Innocent Wonder.

This week’s challenge at I {heart} faces is “Innocent Wonder”.
When I read this theme, my mind immediately went back to this past summer, a lazy Sunday afternoon spent with my little family in the back yard, underneath our sun umbrella, good books in hand, and me, with my camera.
I am still in love with the candids I managed to capture that day.
Just one of my favorites:

I don’t exactly know what it is about this picture that I love..
Her eyes..
Those eyelashes..
Her pouty lips..
Or just the fact that I enjoyed that day.
Go to I {heart} faces to see more breath-taking innocent wonders.

My Friend Annie..

I have A LOT of catching up to do..
One of the reasons why I shut this thing down before the holidays.
Backed up.
(I’ve yet to unload pix from Lynn’s baptism and that was three weeks ago!!)
Before life got crazy, I got to spend the day with my good friend Annie, who is 30 now, by the way..  she is such a great lady!  Such an example to me.  She has such strength and grace.  She is a fantastic mother.  She is so spunky and fun to be around.  My girls love it when she comes because 1) She brings her kids with her, and they adore her kids..  and 2) She ALWAYS has some sort of fun prize for them.
We also enjoyed Sawyer taking his first “real” steps.  Who would have thought that a lens cap would be such incentive?
Happy Birthday Annie!!!
(A late one at that, but it doesn’t mean that I love you any less!!)

I {heart} faces: B&W Scenic.

We should all know how much I love B&W photographs..
We should also all know how much I love Lake Powell, the beauty there.
So it’s only fitting, that this pic be my submission for I {heart} faces this week.
Take a look what other submissions are there.

November 22nd..

This week’s challenge at I {heart} faces is “paper”.
I had many ideas, this was just the one I was able to try out..

As usual, there are more awesome submissions there.
Go, see!

November 4th..

New class, new assignments that require someone who can follow direction, and that, my friends, is how I got him to pose for me!
(Thanks Mer!)

Meet Alexis…

Sunday, my cousin came up to introduce her new little girl to our Grandpa, and I pretty much told her I was coming too.
I had only heard about this beautiful girl, and couldn’t wait to meet her and take pictures of her (of course).
She is a doll, and the only thing sweeter than her, is her older brother.  He was a sweetheart!
We had fun visiting, snuggling her, and remembering.
At one point, when the hat came off and we were all admiring her hair, her eyes peeped open for just a few seconds, the traditional examination that Grandma would subject all grandbabies and great-grandbabies to, began.  Nothing made Grandma happier than to see the eyes of a newborn baby.  If she couldn’t see the baby in person, a picture would do, but the picture wouldn’t do if that baby’s eyes weren’t open.
Comments came from all around the room that echoed just what Grandma was probably saying.
“Oh, my!  Look at that hair!”
“Look at those fingers…  she’ll be a piano player.”
It was nice to feel her there with us.
(Hard for me not to cry, but good that I had a camera to hide behind.)
It was so sweet to see my Grandpa hold her, admire her and love her.  He was trying as best he could to get her to smile.  I am so thankful that he is here.

    


  
   
Thanks Bonnie for letting me crash your time at Grandpa’s!
(And I was so good when I came home..  I didn’t even bug Merrill!!)

Remote-ly fun.

I wanted to capture a candid picture for the picture of the day using my remote.  We were all having so much fun in my craft/sewing room, and I thought it was a fun take on the day.
Peyton is just too observant.  She knew I had something fun, and she wanted a turn.  (Then so did everyone else..)
They aren’t candid, but I thought they were cute.. especially her expressions!

Messing with Monochrome.

I love having a thirst for knowledge.
I especially love learning about the things I want to, in the way I want to.
After finishing Candice Stringham’s “Oh, Shoot!” class online, I didn’t want to stop!
I found a book on Amazon, specifically about my camera.  It was written by a professional photographer who likes to go and buy the latest and greatest, play with it, and help teach others how to get the most out of them.
I have learned so much, and I am only halfway through.
One of the features he addresses is the “Monochrome”.  To most people it is known as “black and white”.  My camera gives options to setting the specifics of monochrome.  Brightness, contrast, sharpening, filter effects, and toning.
I have been having so much fun playing and experimenting with this picture control.
You can get a variety of different looks..  so cool!
Here are just some of my favs.
(Can you tell which child is the most cooperative, the most willing to sit and take picture after picture?  She is the one who keeps saying,  “How about one like this mom?”)

The girls love it when I make their eyes “sparkle”, it is quite a high.
Sadly, the information as to the sharpening, contrast, brightness setting, and what color filter I used, is not attached in the file information.  There will be more experimenting to learn what I like best…
Ahhh..  the learning continues. :)
P.S.  I don’t think I can ever go back to auto mode again.  I love having entire control of my camera!