Going Manual Baby!

Ok so well I've had my fourth child (Canon Rebel Xti) for 6 months now. I've become comfortable at getting it to do pretty much what I want on a regular basis. However I have neglected to actually learn how to really use her. I'm embarrassed to admit it but well.... I use the automatic preset functions for EVERYTHING!
So today I ventured back into the realm of going manual. I can barely remember my photography years of long ago and well it bit me in the butt today.
However I did manage to escape with a few decent shots. Luck I presume as I did take a gazillion shots to begin with and only managed with a few decent ones. Thing is I was so worried about the dam exposure and learning to control my camera that I didn't pay much attention to the composition. at least tomorrow is another day.
But regardless... here are a couple tries at the manual exposure



What a sweet dear brother I have who bought his wife some daisies as a thank you for the baby present!

Accepting defeat?

So starting to analyze my work a little further.... I'm realizeing I'm AWFUL! I so need so much more work to be a decent photographer!
O the things I must learn! The shadows I must avoid!
Its hard to accept this and move on instead of throwing in the towel. Amongst friends and family I'm known as a good photographer. Amongst photographers I feel like I stick out like a sore thumb.
(sighs) I will get better.... I must!
Random item I've been toying with- making colors pop with LAB mode! What fun! G'night!

My Nephew Yesterday

So on many occasions I have tried snapping photos of my dear nephew. However the shots rarely if ever turn out.
Yesterday was an exception! I finally got a good one!

I really like the B&W background on this one but didn't feel like it was quite what I wanted to do
This one I used a Mocha B&W action and just altered the curve a bit

And finally my favorite...
















I do somewhat wish he was smiling, but I'm also liking that it is a more normal picture of him as I don't actually see him smile a whole lot.
Baby on my back wiggling.... so much for this train of thought....

The Beginnings of a creative adventure

So I've always had a passion for photography....
Recently I've decided I need to nurture that passion while I still can (and while I have two live-in beautiful subjects to practice on!
So here it goes. Hopefully I will keep up with this.... we'll see. Being a devoted Mama I don't have a ton of free time.

So here is the shot I've doctored today...
It was taken on the 11th of August, days before her first birthday. I really love the contrast between her soft skin and the rough rock behind her. For some reason I really loved the mocha action though I adjusted the curve slightly as well. Perhaps I'm not a professional, but I think its darn good!