Day One (continued)

So, I tried to fix my hair but it is still sticking up and acting crazy. Plus, look how bloodshot my eyes are! I know why they are bloodshot. I was up until the wee hours of the morning on Skype with the SOAR Sisters from MeRa Koh's blog as we finally found out who the three scholarship winners were. It was Linda, Lindsay and Jennifer. Congrats to the three. I am proud of myself for applying at least. I was able to produce a video of myself about what photography means to me. It was a great experience to meet all the like minded women on the SOAR blog and through their own video applications. There were over 260 applicants and I am so happy to have taken part. The opportunity of mentorship for the 3 recipients is going to help kick start their photography business dream. For me, I will remain with my nose stuck in my photography books and internet video tutorials. Here, I am reading The Hot Shoe Diaries by: Joe McNally. Love Joe! You might want to pick it up one day at the library or fave book store. It is an excellent book about how to use small flashes. You will love Joe's humor too. It is a good one that I recommend. Now, back to my education about my small flash...Have a Picturesque Day!

Day one of 365 project!

I am going to try to take the 365 project challenge. Here is Day 1. I took this on January 8, 2010. My intention for this self portrait was due to my mom's need for a pic of me. She was trying to put together a digital album and noticed that she had no pics of me. I think I became the family photog as a strategy to stay away from the front of the lens, can you relate? Anyway, I agreed that I would try to come up with something. I set up my little table top tripod, popped out a convenient black backdrop and kept running in front of the camera after depressing the timer button. It became a fun little game after a bit. So, I think I will attempt to do the 365 project. I hope I follow through. I am a bad procrastinator sometimes and the worst at not following up on good intentions. Whichever way it goes for the rest of the project, this is day one. Actually, I took this last night. I started considering the idea of the 365 project last night and this morning. I made the decision to get started with it. I agree with the cliche' that there is no time like the present... So, I am summoning up the courage and motivation to start today.

I will try to capture the actual pic for today after I at least brush my hair a little bit. I am having my typical lazy Saturday morning hair day - cow licked, sticking up, smushed flat...real lovely huh?! So, there is my explanation and inspiration for the project.

Here is my first pic of the year.

p.s. This is the real 44 year young me with no photoshop touch ups. If I had touched it up, I would have certainly gotten rid of my puffy eyes and double chin for goodness sakes. We joined Snap Fitness as the usual first of the year hope to lose weight. So maybe I'll be able to get rid of that for real. Oh, please, please, please. I so want to get in shape in 2010 and continue to pursue my photography aspirations. I have lots of work ahead of me in both areas so...Day One, I begin.

INSPIRE

These images were taken in participation with one of my favorite blogs, MeRaKoh Photography. The challenge was to take pictures of things in and around your home that inspire you. We had to post a link to our blog site by 2 am. Here are my inspiration pictures.
Michelle and Terry Sibley, wed July 19, 1986. I hope you can see the wedding day pic of Terry and I. I lit a pillar candle in front and tried to capture it only by candlelight. The original photo was captured by my cousin, Jean Ann, with a Canon Powershot compact film camera. This was a first generation powershot. I think that the picture is stuck to the glass by now and would probably be destroyed if I tried to remove it. Terry and I were married in his sister's beautiful home. Those were pretty hard times in terms of jobs and economy. My parents offered to give us a sum of money. We had a choice to either spend it on a wedding or put it in the bank. Well, we slam dunked the funds right into the bank! I loved our simple wedding. I wore a tea length lace dress and Terry wore a nice black suit. The broach that I have pinned up at my neckline was actually my Grandma's. She was not with us that day because she passed away when I was 18. At that time, we did not have a home church so his sister's pastor officiated the ceremony. Only our immediate family members were in attendance. To me, it was perfect.

I am laughing right now. In this pic, it looks like Terry has exceptionally poofy hair or a gigantor head. It was the eighties remember. Guys wore their hair kinda tall but in the real picture it doesn't look this tall & poofy. That is curious. Sorry Terry. I do love you so & you are still handsome to me.

