Sawyer is ONE!

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY, SAWYER!!

Not only was this a Happy Birthday celebration, it was a 'Hurray, I'm Not Allergic to Milk' celebration.  Sawyer's big brother Gavin, (our angel in Heaven), was allergic to milk and eggs so we celebrated his first birthday with rice krispie squares.  Michelle had not given Sawyer any milk or egg products until last week.  Then tentatively, she started introducing a few items with minimal milk and eggs.  Finally she gave him a tiny bit of cake and frosting.  But the big test was his birthday cake, and WOOHOO, whether in his tummy, in his eyes, or smeared all over his hair and face, his birthday cake liked him as much as he liked it!!

Tech Talk Tuesday

FUN with FLARE 

(I haven't done a Tech Talk Tuesday for awhile, so thought it was time.) 

 

Usually bright mid day sun is our enemy.  For landscape photographers, it produces harsh, flat light.  For portrait photographers, it produces harsh, flat light.  If we are shooting on a bright, sunny day, we use a lens hood, polarizer, neutral density filter, whatever we can, to tone down the light.  Sometimes, however, it's good to think outside of the box.   Including the sun or lens flare from the sun, can become part of your composition.  In the above photos, I've used lens flare to emphasize, or give weight to the main subject of the photo.  It's fun to experiment and see how you can use the sun to change the mood and feel of a photo.  I've discovered, however, that using lens flare as a composition element is a very individual thing.  Some people love it, and others hate it, but it's worth a try......you might be surprised with the results!   

JOKE'S ON ME!!!!!

Thanks to Rick, for giving me my laugh for the day.  First of all, if you haven't already done so, check out my most recent Phriday Phun post.  If you notice, Rick made an interesting comment.  Since then we've exchanged a couple of emails, where he informed me that when he hovers his mouse over each photo, the file name appears in the bottom left corner of his screen.  Sure enough, when I tried it, the file name appears in a bar in the bottom left corner of my screen.  And, of course, the file names are what the photos are about!!!  HaHa  My guessing game should have been about who is the most observant, including me!  I told Rick, instead of pointing this out to me, he just should have 'guessed' them all correctly, and we all would have been SO impressed.  Anyway, thanks Rick for making my day!!

P.S.  Just in case this doesn't work for everyone, here are the answers:

1.   edge of pizza cutter

2.   plastic scotch tape dispenser

3.   tomato slice

4.   electrical outlet cover plate

5.   candle wick

6.  edge of soda cracker
Now that you know, they're obvious....right???

Exotic Flower #8

Are you tired of exotic and unusual yet???
I have more, but I think it's time for a change before we all get bored!  Tomorrow....... something different, and because I'm such a fickle fotographer,  even I'll be surprised!!  

Exotic Flower #7

This flower was amazing!

Phriday Phun

THE GUESSING GAME - WHAT IS IT?

This really is a PHUN PHRIDAY for me.  I 'retired' from being a real estate agent a year or so ago, but still have a few clients and sales to wrap up.  One of those sales closed Tuesday.   I received my commission check Thursday, and immediately began ticking off all the photography equipment I could buy!  But after a few wonderful fantasy minutes,  I came back to reality and decided to be more sensible: 10% to my church; 70% to savings; AND, 20% ON PHOTOGRAPHY EQUIPMENT!  WOOHOO!!  In between the day's errands, appointments, work, and birthday party for my grandson, I found time to buy the macro lens I've wanted.  (Canon 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS)  After everything quieted down last night, I had to try it out even though it was late and I was tired.  I took these snaps at about 11:30 pm, inside, no flash and no tripod, so they are noisey and blurry, plus the fact that I have no idea how to use a macro lens!!!  Now about the above photos.  I did this once before on a Phun Phriday, and lots of people guessed them all, so I'm wondering if I'll trick anyone this time.  They are all common household items.  WHAT ARE THEY????

(P.S.  Still a few more exotic flowers to come!)   

Exotic Flower #6

Is it a CONE or a FLOWER??

I sure don't know, but it was unusual and beautiful.  The top part looks like a cone, but the bright red color, and the strange egg shaped white centers looked more like a flower.  I love the details, especially the petals (?) edged in white.

Exotic Flower #5

Oh, So Beautiful!

(Remember to let me know if you know the name of this flower)

June Desktop Image

Here is my June Desktop Image for you to use, share and enjoy.  Several years ago, at this time, my husband took me to Belize to celebrate my birthday.  (Nice present!)  We went with my brother-in-law and sister-in-law.  It was a beautiful, beautiful, primitive place.  We stayed in a little beach shack right on the Caribbean, and yes, the water was this green and the sky, this blue.  We had the beach all to ourselves as far as we could see.  Just click HERE to download, then right click to set at your desktop image.  It should not be pixilated or blurry.  If you have trouble, let me know.

Exotic Flower #4

These were very large & tall, and were used as a table centerpiece.  (See previous 3 posts)

Exotic Flower #3

We saw these in many places, and were popping straight up from the ground.  (See previous two posts)

Exotic Flower #2

These grew on a huge bush.  Some of the clusters were small and some large.  (See previous post)

Exotic Flower #1

Costa Rican Beauty

For a holiday weekend treat, (for me and I hope for you), I'm going to post some of the most unique and beautiful flowers I have ever seen.   Here's what they all have in common:  they were all shot in Costa Rica in natural light and without a tripod; they are just a small sample of what I saw in 2 short weeks; I've never seen any of them before; and, I haven't a clue what any of them are!!!  So, as I post a flower a day, your assignment is to enjoy a little bit of beauty that most of us don't get to see on a regular basis, and, if you know the names of any of these flowers/plants, please let me know!!

Phriday Phun

DON'T MOVE, GRANDPA!!!!!!

Onion Creek, Moab

Another Challenge

A quick trip to Moab last weekend with my daughter and her family (husband & 4 young sons).  No time for photos except for a few minutes while the boys were splashing in a stream.  This was the view from where I was sitting.  It was a bright sunny afternoon, so not the best lighting.  Thank heavens for a polarizer and a good camera!

Daniel & Kenzie

Love the frame......

Love the high key.....

Love the vintage......

Love the depth of field........

This is what they chose for their invitations.
For more engagement photos of Daniel & Kenzie, go HERE.

THE SACRED GROVE

Oh how lovely was this spring morning as we strolled slowly through the beautiful woodland.  The rebirth of vibrant new life above and all around us danced with the breeze.   In sharp contrast were the dead and decaying remains of a past life, crushed below our feet.  To us, symbols with another meaning.  We ponder the wonder of it all and whisper a simple prayer of love and thanksgiving.  

Phriday Phun

WHAT IS IT, AND WOULD YOU EAT IT????

We found these at the little fruit & vegetable stands along the roads in Costa Rica.  Jeff was brave and tasted it and said it was sweet.  I couldn't get past that it looked like a wad of mucus and I could not bring myself to taste it!

Cute, Creative, Kenzie

This was such a fun bridal shoot and so refreshing from the typical.  Kenzie and Daniel are having a 'vintage' wedding theme, so it was perfect to shoot her bridals in and around an old mill turned into an antique/junk store.  Since the popular 'look' these days is anything old, grungy, or covered with graffiti, photographers love this place.  The owner has started charging photographers who want to take pictures on his property and  I think he is probably making more money this way, than selling his antiques/junk!!  This was a perfect opportunity to use Kenzie's creativity with the props, and my creativity with the poses and the vintage editing.  Together we had a great time.   For a ton more fun photos, click HERE.  I hope you have as much fun looking at them as I did taking them! 

Simply Beautiful MacKenzie

Beautiful Light, Beautiful Bride