Tuesday, January 25, 2011

SOOP

In photography language, you'll hear people use the term SOOC which stands for "straight out of camera" and means that it came straight from the camera and has not been edited or re-touched.

Well, on my vacation I am having fun just snapping photos with my phone,
because I am waiting for my new camera to arrive. I nicknamed my pics: SOOP.  Straight out of Phone.
:-)






Sunday, January 23, 2011

Vacation...

 When we left home on Friday night, it was -2 degrees outside. :(
I definitely don't miss that!
Even though, it's only between 45 and 50 here, it still feels like Spring!
I have been mostly resting, because I only have my cell phone camera with me, but today I did snap a couple.




Wednesday, January 19, 2011

A photographer with no camera!

Is that even possible?  I guess for me it is.  You see, I have paid for and ordered my *new* Nikon D7000.  I feel like I have been waiting MONTHS for it to get here...but it hasn't even been 2 weeks, and I may have to wait up to 4.  Only one problem...in order to have all the money for my new camera, I sold my old camera to my Mom.  She was so kind to still allow me to use it for a family photo shoot last Saturday, and several other times last week, but I handed every thing over to her this past Sunday. Which has left  me camera-less! 

So now I have a Jill-E bag...which is empty.
A reflector that I am SO excited to use...
A brand new Nikkor 50mm 1.8 lens....with nothing to attach it to...
AND no camera!!!!
I am not good at waiting.  :)

In the mean time I am doing other things with my time so that I don't get stale- I have been watching seminars, entering contests to win my DREAM studio lighting (side note:  please vote for my photo here  It is titled, "never take a smile for granted." ), and I just discovered that one of my favorite photographers that I have learned SO much from has classes and DVD's for sale and he is a Christian!!  His blog post is amazing!!


I think this week I will be doing my Project 52 theme: Shades of Gray  with my cell phone!  It could be a fun challenge, I suppose.  But it makes me even more excited to get my camera!

Monday, January 17, 2011

Taking pictures using natural light

I found a great video on Adorama's website for Taking pictures using natural light.  I wish I had seen it before doing a family's photo shoot outside last weekend- it was snowing SO hard that the lighting was really tricky!
I can't wait to get my reflector in the mail- if you watch this video, you will see how much of a difference a reflector can make!

So, grab a cup of coffee, or if you're like me and don't appreciate coffee, grab some hot cocoa on this cold day and learn some tips to taking great pictures outside in natural lighting. 
Watch it HERE

Also, the topic for this week's P:52 if you are following it, is: "Shades of Gray."

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Instruments of Praise

 This post combines my 3 favorite things:
Photography, Music, and the Lord.
Not in that order.
In fact, my prayer is that my life will always point back to Him.
May He get the honor from my music, photography, and anything else I do in life.

 There is nothing in the world so much like prayer as music is.  
~William P. Merrill

   Ephesians 5:19   
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
  Psalms 33:3  
Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.
 Music expresses that which cannot be said
and on which it is impossible to be silent.
~Victor Hugo
 Psalms 28:7 
  The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him. 

 
  Psalms 146:2  
While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

The Cutest Little Figure Skaters





A fun day skating with best friends!
My niece probably won't get many chances to skate in Papua New Guinea, so me and one of my best friends took our nieces skating.  They were both so brave and were skating around by themselves by the end of our time at the rink!
<3  And we finished the fun time with lunch and an ICEE at Burger King.  <3

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Need inspiration- join me for Project 52

I am excited to tell you about a new challenge that I am going to do this year- called Project 52!
If you are a photographer and would like to join, you can read about the rules here. The goal is to take one picture every week, with a "theme" as the inspiration.  For instance, this week the theme over at MCP is "Something around the house."  
Easy enough, but motivates you to be watching for photo opportunities at all times.  
I will be posting what the theme is, and the picture I got to coordinate with that theme each week.
If you would like to do it, just read the rules, join up and email me and I will post your pictures on here, too. 

I am even more excited to do this project, because I will be purchasing my new camera any day now, so most of my Project 52 will be shot with my Nikon D7000!!!  I am also getting 2 lenses, a telephoto and a prime lens (as a birthday present) and a reflector!!! Woo-Hoo!!! I can't wait for them to all get here! It will be exciting for sure!

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Reflection of Christmas


No matter what happens in the year, there is a beauty of Christmas that will always be special to my heart.
The lights, the ornaments, the decorations, the gifts, the music, the laughter...mostly the memories made.
Although each year seems to bring new heartache, goodbyes, pain, and loss for some reason there is a special connection in all of our hearts that remembers Christmas fondly. 
For what it was, for what it is, and for what we hope it to be....
So we pack up the decorations, and anticipate and wonder what will be going on next year when we take them back out.  And in many ways we're probably glad we can't know what the year has in store.
For me right now, Christmas is a happy remembrance of past celebrations,
And hopeful dreams for future ones.
So until next year, I wish you a final Merry Christmas...