time the doctor graces us with their presence? As we leave we see the nice lady at the check-out desk. Honestly, one of the nicest things about our doctor's office is the people. Friendly and warm. Thank You for making something we dread feel so pleasant!

Dentist

2011-05-14T19:35:00.001-04:00

Nobody likes to go to the dentist. All the poking and fingers in your mouth. Strange instruments. Even worse is going when you KNOW you are going to have work done. All the anxiety of not knowing exactly what is going to happen. Will it hurt?

I happen to love my dentist. He is the only dentist I have ever visited. On a day when I had no dental work and I show up with another patient of his, he allowed me to photograph him at work. How awesome is that? My intention was to stay a few minutes, take a few photos and leave to more photos at the park next door. He was prepping for a porcelain cap which would take about two hours. There wasn't anywhere for me to sit and a small room with nowhere to wander. But once he set to work I was too fascinated to move.

Dr Shelton and his assistant Donna

Over the course of the next two hours he talked about becoming a dentist and the state boards, storms that had passed through our area recently and quirks he possesses. He mentioned he had a problem with viewing his own work. He often finishes and upon second inspection feels he can do better and tweaks his work a little. I asked if this meant he was a perfectionist. He grinned and reluctantly agreed. Although, if you ask me, I think this is a trait you would WANT your dentist to posses. After making a mold for a new porcelain cap, he inspected the mold to make sure it was acceptable. He studied the mold and said (with disappointment in his voice) he was going to have to do it over. I thought my friend's eyes were going to bug out of her head! Then he pinched the back of her arm and said "Just joking!" What a kidder!!

Dr. Shelton and Donna prep to make a mold for a new porcelain tooth

When leaving, you pass the receptionists desk. She is another important part of my dentist's office. She has been his receptionist for as long as I can remember. She is another large part of what makes this dentist office the best dentist office in the world and most likely the universe!

Brenda schedules the next appointment with a smile

Update: LEM Photo Challenge - Green

2011-05-09T19:02:00.000-04:00

Just to let you know (for those who keep track of this sort of thing) about Live Every Moments latest photo challenge. I did not place in the top three. However, I did place in her list of favorites! This is the second time I have made it onto her favorites list since I began entering her challenges. I have met one of my personal goals through this process. I will not be stopping! I am only encouraged! My next goal is to make it to her top three after that is to nab the top spot. It may take a while but I can only learn and grow through it all. What goals have you set for yourself? Up until this past year, I had let my life become a succession of daily living not thinking much past the day at hand. Since setting my goals and working toward them, no matter how small or slow the progress seemed, I have grown so much. The proof is in my photos and the way I handle my camera. I am much more at ease. Have I learned all there is to know? NO!! I just know so much more than a year ago. I want to encourage you to set goals of your own. They don't need to be large goals. Make a little goal, one that doesn't seem out of your reach. Then once you meet that goal make another, and another, and another. Before you know it you will have come so far! I'm rooting for you!!

Keep reaching for your goals!

Beauty all around

2011-05-09T08:21:00.001-04:00

I love flowers! What woman doesn't? But if you really want to impress me buy me LIVE flowers. They don't even have to be in good shape when you give them to me. More than once my heart has been sent aflutter by some wilted tulips or stemy bushes. I know that given time and some proper care they will return next season. My Mamaw has some of the most beautiful bushes in her yard. They were planted in love and cared for over the years. They put on a spectacular display every spring. Is it any wonder why I can be so easily distracted by these beauties? This is one of the things I am growing to enjoy about photography. Getting out and exploring. Finding beauty in a hidden place or, better yet, finding beauty in every day things. Even better is finding beauty in something that is considered ugly. The greatest compliment would be for someone to see one of my photos and think, "Huh! I never noticed that before". I want to encourage every one out there to get off the beaten path. Take a different path to work or just pause for a second to really look around you.

Silent Saturday

2011-05-07T18:07:00.000-04:00

LEM Photo Challenge - Green

2011-05-06T11:08:00.000-04:00

One of the most basic things you can do when you get a new camera is read the manual. I read the manual, and while most of it was in a language I didn't quite understand, I learned some new things. Recently I learned about sensors. So I pull out my trusty manual to find out what kind of sensor my camera contained. To make a long story short, I decided to read through my manual again. This time the language didn't seem so foreign. I found myself understanding what I was reading. I even learned about a whole new group of settings I didn't realize my camera contained. Now I am not usually the kind of girl who likes to use settings. I love shooting in manual. Sometimes, though, I am the kind of girl who likes to tinker around and see what the camera can do for itself. This is one of those photos. Although I know I could have produced this photo with my manual setting, I was happy to see this result. This was taken on the High Key setting. There are some limitations to this setting. You want your subject to be either in full sun or full shade. If not, you have over and under exposure in one photo. It isn't pretty. In short, I encourage everyone out there to read your manual again. You never know what you might learn! I have entered this photo into Live Every Moments Photo Challenge. This week's theme is Green. Click here to go see more lovely entries or to enter your own photo!

Rain, rain....

2011-05-04T20:41:00.000-04:00

As we were driving to Columbus, Ohio this past Monday, it struck me that the fields haven't been plowed yet. Normally, they would have been plowed at least once by now and, in some cases, the new crop of corn planted. Yet, nearly the entire way north, the fields sat untouched. There were a couple that looked as if they had started to plow and had to stop with only one or two rows finished. It is no wonder. We have had a remarkable amount of rain lately. Water lay everywhere, turning fields into ponds. And where there wasn't sitting water, I am sure there was plenty of mud. It makes me wonder what this means for local crops and produce prices. I pray the farmers are able to have a late crop and not miss too much of the growing season. Obviously, the weather agrees with this couple. They have turned our neighbors yard into their own personal pond. I didn't have the heart to tell them it would last long. I'll just let them enjoy it while it lasts!

