CW's Blessing

OK have to run off to bed but was just browsing my captures today and had to post two really quickly.
These I converted manually! Horray me! Lol. My nephew was blessed today and I have a ton of great family shots but these two frames just spoke to me. What a beautiful little baby we have on our hands!
And it was cute he was folding his hands and praying while we were trying to get some good pictures. Sweet no? I now think I need to remake his birth announcement and get these things compiled and out to the mother's family out in Utah. We'll see if my children permit.... Good night.

Old, Noisey Shot but I love it anyway

This shot is from back in February, a week or so after I received my beloved XTi.
It is noticeably noisy as seems to be a plague of which I frequently suffer. But it is still adorable anyway. I was really just messing around with some software to see what I could do with some old wretched shots.
This was full Auto which leads me to believe even my manual exposures are better.

And to the left here is just me playing with my new knowledge about grunge borders. I need to figure out how to make a scratch brush though. But it is still an interesting technique.

Goofing off at the park today

So we were on our way home and I figured we should waste some time at the park. Of course I had my fourth child, my xti, with me so we stopped at a little bridge that screamed "TAKE MY PICTURE"
Unfortunately the children weren't cooperating, and who can blame them considering the heat. But I captured a couple ok frames anyway.

The one to the right here I love only because my Princess is proudly displaying her little pouty lip. She loves sticking her little lip out and well as her mother I think it is just precious!

Granted if she would just look at the camera we would be in much better shape, but like I said the children were not cooperating in any way shape or form today.


So I did get a shot of the bridge as well. No excuses for it not cooperating, though I do have to admit a child was running out into the street as I tried to figure out the best manual settings for the image. Lol. Composition is iffy, I'm not sure what I should have done to get it to work for me.... But since it is a bridge and all once I figure that out I will so be running right back to get a better image. I still like this one anyway however.
It was slightly underexposed and I used the zoombrowser software (came with the XTI) to touch it up ever so slightly. I need to find myself a subject to pose so I can really play with all the options this charming bridge has to offer.
So then there was Babycakes. My dear little babycakes. Who is normally a ham saying CHEESE for the camera and squinting smiling and crunching up his face trying to be cute. Today he was just running rampant. Lol. He did evidently remember a time we took him to a park with Christina (his God-mother) and I threw him up on a branch for a picture. He saw some trees today and started chanting "SEET, SEET, SEET" in his oh-to cute way. So I sat him on a limb where he has happy for all of one split second and then started whining to be down again. Kids. So I snapped a frame but since I used the meter from previous shots I ended up blowing the sky and the shorts. But with my mommy-goggles on the shot was decent.I also grabbed a few frames of the wood on the side of the bridge, the old stones and of an old tree to hopefully be used for textures in the future. We'll see what happens.
I did meet a young woman today I would LOVE to practice with. I don't see me as summing up the courage to ask her father, but she so has the model look. We'll see what happens....
My photography is still mediocre at best (though I sometimes like to think it is more, I know better) and I really don't need to be borrowing subjects until I am technically competent.
Oh I suppose I could just leave my camera on the auto settings and pretend I'm a genius but the Pros I chat with will see right through that "technique"
I feel like I'm rambling again so well I better stop and go to sleep. And hopefully I won't be dreaming about my poor, broken lens again.....

Broken Lens

In case anyone was wondering why I don't have any new photos posted..... My favorite lens is broken. I feel like my inspiration is gone.
I do still need to do a shoot with the Langley children but it is being postponed until I can get the lens fixed.

Gary Who?

So the other evening my husband suggested we attend a concert at the Great Frederick Fair. Of course I was more than happy to agree; only later asking him who we would see. "Gary Allen" he stated as if I would instantly recognize the name. "Gary who?" I promptly request more information. After a slight roll of the eyes followed by the singing of a quick line "Nothing on but the radiooo..." I slightly recognized the artist and concurred it would be a fantastic date night.

