Saturday, February 28, 2015

Day 59, Project 365

Lots of options for photos today.  :)  I'm using my two favorites from today: The first is Luke as we celebrated his 1st birthday.  He is so stinking cute and enjoyed just hanging out munching on his 1st Birthday cupcake.  It was hard to narrow his cuteness down to one picture but I did - with a lot of internal debate.  The second is baby Scarlet, or rather baby Scarlet's cute little hand with the most adorable bracelet.  I couldn't resist taking a picture of this sweet sight.  #project365





Friday, February 27, 2015

Day 58, Project 365

Admittedly lazy day on the photo front. Today's was taken with my phone and shows my evening: a book, the dog and 'The Blind Side' on t.v.

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Day 57, Project 365

Straying a little from my 'depth of field' project for the week...went to my nephew's basketball games this afternoon so I documented a little of that.


Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Day 56, Project 365

Still having fun playing around with depth of field this week.  I am still loving the taste of spring in our house with the 'Watch 'em Grow' plant and I happened to notice today there was a twin Daffodil - how cool!  :)  Then when I was about to put the camera away I noticed Fozzie laying on the floor, so I got down on the floor with him and snapped a few (or attempted).  The first one was cute and our cat, Nala, was hovering in the background (great depth of field example).  Then he decided to come visit me on the floor so I snapped a picture of Nala - there's something I just really like I about this photo.  Lastly, after I had ignored Fozzie for too long he walked away but plopped down in front of our patio door - and voila, backlighting!  :)  





Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Monday, February 23, 2015

Day 54, Project 365

Something I saw on Facebook today was for a project for the week: depth of field.  I thought that was a good place to start this week, specifically shooting for depth of field - a goal of sorts.  :)

Still using my Watch 'em Grow plant and luckily a gorgeous pink tulip is poking through now so there's even more color and life in my plant and gave me something different to focus on.  Admittedly, it's not the best example of depth of field but there's a little to it with the flowers in the back of the plant being out of focus.


Sunday, February 22, 2015

Day 53, Project 365

Used a couple of my fallback subjects today and then couldn't decide which photo to use, so I"m using two.

First, my 'Watch 'Em Grow' plant.  The Crocuses are so beautiful and vibrant.  The second is our sweet Fozzie, hanging out in his favorite spot in the sun.



Saturday, February 21, 2015

Day 52, Project 365

Today we celebrated my Great Aunt Darlene's 80th birthday.  It was so nice to get together with family and celebrate such a joyous occasion.



Friday, February 20, 2015

Day 51, Project 365

I need a serious spark of creativity.  Or some motivation, perhaps?  Maybe it's the winter and cold weather but I'm feeling a little bit like I'm struggling with this project.  Sometimes I'm not too patient and so right now I'm feeling like I want to have that feeling of I've learned something or a feeling of some kind of accomplishment.  I know this is a long-term project, but sometimes that boost from somewhere/someone is desperately needed.  I hate to sound all dreary here, I think it's got a lot to do with that old, nasty hag called 'self-doubt'.  I want greatness but today I feel like I'd settle for mediocrity.  However, that's a sad reflection, isn't it?  I've got to create my greatness and my self-worth.  I can do this, I can accomplish and learn things and I will...in time.  

Today, I'll just reflect on one of my favorite photos: I took this earlier in the winter of my daughters and nieces and nephews.  The photos were a gift for my mother and father-in-law.  I love the looks on their faces; the true joy and laughter.  THAT's the look I want to always be able to capture.  :)  


Thursday, February 19, 2015

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Day 49, Project 365

Gah!  Why do I get so uncomfortable pulling my camera out in public?  That is SO one thing I want to attempt to conquer on this journey -  getting more comfortable using my camera anywhere (anywhere appropriate, that is).  We were to church very early for Ash Wednesday mass tonight so I sneaked my camera out of my bag and clicked a couple shots, as stealthily as I could, but the lighting was poor and since I was trying to be inconspicuous I didn't really want to keep making adjustments.  I also tried to get a shot of the bakery case at the Pasticceria at Cossetta's, but again, my being timid didn't really allow for me to get a great shot.  On the way home we drove by Rice Park; the trees are all still lit up with their pretty hanging white lights so I snapped a couple here, too.  To be honest, I wasn't crazy about the light.  I had the ISO cranked way up but there was so much noise, however, when I converted it to black and white, I fell in love with the shot.  :)


Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Day 48, Project 365

Cold, cold days aren't leaving me very inspired.  BUT, I love the pretty Spring flowers blooming in my house so I am totally focusing on them right now.  Can't wait 'til more colors pops out!



Monday, February 16, 2015

Day 47, Project 365

The snowflakes were so pretty today I had to try and capture.  I can see how a macro lens would have been extremely beneficial, though.  Oh well, my best shot without a macro.  And had to get eh 'Watch 'Em Grow' plant in there, too.   :)






Sunday, February 15, 2015

Day 46, Project 365

Another day, lots of pictures.  Full day of volleyball so those pics were my options for today.  I chose this one because I like the story it tells, I guess.  My daughter going up for a big hit, the other team's blockers not quite up high enough and the ball sailing over the net for a big hit.  It's so tough shooting in some of these gyms with the lens I have, but I make do.  It's fun to get the timing down to be able to get the girls in action with the ball in or near their hands.


