Here is a little tip for all you aspiring photographers.

A lot of my time these days seems to be spent looking for the perfect locations for photo sessions.  It has become quite a challenge to find exactly what I am looking for, but I am relentless in my pursuit.  

To keep track of all the great spots I find, I have started keeping a location file with photos attached, so when my memory fails, (which it always does,) I can resort to pulling out my file to find that perfect spot.  If there are flowers in bloom at a certain time of year, I will even write the date, just so I won’t miss it next year.

Happy hunting!

To take a peek at my last session you can visit me a HallieWestcott.com

Nope.  I think not.

Not unless there is chocolate cake too!

you can visit here for the rest…..

Daiquiri passed on this award to me and since I haven’t done a tag in a very long time, I figured I would play along, since this is so short.

The rules are that I’m supposed to list 7 things that I love and then pass the award on to 7 other bloggers….but if you know me at all, the chance of me passing this on is slim   Here goes…

Seven things I love:

1.  Mornings with my Bible and coffee on the patio, where I can see the work of God’s hands and be reminded of His goodness. 

2.  When Isabelle lets me cuddle with her first thing in the morning.  She is not a hugger, so I hang on to these moments. 

3.  Peace and quietness in the house and within me, which is a very rare thing indeed.

4.  When I get some work done with no interruptions.

5.  Taking photos of random things that I never saw the beauty in before.

6.  Times when I feel especially close to God and He encourages me to move on even when things are rough.

7.  Laughing with my kids and enjoying each other’s presence.

 2 Corinthians 5:4  ”For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life.”

My mother used to repeat an old saying, “Don’t be so heavenly minded, that you are no earthly good.”  But lately, my longing for heaven is so present.

I wonder what it will be like.  Will the rocks really cry out, or will the flowers sing praises to God?  I’m sure they will.  Can you imagine a field of the most beautiful flowers singing out to their Creator? Maybe we will all have our own type of heaven, by God giving to us things that compliment our personalities. 

Of course we won’t know until then, but it brings me joy to imagine.

I know that our home is this foreign place is only temporary and someday I will be free from pain and sorrow and the evil things of this world.  But until then, I wait with patient endurance.

It Is Well with My Soul

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Refrain:
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

I don’t know about you, but at times, especially in winter, I have a very hard time finding subjects to shoot.  It becomes such a struggle and a frustration, but I don’t think it has to be.  Do you find yourself searching for the big scene, or the larger picture, while forgetting about the details?  I know I do.

The challenge today, is to find not the larger picture, but the smaller one.  Look for the details in that photo you are about to take and let the details tell the story.  You know sometimes the smaller things convey a much larger message than the bigger picture ever can.

Practice this challenge with different aperture settings and post the one, (or more,) that you like the best.  Then come back and link your post to the Mr. Linky box below.

Happy shooting!