a new toy

A belated birthday present, bought with birthday money from Pete's parents, won for me by Pete's terrific E-Bay bidding cool (you would NOT believe my adrenal issues over that site - I'll buy it up front, but put me in a contest, and I freak!), and dropped yesterday because of a faulty strap, and awaiting some repair by Pete, who is a genius at fixing stuff.

I'm looking forward to using it for some more TTV photos, but for now, we wait...

Bonus Shot Friday

This was yesterday. I need this today. But it's cold again today. Still, the sun is shining, and dinner is in the crockpot, and my shooting is done for the day, and a bit of housekeeping too.

And speaking of housekeeping, if you're interested in a print or a blog design of mine, stop in at today's housekeeping post over on my regular blog.

I just love this shot. Every time I look at it, I find myself breathing deep and long and closing my eyes to feel the wind sweeping those curtains up. I don't have a category for it or anything, so I'm instituting a Bonus Shot Friday (BSF). Because people don't really care what gets blogged on Friday. They're ready for Saturday and the in-between living we all do on the weekend. So here's a bonus shot.

So, what about you? Did you get a shot this week that didn't fit anywhere but in your heart? Here's a reason to share, share, share, so we all get in on the bonus!

A Photo I Love

It's not good. The focus is off, there is junk on the mirror, and the light is too bright, but it was a moment we enjoyed. Piper loves it when her picture shows up in my camera!

Ten - Drying Wood After Rain

the clothes were dry and put away
days ago;
now afternoon will have its way,
making clean,
making bright,

drying wood after rain.

Nine - And a Golden Pear

I had a little nut tree, nothing would it bear but a silver nutmeg and a golden pear.

I sang the rhyme when I was small, dreaming of the princess who came to visit me, just to see the tree with the nutmeg and the pear. Now I know why she came to see it.

Eight - Discovery

Seven - Lamplight at Sunset

Four, Five, Six

Yesterday, I officially began a project that I've been toying with for the last six months or so: I'm going to try to take at least one good photo each day for a year. I already have a file for "daily photos" that I take at random, so I think I'd like to try it this year.

Here is yesterday's photo - the morning sunlight hitting a left-over Christmas candlestick on my windowsill.



Today, I caught the rain on my window.



And learned to see and savor shadows again.



You can see more from the last two days at my SmugMug Project 365 gallery.

When Editing, Do Play

It is the editing of my RAW digital photos that has weighed me down over the last two years or so. Thanks to a wonderful bride and groom of mine, I was able to take a December break to learn my editing program, mess around with light and color, and otherwise learn how to enjoy the editing process.

Today, I'm neck deep in this couple's wedding, and I am discovering how much more fun I can have with the wedding photos I have shot. There's a lot of regular touch-ups happening, but along the way, I've bunny-trailed a bit, just to keep myself awake.

Here is one "hoppy" edit:



I made this image using a texture from ojoyous1.

One, Two, Three

Earlier installments in my Project 365, officially begun January 12.

Initially, I edited this one WAY up, but I'm starting to learn not to be afraid of shadows. There is definitely a place for ramping up in editing, but there is also a place to keep what is there, especially if I want to learn how to do this photography thing.



Four in light and shadow.



Linoleum is pretty in the sunlight, you know.



See more at my Project 365 Gallery.