Point Of View

After so many attempts to get outside and battle the crazy wind that seems to be our new norm!
I finally decided to bring an IRIS indoors to practice some macro photography.
In my quest to learn all I can about taking pictures, POINT OF VIEW, comes up
all the time
whether you are taking portraits, landscape, macro, etc...

Point of view involves moving around your subject, looking up, looking down, looking in...trying lots of different angles to try to get something unique and pleasing.

After several attempts at different angles and trying to "break" the wind! I choose another option I learned.
If you the photographer can't move around to find a pleasing shot , do one of two things!

Move your subject! Or move along!
In this instance I chose to move my subject indoors and not battle the wind!
I think it was a good choice!

What's Up With That?

So after letting Bella out at 4:00ish this morning and going back to bed only to listen to Bill snore, I mozied my way downstairs to finish my interrupted sleep on the couch. This too was to be short lived as I was pretty wide awake at this point. Try as I may I just could not get any more shut eye! So sad for the girl who really likes her sleep!

So here I was at 5:15am wondering what the heck to do. It's now 8:10am, and WOW what a productive morning it has been. Amazing how much you can get done in the calm of the morning. Dishes are put away from the dishwasher, downstairs bathroom has been cleaned, digital scrapbook page started last night has been completed, few pictures have been edited and deleted PLUS Bella and I have been out for a 50min run/walk! If nothing else gets done today..I'm OK with that! Although I'm sure I'll want a little catnap at some point!

I wish I were a morning person, but I'm not. I know this will not become my norm any time soon but when my body does insist on an early morning I love to make the best of it! Tomorrow when the alarm goes off for work...that snooze button will call my name!

Happy Day to All...especially all those great DADS celebrating Father's Day! Mine being at the top of the list!

Life of Riley!

Whoever coined the phrase, "Life of Riley", has yet to meet Bella Latte Claws! These were taken this afternoon after a hard morning chewing her bone and playing in the back yard!

As you can tell, she's extremely comfortable in her surroundings and has made herself quite at home in her one and a half years under our roof. Some would call her a "Lab Dog", we think she's a "Lap Dog"!
Despite a few shortcomings, she has made her way into our hearts. We have a few social etiquettes yet to break..i.e....jumping frantically on anyone with a ball thrower (this is NOT a good trait!) and finding an inside voice when she thinks it's time to play! Fortunately, she is darn cute...so that will buy her some time until we get a handle on a few issues. Soon we may have to call in Ceasar the Dog Whisperer!

Close Up & Macro Photography

So here are a few pictures I took last week on a field trip with our macro class, to Wagner Bog. We have been practices our techniques each week and so much has been trial and error. Depth of field is so shallow at these distances it's hard to get everything in focus. I Think these are my best of the week...so I'll share them with you! Tomorrow is our last Saturday morning class, and we'll review and critique lots of pictures. This class has made me more aware of aspects of close up and macro photography but has also been some what disappointing. I don't feel we spent enough time on technical aspects of this style of photography. That being said I often spend more time taking pictures after the fact and things some times come together then. We'll just have to wait and see! One thing I do know...this kind of close up view can be addictive!

The Tides Have Changed....

After a full month of nothing but losses, our team "SWARM" has a changed mindset since last weeks tournament. They had their first TIE and WIN! I don't know who was more excited, the kids, the coach or the parents. Regardless of who you were...it just felt good!
One of the changes made to the team was that Taylor went into net to cover for Ty while he re cooperated from a kick to the shin...Guess what?? Taylor was pretty darn good! I was very surprised! Taylor has never played Keeper and has never mentioned wanting to play keeper...he is now one of the teams keepers!
Taylor and Ty have both spent time in net since the weekend and it works really well. They both have their strengths in the net and on the field! This has been a really exciting change to watch, though I must say as a parent it is more stressful watching Taylor play keeper. Any goals scored on him he takes very personally!
I'm so pleased that our team has this renewed sense of purpose! You can see it in their approach to the games since they are no longer 100% defeated! And although they have all been good sports about their many losses....it's so much more fun to WIN a few games! Way to go SWARM!