another set of outtakes

When you are doing a 365, it is sometimes difficult to pick the photo you want to use for the day. Maybe you were totally on your creative game, the mojo was flowing and all the shots seem to be working the way you planned in your head.

I like those days, because there are definitely (more often then not) the days where you wonder if you even got even one good frame. Or, the moment at 11:59pm when you panic, sit up in bed and run to the camera's LCD screen to make sure you actually remembered to hit the shutter button at all that day... (so far, so good on that one).

 

I have had some time today to go through the hard drive and clean up a bit of the mess that is out there. Sifting and sorting, I made the realization that my organizing was less then stellar or consistent a few weeks ago while trying to find and upload specific photos for Getty contribution.

Today was a day of major deleting (gasp!) of photos. I sometimes freak when I hit the delete key, but I also know that there a lot of photographs I will never every use and are hogging space.

 

What I really like about doing this house cleaning? Is that there are those shots that catch your eye. The photos that, once you have given yourself time and space from them, actually do talk to you after all.

No, they holler and scream like my 2.5 year old, and need my attention. So today, I give them that- and a little showcase of their own.

11-4-22: Hello there adorable.

 

I am thankful for photography. 

For the creative outlet it gives me, for the way it helps me slow down and really see the world around me. For the connections I have made with so many others thru this passion.Never did I think that I would have people I feel connected to spread across the country, and in other countries for that matter.

photography has opened the world to me in so many ways. 

For that, I am full of gratitude.

108:366, proof

Proof that I can still be bright eyed, even after a long day (that started at 3am) of playing mom, work out buddy, wife, and worker bee.
This shot was taken yesterday as a warm up drill. Next week I embark on an adventure of self portraiture. I am joining a fierce group of women for an online photography class called, NOW YOU.

Why am I taking on such a challenge? Part of it is to learn and grow as an individual as well as a photographer. But a big part of it is so that my kids and maybe there kids, will have photos of the person who was mostly behind the lens. I want to show them that I wasn't afraid of who I am and maybe help them know a different part of me than just, "mom".

I might share images here, I might not. But I am really looking forward to the next several weeks as I dive deeper into the craft of photography and self exploration.

Pull Apart

My camera body and the 50mm are in the shop. Over the weekend I bumped the lens against something and I broke the thing. My heart instantly sunk when I realized the focus wasn't going to work anymore. Fingers crossed the Camera Doctor can fix the lens*. Get a hood for your lens, lesson learned. I'm not afraid of a little sun flare, but I am afraid of the fact that I lug my camera everywhere and the lens is going to get bumped at some point or another.

For the record, I did have a hood on my lens. I also have my UV filter on there as well to keep it safe. But the Steve, the camera doc, explained that I had on the wrong kind. If I really wanted to protect it I needed the hood that mounts to the barrel and not the kind that screws onto the actual lens.



What does that have to do with these photos? Well, a lot actually. Without my digital camera, I still needed to shoot a photo for the day. I have a few cameras to choose from, but I think my favorite film camera right now is my Polaroid 103. I use Fuji pull apart film and I love it. I can totally see the Fuji colors that I remember from shooting 35mm.

The kids always look at me like I am crazy when I pull out the Polaroid.
It's big and takes me forever to set up a shot.
What is that thing?
Why can't I see the photo on the back of the camera?
What are you pulling out of there?
WHY are you ripping that picture apart?
 But then the magic of the film lures them in and they love it.
I like that my kids are being exposed to words, "film", "develop", and "not so instant, instant photography" But mostly, that I can share this part of photographic history with them, too.

 **Update! just got my camera and lens back. Good as new, and although a little bit costly, not nearly as much as buying a new 1.4! 

insta-love

For Christmas I got A. an ipod touch. I took it over the other day.

I have been sneaking in a photo with it almost daily since. Still trying to find the post processing I like the best with it, I think I like early bird. How about you, do you insta??

Winter Walk

Walking in the woods, by myself on a cold Sunday morning.

  It cleared my head and I could just be.



I love that photography has given me the gift of time.
I have an excuse to wander aimlessly around an area, exploring like a kid
and truly see the world around me.

oh please!

Last week I asked for your opinions about post processing. How do you do it and what do you use. I got some really great responses back from all of you, and it solidified what I already thought I wanted to do. I needed to upgrade from Photoshop Elements 3 to 9. (Geesh, was I behind on that one). I have gotten to know old PSE3 pretty well and have been able to get along thus far, but I know that there are some bells and whistles I have been missing out on in the newer version and I feel like I am ready to make that jump. I also decided to spring for Photoshop Lightroom. Between the educational discount and the fact that I am actually going in halvsies with my Dad-in-law, it made it an easy and affordable decision.

do you see the teeth?!

