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If you know anything at all about me, I can’t go for long just taking so-so photos everyday.  Don’t misunderstand, posting a photo everyday is a good thing and a way to journal our day to day activities, but my with my fast paced life, it does not produce quality images.  It’s just a quick fix to build a relationship with my camera and improve my skills.  But there is this creative gene that drives me.  It is consumes a lot of my off-duty thoughts and drives me to spend my free time dragging my kids around from place to place with camera in tow.

Today was the perfect overcast day.  In fact, it was drizzling and fairly yucky, but a great day for photos.  So off we went to some state land to trudge through the wet grass….and Belle didn’t even complain, but Sarah did, until we arrived home and I let her use my D80 and she suddenly found a common interest and then she tried for the rest of the day to drag me back out to take more shots…….hmm….this could work in my favor.

Anyway, photos 3 & 5 were a bit blurry.  My 105mm lens is a monster to hold while your chasing around a two-year-old, so I ran Pioneer Woman’s Ethereal Action on #3 twice, (which still didn’t cover my blurry photo,) and should have run it on #5, but I was too lazy.  And who cares anyway cuz I got my fix. 

Now I have been having a few conversations with Marsha about getting together a photography workshop of sorts.  A place where we can all learn together.  I’m wondering if any of you would have any interest in that sort of thing.  There would be a lesson and assignment, with three weeks to finish.  On the due date you would come back and link up to your finished assignment.   Of course I haven’t had much time to think over the details yet, but if you think you might be interested just take the little poll below to let me know.  If there is enough interest there will be more details to follow.

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I can dream can’t I?

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I spent most of my day at Yale New Haven Hospital waiting for my mom to have a couple of procedures to determine the extent of damage done to her esophagus from prolonged acid reflux.  The doctor stated that the damage was impressive.  He said you would typically see injuries like this if a child had drank lye.  She is swallowing through an opening that is no wider than a pencil.  They scheduled surgery to remove her esophagus and replace it by pulling up her stomach into her chest cavity.  Sounds horrible huh?  Well it is and the mortality rate is high, but God is bigger than statistics, so we put our trust in Him.  And your prayers are highly coveted.

After the long ride, on the way to pickup Bella at Kimmie’s house, I stopped at the antique store.  I needed some visual stimuli for relaxation.  They had some beautiful pieces for the garden, so I took a couple shots.  And now I am so relaxed I can’t keep my eyes open.  

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So I wanted to share a little something with all of you that can make a huge difference in your photography.  I purchased my first reflector a short time ago and today was the first time I had a chance to try it out and what a difference it made.

Now keep in mind these are pretty much straight out of camera shots with a child that hates the camera and with just a little boost to clarity.  But as you can see the before and after are dramatic.  Now if I could just train Sarah to hold it and not try to scorch us like ants with a magnifying glass we’ll be okay, but that’s another issue.

Oh, and not to worry if you don’t have a pyro named Sarah; they have reflector stands.

Now for those of you that don’t know, you can buy reflectors here and here for pretty cheap and channel all the natural light you need to make your photos sparkle.   I purchased the 32″ silver/white reflector, which was about $24.95, but they come in all shapes and sizes.

Now go get crackin’! 

Before:

After:

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Since I am much too tired to compose a sentence, the photos will have to speak for me.

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I’m still unpacking, digesting, and unpacking some more.  Still two small bags to go along with a truckload of emotion.  It has been a difficult, yet joyous week and I’m still entangled and sorting it all out.  And I can’t tell you how good it was to come home to 80 degree weather because I am not one that transitions well to cold after being in the tropics.

Now if I’m fortunate, I can get the zillion orders that I received while away, (don’t you know, no one needed curriculum until the moment we left for vacation,) processed by tomorrow and have a little time to blog my pictures and read my favorite blogs.  

It could happen.

Probably right after I have lunch with Elvis.