our holiday portrait

We're now moved in and I'm starting to feel a bit better. I'm really trying to get back into the regular swing of things, which includes writing and sharing photos on a regular basis. I've missed it so much. I'm sure things will go back out the window since my parents and brother will be arriving on Christmas day and I will then have 6,000(,000) photos to fish through after the new year. But for now, I can try to get back into my comfy old life.

As requested on Shutter Sisters today, our family portrait (which I'm sure won't go out in time for New Year's, even. Oh well.):

We took it in front of the fire place because the rest of the house was covered in boxes and there was no tree. I propped the camera up on the couch since I can't find my tripod foot, and every time I sat down to focus the camera, when I stood back up, the cushions shifted. I also don't have a remote trigger, so I set it on Time Elapse for like 3 shots every 5 seconds. Bella thought the clicking was waaaay more interesting than the rest of us and did not want to stay put.

And thus, the following is my favorite of the whole series. Don't even ask how we'll manage two kids in one photo next year. I suppose we'll do a collage.

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while walking is still exciting

I initially started Project 365 to challenge myself to take a picture every day, to stretch my limits. Some days the photos are good, and some days they're just uninspired torture. And often, even when I have a day full of great pictures, I end up putting the plain ones in my 365 series.

Why? Because I try to capture the moments that I love now, and those things don't always happen in good light and good settings. But I know that in one year or twenty, those are the captures that will make my heart ache, regardless of how bad the focus or framing was. They are quintessentially Bella, as she was that day.

These are the moments that represent her today: learning to walk on her own.



More often than not, these blocks are in her hands, and they make me smile every time.



And still, she needs a hand, just because.

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black and white

Shutter Sisters today has asked for black and white photos, a peek into their undefinable, unique beauty.

Last week a friend obliged me and let me follow her around with a camera one afternoon to play photographer. It was a ton of fun, and like I said, I made a ton of rookie mistakes and learned more than I could imagine. I'm in the process of editing the bazillion photos (so many options, so many photos, how do photographers do it?), but there is one shot that I took out of the trash can and uncrumpled (so to speak!) to find this little gem. It makes me smile.

I'm usually not much of a black and white fan, but it does well to show emotion, and it does well to bring out the best in grainy photos. (Er, yeah, did I mention rookie mistakes, like shooting in full sun at a high iso simply because I never checked my settings?) So there you are, my first foray into black and white.

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Photo Editing!

Okay, so Shutter Sisters has called for posts on post processing before and afters. I'm sad to say, you won't find anything special here. Not because I don't LOVE the effects of post processing, but because any attempt I make bogs me down so much, it's rarely worth it. Normally I just crop and add some contrast in iPhoto. I only really get in there and process the photo if there was something wrong with it and I'm trying to save it.

Case #1 Bella in the shadow, without even catchlights in her eyes to redeem the shot.
Adjusted in iPhoto:



Original:



Case #2: silouhettes
Adjusted in iPhoto:


Orignial:


Once you read my post processing process, you'll understand that it's not that I'm a SOOC elitist, but I have an old(er), very full, very confused computer. If you follow me on flickr, you'll notice that I have to dump my photos all at once and that I haven't had any lately. That's because I can't have a browser and iPhoto open at the same time. Actually, the reason this post is so late in coming was that I ignored the warning signs WAAAY too long and my iPhoto finally gave up the ghost and crashed. I backed up all my photos and yesterday I deleted (!!) every photo off my harddrive and drag-and-dropped the photos one by one back into iPhoto. It took the whoooole (beautiful, sunny, glorious) day, but now I have my access to my photos starting in 2009 and the rest are safely packed away.

Anyhow, so apart from adjusting the color levels or contrast in iPhoto, if I want to really play with a shot, this is how it goes: Open photo. Email photo to self. Open photo on Dave's pc. Import and open in Photoshop Elements 3. Play with photo, save, email to self. Open photo on my mac, import to iPhoto. A bit round about, and add 15 minutes every time my computer needs to switch from mail to iPhoto. So, anyhow, rarely done, but some day I know I'll enjoy tweaking little photos here and there.

For now instead of insisting that I set aside 15 minutes a day to learn how to process photos, I have made it my goal to make my SOOC shots as good as possible. That's not such a bad goal, right?

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Beauty in this home

I haven't traveled in quite a while, so finding things to shoot within my neighborhood is essential. I actually find that by shooting at home I can expand my horizons. I'm not tempted to take the traditional scenic "I was here" shot that encapsulates a vacation.

Staying home challenges me to focus on the same trees in different light, details in the turning of seasons, things I feel represent my experience much better than the tourist shot. And to do all this with a wiggly Bella strapped to me.




And of course, what new mom can't resist finding 85,000(,000,000) ways to take the same photo over and over. Talk about a challenge!

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Self Portraits

Shutter Sisters has challenged us with a self portrait today. A diptych (two photos that complement each other) of our view down to the earth, and the view of us with the sky above. As I have yet to attempt many self portraits, I thought I'd chime in with my interpretation.

If I'm outside, it means that Bella is in the wrap so I don't usually see my feet. Bella is part of my everyday self, so I suppose it's only right that she be included in my self portrait for now. It won't be long before she's too big to hang out on my belly all day.

Bella and I already tried this last week when we went on our treasure hunt.
Here's my view down (though I don't really see that much of my nose!) and Bella's view down:

And the ones I got today (from my deck since Bella was sleeping, so pardon the underexposure).
Looking down vs. looking up.

