365 Project - Day 61

This was the Bible App bible verse of the day and one that I bookmarked. I thought it would be fun to try to isolate the verse in today's photo, while continuing with the black and white theme. I had more trouble narrowing focus to just these words than I had anticipated. I was determined to capture the bible for the day, but I almost switched to a different verse simply out of frustration - yes, I was getting dismayed!

It was an interesting exercise. This particular bible has lots of papers in it that kept sliding out, making the photograph less neat than I wanted. Also, this page has a coffee stain on it. It seemed little would go right in choosing to photograph this verse. In the end, I believe I was able to settle into a photo that provides what I wanted, clear focus on this verse. I will try this again, I'm certain, but for now, I'm pleased.

Happy Holidays!

Today's Photo: "Fear Not!"

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10




EXIF: Nikon D7100
ISO 100
35mm
f3.3
1/250 (on camera flash)

365 Project - Day 60

I enjoy black and white photography. It is how I got started with film media when I was a teenager and I have never forgotten the feel of looking at photographs I had taken and developed myself: the educated guess at the camera's technical features / settings; the smell of our laundry room converted into a dark room; the tedious, but exciting work of watching the photo come alive from the negative. It is fitting, then, that my day 60 photo is a black and white. I wanted something dramatic as the creative, regardless of content, and I wanted this to be more about my approach to the craft.

I took several photos with my SB700 on camera and in a variety of positions. I have been working on getting more comfortable with flash and had fun moving the head around. The flash position that offered the greatest depth and variance of shadows was with the flash bouncing off the wall behind me, but slightly to the left (large due to how I was holding the camera, more than an elaborate plan!).

Happy Holidays!

Today's Photo: "Elegance in Light and Shadows"

"Everything that we see is a shadow cast by that which we do not see."
Martin Luther King, Jr.



EXIF: Nikon D7100
ISO 100
75mm (70-200mm f/2.8)
f/2.8
1/250 (on camera speed light)

365 Project - Day 59

Photographing one of our violins has been on my project list for awhile. I decided to take the opportunity to combine a photograph of the violin strings with our Christmas tree lights. I was convinced we had a larger violin available for this project. What I found, however, was an empty larger case. I had to settle for a small violin sitting on the piano bench, but I believe this works. I tried a variety of different positions and some of the photos included only white lights and others, like this one, included a variety of colors.

I chose this photograph because I like the in and out focus of the strings. When I look at this, the strings actually appear to be in motion. This shot is handheld and taken with the light available in the room.

I have been hurried when taking my 365 photos this week and this one is no exception. The good news is I still have more than 300 days left to improve!

Holiday wishes!

Today's Photo: "Festive Dancing Strings"

"Silent night, Holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord at thy birth
Jesus, Lord at thy birth."



EXIF: Nikon D7100
ISO 800
35mm
f1.8
1/45

365 Project - Day 58

I had several Christmas photos of our fully decorated tree (finally!) to choose from for today. I am most excited about this second attempt at a holiday lights bokeh effect. This time I shot further away to illuminate the shape of the tree, incorporate more lights and include the star on top. In post processing, I opened up the shadows and softened the lights by taking both contrast and clarity negative.

I believe this is a special photograph and I am pleased with the results. The one funny thing is that the star looks quite large, but I love that it is brighter and brings in different colors. The star adds unique charm to the photo.

I considered breaking the rules and posting more than one photo, but I like this one enough to go with it for the day. Holiday wishes!

Today's photo: "Christmas Glory"

"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"
Luke 2:13-14




EXIF: Nikon D7100
ISO 800
35mm
f1.8
1/45

365 Project - Day 57

These days, melancholy moments come fairly easily. I look at my 17 year old son, a senior in high school, and think, "this time next year ...," or "this is the last time, we will ..." I try to savor much. At the same time, however, it is difficult to imagine the change. I cannot comprehend how he grew to this age. Just a moment ago, I was pushing him on a swing in Texas. It makes no sense to me that he will be graduating from high school.

I glanced over at the piano the other day and noticed that this song was sitting on top of the music stack. My heart sank. "I'll be home for Christmas." How appropriate - next year, we will be discussing when he'll be coming home. He loves to play the piano and I will miss that music in my house when he leaves for school. I added one of our special ornaments from our time in France when he was in 1st and 2nd grade to complement this photo.

As you can likely tell by the shadows, this was taken without flash. I simply leveraged the existing lights in the music room.

Holiday Wishes!

Today's Photo: "A Child Grows"

"Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6



EXIF: Nikon D7100
ISO 400
35mm
f/1.8
1/45

365 Project - Day 56

Wahoo! My cast is off! The cast removal process is remarkable. I was fiddling with my iPhone as the medical team prepared. Horrified that it kept telling me that I could not take a picture because the storage was full and barely hearing a voice saying, "blah, blah, blah, don't worry about this tool. We only use it to cut off the cast. blah blah blah" I'm frantically trying to delete things on my phone. "It cannot cut skin. So do not be alarmed. Some people get a little freaked out," she went on. Meanwhile, I'm deleting, deleting. Still no room on my phone. She continues, "just be still and be sure you do not flinch." Then I hear the drill and look up! Whoa, woman! Why is there a circular drill on my leg? Perhaps, this whole 365 Project got away from me in this moment and I should have been paying attention! I nearly passed out while she pressed that drill on my cast. I thought to myself, "now what was it she said? It really cannot cut my skin? OWWW - breathe, breathe, breathe!"

When I settled down, there were no scrapes, no scratches, but also no pictures and the cast was in the trash! My leg looked like it had been in a goth cocoon and I was back to frantically deleting photos as I asked my husband to dig my cast out of the trash. "Say what?" He said. But alas, he did it anyway. I had terrific news from the doc: though it isn't visually appealing, my leg is healing well and I can begin to put the tiniest bit of weight on it, 25lbs. Also, I may be off crutches in 4-6 weeks which is way ahead of the last schedule he gave me!

If I'm truly candid, my primary concern now is - have I learned the lessons I was supposed to learn during this time? These are the thoughts in my crazy little head.

Today's Photo: "Strength Renewed"

"But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31


EXIF: Apple iPhone 5C
ISO 50
33mm (translated)
f2.4
1/40

365 Project - Day 55

I feel badly that my husband has had to try so very hard to encourage us to decorate the tree. He did an excellent job of getting the tree, standing it up and putting on the lights. He's also been a terrific steward of the tree; ensuring that the lights are turned on each day and the tree is getting plenty of water. The rest of us have simply not done our part. We have prioritized other things over decorating the tree, stepping over and around the many boxes of ornaments rather than taking an hour or so to decorate. Shame on us!

Well, in honor of his tremendous efforts, I opened one of the ornament boxes and prepared this photo for him. This is my promise to him that we will get it done before Christmas Day. It might be Christmas Eve, but it will be done! This photo was taken with my camera on my monopod and the flash off camera bounced at the ceiling.

Best wishes for the merriest of Christmases!

Today's Photo: "The promise of hope at Christmas"

"This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world, that we might live through him." 1John 4:9



EXIF: Nikon D7100
ISO 400
35mm
f/8
1/250 - Flash off camera

365 Project - Day 54

Merry Christmas! As I shared in my previous blog, one of my favorite things about this season is the opportunity to enjoy the children's concerts. This photo is from the Newtown High School Singers Christmas Concert. This was a fun evening for the families of the 21 teenagers who participate in this auditioned a cappella group. The only sad thing about the evening was that my son, Aidan, did not sing a solo. He sang with the group and he played piano as the accompanist for several of his friends. He told me that he was too stressed learning the pieces for the piano to even join in singing the smaller group songs. He did a terrific job playing the piano and everyone was fabulous. Another wonderful holiday event.

This photograph was taken from my seat near the front and below the stage. I was only able to capture a portion of the group and the lighting was not the best. From my seat, my son looked green under the lights in the back row - a lovely kermitish look! Though he memorizes the songs, I sure wish he would remember to bring along his Singers notebook!

