I’m glad it’s spring! You?

My body is well-adjusted to the time change and I’m loving the longer lighter days.

The photos in this post represent spring around our house.

All images were shot with the Micro Nikkor 105mm 2.8 lens – today

Yesterday was my last day of class before spring break next week.

Easter is here already? I thought it was just Christmas.

The pages this year seem to be turning at record speeds. And I can’t believe that 1/4 of the year is almost gone. The hubs and I were just talking about that last weekend.

This semester is by far my favorite school semester. EVER!

It’s the little things in life that I find fascinating.

I now have my new favorite teacher. EVER! Perhaps it has something to do with me enjoying the subject and wanting to glean everything that comes out of his mouth. But boy is he a great teacher. As a student, it is obvious that he truly cares about his students, he’s passionate about teaching and wants each of us to do well.

I could say my new favorite thing is photography. Then again, hasn’t it been for quite sometime? It’s a rare day that I don’t pick up my camera and shoot.

And it makes me happy that I have something as small as a camera that provides such joy while my hubby is off to work.

Having the opportunity to do what I love and love what I do, is something I never want to take for-granted.

I already have two photography dates set up for next week, during my spring break.

The joy-bells continue to ring, Happy Spring!

Blessings – Debbie

What’s up? I hope all of you are having a lovely week.

Our weekend was kick back relaxing. I love those kind of weekends with the hubs. It’s the times when coffee is sipped slowly, games are enjoyed together, long visits with the hubs and vacation planning with family was discussed = all around quality time shared leisurely together. It’s these weekends together that make us long for retirement, when we can spend every day together.

On Monday, I had another great class. I’m learning such amazing new things. I know I’ve said this before, but really, each class builds from the last. And I’m beyond excited to learn how to better process my photos.

Yesterday my head was about to explode from information overload. And I get to go back for more tomorrow. How exciting is that?

We shipped my camera in (last week) for a little sensor cleaning and to have another issue looked at. All week I seemed to struggle as I tugged my old camera off the shelf. While I took a few shots, it was hard to really get into it as I soon realized how much I missed my Nikon.

But I learned something in that short span of time. I learned that I have a greater appreciation for it, as the absence was quite painful.

So cheers to having my Nikon back in my hands today! It’s 100% clean and healthy and all set to shoot again.

I had it out of the box in no time, attached my new favorite lens and was taking pix in less than two shakes of a lambs tail. It’s true, that is all I wanted to do when I opened the box.

My heart nearly went pitter pat when I saw this big guy buzzing all over the wisteria. This guy also showed me who’s boss. I shot when I had the chance and ran when I got the vibe that he was out to get me. Did you know that the buzz of this guy drowns out the buzz of a bee. I mean, he sounds like a jet engine for goodness sakes. Scary to think I was this close. No humans were stung during the shooting of this guy.

Cheers to relaxing weekends, learning and enjoying my camera now more than ever – if that’s possible.

Blessings – Debbie

As a student, I experience growing pains. I want to get it. And I want so badly to absorb everything that is tossed my way. And some days my brain is so full, to the point I feel my brain shut down.

And I get the deer in the headlights look. What?

While I’m keeping up in class and jumping thru the hoops the professor requires, I just don’t “get it”. In other words, I’m doing things to be doing them but I still feel like I lack understanding behind it.

Then there are the days when the light bulbs begin to go off. Like yesterday when Sarah suggested we get together for a lunch date after class and then cruise over to her house to give me a hand with my Digital Darkroom (Photoshop) troubles. She rocks!

I left her home yesterday having experienced another huge break thru. Thank you Sarah!

And while I gained a bit more knowledge, I still have such a long way to go. And I don’t claim to know it all yet.

As with anything, there will always be room for growth in photography and making good images.

Our next assignment is all about humans. And I panic wondering if I can find the right person and create an image worthy of presentation.

While I put a lot of pressure on myself, I think it’s that pressure that drives me. So I’m using myself these days for practice as I learn how to better edit the photos I take in RAW.