Columbus Children's Hospital

2011-05-02T22:40:00.000-04:00

Jon's Genetics Dr. - Kim

Jon's Nutritionist - Shannon

Today we made our semi-annual trip to the Columbus Children's Hospital. We do this so the doctors can keep an eye on our youngest son's development. For any of you that don't know, our youngest child was born with a metabolic disorder in which his body does not produce enough of the enzyme to break down protein. It is not something we ever knew about until a little innocent heel prick test came back as positive for PKU. Type it in. Check it out. Waaay to much info for me to go into here. Just suffice it to say, we watch his diet carefully and give him a formula that has the protein already broken down for him. He looks and acts like an average five year old. Had it not been for that test, the outcome would have been very different. Seizures, retardation and brain damage. So, instead of the sign the state had posted over a creek (Pee Pee Creek) or the bus bench (that said Dottie's Doggy Doo Inn), I decided to say a little "Thank You" to all the health care workers who help keep my Jonathan healthy.

All the nice ladies in the reception area

The ride home gets him every time!

Mow-in', mow-in', mow-in'

2011-05-01T18:44:00.000-04:00

It has been raining lately. A lot! Usually with just a day or two before raining again. While the grass may love this it makes it difficult to keep up on our grass mowing chores. This past Saturday, was our first chance to mow in about two weeks. Even with the mower on it's highest setting, we were still mowing six to eight inches. Makes for a long hard day of mowing. So thankful for my hubby who mowed, not only my mom's yard, but most of our yard as well.

Weenie Roast-April 29, 2011

2011-04-30T11:42:00.000-04:00

J.D. getting plenty of sticks ready for the weenie roast.

This is nearly everyone that showed up. I love this family so much!

Some of the guys hanging out.

I loved being able to try out some night photos with only the fire for some light. There is just something about sitting late into the night around a roaring fire with the ones that you love.

And the other side of the fire.

The reason we gathered together....Our graduates.

And what weenie roast would be possible without a couple of "Fire Lords"! What is it about a fire that make grown men turn into little boys??

No resisting

2011-04-28T20:08:00.000-04:00

Just can't resist spending time with this cutie! Is there any question why?

The Dreaded Dr's Office

2011-04-26T19:35:00.001-04:00

This was my day. After two days of coughing, sneezing, runny eyes, itchy throat, sore ears, runny nose and tired achy body, I decided it was time to see the doctor. Yep. The dreaded Dr's office. It isn't so much the doctor as it is the waiting and then the inevitable medications they want you to take. If you know anything about me, you know how much I LOATHE taking medication.

The nurse finally calls your name and makes a mad dash for the scale. Doesn't matter what you go in for, you will be weighed. Allergies?? Let's weigh you! Broken arm?? Let's weigh you! I realize there are medical reasons they need to take your weight...but REALLY?? It's like adding insult to injury.

Then there's the whole hand sanitizer thing. I know the doctor doesn't know you personally most of the time. And as a matter of your safety and theirs they must wash or sanitize their hands before and after touching you. In some ways, this is a little reassuring. Then there's that little neurotic voice in my head that holds arguments with myself about how they do it as if I smell or am dirty in some way. I know I may be a little on the weird side, but don't you think they could be a little more discreet about it? I mean, take the time to do it before you touch me, but then wait until I turn my back or something to do it after you've touched me.

And who doesn't like to look at all the neat little medical instruments while waiting for the doc to check in on them? Maybe it's the kid in me.

Luke and Meagan Wed!!

2011-04-25T16:01:00.001-04:00

The Church

I was honored to attend the wedding of Luke and Meagan this past Saturday. I did not try to take photographs as a photographer but from the guests' point of view. Here I have included some of those key moments in nearly every wedding. I am so happy for the both of them. They are a beautiful couple!

The Entrance

The Dress

Let me tell you, this photo does not do this dress justice. It was gorgeous! The beading and lace and it fit her perfectly. She was so beautiful in it. Just like a fairy tale!

The Wedding Party

The Vows

The Kiss

The minister says those words that makes the wedding official, "You may kiss the bride." and he did. Not once. Not twice. Three times he kissed her!! Third time's the charm.

The Get-away Car

I think this photo is sweet. Tied to the bumper of their get-away car was a bundle of Big K soda cans. Tradition, I know. However, this one is sweet because Big K is the store brand for Kroger, the place where they met. AWWWW. I wish them both the very best! Love you all.

Lov'n my Light Scoop!!

2011-04-21T23:25:00.000-04:00

It is finally here! I love my new light scoop! It is a relatively simple accessory for your camera, but what a difference it makes. I was a little afraid that my expectations were going to be a little too high, but it far surpassed them. My mother's house always gives me grief when trying to take a photo. It is very dark. I bump up my ISO and open the aperture as wide as it will go. I slow down the shutter as slow as I feel comfortable with and I still end up with underexposed photos. Try using a flash and you get harsh shadows. Add the light scoop and follow a few quick instructions. Not hard to do if you are familiar with your camera. Just for the record, both of these shots are SOOC (straight out of the camera) and have not been re-touched in any way. No levels adjusted...nothing. NAKED as another photographer friend referred to it. I have not been asked to review this product. I will not receive any compensation if you click on the above link. Just my opinion.

Black-out

2011-04-20T12:35:00.000-04:00

We had settled down for the night. The television was turned down low, most of the lights were off and the air conditioner had been turned on to bring down the temperature and humidity inside the house. Then the electricity went off. Not only ours, but what looked like our entire little village. For two hours, this was our entertainment. Thank goodness for battery life! We listened to recordings on my honey's mp3 player and played games on our lap-top. It was too warm to fall asleep. We opened the windows to try to cool the house a little but since the rail-road tracks are in our backyard, every train that came by would have kept us awake anyway. Perfect opportunity to try a little low-light photography! Leave it to me to be excited that the electricity was off!!

Project 52

2011-04-16T00:43:00.000-04:00

I haven't taken many photos this week. I just got wrapped up in my every day life. A slight cold spell prompted me to take some photos of our tulips though. The cold made the petals on my favorite tulips curl and shrivel. This is me sighing. Oh well, the wonderful thing about tulips is that I know they will return next year.

