Blanket tent

So this is how I found the kids watching TV the other day.  This used to be a familiar scene before the girls went to school, but it MAY have been McClain's first one. And he loved it. So of course in an effort to capture more "everyday us" shots, I pulled out the camera. I asked them to peek out, and this is what I got. Love it!

  

 

And yes, the wall of boxes is still there. But that's not the point. Practicing with the camera, capturing who we are IS the point, which is why I'm posting.

Hope you're all having a great weekend!

Practice

Lately I've been doing a lot of practicing with my camera. I've been pulling it out for the littlest of things trying to capture a taste of what it's like around here everyday. I love that Karen's class is forcing me to do it. I'm learning so so much! Here's few I got last week while working on composition. (These are SOOC like Karen encourages us to do. Hopefully I'll have time to go back later and edit them just a bit.)

These first few were for our Week 1 assignment:

(camera tilt) 

(non-camera tilt) 

 

(trying to creatively "frame" using my azalea bushes) 

 

(eye-level shot) 

And then I looked around and tried to find what Sarah Kate was doing. She was playing on her Princess computer and I ended up getting this series from her. (using the leading line of the sidewalk edge.)

 (She spotted me.)

(All giggles. And right as I shot this McClain walked into the frame with the bucket of chalk. 

We're going to call that more creative framing. Ha! I still love her little expression though. 

Finally a NATURAL one of her.)

Again, these are SOOC (straight-out-of-the-camera, for those of you who don't speak photography) so they're not edited in any way. Just being in the class for 3 weeks now has made me realize how hard it can be to get a technically "good" photograph while trying to capture 3 busy, semi-cooperative little beings.

But it's been SO fun! I'm a sponge soaking it all up, and I have to say, it's brought me a lot of joy where there really hasn't been these last few months. This class has been a big bright spot for me and something I look forward to every day. I'm very blessed to be taking the class and so far I'd highly recommend it to anyone interested in bettering their photography skills.

Thank you, Lord, for the little things, the passions you plant in our hearts and then let us explore. What a gift!

Sarah Kate scoots

While practicing and working on some of my photography assignments I caught these of Sarah Kate. She's pretty stinkin' cute, don'tcha think?  I certainly do!

And she LOVES to be on some sort of wheels whether it's her scooter or her bicycle. ( I love that in this shot McClain is trailing behind her pushing his car. They'd do this ALL afternoon if I'd let them.)

I had no idea she'd love it so much, especially the girl who self-proclaims that she "doesn't like to sweat". At age 6. Yeah. If I've said it once, I've said it a 1000 times. She's our girly girl for sure. (Even with her tongue sticking out in concentration.)

 

But I never said she doesn't like to pose. Ta Da!!

**Warning Proud Mama Moment**

Please excuse the following gushing over my child, I'm one extremely proud mama right now....

 

 

It's that time of year again. One of my most favorites. Last weekend we spent the entire weekend at the ballpark. And while I'm sure that will soon get old (fast) right now I'm just so proud of my girl I have to share.

 My girl, MY GIRL, proved to be a big hitter last weekend. She hit 3 homeruns, one of which was a grand slam, and 3 doubles over the course of 3 games. The third game she was playing for another team who needed a sub to play with them (so it's an honor to be asked). 

So to see her excel at something, I mean REALLY do well at, I just couldn't be prouder. Of course it doesn't hurt that it's the game that I love, a love passed down to me from Dad, and now to Caroline too. But just to see her big smile as she touches home plate...I'm one proud mama. I love that this is something we can do and memories we can share TOGETHER.

At least I tried (Easter 2013)

Here are some shots from Easter 2013. Some candids, some portraits, all taken with my new camera and my first attempt at shooting on full manual mode.

Our Easter weekend started off with an egg hunt with our Sunday School class. It was McClain's first REAL hunt, and I think he really enjoyed it.

But once he figured out that there was candy inside each egg, he had a hard time focusing on the hunt. Instead he wanted to unwrap each candy as he picked it up. 

 This one flitted all over the place, as she usually does. 

 And I was lucky to get a shot of this one. She was fast. And all over the place. Although I love this shot, I hate that the basket handle is in her face. :( 

 He ended up just sitting and eating his candy. Typical.

After the egg hunt, we headed to the ballfields where Caroline and I played our first game. She was 2 for 3 with a homerun and a single. She did well in the field too, tagging a player out while she was playing short stop.  But since I'm coaching her team, I may not get a single picture of her playing this year. The league is coach pitch, and I'm also the pitcher. MAYBE I'll get some of her playing in the field.

Sunday morning the kids woke up to find their baskets filled with goodies. Art supplies for the girls with some Silly Puddy and Slinkies for added giggles. Playdoh and a Playdoh truck for McClain (plus a coloring book) and everyone got lots of candies.
 

 

After church we went to the lake to spend the day with family. I TRIED to get a good shot of the kids in their Easter attire. Wasn't happening. The one of us is okay though.

And then while we watched the Duke basketball game, I tried to take some of the lessons I learned from this week's photography lesson. (I'm taking Karen Russell's  Snapshots of a Good Life class). This week focused all on taking emotion-provoking images, ones that have meaning and tell a story. Here are the two that I were my favorites, the boys watching the game and Grandmother crocheting (or is that knitting?):

Lessons learned: #1 My ISO was too high, there's a little too much noise. #2 I love that I changed my viewpoint and got different angles, creating more meaning in the shots. #3 I really like that I caught them "in the act" of everyday life. That's a goal of mine in taking this class--getting better at taking quality pictures that capture the everyday us.

There. That's it.  My first attempt at full-on manual mode. And surprisingly it wasn't quite as difficult as I feared. Perfect? Far from it. Fun? absolutely. Memories captured? Yep. And I'm happy with that.

Hope you had a happy Easter too!