Monday, December 31, 2007

Last picture of 2007


This was taken Saturday by Athena, but I want it up to remind me why I can't forget to take care of myself while caring for everyone else! My weight has gone up and down a lot this year, but for the first time in more than 15 years, I am ending the year with net loss, only 12 lbs, but a loss.

For Sunday

It seems to be working, sort of...

Saturday, December 29, 2007

MaryRose and Athena

random 056

I have been trying to post like normal since Saturday afternoon, but I am still having trouble. So I went back to flickr and posted from there to finally get this one to work. I am still having trouble

Friday, December 28, 2007

I guess I am starting year 2 today....

My mom has always wanted a train for under the Christmas tree, so she got one this year.

I, of course, had to use it to play with shutter speeds and aperatures!
Then I looked up and saw the kitchen elf cleaning!!!!
She wanted let me know she had come to bake (actually no bake) cookies and wasn't too excited that she had to clean first.
It was a fun day!

Thursday, December 27, 2007

Blackberry wine....




I have been really sick for the last two days, but tonight I was determined to put into practice the information I gathered yesterday. These are totally manual shots, they all have slow shutter speeds, but three very different aperatures. The top is the smallest, then the middle is a medium and the bottom is a very large (4.5 I believe). I like the totally different feel of each one.

Now I am going back to bed to dream about aperature and shutter combinations!

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

What this project has meant to me!

I started this project to push myself to do something artistic everyday. I thought I wanted an artsy blog that was separate from my life, to go back to the college zone where art for art's sake was enough. What it quickly morphed into was a diary of my life. I have a few creative or interesting shots, but most are normal routine peeks into my days: my family, my goats, my chickens, my students, my yard...etc and I that is okay.

It was an amazing feeling connecting my 'real life' family and friends with my 'cyber' family and friends. Both groups kept checking in and really encouraging me. It was knowing someone was out there that kept me moving forward and pushing myself. I now know what people's kids, pets and husbands look like that I have been talking to online for years. Extended family around the world have been able to check in on the blog to see that things with mom were going well, and they were able to catch Athena's prom and graduation as well as Kayleigh's wedding plans and Nathan's new job and car.

This project has changed my outlook in subtle ways. I think I have 'looked' at the world like a photographer since highschool when I 'caught the bug', however this project brushed the dust off and reminded me how much I really enjoy capturing images from different perspectives. It has also reminded me how much I enjoy looking at photography. I have enjoyed the journey and peeks into the lives of the other 365ers even more than I have my own. I have to say the RSS feed lets me keep up with some amazing photographers. Even when I don't always comment, I am always checking in and being awed by the new ways each person sees.

I love the art of photography, everything about it. I think I am even going to find a local digital photography class now to go along with the online one I added to my RSS Feed. I think the mems and the assignments help keep me interested. Getting more of those this year will keep me improving I think.

I grew a lot emotionally during the project. I got upset, with myself, for a lot of reasons this year. One I was going to start with a mediocore camera and save for a good camera. Since I had never used it for more than capturing family events, I had to spend a long time learning how to use that camera. Then 1/2 way throught the year I lost that camera and family circumstances made saving for a new one just about impossible. Using my old 35mm camera was cost prohibitive as well as way more time consuming given the extra steps needed to post. That left me with a very old camera with sticky buttons, no manual anything and pretty low pixels.

I was feeling sorry for myself for quite a while, then I started seriously missing the project. I started getting inspired again by all the great pictures being taken, so I returned to the old camera. It was what I had, so it was what I was going to make work. In time I did get pictures I liked well enough to post.

Just as I was readjusting, my family suprised me with the exact camera I wanted. Now I feel like I am starting over from scratch, yet again! This time I know my pictures should start coming closer to my visions. Finally with a DSLR, I am learning how to blend my film techniques with digital technology. In one month I have taken over 1600 pictures. I am happy with about 100 of them and I have learned something from the others.

I know it is a cliche, but it is so true for me...waiting until everything is perfect to do what you want to do is just another way of pretending not to fail. To do anything properly you have to be willing to fail. I tell this to the kids everyday, but I often forget to take my own advise.

For the coming year I need to figure out how to find the balance between an online photo diary and my need to create art. I need a place were I have to limit myself to one photo day because it makes me seriously edit and evaluate my work, but I also need a place to feel free to post 5-10 pictures to capture the day for myself, family and friends. I am not sure one photoblog will work. I have a week to figure it all out!

Thank you all for an amazing year and bringing back to life my photographic passions!

First totally manual shot...

After reading the book three or four times, I had to finally call the nice patient tech support man. He walked me through all my questions. I took a picture of the first thing I saw after hanging up the phone.

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

The Stuffed Stockings....

Were hung over the blackboard with care,
Because, there is no mantle over the fireplace there.