My Motivation Monday

2011-04-11T12:13:00.001-04:00

My Goals

Why do I want to pursue photography?

to make money?
because I think I am good at it or other people say I am good at it?
because it makes me happy?

Would I like to make money pursuing photography? Of course, but that isn't my primary goal. I have to ask myself, "Would I still want to pursue photography if I knew I would never make a dime at it?", and the answer would still be yes.

This brings me to the second point. Do I want to pursue photography because I think I am good at it or that someone else has told me I am good at it? That would be a mixed answer. I do think I am okay at it but I know I can improve. There are plenty of other photographers who are far more advanced than I am right now but I plan on learning all I can learn. I never plan on stopping learning.

Last of all, my third point. I am pursuing photography because it makes me happy. I think it comes from years of me being a "watcher". Jasmine Star, in her latest CreativeLive seminar, stated that she wasn't just a wall flower-she was the wall paper! (Hard to believe when she is so gorgeous!) That is how I see myself. I tend to be quiet and shy but I also like to meet new people. It's a strange mix-a bit like myself. Hopefully, a bit like the people who I will be photographing.

I love the adventure of it all. It isn't about the final goal so much as it is about the journey. The greatest calamity is not to have failed: but to have failed to try.

Whirly-gigs

2011-04-08T09:06:00.000-04:00

For other lovely sky photos visit: http://skyley.blogspot.com/ or click on the link in the sidebar.

Try, try again.

2011-04-07T17:44:00.001-04:00

Why is it that when we are children and we fall we are so ready to get back up and try it all over again? Why is it that we lose this persistence as we get older? You would think that we would have learned from our childhood that if we tried often enough we would eventually succeed. We have so many sayings that encourage us to do just that. "Tis a lesson you should heed. Try, try again. If at first you don't succeed. Try, try again." "If you fall off your horse, you've got to get right back in the saddle." Proverbs 24:16 says "For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again." It is easy to say "Never give up, never surrender" (Quote from the movie, Galaxy Quest) but it is much harder to practice.

I am going to start keeping a record of those things that have encouraged me through hard times. Hopefully you will find them encouraging, as well.

Locks and Dam

2011-04-03T20:17:00.001-04:00

We went on a little driving adventure today. Along the way, we stopped at this lock and dam. The turbulent water was a little frightening. There were a couple of fishermen and some evidence of recent flooding. It was massive! I have entered this photo into Mortal Muses Flickr stream. Go see it here: http://www.flickr.com/groups/mortalmuses/ along with other amazing photos.

LEM Photo Challenge

2011-04-01T09:07:00.000-04:00

Found this lovely curly-q onion grass while hiking. I thought it made this stinky plant into something pretty. I have entered it into Live Every Moments photo challenge. Visit the link below, or the tab in the sidebar, to see other lovely photos. This week's challenge is "A Different Perspective". http://liveeverymom.blogspot.com/2011/04/lem-photo-challenge-different.html

Hoping and Praying

2011-04-01T00:09:00.000-04:00

Visiting a loved one in the heart wing of a local hospital.

I watched the movie Benjamin Button tonight. There is a line that says (in effect) that we are supposed to lose those we love in order for us to know how special they are. Although I have lost friends, acquaintances and even a couple of dear relatives, I wouldn't say that I have lost anyone who I am close to. I cannot imagine, nor do I want to, what that must be like. When my second child was born, he was born with pneumonia. He had to be airlifted to a hospital with a NICU unit. My heart broke for him yet there wasn't anything I could do for him except wait. Wait and watch and pray that he would recover and grow in strength. My heart goes out to all those who have family members and loved ones who are in need of recovery.

Mushrooms in my flower bed

2011-03-29T01:29:00.000-04:00

I had been checking out our flower bed in order to determine what needed to be done and these little beauties were growing near our daffodils. I imagine they were there because of the yard debris I had neglected to clear away. Do you think anyone will believe me if I say I did that on purpose?? I am glad I took the opportunity to take their photo. They were shriveled and dry the very next day. Just another reminder to take the opportunity when it finds you. Don't wait!!

Family time

2011-03-27T18:32:00.000-04:00

I love to see my boys have moments like this one. No worries or cares. No arguing or bickering. Just pure fun. Mouth wide open in laughter. Eyes closed tight with glee. We may not be able to afford all the latest trends or to buy them every little thing their hearts desire but we do try to make sure they have plenty of fun. I pray that when they look back on their childhood they will have plenty of memories having fun with their family.

Spring!

2011-03-25T15:58:00.000-04:00

My favorite things about spring isn't only the warmer weather but the flowers everywhere. I love how they make the stark landscape of winter come alive with color. Long before the grasses turn green they pop their little heads up to let us know spring is on it's way. To see other wonderful spring photos, or to enter your own, visit the link below. http://liveeverymom.blogspot.com/2011/03/lem-photo-challenge-spring.html

Spring is a tease!

2011-03-24T18:59:00.000-04:00

The weather has gotten cool again after more than a week of nice weather. We haven't had the heater on for at least that long. Even better, it had gotten so warm that we had started sleeping with the windows open! Yesterday, when we went to bed, it was 78 degrees in the house! Sadly, we had storms come through last night and our weather is cold and wet again. My toes are cold! My nose and fingers too. At least all the lovely flowers that had bloomed are still here. How sweet the hyacinth smells when we step outside our house!

2011-03-20T16:50:00.000-04:00

Cutesy little flower I found among the moss while hiking.

