Project: Create 2014 4/26

Project: Create 2014

We're back this year with a new project designed to help us build more creativity into our photography.

Every other Monday we'll post our images, many of them taken with our Lensbaby lenses.

The effects of the Lensbaby can be somewhat subtle or quite dramatic.

At the bottom of my post, as well as in the post of the other photographers, is a link to next photographers images. Click those links to take a trip around our circle!

This week's images brought to you with K and M!

A need for a babysitter and a need for some subjects

proved beneficial for all involved!

Yes, I'll watch the girls, if you bring them with their winter boots!

Lots of inspiration from this week's shot came from Denean Melcher photography and Denean's images over the last couple of weeks.

Start the circle here with photographer

Stacy Heap Vitallo

Project: Create 3/26

Project: Create 2014

We're back this year with a new project designed to help us build more creativity into our photography.
Every other Monday we'll post our images, many of them taken with our Lensbaby lenses.
The effects of the Lensbaby can be somewhat subtle or quite dramatic.
At the bottom of my post, as well as in the post of the other photographers, is a link to next photographers images. Click those links to take a trip around our circle!

Longwood + Lensbaby = Love!

Last Sunday I took my camera and my Lensbaby out to Longwood Gardens .

Here are some of the images I took using my Lensbaby!














Start the circle here with photographer
Stacy Heap Vitallo


Project Create 2/26

Project: Create 2014

We're back this year with a new project designed to help us build more creativity into our photography.
Every other Monday we'll post our images, many of them taken with our Lensbaby lenses.
The effects of the Lensbaby can be somewhat subtle or quite dramatic.
At the bottom of my post, as well as in the post of the other photographers, is a link to next photographers images. Click those links to take a trip around our circle!

The images from this week's post come from my last visit to Longwood Gardens.  I went on the final day of their Christmas display, which ended on the 12th of January.

Here are few of the images I took with my Lensbaby.  You can compare them to the images I look with my regular lenses in my previous post if you are interested in seeing how the lenses differ.






  

Start the circle here with
 Stacy Heap Vitallo

A belated Longwood Christmas!

Snow canceled my plans to visit Longwood before Christmas,
not once, but twice! 
Then rain dampened my plans, because I didn't want to walk around outside, 
in cold dreary weather.
Finally, on the last day of the display, I made it out there.

Thinking it would be crowded, we went early. 
But no crowds were to be found!

The theme this year was fruit.  
We found fruit everywhere.  
On trees.
On mantles
Outside feeding the wildlife.










 The Bird of Paradise in bloom!



Outside decorating the wildlife tree!




Inside.  At night.




Peeking through a  window!
 


Sometimes you need to look up!
 

Lights.  Lights. And more lights!
 


Fountain lights!
 



Floating trees with lights!
 



Snowflakes. Take 1



For the second time this winter the weather forecasters have predicted storms that wouldn't amount to much, but turned into a major snow event.
It's only January and I think we've had more days off from school that in the last 3 years combined.
So, what's a photographer to do on a day off?
 If you need to answer, look below.
If you already knew the answer, you know what you're looking for!


Project: Create 1/26

Project: Create 2014

We're back this year with a new project designed to help us build more creativity into our photography.
Every other Monday we'll post our images, many of them taken with our Lensbaby lenses.
The effects of the Lensbaby can be somewhat subtle or quite dramatic.
At the bottom of my post, as well as in the post of the other photographers, is a link to next photographers images. Click those links to take a trip around our circle!

I've had this lens for over a year, but am just beginning to understand how many different ways I can use it and how many different results I can get from photographing the same objects.

This is going to be fun!
 







Frozen Bubbles!!

With temperatures way below freezing, shooting frozen bubbles was fun challenge for a few of my friends, so I decided to jump on the bandwagon and try my hand.
Thought I was going to loose my fingers due to frostbite, getting some of these.
I still have some work to do, but it was fun!

First attempt, but not frozen, yet!

Taken inside the porch, but still not frozen!
 

Past frozen..folding into itself!


Outside and frozen!
 

Frozen and cracked!
 

