photography challenge, day 25.

Photography has, very quickly and unexpectedly, crept up on me and made me fall head over heels in love with it. Over the last year it has grown into a full-blown passion, and it has me über-excited. Be that as it may, it is not my first earthly, non-human love. Music is.

I am becoming a photographer, a person who loves photography, a person who does photography.

I am a musician. It is beyond what I love or what I do. It is who I am.

I don't wake up wanting to sing. I wake up singing.

My guitar is always near, my flute is always near, my keyboard is always near. And now, my camera is always near. However, I am still in the stage of needing inspiration for pictures. Not so with music. I think in songs.

I am so psyched to grow in this new passion and see where it takes me, but I wonder if it, too, can become just who I am? Time will tell.

Until that time, I continue to learn. All kinds of new information. Pages 47-50 in my Digital Field Guide. About using the retouch menu. THIS is cool.

For inspiration, I really enjoyed looking at the work of Raya Carlisle today. I would describe her work as, "sunny."

Props to Tasra Dawson for hosting this challenge!

photog challenge, day 24.

My son and a buddy of his were playing around on their guitars during the snack break between classes at Master's Academy. (Actually, he's using my guitar.) He has grown really passionate about playing the guitar, and has gotten really good on the bass too. Now he wants DJ equipment for Christmas. He really has become this musician, and I love seeing it. The same thing happened to me when I was a kid.

I'm on pages 45-47 in my Digital Field Guide, and they're talking about adjusting ISO sensitivity. Thank God this section of the book goes into more detail with the subjects that had me befuddled before. Now I am understanding and am eager to try things out.

Today's inspiration is the photography of Yvette Inufio. There I go again, with the dreamy, creamy, cloudy, vintage-looking stuff again. What can I say? That stuff really has my heart right now.

Another site for great images is that of the host of this challenge, Tasra Dawson.

found: wardrobe choices.

So, it's been a couple of YEARS since my last "found" post. I was reading over my blog archives the other day, and I started thinking about maybe bringing back a couple of elements that I had before. Like the "found" posts. I may not put every single link in the sidebar though; I'm thinking maybe I'll do posts of a select number of "found" links relating to a particular category. If the category has anything to do with art and design, or home comforts, I'll probably put those things in the sidebar.

Today the category is clothing. I've found some great sites that I've bookmarked or saved somewhere else or written down or whatever...

One is Shabby Apple. I've written several recommendations about this company over at thisnext because I am so impressed with their clothing. They have the most awesome dresses. Not only that, but they have incredible dresses for young girls. I could spend a lot of money over there. I think there are about seven or eight dresses on my perpetual wish list.

Another fine source is Shade Clothing. They also have lovely dresses that look ultra-comfortable and easy to wear, like this one. They also have a large selection of items for layering, tank tops and tees.

Down East Basics has a great selection of skirts. I also like their sweaters and tops. They also carry a maternity line, a young girls' line and a mens' line.

Tabeez describes their line as "trend-setting, modest apparel." They've got awesome tops (like this plaid ruffle top) and belts. They even have skin care and shoes.

And speaking of shoes, Wanted Shoes is an awesome site. I seriously want these boots. And these. I also want these mary janes. And these.

And if you have some serious money to spend, you could always invest in something like this lovely Orla Kiely dress, or this lovely ensemble from Kate Spade, or this J. Crew ensemble, or this sweet dress from Banana Republic.

Of course, Anthropologie is always good. Always. It's hard to resist when they offer outfits like

these.

I have found several wardrobe options on Etsy as well, but I will share those in another post.

One day I'll figure out html coding or whatever it is so that I can just post lovely collages of images from the internet instead of a bunch of links.

photography challenge, day 23.

There is a random grill at school. That's all I have to say about this.

Today I moved on to pages 44 and 45 in my Digital Field Guide, about adjusting exposures with EV (Exposure Value) corrections. I get it; now I'll go and try it out.

I went image hunting today and found Dan Chen and his site, Chennergy Weddings. I was mesmerized by his work. It is absolutely GORGEOUS.

I found out about this challenge by happening onto Tasra Dawson's site.

photography challenge, day 22: the hawk.