Frustration

2011-03-18T18:26:00.000-04:00

We went over to my Mom's today. She was babysitting my favorite munchkins and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to spend some time with them. So after an afternoon filled with cuddles and tickles it was time for us to go home. We left with plenty of time to get home before our two older boys would get home from school. That was BEFORE the train decided to stop on the railroad crossing. Normally, this wouldn't be as bad as you would think. At the end of our little village, there is a train trestle. Trains can only cross this trestle one at a time. So it can be a pretty common occurrence for a train on this side of the river to stop while another train crosses. We wait about fifteen minutes, and sure enough, another train crosses. I start the car thinking the train was about to move. I was wrong. One hour later, my honey decides to walk to our house. It is already past time for the bus to drop off our two older boys. He leaves. The boys call and I explain to them what is happening. Then the train starts to move. My youngest son and I do the happy dance in the car, pick up Dad who was halfway down the road and go home. The frustrating part of our wait???

The train only had to move twenty feet before the crossing was clear!!!

creepy crawly

2011-03-17T22:44:00.000-04:00

What is it about photography that makes me put aside my dislike of spiders aside just so I can take a photo?

Safety Award

2011-03-16T15:18:00.001-04:00

Although I liked finding this monument, it made me think a little of how it came into existence. I mean, how do you go about (as a company) convincing your workers that if they have a perfect safety record for the year, you will reward them with a monument at the work site? A nice gesture I guess but a little off the mark, don't you think? They can't take it home with them and show it to their loved ones. "Hey Honey! Let's go on a little field trip. I've got something I want to show you." Could they even take their loved ones to go see it and would they want to go on their time off to show them? "Hey Honey! We had a perfect safety record for the year so the company bought us a monument!" Hmmmm, I don't know.

No parking

2011-03-15T19:59:00.000-04:00

No Parking?? No Problem!!

Under water

2011-03-14T15:11:00.001-04:00

We have high water in our area right now. I decided to drive a little to see what damage it has done and maybe catch a photo or two. This is my favorite photo from the day. This golf range is completely under water but it was still open. When I asked if it was more fun to hit the golf balls into the water instead of dry land, he smiled and answered, "I can see where they land!" The owner said, "We just retrieve the balls when the water goes down." I love that attitude! Terrible things may happen but life goes on.

Butterfly Bush

2011-03-13T17:48:00.000-04:00

We went on our first hike yesterday. I was so excited to be back out at our favorite spot. I can get a little too excited when I think about hiking and taking photographs along the way. It created a moment of temporary insanity in me. Instead of taking one of the easier trails (it was our first hike after a couple of months snowed in) I decided we should take a trail that starts at the base of a hill, goes to the top and follows the ridge. I had seriously forgotten how many stairs there were to the top! They don't present themselves all at once. I am convinced they do this to prevent from scaring people off that trail! You go up ten steps, reach a small landing and turn to see more steps. The first few weren't too bad so you keep going. At the next landing you're breathing noticeably harder but you think you can still make it. Now try going through this process five times. I about hyperventilated. Wouldn't you know, I didn't PLAN on taking the more difficult trail so I didn't bring any water. Every time I swallowed my throat would close. All I can say is Thank Goodness for beautiful scenery, time with my family and a much easier walk downhill.

Hyacinth

2011-03-12T17:09:00.000-05:00

I love the anticipation that comes with spring. Waiting for the tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths to bloom.

skywatch Friday

2011-03-11T17:37:00.000-05:00

This is a Water Maple in our yard. For other lovely sky photos, click on the Skywatch Friday button at left.

Spring

2011-03-09T16:16:00.000-05:00

Why must spring be so fickle? It teases us with it's warmth and sunny days then hits us with buckets of rain and a nip in the air. "Not quite summer yet," it reminds us. The one magical thing about spring is how everything is transformed into a thing of beauty. This is one of the many weeds popping up around our neighborhood. But see what spring has done? She has given it a little furry coat and pretty purple flowers. Almost makes you forget that this is a stinky weed that sneaks into your flower beds and tries to take over your garden.

Congrats, Meagan!

2011-03-06T23:25:00.000-05:00

I went to a bridal shower for a sweet cousin of mine. This is one of the games we played. Simply remove the safety pins from the rice. The catch is that you have to do it with your eyes closed. Easier said than done. It was a little strange. You could feel the pins but somehow kept dropping all of them. We enjoyed a great laugh at everyone's expense, including our own. What great fun!

Routine

2011-03-03T20:46:00.001-05:00

I love the weather we have been having lately. Soo much warmer. I am excited to get back in the routine of weekend hikes and days at the park or beach. I love our little park. I think some of the equipment is as old as I am...no wisecracks needed! They may be old but they haven't lost any of their charm...like me. See how I tied it in there nicely??

Spillway at Lake Vesuvius

2011-02-27T12:48:00.000-05:00

The weather was beautiful yesterday. We took our boys to the park and then out to Lake Vesuvius for a quick visit. The water was high and there was plenty of water going over the spillway. A fallen tree came to rest just at the top of the spillway. The sound of the water cascading down the spillway was so loud! The boys loved it. They would find a small stick and throw it into the water to see how fast the water was moving. Thank goodness for tall fences all around the spillway!

Fave photo of the week

2011-02-26T09:40:00.000-05:00

My favorite photo from the week. I've had a lot of fun with these two cuties this week. Love these kids!!

What Jon said

2011-02-22T21:44:00.000-05:00

While playing with his brothers, said in his very best robot voice..."I am a robot. Shoot me and I'll say ouch!"

What Jon said

2011-02-22T11:01:00.000-05:00

Frustrated that his brother wouldn't play with him..."Get out of your room so I can play with your toys!"

abandoned

2011-02-15T13:36:00.000-05:00

skywatch Friday

2011-02-11T21:53:00.000-05:00

dramatic weather

2011-02-06T01:17:00.000-05:00

We had some crazy weather today. It was windy and raining, then it changed to snow, then back to raining. But as I was driving home the clouds cleared a little and how dramatic it all looked! I just had to pull over to take some photos. Every time I drive by these stacks and buildings I think about how I should get out and photograph them. I didn't get very close to them...call me chicken little. At least I did stop this time!

Joy of love-what they wear

2011-02-04T13:57:00.000-05:00

His steel toe boots. They're dusty, dirty and very well-worn.