Saturday, February 14, 2015

Day 45, Project 365

Lots of pictures today but I think I can narrow it down to three.  One I love because of the focus/sharpness and the other was just a fun part of the day.

The first is our cat, Nala, basking in the sun.
The second is our oldest daughter jumping into a hold cut into a frozen lake for the Polar Plunge, benefiting Special Olympics.  The high today was only 4 degrees and the windchill was -20, not exactly a nice day to be out on the lake.  She's the one looking way too enthusiastic to be jumping into freezing water!
The third is my 'Watch 'Em Grow' plant because some Daffodils bloomed sometime today!  Even when it's only 4 degrees I can try and pretend Spring is here.  :)




Friday, February 13, 2015

Day 44, Project 365

Continuing with 'Watch 'Em Grow'...I took a little more time today but for some reason never bothered to check my settings, just used what I had yesterday.  Unfortunately, I had my ISO cranked up because I had less light yesterday.  So, again, learning experience.  Not to mention I was so completely focused on the focus so I forgot everything else.  That's one of my biggest frustrations: when I get tunnel vision and forget to look at all aspects/settings.  That's something that I really want to work on throughout this process.

By the way, I used a gray card today and loved the result!

Hopefully soon I'll have more blooms on my plant.  Hyacinths, Tulips...!

I want to say thank you to Julie and Robin for the encouraging words and comments this week regarding my photography; they were what I needed to hear and warmed my heart.


Thursday, February 12, 2015

Day 43, Project 365

Wow!  43 days?  Seems kind of crazy.  I know it's early on in my journey but for some reason it seems like quite the accomplishment, too.

I treated myself to a 'Watch 'Em Grow' plant today so guess what the majority of my next week or two will be?  :)  Our front window is the perfect spot for my plant to nourish itself and the perfect spot for me to get some nice light, as well.  However, apparently I missed the focus on this one - whoops.  Lesson learned?  Slow down!



Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Day 42, Project 365

I was recently reunited with my childhood copy of 'Goodnight Moon'.  What an awesome surprise that was for my aunt to have found it and give it to me.  I especially loved seeing my mom's inscription on the inside; it made my day.  :)  It's a little rough around the edges, literally, but still such a special thing to have.




Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Day 41, Project 365

I thought I had my picture for the day before I even left the house this morning (thanks again for the head's up, Jen!), but when I ventured outside at lunchtime I noticed how the ice had settled, in almost shards, at the bottom of the window, I thought to myself, this could make a cool picture.  So, yet again, two pics for the day.  The first because the sunrise was too gorgeous to not share (composition isn't great here, but it's still pretty) and the second with leading lines and depth of field.  :)



Monday, February 9, 2015

Day 40, Project 365

Nala hanging out near the lamp to stay warm while watching the hockey game with me.


Sunday, February 8, 2015

Days 37, 38 and 39, Project 365

It was bound to happen, wasn't it?  I actually kept on the pictures daily but life has been too busy to worry about blogging the last three days until now.

Day 37:  Exciting day; our baby got her driver's license!  Okay, exciting might be exaggerating, it's more like scary as heck and a little bittersweet.  I'm also adding a pic of the beautiful sunset from that evening.



Day 38:  Sleepy doggy.  :)  It doesn't look like life gets any better for him.

Day 39:  Back to my bouquet of Stargazer Lillie's which are blooming like crazy and smell lovely.  I am channeling Spring!
 

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Day 36, Project 365

I have the day off work but needed to bring my daughter to school which was perfect timing for catching the sun rising.  Luckily it was a beautiful sunrise and I had my camera with me and I was able to time it well enough to be near a field when the sun was rising.  Yay!

Just about a tenth of the way through this project and I'm enjoying the challenges I pose to myself and the things I continue to learn.  It'll be fun to look back over the year and see the growth I've made and if (or hopefully how) I have continued to put myself out there, so to speak, and make myself open to critique or criticism so as to become better at my passion.

I had to throw in the picture I caught of the moon this morning, too.  Just by the simple fact of turning around to see what I could see behind me - love when that happens!

As always, open to constructive criticism and critique!  :)

#project365



Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Day 35, Project 365

The hubby brought home my favorite flower, Stargazer Lilies, on Monday.  I was able to use the beautiful green glass vase that belonged to my grandma that I found when helping to clean out my uncle's house.  Trying to compose a nice shot with these regal, tall flowers along with the tall vase proved to be a difficult task but I finally found an angle I liked that showed both relatively well.


Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Day 34, Project 365

We had a little snow here today and while I'm not a fan of snow, it almost looked pretty so I trekked out into the front yard and snapped a few of the snow sitting on the branches of the tree.


Monday, February 2, 2015

Day 33, Project 365

When I looked out the window this morning, I could't resist taking this shot.  It's not perfect in many ways, (taken through a less than clean window and a screen) and it's not very crisp but the colors in the sky were begging for me to take their picture.


Sunday, February 1, 2015

Day 32, Project 365

I've been dreading this day: With February 1st, I'm no longer able to rely on the date of the month to know what day of the project I'm on.  :)  Lots of pictures taken today between volleyball and the youngest's 16th birthday.  It's kind of a toss-up which pic to choose for today but the birthday picture seems most fitting.  Happiest of birthdays to our 'little' Sassy!