Day 2-All frozen!






It's 2014, a new year, a new beginning, a new journey!

No New Year's resolutions for me.
Gave 'em up a long time ago.
Instead, I try to think of the New Year as a chance to do things better. 
Do them differently.
Do them less frequently.
Do them more often
Not necessarily for a whole year.
Sometimes for a few weeks.
Sometimes one day
Maybe a minute.

Each time I do something better for myself or someone else, I make the quality of my life or someone's life better. 
I love that. 
 I love that my photography makes others happy.
Truth be told, I don't do it for anyone but myself.
It makes me happy.
It challenges me.
It pushes me out of my comfort zone. 

After not being able to pick up my camera last year for more than a few months, I'm anxious to get out there and shoot again.
There's a part of me that's giddy with happiness.
That's ready to be challenged.
To be pushed. 
To make my hopes and dreams for my journey through photography to change and grow and take me places, I never imagined I'd go!

To start this year, I'm continuing my journey with the Stacy Heap Vitallo, Faye Kingston, and Denean Melcher.  Every other week, we'll post to our blogs.  
No longer will it be called Macro Monday. 
 This year's project is "Create."
We'll try to use our Lensbaby lenses and post something creative!

In March, I'm headed to DC for a National Geographic Seminar on Story Telling. 
(a gift from my boys for Christmas!)
I'm hoping to broaden my ideas and perspective behind the lens!

I hope to continue to meet up with my friends and share my images here.
 
Stay tuned!

And just because I can't post without a image, here's a couple that I took while practicing with my Lensbaby. 
I hope to get lots of practice time with this lens.
I need it.
Big time!






It's just another Macro Monday! 25/26

Come take a walk with me through the websites of four photographers who are sharing their love of macro photography every other Monday throughout the year.  We shoot what we love, what makes us happy,  to hone our skills,  to stretch our minds and our imaginations, and because it's who we are! 

Our final week for 2013.  
We started a week late and skipped last week due to our busy schedules.
We have plans to continue our circle into next year but with a twist on our theme.  
Stay tuned!

I thought it only fitting to finish out the year sharing a bit of my Christmas. 

An original Elf on the Shelf...it belongs to my husband and was given to him as a child!  He sits in our tree...


An ornament from our tree...
 

Sprinkles for the Cream Cheese cookies no one can seem to live without..
 

A snowman that greets me at the sink each morning...
 

The leaves of a pointsettia...
 

A keychain camera that sounds like a camera when you click the shutter and yes, that's my tree in the lens...
 

The next three are from a quick trip to Longwood ..
 



Thank you all for sharing in this journey with me this year.  I appreciate your comments and that so many of you have told me how much you look forward to seeing my work.  
I hope you continue to follow my blog next year and to check out the blogs of my friends who are joining in this project with me!

To see the final posts of the other three photographers start here with 
and click the links in each post until you come full circle!

Wishing you all a happy, healthy, photography filled New Year!

It's just another Macro Monday! 24/26

Come take a walk with me through the websites of four photographers who are sharing their love of macro photography every other Monday throughout the year.  We shoot what we love, what makes us happy,  to hone our skills,  to stretch our minds and our imaginations, and because it's who we are! 

WOW!  Week 24, almost finished!

This past weekend I took a brief walk through Longwood Gardens.  I was hoping to share some of those images, but alas, I've been banned from giving a "spoiler alert!"  
It seems that my preview of Longwood bothered some of fellow photographer friends up in 
Berks County.
You see, we had planned to go as a group tomorrow.  Unfortunately, there is a significant snowstorm predicted so it's been postponed until next week. 

Instead of flowers from Longwood, I'll share a couple of pictures I took for my Macro Madness Study Group.  The first is a first try at using something besides bugs or flowers. 
A common household object.  
My initial image is with correct settings and white balance.


 This image was created playing with the settings on my camera and my external flash!  What a difference a couple of clicks on a dial can make!



I bought this poinsettia just because it was blue, and had sparkles, and I thought it would make an interesting subject.  My expectations didn't quite live up my execution, but you can be the judge.