Headed out this evening I hardly thought it would be fantastic the event that it proved to be.
Entering the fair once again this week, we took in all the familiar sights and sounds. The hum of passing conversations with a distant bass line in the background. The smell of funnel cakes and sausages mingling with the smell of fresh cut fries and pretzles quickly had us salivating. For once this week we briskly passed the vendors and headed for the grandstand.

Having never been to a concert at the Great Frederick Fair we entered the stands with a slight hesitation. Ushers helped us and hundreds of other Fredricktonians find our designated seats in a nice and orderly fashion. As we sat there a few brief moments waiting for the show to start, the infectious excitement of hard core Gary Allen fans started to wear off on us.

When the show started, I honestly wasn't that impressed. The stage, the lights and the roaring crowed helped nudge me along however. A few songs into the show and I was singing along with the mass surrounding us. An artist I didn't think I knew at all happened to be singing several songs I know all the words too. Singing hits such as Nothing on But the Radio, Man to Man, Tough Little Boys and Life ain't always beautiful the crowed roared with approval. People were dancing, screaming, cheering and holding signs in a manner I certainly didn't expect at a country concert. As if that wasn't enough, the fiddle player certainly put on quite a performance. Illuminated by a light positioned just behind him (from our seats at least) and a fog machine he was fascinating to watch. Every now and then he took center stage, entering a battle of fiddle versus the guitar. We were even more impressed when he switched to the guitar for a few songs.

The show also featured several guitar solos that would make many rock aficionados stop to take a second look. Switching betwen acoustic and electrics, the band's music often came close the rock we all love so much.


After Gary Allen and his band left the stage, the crowed immediately groaned in protest. After a moment of cheering and chanting Gary's name the band returned for a much appreciated encore. He played 4 or 5 songs that just ended the evening in a perfect manner.
So the long and the short of it all.... Suck it up and go head out to a country concert. So what if you don't listen to country? The excitement is hard not to partake in, and you can always take a couple of shots before hand to make it just a little more interesting. With Lone Star playing on Saturday night there is still an opportunity for everyone to head out and add that little extra twist to the whole fair experience.

I do have one wish however, having visited Gary Allen's website, I wish it was easier to locate the name of the fiddler with the curly hair and the rest of the band. A band is more than a singer after all. If nothing else at least it was fun to head out and practice my photography skills in a new setting. I think the pictures over all came out better than my Fashion Show experience.

The Great Frederick Fair

Oh how clearly I remember the days when I awaited the Great Fair with such anticipation. Counting the days until we had a day off schools just to go to the fair. The dust filling the air as I would try to cram my child sized mouth with funnel cake before my brothers could eat it all. Trying not to step in manure as I ran behind my grandfather with the giant sized legs.
Then a funny thing happened. I grew to old and to cool for the fair and all of its 'redneck' glory.

However this year I was once again captivated by the Fair and all of its attractions. Having a toddler who was absolutely fascinated by the whole adventure certainly made a world of a difference. It was as if I was living through him, seeing the fair again through a child's eyes. That and having a fantastic camera to tote a long and practice with ;)
We spent the afternoon cramming our faces with all sorts of artery-clogging goodies and inhaling several bucketfuls of dust. And every now and then I was even afforded the opportunity to whip out my trusty side kick and capture a few frames.

Also being an avid knitter... how could i resist the charm of a group of people (yes men too!) sitting spinning away at freshly shorn wool? I so loved this shot! After taking a few pictures I told the lady I loved her basket and she promptly told me it was from Hawaii. No wonder I loved it so!

And this frame just makes me smile. I was honestly only trying to get a good shot of my dear son in the huge tire.... But kids will be kids and I ended up with two and bad composition. I'm sure I still cherish this snapshot regardless.

And for anyone that may wonder... Yes I'm still shooting in manual! My exposure has gotten pretty good lately so now I'm working on composition.

So here I am after 1am trying to post. I have so run out of time in my life as of late. I don't have time to hardly do anything at all. I have been practicing my photography a bit but well... haven't had time to share or critique my work. Not that I really pass out the link to my blog or anything so I'm basically writing this to myself. Lol.
I'm headed off to get some sleep! And if anyone happens to actually read this.... go to the fair. It really can be interesting.

