Snowy Michigan

Here in Michigan we have been very lucky this winter with the nice temperatures and very little snow.  Today on the other hand, the snow has finally stuck!  Now I must admit I've lived in Michigan my entire life and I HATE winter.  Bascially it's the cold weather I hate.  I love the look of the pure white snow sparkling on the brances of trees as the sun hits it but could do without the cold.  Well today I thought I'd make the best of it.  I went outside for a few snowy shots and while I was at it made a snow angel!!  Nice day after all.





Wk 4 - Self Portrait

This week's photo challenge by "Life with my 3 boybarians" is to do a self-portrait.  Oh my, for some reason I struggle with taking my own photo.  If someone else is photographing me no problem, but to set my timer and come up with poses for myself is very challenging.  Oh wait, that's the point. LOL

Drum role.......this is the photo I selected.



Shot with:
Canon 30D
28-135mm lens
Shot manual f18 and 1/160
Strobe lights

Are You Ready?

Today I received some terrible news about a co-worker and a friend that I've know for nearly 24 years.  I found out that this friend has cancer and there is nothing the doctors can do; he doesn't have more than a few weeks.  My heart breaks for this family to have to go through this terrible disease and with little time to prepare.  Then I started thinking about how short life is and that it is so important to be right with the Lord, because we never know when our time is going to be up.  That is one thing I can say about this friend is that he is saved and will be home with the Lord when his time comes.  It for us that are left behind that is so difficult.  So for anyone reading this post I ask you this question?  Are you ready?



Nature at its Best

Do you shoot so many photos that it's difficult to select your favorite?  If you answered yes, than we definately have the same style.  When I look through my lens I can capture a sunset that will captivate you, I can make you feel the cold of winter approaching as the frost settles on a leaf or have you in amazement at the most beautiful animal you've ever seen.  What I see through my lens is a magical world awaiting for me to preserve it.

So take a moment and enjoy some of this magic with me!

52 Week Challenge - Wk 3 "I Dreamed A Dream"

This week's challenge was, "I dreamed a dream" by Darcy on my3boybarians.com blog.  I am really enjoying this weekly challenge and trying to get creative with my ideas.  This week was definately a little challenging since I'm sick with a cold and not feeling photographic at all. 

Well, I decided to pull myself away from the couch and Pinterest and start photgraphing my "Dream" idea.  I wanted to use natural light and my scrabble game for this one.  Since browsing Pinterest I've seen many creative gift ideas using scrabble pieces, so I thought to myself, "why not" with this weeks challenge.  So here is my simple rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream."

Shot with:
Canon 30D
Canon 50mm f1.8
Natual Light from bedroom window

52 Week Challenge - Wk 2 "Made With Love"

As soon as I saw the theme this week I knew exactly what I wanted to photograph, the quilt I made for my son, Jeremy. There is actually a story behind this quilt.  My Great Grandmother, Bessie(fifth generation), LOVED to quilt and I can remember her quilting room when we would visit her in Alabama.  One day while we were visiting my Aunt Linda and I asked her to show us how to quilt.  She began to describe how she cut & sewed each piece by hand, "this isn't like the quilts you see in them stores nowadays" she would say.  Being a woman of minimal income she lived within her means, so her patterns were all made by using newspapers.  She would save old clothes, sheets, any fabric she could get her hands on to make quilts and believe me did she make them.  I am very fortunate to have one as a keepsake from her.

Wanting to learn her craft and to make one for Jeremy as a keepsake I went home and selected my fabric with care.  I knew it was going to be blue, in memory of my Grandma, Vivian, who Jeremy used to call Grandma Blue and I wanted hearts to symbolize the love passed down from generation to generation.  Not to mention that when Jeremy was born and until he was twelve years old we actually had five generations still living.  So this quilt was very special in my eyes for my son to have, MADE WITH LOVE, from his mother.

52 Week Challenge - Wk 1 Theme: Resolution

As I pondered an idea for the first week in our 52 week photo challenge relating to the theme of RESOLUTION I had a couple different thoughts.  I really wanted to try something in high key with my strobe lights so here is what I created, very simple.

Would love to hear your comments on how I did.

52 Week Challenge - Are you up for it?

With the New Year I wanted to start a new challenge and while researching some ideas I noticed that "Life with My 3 Boybarians" blog was starting a 52 week challenge.  So....instead of me starting one on my own I am going to join in on the fun with them.  If you are interested in joining check out http://www.my3boybarians.com/

This is the first week and our theme is RESOLUTION.  I have quite a few ideas on this one!  So I hope you enjoy my journey of trying new things with photography during this 52 week challenge.

Till then Happy New Year!!