Day 31

Wow, I'm still doing this after a month. Here is a quick one I snapped as my handsome husband pumped gas into my car for me. He takes such good care of me. (Please excuse the dirty mirror.)

Day 30

My sweet girl and I have enjoyed using the timer on the camera to get pictures together. We've used the multi shot action to get different poses in for each shot. Here are two of my favorites.

Week 4

Day 29

I'm cheating today and posting 2 pictures. That's right, 2 pictures!!! We found this amazing park that lent itself to so many amazing picture opportunities. I just couldn't decide which of these two pictures I liked more. I can't wait to see what this place will look like in the spring when all is green and alive.

Day 28

Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo is going on and I can't wait for the family to head out to the fair grounds for all the festivities. Of course, I don't really need the stock show/rodeo to have a reason to wear my boots. I'd wear them all the time if I could.

This one has a lot of noise, but I kind of like the picture that way. Boots are supposed to be used, worn in, and rugged. At least to me they are!

Day 27

Question: What is more fun than jumping off a rock?
Answer: When you're 6, absolutely nothing!

ISO 100, F8, 1/500

Day 26

All we need is LOVE!

I learned how to create these awesome light designs by slowing down my shutter speed. Ever since Courtney at Click It Up uploaded a picture of a heart she created with a flashlight, I've been dying to try it too. This week she posted directions for how to get this effect with flashlights, car lights, and other moving light sources. I closed myself up in my bathroom. Propped my camera up on the vanity stool and gave it a try. I'm pretty proud of how the first try turned out. The hardest part was trying to write the word backwards so it would be correct for the picture.

**Note to all who attempt this. Practice writing backwards in cursive. It took some major brain power on my part. :-)

Day 25

I am officially a slacker mom today. I fed my child chicken nuggets from the drive-thru. It has been one of those days. And to be perfectly honest, after teaching all day this is all I got! "Thank you please drive thru."

Day 24

I am posting yet another gymnastics picture, but unfortunately this is where we spend a good amount of time. When you're married to a coach, you have to go where they are if you ever want to see them before the kiddo is ready for bed. Especially, if the said coach is in season. So for the next few months, be prepared to see quite a few gym pictures. I'm apologizing ahead of time.

I had to do quite a bit of brightening on this one. Gymnastics gyms are notoriously cave-like.

Day 23

I was able to capture my hubby doing what he does best. Not only is he an awesome husband and dad, but he's a terrific gymnastics coach too. He is a true motivator that keeps these high school kids on track and makes them know what team is all about.

ISO3200, f5.6, 1/200

I was finally able to crank my shutter speed up enough to get minimal blurring. I did have to edit for noise.

Week 3

One of the 365 blogs I follow always does a week in review collage. I really liked it so I borrowed the idea. Thanks Branson for being an inspiration!

Day 22

Decisions, decisions! A trip to the library is tough work when there are so many great books to choose from. Cameron's just started to read chapter books and "Magic Tree House" is one of her favs. (Mine too!)

Day 21

Sorry, it's been one of those kind of days. This is all I got! Sums up the mood around here quite nicely. LAZY!

Day 20

My neighbor across the street flies the flag proudly both day and night. I've been meaning to get a picture for a while now and yesterday I did just as the sun was behind it almost illuminating it. I wish I'd gotten a picture of how it looks at night with the lights shining on it. I added a quote because I coudn't find a Bible verse I wanted to use. (Thanks, Courtney for passing on the idea you got from a fellow blogger!)

Not much editing, just rounded the corners and added text. ISO 100, F20, not sure on SS

Day 19

I shot this one using the B&W setting on my camera. I had to lighten it up a little in Lightroom since the sofa and the pillow were both so dark.

p.s. The fever is finally gone and the pictures & Cameron will hopefully be a little more chipper tomorrow.

Day 18

The tiny one has the flu so this picture isn't from today. I took it last week when I was trying to capture catchlights in her eyes that Courtney talked about on www.clickitupanotch.com. I may not have a chance to check out everyone's 365 today, but I can't wait to catch up with you all tomorrow. I want to get out in the yard today while she's napping. Maybe I can get a shot there. Happy blogging, friends.

Day 17

Can you guess how we spent the day? Not an exciting picture, but my muse wasn't herself today. :-(

Day 16

We made brownies using our Perfect Brownie Pan. (it really works) Eric snuck in at just the right time to help Cameron lick the bowl. Glad to have the whole family in the picture. :-)

He and I are a little out of focus. Know that I need to raise my aperture.

Day 15

Cam and her BFF had a sleepover last night. I couldn't resist snapping one of them in their tent they created in the living room. They were so engrossed in their movie that they had no idea I'd even taken their picture. My shutter speed was very low hence the blurring.

ISO 1600, F5.6, "0.8

Day 14

With both parents being gymnastics coaches (I'm retired!), poor Cameron lives in the gym. My expectations for her being an outstanding gymnast are low. I just don't want her to live with that pressure. Right now she loves it and asks to go to dad's gym everyday to practice bars. Here is a shot of her and trying out P-bars with Daddy watching on. This isn't the greatest of pictures, but I just like it. It definitely shows who we are and what we do.

