An Assortment of Photos (Sunday Snapshot & 4/52 Project)

 So as I had these grandiose plans of taking my two youngest outside this

week for some photos in the snow.

That obviously didn't happen.

Old man Winter has decided to hit us again with another "polar vortex"

otherwise known as being "too damn cold outdoors for any living creature."

So we stay inside, that's our only choice.

I decided to take my mind to a better place

and photograph still life.

And get real comfortable shooting indoors for a while.

This week I decided to get my Etsy shop 

up and running.

It's something I've been asked about and I figured

it was about time.

My shop is called amothersartphoto

and I have about 24 fine art photography prints

that are available.

It's an eclectic assortment, some of them

vintage inspired, some travel and some of China.

There will be more prints added in the weeks and months to come.

I would be flattered if you'd stop by and 'favorite' (click on the little heart)

of my shop.

Thank you!

Color (Sunday Snapshot & 3/52 Project)

Blessed are the happiness makers.

Blessed are they who know how to shine.

~ Henry Ward Beecher

 

Just a little color.

Well, because it's Winter and I live in Wisconsin 

and though the snow is beautiful 

we all need to see some color every day.

These fresh little flowers are called Acacia.

I love blue and yellow together, maybe it's my

Swedish heritage?

Sunday Snapshot - exquisite

{Grace - age 9 and 1/2}

The inspiration for these images
was my daughter Grace's
beautiful ballet dress.

My mother is a talented sewer, and it's from her that
I've gained a true appreciation for fabric, and love of color and design.
The pattern of the tiny beads on the top of this dress is exquisite
and I loved capturing the detail.

I originally thought I'd keep these images all in color 

but felt black/white suited them just as well.

You can see so much

 of this gentle, sweet soul (who is Grace)

in them.

These were taken early last week
when we had some time one late afternoon.
I used the beautiful north window light from different perspectives,
using light facing Grace, from the side and behind her.

Taken with my Nikon D700,
the portraits were taken with my 85mm 1.4 lens
with settings of:

 f/1.4
ISO - 320
 1/200 sec.

For the other images I used my 35mm 1.4 at:

 f/2
ISO - 1000
1/250-1/500 sec.

Edited with Florabella's bl/white 'Vanilla' action (one of my favorites for bl/whites).
I opened up the action and tweaked it a bit with the contrast and light, leaving the tones the same.
In the very first image I also added a little bit of 'White Haze' from her 'Hazy Skies Collection.'
I liked the effect.

For the color versions, I used Florabella's 'Classic Color' action with a touch of  'Soft Warmth'
on a couple of them.

For the last one of her profile,
 I did very little other than crop the image (it didn't need much)
and increase the contrast a bit. I love the simplicity of it.



As for personal favorites, I have two... they're the first one and second to last images.

Grace and her brother Will performed this weekend in their dance school's recital.

I'll blog about it later this week.

1/52 - journey

It's a new year and pretty natural
for self reflection and looking ahead.
I was recently thinking about how it was just about 3 years ago
that I received my first DSLR camera.

My journey with photography has been interesting to say the least
and I couldn't have possibly ever seen what was ahead.
I've had a fun year, and my photography continues to change and grow.
I'm very much looking forward to learning more
 and seeing what 2012 brings.


Probably the best part for me personally has been that I've been able to give back.
A few months ago I was asked by An Orphan's Wish to be
one of their photo editors.
I have the great pleasure of choosing and editing photos each month
for their web site home page.

An Orphan's Wish provides a loving, caring environment for orphaned children in China.
It specializes in helping children with medical conditions, special needs and cerebral palsy.
I hope you'll click on the link and meet these special children.
The huge bonus is that I get to fall in love with these precious ones
as I edit away.


Hoping the New Year is all that you hope for and then some!

Kodak Brownie Hawkeye camera (circa 1950-1961).

51/52 - Christmas memories

What is Christmas?
It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present,
hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow
with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path
may lead to peace.

~ Agnes M. Pahro

(The majolica platter and plates belonged to my late mother-in- law, and the framed photo shows

 my late father-in- law at age 3. The little shoes were his too.)

It was out of tenderness for the past that I was inspired to capture these images,

and remember

Grandparents and parents who have passed on.

I'm reminded of them of when I hear certain songs, read a handwritten recipe or look at

ornaments they owned that are now ours.

It is said that all hearts come home at Christmas.

Texture Tuesday - Celebrate

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world,

and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.

~ Norman Vincent Peale

 


Ornaments from my husband's Grandmother that have been handed down.
I don't hang these on the tree, I put them
in a bowl or on a platter in the dining room.
Up high from kitty paws and doggy tails.
The glass ornaments remind me of days gone by and of a simpler time.
And I hope to pass them down to my children some day.

I'm linking to Kim Klassen's Texture Tuesday where her theme
is 'Celebrate.'
First I desaturated the image to my taste,
then added two layers of her texture 'Lookup.'
the first at soft light at 35%
and the second at exclusion at 11%.
I loved the vintage feel they gave to the photo.

Favorite Photo Friday - Deck the Halls

'Tis the season.
For decking the halls, bringing out the bling and sparkle,
and putting up a tree or two with lights and decorations.

I  love Christmas time, and everything about it.
I love sending cards, listening to the music, looking at the lights and baking cookies.
I love my home at this time and how it looks, feels, smells and sounds.
I love our family traditions that bring back memories of my own childhood
and Christmas' past with friends and family.

(The important task of tree decorating requires close concentration for William).

My husband Dan was out of the country for work this week,
so I enlisted 2 helpers that happily complied.
This was the first year that the tree was decorated
in record time, without me finishing it by myself.
It wasn't completed in the above photo but
I think they did an amazing job!

(Grace even decorated Jack with a little Santa hat. 
Obviously it didn't stay there long!)






Our December is already filling up quickly.
We have cookies to bake, a couple of trips to Chicago planned, school programs to attend,
a Christmas dance recital,
Grace and I will be going to the Nutcracker
later in the month and Will's 6th Birthday is coming up soon.

I'm trying not to focus on the time frame and enjoy each of these special moments.
And reflect on the true meaning of this season...
of Jesus' birth.

(Each year I buy my kids a new ornament.
Grace is holding a handmade Paris inspired one for the little white tree in her room).

Please check out more Favorite Photo Friday images
on Lisa's Long Road to China blog.

While you're there see what's up for today
at the "12 Days of Giveaways"
to benefit orphans in China.
It's a wonderful cause.