That brings me to the next step... finding a few actions and presets that I really like. If I find a few I will probably invest in purchasing them until I figure out how to make my own. Of course when looking for presets and actions I start to hit up some of my favorite photographers and fellow bloggers. What are they using, what is it about their images that I love? One of those photographing-mama-bloggers happens to be Keli Hoskins of Kidnapped by Suburbia. Her girls are adorable and she captures life in such a wonderful way. Her blog often makes me giggle, she can be silly without being abrasive or rude. I like that.

balance act

So when I clicked over to her blog today you can imagine how excited I was that she is hosting a giveaway.... I could win a $50 gift card for some really nice Lightroom presets. What a nice way to start of having some new software. Yes, part of my motivation today to post is to get an extra chance at winning, but I also thought if you didn't "know" Keli yet, you should. So go on over and say hello. Don't worry she's nice and will more than likely take the time to say, "hi" right back at ya. Oh, and cross your fingers, because darn it. I would love to win that giveaway!

~~~~~

(these photos really have nothing to do with this post. I just liked them and wanted to put them up- today seemed like as good as any to do just that.)

spring banner

I love when I get home from a long day at work only to find
amazing and totally unexpected mail in the box.
Today I opened a sweet little card with a mini-banner inside from Michel.
you brightened my day today, thank you!

Spring in Reno is sort of a tease.
You know mother nature was giggling to herself
as she dumped snow on us as a equinox gift.
That's okay, I saw daffodils today... it's on it's way.
~~
Also, not sure if I will be here tomorrow
 and I know I won't be here for a few days after that.
I plan spending some quality time shooting film with my Pentax,
perfecting my landscape photography,
getting dusty and (hopefully) catching a few
sun rays on my face.
All  while chillin' in a tent somewhere near or below sea level.

oh and one more thing. I just added a "Reply" function to the comments. I am hoping that this will make this space a little more interactive and easy for me to respond to all of you out there, so go ahead, don't be shy. Leave a comment and say, "Hi".

Catch y'all on the flip side.

keep calm

I have been a little anxious with all the news of what is happening in Japan right now. I am so sad for all the loss. The nuke melt down business had me in near panic yesterday. What kind of a world have I brought my children into?
This is the sort of thing that had me thinking long ago that I didn't want to have kids, because how could I bring another generation into the world with such scary things happening in/to it?

But my husband reminded me that maybe one of our kids will have the answers, that maybe they will invent a way to make it better... Thank goodness for him, oh and for yoga. For the fact that I feel better when I am on the mat and when I leave the mat. For the ability to send good vibes, well wishes and positive energy to those who need it oh so badly right now.  Thank goodness for little reminders of keeping calm...and carrying on.

wednesday, thursday, friday

I adore these red shoes.
I mean how can you not?

they are wee little, red velvet, elfin shoes? (Umi)and how about those jeans with the stripes on the inside? (baby bodin)

It's been cold and putting these on her seems to be the only answer to keeping her socks on-
plus, the rubber toe on there helps her get her grip to move.
She is getting up on all fours... I saw it tonight with my own two eyes..
maaaakkkke it slllooooowww dowwwwn!

He is a good helper.
He was unloading faster than
Daddy-O could keep up with putting them all away.

friday calls for:

jeans,
a bright yellow shirt
and cowboy boots.
they make me happy.

38:365, he sits like me

I used to sit just like this when I was a kid. I probably still do when I'm not paying attention.

he was reading tonight in the playroom while we made dinner.

then he needed a "bandie" for his "poor"head.

When do you start correcting them, and how long do you keep using their words for things because they are so sweet?

January and thoughts for February

(to see it larger click on the image)
I love seeing the whole month together like this.
So far so good on my photo a day. I am really enjoying finding something to snap and even on those days when I don't feel super motivated a photo seems to pop out at me and I go for it. I like that.

So here are my thoughts about February, I think I will automatically send my 365 posting from Flickr over here. I want to be keeping these photos and thoughts in one place and although Flickr gives that to me, I don't like that it all isn't over here with other goings on in my world. Plus, I can also add in a few other photos of the day or even that I didn't pick as 'the one'.Which is nice when you have a hard time choosing just one image for the entire day.

So here is yesterday's photo and thoughts...

Part of my five minute commute. the sun is brutal in the afternoons lately, but really I am just glad to get off before it is dark. I used to be annoyed when the sun came in like this to my windshield, now all I can see is the possible flare photo that I could be taking.

week four recap

drinks and tapas with my girls
the bearded lady makes her 365 debut

dinner with my mom, aka Jojo

new old toys and a dinner party with L&F

lunch time walk about

date night
hanging out with the kids

monotone

It's funny, when I first started shooting photography I only shot black and white film. This had to do with the fact that I had access to a dark room and would process my negatives and photos myself. But since I purchased my digital camera, I rarely convert my photos to black and white. Despite this shift, I love the effect of the monotone as much as when I first started down this path of photography.

There have been a couple of challenges over on Flickr over the past two weeks to post process in the monotone. I like that this is getting me seeing differently as well as trying out new processing techniques.

Here are my results thus far...

As you can see, I don't have a set rule on how I process in black and white at this point. What I like is that you can vary the tones and color hues so much depending on the feeling you are trying to get across. One thing I have found and have been fairly consistent about is that I like a wee bit of texture overlaid on my b&w photos to give them a hint of 'film'.