Day 13

While visiting other blogs yesterday, I was inspired to try a macro picture. I've never tried one before and to be perfectly honest until yesterday I'd never even heard of macro. Anyway, this is my attempt. These berries are on an ornamental tree in our yard. Did I get the concept right? Feedback please!!!

Day 12

My daughter's latest obsession is mismatched socks. The more outlandish the combination the better. I hope she is always bold and confident to be her own person. (I think she gets this quality from her Dad)

Side Note

This is a free class! It will be my first one. Come try it with me.

Day 11

Holy Cow!!! I can't believe I've made it 11 days. I've usually fizzled by now. I think it is all the encouragement I have been getting from my new 365 friends. Thanks to all of you for keeping me going and inspiring me to push myself.

Today's post is of me and my new camera. (My 1st DSLR, BTW) No more point and shoot unless absolutely necessary. :-) Also, I'm going to try and put myself in front of the camera more. Pushing me even farther out of my comfort zone.

Day 10

When it's chilly outside, we'll be warming up with some chili inside. This weather absolutely stinks. We're in Texas for goodness sake! The daytime high shouldn't be 32 degrees. I'm officially boycotting winter and am moving to summer. Anyone with me?

Thankfully we had a crock pot full of this tasty chili to come home to. (Yes, I know that is poor grammar.) It's been a long Monday.

Day 9

First flakes of winter. A rare treat for Texans.

SOOC ISO 200, f5.6, 1/100

Day 8

This week I learned that it's better to catch kids in their element and not try to force a picture situation. Going with the flow is hard for me & an area where I will have to work to improve.

It's that time of year when the slightest shuffle across the carpet turns even the cutest of girls into a dandelion of static electricity. I had to use more than one since she gave me so many faces to go with her CRAZY hair.

ISO400, f5.6, 1/40

ISO 400, 5.6, 1/40

Day 7

Meet the newest member of our family. Cameron has been bugging us since she was three for a cat. We promised when she turned 6 that we'd consider it. Well, you can see how that turned out. This sweet girl is a rescue that was hit by a car and isn't quite "all there", but she's perfect for us. She isn't afraid of kids, dogs, or loud noises. She loved this spot under the dining room table where she could look out the window at all of the things going on in the trees outside.

Day 6

Just a quick pic of my new little reader. She's always loved books, but her love for them has changed now that she can read them herself.

I loathe the fluorescent lighting in my kitchen! I did some adjusting in Lightroom.



ISO 400, f3.2, 1/30

Day 5

I rarely put myself in front of the camera because I can be a control freak, and if I've got the camera then I'm in charge. Actually, I also dislike the way I look in pictures. (I'm my worst critic.) This is me grading papers. A not so fun part of a job that I love. I used the auto timer, but still in manual with my P&S. Yea me! 5 days w/out reverting back to auto!

Day 4

Remember that euphoric feeling of learning to ride a bike sans training wheels? I wanted to capture this moment for Cam because one day life won't be so carefree. She'll be grown up and that feeling will not be as easily achieved. That is...until she has her own children and can relive these special times through their eyes. I heart that girl!!!

Day 3

I was fooling around with trying to capture the starburst effect. Granted I think this would have been better if my point and shoot aperture went higher than 14.1. Oh well, I still got mostly what I was trying to achieve. I also like this picture because of the nakedness of the tree. Who knew we had so many bird nests up there?

ISO 5o, F14.1, 1/125

Day 2

Still practicing my shooting in manual mode. I had all the blinds open so that I could bump my ISO back down to 400 to help with the noise I get with 1600. Thought I'd try a collage using Picasa.

We spent today packing up the remaining Christmas decorations and found a little time to experiment with bubble wrap. I wish the pictures of her running through the house hadn't turned out so blurry or they'd be in the collage. The funniest part was when she was laughing and saying she was Lady Gaga.

Day 1

I'm practicing shooting in manual mode on my very simple point and shoot camera. I've got the ISO all the way up to 1600 (my camera's max) I hate all the noise that the picture has, but I'll be using some editing software soon. I think Lightroom will be my choice.

I picked this picture for my first post of the new year because this is the direction our world is moving. It is crazy that she can maneuver her way around the Internet better than I can. I especially love that I was able to snap this quick pick without her even turning to look my way. She was totally engrossed.

Unedited

Edited using Lightroom 3. I reduced the noise and auto corrected the white balance.

365 project

I have been reading a photography blog by a teaching partner of mine from my early days of teaching in Abilene. www.clickitupanotch.com She has inspired me to chronical a day in the life of our family by taking and uploading photos each day of the year. I'm a newbie when it comes to photography. I don't even have a DSLR camera (yet). This will be my attempt to not only improve my ablility to photography my family, but to challenge myself and have a visual reminder of how lucky I am to be the wife of Eric and the mom of Cameron.

So...Here I go!