Best wishes for a blessed holiday! Merry Christmas!

Today's Photo: "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing"

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:8



EXIF: Nikon D7100
ISO 400
35mm
f/2
1/45

365 Project - Day 53

One of my favorite things about the holiday season is the various children's Christmas Concerts. I am enjoying them more this year than ever. I am more fully in the moment, relaxed, listening to the words, watching the kids and absorbing each individual experience without preoccupation. I believe that is the combination of both my retirement and "lessons learned from the fall." I need to be practice - no not practice - but be more mindful. I encourage it. I thoroughly enjoyed the shows!

All of the kids did such a nice job performing at the Sabrina's Encore Productions student event this year. My younger son sang "White Christmas" including Irving Berlin's original lyrics that are rarely sung. Everyone appreciated having a proper understanding of the song and, of course, he is a thorough storyteller:
"The sun is shining, the grass is green,
The orange and palm trees sway.

There's never been such a day
in Beverly Hills, L.A.
But it's December the twenty-fourth,—

And I am longing to be up North ..."

My eldest son, the more dramatic one wanting to tell the tougher side of truth and tug on everyone each time he sings, sung "Christmas Shoes". Leaving many a mom and some of the kids, both boys and girls, in a heap of tears.

They were both fantastic. I had awesome seats for sound that were terrible for photographs. I recorded each of their sessions on video as usual. Then snapped this photograph after the show while everyone was mingling. You see, a gal with a cast is no good at mingling, so there's plenty of time for me to look for an opportunity to grab a photograph. I chose this one of the combination of the poinsettia with the piano in the background as a nice, subdued symbol of the music and beauty of the Christmas season.

Merry Christmas and Best Wishes!

Today's Photo: "Merry Melody"

From "Christmas Shoes" by Alabama
"I knew I'd caught a glimpse of heaven's love as he thanked me and ran out
I knew that God had sent that little boy to remind me what Christmas is all about"



EXIF: Nikon D7100
ISO 1000
35mm
f2.4
1/45

365 Project - Day 52

Holy Smokes! I've gotten so far behind in my blog that I had to rely on my photo dates to determine which pic comes next! The reason for the delay? 70 young people and their head shots. I did not want this project weighing on me through the holidays. This is the first Christmas in 32 years that I have been entirely work free and I didn't need to muck that up with a photo project, much as I love it! So, it is finished! I am now free to fully enjoy and embrace my family! So excited. Whew that was a lot of work ... now back to the photo of the day a few days ago.

I have been eying this sword as it stands propped up against the deep red wall in our family room for some time. Many days I think, "I really want to capture that. Humph - I'll have to try some time." And then just as quickly the urge is gone and I move on. I was determined on this day to succumb and start a journey with the sword and the wall. The sword is quite heavy and I do not have the mobility I need to get creative, but once I heal from my broken leg, I expect to develop a unique dynamic between the sword and the wall.

For now, this simple red - on - red will serve as my starting point. This was a quick photo taken using my on camera flash. I was in a tight space at the time, between my couch and the wall, without the ability to back up to bring the full sword into view and without a tripod on hand to leverage slower shutter speed. For selfish reasons, I chose not to increase the ISO above 400. Lots of opportunity for improvement and that's a good thing.

Happy Holidays and Best Wishes!

Today's Photo: "Passion's Sword"

“When love beckons to you, follow him, though his ways are hard and steep. And when his wings enfold you yield to him, though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you.” Kahlil Gibran



EXIF: Nikon D7100
ISO 800
50mm
f1.8
1/250 (on camera flash)

365 Project - Day 51

I received an email from Nikon Learn & Explore the other day. An article on how to shoot the classic holiday light bokeh effect quickly caught my eye. I immediately read it and decided that I would complete a holiday bokeh project before the end of the week. Our Christmas tree has been up with lights only for some time and it seemed the perfect opportunity to get the bokeh correct in a completely uncomplicated environment before we clutter the tree.

The project sounded so very simple. I was excited to give this a try. As I glanced around the tree to determine which side to photograph, I worried that the lights were too big, not colorful enough and there was too much space between each strand but nevertheless, I was committed - this was the time. I placed my camera on the tripod, defocused the lens and went for it. I was shocked when I saw "Christmas bokeh in the first photo". Now that's a well written article ;-) I still wish I had more lights and more colors, but this was a good start.

After comparing my photograph with the one in the article, I believe I need to re-process mine to de-saturate, but for now, I'm pleased.

Best wishes !

Today's Photo: "The Magic of Christmas"

"Great little One! whose all-embracing birth
Lifts Earth to Heaven, stoops Heaven to Earth."
~Richard Crashaw



EXIF: Nikon D7100
50mm
ISO 100
f/1.8
1/60

365 Project - Day 50

I may be the only one, but I do not enjoy the taste of Fortune Cookies. I do, however, enjoy reading the fortunes. I'm a little superstitious in that if I open one with a good fortune, I feel obliged to eat at least half of it to be worthy of receiving that fortune! Okay, now that I've put that in words, it sounds even sillier than I imagined.

A good, meaningful fortune can be encouraging. I have kept several taped to a card in my bedroom. Several weeks ago, I had a terrific introductory discussion with a group of people. It was the highlight of my day and later I lazily opened a Fortune Cookie that was lying out on the counter. The message read, "Today, your life has changed forever." I choose to believe that was more than a coincidence.

We have Chinese food at least twice a month. It's a family favorite and I often wonder if we order more than the norm for a family of 4 because we are always given around 10 cookies. Anyway, this is a first attempt at a Fortune Cookie photograph. It has been on my list for some time (since we typically have an abundance of cookies), however, this was not as well planned as it could have been. I will "schedule and plan" a more organized shot.

For now, enjoy and best wishes!

Today's Photo: "You need not worry about your future"

"Only learn to seize good fortune, for good fortune is always there." Goethe



EXIF: Nikon D7100
ISO 400
50mm
f2.4
1/90

365 Project - Day 49

My lovely husband was shopping at Costco the other day, walked past the flower stand and thought of me. Well trained, right? He walked in with a bouquet of the most interesting flowers in bright pink, bright orange and a bluish purple color. Not a combination I would have expected, but definitely eye catching. I have been so busy with Christmas and other projects for the 365 that I actually forgot about this bouquet, though. In fact, we did not put them in water for the first 24 hours.

I initially tried photographing the variety of flowers against a white backdrop and then switched to this dark blue wall. I then placed 1 stem of each color in a vase to photograph separately. While I like the trio of flowers and the radiant mix, I preferred this singular stem. I chose this photo, because I like the subtle mix and blend of the blues with both the flower and the background. The change in temp and tint is attractive to me. This was photographed with the camera on a tripod and the speed light off camera, bouncing off the ceiling angled slightly toward the flowers.

I do wish I had more of the leaves in front in focus, but it is still my fave of the day!

Best wishes!

Today's Photo: "I thirst for you"

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13

365 Project - Day 48

It is difficult to explain the experience of photographing 70 children in a single afternoon. I can begin by stating that being organized was essential, as was being flexible. I arrived 45 minutes earlier than I had said I would. Yet, as soon as I arrived, little children wanted their photos taken since I was to start at the end of their meeting. I was early to set-up and because I knew I needed more than the planned 30 minutes to photograph 15 small children.

With a prepared cast/shot list in hand, I relied on my own children to take turns ensuring their friends and fellow cast members were lined up and ready to enter the makeshift studio in rapid succession. We needed to move quickly, plus I wanted the kids to have a moment to get comfortable and I wanted to be thorough, ensuring everyone had a good cast photo.

Overall, things went fairly smoothly. My kids were mostly helpful. Every so often they forgot their responsibilities and fell behind or left me to fend for myself. Not surprising, but aggravating. By the last session, I was running behind, but managing to stay sane.