There is a hawk that hangs out in our neighborhood quite often. We've seen him hanging out in different trees, and it's obvious. You know it's a large bird when you can see it, clearly, in a tree, from a distance, with your naked eye.

I switched lenses and snapped this shot of him right before he flew off.

Pages 40-44 in my Digital Field Guide were read today. They go into detail about choosing metering modes. Man that was helpful.

And now, for images and inspiration...I subscribe to Jenifer Altman's blog, Nectar and Light. Both her website and her blog are worth spending large amounts of time clicking and looking.

Find more information about this challenge here.

my would-be portfolio: chicago family edition, part 2.

I didn't take that picture of me with my three kids; my husband took that one. Good job.

The Chicago Scenery and Family Editions of My Would-Be Portfolio are big ones, so stay tuned.

photography challenge, day 21.

I like this little red cart. I don't know what it's for...popcorn maybe? Anyway, it's cute.

Pages 39 and 40 in my Digital Field Guide are about the semiautomatic and manual exposure modes. Again, I'm not any clearer on apertures and shutters. Sigh. I'll keep going.

Today's photog inspiration come from Oranje. These are some excellent vividly colored images that still maintain a vintage feel. Very cool. I love the buildings and signs, too.

Be sure to check out Tasra Dawson's site for information on this challenge.

photography challenge, day 20.

So, my favorite drink from Starbucks is the Green Tea Frappuccino. I usually get it with a little bit of blackberry or raspberry syrup added, but this time I think I actually forgot(!) to ask for it.

It's okay, though. It was still scrumptious. Absolutely sublime. So sublime even, that I took a picture of it in all of its green glory.

I call it bliss in a cup, and I actually knocked off a version of my own a few years ago and that makes me very happy. But thanks to gift cards, I can still enjoy the real thing in addition to my homegrown knockoff on a fairly regular basis.

In my Digital Field Guide, I'm on pages 38 and 39 which review the programmed exposure modes. So, cool.

Marc Loret Photography has some beautiful nature shots, among other things, and that's what I have been looking at today.

Here is some information on the challenge that I am doing.

photog challenge, day 19.

This is one of the two lenses that I own. I would like to get a Macro lens eventually, but right now these are suiting me just fine since I'm such a green newbie.

Pages 37 and 38 in my Digital Field Guide are about adjusting ISO sensitivity and setting white balance. And I still have no clue.

Here's some mighty-fine inspiration for today: Bueller. This is some sweet Through The Viewfinder photography.

Tasra Dawson has a site full of great photos too, and it's where I found out about this challenge.

my would-be portfolio, chicago scenery edition, part 2.

Yep. Picking and choosing photos is hard.

day 18.

The lamppost!

My son and I have had a thing for lampposts ever since we read "The Magician's Nephew" by C.S. Lewis a few years ago.

I moved on to page 37 in my Digital Field Guide today, about choosing metering modes. Oddly enough, I think I've got it!

For inspiration today, I checked out the blog of Mark Brooke Photography. I really liked it. You will, too.

Don't forget to also check out the work of Tasra Dawson.

photog challenge, day 17.

Another iphone picture. Un-edited.

What I really like about this shot is how the sun is almost completely out of the picture, save for a little piece in the corner. And the rays from that little piece are pouring over the entire shot. Not to mention the clouds. They're gorgeous. I love taking pictures of pretty clouds. They look like fluffy cotton balls of happiness.

I tackled pages 35-37 again today. This flash information is a lot to digest, so I'll be taking it in small chunks. I'll play around with the first couple of options later.

For inspiring images, Moonflowers Photography is where it's at today. I am a complete sucker for dreamy photos.

Tasra Dawson's site has some amazing shots as well.

photog challenge, day 16.

One of my nicknames for my little girl is Rosebud. It's a perfect nickname for her.

And this stuff is like balm from Heaven.

The photo came out even better than I was expecting.

In my Digital Field Guide, I read through pages 35-37. It's about the different flash options available to me, and I WILL be reading that again tomorrow.

My inspiration for today comes from Ciao, Chessa. Again, these are the kinds of images that I see myself taking. I love images that just scream LIFE, and ART.

Many thanks to Tasra Dawson for hosting this challenge.

get over it!