To continue around the circle, start here with Stacy Vitallo Heap and continue around the circle until you're back here at my blog!

It's Just Another Macro Monday! 23/26

Come take a walk with me through the websites of four photographers who are sharing their love of macro photography every other Monday throughout the year.  We shoot what we love, what makes us happy,  to hone our skills,  to stretch our minds and our imaginations, and because it's who we are! 

This week's images come from a Macro Study I'm doing on my favorite photography forum.

One of my many favorite photographers is sharing his love of macro photography and the how-to's with a small group of us. 
This week's challenge was to use a different lighting source than you normally do...an off-camera flash, a reflector, a flashlight...whatever you could find.
Since I have an off-camera flash, but little experience with it, I decided to try that.  
These two pictures couldn't be more different in color and tone, but 
I like them anyway.



To see what the other three photographers, particpating in the challenge, posted this week
and click the link in each post until you end up back here.
The circle will, then, be complete.

It's Just Another Macro Monday-Week 22/26

Come take a walk with me through the websites of four photographers who are sharing their love of macro photography every other Monday throughout the year.  We shoot what we love, what makes us happy,  to hone our skills,  to stretch our minds and our imaginations, and because it's who we are! 

This week's post if from my favorite place to shoot macro. 


I spent the afternoon there last week with another group of friends who keep me inspired,
push me to further my knowledge base, and enjoy my hobby as much as I do!

I'm looking forward to my next visit already. Their Christmas display is amazing. If you get a chance, if you live within driving distance, you should go, at least once in your lifetime, but I can almost guarantee that you'll want to back!

Here are a few of my favorite. 








 

To continue around the circle and see what the rest of my friends found to share this week, 

It's Just Another Macro Monday-Week 21/26

Come take a walk with me through the websites of four photographers who are sharing their love of macro photography every other Monday throughout the year.  We shoot what we love, what makes us happy,  to hone our skills,  to stretch our minds and our imaginations, and because it's who we are! 

The weeks are flying by quickly and life is busy.  Changes are taking place.  Changes that I've been anticipating for a very long time. 
Dreams are coming true.
The addition we've began planning in our heads, decades ago, is finally starting to look like a room!
While I was away this past weekend, Paul was busy with this stuff!

fiberglass insulation


 Drywall

 
And of course the screws to hang the drywall!  

to continue around the circle and see what the other photographers have come up with start here with


And then click the link in her post to check out the next photographer!

It's just another Macro Monday! 19/26

Come take a walk with me through the websites of four photographers who are sharing their love of macro photography every other Monday throughout the year.  We shoot what we love, what makes us happy,  to hone our skills,  to stretch our minds and our imaginations, and because it's who we are! 

One of the first things I learned when I took my first online photography course and the single most important thing that made a difference in my photos was to move my feet.  To climb on top of things.  To lay on the ground.  To look around.  To see things from different vantage points.  
Most of the time when I shoot, it's morning.  I just love morning light. This week I chose to wait until the evening to challenge myself.  And challenge myself, I did.  
I waited until the sun was almost down.  
My camera was literally in the grass.  
Why?
Well, that's where this week's subjects came from!

A buttercup and some type of weed hiding in our "well" manicured lawn!



To continue around the circle and see what the other photographers found this week, 
and click the link in her post that takes you to next photographer, and so on!

It's just another Macro Monday! 18/26

Come take a walk with me through the websites of four photographers who are sharing their love of macro photography every other Monday throughout the year.  We shoot what we love, what makes us happy,  to hone our skills,  to stretch our minds and our imaginations, and because it's who we are! 

Ready or not, it's coming!

Shorter days.  Cooler nights. Falling leaves and these!




To continue around the circle, start here with photographer 
and click on the link in each Macro Monday post until you get back here to mine.

It's just another Macro Monday! 17/26

Come take a walk with me through the websites of four photographers who are sharing their love of macro photography every other Monday throughout the year.  We shoot what we love, what makes us happy,  to hone our skills,  to stretch our minds and our imaginations, and because it's who we are! 

My apologies to the arachnophobics out there!