Joy of love-then and now

2011-02-03T20:39:00.000-05:00

I met him when he was 21. Black, black hair. He's gotten a little grey over the last few years. He's also developed some lines around the eyes, most notable when he laughs and smiles. We like to laugh and have fun whenever possible.

Joy of love-what they look like

2011-02-02T20:28:00.000-05:00

Day 2 - Joy of love

What they look like

I love his eyes. He has been scruffy lately. Watch Out (!!) when giving kisses. A scar from when his dog nearly bit his lip off. Pores that hold onto all the metal dust he encounters at work.

Joy of love-what they do

2011-02-01T17:52:00.000-05:00

My honey after working twelve hours. While we slept and started our day, he was hard at work. Working through the night can take a toll on him. You just don't sleep as well through the day as you would the night. He doesn't get to see me or the kids very much either. So this is the way I see him most days. Exhausted. So exhausted he doesn't wake up when I whack him upside the head with some white foam board while trying to take his photo for the Joy of Love. I like this edit because it gave the photo a dreamlike quality.

You can still enroll. http://willettedesigns.us1.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=dcb16456c382f72009ff2f6bc&id=ac45683d2c&e=5947fd606b

They also have a flikr page to share your photo and view other member's photos. http://willettedesigns.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=dcb16456c382f72009ff2f6bc&id=765b2590b5&e=5947fd606b

Project 52

2011-01-30T23:23:00.000-05:00

This is photo number four for my project 52 (one photo a week, remember?). Be prepared to see many more of this guy as I will be doing the joy of love class this coming month. Of course, I might also add a few other of my loved ones in there if I can get them to cooperate. I would love a photo of me and my Mommy (hint-hint).

Two months

2011-01-27T23:40:00.000-05:00

It has been exactly two months since the last time we went hiking. I am officially going a little stir crazy. I love the snow but not this biting cold. Besides, I don't want to go driving for scenic photos with the car out of commission. We should be getting the insurance check in the next few days so the work can get started on it. We'll have a rental during that time. I don't know how on earth we will find the time to get the rental and turn over our car though. Hubby is working 12 hours most nights. He comes home and sleeps, eats and then back to work. I barely see him. I'm not going to complain right now. There are twenty people currently laid off at his plant. Overtime hours means bills paid off and money set back in case he gets laid off next. But I miss getting to go hiking every weekend. I'm not sure that I could convince him with it as cold as it has been, but I could dream.

Rock n' Roll!

2011-01-26T23:44:00.000-05:00

Freeze, thaw, repeat

2011-01-24T11:03:00.001-05:00

It has snowed again but the temperature is supposed to reach a balmy 42 degrees! I thought I would share a photo (or two) of the freeze and thaw cycle.

A boy and his...

2011-01-22T20:03:00.000-05:00

It is amazing to me the things that a five year old boy finds "cool". We spent the day with Nanny Jewell taking her to several of her favorite shopping places, looking for a couple things. One of the places she likes to visit is a Dollar Tree. As we were in the check-out, Jon was playing with all the little coin machines. He'd push and pull on the money slots and poke his fingers in the dispensers. He hadn't come and ask me for any money to buy a toy. He was simply playing. He wasn't hurting anything so I let him. He was being quite and having fun. As one lady entered the store, she saw him and smiled. Then smacked her husband on the arm. "Give me two quarters! I'm going to give him some quarters if that's okay," she said looking at me. "Sure." Who am I to deprive a lady of giving a cute five year old boy two quarters? He was ecstatic. He tapped his cheek as he thought of which treasure he truly wanted. Here it is proudly displayed on his finger.

Be careful....

2011-01-21T21:53:00.000-05:00

Ever hear of that saying "Be careful what you wish for"? Deep inside, you think "Yeah, yeah, yeah" but you don't really think anything of it. So here I was watching what seemed like the rest of the country and all the snow they were getting. Snowgeddon. Snowcolypse. I mean-who thought of those awesome names? In my part of the world we were getting pretty warm for January. Warm enough for a marigold to bloom in the backyard. When I told my Mom we had a marigold she thought it was just the plant. No! It had a flower as well. I wish I had taken the picture for proof because the next day it had been trampled. The boys probably ran it over playing outside. It was a sad, sorry little lump of dirty, yellow flower. I watched in envy as everyone was typing on their facebook about all the snow they were getting. Then as time wore on, they were typing about being snowed in and everything closing and the kids loving the snow but they wished it would just melt already. Still warm in my area. Warm enough we went outside with just jackets. No gloves. No hat. No scarf. And definately no coat. You about roasted with a coat on! And then it happened. We finally get our snow. Aaaaah! I love the snow. I hear people complain about the snow. How they don't like it anymore and they wish spring would get here. But I was happy. Pretty snow. Clean, fresh air. Like they say "Be careful what you wish for".

On the way to work, my hubby had a little fender bender with a bridge. Thank goodness he didn't flip over the side to plunge into the river. Thank goodness there wasn't any other traffic to slam into him as he spun around. Thank goodness he wasn't hurt.

So in all my envy for snow that I finally got, I didn't stop to consider that it would get bad enough for my hubby to actually have an accident. He drives on the snow all the time and is much more comfortable with it than I am. So yes, I got my snow but I also get a damaged car (for a while anyway, until it is repaired) and an insurance deductible.

A day at the hairdressers

2011-01-19T22:27:00.000-05:00

I took my Mom to a hair appointment today. While she was having her hair done, I watched little miss Aubry and my youngest, Jon. We walked around the little shopping mall. When Jon saw the little merry go round he wasn't going to take no for an answer. And if you know me at all, you would know that I could not resist the opportunity to take a photo. I love this girl!

Oh yeah. Love my boy too. The nice hair lady gave Jon some "robot fingers". They worked like a charm until he couldn't figure out how to take them off and yelled "Take them off me!"

And Aubry was just fascinated by the whole Grandma having her hair done thing.

