Days 63-69

It was such a rainy, dreary week. It was hard to take pictures because the rain makes me want to do nothing but lay in my bed and watch netflix. But I prevailed and I got some good shots this week! I also did a lot of photography reading and research and a few lightbulb moments!

Tomorrow begins my crazy month of October – I go back to work and I have plans to be travelling every single weekend. It’s going to be nuts, so I can’t promise anything as far as posting photos, especially to the blog. Chances are better for posting to facebook, so if you don’t already follow my photography there, please do!

 Day 63:  I took my tripod and remote out to the backyard to try a self portrait.  Harder than I thought it would be!

 Day 64:  For some reason, I always find the shower to be one of the most inspiring places.  Something about it, I always get really good ideas! :)  I noticed how cool my "loofah" is, and after I got out of the shower, I came back with camera and got some pretty neat shots. 

Day 65: Bella is such a scaredy cat!  I don't even know what she was scared of, probably a bug, but she was hiding under my chair.  Silly kitty!

 Day 66:  Rain.  Can't wait until I get my macro lens so I can get proper shots like this.  

Day 67:  Raindrops on roses.

 Day 68: Raindrops on car windows.

Day 69:  Leaves in puddles.

Be Supportive | Blog Circle : September

If you have ever tried to learn something new, you know that it is a whole lot easier and more fun when you do it with someone else.  If you aren’t aware, photography is a pretty technical and complicated hobby and there is a lot to learn about equipment, exposure, processing, techniques, and more. 

So, like many other women in the same shoes as myself, I turned to the internet and quickly discovered the plethora of online photography forums and blogs that exist.  I discovered Girl Hearts Camera back when it was just a blog, and when Heather expanded it to include a forum as well, I was quick to jump in.  It has quickly become my favorite forum because the women who are a part of our community are just so kind and helpful.  We have women from all walks of life, from those who have had successful photography businesses for years, to those just starting their business, to those (like me) who are just in this for a hobby and a way to express themselves.  The forum is a place where I can ask stupid questions, learn new ways to do things, and receive constructive critique, and just to share my photos with other women who are interested and understand what I am talking about!   

This month some of us are starting a Blog Circle, something to stretch our creative muscles and share with the world.  This month’s theme is “Be Supportive.”  And like any good student, the first thing I did was look up “Support” in the good ol’ Webster’s Dictionary.

“To keep from sinking or falling; to uphold by aid or countenance.” 

Besides my friends on the GHC forum, I am so blessed by the support system of family and friends in my life.

If you don’t know, I have had a difficult couple of months here lately, but I am so thankful for friends who know how to make me smile.  I don’t have many good friends here locally since I’ve only lived here a short time and it’s hard to make friends as a grown up!  But I thank God daily for my college friends.  They may live 891 miles away from me, but thanks to technology, we can still hang out.

Maybe skyping isn’t quite as good as an in-person coffee date or girl’s night out, but it is still so good.  The times we spend together on Skype or the phone, laughing, praying together, remembering, and talking about our lives are often the highlight of my week.

Besides my friends who are always there for me, even 891 miles away, my family is always here for me.  They are the ones who put up with the crazy things I make them do in the name of photography.  Not to mention how they listen to me ramble about "depth of field" and "apertures" and "lenses".

Exhibit A:

My sister, the always will model for when I just want to take photos of people.  Braving tall, scary grass, and wading through streams just for me.

Exhibit B:

Just this week, my mom put aside the papers she was grading to drive with me out to the edge of town where there's this spot where the trees make a pretty canopy over the road.  I've been dying to photograph it for months but I'm too much of a wimp to pull over and do it when I'm alone.  

Keep the circle going!  Head over to Jessica's page to see what's next!  I'm sure it will be great - all of her work is!

Days 55-62

Another week.  Nothing too exciting, as you can see from the photos.  I did get a tripod this week, but didn't get too much time to play with it.  I'm looking forward to using it for some long exposures and self portraits though!  Also, taking a picture every day is becoming less of a burden and more normal, so yay! My project seems to be working!  I'm getting my camera out every day AND becoming much more comfortable with it!

Day 55:  I made cheesy potato soup!  Actually, it was the first time I've ever made soup!  And I must say, it was pretty dang good! :)

Day 56:  The story behind this photo...  This road is the back way to school.  I don't drive the back way very often, but every time I do I always think to myself "I should really take a picture of the way the trees go over the road like that."  Well, I finally did it!  I convinced my mom to go with me; we had to park a ways down the road and walk.  She was my lookout, making sure that no cars came to run me over.  We were a bit too late and there wasn't very much light left, but I'm proud of myself for finally doing it!

Day 57:  It's starting to look like fall in our driveway!  Unfortunately, it's not because it's actually like fall (it's still in the 90s most days) but because the leaves are getting all dried up because of the drought.  I can pretend, though.  Side note - I've lived in Oklahoma for just over a year and I'm already saying what I swore I never would...  I miss fall and *gasp* even winter!  I am so ready to wear jeans and a sweatshirt and curl up with a mug of hot chocolate and some knitting...

Day 58:  You can tell I've been sick because there are cough drop wrappers all over this place!  I'm feeling much better now, though!

Day 59:  I thought I was going to be really cool and learn how to change my own oil instead of having to take it somewhere every time.  Yeah, I failed.  My dad tried to help me, but we couldn't get the stupid thing unscrewed for anything!  I felt totally lame taking it to the place... :(

Day 60:  Yeah, nothing exciting today, so here's a photo of my laundry...

There's this cool grass that has these fluffy things in it.  It's weird, but also cool.  It looks so soft!

Day 62:  I hate grasshoppers.  I think they're gross.  But this one was just sitting there waiting for me to take it's picture. I didn't have any choice.

Days 49 - 54

I have not forgotten this time - I've decided to do one upload over the weekend for the whole week's photos instead of a separate post each day.  It's just so much easier to handle that way.  Here are this weeks:

Another week when I can't work.  The company I work for is undergoing some big changes and we have to wait for everything to go through with the state's approval, which has meant close to two months of unexpected time without work for me.  I have been filling it with projects around the house and some freelance design work.  And this week I was sick, so lots of time was spent reading & watching movies (thankful for netflix on demand).

 DAY 49 :  Bella always has to be right in the middle of the action.

 DAY 50 : I can't even tell you how thankful I am for technology that allows me to spend time seeing and talking and laughing with friends who are 891 miles away.  I have the greatest friends.

DAY 51: A trip to the library for books to fill my sick time. 

DAY 52 : I baked a yummy cake.

DAY 53 : This little locket has quite the back story.  I was going through some old boxes that have been in my parent's storage closet for years and found it.  When I was 7, we moved from Iowa to Pennsylvania and I left my very best friend, Laura, in Iowa.  I remember crying for months because I missed her so much.  Before we left, she gave me this beautiful locket with her picture inside it.  It was my most prized possession as a child.  Laura and I wrote letters to each other all the way through high school, visited every few years, and actually ended up going to the same college.  I was so happy to find it in a box!

DAY 54 : There were stray kittens in the neighbor's bushes.  They wouldn't let me pet or hold them, but I had a great time trying! :) 

So far behind in posting...

    I uploaded these to facebook, but somehow the blog got forgotten.  Sorry!

Becca Boo

Did you know I have a beautiful little sister?  One who is the best guinea pig when I just really want to photograph a human being? 

 I do.  

Isn't she gorgeous?

Day 40

This stupid fly wouldn't leave me alone today - so I shot it (with my camera) :)