You Capture - Serene

This week the You Capture challenge is "serene". Given that my final photography assignment on "abstract flowers" is also due this week, I thought they went very well together. I have always found flowers to be so relaxing and peaceful and I hope that shows up in these pictures.

Webster Definition: Serene - calm, peaceful or tranquil

Captured through wavy glass to give that abstract affect.

It's my first attempt but I still like how it turned out, I'll get better with practice.
Another wavy glass shot.
This one really has a calming feel to it.

Pebbled glass.

A beautiful pink rose.

I was trying to capture the texture on the petals with my extension tubes.

I hope you enjoyed my "Capture" for this week's Serene challenge. Interested in seeing how others captured this? Click here for more inspiration.

Photography Assignment #4

This week's photography assignment was architecture and people/animals. Originally I planned on taking pictures of Tanner for the assignment but I ended up going back home to help my brother move and these horses were across the street from his new home. I had to take an opportunity to capture these beautiful animals but I don't think they were as happy about it as I was - 2 of the 3 tried to charge me at the fence!

This horse above was the first in the bunch to try and charge me.

My niece named him "Charge" - how appropriate.

This white horse was the 2nd horse that came at me for trying to take pictures during dinner time. My niece named him "Whitey".

Notice them eyeing me while they are eating?

Here comes "Charge" coming after me.

This is the only shot with all 3 of the horses but unfortunately that branch is cutting off "Charge".

This is my favorite horse shot - look at those nostrils.

This isn't part of the assignment but I am putting them in anyways.

My niece plucked the "hair" off of each one of these after I took some pictures.

She is quite the explorer and loves nature including bugs.

These 3 pictures are part of my architecture assignment that I took of the 5 story spiral staircase. The building I work in is absolutely gorgeous but I was in a hurry to get the shots done before the sun set one evening.

The first 2 shots are from the 1st floor looking up and the last is from the 5th floor looking down.

I hope you enjoyed this week's assignment, next week is our final assignment and I picked railroad tracks for my subject.....haven't had anytime to get pictures so this ought to be interesting. Stay tuned.

You Capture - Halloween

Each week Beth over at I Should Be Folding Laundry hosts a "You Capture" event to encourage us to pull out our cameras and take some shots based on a different challenge topic. Since I am taking a photography class, this is already happening on a regular basis but it's nice to have a challenge each week to continue this good habit. The more I pull out the camera and switch up my subjects the better I can see my photography become and the more I learn about my camera.

This week's challenge on "You Capture" is Halloween. These aren't the most stellar shots I've taken but at least you can see what we were for Halloween.

Tanner - cutest bumble bee ever!
Me - Dr. Pepper (get it?!)

Us.

My hubby with hair! One good looking monk.

I mean a "chipmunk" (get it?)

Yes we are corny but it was a kids party and we needed to not be risky if you know what I mean.

Photography Assignment #3

I just completed my week 3 photography assignment which consisted of landscape (blah) and a your choice shot. Since I just got my extension tubes in the mail (love, love, love) I thought that was the perfect opportunity to showcase them using macro photography shots. I headed to a couple of our local forest preserves early Sunday morning and got a couple of shots. Well actually A LOT of shots but that's part of the assignment, take at least 20 of the same subject. At first I didn't think that was necessary but once you start taking more and more shots you realize that there are a million ways to shoot the same subject and hence comes the creativity.

Your Choice shot #1
Your Choice Shot #2
and my favorite!

Landscape #1

Landscape #2

Haunted Halloween Cards 2010

This year I decided to make a couple of different Halloween cards because it was more fun that way. The funny thing is that I finished making these last weekend but I didn't get them in the mail until.....yesterday - I know, totally embarrassing. I hope the kids that receive them forgive me. Here's how they turned out.

Hopefully you can see the texture from the embossed pumpkin and witches feet. Thanks to my photography class I know that you need side-lighting for texture but right now the sun is pretty harsh and isn't helping me with these shots. I think you get the picture though.....ha, ha.

Supplies Used:

• Stamps: Wicked Cool, House of Haunts
• Paper: Rich Razzleberry, Kiwi Kiss, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White, black patterned paper (unknown source)
• Ink: Basic Black, Versamark
• Other: spider embossing folder, big shot, pumpkin pie corduroy buttons, polka dot embossing folder, black waffle paper, round punch, round scallop punch, buttons, twine, black embossing powder

Note: All products used are Stampin Up unless otherwise noted.

