Definitely on the Mend, Thanks For Thinking of Me

Boat Battle

First of all, thank you everyone for your well wishes.  I am very much on the mend.  Although most foods are still not appealing to me, I will tough it out and eat.  If I have to.  As a matter of fact, I had some ice cream this evening.  It was torture, but I made it through somehow. 

But seriously, I am feeling much, much better.  And I thank you all for your concern.

Tonight's picture is from a school project for my son.  He had to create a commercial for a product.  They had the choice of video taping it or doing it live in class.  The two boys decided videoing was a better option.  After completing all the hard stuff, we worked on the "fun" things that make a commercial, like background music and credits.  We had a mini photo shoot for some still images to be displayed for the intro and credits.  This is one of the photos from the project.

It's always so dramatic to put items against a white background.  Don't you think?  That background is nothing more than several sheets of 12x12 white card stock spaced out enough to cover the base and the background.  We actually shot this on the kitchen counter.  And, if memory serves, it was done with my point and shoot camera on the macro setting.  I mean why "over think" something if you don't have to?  There are many tools that can get you great results.  The key is getting comfortable with the ones you have so that you can use them to their full potential.

Learn all you can from the mistakes of others.  You won't have time to make them all yourself.  ~ Alfred Sheinwold

I Made It

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Hi there!  I'm back - after a few days of well, let's just say an interesting weekend.  First of all, I apologize for missing you on Thursday evening.  Some work was being done on my computer and I just couldn't keep my eyes open any longer waiting for it to finish.  And then, well, let me just say that I hope everyone out there had a much better weekend than I did.  I will sum it up in just two words - Food Poisoning.  I'm here to tell you that it's no fun at all.  On the bright side I think I may have dropped about five pounds.

And now it's Monday evening and all is - almost - good, so I am back to share the photo that I had all planned out for last Thursday.  After I was unable to post it on Thursday, I almost skipped it all together.  Somehow, this one really sums up my tumultuous weekend.

I do love clouds, and love them being photographed.  I spent a very long drive across country with one of my brothers passing the many, many miles finding images in the clouds.  It was a fun time for both of us and one that we both remember very fondly.

Life is a series of surprises.  ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Just Rolling Along

Rolling In

Now how on earth could I resist photographing such amazing clouds!  Really, we don't see clouds like this here very often, and when they come, you better take advantage and photograph.  Especially before the rain comes along.  I mean, look at that super dark cloud top right.  Yikes!

Nature does nothing in vain.  ~ Aristotle

It Comes to An End

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The last photo that I will be sharing from what was a very fun portrait session.  (Thanks again Sara for a great day!)

I had a hard time picking out the ones that I wanted to share with you all.  As I hope you can see, there were several very, very good pics to choose from.  It's funny, but I very rarely choose the same pics as my favorites as do the people that I am shooting.  Whenever I do a session, when scheduling our time to meet up and exchange the finished pictures, I am always asked how they turned out.  It's kind of a tricky question.  The ones that I like are usually so very different. 

I did however receive her graduation announcement and was so happy to see that one of my favorites was used.  It is a very good picture of her and one that shows her fun personality.

Follow your dream.  Transform your life.  ~ Unknown

Allright, I Played A Little Here



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I was so glad when Sara said it would be alright if I played a little with her photos.  I always give copies of all photos taken - except for the obvious closed eyes and blurred or such - in both color and black and white.  That way they have the option of both varieties.  Sara's photos were so fun, I really wanted to spend a little bit of extra time working on them a bit.  I had a feeling they would look really good a little "blown out".  Meaning, deliberately overexposing them just a tad.  And this photo is definitely one that benefited from that.  I love the original as well, it's very good.  I think it's fun to see how you can play with the images a little to create a different mood. 

Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.  ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Again, I Love This Lighting

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The thing that really got me excited about these columns is the lovely halo effect created around Sara's hair.  It created such soft lighting for her face.  I just love the way this looks.  And yes, it does really help to have such a beautiful subject to light up.

Life is short, and it's up to you to make it sweet.  ~ Sadie Delany

Lovely Light Creates Lovely Lines

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Another Sara photo.  Isn't she adorable?  And probably just a little embarrassed at the moment, knowing her.

One of the things I have learned about photography over the years, you just never know what you are going to get.  This is the second time I have shot at this location.  I'm very pleased with it so far.  And really, I've only explored one small section.  There are more areas I would love to play around in.  I have wanted to shoot with these columns both times I have been here.  And, at first, it just didn't look quite right.  On this particular day, we went to the columns and then moved to other areas for a bit before heading back over.  And I am so glad that we waited just those few minutes.  I love the lighting on this shot.  It was something very magical when I looked through the lens.  I love the lines that all that streaming sunlight created.  So fun.

In school, you're taught a lesson and then given a test.  In life, you're given a test that teaches you a lesson.  ~ Tom Bodett