Monday, January 27, 2014

Project Create 2/26

Project: Create 2014

We're back this year with a new project designed to help us build more creativity into our photography.
Every other Monday we'll post our images, many of them taken with our Lensbaby lenses.
The effects of the Lensbaby can be somewhat subtle or quite dramatic.
At the bottom of my post, as well as in the post of the other photographers, is a link to next photographers images. Click those links to take a trip around our circle!

The images from this week's post come from my last visit to Longwood Gardens.  I went on the final day of their Christmas display, which ended on the 12th of January.

Here are few of the images I took with my Lensbaby.  You can compare them to the images I look with my regular lenses in my previous post if you are interested in seeing how the lenses differ.






  

Start the circle here with
 Stacy Heap Vitallo

Sunday, January 26, 2014

A belated Longwood Christmas!

Snow canceled my plans to visit Longwood before Christmas,
not once, but twice! 
Then rain dampened my plans, because I didn't want to walk around outside, 
in cold dreary weather.
Finally, on the last day of the display, I made it out there.

Thinking it would be crowded, we went early. 
But no crowds were to be found!

The theme this year was fruit.  
We found fruit everywhere.  
On trees.
On mantles
Outside feeding the wildlife.










 The Bird of Paradise in bloom!



Outside decorating the wildlife tree!




Inside.  At night.




Peeking through a  window!
 


Sometimes you need to look up!
 

Lights.  Lights. And more lights!
 


Fountain lights!
 



Floating trees with lights!
 



Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Snowflakes. Take 1



For the second time this winter the weather forecasters have predicted storms that wouldn't amount to much, but turned into a major snow event.
It's only January and I think we've had more days off from school that in the last 3 years combined.
So, what's a photographer to do on a day off?
 If you need to answer, look below.
If you already knew the answer, you know what you're looking for!


Monday, January 13, 2014

Project: Create 1/26

Project: Create 2014

We're back this year with a new project designed to help us build more creativity into our photography.
Every other Monday we'll post our images, many of them taken with our Lensbaby lenses.
The effects of the Lensbaby can be somewhat subtle or quite dramatic.
At the bottom of my post, as well as in the post of the other photographers, is a link to next photographers images. Click those links to take a trip around our circle!

I've had this lens for over a year, but am just beginning to understand how many different ways I can use it and how many different results I can get from photographing the same objects.

This is going to be fun!
 







Thursday, January 9, 2014

Frozen Bubbles!!

With temperatures way below freezing, shooting frozen bubbles was fun challenge for a few of my friends, so I decided to jump on the bandwagon and try my hand.
Thought I was going to loose my fingers due to frostbite, getting some of these.
I still have some work to do, but it was fun!

First attempt, but not frozen, yet!

Taken inside the porch, but still not frozen!
 

Past frozen..folding into itself!


Outside and frozen!
 

Frozen and cracked!
 

Day 2-All frozen!






Tuesday, January 7, 2014

It's 2014, a new year, a new beginning, a new journey!

No New Year's resolutions for me.
Gave 'em up a long time ago.
Instead, I try to think of the New Year as a chance to do things better. 
Do them differently.
Do them less frequently.
Do them more often
Not necessarily for a whole year.
Sometimes for a few weeks.
Sometimes one day
Maybe a minute.

Each time I do something better for myself or someone else, I make the quality of my life or someone's life better. 
I love that. 
 I love that my photography makes others happy.
Truth be told, I don't do it for anyone but myself.
It makes me happy.
It challenges me.
It pushes me out of my comfort zone. 

After not being able to pick up my camera last year for more than a few months, I'm anxious to get out there and shoot again.
There's a part of me that's giddy with happiness.
That's ready to be challenged.
To be pushed. 
To make my hopes and dreams for my journey through photography to change and grow and take me places, I never imagined I'd go!

To start this year, I'm continuing my journey with the Stacy Heap Vitallo, Faye Kingston, and Denean Melcher.  Every other week, we'll post to our blogs.  
No longer will it be called Macro Monday. 
 This year's project is "Create."
We'll try to use our Lensbaby lenses and post something creative!

In March, I'm headed to DC for a National Geographic Seminar on Story Telling. 
(a gift from my boys for Christmas!)
I'm hoping to broaden my ideas and perspective behind the lens!

I hope to continue to meet up with my friends and share my images here.
 
Stay tuned!

And just because I can't post without a image, here's a couple that I took while practicing with my Lensbaby. 
I hope to get lots of practice time with this lens.
I need it.
Big time!