Messing with depth of field 21/365

I took advantage of this centerpiece and its placement in front of a mirror to practice depth of field. It's not an exceptional picture, but I do like that I was able to focus on the midground and lose focus on the foreground fruit and everything in the mirror. Pardon my educational moment...not so much fun for you as it was for me! :)

Beans Biking 20/365

For those of you who know Beans, you know what a special kid he is. He was very excited to be riding his bike this week...even with the training wheels. I love just the joy in his face in this photo, so proud of himself for just going uphill successfully! Go Beans, go!!!

SCARY!!! 19/365

I was at first scared and am now mildly intrigued by the reality that leg warmers are back!!! Shall I once again spend hard earned money on these fashionably knitted accessories? What shoes do I wear with them??? Do I need leggings and a long sweater? Should I buy some skinny ribbon and fashion those groovy braided and beaded barrettes? You know, the ones that dangle down from the barrette ...decisions, decisions!

Happy Birthday, Tim! 18/365

Happy birthday, Tim!

I love you bunches...

I'm most thankful for you...believing in me!

MUAH!

Dead Tree 17/365

one tree of harsh clime

Solitary Sentinel

on hilltop exposed.

Jennifer ParksNolan as LeJenD'Poet

I have passed this tree so many times. It is on a construction site and I feared it would be gone before I could get a picture. I originally took the photos with my white balance on incandescent light...DUH! So, these are edited a bit. I may go retake another day but for now I have my photo of this tree.

A Fungus Among Us 16/365

My kids and neighbors are often in the woods on the side of our house. I was quite the woods dweller when I was little, so I decided to head back there and see what it was all about. Okay...very cool! Who knew? Just beside our house is a wetlands area into which they have carved pathways and hiding places. I came across this funky fungus, apparently a "shelf" fungus named for its horizontal growth. I loved the rings as it reminded me of the inside of a tree trunk. I really need a better close-up lens...

Three 15/365

Three is my favorite number. Great things come is threes:

my boys- Boom, Nowie, Bean

my siblings-Tom, Sharon, Scott

human abilitites-thought, word, deed

time-past, present, future

my God- Father, Son, Holy Spirit

While Beans was holding our wedding bands I thought what a powerful symbol of love and partnership in just such a small precious circle. And while to him it was his crazy mom forcing him into yet another photo, what he holds in his hand he can confidently depend on. Our commitment, our vows, our promise to love. What security he holds yet unappreciated...but now forever captured.

Shades of Fall 14/365

Days Gone By...

End of a Season

The Treehouse...where secret plans are hatched

Today was a beautifu, crisp fall day. The kids were outside playing with their friends so I grabbed my camera in case any excitement ensued. The sunlight in my neighbor's backyard caught my eye. I couldn't choose from the photos I shot so here are all of them.

Follow up to 12/365

Okay so here's the proof...oh, where was Boom climbing when I went outside today??? The basketball hoop??? Shocking...He was building a swing. Makes sense to him!

Holly 13/365

I am without a doubt one of those people who do not understand why Christmas music is not playing on the radio by November 1st!!! While some of my friends dislike Christmas music and say it's "Just bad music", for me it's about memories. Like, I love the Heat Miser song from "The Year Without a Santa Claus" because I remember my brother, Scott, and I used to watch that show when we were little. My all time favorite is the Bare Naked Ladies and Sara McLachlan's verison of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" although, some Reliant K songs are eeking their way to the top of my list. What does this all have to do with my picture of the day? Nothing really except that today's photo represents my official entrance into this year's Christmas season. Merry Christmas!!!

Hangin' out 12/365

Boom is my monkey boy! I often find him climbing up the basketball goal instead of actually shooting hoops!! He named the photo and I say it might be more about his boxers than his tree acrobatics...

From the Fog 11/365

Okay, so I have this daily habit which I will not disclose until another day. I'm interested in getting you to think. Today I took this photo of a common result of said habit. I am posting the Photoshopped version until I get some feedback from my viewing public. :) I'd love to hear what this photo says to you, what you might think it is, how you might think it was created. I only used two filters on it so it's not too far gone!!!

The Beast 10/365

Say hello to Phantom, our nine month old rescued Black Lab mix. We are completely convinced he is part goat as he continues to eat us out of house and home by way of windowsills. His adorable face saves his canine behind on a moment to moment basis!!!