No bigger than a half inch and yet they creep out so many people, myself included.  I can't even stand the though of walking through a cobweb and getting the spider's silk on me.  Ewww!

What I had never noticed before was how much thicker and stronger the silk is that holds the spider's next meal.  







 

To see what the other talented ladies found to shoot this week, start here with

Stacy  Heap Vitallo

and click on the link in each Macro Monday post until you come back here!



It's just another Macro Monday! (16 of 26!)

Come take a walk with me through the websites of four photographers who are sharing their love of macro photography every other Monday throughout the year.  We shoot what we love, what makes us happy,  to hone our skills,  to stretch our minds and our imaginations, and because it's who we are! 

"Can't see the forest for the trees."

I was outside a few days ago looking for a subject for this week's Macro Monday post.  I was also looking for the elusive humming bird my husband swears is there or maybe even the hummingbird moth he's seen near my butterfly bushes.  Since the hummingbird feeder and the bushes are in close proximity, I camped out there with my camera.  I did see a few monarch butterflies, but I shot them a couple of weeks ago.  The only other flying creatures I saw were two whites moths, that is until this little guy showed up.  I didn't really think he or she was very pretty and it was definitely NOT was I was hoping for. So I waited and waited and waited. Then I thought, why not?  Take a picture.  What can it hurt? I had no idea of the details that would illuminate themselves once I put the image on my computer.  
Look at his furry little head and furry little body. Then notice his striped antennae and huge eyes.


 Come in a little closer and take a look!



I was so glad that he decided to stick around and that I finally noticed his beauty even though originally, I'd passed him by.

To see what the the other photographers have found for us this week, 
and her MM:16 post,
then click on the link in each post until you've viewed all of our images.

It's just another Macro Monday!

Come take a walk with me through the websites of four photographers who are sharing their love of macro photography every other Monday throughout the year.  We shoot what we love, what makes us happy,  to hone our skills,  to stretch our minds and our imaginations, and because it's who we are! 

Can. Not. Wait.
 
If I'm shooting macros of my tomato plants at this point in the summer, I'm thinking I won't be seeing any edible tomatoes for quite a while.  Good thing my neighbors let me poach from their plants!




Don't get too excited for me with this last one.  It's smaller than a golf ball!

To continue around the circle and see what the other three talented ladies shot this week, 
and click the link in each post to see the next photographers images.

It's just another Macro Monday!

Come take a walk with me through the websites of four photographers who are sharing their love of macro photography every other Monday throughout the year.  We shoot what we love, what makes us happy,  to hone our skills,  to stretch our minds and our imaginations, and because it's who we are! 
Note:One of our photographers is unable to participate at the present time

Just hanging around...

I've been waiting for weeks to see a butterfly on my butterfly bushes.  The blooms seemed delayed this year, but with all the rain we've had I couldn't understand why.  I was ready to give up and think that the butterflies had gone the way of the hummingbirds, whose feeders I still even though I have only seen one or two in years. Finally, this week, I found hope.














   And a happy missed shot!


Check out the other awesome gals by started withe 

Baby "C" and his Baptism

I had the privilege of witnessing this little guy's baptism a couple of week's ago. It was a wonderful day, filled with family, friends, and a supportive church community. 

He'll be a blessed child of God!

Don't you just love how his little fingers are already folded? 

Sleeping peacefully before the service begins..

 Mom and Dad with Pastor John Inghram

The Godparents!

He barely made a peep! 

Baby "C's" mom has the most incredible voice. 

 I have no idea how she was able to keep herself together and sing "Find Your Wings".   

I'm sure there wasn't a dry eye in the sanctuary.

One of his grandmothers..

One of his grandfathers.

One of his great-grandmothers!

 Two more great-grandparents!

Two of his aunts and uncles!

At the reception after the service...

Two more grandparents!

This connection was melting my heart!

This is one of baby "C's" second cousins or something like that!  Their mothers are, each, one of three granddaughters to one of the great-grandmothers.  The three cousins were all pregnant at the same time and due within a few weeks of each, two on the same day.  One was born a few weeks early and these two came along a little bit later.