I did not take a break, working straight through from 12:45 until 5:15. We took time to change the lighting when we shifted from the small children in Cinderella to the older kids. We changed from a single speed light to the speed light + the Einstein E640. I also took 30 seconds to stretch. Other than that, nonstop! Only living and breathing the session.

The only technical issues were adjusting the Einstein since I had not prepared correctly in the final prep and because the room was small and dim. (Did you notice the problem in yesterday's blog?) The other issue was that my SB700 recycle time slowed down midway through the session. I have not sorted out that issue.

Though harried and crazy, I enjoyed it. Who knows, maybe this could be my thing. I am sharing one of my son's headshots from the session. By the way, they were the absolute worst subjects of the day. Go figure!

Best wishes!

Today's Photo: "All the world's my stage!"

A confession - I probably should include the "before" photo. I spent quite a bit of time trying to determine why the photos imported from View NX2 to Lightroom darkened dramatically. When I posted the question in the LR community the response was simply did I have Active D-Lighting on? Yep, I did. And, yes, I went over every camera setting multiple times. Just did not worry about this one since it hadn't previously been a problem. Now, though, I'm happy about the error. I'm enjoying the editing process and the discovery of the details in every photo. I have always embraced a challenge - can I get it right? I believe so.


"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV



EXIF: Nikon D7100
ISO 160
50mm
f/5.6
1/180 (headshot lighting kit)

365 Project - Day 47

I've fallen behind in posting again, but I have another excellent excuse. First things, first. I never forget to take the daily photo (boy, I sure hope I don't have to eat those words someday), I just have a difficult time getting to the blog each day.

Now, to my excellent excuse: In 5 hours, I photographed 70 children between the ages of 5 and 18 yesterday. They were being measured for costumes and taking cast headshots for upcoming Winter performances. One studio, 3 shows. It was crazy. I was exhausted and passed out when I returned home. All the details will be shared in the next blog.

Today is about the prep. By now you know, I am operating with a broken leg wrapped in a lovely cast. Everything I do takes extra planning, care and feeding. Head shots are not in my wheelhouse. So, I took care to plan and get organized, particularly since this was for such a large group. I spent the 2 days prior in my basement preparing. As I shared in my last blog, my 17 year old son was terrific about helping the first day, but no one was around to assist with the final prep. I wanted to ensure I had all of my camera settings pre-loaded; the Einstein and speed light pre-configured; and everything documented along with detailed packing and unpacking lists. I also created cast / shot lists for tracking.

I decided to take self portraits as part of the preparation. The small prep space was awkward with my crutches, however, and I could not make it work. Also, the photos kept coming out dark. I studied all of my manuals and could not find an explanation. Frustrated, I texted my husband (hee-hee) and asked him to come downstairs to help. He reluctantly sat for two photos and then offered to get Jamal if I needed more. I said "no, thanks. I will figure this out without Jamal." I did eventually throw up my arms and drag in Jamal. His portrait is below. He's big and heavy, but he's a colorful fellow who doesn't complain, always has a smile on his face and does whatever I need ;-)

I was very proud of everything I accomplished in my prep work and felt ready. In addition to the work I did in the basement I read a lot and watched videos. I was in great shape. I packed everything away in canisters and a suitcase and called my son and husband to carry it upstairs. It was at that point, when I mentioned to my son that we needed to be mindful of an item during the set-up, that he said, "mom, what you're saying makes no sense." Then I realized my entire work effort that day was a spectacular failure. All of my settings were incorrect, but it was too late. I could not unpack and set up the mock studio again. I was going to have to assume I knew enough to sort it out on the spot. The problem? You can see it clearly when you look at Jamal. If you do not, write a comment and I will explain.

One thing's certain, I will never make this mistake again. Resolving it cost me a good 10 minutes yesterday. Plus I had to listen to my son's version of how the world turns. All in a compressed time period. The good news is I am better for the experience.

Best wishes!

Today"s Photo: "I'm going to be a star!"

Churchill said, "success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."



EXIF: Nikon D7100
ISO 160
50mm
f4.0
1/180 (headshot lighting kit)

365 Project - Day 46

New toys always bring me joy and discovering them with my children double the fun. I keep turning down opportunities to shoot head shots. Well, I finally succumbed and agreed to a rather large gratuitous piece of work, but this falls in the core of what I love to do. More about that later as the session is tomorrow. I have been studying a variety of lighting configurations and finally settled on the combination of my SB-700 speed light as a filler and a Paul C Buff Einstein E640 as the key light. My son and I played around with these lights to sort out the details given the small space we have tomorrow. He hates to have his picture taken, but obliged me with many uneasy expressions as we sorted out how to coordinate the strobes.

This Einstein Flash Unit is fabulous. I've spent 2 days playing around with it and am anxious for the "live" session tomorrow. I will be taking headshots of loads of children from the ages of 5 - 18. I will use only the speed light shooting through a Westcott umbrella with the small children and the fancier combination with the older kids. Wish me luck!

Best wishes!

Today's Photo: "Brilliant !"

"The Lord will work out His plans for my life" Psalm 138:8

"When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be." Lao Tzu




EXIF: Nikon D7100
ISO 100
50mm
f1.8
1/60

365 Project - Day 45

Snow! The late afternoon and evening snowfall was gentle and beautiful. My younger son jumped in the car after the holiday show and immediately checked his school cancellation app. "60% odds of cancellation tomorrow, woohoo!," he exclaimed. What he received instead was a 2 hour delay and he seemed content with that. My husband urged me to photograph the snow at 11PM and cheat on the next day's photos. I can't say I blame him, the late night scene outside our front door was fantastic, but I was way too tired to focus and besides, I had already completed my 365 Project for the day. Yes, perhaps, a true artist would not have missed such an opportunity. Seriously, though, I was really tired.

I went out to take photos before eating breakfast the next day. Oddly, I was determined to take them using the 1.4x teleconverter on my 70-200mm f2.8 lens. I suppose I wanted to check out both devices. Still not convinced my telephoto lens survived my break and not happy with the first round of photos I took with the teleconverter. Years ago when I had more time to take photos, I used teleconverters often with my Nikon FE2. I actually forgot about them when I returned to photography a few months ago. I'm still nurturing my skills and not 100% satisfied with the 1.4x results, but can't put my finger on the problem.

I confess this session was a physical challenge. I photographed from our front porch, while leaning on one of the posts. I asked my husband to come back and get me in 10 minutes to help me back inside. (It was cold outside and he was not interested in waiting alongside me.) My camera was heavy and I was unstable whether leaning on the post or on my crutches. I could not get comfortable and it felt like a futile exercise. I was finished and counting the minutes, long before my husband returned! I thought about sitting on the wet porch to wait for his return. When he did return, I was not sure I had the energy to hop back inside the house. Oh the endless joys of my broken leg!

Today's Photo: "Life's Remarkable Adventure"

"Some journeys take us far from home. Some adventures lead us to our destiny." C. S. Lewis



EXIF: Nikon D7100
ISO 100
105mm (70-200mm f2.8)
f/4
1/350

365 Project - Day 44

What joy to hear the music of the talented youth of the Newtown High School Choral department! Last night's holiday performances were delightful and put us into the spirit of Christmas. The evening kicked off with an entertaining performance by their male a cappella group, XY Chromotones, singing an original arrangement of Feliz Navidad. Unfortunately, I was using my 70-200 f2.8 and could not get the entire group in the shot. On top of that, there was a huge mic stand in front of the group. Nevertheless, I love the dynamics of the group captured in this shot. You can certainly tell they are having fun.

We enjoyed it immensely! It was fun to see both of my children hamming it up! Such a blessing.

Best wishes!

