Birthday Girl

It's hard to believe Emily is 1 already, seems like she will always be a newborn. She has developed her own unique personality complete with giggles, clicks, and shrieks. She loves to clap and shake her head, dance to a a beat, and chew on your fingers. Her day wouldn't be complete without her brothers to entertain her with their whirlwind of activity from precious moments of sharing a toy with her to the chaos of their wrestling matches. Most of all she loves her Mama. Her eyes twinkle and her face lights up whenever her Mama walks in the room. (Sorry, Daddy...it'll be your turn someday.) I can't wait to see what the next year will bring!

Dog Days

Abby and Tucker were the unwitting participants in my impromptu photo session.  It is so rare to catch them in quiet moments so that I can get some different shots, rather than the blur of their wrestling matches.  Abby's beautiful portrait shot was captured with a little help from my son and the promise of a treat.

Baby

Visitor on the Deck

Bouquet of Colors

MSU Gardens

Flowers in the Field

ISO400 14mm  f/4.4  1/38sec  6/21/2010

ISO400 14mm  f/4.4  1/20sec  6/21/2010

ISO800  14mm  f/4.4  1/100sec 6/21/2010

 

ISO800  62mm  f/5.4  1/70sec  6/21/2010

We have 11 acres of mostly grass.  But scattered throughout the sea of green, there are small wildflowers, milkweed, and gladiolas that add a little bit of contrast.

Eavesdropping on an Angel

ISO 800  26.8mm  f/5.0  1/220sec  6/16/2010

What would a angel child be praying for?  The dreams on the hearts of children are simple and pure.  If only we could remember what they were after the ravages of time and heartbreak have weathered them away.

Beauty is in the Details

 ISO 800  14.3mm  f/4.4  1/80sec  6/16/2010

 ISO 800  14.3mm  f/4.4  1/13sec  6/16/2010

ISO 800  14.3mm  f/4.4  1/15sec  6/16/2010

I rarely stop to appreciate the intricate details in flowers.  I tend to glance over them, call them "pretty" and move on.  Boy, was I missing out.  These pictures reveal the mini-landscapes you can discover if you stop to look a little closer.

Beginnings in Photography

ISO100  5mm  f/3.5  1/250sec  BW  6/15/2010

I am taking a basic photography class.  I have learned so much in the last week I can't keep it all in my head.  The exciting part is that I will learn how to transition from thinking about "taking" pictures to "making" photographs.  Photography literally means "drawing with light".  Not only does that sound like a romantic idea, it is exactly the creative outlet I have been looking for.  In the short time that I have begun this journey I am looking at the things around me differently.  Whether it is actually stopping to look at something I have never seen or stopping to look at something that I have seen dozens of times and never considered how it might be represented artistically.  I have to consider what seems interesting to me, something I rarely take the time to think about.  I have to pay attention to lighting, patterns, textures, and combinations of colors.  All of these things are an integral part of what makes a photograph moving or thought provoking. Some scenes are more interesting in color, others in black and white.  Then there is the opportunity to improve an image with tools that enhance the camera's natural limitations.  With digital photogrpahy you can make mistakes with no cost, making the possibilities endless.  There is no right or wrong, just the impression left on the person viewing the picture.

Would You Look Down?

~from http://www.ransomedheart.com/

This picture is amazing to me.  I have never seen or been to a place like this.  I want to imagine what I would feel like if I were walking along this path.  Would I be terrified, exhilarated, or both at the same time?

On Writing....

"I do want to work on writing, because writing's a skill. Writing is something that you can train yourself to know better. To know yourself better. And it's intimidating as hell. I mean, I definitely will always do what I've been doing. I've also started taking a lot of pictures, and they help the writing. The pictures help the writing. I mean, I want to make books. I want to take pictures and then write all over the pictures. And then I don't have to say a complete story, because I have the picture, and I have just a word."
~Kristen Stewart