Cheers to the lightbulb moments and those dear friends and loved ones along the way to encourage.

My dearest hubby listened to me jabber for nearly 30 min, if not longer. And he shared in my excitement as I told him all about my day, last evening. I was a ball of excitement with so much to share and it makes me happy that he cares and takes interest in my passion. He’s the best!

Blessings – Debbie

Good day my friends! All I can say is – “this time change makes me so very happy!”

Cheers to an alarm that works, a nice hot shower, a mug to hold coffee, and photography class bright and early. Oh what a good day!

And since I’m feeling colourful, here I am (7:20am) as I arrive to class with my mug of coffee, ready to start this lovely day.

Recall the excitement I shared about my day in the hills (last Thursday) shooting? As it turns out, none of those shots work for the assignment. But I do have another shot that I would like to share from that day.

The old Farmall Tractor that once could…

Below is my choice #2 – It is printed, matted and ready for critique Wednesday.

 And here is my choice #1 – This guy is printed and ready for critique as well.

Looking forward to critique and seeing what the other students present.

It’s times like this when the assignment is complete that the best feeling washes over me.

But I can’t let it rest as I already have a head start on my next assignment due in about 3 weeks.

This class rocks!

Blessings – Debbie

Here it is, already Tuesday.

I left the blog hanging last Thursday. I was under the weather, remember?

And I wanted so badly to feel better such that the hubs and I could get out and hike over our 3 day weekend.

Truth be told, I was physically in pain. Pain caused from over doing it while taking pictures last week.

Goodness knows the many ways I twisted myself while holding the camera still to capture 1,000’s of fun shots, literally. And you know I looked silly in the process. And you should know, the more awkward I look while taking the shot, the better.

So I woke last Thursday with the most outrageous gripping pain in my left shoulder-blade. Pain that seemed to grip the left side of my body. Pain that shot thru my body, All. Day. Long.

I really hoped and crossed my fingers that I would be able to sleep it off Thursday night.

But I woke Friday and it was still there. Saturday, it was still there. Sunday it was still there, but about 80% better.

Hot ~ HOT showers and lots of stretching, those were my physical friends.

So I picked up the camera and started fooling around with it.

I shot a few cents, for what it’s worth. This shot was taken Saturday on a tripod. I was rational, thinking as long as I didn’t hold the camera it was ok to shoot, so I did.

More pocket change.

Since I was feeling a bit better on Sunday, I made my way to the blossoms minus a tripod. I thought I was feeling well enough to shoot again.

And squatted down low for shots like this.

In no time, I had taken well over 100 shots, but the sad thing is that my body was feeling it once again.

And the moment I walked back into the house, I said “why did I just do that”! I was so upset with myself while the pain creeped in like a thief stealing my joy.

More HOT showers, more stretching and more frustration followed.

But I can say, I did not lift the camera yesterday.

Have not touched it today.

And it sits there taunting me and it’s hard to just let it be.

I’d say I’m right at around 90% today and getting better and better as the days go by. The key is giving my muscle time to fully heal before I put the camera in gear.

One thing that I can report, the hubs and I had the most amazing weekend at home.

We didn’t leave the house.

Our jammies stayed on for three whole days and it felt GREAT!

All that to say, I hope I learned my lesson. And I plan to start building a few more back muscles such that I can strike and hold whatever poses I want, while capturing what I find amazing on the other side of the lens.

Blessings – Debbie

Good afternoon! Thought I’d hop over to give a little update. Notice I said “little”.

Regarding my class this semester:

• I am so excited with all the new things I’m learning.
• I was a bit overwhelmed in class Monday.
• Still overwhelmed today, but new things are beginning to sink in.
• The thought crossed my mind again that this class is way over my head.
• The thought crossed my mind that I’m thankful for such a deep learning experience.
• And the thought crossed my mind that I can’t imagine photography minus this class.