Today's Photo: " Holiday A ca-Jammin'

"Trouble knocked at the door, but hearing laughter, hurried away." Benjamin Franklin



EXIF: Nikon D7100
ISO 1000
70mm (70-200mm f/2.8)
f2.8
1/350

365 Project - Day 43

"If you don't have garbage, you have nothing to use in order to make compost. And if you have no compost, you have nothing to nourish the flower in you." Thich Nhat Hanh

Ah hah! I thought as I read this on my Facebook this morning. We must embrace our compost, our messiness, our garbage. It is that, after all, which makes life interesting, exciting, and beautiful. Something I know very well!

I finally took out my flash for this round of flower photos. I placed the flash off camera about a foot to the left of the flowers and bounced the flash to the left as well, no diffuser, no gels. I used a white foam board to manage the reflection and minimize shadows. I was no more patient with this round of grocery flower picks than the last. I just received a coupon for flowers, however, from an online delivery service. I'm anxious to try something more exotic than the grocery bunch my lovely husband selects.

Now that I am having so much fun with these flower photos, I'm starting to get the itch to do more macro work. I have added a macro lens to my growing wish list. If only money really did grow on trees.

Best wishes !

Today's Photo: "Moonlight Melody"

"Realize deeply that the present moment is all you ever have." Eckhardt Tolle



EXIF: Nikon D7100
ISO 100
50mm
f/11
1/60 (off camera speed light)

365 Project - Day 42

Why is the end of the year is so crazy? Christmas shopping, cards, insurance decisions, school events and more all before the year ends. It's a wonder we don't all go a little bit crazy each year end. All that is to say - Oops, though I took the photo on time, my blog is behind!

For this photo, I was looking around my home for something interesting and different to shoot as a still life photo. I pulled together several objects for this treasure. I'm not exactly sure why, but I have a box filled with masks, some porcelain, some feathered and some bedazzled! There are also hooks packed with the masks. I clearly had planned to display them, I believe in our guest bathroom, but never got around to it. The first few photos were with two masks, but the scene was crowded. This one, while simpler, is more intense. I collected the stones with my boys somewhere near the Grand Canyon and the coins are from my travels around the world. Sorry to disappoint - they are not real pirate booty! The light is natural morning light from a large second story window. This is just a fun photograph.

Today's Photo: "Masquerade Treasures"

I have a slightly lighter version of this photo. I could not decide which was better. I like the intrigue in this one, but you can see more detail in the other. Happy to have your comments.

Thanks and best wishes!

"I would rather die of passion than of boredom." Vincent Van Gogh



EXIF: Nikon D7100
ISO 100
50mm
f/4
1/8

365 Project - Day 41

I am back to working on flower photography. I wanted to work on a series of traditional flower photos with the grocery store bouquet before they wilted. After yesterday's disappointment, I really needed something to conquer and to cheer me up. I also have to say, I continue to be so inspired by the photographs others are producing that I'm anxious to do the same.

Naturally, I tried a little creative license with the flowers, including a "de-constructed vase of flowers." Yep, I am just that nutty. Candidly, I would not have thought to photograph the backside of a Gerbera daisy until recently seeing many Fine Art photos. I also originally kept tossing the white flowers in the second photograph aside, thinking they were throw-away fillers. I'm as happy with this session as I was disappointed with yesterday's. Now, how's that for a turnaround?

I still shied away from the flash, but I was armed with a few lessons learned. I waited for bright natural afternoon sunlight. I used my tripod and the timer and kept ISO at 100. I played with a variety of aperture and shutter speed settings. I am limited because I do not have a macro lens and I'm not a fan of the auto macro setting on my camera. Nevertheless, I am excited about my first couple of attempts and will continue to explore this as a winter hobby.


Today's Photo: #1 "Beautiful Dreamer"

Today's Photo: #2: "Come to Me"

"Everything has beauty, but not everyone can see." Confucius



EXIF: Nikon D7100
#1
ISO 100
50mm
f2.8
1/750

#2
ISO 100
50mm
f/3.3
1/1500

365 Project - Day 40

A bust! Some days you just have to call things what they are. Maybe it was just a bad idea to begin with. Maybe I simply didn't try hard enough. Whatever the cause, I failed to deliver a photograph that I'm proud of today. Nevertheless, this journey is about shooting every day, selecting the best. learning and getting better. I suspect I will be disappointed more often than not during this process. Robert T. Kiyosaki said, "Winners are not afraid of losing. But losers are. Failure is part of the process of success. People who avoid failure also avoid success." Here-here!

My family went Christmas tree shopping for the first time without me. We go to a Christmas Tree Farm not far from where we live, trek out to 'The North Pole or South Pole" and search for hours for the perfect Fraser Fir. Well, mostly, I search for the perfect tree, while my boys chase each other around the field and my husband looks "earnestly". We then chop down the tree, load it up, and enjoy hot cider and homemade cookies by the fire before returning home. This year, I wasn't into "crutching" up the hill in the cold and let them go it alone. When they came home, they said they went up to The North Pole, but could not find a suitable tree and bought a pre-cut one. I know they were worried about my reaction, but frankly, I was just so happy that I did not have to go!

The tree looks great and before we decorated, I wanted to capture the essence of the tree by photographing a portion. Fraser Firs are my favorite Christmas trees. A photograph of a small sample, I thought, would be enough (and artistic?). I'm not sure what was going on in my head, but it didn't work. What else can I say? Well, this - what did I learn?
1) I did not try my flash unit. Why does using the flash cause me so much angst?
2) Using either flash or a tripod, would have allowed for reduced ISO (aka I was lazy).
3) Many photos were shot with the shutter speed under focal length. (I wasn't careful.)
4) I should have backed up to improve context and content (simply too narrow).
5) To strengthen perspective, I need to ask, "what do I see and want others to feel?"

I don't mind this failure, though. Advent is about a journey and Christmas is about a savior. Without the journey and failures along the way, Christmas would be unnecessary.
Peace, my friends.

Today's Photo: "The Christmas Journey"

"The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing."




EXIF: Nikon D7100
ISO 800
50mm
f1.8
1/45

365 Project - Day 39

Recently, I have seen quite a lot of flower photography float across my Twitter feed. Seems odd with winter approaching, but I'm enjoying it. I am particularly inspired by Fine Art Photographer Juergen Roth's beautiful images and article "The Art of Flower Photography". Of course, since I'm on this path to improve how I "see", I felt compelled to expand the flower image into a broader composition. This will cause angst amongst the purest in flower photography, because it's not only about the flower, but also about the environment. I wanted to capture the flower within the context of a scene. Let me explain.

I chose the navy blue wall in our dining room as the backdrop. When I started to arrange the flowers, I noticed the faint light in the room cast a shadow of the flower and light coming in from the next room through French doors created an interesting effect along the wall behind the daisy. I wanted to capture both effects in the composition and chose to do so without a flash. I have more noise in the photograph than I would like, but I do like the end result.

Now, I would not have normally chosen a pink flower, but this was the best of the bunch my husband picked up for me while he was grocery shopping ;-) It is a nice flower and so, I thought I would share this story. The pink daisy reminded me of a brief meeting I had recently and is my tribute to a little girl who made me smile.

When I was in Las Vegas a few weeks ago, I went to the restroom in a casino and while I was washing my hands, a little girl approached me after she had watched me leaning on my crutches for a few minutes. She said, "I broke my arm when I was six years old." I asked her how and she told me about swinging on a swing set and falling off. She still had scars on her arm from the break. I shared my story, thanked her for sharing hers and showed her my bright blue cast. She then told me that her cast had been purple. "Purple and pink," she said, "are my favorite colors." When I told her that at her age, they were my favorite colors as well and that my bedroom even had walls painted pink with purple carpet, her eyes grew wide and her smile fantastic. It was a lovely conversation. I knew she wanted to make me feel better and I so appreciated her brightening my day.