Ball boy 9/365

Cheater day...So Boom and I went out into the neighborhood today and shot a bunch of flower and foliage pictures and guess who erased them? Uh...yea...that would be me! So, I grabbed another favorite from this fall. This is a shot of Beans after a soccer game of Nowie's. He SO badly wants to be part of the big kids stuff!

Armed and Dangerous 8/365

I captured this shot of Boom's arm post swim meet. Competitive swimmers write their event, heat, lane and stroke on their arm in Sharpie so they know where and when they need to be somewhere.

Breathtaking 7/365

I spent this afternoon at a swim meet for Nowie and Boom. "How ever will I capture a photo for my project at a swim meet with no fabulous zoom lens?" I headed into the meet with hopes of snagging a few good swim shots. It was a strange day of rain sun, tornado warnings. Just about at the end of the meet my friend, Lara, said, "Look at the sky!' Tucked just behind the aquatic center, nearly out of view was this most amazing sunset. Opposite in the sky was a full rainbow but, wow, this sunset dulled the rainbow by comparison. This photo is untouched except for a crop out of cars in the foreground...

Heart of Stone 6/365

Heart of Stone...something a person with no feelings would have. Not a term I ever want applied to me...however, what else would you name a photo of a heart shaped rock? This picture was taken in Duke Forest. Anyone notice a trend? Duke Gardens...Duke Forest??? You think we're Duke fans...

Beans and Shnort 5/365

For those of you who frequent our life you know that Beans has been counting down the days until swim lessons began. Literally, marking the days off on our kitchen calendar. This is not a photographically genius shot but I love the fact that they are holding hands. They've been buds since they were one...

My new baby 4/365

It's here...it's here!!! Okay, so I have wanted this camera for about a year and a half. And, anyone who knows me knows that financially it has not been a priority. I prayed to God that if I was supposed to have this camera He need to show the way to make it mine. Without the long drawn out detail, between birthday gift money and "found" money in the form of overpaid insurance bill, the nearly exact amount of money came into my hands this past week. In fact, I had two dollars extra. Say coincidence, say God's plan, say manipulation of thoughts, whatever you want, but I know my God can do WHATEVER He wants. I'm choosing the God path...now that I have been given this gift, what shall I do with it? To whom much is given, much is expected. - Luke 12:48 I am no expert photographer by any stretch but I do have a passion to learn it...I'm excited about the days and years to come. Thank you God!

Project 365... 3/365

My mom HATES to have her picture taken! Drives me nuts since I love taking pictures. I asked her the other day if I could at least take a picture of her hands. I like the first shot because it shows her manicure. She's had her nails done for as long as I can remember!!! Her treat to herself...kind of like Starbucks to me! In the second shot she is holding Beans hand. I love this because she is holding on tightly. You can also see a bracelet with her name on it that she has worn forever. Someday, even though I cannot see her face, I'll treasure this picture because of those things.

Dream on,

Chris

Project 365... 2/365

So I almost hated to post this picture because it is likely to by a Christmas card shot...we took the boys to Duke Garden's on Sunday for this years photo shoot. I dare say it was the least stressful shoot to date. The big guys are getting older and Beans just followed their lead...

Project 365... 1/365

The Barn on Holly Springs

So, since I was 9 years old, I have loved photography. Have I always pursued it? No. Will I now? Yes! I was inspired by a woman named Hallie from a blog entitled "From the Rubber Room." She has absolutely stunning photos! On her blog she shares photos from each day of the year. As a frustrated former scrapbooker, I found this idea of a photo a day very exciting. I think it will help me to think about my picture taking more than I currently do. In the past few weeks since my hubby insinuated that a new digital SLR may be in my future, I am back to an old habit. It's like I just woke up from a long nap. When I drive, walk or move in any direction for that matter, I am back to looking at the world with a photographer's eye. I see things differently. It is hard to explain. So, above is photo number one of my project. I will say that there will be days when I can't bear to post just one photo but I am committed to post AT LEAST one until my birthday next year! PLEASE feel free to comment and critique.

Dream on,
Chris

My Project 365

Okay, so I am finally getting started on this Project.