It's Show Off Sunday at HSMSHS, so I thought I'd share a photo from a photo shoot I was involved with this week. This pretty 1 year old was very patient through multiple costume changes and two photographers. She was just adorable and had no problem showing us all her best faces. It was really a delight to shoot her. She was my first wee one and left me with quite a taste for more. Funnily enough, it's this shot, taken while we were on a break and she was crawling around me, checking out my camera and I, that's my favourite. I just love a super closeup.
Today is Saturday, which means it's time to pull out the portraits! I love this one for several reasons:
1. Practice session with my long lens turned out just fine--lots of great photos to choose from. 2. After spending close to an hour shooting each kiddo, this last shot with both of them feels like some kind of bonus prize. 3. Happy, snowy kids! 4. They're mine! We moms always love photos of our kids.
We're off to winterfest today, so more snowy fun photos tomorrow!
My photo for Project 365 on Monday was of the fiction shelves at our local library. Not a very good picture, shot at night as it was, but taken in my happy place.
Today I see that the HSMSHS prompt is rows, and I can't think of rows of anything that make me happier than these!
One of exactly 3 in our household. The other two belong with robes. I dug this poor thing out of the back of the closet and hung it over the door for the photo, then stuffed it back in.
Apparently belts don't rate as important fashion accessories around here.
I read a lot of blogs. Between my love of photography, my hobby of scrapbooking, my experiences as a mom, my quest for meal ideas, I have a lot of "stuff" in poor Google Reader.
The majority of blogs I read are photographically rich. Several of them are blogs of photogs (and I seem to add a new one every few days) but many are hobbyists who happen to take a great photo. It's on the latter, interestingly enough, that I find the best tips to improve my photography. We hobbyists are excited to learn and everything is new, so we like to share it with others.
Unfortunately, I tend to forget a great tip as soon as I move on to the next blog.
Or do I?
A couple of weeks ago at a birthday party, I was having trouble photographing one of the young guests as he sat with the patio doors at his back. For once my blog reading came to save me, and I remembered a tip shared on Elizabeth Kartchner's blog* aaaaaaaaaaaaages ago. Here's the video she linked to (by the delightful Candice Stringham):
Now I'm still figuring out all the ins and outs of my camera, but for the quick fix what you're looking for is that little star button. I have a Canon and mine's on the right side beside the button for selecting focus points.
Honestly, I was skeptical, but I gave it a whir. Here are both photos, SOOC:
By George it worked! Give praise for the magical star button! (and to my brain for somehow retaining that one).
Just in case it was a fluke, I decided to try it yesterday in the snow when a couple of my photos came out extra dark.
And yes, for those who are doubtless wondering, I did move afterwards so I'd have better light, but I wanted to try it--and it worked wonderfully!
If you'd like more of Candice's tips, you can find them at Creating Keepsakes (They're the series called behind the scenes). If you'd like a treasure trove, YouTube has all kinds of helpful videos. If your brain is like mine, you may want to watch one and IMMEDIATELY try it out so you're less likely to forget.
*Come for the scrapbooking/photos, stay for the playlist. Elizabeth's blog is usually playing in the background while I edit photos. I've found a lot of new favouite artists through her.
Ok, not sure how I got out for a few days, but I'm ready to jump right back into the HSMSHS game with this week's prompts so far.
Monday: Orange
Orange has never been one of my happy colours, but since having kids I'm noticing more and more orange in my space. Winnie the Pooh, clown fish, doll dresses, race cars. The one that really baffles me is this one though:
Listen, I know that no one knows exactly what the dinosaurs looked like, but do you really expect me to believe that the majority of them were, like his toys, bright orange? If so, extinction solved: liver failure.
OFF-TOPIC!
That reminds me of a story for you:
My Hubby's office is in the centre of a row. The kidney dialysis unit is on one side of his office and a tanning salon is on the other.
Yesterday, waiting to pick him up, a woman pulled up and parked beside us. She slowly got out of her car and I had nothing to do but watch. She was stick thin, had stringy hair, and her skin was an incredibly sickly orange colour. I immediately felt poor for her, brave woman, going in for her treatment. I hoped she'd get the help she needed.
And then she went into the tanning salon.
Really?
Really.
We live in a strange, strange world.
Tuesday: Trinket
I'm not one for a lot of trinkets or dust catchers. I rarely wear jewellry and dislike clutter. But I love this little gal, who sits atop my stove to keep me company and cheer me as I cook.
Today: Radiate
Oh the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful....During the day, these are the rays we count on to keep us warm....and they're fun to watch too. (I thought the coals radiated better than the actual flame). I guess some oranges make me happy after all!
That's my space this week! Can't wait to catch up with all the other players!
PS In case you don't usually follow her, I just thought I'd mention that the Pioneer Woman is having a giveaway for B&H Photography gift certificates. Sweet. (you can follow the link in my sidebar: Pioneer Woman Photography).
How did a week get away from me like that? I really have no idea why I've been missing the HSMSHS prompts. I haven't even always missed taking the photos, just posting to the blog.
Let's blame it on JanuFeb, shall we? I blame everything on JanuFeb. (We don't get along.)
Anyway, here's a random sampling of some of last week's prompts that never made it to post on time:
And, as it turns out, we have a LOT of carvings in our house. I didn't realize how much I like them until that prompt. I'm still finding "carve" to photograph. In fact, I just now thought of another one. So I can't resist sharing a second carve:
And now that that's clear, I'll be off on a little photo safari to catch up on this week. See you in a bit!