Today's Photo: "Her Smile"

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance." James 1:2-3

“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” Viktor E. Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning




EXIF: Nikon D7100
ISO 800
50mm
f1.8
1/30 (off camera speed light)

365 Project - Day 38

I started reading The Practice of Contemplative Photography, by Andy Karr and Michael Wood yesterday morning. The book was recommended by one of the active participants on Light Stalking. I am just a few chapters in, but was anxious to get started. Color is the first assignment and we were directed to be clear about the intention to shoot bold colors, focusing on a flash of color that stops us.

My husband and I had a lunchtime appointment with our financial advisors so I brought my camera along. The only color I noticed in route were the blue garbage cans at each home, christmas decorations, traffic signs, street signs, business logos and yellow fire hydrants. And, the office park was black, gray and brown. Absolutely nothing excited or "stopped" me - perhaps, I wasn't seeing things the way I should have, but it was all a bit depressing. Everything seemed so ordinary, bland and wintry. Then on the way home after I had given up all hope, out of the corner of my eye I noticed a small group of wild plants with red heads growing along the side of the road.

We turned around and pulled over so that I could take a few photos. I could not get out and walk over to the plants on my crutches. The photographs are not as tight as the assignment requests (or as I would like), but I am clear that what stopped me was the striking red against the faded colors of winter. I am also looking forward to my next "day of color"!

Today's Photo: "Color Guard"

"Color is the place where our brain and the universe meet." Paul Klee

365 Project - Day 37

I do not enjoy being photographed and you will find few photos with me in them. I believe, however, self-portraiture will allow me to have more control over what appears. "How Self-Portraiture Makes You a Better Photographer," by Ryan Pendleton (another Digital Photography School article) inspired me to work on a self portrait project yesterday. This was more ambitious than I anticipated. I chose to use natural light from a large east facing window. Once I lost that light, I switched to light from an adjacent room. The photo I selected is from the latter. I also preferred the mono version.

Of course, I worked through the normal challenges, including lighting, posing and placement. This project was also personally demanding given my limited mobility with my broken leg and on top, I could not find our remote trigger. Therefore, I had to minimize placement adjustments and set the camera timer at 20s to give me enough time to "crutch" over to the stool, drop my crutches and pose. In the end, this was not much of a glamour shot (not my style anyway) as I did not have the flexibility to change outfits, redo my hair or refresh my make-up, but I ended up with few keepers. And, I had a few laughs at myself too.

I love the idea of using self portraits as a creative outlet and tool to develop technique. I learned a lot throughout the day and Ryan is right, I was a more patient subject. As my first sincere attempt at self portraiture, I'm pleased ! I am thinking about this as a regular project.

Today's Photo: Self Portrait #1

"... the Lord bestows favor and honor, no good thing does He withhold ..." Psalm 84:11

"The present moment is the only moment available to us, and it is the door to all moments." Thich Nhat Hanh

365 Project - Day 36

I have decided I need to be more focused on specific photography projects at least once or twice a week. I recently saw an article on Digital Photography School entitled, "How to Create a Unique Bokeh Portrait for Under $10" by Nick Fancher. I quickly skimmed the article, picking up the basic premise of shooting with Christmas lights in front of the subject. The photos were intriguing and I knew I wanted to give this a try. Yesterday when my husband brought out all of the Christmas decorations so he could hang the lights outside, I decided to work on this project. What I failed to do, was re-read the article for the execution details until this afternoon (oops). Now I need a do-over to properly complete the project, in the meantime, here's my version - haha.

Since my family won't model, I chose one of our little Christmas men we set out around the house as my subject. I wasn't creative enough to think of hanging the lights across my tripod at a 90 degree angle, which is really the proper way to do this. Instead, I struggled with wrapping the lights around a large Christmas ball decoration. To add creative flair, I placed my man in front of French doors capturing bokeh from the reflection of the lights. I actually preferred a photo in which the only bokeh was in the reflection, but that's not this project.

In addition to the challenge of not being able to shoot through the lights to create the dancing bokeh effect, the lights created a bright flare. I did not check to see if they were low wattage lights as suggested in the article and the lighting in the room was quite bright, so I did not want to use flash. The project, however, requires one or two flash units gelled red. So you can see, I had quite a few missing ingredients. It was fun to practice anyway.

Best wishes!

Today's Photo: "Christmas Bokeh - Hope"

(EXIF: Lens 50mm f1.8, 1/125, ISO 400)* (from memory, will update if necessary)


"And in despair I bowed my head;
'There is no peace on earth,' I said;
'For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!'

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
'God is not dead, nor doth he sleep!
The Wrong shall fail,
the Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men!' "
― Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

365 Project - Day 35

I have never attempted food photography, but I love to cook. I enjoy making beautiful meals, but I typically make a beautiful mess at the same time.

Since breaking my leg at the end of October, I haven't been in the kitchen much. The two times I did took an extraordinary amount of time and energy and in the end, I nearly destroyed the kitchen. I needed lots of help and I absolutely could not clean up my mess. Ahhh, the blessing and curse of a broken leg!

When I retired earlier this year, I developed a daily dinner schedule: Mondays = European, Tuesdays = Fish, Wednesdays = Soup, Thursdays = Vegetables, etc. I cooked nearly every day until "the break". Last night, I decided to try again. I thought a simple one pot dinner would work well. While that was in the oven, I prepared my son's Mason Jar Salad for his school lunches. The family enjoyed the Italian Roast with Potatoes and Carrots. However, I was exhausted by the time I finished chopping, rubbing, stirring, pouring and roasting. I needed a glass of wine and lots of rest! Perhaps, that's evident by this small sample of the mess I left behind.

You may be thinking, "what 17 year old boy wants a salad for lunch?" I often prepared this as a 10 layer salad on Thursdays and my boys enjoyed it. I should be quick to say that I tried many other vegetarianish foods that did not go over as well, but they are hungry kids that have to eat something!! It's good to be in control. If you're interested, the recipe is at the bottom of the blog!

Today's Photo: "The Messy Art of Food Prep" So, after looking at this again, it's really not appetizing, but it is real, and it's all I've got today!

"My doctor told me I had to stop throwing intimate dinners for four unless there are three other people." Orson Welles


One Final Thought
It is Giving Tuesday and as I complete this post on food, my heart is tugged, reminded of the millions of people here in the US and around the world that go hungry every day. I hope to have an impact on that. We provide food for a family through church each Thanksgiving, but know that is far from enough. So, I am praying for guidance as to the right way to make a difference. I hope you are using your gifts to make your corner of the world brighter! Two suggestions @FeedingAmerica and @charitywater.

"There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work." 1Corinthians 12:4-6





10 Layer Salad with Italian Lemon Pecorino Dressing (dressing is adapted from foodnetwork.com)
Romaine Heart Lettuce
Cilantro, chopped
Thinly sliced Green Onions / Scallions (white and pale green parts only)
Organic Frozen Peas (cooked)
Diced Red Onion
Diced Jalapeno
Cherry Tomatoes, quartered (optional) updated*
Chopped Boiled Eggs
Grated Cheddar Cheese
Croutons (we use garlic and butter)

Optional - Bacon (pan fried and crumbled) (oops - not a veggie)
* My son just said, "I really do not like tomatoes!"

If serving in a large bowl, layer ingredients in 3 layers. If serving in a Mason Jar, place the dressing on the bottom, then layer as follows: tomatoes, onions, jalapeños, peas, lettuce/cilantro, eggs, bacon (if using) cheese, croutons. Shake when ready to eat.


Dressing
Fresh squeezed lemon juice from 2 medium lemons (1/3 c)
1/4 c olive oil
1/2 c grated pecorino romano cheese (I also use parmesan)
1 1/2 t of Italian seasoning
1 t of Oregano
1 clove of garlic, smashed
25 grinds of black pepper
Few pinches of salt

Combine in tightly sealed container and shake vigorously.