Some of those stocking don't look stuffed, but they are! There are two with nothing, the Wildcat one will get fresh raisin cookies shortly, the crocheted one we put up to remember Dirk's mom. It was one of the last things she made for Kayleigh before she died.

Monday, December 24, 2007

Christmas Eve







I am not sure when I will be able to post again, but thanks Ampersand for the great zoom technique tips. It really is a lot of fun with the Christmas Tree, which Dirk Nathan and I finished around 1 a.m. It is now 4 am, and I am very punching since I have only had 3 hours sleep since waking up Friday morning.

Sunday, December 23, 2007

Sunday...

I love the way my camera captures the sun and the sky. This is taken with the Av (Aperture Priority) and has no post-processing work. It almost looks like a blue and purple star of Bethlehem.

Saturday, December 22, 2007

Saturday, nothing shot today.

This shot is from the hotel next to ours. The lobby was the largest free standing dome structure ever built, when it was built to replace the old hotel that burned down.
This is the famous lobby. Obviously, I need work on my long architectural shots because I am making their beautiful 3000 lb, 75ft tree look like it is falling down.


I didn't take any pictures today while shopping, this shot I took a couple days ago reminded me of today's sky. It was always moving, changing blues, and really beautiful.

Friday, December 21, 2007

Just a few of many

These first three are from Thursday, when I look a couple hundred shots.
I told Dirk, someday I'll make one this big!

This was our hotel. I believe it was built in the 1850's.

This is the lobby. Not a great shot, but one of only a few 'long shots' I took. Mostly I did close up of the amazing details.


This is today's photo of Bean Bloosom where we didn't go Christmas shopping. Most of the places were closed before we got there (5:30pm) I didn't get any pictures of the pretty little Fountain Square Mall in Bloomington where we did go shopping.

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Where do you think your going!?!

Juniper had decided that she belonged in my luggage. She did not want to wake up and get out so Dirk could put his clothes in. Hopefully, I will be back on Friday with lots and lots of beautiful pictures.

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Tuesday's good, bad and ugly

The good! Fresh eggs outside the kitchen door.


The Bad Ass Guard Rooster protecting his yard and hens.



The ugly kitchen steps every afternoon, that do get scrubbed every morning. (sometimes even twice a day, depending on how much behavior needs moderating :) )

Monday's puddle

Saturday, December 15, 2007

catching up

Saturday's Shot
I took pictures during pageant practice today. I am always amazed at how the whole church works together each year to make this happen. Kids from infant to 18 are on stage, adults are singing, ringing bells, teens and adults build sets, run lights, play instruments..... moms, dads, grandparents, aunts and uncles all chip in to make the magic happen. For more pictures check out leftovers.

Friday's Shot
While I was waiting for Nathan to get off work, I started playing around with long exposure night shots. Most were really terrible, but I kind of liked this one.

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Does this make you laugh, too?

I know you all are probably very bored with goat pictures, but at the end of the day when I am going through all my shots, they are the ones that make me laugh.

Monday's Picture

I went to one of my student's volleyball games on Monday night. I thought it would be the perfect time to test out the motor drive and action setting on the new camera. I still had to push the ISO to 1600, but over all I was I please with the way the camera worked, however my action skills are very rusty! And I forgot to change the settings later when taking still type shots and they turned out grainy and a bit dark.

Monday, December 10, 2007

Sunday's Picture

This is the resort Dirk will be performing at for the next two week. It is 2 hours away, so he will be staying up there all this week and most of next.

Saturday, December 8, 2007

Best of a bad set


Note to self, find the tri-pod and try again!

Friday, December 7, 2007

Thursday, December 6, 2007

Advent Wreaths

Thursday's Wreath
I really like this wreath. I got it for my mom for her birthday this year. She collects Nativities and this is an Advent Wreath that is also a Nativity. I fell in love with it when I saw it. The big angel in the back was a gift from someone else, but I like the way she over looks the scene.

Wednesday's Wreath
This is/was my favorite wreath. It was a gift from Dirk. We have used it for over 14 years. I was even hoping it would be the one to pass on to my grandchildren. It got broken by a student on Wednesday. It was an accident, but somehow since there are so many big things going wrong this year that I have no control over at all, I am having a hard time dealing with the loss of this wreath. I 'know' I can super glue it and touch up the paint, however the idea of a broken circle makes me sick to my stomach.

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Monday, December 3, 2007

Fall of Mankind or Birth of Wisdom #2

I had given myself the challenge of photographing the symbols of the Jesse Tree for my Putterings blog, this was part of today's photo shoot. I didn't intend for the photos to crossover, but they may occasionally.

Pure Joy

Sunday's picture
All this motion wasn't totally on purpose, but I love this shot.

Saturday, December 1, 2007

Finishing the Rainbow

Red



Orange is here


Yellow is here

This is a green without Ginger :)
Blue


Indigo (or just dark purple) is here


Violet

That finishes Roy G. Biv, I actually had a lot of fun doing the colors and the fruits.