~~~

PS I am thinking about separating my photography from my personal 'family' blog- what do you all think? The blog activity has been way down lately (not a lot of commenting, which is okay but has me wondering if "is this thing on"? and also, how different the world of blogging is now compared to when I first started.) But I don't really want to stop blogging about family because this is my journal/baby book etc. I have also been thinking about turning off the comments and just leaving it as a space for me to put my thoughts down. The idea being if people want to get in touch about a post they could email me directly?
 Thoughts?

wrap up 2

Week two wrap up of my 365 project.

This past week has been hectic and a little nutty. Daddy-O worked late 3 of the 5 work nights so I was flying solo with the kids for most of the week.

Fifi turned four months,

we cheered on the Pack as they played in the Kraft Bowl and had pizza with the crew.

Girly-girl had her well check on Monday,
and I hit the grocery store after work in an effort to keep the fridge stocked with food.

Tuesday I had a cling on who was passing out lubbin'

Wednesday meant fresh sheets on the bed.

I got my hairs cut on Thursday,

and Friday I spent my lunch break lost in the fabric store.

wrap up 1

So 14 days ago I started on a journey. I decided to give the project 365 another go. I did this before but only made it to day 101 and had set out to do a self portrait every day. This time I am going at a little bit differently. I have decided to take a photo a day, of whatever I feel wraps up or was needing documentation. I will be turning the camera on myself weekly, continuing my 52 weeks project, probably a weekly "Homeschooling" assignment and monthly you will see our family photo pop in there too.

But here's the thing. I have been adding my photos and writing every day, but they only seem to make it to Flickr and then not over here. I thought about how to deal with this and decided to do a weekly wrap up on the blog. So here is week one...

chalk board fun,

making each other giggle,

pumpity-pump pump,

a happy face on a lunch break,

finding the color in winter,

"my" moon in the walmart parking lot
puzzles before bed.

365:1

let the journey begin.
a photo a day for the next 364 days.
may it be filled with creativity and play.
~~~
happy 2011

repetition is the heart of education

That little saying was one I heard many times while in the Geography Dept. at UNR. And isn't it true? the more you do something the better you get at it, the more you hear something the more you remember it, the more you are around someone the more you understand them and learn about them.

I have been thinking about taking a photography refresher class for awhile now, did I want to go up to the University and take a class? or maybe the Community College? These two options didn't really sinc with my schedule being mid-day and semester long commitments. One of the local photography stores has classes, maybe that would work? and when this came out I was trying to figure out just how I could get over the hill to take a class from the lovely Hula...

Over a month ago I had gotten to my prenatal yoga class a little early. On one of the tables in the waiting area there was a University of Nevada Extended Studies brochure. I flipped thru it and came across a "Using your Digital Camera Basics" class. hmmm, I though. Maybe that would be good for me. I thought about it, put it on the back burner, had a baby and then a couple of weeks ago remembered that they class was going to start soon- maybe I SHOULD sign up for it. I emailed the instructor for a bit more information on the class and decided to go for it.

Yesterday, I got up early- for the first time in over a month with an actual place to go, not just a baby to feed or change. I got in the shower, dressed, packed up my gear and headed to the campus. The class was full of basic information about photography, but basics that I needed to hear again. Things like adjusting the shutter speed will cause the aperture to adjust and compensate as well. It's all about painting with light, remember those days of film? And you know that little book that came with your camera, I think it's called the manual, keep it with you, ALL.the.TIME. because there is information in there that can actually help you know how to use your camera. No, really it can help you! (now I just have to find mine....)

We also discussed lenses and what types we should use for what type of photography we are shooting. I finally found out that a prime and a fix lens are the same thing, and that SURPRISE! my 50mm is exactly that. I go back for a second session next Saturday. I am hoping we dive further into the menu of the camera and learn more little tricks on how to use its inner workings of it all.

All this re-learning of my camera is really good. The other thing that I loved hearing again, besides f-stops and shutter speeds was to hear "If you want to take good pictures, you actually have to have your camera with you", "setting aside time once a week or even once a day to take pictures will only enforce your skills". This got me thinking, about people who I admire as artists or as yogi(ni)s. What makes them somebody that I look up to as an artist or as a practitioner? They MAKE time for their skill, there again, it's all about repetition.repetition.repetition. Cultivating time, cultivating creativity, cultivating a practice of one kind or another- giving yourself permission to make that time in your day or week is okay and wonderful. Setting an intention and sticking with it.

My bag might be full, but it's all about what I make of it (with the bag above I see pies, sauce and a crisp!)

past is a present

yes, more baby pictures. but not of the kids- of me. Our house-mate's mom used to be my mom's house mate when I was first born. When K. moved in she brought with her a disc full of old photos that her mom had taken of us in Truckee. These are so fun to see, espcecially since some of them I had never seen before.

In the Wynda-matic
Looking so much like our new little girlie (or she looks like me I guess)

hiking with mom probably at the East end of Donner Lake, look how cute she is!

every kid has a photo like this, right?

Fourth of July in downtown Truckee. I am going to guess 1980 or so.

Pit Stop

Hey, check it out- while I was gone, my review of the Western Pacific Train Museum was posted over at Pit Stops for Kids! A great website resource for families who like a good  road trip or are just looking for great, kid friendly activities.

ALLLLLL ABOARD!