365 Project - Day 34

Claude Monet said, "I must have flowers always and always." I'm with him. I love flowers and, by the way, I'm not a fan of red roses or carnations, both represent the two ends of the spectrum of too common (cheap and expensive, but everywhere), for me. I would be delighted,I suppose, to receive a room full of either or both ;-) I do enjoy flowers. I delight in every aspect of their beauty: color, variety and fragrance. What's my favorite, you might ask? The Calla Lily. It is a gorgeous flower whose meaning is associated with holiness, faith, youth and rebirth. Interestingly, however, it belongs to neither the lily nor the calla families, making it a bit of a misfit. The inherent disconnect of the confusion surrounding the name and the purity of its meaning makes the Calla Lily even that much more endearing.

I do like all flowers, though. It is possible IMHO, that Maslow missed flowers as a basic need in his hierarchy. I think Hans Christian Andersen agrees, "Just living is not enough. One must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower."

Since today is Cyber Monday and everyone is shopping for the holidays, I offer this "Christmas Floral Treat"

Best wishes!

"The earth laughs in flowers." Ralph Waldo Emerson

365 Project - Day 33

Sometimes, all you need to renew your mind, refresh your attitude and reenergize your spirit is a good nap. After traveling back to New York on the redeye yesterday, my 14 year old was restless and feisty. Within 10 minutes of forcing him to settle down to read, this is what I found. Absolutely adorable. Don't you just look at this and think, "I wish that were me" ?

There's an Irish Proverb that reads, "A good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures for anything." How true! These are certainly two of my favorite things!

Best wishes!

Today's Photo: "It's Nap Time!"

"Sleep is the best meditation." Dalai Lama

365 Project - Day 32

I recently read an article discussing the science of gratitude, indicating scientific proof that the expression of gratitude improves our well-being, mentally, physically and spiritually (http://newsok.com/the-science-of-gratitude-lose-weight-save-money-and-conquer-stress/article/5371457). I came across several similar articles tying science and gratitude this week. This time of year, when the US celebrates Thanksgiving and as we enter the December / January holiday season is the perfect time for this insight, but did we really need the world of science to tell us what our hearts already knew? Henry Ward Beecher said it well, “The unthankful heart discovers no mercies; but the thankful heart will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings.”

When my children have asked for large gifts, Wii's, Xboxes, cameras. I have asked them to keep a gratitude journal before granting them their wish. I believe it is important that they are clear about the blessings (large and small) that already exist in their lives before they move on. Frankly, though, I don't do this often enough but I hope we are making progress. It would be fantastic for my teenage boys to get into a daily routine of writing in a gratitude journal. Then, again, they are teenage boys!

As I spent time with my almost 83 year old parents and their friends of more than 60 years this week, I was deeply moved by their collective gratitude, love and enduring friendship. Mostly, though, I was reminded of the grace and love of my parents. I am fortunate to have parents that exude love and I am thankful that God saw to it that I was assigned to them.

Today's photos: "Gratitude in Love"

“None is more impoverished than the one who has no gratitude. Gratitude is a currency that we can mint for ourselves, and spend without fear of bankruptcy.” Fred De Witt Van Amburgh

“We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.” Thornton Wilder

365 Project - Day 31

Part of our annual trip to Las Vegas includes visits to the casino floor. The ambiance of the casinos, the "chime" and lights of the slots, coupled with the integration of both the intense and whimsical players is always intriguing. We fall in the latter category of whimsy. Playing the slots for fun with the outside chance that we might go home with an upside to our small investment. Did you know that slot machines account for 60% of the gaming profits in the US (according to howstuffworks.com)? Wow - I had no idea.

As we walk the floor each year to decide which slots to play, it is clear that some games are simple and others quite complex. The casino floors mix a variety of old classic and modern concepts slot machines. I always find it a challenge to hunt down my longtime favorite, Sun and Moon. I was fascinated last night, though, by a new slot machine that included an opportunity to use the touch screen to "shake the tree" to gain additional points. I liked the idea of a more personal interaction with the machine than simply pressing a button over and over again. Speaking of this, I much preferred pulling the handle "back in the day" to pushing buttons today.

We're not high limit players, but I was intrigued by a family story we heard at brunch today. One of my parent's friends walked into the High Limit area, inserted a couple of hundred dollars and walked out with $8000. Not a bad risk / reward scenario but you have to be willing to exercise the risk!

Best wishes!

Today's Photo: "Slots, chimes and lights"

"He had the calm confidence of a Christian with four aces." Mark Twain

365 Project - Day 30

"Every language has a word for water; no living thing exists without water. It soothes the spirit and sustains the body; its beauty inspires art and music. Employed by cultures around the world in rituals and ceremonies, water bathes us from birth to death. Water is essential to life as we know it. And as it cycles from the air to the land to the sea and back again, water shapes our planet—and nearly every aspect of our lives." Water: H2O=Life

The above quote from the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) website is an excellent description of the importance of water to our quality of life, mentally and physically. I love water. It is my drink of choice, natural, room temperature, without ice. I swam on swim teams in high school and college. I enjoy just hanging out in the pool - far more than poolside. I relish the taste, the sound, the look and the feel of water. It is a gift. Those of us who have access to it abundantly likely rarely think about the fact that it is in scarce supply. Yet, according to AMNH, fresh water makes up only 3% of the Earth's surface; two-thirds of that is ice and much of the remainder is underground. As a water-lover, I find these statistics alarming. I must be a better steward of this gift and resource I so fervently enjoy for both its beauty and sustenance. In doing so, I help both myself and those for whom water is a scarcity. I invite you to join me.

This photo is of the fountain in front of the Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. This is one of my favorite hotels. It is beautiful inside and out, with such attention to detail and very helpful personnel.

Best wishes!


Today's Photo: "Water = Life"

"Thousands have lived without love, not one without water." W.H. Auden

"Water is the driving force of all nature." Leonardo da Vinci

365 Project - Day 29

I confess - this shot was a last minute "holy smokes, I neglected to take my 365 photo today." This was taken when we arrived after 12AM at the Las Vegas airport. I am sitting in my wheelchair at the elevator, facing the opposite direction from this gate. I grabbed my iPhone, swung around and took a quick shot before being whisked away. Yes, it's blurry, and dark, but I also found it interesting that in the wee hours of the morning, on the busiest travel day of the year, calm and quiet existed.

This was particularly amusing given I had been rather frantic just a few hours earlier. I spent the entire day packing the family for our annual Thanksgiving trip to Las Vegas and still we left later than we planned, but with plenty of time on a "normal" day. The traffic was a nightmare, however. It seems everyone scheduled to travel on Wednesday decided to leave early to miss the anticipated snow storm. So, we were rushing when we arrived at JFK. And, since I don't rush, this simply wasn't top of mind. When I did come into myself, the empty gate struck me as a symbol of the calm before the storm of Wednesday's travel. Despite it not being a perfect photo, in context, it's alright ;-)

Today's photo: "Calm before the storm"

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27

365 Project - Day 28

Some days, I believe, you must fervently embrace Nietzche's refrain, “That which does not kill us makes us stronger.” This was one of those moments for me. While I am not interested in being in a cast for another month and off my left leg for 2 months, I am certain of the growth that will come through this time. And, I look forward to that. I have already had more time to read, sleep and noodle than in any other time in my life. I have spent more time with my family. I have spent more time with my craft.

So, as I was dressed in my cast, I had a choice to make. I could decide to be miserable and live feeling as though I was somehow cursed or to decide to live as though even in this state, I am somehow blessed. This new cast is a sign of new opportunities on the horizon. I am excited and anxious to explore the fullness of those opportunities despite the pain of the injury and the awkwardness of my gait. As Benjamin Franklin said, "Those things that hurt, instruct." I welcome more opportunities to learn and stretch and grow. I receive this moment in time as a blessing.