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Superhero Challenge: Treasure hunt

The picture above is really the only photo I have taken of something in my hands. On my visit to the Aegean Sea a while back, I was astonished by the intricate mixture of sand. Not perfect white grains like Pensacola Beach, nor rocky barky sand like Crane's Beach, just beautiful glittery grains of every shape and color. I wanted to remember it forever.

Bella and I took to heart the Shutter Sisters' Superhero Challenge to gather treasure and headed right out on a photo walk, though most of our treasure was found indoors.

It turns out my definition of treasure has changed over the years.


Little toes that still fit in my hand.


A leaf from our giant maple, altering everything's perspective.


Bella's favorite toy, now that her hand is just large enough to hold it.


And Bella's favorite thing to do with her treasure.

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Love from Far Off

Dave and I had been dating for half a year when I went away to Greece with some fellow students. Dave and I missed each other desperately as we ought to have, and I made a point of bringing him with me everywhere I went, if only in my heart.


Love Thursday has returned to its original home and this week's post is about getting back to family. I had no idea when taking this photo that almost exactly three years later, we would be bringing our little family into being.

Happy Love Thursday, everyone.

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Wordless Wednesday: Rain

It's really fall now. We wake up not knowing if it's 9am or noon until we find a clock. Usually it's the latter.

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A sunday at home

Shutter Sisters today called for photos of the hearth and home to warm up our November. Our Sundays are pretty simple. Usually one or both of us are working, so they're nothing superduper. Still, it's the little moments that make up our lives, so here are some shots of our blustery Sunday spent indoors. When the mere thought of going outside soaks you to the bone, it's much better to stay inside and sail away to the Bahamas in a sink boat.

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Superhero Challenge: Fallen Leaves

I'm squatting in a puddle, a sleepy Bella strapped to me staring off into space as I awkwardly position my little point and shoot elph on the wet concrete. I've just resigned myself to looking like a fool when I hear through the fog of my concentration, Are you a photographer? That question has never been directed at me before. I look up from my puddle to see a man in a minivan staring down at me in awe, his preteen in tow. I don't answer but try to keep my smile confident.

Is he serious? I have a child hanging off my front and my miniature camera is lying in a pile of leaves. I suppose everything is relative. He saves me from explaining and carries on about what an artistic angle that is and how he's good with people, but would never think of such a great idea and it's so creative he wants to try it out as soon as he gets back home. I let him do all the talking. He's genuinely excited and inspired to see me (still in my puddle) and I doubt the word "hobbiest" would pop his shiny bubble.



I'm also excited about this shot, but for other reasons. I go through my day imagining photographs, a lens before me even when it's not. I've set this one up in my mind a million times but never got the nerve to try it out until today's Superhero Challenge sent me out in the rain to face my fear of breaking the norm. Yeah, I'm not so good with people, I reply lamely waving my camera, but I suppose that's why I've got this. I encourage him to come back out and try this perspective before they blow the leaves away. He circles the parking lot one more time to catch another glance and I heave a big sigh to pull me and Bella up from my crouch. A simple interaction, two very different perspectives, and we both continue on our daily paths glowing with a little more inspiration.

So my superhero powers for the day, a leaf's perspective on life:





And one for the leaves who have yet to fall:

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Wordless Wednesday: Do not adjust your monitors

Aptly named Rainbow Chard from our local you pick farm.

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Superhero Challenge: Kitchen Counter

So, over at Shutter Sisters today, the challenge is to capture ordinary magic on the kitchen countertop, a reminder that to take great photos we don't have to be off on adventures traveling the world.

The picture above I love because that's our you-pick veggies and cheesy bread that Dave and I made together (from scratch! no recipe!), which turned out mmmm-azing.

And then one I took this morning after breakfast:

Bella never wakes up before 10am, and there it was 8am and I rolled over to find her having a chat with her hands. She must have known it was a sunny day and we were missing the great morning light, so we got up and made Amish Baked Oatmeal (like a cookie! for breakfast!). As I was grating the nutmeg it struck me how gorgeous it would be in the light (the look of fresh nutmeg is almost as intriguing as the taste). So there you have it. I am officially a superhero today.

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Love in a Pumpkin Patch!

So, to anyone who knows me, it's no secret I'm infatuated with pumpkins. Bring on the fall so I can get my fill, pumpkin seeds, pumpkin pie, pumpkin carving, pumpkin soup, pumpkin anything and I'll try it. They also make great friends, so willing to pose in photographs.

Mr. Moustache

My mom is in town this week, and brought some great weather with her.

So, for this Love Thursday, I'm featuring our visit to a pumpkin patch, starring our friends the pumpkins and Bella the Great Pumpkin Rider.

Oh.

This one took a mud pie to the face

Happy Love Pumpkins Thursday, everyone!

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Green and golden brown

Shutter Sisters has asked us today what colors we see. I have to admit that lately I haven't been thrilled with all the green, longing for the reds and golds of a proper autumn, but a sunny day spent at Snoqualmie Falls yesterday got me in the mood.

The light played on everything yesterday, and I was in love. I have just found an old copy of Photoshop Elements (3!) and plan to muck my way through learning before I splurge for the real thing. These haven't been touched, but I see so many possibilities, and am looking forward to playing around.

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