All in all, we had fun watching t.v. in the waiting area and reading books and magazines and playing with the hair lady. Thank goodness there were not many people at the hairdressers!

Getting sucked in

2011-01-18T23:23:00.000-05:00

Aaaaaaah! I feel I have hit a wall. I just haven't felt very inspired lately. Maybe it is winter blues. Maybe it is that all the snow has melted. It is winter and it looks more like spring outside. I have felt this strong desire to go exploring and just haven't been able to yet. My latest venture has been local cemeterys. Please don't think I am morbid. It isn't about death for me. It is more about appreciating what I have and trying to live life to the fullest. It is also about the history of this area. Like the cementery I recently visited with the monument to slaves. I didn't really realize there had been slaves in this area. I knew there were underground homes, so I assumed there hadn't been slaves here. While reading about the village I live in, I found the records for a cementary nearby. I saw many names that are very familiar for this area. I also noticed there were a lot of children in this particular cementary. Makes you wonder why and what it must have been like to lose a child. I can't imagine. I think when you live in one area all your life you tend to take the things around you for granted. I am fascinated by the history of this area or if there is any-which I am learning there is. Wish me well on my quest. Have you ever been so wrapped up in something it is all you think about? What do you do when you find something that catches your interest? Do you follow it or just let it go? Do you know any good resources to help you on your way? Inquiring minds want to know!

Can spring be here already?

2011-01-17T23:11:00.000-05:00

This is the third time I have tried to type this post. I keep hitting a weird combination of buttons that makes my post go completely bye-bye. So here it is, short and sweet.

Our garden, waiting for spring to arrive. Seems we won't have to wait too long.

We did not receive the snow the rest of the country seemed to enjoy. I would formally like to ask for it back. Why have the cold weather if you are not going to get the pretty white stuff? Okay-back to the subject at hand. It has gotten warm enough to go out in a jacket. This starts thoughts of gardening for us. We've received our seed books. I saw a freshly turned field the other day. We are reviewing what we grew last year. What worked and what didn't work. I even go as far as to map out how I want to place everything in our garden so as to maximize what we can plant. And did I mention I saw a marigold today??

2/52

2011-01-15T22:57:00.000-05:00

While waiting for our car to be fixed today I went walking through a cemetery. It was a little old cemetery nearby. You could see some of the headstones were old. There was a monument set up to slaves. It was called "The Promised Land". I think walking through an old cemetery is fascinating. You get to see common names of older generations. You see war veterans and children and sometimes babies. It was sad to see, in one family, an infant pass away only for history to repeat itself twenty years later. The babies lay side by side. It was sad to see the state of the crumbling headstones, and some so worn you could barely make out a shadow where a name had been. Only the caretaker knows who lays there now, that is, if there are any records. It was sad to see markers completely grown over by grass, and no one caring enough to clear it away. There were a few newer headstones. All shiny with mementos or flowers but the vast majority were forgotten. How sad. I don't want to be buried beneath the cold hard ground. Cremate my body and scatter my ashes in a clearing on a hill. Think of me whenever you go hiking forevermore. No grave to tie you down. No mourning place to revisit (and eventually neglect) only to be forgotten by newer generations. No crumbling headstone. No grass covered marker. Only memories (hopefully good ones). Tell them to your children and grand-children and great grand-children about crazy Grandma April. That would be the best way to live on...to live in the memories of my family.

Five things about me

2011-01-13T23:22:00.000-05:00

O.K. Are you sitting down? I am going to try something a little different tonight. Ready? How about a post with no photo? What??? Yep, no photo. Sorry. I am all tapped out right now. As a replacement, I thought I would let you know a few things about me. What would be great, is if you could respond with your own answers. You would learn a little about me and I would learn a little about you, see? So here goes.

My favorite movie of all time is Fried Green Tomatoes
My favorite color changes with my mood. One day it's blue, but most day it's red.
I am a cat person though, currently, I am without a pet.
I have visited only seven of the 50 states. I want to visit(not just pass through)all fifty.
I have never been out of the U.S. not even for Canada or Mexico.

So now it is your turn. Tell me five things about you. You can use mine as a guideline or come up with your own. I look forward to hearing from everyone!

Just breath

2011-01-12T23:54:00.000-05:00

I have sat and stared at this computer screen for over an hour trying to put into words what I've been feeling lately. I feel as if I am about to start on a journey. It is a long journey to which I don't know the outcome. I hope and pray that it works out the way I dream it will. I read and study and practice for a future outcome. I have seen myself grow in the last six months since deciding to pursue this dream. I have found myself falling in love all over again with photography. I have fallen in love with photography styles that initially held no interest for me. I am searching for my voice. I love being with people, so I know I want to do something in portraiture. Families, children, seniors, couples. I don't know about wedding photography. That scares the living daylights out of me. Maybe one day. I also like HDR and urban exploration. I think I like the feeling of desolation most of those photos inspire in me. I know...I'm complex! So I am strapped in waiting for this roller coaster to climb that first hill and really begin this ride. Let's go already!!

Snow love

2011-01-11T23:21:00.000-05:00

Anyone else see the love this dried cone flower left for me? I have been trying to not take the things around me for granted. To really look at the things around me. I had a couple of other photos of these dried cone flowers. This is the only photo I caught the heart. That was because I didn't really notice it until I took a couple of steps to the right and looked at the cone flower again. I am so glad I did take the time to look again at something I was already satisfied that I had photographed. Would I have been happy with the other photos? Certainly! But how much better to find little lagniappes like this one? It is a little something extra that turned this photo into something a little bit special.

Can't have one without the other

2011-01-10T23:08:00.000-05:00

I hate spiders. The very thought of them make my skin crawl. Maybe it's all those eyes, or the little hairs all over their body or maybe it is just the fact they can give a pretty nasty bite. I don't know what it is about them that creeps me out. Ever walk through a spider web and you can't get it off of you fast enough? But how pretty they can be in an early morning fog with the dew still clinging to each little strand. It almost makes me like them. Well...not "like" exactly. Let's say tolerate.