My best wishes,


Today's photo: "Blessed Blue Cast"

"Every blessing ignored becomes a curse." Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

365 project - Day 27

Seeing, hearing, feeling the laughter of children is a spiritual experience at is core. When that follows an evening of laughter, while watching truly gifted children perform on stage, the experience is exhilarating. I rejoice in having the opportunity to experience this so very often. Last night's final performance of Lend Me a Tenor at Newtown High School was perfect. Typically, the kids will do something nutty on the final night, but this time, they put forth their best performance for one of their largest crowds. They poured their hearts into this show and the results were excellent. They surpassed all expectations, delivering an outstanding fully student run show - direction, lighting, sound, stage and cast. Bravo!

Today's Photo: Tony-Ready Selfie?

“The soul is healed by being with children.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky

“Grown-ups never understand anything by themselves, and it is tiresome for children to be always and forever explaining things to them.”
― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

My best wishes!

365 Project - Day 26

This afternoon, one of my high school friends is having a "Friendsgiving" party. I thought that was such a wonderful idea. A warm, casual get together with friends without all the angst of Thanksgiving, but filled with the full joy. I am grateful for having been included in the guest list and deeply disappointed that I cannot join the fun. We have a Lend Me a Tenor matinee today - the final performance. I am thankful, however, that we had the chance to catch up on the phone this week.

It just dawned on me that we have known it each other for 40 years. Sometimes, the time between visits with friends over those years seems much too long and then a brief phone call melts that time away. Another high school friend, one I have been friends with for more than 40 years and see less often, called recently. Speaking with her was pure joy and grace. There is no amount of time between visits that can make our friendship less so.

I am truly blessed.

Best wishes!

Today's Photo: "Tea Party":

"To get the full value of joy you must have someone to divide it with." Mark Twain

365 Project - Day 25

Upon seeing me recently, a friend said "imagine if you were traveling like you were last year!" This time last year, I spent little time at home. I was stationed out of Prague, Czech Republic and covering Central and Eastern Europe as part of a program I had entitled "Project Tiber" (that's what happens when you're working from your Italian holiday!) in which we sent much of our corporate staff out to the field to help progress and close business in the second half of 2013. I was a bit of a nomad. At one point, I paid for my luggage as excess baggage in multiple departure cities because I was away for so long and frequently moving from country to country to country. I couldn't get by with a carry on, single suitcase or daily dry cleaning. I was a piece of work. I'm still unclear as to how I might have managed differently.

One year later, my life is 180 degrees from that madness. One part due to retirement; large part due to my brief sojourn down the garage steps. It was very difficult being away from my family for so long during Project Tiber, but I embraced the people and places to which I traveled. I often joked that I am truly more European than American. Having the opportunity to plant myself in Central and Eastern Europe was a blessing. Business was challenging and traveling rough, but my colleagues and our clients were enjoyable. I found the cultures, while unique, not so unlike ours. For instance, there was the father who shared his story of Santa Claus and his daughter, the driver who spoke of long bike rides on weekends, the mother worried about keeping her teenage son away from drugs, Turkish barbecues, Serbian dinners with live music and everywhere I found light and laughter and love. No, it wasn't easy being away from home, but if I had to be away, this is where I should be.

I have often heard that on average, Americans travel far less than the rest of the world's population. I do not understand the rationale for anyone's hesitation. It is indeed hard to be away from family and business travel is far from glamorous. On the other hand, one misses the beauty and wonder of both the places and the people. You cannot know much without experiencing much, IMHO.

Best wishes!

Today's Photo: "Travel Days"

"To move, to breathe, to fly, to float, to gain all while you give, to roam the roads of lands remote, to travel is to live.” Hans Christian Andersen

"But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, And don’t take yourself too seriously — take God seriously." Micah 6:8 (MSG)

"And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8 (NIV)

365 Project - Day 24

My favorite photography projects are theatrical shows. Thankfully, my sons give me an abundance of opportunities to capture these moments. I enjoy transporting them (viewer and actor), back to the action and their feelings during a particular scene. As I think about this, I can draw a close correlation to my previous ambition to be a sports photographer given I essentially wanted to accomplish the same effect. When I do get it right: scene, mood, facial expressions and action, I am thrilled. I have to admit, though, I am a perfectionist. As anyone who has tried capturing theatrical photos knows, this is difficult. Lighting, action, angles all converge to make this a tricky business. I was fortunate to have a terrific mentor who provided excellent advice. And, the rest is up to preparation, patience and post-processing.

In this photograph, I've left the feet in on the right because while in the eyes of the non-audience member, they are irrelevant, they are important to this scene. These kids were fantastic during opening night last night. I had to put down the camera and just laugh several times. Though it was the second night of the show, I was still laughing. It is and they are simply funny and enjoyable. What a thrill to just sit back, relax and delight in the wonder and excellence of youth! Can I say this is in part due to excellent directing?

Best wishes!

Today's Photo: "On cue"

“Hide not your talents, they for use were made. What's a sundial in the shade?”
― Benjamin Franklin

“How many observe Christ's birthday! How few, His precepts!”
― Benjamin Franklin

365 Project - Day 23

Tonight is opening night of my son's directing debut. I am a proud mama. I spent most of the day editing photos from last night's dress rehearsal, once my husband and son decided they wanted to have a few (17) prints in the lobby this evening. Lend Me a Tenor is a terrific show. We saw it years ago on Broadway and really enjoyed it. It was great fun watching these high school students "be" their characters and deliver stellar performances. Aidan and his co-director have done a marvelous job. Putting on a theatre production like this takes a great deal of teamwork, dedication and hard work. I am convinced that they will achieve their ambition of offering a performance that thoroughly delights the audience.

I was grateful to be a part of the intimate group attending the dress rehearsal and took far more photos than I expected. I actually exceeded the average for performances in which my children are cast. Comedic farces, however, do tend to lend themselves to plenty of opportunities to catch a sudden, quick and unexpected scene. Such a treat!

I have to say, I was just the slightest bit jealous as I watched the yearbook photographer move all over the theatre to take pictures. I was firmly rooted in one place, basically immobile. Hey, that's life and this too shall pass! I am learning a lot in my stationary state and that's always a good thing.

Today's photo: "Newtown High School Presents..."

"Act without expectation." Lao Tzu

"Life is like a theatre, but the question is not whether you are in the audience or on stage but rather are you where you want to be?" A. B. Potts

365 Project - Day 22

I guess it's pretty easy to say the weather isn't so bad when you haven't ventured out in it for more than a few moments at a time and, of course, if you don't live in Buffalo. Tonight I went out to photograph my son's dress rehearsal and it is so very cold. I found myself longing for the days when we lived in Texas. Clearly, winter is running rapidly toward us and I need to brace myself. I am not a cold weather person. In fact, I need - need sunshine and warmth. I'm one of those people that craves time in the direct sunlight simply because I literally feel all ills being drawn out by the rays of the sun. And I do mean "all ills": physical, mental and emotional. Warmth and sunshine are my ultimate cure.

I chose this photo for today's project because the cast of light and few remaining leaves symbolize hope of more days and weeks of warmer weather before the onset of bitter cold. Rather than think of this as fleeting fall, I choose to think of it as the hope of warmth.

Today's photo: "Hope of warmth"

Warmest Wishes !!


"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." Romans 12:12

"Hope anchors the soul." Hebrews 6:19

365 Project - Day 21

I sat down to relax in our dining room for a few minutes this afternoon. I mentioned this space in a previous blog. I can't recall the last time we dined in this room, really. As I looked around the room, two things struck me: it is a fantastic room; and it is so, so blue. Sitting there, I also remembered that blue was essentially my family's favorite color growing up. When I was 11 years old, we moved to a new city and new home and much, though not all, of the interior was blue. Blue, however, was not my favorite color. As they were building their new house, my parents were gracious enough to ask me if I wanted anything special in my room. I can only imagine their surprise (and likely regret) when I insisted on my room being pink and purple, but they delighted in honoring my wishes. At the end of a lovely light blue carpeted hallway, was the entrance to a pre-teen girl's bedroom with plush purple carpet and pale pink walls. I was thrilled!