Just Plain Luck with a Monarch

So today I went to go pick up my grandparents (a rare occasion) and just happened to grab my camera in the nick of time. I've never tried to photograph a butterfly before and just lucked out! Some little butterflies were passing by when I noticed a beauty..... Only captured one frame and off she flew! I am rather impressed with myself over this one :)

Frederick Fashion Week

So much to learn, so little time!
Frederick's first ever fashion week! I went as the photographer for FredRocks
and had a blast! The adventure only solidified the fact I HAVE SO MUCH TO LEARN! Just when I've been getting good at the natural lighting I was thrown in a dim environment to try and capture some good shots.
Though most were way underxposed and I had to PS them to an acceptable point.... I did get some really cool shots anyway.

My New Lens is Here!

So after a not to terribly prolonged wait... MY LENS IS HERE! Horray!
I have to go but just wanted to post some shots really quick. All are straight off of the camera, not even cropped...
Composition again leaves much to be desired but the exposure is looking better! Yes; all were shot using manual settings! Sure pros may laugh at my work but I'm having fun and I'm learning quite a bit along the way.

Custom Announcements & Invitations

Only because people have asked.....
I am now offering custom made announcements & invitations. Birth, wedding, birthday, you name it I can design it. I will be adding some examples shortly.
I can make the items with your pictures or mine. I can also have them printed for you or hand you a CD and let you have them printed (at your own risk, some places that print photos have poor color quality)
Designs can be custom made or you can choose from a selection of pre-made templates.
Sizes can also be custom made as requested.
This is for fun, not a true business so don't take it too seriously. Thanks!

Still working on exposure settings

So here are the shots of the day.... not my favorite by any means but I think I am finally getting the hang of manual exposure again :) Still have a long way to go and the composition on these are well below the realm of acceptable... but oh well :)
Again I was shooting around sundown so well there is that late evening orangey hue going on. But I kinda like it. Its almost like a warming filter, natural though. Lol. So the critics might not like these but I certainly do.
I am still working on trying to keep the shadows off the faces of my babes when I'm shooting. Much easier said than done. Today I bought a bubble machine on clearance and that kept the children entertained and somewhat in the general area I was aiming for... but not quite.

I really do think I need to get some older subjects or something.
On a slightly related note... my lens in on the way! She is coming from NJ so hopefully she will be here tomorrow, I'm figuring Thursday at the latest. Then I will be able to try indoor shoots and blurring the background better was well! I can't wait!

At the Canal again today

So I am still toying with exposure. We headed out yet again to the canal with some friends today and attempted another shoot.
The sun was low and so it was a challenge to get Princess to cooperate enough to avoid dark shadows across her face or the rest of the frame. I'm not really happy with the results of today's shoot but at least a couple came out fine.
I did manage to remember to keep my ISO low enough to avoid noise this time! That is a record! I caught myself a couple of times moving to jack it up but kept it at 200 for the entire outing! Horray! No Noise!
Ok so here is my fav of the day.....

My Princess is heartbreakingly beautiful!

This is another shot I captured the other day downtown with my little princess. Again I am struggling with the noise as my ISO was set WAY to high.... but I love the shot anyway :) The light just happened to catch the side of her face by chance in a flattering manner and this isn't cropped either. I did PSCS it a little bit to lighten the under-exposed image which only brings out the noise. :( But the pink hued B&W is adorable no?

A new shot of my Princess

Lily Ana Downtown Yesterday

So yesterday we went on a little shoot downtown. Of course my little princess wasn't all that cooperative, but at least we got a few good ones out of the batch! I do need to get some noiseware (that is more likely than a better lens)
I'm also noticing on some sites when I post this it looks a little blown, while others still look ok. Odd no?
Well I like it anyway, amature and inexperienced as I am I'm quite in love with the shot and will probably have it up on my wall soon enough.

Babycakes at the Park

So having noticed the lack of photos in my collection of my dear little babycakes I have decided to concentrate on him a little more. THis hot was just pure luck that it came out decent. It looks even cooler in color witha pop but is a little to busy that way.
Baby crying have to go...