365 Day Project

Tomorrow I will be starting my 365 day project. This means that I will be taking a picture per day and adding it to my facebook and/or blog. What a great way to document your life as well as sharpen up your photography skills. Anyone can do this! Isn't this what photography is all about? Capturing a moment in time during our day to day activities? Join me :)
11 Tips for Completing 365 day Project

Shooting from the Hip...an exercise in creativity.

I love taking pictures of people in public places. I truly think that this is what photography is all about as people make the story, and I love a good story. Admit it..people are cool, wild, nutso, and often make you go "hmmm...". However, I am a chicken and I do not feel comfortable taking pictures of strangers. Actually, that is an understatement. I have absolutely NO confidence in this area, and I expect every person that catches me snapping a picture of them to rip my camera out of my hands and call the cops while cornering me so that I cannot run away. In reality, I am sure 60% of the people do not even notice me or my camera and another 30% probably would probably gladly pose for a photo (I would)..the other 10%? well, they are the scary lot...lol..
So for now I will compromise and experiment by taking pictures from my hip. This is not easy, and I have not mastered this technique by any means. Actually, I am quite proficient at taking boobs, butts, elbows, shoes, skies, gravel.....but, this is part of the fun. Cool angles, candids, and interesting lighting. Thank goodness for digital cameras and the "delete" button. Do I not say that at least 30 times a day?
So, here are some "hip" photos from my Sunday play day...I thought there were some stories here:
This is the guy packing up his truck from a week of vending. They had A LOT of stuff to pack, and they started early. I love his look, and I love the orange tones in the photo:

Letters, letters, letters, numbers and letters...all types..brass, metal, large, small...fascinating..I wanted to buy a "1992" set to put on our house. Hey, some day that date may be impressive!

This woman sat FOREVER pondering over this purchase, or perhaps she was just taking a trip down Memory Lane. Wonder if she finally bought it?

This was an area filled with old leather couches and chairs and heavy metal piped in on the speakers. This particular chair called to him.

and finally...well said..."don't take life so seriously". GREAT advice. 

CHECK for experience....

We all saw the Supermoon, and whether impressed or not..my experience of photographing the moon was perfect..alone, barefoot, in my PJs and lying on the grass in my front yard..shooting at the moon with the fireflies around me.. I loved how the neighbors red light glowed from the window offsetting the bright orange..I will remember the experience more than the moon Have a wonderful day!!

Still smiling....

We have had a very trying two days. Not only is Ally in crunch time for her boards tomorrow, but when she went out to her car last night to grab a notebook, she was greeted with 4 inches of water on her floor and a flooded trunk. Her spare tire was actually floating!! Did the car start?? Of course not.  Did you know that cars are equipped with an engine immobilization system? ya, me either, but they work. Unfortunately if your car was bought used and you do not know the secret codes to disable it, you are out of luck. (YouTube and forums were helpful for troubleshooting, tho! This battery had  a really nice workup).
But, after all is said and done, she still has a smile on her face...and a great dad who has given her his car to travel to her district meeting out west and arranged all of the car repairs. Oh wait, now he has to take my car so that I am the one stranded!! Ok..a great mom, too :) It is all good....

opportunities are never too far away.

I was going to take a ride this evening to look for some material that would inspire me and spark my creativity but decidedinstead  to poke around in my back yard to see if anything was new since the heavy rains. Yay!! I love when these cheerful flowers make an appearance at the edge of the field.
So glad I stayed home :)

When there is no one else...

....there is always me :)
I have one child. Well, she is not a child. Her maturity level is higher than mine as is her IQ..lol...but, ya she is my child in that I still squish spiders for her, and make her favorite foods and go shopping with her when no one else is available.. typical stuff. However, as a photographer, my "child" is useless as subject matter. She has been there and done that. I have scrapbooks filled with her goings on from her first squeal to last school dance. She has humored me and paid her dues. So when I am itching for subject matter and even the family pets run and hide, I have....ME!!!! and I will do JUST fine...HELLO :)

Sometimes it takes a bunch of busy boys to make you realize....

..how much you love your job!! I first met Heidi at one of her jewelry parties held at my best friend's house, and later she showed up as a new employee at my place of business.. (one of those...."hey...don't I KNOW you?"moments)...So, I was thrilled when she asked if I could photograph her family before they transition on a new adventure south. This family has A LOT on their plate!! If you EVER hear me complaining about having too much to do, please smack me around and point me in the direction of Heidi. But, she does it with a smile. It ALWAYS gets done in the end. Doesn't it??
Heidi and Brian have a beautiful family, and I photographed them at their newly sold (congrats!!)  home. BITTERSWEET! In between giggles, games on their iPads and cuddles with their sweet dog, Ebony, we were able to get some pretty great pictures! Hopefully  these pictures will remind them of the great times they had in their MA home, and I wish them the best of luck in the future. YAY for new adventures!!!
PS!!! If you would like me to help you capture your own memories, drop me a line at TinyLeafDesigns@gmail.com , and I can send you off some info or discuss setting up a photo shoot!