Faith is what we live by. Actually, this cross was taken from the flowers that we donated at my cousin's funeral. He was only 38 and died suddenly due to an embolism in his lung. I am still in shock about it. It's weird to see someone healthy and whole, then lose them in a moment. What I do know though is that he is with our Lord. Hallelujah! He was a new believer of about only one year before his passing. His name was Travis and I honor his memory by keeping this cross on my sofa table. The inspiration of the cross speaks for itself. I am also reminded when I look at this cross to treasure every moment with my loved ones and capture lots of memories in photographs. If Travis were here, I would take his picture.

This is our Louisiana Coffee made in Baton Rouge. The FleurDeLis that you see on the tin bucket is our state's symbol. Good ole dark roast Community Coffee is how I start my day. We have a routine, my little dog and I. She meets me at the coffee pot with her little stuffed lamb. I pour myself a Venti cuppa Joe and head to the big comfy chair in the living room. Mia (little doggy) gets on my lap and uses her 'lamby' for a pillow under her chin. Can you say spoiled?! Actually, both of us are a bit spoiled.

My husband and I went away to the Smokey Mountains in Gatlinburg, TN. This was our first trip ever without our two daughters. They were grown at the time. We enjoyed it but I guess my husband was missing them because he came out of the souvenier shop with these two little cubs and rode around with them on his dashboard until we went home. We love our own precious cubs. I so miss the days when they were younger and with me all the time.

Kayla and Trevor

Happy New Year 2010 from Kayla and Trevor. Here is my daughter and her boyfriend. I made a little slideshow of a few quick pics of Kayla and Trevor on a walk around the Capital Area of Baton Rouge. Terry and I met them at the levee after we had a delicious lunch of shrimp po-boys from Capital City Grill. If you ever get to downtown Baton Rouge, try to stop there for a bite. The food and service can't be beat. I absolutely love the view of the Old State Capital and huge oak trees from the floor to ceiling bronze tinted windows. This place is the bomb.com.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy a few candid shots that I happened to like.

Today, I went to North Park. When I arrived, I looked around the landscape for something pretty. It is a pretty park but winter has stripped away the leaves leaving moss only. There is a certain beauty in that too but I just love the lush green of spring. So, I started shooting away. Eventually, I found myself at the edge of the pond and the magic of that beautiful sun's reflection on the water captured my attention. I could tell that it was time for the sun to begin its descent so I stood by and caught some beautiful images. Take a look at what an ordinary winter's day looks like as the sun sets on North Park.

Picking Oranges at MawMaw & PawPaw's

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Terry and his Dad are picking oranges from a Satsuma Orange Tree in his backyard. That little tree was loaded again this year! I always bring my camera when we go out to the country. Today, I watched the sunset so beautifully. I told my husband to let me take a silhouette pic of him on his 4-wheeler in front of the horizon. He was at the barn talking to his dad for a sec so I started walking out to the field. I was looking at my camera settings as I walked. My destination was just past a big huge live oak tree with big branches that touched the ground. This is where I wanted to set up for the shot. Like I said, I was not really paying attention to where I was walking but looking at my camera. Suddenly, I began to hear really loud snorts coming at regular intervals right in front of me. I kinda checked myself to see if my clothes or feet could be making the noise. nope. As I got closer to the big bushy tree branches, the snorts got louder and louder. OH MY GOODNESS! WHAT IS SNORTING AT ME?!!! I started walking backwards like a crawfish. I turned around and yelled, HELP, HELP! I didn't want to turn my back and run. I also didn't know if Terry would hear my call for help all the way across the field and above the 4-wheeler engine. He heard. He and my father-in-law came speeding over and pointed their headlights into the oak tree but did not scare up anything. The animal must have already run away. They told me that it was probably a deer after I demonstrated how it sounded. They explained how a deer snorts when they are startled.

Hey, I know wild deer are not like Bambi! What if it was a big buck with huge antlers? It could have stuck me or kicked me with its hoofs. Whew, close call man, for reals! I have never been that close to a big wild animal like that before. (except one time a rotweiller came bounding after me. All I could do was stand frozen in place and tremble because all I was imagining was meat coming off my bones!...but that is another story...where was I anyway?..back to the deer story..) yeah, that wild creature was giving me some warning snorts and I didn't want any part of that! And, dadgummit if through all that drama, the sunset of bright pink, orange and gold that I wanted to capture went away in a snap! Oh well, I got something I kinda like. You can see it as the final shot on the PICKING ORANGES slideshow.

Silent Night, Holy Night...