Birthday Blunder

2011-01-09T20:23:00.000-05:00

Yes, that would be a birthday cake gone awry. It is tradition at our house, that we let the boys pick their birthday cake. They pick the flavor and the icing. Any candles or decorations are decided by me and hubby. We were so proud of this cake when we had finished decorating it. A strawberry cake with vanilla icing. Ben wanted blue icing for the details. Let me tell you that one of those little tubes goes a long way. I first wrote the traditional Happy Birthday Ben. Then I added the fancy trimming around the bottom. Then stars around the top. Then my oldest boy suggested swags. I even did that. See the balloon? That was an attempt at a flower. The icing was too thin to stand. Then I added the "9" and still had icing left. I gave up and let birthday boy eat what was left. I know....terrible, sugar pushing mother. As the cake sat on the top of the stove, and we waited for dinner time to come, the cake decided to take a little trip. Off the plate, I suspect but I caught it before then. I tried to shift the top layer back onto the bottom layer and only tore it up. Waaaaah!! At least Ben got to see it before it was destroyed. Hey-it tasted great anyway. Word of advice, just tilt the plate in the opposite direction of the slide. Works like a charm!!

Birds!

2011-01-09T00:08:00.000-05:00

Came home and found hundreds of birds in the trees and on the houses. What a sight! On the one hand you're fascinated. On the other, scenes from Alfred Hitchcock's Birds kept running through my mind.

I didn't sign up for THIS!

2011-01-07T22:47:00.001-05:00

There is a lot of thinking that goes into preparing for a child. Setting up the baby's room, stockpiling on diapers. Blankets, sleepers, socks, onesies. Mentally, you prepare yourself for the late night feedings, the months without a solid night's sleep. You pray they aren't colicky. Somewhere in there, you realize there will be colds and sniffles and boo-boos. What you aren't prepared for is the helplessness you feel when your little one is suffering. Vomiting, diarrhea, crankiness. Laundry, baths and disinfectant. Listening and watching them in pain and knowing you have to let them pass through it for their own sake. Poor baby, and you pray it will pass quickly. Your heart breaks and you fall even deeper. If only someone had told you. If only someone could have told you. There is no explaining to a new parent what joy and grief can be rolled up into one little cold, stomach virus or flu. Most of my children have passed through the fire of infancy. They will still get colds and boo-boos, but they won't need me quite the same way. Would I want to do it again? For them....I would.

1/52

2011-01-06T23:17:00.000-05:00

So here it is. My first photo for the 52project. I tried to get a photo of this pretty little flower yesterday. If you read yesterday's post, you know why I didn't post it until today. Live and Learn. I think this is a good photo to start out the year. Here we are, in the dead of winter, and pretty little flowers are around my kitchen sink. A nice little bright spot in the blahs of winter. Don't get me wrong. I love winter. I love the snow and the cold and the wind. But I have to admit, without the daily outdoor activities, you can start to feel a little cabin crazy. Besides, it doesn't hurt to have a little pretty pretty to look at while I'm doing dishes.

It's just me!

2011-01-06T07:48:00.000-05:00

I was going to take a photo of the pretty little flowers on my spider plant after the boys went to bed last night Little did I know that they closed up during the night. I know. A flower closing at night? Go figure! At any rate, I decided to show you what sits on my kitchen windowsill. I have a thing for cows. No wisecracks please. I just think they're cute. So there it is. Do you have any embarrassing little secrets?

Best face of 2010

2011-01-04T09:02:00.001-05:00

How could you not love a face all slathered in barbecue sauce?? I thought hard about which photo I would enter into I heart faces photo link-up this week. Out of all the photos of faces, this is still my favorite. Maybe it's the unashamed attitude of "Oh yeah, I'm covered in barbecue sauce. What of it?". Now, this is where you come in. Go on over to the sidebar and click on the iheartfaces icon. Check out some of the other photos entered into the contest. While you're there, cast a vote for my photo. Show me some love! Or you can get there by going to http://www.Iheartfaces.com

RATS!!!! I entered my link incorrectly so it was pulled. Oh well, learned something new.

52

2011-01-01T19:33:00.000-05:00

As a way to work on some of my goals, I have decided to pursue a 52 project. You take a photograph a week. There is also a 365 project, but after my 30 day challenge, I am a little hesitant to enter into such a BIG project. I feel pretty confident that I can finish a 52 project. I already try to photograph something new at least once a week. Instead of just pasting up any photograph to fulfill the challenge, I will only post a photograph I wouldn't be embarrassed to hang on my living room wall. The first week ends on the 7th, that is when I will post my first photograph and have it clearly labelled as a 52 project photo. Wish me luck, or better yet, wish me happy photo hunting! And just because it wouldn't be my blog without a photo, here is a photo I took of the water fountain. Yes. A water fountain. Remember when you were a kid and you liked to play with the water fountain just to watch it arc and sparkle. I guess I just never grew out of that. No comments, MOM!

Top 5 of 2010

2010-12-31T12:35:00.000-05:00

This man really gets into his food! I like this photo because I can never get him to say an involuntary "yum" no matter how hard I try. But when I look at him and he's covered in his food, I KNOW it was good!

I love this shot for the serendipity of it. We were hiking on a very difficult trail. It was 1/2 a mile one way, nearly straight up hill the entire way. Found this along the trail. Who knew I was gonna need a little love that day?

I love this shot of water droplets on the windshield because it turned out so much better than I anticipated. I love how the sun is reflected in all the little drops, the bokeh , and even the little rainbows.

I love this shot because it makes something icky into something pretty. I love how the sun shines through the sack and how the background is blurred.

I love this shot because this is a side of my dad you rarely see. He tends to be serious, so when I caught him playing with Aubry, I couldn't pass up this shot.

