More From the Weekend

Hmmm...we started off in Madison and then I returned home for the weekend. These are just some fun snapshots of our time at my Alma Mater. Funny...I couldn't remember how to get to the pool room at Memorial Union.

I should have framed the above in black also. Can't see where the sky ends.


Shhhh! Don't tell Choua that I put these up. These are the memories...

Some mushrooms I saw in the Target parking lot. I thought the contrast was wonderful! I'm sure the people driving by thought I was nuts, laying belly down on the ground.



And then one of the hotel. I wish the clouds were closer to the building, but still the contrast was wonderful! It was almost dusk...such color!

Preview for L Family

For my friends, who so freely and graciously let me spend the morning with them. They are a beautiful family!

I learned a great deal today. I have a lot of work ahead of me in my photography journey. I was so challenged by this session. This is the first real session in which I really tried to research and come up with ideas before going. When I got there, I had a lot to work with, but also a lot of challenges. I really do see now, how everything falls together. Boy, photographers sure do make it look easy. I can't wait to try again.

Back from The Dells

Choua and Roan got back around 4p today. I think they had a good time. I was so happy to see them...especially my Mini-me! He was happy to see me too. It was all kisses and huggies.


Choua can be really good with Roan. Now if I can only get him to take Roan out more often. Anyways, they both returned in good health and spirits. Roan seemed to have had sunscreen on (I could smell it), which is good, but he was still wearing his pajama shirt. Oh well, like I said, "they both returned in good health and spirits".

We received our Trunki a few weeks ago, but this weekend was the first time that we used it. Intuitively, Roan hopped right on and took it for a ride. He also dragged it around too. It's very easy to use, but it's quite small.







I almost didn't put these up because my house is a mess and we are missing living room furniture because we want to get "real" furniture. We were still using the furniture I bought when I first graduated college and got my first real job. However, I just the playful nature of these snapshots. Roan can make any household item into a toy.

Power

I should be sleeping as I am not feeling well, but I'm just so excited that we finally have power again! The following two pictures are from the house that is three doors down from us.

Roan's daycare did not have power on Friday either so I stayed home with him. We spent the morning: playing, doing puzzles that I checked out from the library, laying around our bed and watching movies on the portable DVD player.

Sometimes, high ISO causes really nice noise for black and whites. I love his chubby little legs.

I just am never pleased with my pictures. I admit it, I am a chimper. I have to look at my camera screen between pictures. I delete out the obviously bad pictures. I chock it to the fact that I am still a beginner and only doing this part time. I wonder when I'll be content?

I miss them...I really miss Roan.

I hate it when Blogger does this to me. Why can't I get the paragraphs to be paragraphs?

Electricity

I never truly realized just how much I depend on it. We have been without power for almost two days now. Who knows how much longer it will be? I have no access to local news.

Early this week, we decided that we would do one last summer trip to the Dells. Choua and Roan are there now. We left earlier than we had planned due to the power outage, but decided that I should go back home for several reasons. I am not feeling well and someone needs to clean up. So after half a day in Madison, I am back in Chicagoland.

Last night, Choua dropped me off at home. It's funny because there really isn't that much for me to do, since we have no power. I just need to clean out the frig and our yard...and wait for power. By the grace of God, we didn't have much damage at all. I'll post pictures up of the destruction, just three houses down from us. I am working from Panera right now, waiting for my camera battery pack to recharge.

It's crazy just how much time you have when you don't have electricity and your husband and child are gone. Nighttime comes and there is nothing to do, except wait for the next day. I just started a book by Paulo Coelho. I like it so far. I hope to finish it before Choua and Roan get back. I miss them.

No More Vacation...

...from Mommy's camera that is. Seriously, did he think he got away that easily? Just because I've got some skill building takers, doesn't mean I'll ever forget about my beautiful little son.

These first three are strictly for family. In fact, the next two are blurry, but I love that they show his dimples. I hardly ever capture them.

This is my first attempt at sunburst. I wish the car was not the picture and his face was showing at least a little, but I was so shocked that I got a swing and sunburst picture in one that I had to share it.

Test Session

I planned to do a session with Roan's buddy, Barret's baby sister, Ainsley, but it was horribly cloudy and rainy. Their house had very little light due to the weather so we took it outside as best as we could. Unfortunately, to compensate for the bad lighting indoors, I upped my ISO very high and then when we went outside, I forgot to readjust it so all of the pictures turned out very noisey. It started to rain so we stopped. I am planning to go back and get more pictures, especially indoors, since their house is so beautiful!


Sweet, beautiful baby girl!

I love her adorable look.

She was so sweet. She kept looking at me when I held her and she looked like she wanted to kiss me and then she leaned in and kissed me. Awww!

Angelic!

Momma and baby girl.

And I couldn't resist. Momma and Barret. What a handsome devil?

I have to say that I am so disappointed in myself. I can't believe I did this. I read about it all of the time on the message boards and then I went ahead and did it too. They are such a beautiful family and I messed it up. I hope the V family will let me go back and try to make it up to them.

More From the Daycare Series

A few fun outtakes:



I love her expression in this one...such attitude.

I took over 20 shots with the four of them together and this was one of two in which more than two were looking in any direction towards the camera. Notice none of them were even looking into the camera? Did I mention that one's, two's, and three-year olds are tough to photograph?

Look at my little Ro...he looks funny with those clunky shoes on. I should have had them all take their shoes off. The look on his face is one he wears often. I think he gets it from Choua. It reminds of the picture from our wedding--my one moment of Bridezillaness. Choua's expression is just like this. I'm going to have to find it and post it up.

Here, in color. Should I crop it?

Finally, Ro gets the girl...and an older one too! ;) Daddy would be so proud!

Just a few. None of them are outstanding. Next time, I have to stay longer. I felt so rushed on this shoot. I also need to have an idea of the shots that I want to get because when I am there, I am too focused on lighting and setting my camera. It was super fun though!

First Official Skill Building Session

Today was my very first official skill building session. It was nerve-wracking! It was very cloudy and heavy rain was imminent. Can you tell that K [little one here] is on the verge of napping? She was a doll. I think she's bit pink, but I can't check until tomorrow at work.

Of course, I had to get a feet picture in there. Not sure if it works, but I can't resist!

These are the oldest kids at daycare. They are both 3. I love how she's holding her dress and he's checking her out. He really isn't, but it kind of looks like it. I haven't had time to proof anything more so this is it for now.

Here it is in color. I'm going back tomorrow because I didn't get one single shot of the four of them together looking at me at once. Ones-twos-and three year-olds are tough!

Then I played a little in RAW again. I think as a beginner, I'm really liking the RAW editor that I have in CS2. This is me attempting to be girlie. I was never really good at it. Can you tell which ones are my favorites?

I love these (not my favorites), but they are so darn high that I feel like I look like a dork walking in these.


I really like how this conversion turned out. It's grainy and the shoes are vintagy so I think it works, but what do I know?

Did you notice my cheesy watermark. It's temporary until get something that I really like.