Scavenger Hunt

Karen found a very cool photo scavenger hunt and we are going to be replacing WotW with this very soon. It's been getting more difficult to think of things for WotW that can be taken in a variety of ways and this seemed like a fun way to shake things up a bit. Some of the items on the existing list just aren't possible for where we live so we're going to customize it a bit before posting but hopefully we'll get it up by Monday and can replace our sad little 'framing' that has been the WotW for three weeks now, LOL!

I had about an hour in the library today while Kya was enjoying the summer reading club. A whole hour to myself surrounded by books was HEAVENLY! I found the photography section and leafed through them, trying to decide what to bring home. I couldn't resist snapping a picture right there in the library. Some of these books I've already checked out and read but that was a while ago when I was very new to my camera and didn't understand a lot of the technical jargon. I'm hopeful that there will be a few gems in these books that will help me push myself a little further.

Clowning around...

Today there was a clown at the summer library program. I'm not going to lie and say that Savannah & I enjoyed it, she's a little old for this and it just wasn't very fun for us, BUT...it gave me some time with the camera in florescent lights with a different subject! In fact, I'm posting 2 b/c one I framed him while they were singing "head, shoulders, knees, & toes" and the other was afterward when I actually APPROACHED him and asked if I could take his picture! Yay for me, this was a big step, I usually don't feel comfortable asking people if I can take their pictures.
f/1.8
1/100 sec
ISO 400
WB-florescent

f/1.8
1/50 sec
ISO 400
WB-florescent

A day in the life...

One of the great things about the way we've chosen for our kids to learn is that they find inspiration in everyday things. Last night Jace wanted to cook. Tonight he and Kya went through our kids cookbook to see what else they wanted to try. I loved seeing them with their papers spread out around them, intently studying the recipes. They were evaluating each one, discussing the ingredients, trying to decide what sounded good. Awesome.

Ok, I admit that today was not the day for taking pictures. We were having such a nice time just BEING together, the camera rarely got turned on. I did try to take some pics of pouring rain on the windshield, but in the end I decided on shot that isn't perfect and nothing really special, but will remind me of the great evening we spent at the dinner table, eating and playing cards together.

At your service...

Jace made dinner tonight and requested I take pictures. I like to encourage helpfulness in all forms so he made the blog. (Well, that and the fact that I was completely uninspired today, lol. Which reminds me- we need a new WotW!)

Tired.

I'm tired! Ok, I'm cheezy too. I took a picture of my spare tire that had to be put on the car when I got a flat tire as I was arriving at Hope's house today. It was the big event of the day, instead of movie day, so I decided to just go with it...

Too sweet to choose just one...

Woot, I can FINALLY post my pics from yesterday. Blogger has been down and I couldn't get these up but I DID take them yesterday. :-)

I took these in front of the glass door in my living room at about 5 in the evening. The overhead lights were also on.

B&W:
f/ 4.5
1/80 sec
ISO 800

Color:
f/ 5
1/30 sec
ISO 800

do-over

after posting my pic yesterday I had more time to edit some of them and look at the shots I took closer and I have one I like better! Blogger has been down, so I couldn't add it until now, but I wanted it here b/c I like it even more than the first shot I posted!

Today I got a little (and I stress LITTLE b/c Mike wasn't very cooperative, we'll have to work on that!) practice for Summer and Mike's upcoming wedding! I guess you could call this an engagement shot! I learned a few things and got some new ideas taking shots of them at the bride's grandma's farm, where the wedding will be held in September!

Happy Birthday Ella!

Savannah's good friend is having her birthday party this evening, so we went over for a while when we dropped Savannah off and helped with tie dying! I took over 400 pics, but to be honest, Rey is home for the first time in five weeks and I just can't find the heart to go through every single one tonight! I thought this one captured the heart of a just-turned-12-year old girl! LOL

Making a splash...

f/ 4.5
ISO 200
1/50 sec
taken outside in a partially shaded area at about noon

Our trip to City Museum was a hit! Savannah commented several times that it wasn't mu-seum it was a FUN- seum, lol! The kids had a great time climbing and exploring. I would have a great time just going in to take pictures. Unfortunately to really take good pictures I have to be a little removed from the action. That just wasn't possible today since I was trying to keep up with a pack of kids! I also REALLLLLLY need a new lens. It was a little dark in there and I had trouble getting decent shots in certain places. At times I just gave up and switched to auto WITH flash (gasp) because I didn't want to miss the moment trying to get the shot. It wasn't a total loss, I did get a few good shots and some fun snapshots as well. I think I foresee an adult field trip in my future so I can just focus on pictures...

When in doubt...just shoot the dog.

Today was not a day for the camera. Rey is coming home tomorrow after having been gone over 5 weeks and I spent the day taking the dog to the vet, cleaning, cutting the grass, and taking Dylan to drums. HOPE was off having fun taking pictures on a fieldtrip with our homeschool group! I can't wait to see them! Savannah was with Hope and our group on this little excursion, I'm excited to hear all about it! So, I took Max to the vet b/c he's been limping and found out that he has a torn ligament (basically without going into technical stuff) and will need surgery to the tune of TOO many dollars! This dog should be in pictures b/c then at least he would earn his keep! ;o)

Make a wish...

I can hardly believe that she's 10. In some ways it has gone by so quickly. In others it seems like forever because I can barely remember life without her.

f/ 4.5
1/80 sec
ISO 1600

She rocks...

what more can I say? I only took 24 pictures today and this was the last one. I just liked it, kind of a raw looking shot, completely candid, which seems hard to catch lately.
f 4.5
1/100 sec
ISO 200

Just messing around with the sunlight this afternoon and my blooming hydrangeas.
F16
1/160 sec
ISO 200

ISO 1600
f/5
1/15 second

I understand now why baby photographers get paid so much- it is NOT an easy thing to do! I took over 200 shots of this little guy and kept only a handful. The lighting was poor so every little movement created blur (and babies move A LOT) not to mention that he was very unhappy. His mamma kept saying it was okay, she didn't mind crying pictures but I did. We're going to try again this weekend with some outdoor shots. Hopefully the natural lighting will help and we'll be able to do more!

f/ 5.6
1/200 s
ISO 800
WB- flash (I used filler flash on this shot to compensate for the window)

Can I just say that I HATE fluorescent lights!! My white balance was difficult today under the harsh lights but I managed to get a few decent shots. This was an attempt to learn to use filler flash. Not perfect but not horrible either- which is just fine for learning new things.