So there you have it. My top five for 2010. I could have picked more. I could have chosen to stick with photographs that were more "professional". I chose the ones I did because I think they show different sides of me. I love my family, and nature, and hiking. Since pursuing photography, I feel my eyes have been opened and I look at things differently. I am so glad I have been given this opportunity. Again, I thank everyone who takes an interest in my pursuit. Thank You. God bless you in the coming year.

Reflection on 2010

2010-12-30T11:03:00.002-05:00

I have decided to use today's post to reflect on the past year and the goals I have for the coming year. This past year has brought a whole host of changes. I got my new Nikon D5000 when I made the choice to see how far I can go with my photography. I have learned so much this year, some do's and some don'ts. I can definitely see a change in the quality of photos I take. I have learned to rely less on my zoom lens and more on my feet. I focus more on composition. I have become less shy. I had my first engagement shoot and had a blast!

My first engagement shoot.

As for my goals for 2011, I don't like to use the word resolution because what I really want is a life change. I don't want it to be something I "work on" for the next couple of months and then fall back into my normal routine. I want it to be something fundamental that will bring a change to every aspect of my life. I will be starting New York Institute of Photography's Pro course. I want to refine my photography a little more. I want to start making some money! I don't need to replace an existing income, so I plan on reinvesting most of what I would earn back into photography equipment. I hope to have a lot of firsts this year. A maternity shoot, a newborn shoot, a family shoot. Some photography that does not involve my own children! Although I am looking forward to trying out a little sports photography when the boys start baseball. I want to continue growing and learning. I may not make a ton of money. That isn't my goal, really. I want for someone to see one of my photos and think "Wow. That's really nice.". That's it. As for personal goals, I want to be more friendly. I want to tell the people I love how much they mean to me. I want to be less self-centered or self-serving. And most importantly, I want to let everyone know how thankful I am for their love and support. Thank You to all my followers and for those that just check in every so often. I love you all for your encouragment and comments. You all have helped me to grow. Thank You.

One of my favorite photos from the year.

Time saving?

2010-12-29T10:37:00.000-05:00

Sometimes you just got to LOVE time saving devices. For example, a pre-lit Christmas tree. The idea is that the tree already has the lights on it so you don't have to put the lights on the tree after assembling it. This saves you some time and lots of poking. That's the idea anyway. May I suggest to anyone even considering buying a pre-lit tree, that you buy one that stays lit if a bulb goes out? My tree (you guessed it) does not. After buying one of those nifty gadgets that lets you "fix" the broken light strand and spending a couple of hours replacing every single bulb on the broken light strand........you guessed it, still nothing. So I spent $10 on the nifty gadget and wasted a couple hours trying to avoid what I am evidently going to have to do...replace the entire string of lights. This means I have to cut off the bad string of lights. Because when you buy a pre-lit tree, it isn't exactly as if you had strung the lights on the tree yourself. NOOOO! The wire goes off in all kinds of crazy directions and literally twists around every single branch. There is no way to take the wire off without cutting it!! Aaaargh! Ooooh-kaaay. I'm O.K. Really, I am. Will someone please stop me the next time I want to get another time saving device?

sisters and boyfriends

2010-12-28T12:15:00.000-05:00

During our recent trip to Louisiana, we got together with my sister-in-law and her family. We hadn't seen her girls in about six years. My how time flies! They were nervous and excited for their oldest sister. It would be the first time their family would meet her boyfriend. THE FIRST BOYFRIEND!! This was going to pave the way for all of them. When the phone rang, they all nearly came unglued. "It's HIM!" and this set off a whole wave of giggles and excitement. Was I ever that young, giddy, or enamoured with boys?

leap of faith

2010-12-27T14:57:00.000-05:00

I am not feeling well today, so I decided to go through the thousands of photos on my computer and do a little editing. This is one of my favorite shots from the summer. There was a small rock wall at the park we visited while in Louisiana. The boys loved climbing it and I loved watching them. Watching their mind work as well as their bodies whenever they would pause to figure out which way to move next. They would reach the top (only about seven feet at its very highest) and couldn't figure out how to get down. We would encourage them to jump. There is over a foot of sand at the base of the wall. Of course they would look at us as if we had lost our minds and we would encourage them a little more. I love this shot because Ben (after arguing with us) shrugged his shoulders and jumped. I promise you, it looked more like he was taking flight. When he landed, he dusted himself off and smiled. Maybe he learned something that day. Learned to trust his parents a little more (maybe). Learned to trust himself a little more too, I imagine. We try teaching them to not be too afraid to try new things. Sometimes, practice does make perfect.

Directions

2010-12-26T09:40:00.000-05:00

I offer this photo up to you, ladies, as proof that sometimes THEY DO read the manual! Of course, we will not mention that he eventually turned the project over to me.

Christmas in our home

2010-12-23T19:29:00.000-05:00

A little peak into our house. One of the simplest, therefore one of my favorite, ways to decorate for the holidays is to put some of the pretty Christmas bulbs into glass containers of various sizes. This container was only large enough to hold three ornaments, but I love how it all sparkles.

Gingerbread

2010-12-22T14:28:00.000-05:00

My first attempt at a gingerbread house. Granted, I cheated by buying a kit from Wal-Mart, but the kids don't mind. I have had to fight their little sticky fingers off of it since they found it yesterday morning. I told them they can't eat it until Christmas day. Of course, this has not stopped them from asking every hour or so if they could eat it yet!

Christmas view

2010-12-21T07:52:00.000-05:00

Trudging through the neighborhood during a recent snow, the berries instantly popped out against the white snow. I instantly thought of how "Christmasty" they looked. I love how the berries stand out! Just another view of Christmas in Ohio.

Cousins!

2010-12-20T09:39:00.000-05:00

I had the opportunity to spend a little time with my baby cousins. It was my first time seeing baby Caleb. I could not resist practicing a little child photography. One lesson learned-baby wipes. This will be something I add to my pack along with a comb. Of course, if I hadn't been playing so much maybe I would have wiped Keira's mouth before I took the photo. But I kinda like the cookie mouth and her eyes are gorgeous! And who couldn't love Caleb?