Artsy

It was actually kind of warm the other night, so we were outside playing in the yard and I pointed out to Emily and Carter how pretty I always thought the sunset was bouncing off of the grain elevator we live next to.

And Emily said, "You've never taken a picture of it before, Mom."

So I went inside, grabbed my camera, put my boots on and hiked across yards to try and capture the beauty and warmth I see reflected in this plain tin building. And to show, there is beauty in town.

(this picture was more psychadelic and rainbowy in camera; like this one below. I'll have to look at it again. I still think it's cool this way, though)

Taking pictures like this makes me feel artsy; it brings out my creative side. I like that.

A Monday on a Wednesday

This last Wednesday ended up being a Monday for me. Carter and I had issues getting out the door to school, Casey was crying when I left him at the babysitter's house, I tried to dry my dress slacks for just a little bit and forgot them and shrunk them!!!, I packed my lunch for work and promptly dumped it on the floor, I have a sick cat that threw up yet again and Al joked we were starving him to death.....the list goes on and on. I was a poster child for a bad day.

So, I decided that maybe if I took some pictures before I went in to work that would make me happy. The frost was amazing and I'd been itching to get out and take some pictures anyway.

Here are my attempts at seeing beauty in my day!! I actually did feel better after being outside, however I neglected to notice that it was only 2 degrees outside and by them time I went back to my van I couldn't feel my fingertips and they hurt the rest of the day!!!!!

I think I got some really cool shots for all of my trouble, though...

I took this as I was heading back to the van through this shelter area. Remember when I was trying to take pictures of spider webs?? Just add frost...
This is kind of fun with the sun shining through this cool weed.
I couldn't resist even after I went back to my van...I drove up on the bridge above the dam and had to snap a shot of all the frost, running water and beautiful blue sky.
Wow! Look at that blue sky and cool tree!
Funny how Blogger decided that this picture needed to go on its end?.. I liked the way the berries looked against the blue sky with frost all over them.

I did figure out that I should try some different angles to get more blue, etc., but I'll have to save that for another day and dress a bit warmer next time!!!

Hope your week is going great!! Al and I and some friends are off to a Brad Paisley concert and overnight in a hot tub hotel!!!

Beauty wherever you are

This morning, amidst the hustle and bustle of literally "shoving" my children out the door for school, we glimpsed this; steam rising off of everything as the day warms up. I pointed it out to Emily and Carter on their way off to walk to school and then ran inside for my camera. Morning steam, it's hard to capture, much like fog. You can see tiny tendrils working their way up the tree here in this first picture.
It's harder to notice in this second picture, but I liked the sun shining through the tree. And looking at this picture doesn't make me feel like I am in town so much.
The I heard a chewing noise and glance up to see this squirrel happily munching on walnuts from our Black Walnut tree. Have I mentioned that I dislike. walnuts. very. very. much!!! They are such a mess and they are all over my yard right now. But...they are a good treat for a hungry squirrel. Oh and I forgot to mention that as I am looking up and admiring this squirrel eating his breakfast, I took one step back on our homemade ramp and promptly fell on my bum!


Back to my pictures of steam...

Finally, in the bend of this tree, without the sun as a distraction, I think I captured it. I ended up getting out my telephoto and I liked those pictures best.It is still an elusive thing, that steam, and a picture. I guess most good things in life are a bit elusive, but so worth the effort in the end.

Fun with my Camera

Here are some nice nature images to soak up and enjoy...

I apparently like bees....


I tried to catch a goldfinch. They were all over, but didn't like me much no matter how still I stood in the middle of the garden getting stickleburs? all over me....This was all I could get with my telephoto lens on.
I think this one is awesome!! I am really enjoying my new camera. I do need to take some time and learn more and definitely practice more, but I think I'm getting some cool shots so far...

People with a fuzzy background

Taking pictures of people as your subject instead of flowers is way more difficult to accomplish a center focus with a blurry background. I did talk with a professional photographer and she told me it is more difficult with a point and shoot camera.
Here is my attempt and I think I kind of got it. It's not as blurry in the background as I was wanting, but it'll do for now. I have to save some $$$ to get a new camera. And besides, it is just nice to know that I can do it even against the odds.

I think I did it!

Here are a few shots of some pretty trees at a nearby park that I took the other night.
I think I figured out how to get the effect that I was looking for... in flowers.... it's a bit harder with people. I'm not sure I can accomplish this with my point and shoot. I'm getting some fun pics but not exactly what I'm looking for. Thanks for all of your input. If you have any suggestions for when I "shoot" people, please let me know. Other than a new camera of course!! I've already decided I'll get one of those this year. It's just a matter of which one and that research task is a bit daunting. I've been looking and asking around since Christmas!! I keep changing my mind about what I might want, so for now I'm practing with my current camera. If you have a dream camera, let us all know about it.

Which picture is your favorite!! Mine is the middle one because you can see the v in the tree and there is colorful "bokeh" in the background. Let me know what you think! I love to hear from each and every one of you.