I don't believe I have a favorite color these days. Though, I do absolutely enjoy this elegant blue dining room. I can see why this color is so cherished by my parents and, I thank them for indulging my pre-teen and teenage self.

So, in honor of my parents, I offer this "study in elegant blue"

"All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once you grow up." Pablo Picasso

Best wishes!

365 Project - Day 20

I recently read an article on the Light Stalking website highlighting the "5 Photos Every Photographer Must Know How to Create." I agreed with the article and knew that one of the areas that I hadn't tried to conquer in full was freeze motion photography. Capturing action in sports is a breeze for me. It is what I dreamt of shooting when I was younger. I imagined myself on the sidelines of a professional basketball or football game, capturing the controversial and game winning plays, up close and personal. I suppose it's possible that part of the dream was tied to a throwback to my cheerleading days. Still the thrill of being on the sideline of a fast paced game in the midst of the action, yet slightly a part, sends my adrenaline soaring. Several months ago, I intentionally lost my way on the streets of Prague and happened upon a Monster Energy Drink sponsored mountain bike rally and trick competition. With my camera in hand, I was back on the sidelines capturing the action. Freezing a cyclist, upside down, at the top of the trick jump ramp - not a problem.

The challenge for me is that I envy others who have captured beads of sweat dancing midair as they bounce off a boxer during a prizefight or, better still, cause your mouth to water with the tantalizing wetness of the splash of a cold drink and suspended water droplets. So, I set out to attempt the latter. I could not do this alone and enlisted the aid of my husband. I knew I was on borrowed time as I watched his expression during my explanation of the project and his role. Then as my son returned home from school, smirking at my madness, my husband's patience and my enthusiasm waned. This photo is my nascent attempt at freeze motion water photography completed in under 30 minutes with minimal editing. As I need assistance, no one was willing to wait upon me as I nursed my photos.

Nevertheless, I am thrilled I experienced this. I believe it went well. I eagerly await my next opportunity to master this photo. My cup is full!

Today's Photo: "Refreshing Freeze!"

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21

“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.”
― Eleanor Roosevelt

365 Project - Day 19

There's always a bit of a anxiety for me when allowing family to vote on my picture of the day. This evening, I shared 2 options with my 17 year old son. I knew which one I wanted to use, but his reaction was the opposite. "I feel like the first one," he said nonchalantly, "is just a picture of a leaf. And this one illustrates the transition from Fall to Winter." Ugh - really? That first one was far more artistic than just a leaf IMHO. It was a fantastic photograph of the last leaf remaining on the branch of what had been a full tree just days earlier and I quite liked the blurred branches in the background.

This "transition" photo is lovely, however, and he is right. You do look at it and immediately understand that we are in the midst of a transition, with the tease of winter arriving perhaps earlier than we had hoped.

Today's Photo: "Transitions"

“What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.”
― John Steinbeck, Travels with Charley: In Search of America

365 Project - Day 18

Okay - I admit to being totally oblivious to the Polar Vortex conversation over the past week. I have a couple of simple explanations for this - I have not gotten out much and the weather doesn't seem to be all that bad to me. Perhaps, I'm a just a little jaded since we've had terrible weather this time of year in the past. What we're experiencing now simply doesn't compare. A couple of years ago, we had to cancel Halloween due to heavy snowfall that blew out our electricity for 6 days. So a little snow in early November with temperatures in the 30s is nothing ... mind you, it is a far cry from the heat we enjoyed living in Houston, but this polar vortex thing seems silly compared to that blizzard. I had to chuckle reading the whole arctic outbreak, polar vortex, global warming, climate change debate. Lots of discussion over which term is correct and whether something is going on with the global climate that may be driving record lows in November. I certainly don't mean to diminish parts of the world that were hit hard with bad weather this week. I found what we received refreshingly beautiful, regardless of what caused it.

Today's Photo: "Arctic Beauty"

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

"Snowflakes are kisses from Heaven." - Unknown

365 Project - Day 17

I confess that our dining room is rarely used. In fact, this evening, my husband was setting out a plate of homemade oatmeal raisin cookies (yep, he baked them) for my son's cast bonding party and asked if he could use a plate from the dining room buffet. Without breathing, I firmly said "no". Seriously, a bunch of teenagers eating off of my china? At the same time, I suppose someone should see and use the beautiful decor we have so lovingly displayed in this room. This candle vase and painting (would be interesting to know if someone could guess the painting from just the amount exposed here) are two simpler examples of art and joy in the room. I chose these for this photo because I love the glass mosaic and its reflections dancing off the navy blue walls, juxtaposed with just the corner of the painting.

Today's Photo: Dancing Mosaic

"Remember yesterday..Celebrate today...Imagine tomorrow."

"Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do." Ecclesiastes 9:7

365 Project - Day 16

A few weeks ago I shared a photo of a bird flying over the open water, actually over the Pacific Ocean, with the online community at Light Stalking. I had just joined the community and they offer a wonderful sharing and learning opportunity. As a result of the rather lively dialog around that photo, I decided I would spend time developing bird photography skills, beginning with my birthday gift of a Nikon 1.4x teleconverter. I have big ambitions ;-) but you always have to start somewhere.

My husband was kind enough to prime my efforts by filling the backyard bird feeder. In no time the birds arrived, but I was preoccupied and didn't get out until dusk. Few birds remained and I had lost a full stop of light by using the teleconverter. This is my favorite photo of the evening, simply because she is singing. I am thrilled that I captured that moment. I know the quality isn't good, but I have all kinds of issues playing out here - the use of the teleconverter with its stop loss, extreme cropping of an underexposed photo where ISO was over 1000 AND I had this lens (70-200mm f2.8 VRII in my hand when "the accident" occurred. I'm not yet convinced that it fully survived. For now, I'm happy with this photo as the starting point in developing my bird photography skills. I'm anxious to get out again.

Today's Photo: "The Winged Singer"

“The earth has music for those who listen.” ― George Santayana

365 Project - Day 15

I've been playing around with my flash unit and am learning a lot. I am not a big fan of using flash, but I suppose I have a choice: hibernate in the dark, take super grainy photos or figure out this beast. On top, it's not lost on me that I am missing all of the other benefits of flash in eliminating shadows, capturing action photos, making subjects standout, increasing sharpness, etc. So, I have a long way to go in sorting out flash, but had fun shooting some of my favorite things: beautiful flowers from a friend, ever-present crutches and a delicious Snickers bar. All 3 make up my triad of encouragement these days. I chose this photo shot with a bounce flash using the fluorescent filter.

Today's Photo: Encouragement: Beauty, Brace, Bliss

“There are moments when troubles enter our lives and we can do nothing to avoid them.
But they are there for a reason. Only when we have overcome them will we understand why they were there.”
― Paulo Coelho, The Fifth Mountain

365 Project - Day 14

Oddly, I believe that starting this project shortly before "the accident" was a blessing. There's certainly no way I would start it now. I was only on day 2 or 3 when the leg break occurred and I remain deeply committed. I am so grateful for this gift of photography. It is precisely the distraction I need.

Many years ago, when I had the luxury of free of time I would walk through antique shows in Houston. I was attracted to a few items: crystal stemware, silver serving pieces, numbered art prints by the masters and dusty old cameras ;-) I love the look and feel of these vintage cameras and they have remained on display (dust and all) since I picked them up. I haven't tried using them, though I know a lot of people do use the Argus 75 still today. My son picked up both while I was shooting the photos saying, "I don't see how anyone can see anything or take any pictures with these cameras!" If only he had to survive in the 1950s.

I would polish them, but frankly, I love them with the dust. Seems to make their "vintage" more life-like.

Today's photo: "Vintage Style"

"In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different." Coco Chanel