Bo*ring

I took a handful of exceptionally boring pictures today. I brought the kids to the playground at Aidan's new school. I brought my diffuser, but the kids have taken to looking at me with disdain when I try to get them to actually cooperate for a photo.

PROOF:



Most of my photos are candids, so figuring out how to manage the diffuser is proving to be tricky. Tomorrow I am hoping Rob will act as my assistant!


And just because I am a fan of pokadots:

Gifts

When I reconnected with a high school friend on Facebook I had the good fortune of catching up with a long lost friend, which was and continues to be lovely. I mention it here because it was at that time that I was introduced to the work of a photographer I've come to admire a great deal.

My friend Melissa's little brother is an extremely talented guy who has developed a uniquely recognizable portrait style. In 2007 he began a project wherein he took 365 portraits in as many days. They are spectacular. This one is one of my favorites and I look at it often. This one takes the breath from me. And this one makes me laugh. I love to look at the variety within the project. Then I like to look at his portfolio here, too. Different.


Where was I? My friend showed her brother some of my photos, he thought I needed a diffuser/reflector kit, and so he bought me one. He could've shot me an email suggesting this. He could've passed a message through his sister. But he ordered it for me and sent it. This is one of those moments for me. I feel thankful and inspired. I feel committed to learning to use it- the kit- and inspired to get better.

And to pay it forward.

___ ____ ____

I learned a bit while playing with my new toy today. It's easy to use it to make bad pictures:



And some pictures can show potential- potential to manipulate available light to make a prettier picture:




And some pictures can come out looking kindof pretty:






I am thankful to Bill, albeit slightly intimidated. Which is a little funny because last time I saw Bill he was a high school sophomore. And here I sit just trying to muddle my way through; lucky on occasion to capture a good moment in a pretty way, and wanting to get better.

You Capture: Peace

This time of year I feel peace with the sand beneath my feet. In the dark of winter, I call upon the memories of the warmth of the sun on my face and the water lapping my toes. I will always live near the water. Always.









Don't forget to visit more PEACE posts. They can only make your day better. Here are the list of participants this week.

Best shots:3 of 1

Visit more great shots:

Weekends

Even in (or especially in) busy weekends I am surrounded by the loveliest things:

Cousins

Walking together...



Posing together...



Building together...



Talking together...



Being together...

Lovely

We have a few tiny but sweet cherry tomatoes.



And last week we went to a new lake and my neutral density filter pulled out lovely contrast in the clouds.

You Capture Me

I was pretty lame this week. The You Capture Challenge was self-portraits and I ran out of time. I havent played with the timer on my camera at all, so I put it off. This morning I played a little and came up with these:


Bet you didn't know I had such a tall shadow!

I was really struggling to get the focus AND the timing down without help. Above the timing was right, below I was already landing but the focus was right (or more right at least). My littlest punk came out to join me later, but I was done with the "me" thing by then.





So we went on a photo walk to stalk the neighbors flowers.

Please visit You Capture at (I Should be Folding Laundry) for more self portrait interpretations.

Couple More

... of the flower. Yesterday I did 1-5 today 6-8. I know which one is my favoreite- but what's yours?

6.

7.

8.

Jumping off

This photo is straight out of the camera and will be the launching pad for the Kat inspired post/series on various editing styles and outcomes:



Edit #1:

#2

#3

#4

#5


Thoughts? More to come tomorrow! Thanks for the inspiration, Kat.