day 52.

Well, after a crappy Halloween (weather-wise), today was gloriously awesome. I love beautiful days! And the extra hour of sleep from the time change helped me to appreciate it even more, I think.

Ah! November. The thick of Autumn really. The leaves have really done their thing, and the crisp coolness is in the air on the regular now. I've decided that I am starting with the seasonal (Christmas) music early, as in NOW. I've always started on Thanksgiving, but that time frame is just too short.

This really is the most special time of year.

Digital Field Guide: page 57, Custom Settings

Images: Anne Geddes

day 51.

My sweet hubby and I went out on this rainy Saturday to have fun with some friends. These are our friends.

We were all dressed up and were going to go trick-or-treating in some swanky neighborhood or find some party to crash, but we ended up at the mall. Then we went to Taco Mac.

I'll post pics of our mall fun soon.

Digital Field Guide: page 57, ISO sensitivity and noise reduction

Images: bossbob50 on Flickr

day 50.

Yep. It was raining today. AGAIN. It's supposed to be raining tomorrow too. Awesome.

Taken with my iphone using that somewhat crappy zoom app again, then processed using Picnik.

Digital Field Guide: pages 56-57, about white balance

Images: MamaYou on Flickr

dreaming.

I was led to this post on Kelly Rae Roberts' blog after perusing the link love list for October on Michelle Ward's blog . (Michelle is a very inspiring life/career coach for creative types.) I read it and was really touched by what she wrote.

Kelly's paintings are beautiful. So thoughtful. And the images really butterfly kiss one's heart.

Besides that though, she has only been painting for three years. That's a short time, really. Looking at what she is producing would make one assume that she's been doing this since she was in high school or something. But she talks about how one negative experience when she was younger stifled her creative expression, and how she has found it again only within the last three years. It was quite an inspiring read. One thing that she said that really struck me was this:

"...all it takes is a bit of passion, courage, and commitment to make a dream come true. anything is possible."

Just a bit.

A bit of these things.

I would add, a bit of faith. A mustard seed's amount really, right?

If all it takes is just a bit, why on earth do we let ourselves remain stalled at the gate?

No more stalling for me. I'm going for everything. With all of the gusto that I have, and most definitely with the bits of the above-mentioned ingredients. The joy of knowing I am just doing it without reservation is a huge payoff in and of itself.

day 49.

I like this one because it looks like it's twenty years old.

Taken with my iphone using this somewhat crappy zoom app that I have.

Digital Field Guide: pages 56-57, White Balance

Images: Sarah Maingot

day 48: self-portrait.

Another self-portrait. I'm trying to explore some different ways of doing these.

Taken and processed on my iphone using CameraBag app.

Digital Field Guide: page 56, White Balance

Images: Horst P. Horst

day 47: raindrops keep falling on my head.

So, it was raining today. Again. All day. Yip.

Taken with my iphone and processed using Picnik.

Digital Field Guide: page 56, Image size (very small section)

Images: The Music Portfolio set of jaredpolin on Flickr

getting my things together.

So, I mentioned a few days ago that I would be starting a new 30-day challenge. I have officially signed up for it, so no turning back now. I will start on 1 November, and will divulge all of the delightful details then. What I will say for now is that I am trying to prepare myself (practically speaking) by gathering some materials that I plan to use. Namely, books. And this has everything to do with this creativity spark that has been lit within me, which I talked about briefly here.

I'm very excited about doing this challenge, and it will, indeed, be a challenge for me. But I eagerly anticipate what comes out of it, and am happily expecting to grow in new ways as an artist.

day 46.

A giant, mountainous cloud. One of many in the sky this afternoon.

Digital Field Guide: page 55, Image Quality

Images: Irving Penn

day 45.

I love the vibrant color of the flowers. And that huge pumpkin. This is on the square in McDonough. Geez...how many squares do I know??

Digital Field Guide: page 55, about custom image optimization

Images: Ansel Adams. He's always been one of my favorites. He's probably one of everybody's favorites.

day 44: lights.

I really like these lights. And the burgers at this place are good too. It's called Canyons.

Digital Field Guide: Page 54. Again. Because I was half asleep when I read it before. It happens.

Images: Berenice Abbott

day 43.

I always enjoy looking in the windows of this little antique shop on the square in Woodstock.

Digital Field Guide: page 54, Shooting Menu Preferences

Images: Jerri Johnson on Flickr

day 42.

On Marietta Square.

Digital Field Guide: page 53, Playback Menu Settings cont'd.

Images: LoveMissB on Flickr

day 41.

My sweet hubby's hard-working hand.

Digital Field Guide: page 52, Playback Menu Settings

Images: Gordon Parks

ideas!

I have way too many things swirling around in my head at any given moment. That probably happens to a lot of people. Sometimes it's rather frustrating because it makes me feel like I can't focus or I'm missing out because I'm not already doing all of the list of things. Other times it's exciting, because I think, possibilities! Opportunities!

I'm not really sure which one of those moments this one is yet. Maybe it's a little of both. What I will say is, to help give myself some focus and accountability, I am embarking on another 30-day challenge. I'll divulge more about that soon. I'm very excited about it, but it also feels a bit intimidating. I do feel that if I can keep with it and see it through, I am going to feel so accomplished at the end.

Also, I'm still working on my list of Etsy wardrobe finds. I'm just about finished, and will post it within the week. It's given me several ideas for other posts/lists too, kind of like my own Listmania without the book! One idea is to share my current top five photography crushes every month. There's a good idea. Also my top five favorite artists every month.

And that's just a couple of ideas.

Whew...now that they're out there, on "paper," my mind already feels a lot less cluttered!

day 40.

Coming soon.

Digital Field Guide: page 51, intro to Chapter 3: Setting up the Nikon D40/D40x. I wonder what the 'x' is for?

Images: Max H on Flickr

day 39.

My son, outside talking to one of his friends on the phone. It kind of still seems like just yesterday...okay...not yesterday, a few weeks ago...that he was just two years old. Now he's knocking on thirteen (the day after Christmas). Time moves a smidge too fast for me.

Digital Field Guide: Page 50. Again. Because I was kind of half-reading it yesterday. And I won't say "kind of" anymore.

Images: Alexandre Buisse

day 38.

I think Michelangelo is one of the coolest ever. I went to Italy and visited the Sistine Chapel when I was a Senior in college. I couldn't even believe I was there. I want all of us to go one day. It really is too incredible for words.

Digital Field Guide: page 50, Image Overlay

Images: Ana Cuba, website and blog

day 37.

I like taking pictures of food too, believe it or not.

My kids (and husband) really like CiCi's pizza. Me? Meh. Kinda over it.

Digital Field Guide: page 49, Small Picture

Images: Joan Kocak

oh, autumn.

Well, hello there, Autumn. It's nice to see you again. I was wondering where you went. I missed you. You left so abruptly it had me startled. And confused. And a little annoyed. Where do you get off just up and disappearing like that? Knock it off.

And stay for as long as you're supposed to. Because I love you. Okay? Mmkay.