Day 65

After yesterday's surprise dumping of snow, I was happy to see some of it melting away again quickly so I could go check on my little buds. :) Walking around my backyard, as another photographer suggested, I found these sweet little berries on a prickly bush. One perfect little red one. I opened it up on the computer and the youngest says, "It looks too fake, mom!" haha That's SOOC so what can I tell ya? I said, "Take it up with God, because he made it!" hah

Day 65

Settings:

ISO 100, f/1.8, ss 1/500, 50

Sedum

 Daffodils

 Tulips

 Maple buds. I zoomed and you can see them start to open!

Day 64

No budding shots today! The ground was covered with snow. :) Yay, us!!! 

I was out an about as little one had that (4 hour!) callback. So I went to Starbucks and loved catching up on some of your blogs! Then I caught up on a couple emails, caught up on some Caramel Macchiato...you know. If I didn't make it to your blog in the past couple days, let me know! I'd love to see them.. if you don't see yourself in my blog feed on the right side of my page, holler at me and I'll add you too!

I love love love (LOVE) train track shots. What is it about the tracks? Maybe because you're not supposed to actually be on them, or the mystery of where it's going.. What about the soothing repetition of each rail tie? I love it.. here's another tribute to the train tracks going around the blogs.

Day 64

Settings:
ISO 800, f/5.6, ss 1/500, 160 mm (evening)

Day 56

Bunny trails!! Well, I got the little foot prints, but not exactly the "trail." When I took photos of the trails, it lost it's cuteness and integrity of the shot. I love the single print!

So, you can humor me a little. Once again, we have SNOW! Oh yes, and expecting more tonight. We don't live in Alaska, people! We live in the midwest! But, this is what I'm faced with lately. I think my husband was a little disappointed in the wow factor. But, (as I'm sure he's preparing to do his own 365 next year..not! LOL) I explained to him it's not about outdoing another photo, it's about doing the photo you take really well! Or attempting to work on something and practice it over and over until you get it right.

Day 56

Settings: Don't really matter, because I had to lighten the lights and darken the darks. I really need some help in the snow department, I think! :)

But, here they are. My failed attempt.

ISO 1oo, f/4, ss 1/1000, 50 mm

any thoughts on what I could have changed?

Day 42

Hooray for winter! It's snowing again! Gotta rejoice in what you have, huh? 

This is our Rose of Sharon tree. I thought it completely fitting for today and Egypt's events that have played out over the past few weeks. Today, Egypt made history. What will happen next? Only God knows.. I pray for the people to make smart decisions and be peaceful with Israel! 
Look at the little snowflake that made a perfect descent and landing on the little pod at the bottom. It is perfect in every way!

Day 42

Settings:

ISO 200, f/1.8, ss 1/2000, 50 mm, no flash

Day 39

I am messing up my days! 39 already? I almost saved my picture under 38 thinking that was getting far. Wow.. we're doing great, you guys! I honestly wanted to do this and stick with it, and I am pleasantly surprised that it is getting done.
The hardest part, I've realized, is keeping up with comments on other people's sites. I want to SO bad! I spend a lot of time hunting down the ones I follow. The only problem, is the commenting board itself. I'm so sick of typing in a code! I wondered if I had it too, after some searching, I found.. I can turn that stupid thing off! 

If you go to DESIGN, SETTINGS, COMMENTS, scroll down, then it asks you
Show word verification for comments? check NO


I am crossing my fingers hoping others will do this too. That will make commenting more pleasant for all! :) *hint, hint*

I do need to read my manual more, but it's getting boring. Am I alone in this department? There are several things I am looking forward to trying out, but oh yeah.. there cannot be a blizzard outside! 

This is bascially SOOC only added a vignette to it (darkened the sides a little bit to focus on those ploomy guys).I loved how they were dancing in the wind. Looked a bit like it could be underwater to me. You know, all those sea anemones? 

Day 39

Settings:

ISO 400, f/5.6, ss 1/1600, 210 mm, no flash 

Day 38

Well, folks.. it is what it is! There is snow. Everywhere! We get the 22" of snow off the streets, then it comes down in buckets again. Today, it is really quite beautiful. I will have to find out how to master taking pictures of snowflakes, but here's what it looked like from a distance. A lonely car going down the street, with ginormous snowflakes everywhere! 

More trees.. I know, but it's what I've got. Every other plant, and things of interest, are buried underneath! 

Day 38

Settings:

ISO 400, f/4.5, ss 1/320, 75 mm, no flash

(silly ISO, that's why I had to lighten a little with the levels)

Day 37

The outside structure of our church is made of beautiful stone. They are all different, so I could take 50 different pictures, and have 50 different looks. This is a view as we walk out of the lobby area. I adore these birch trees, and the looked so beautiful in the snow. Especially from the lobby walkways. I did wait until church was over to take my photos. Everyone was talking and the 2nd service group had left and 3rd service had already started.. so off I went! 

I hope you all have a wonderful day today! Go ________!!! I do enjoy the commercials and half time. I really could care less who wins today. Although, since live in Chicago, we hear enough about the Packers. I may be secrectly hoping for the Steelers...

Day 37

Settings:

ISO 200, f/5.6, ss 1/250, 30 mm, no flash

Day 36

There's something very Norman Rockwell about this picture. I love his paintings, seeing the kids playing out in the towns, on hillsides..etc. This reminded me of his settings.

Here are "The Boys" sledding today. All the kids had a blast, but we figured it was time to wrap it up when kids started appearing with no supervision. 

Day 36

Settings:

ISO 200, f/4.5, ss 1/4000, 75 mm, no flash

edited with Denim from Coffee Shop Actions. LOVE this action!

Day 35

I DID IT! I finally did it! I made it! I did it right!! Yahooo WAHOOO Yipeee!!!!! I cannot contain myself.. I have been trying to get that sun glare just right. Every time = Fail! Not today, with all the adorable pictures I got of the kids sledding, bright colored hats, rosy cheeks, perfect lighting and cute faces, this is the one I am most proud of! :) 

Day 35

Settings:
ISO 100, f/5.6, ss 1/3200, 26 mm, no flash! :)

Day 11

SNOW! 

I love it! I'm like a little kid when I wake up and see the ground covered with a fresh blanket of snow. It's mesmerizing when you try to follow the highest snowflake to it's final point of rest. I like trying to predict where it will land and betting with myself if it will make it or not. 

Day 11

Settings:

ISO 400 (I messed up, should have been 1 0r 200), f/5.6, ss 1/1600, 280 mm focal length

Day 7

This month it's going to have to be all about lighting. It's a tough time to get right. January is overcast, dark, then mixed snow or rain.. never know what you're going to get. 

I stopped the car and took a few minutes before this one's ski trip to work with some lighting in snowy conditions. It was very light snow where some had already accumulated. I liked the background with the trees and the almost untouched road until some dude flew past us right before we got out of the car. (ruining our untouched road) So, we opted for the trees.  :) 


I've realized in this business, you have to be very flexible! 

Day 7

Settings: 

ISO 100, f/1.8, ss 1/50, 50 mm, no flash