Feeling blessed, overwhelmed and excited to have the privilege of learning.

Shot this rose as it was drinking in the last bit of sunshine today.

Have a lovely evening!

Blessings – Debbie

I started off this beautiful day with a nice little photo shoot in the backyard. The fork was my inspiration.

I messed a bit with the dials and waited for the sun to rise a little more.

I love the color of morning when the sun splashes light around.

Soon it was time to pack the camera and take it to the shop for a cleaning.

I’ve had a little concern with some new found specs on the images within the last few days. Turns out, my sensor really needed a good cleaning.

But there came that fork in the road and the path was not pretty. It’s when I learned they needed my sidekick camera all afternoon. Turns out they were really swamped.

It was a sad thing.

And I took a nap after lunch to help pass the time. Actually, I really needed a good nap.

Now that my batteries are charged and my camera is clean, no doubt we’ll be partners in crime again soon.

Blessings – Debbie

When a girl gets a new lens, all she wants to do is play! But first things first, she must go to class first.

So after class, I took my new 105mm 2.8 lens out for a little stroll, just the two of us.

This shot of ground covering and all that amazing color had me at hello!

Nothing stopped me from getting right down on the ground.

There was a clear ground + flora + lens = bond, happing right there on the spot.

This little branch (from a sweet-gum tree) has the most amazing little buds forming. It was pretty cool to get behind the lens to see the detail as it’s very hard to make this out with the naked eye.

A fun shot playing with the settings to see what I could come up with.

I did not change the color of this deep magenta shot below. There were a sea of these flowers all in bloom. My goal was to focus on the little pedals just in front of me and to blur out the rest. I think it turned out to almost give a painterly feel.

This last shot was an old antique contraption of sorts in my neighbors yard. I thought it would be fun to shoot the wheel on an angle. And to give the prime focus on that bolt out front.

Overall, I’d say my little stroll not only turned out to be fun, but to view the world around me with a fresh set of eyes aka the new lens was quite refreshing.

I’m smitten with that lens, totally SMITTEN!

Blessings – Debbie

I get so excited when each weekend rolls around. It could have to do with the house getting a straightening, cleaning bottles whirling, the dust rag swinging, laundry swishing and home sweet home beaming.

But truth be told, while I like all the above, I really look forward to spending 48 hours with the hubs. It’s what makes my world go around.

In honor of this being Happy Friday, I thought I would share a little more from yesterday.

The shot below came to life by getting up close with that fireplace. This shot was taken from the backside looking out to this magnificent view. What I find exciting with this shot, are those deep dark clouds with rays of light squeezing thru.

While I find this shot exciting, it won’t be used for the assignment. However, I may go back another day and play with my camera settings to bring the foreground into focus. And nail the exposure in the foreground.

Another shot from the property was this shell of a tree that once stood strong. I love how it is all hollowed out with such strong growth surrounding it.

This assignment calls for another 40 shots. And 2 of those 40 will be museum matted for critique in class.

So over the next few weeks, I hope to be sharing shots with foreground and background in mind.

With that, I’m off to finish what I was up to = preparing home sweet home for the weekend.

Blessings – Debbie

We received our next assignment, it’s all about Foreground and Background. I’m pretty excited as I knew just the place where I wanted to shoot for this assignment.

While I’ve traveled by many a time, I have yet to capture it on camera. That is, before today.

And I was so excited to shoot today. For me, it was all about the weather. I love how I got in just after the storm. Dark clouds hung heavy in the sky while the sun began to peak thru the clouds.

I shot this image every way you can imagine. And then I thought I think I’ve exhausted this for now.

But an hour or so after shooting this once upon a time happy home. I stepped back.

And it was then when I grew to love the composition even more.

I was nearly on my ear as I was as close to the ground as I could get.

And I knew all was right with the world.

One more shot – where young children once played in the front yard.

Who knows, I may have to make another appearance as I can’t seem to get the joy from that experience out of my mind.

Blessings – Debbie