Happy Halloween!

Photography Assignment #2

I recently shared with you that I began a photography class on composition a couple of weeks ago. I'm a bit behind on blogging these days because it seems that I never have a spare minute. I may have over-committed myself but that's OK, it's all fun stuff. I shared with you my assignment from week 1's photography class here, and I thought I would also share some of my shots from week 2.

The focus of week 2 was shape, texture, and perspective. I was very excited about the texture assignment but the others I struggled with. I was off from work on Friday and I was able to get out for a few hours to go exploring and find some inspiring subjects to shoot.

Just me on assignment - please ignore the no makeup.

Shape - being my silhouette

Texture - capturing the old rubber tires and peeling paint.

Texture - peeling paint from the floorboard of a really old truck

Perspective - merry go round at the park at our beach.

This weekend I will need to work on my assignment when I'm not indulging in Halloween festivities. The focus is landscape and bringing all of the building blocks together. Huh....I think I may need to go back and figure out the second piece of the assignment. Sometimes it's a mystery but I'll come up with something.

P.S. I'm always looking for other bloggers that have an interest in photography....inspiration is a very good thing.

Photography Assignment #1

A few weeks ago I began a photography class on composition. Not really knowing whether or not it was going to be what I was looking for was questionable but it was worth a try. I am taking the class with my friend Brooke from My [Boys]terous Life and so far we are learning a lot. We have a very inspiring teacher which makes all of the difference and he gives us assignments each week to practice the concepts we are learning. It's 3 hours on a Monday night but so far it is revving up my photography engine.

The first week we focused on light and lines. We were given our assignment to shoot the same subject using front, back, and side lighting as well as taking shots illustrating the use of lines. Here's some shots that I took for that assignment.

Lines from my blinds onto the kitchen cabinet

Lines from a bridge at a local forest preserve showing the beautiful fall colors

Side Light - not the best composition but it was only week 1, I still have time to get better right?

Back Light - I like how this one turned out and it really makes the leaves so different.

Front light - pretty pictures but it makes the photo look so flat

Week 2 was about shapes, texture, and perspective and I'll post those photos shortly. I had a lot of fun shooting those shots and am always open to feedback or critic. It's the only way we'll get better.

P.S. If you have any good photography blogs that you would recommend please let me know, I'm always looking for inspiration and a good place to go for reference too.

St. Lucia - part 2

We have been back from our week long vacation for 2 weeks now and Blogger is not cooperating and letting me properly upload photos. My apologies in advance for these not being in any sort of order but I wanted to share some photos from our trip. It was truly the most relaxing vacation we have ever been on and was truly a time together we will never forget! Here's a few (ok alot) of photos from our trip.

Us being silly

One of the many beautiful waterfalls at the Botanical Gardens

How low can you go? Let's say I didn't last that long during this contest.

Our favorite bartender! He would bring me my favorite drink even before I asked for it. I think it was making my "passion" drink on this sunny afternoon.

David relaxing at the pool on our last day.

Me relaxing at the pool. The blue tile at this pool was truly beautiful.

My last drink before heading home the next morning.

Zip lining!

Us on our 8th anniversary after zip lining through the rain forest in the pouring rain.

This little bird would sit on my chair on our veranda everyday. They are so friendly and I loved feeding them and watching them. They were beautiful.

Another one my friends that would come and visit.

They had a "lazy river" that was hidden away on the property. There were lots of cool places to relax and this was our favorite place to hide-away. It was surrounded by water and was directly in front of a waterfall. I couldn't resist taking this picture of David reading and totally relaxed. He doesn't read that often so it was a memory I had to catch.

This was a Salmon Tree at our resort that looked like it was straight from the movie Avatar. This picture doesn't do it justice - it was breathtaking!!!

This crab loved playing hide and seek while I tried capturing a picture. I got one at least!

This was one of the very friendly locals that we met while going for a walk on the beach. He made a grasshopper for us out of 2 banana leaves. It was something his grandmother taught him to do. He could make all sorts of animals and I loved seeing them use resources that are easily available thanks to nature and use it to make a living. I also bought a birdhouse from him carved out of a coconut.

US - loving life.

David posing on a beautiful piece of driftwood. It was a rainy day but we tried to make the most of it.