I'm deciding once and for all (for today anyway) to get over myself and stop hating the sight of myself in photos. It's only been over the last four years or so, as I've gotten older. But I'm stopping it, darnit.

And I will try to take more creative self-portraits, like the one that got featured on A Little Sussy.

photog challenge, day 15: the midway point.

I don't really know why I took this one; I just thought it was an interesting shot. I have nothing poetic or symbolic to say about it. Plants and trees are nice.

Digital Field Guide. I love this book. Granted, a good bit of what I have read so far is over my head, but I am still so glad I have this book to pore over daily. I WILL learn this. I read pages 33 and 34 again.

I love how I have found all of these exceptional photographers for inspiration! Here's one: Kitty Rogers Photography. The flowers. The typewriter. And merry go round. Yay.

Go here for information on this photography challenge.

photog challenge, day 14.

All good things in this picture: Chick-Fil-A, home of the best iced tea EVER, and a beautiful sky.

In my Digital Field Guide I totally ditched pages 30-33 and moved on. (So what if I don't understand it right now, right?) On to page 33-34. Viewing and playing back images. Good. That's pretty straightfor...hey...wait...huh? You lost me at "shooting data."

Yeah. Totally stopping that. On to pretty images upon which I can feast my eyes.

Pretty is not even the word.

Irene Suchocki. I am so head-over-heels in love with her photos,...my gosh. It's just not even right.

Thank you, Tasra Dawson, for hosting this challenge. I have already learned so much and am trying things I hadn't yet imagined.

photog challenge, day 13: we're all superheroes (to somebody).

My son has been obsessed with wearing this (actually a little too small) Superman pajama top everywhere we go. Of course, he doesn't wear it everywhere, because I don't let him. He's not gonna wear the same thing day in and day out. But he sure loves this top. It has a belt on it too; you just can't see it.

Looking at this photo makes me think of how our children look up to us. My littlest one is constantly following me everywhere, like my little shadow. She's so cute. My oldest was totally my shadow when he was a wee one. This one in the Superman top used to do that all of the time too, but now that he's growing up he seems more concerned with playing and watching cartoons. Still, at times he wants to follow Daddy and do what he's doing, or just watch him. I think that's the sweetest thing.

I am constantly reminded of how my children notice everything I do, even if I don't realize it. How great a reminder is that to think before I speak, examine my attitude, be grateful in all things, and walk humbly before God and others? My children will do only what they have observed. I want to be a hero to them.

I read pages 30-33 in my Digital Field Guide again today and, sadly, my head is still spinning.

Inspiration for today comes from A Sense of Place Photography. Their images are varied and absolutely gorgeous, and are good examples of what I hope to one day accomplish.

For information about this photography challenge, visit this site.

photography challenge, day 12.

What caught me about this photo is the fact that the djembe is the only thing that is visible, besides the window. You can't see any of the other things around it.

In my Digital Field Guide, I read pages 30-33. Again. Are you kidding me? F-stop? Exposure compensation value? Optimize image? White balance? Metering?? Riiiight.

I realize this makes me seem really clueless. That's because I AM. When it comes to this stuff, anyway. I'm gonna give it one more day and move on. I think I at least know the difference between JPEG and RAW.

...I think.

Inspiration for today comes from Keith Weaver. I have a couple of his gems on my Etsy wish list.

Here is a link to Tasra Dawson's site, which has a lot of great shots and explains the challenge.

a little sussy. so excited!

Remember my self-portrait from this post? It was Day 1 of the Tasra Dawson challenge. Well, I submitted it to this little contest over at A Little Sussy, Nicole Gerulat's beautiful blog. (I actually mentioned A Little Sussy as my inspiration for the day on my post for Day 5 of the challenge.) It is in the pool of finalists!

I am so stoked! I'm pretty sure I won't win the contest, judging from the pool Nicole has to choose from, but I am absolutely amazed that my photo was in the mix of finalists! That just totally made my day.

You should definitely head over to A Little Sussy to see not only my self-portrait, but all of the other amazing ones as well!

praying mantis.

Eek! It's a giant praying mantis! We were getting ready to leave church and there it was, parked on the car window. That's a huge underbelly. I wonder if it's a pregnant female. Probably not. This shows you how much I know about praying mantises.