I don't blog, write in wikis, or maintain a website of anything useful. This is my second entry, so be gentle with me, please.

Since being introduced to dA by and we have gone on two photo adventures and I took a trip back home.  Those three events left me with well over 1000 photos, which I sifted through and condensed down to 10% or so.  The few of you watching me, thank you for not being overly annoyed by the quantity of daily uploads.  I just felt the overwhelming need to stay caught up.

I can't decide if I should poke through my older galleries and see if anything is dA worthy.  As it is, I already see a good number I should probably send to the scrap yard.  `breaking-reality and I will probably go on a photo run this weekend (it's my birthday) and we're talking about something for the Labor Day weekend too.  

I've never really thought about staging photographs of people or things, but I'm growing more interested as I think about it.  I really want to get some good captures of my cats.  Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

I don't blog, write in wikis, or maintain a website of anything useful. This is my sixth entry, so be gentle with me, please.

So, I did take my sister and her family to the Botanical Gardens yesterday morning before they went home to give him a chance to play with some flower photos.   I took them to Chris's Pancake House in St. Louis too which has the best pancakes EVER... I SWEAR.

Anyway, I've gotten through those photos now and am looking for ideas of what to use my newest lens addition for (50mm 1.4D AF Nikon).   I've taken a few quick shots with it and I'm seeing less issues with motion than I had before, even compared to the VR lens.  Not as sharp as my 60mm macro for the close-ups (see ) but respectable anyway.

Friday night is the Forest Park Balloon Glow and that is why I wanted a better low-light lens.  I guess I'll try to work the monopod again and see if it helps me get good shots.  

Thanks for reading, and good night.

I don't blog, write in wikis, or maintain a website of anything useful. This is my seventh entry, so be gentle with me, please.

So last night I finished editing the batch of photos I took last weekend while playing with food at !sapphiretiger and `breaking-reality's house.  It was the first time I'd experimented with still items like this, at least tried anyway.  We ran down the street before dusk to grab some sunset photos as the clouds were nice that night too.

I think my favorites are and .

`breaking-reality hasn't uploaded any of her food photos yet, but did grab a nice image of my girl while we were out watching the sunset, see .

!sapphiretiger has only uploaded sunset related shots too, see :thumb98112339: and :thumb98082139:.

Friday night we're going to the balloon glow in Forest Park.  I'm looking forward to this photo run

Thanks for reading.  I *really* appreciate any feedback and critique you can give me too.  I'm really interested in becoming good and your feedback is really really really helpful. (Hmm... I sound like I'm begging huh?

I don't blog, write in wikis, or maintain a website of anything useful. This is my ninth entry, so be gentle with me, please.

So, I took some kind of photos almost every day this last week.  I set things on fire, took things apart, dyed things, silly stringed things, and fed ducks.  Thanks for all the feedback on the stuff I've been doing.  The playing with fire has gotten more attention than most of my stuff so far.  What have you tried doing with fire/flames?  Any suggestions, tips, or requests?

If you do photography professionally, can you tell me from looking at what I've been doing so far, if there is something you see from me that might have an opportunity for me to develop into a professional skill?

`breaking-reality has mentioned taking a class with me next semester.  Depending on the schedule, I think it could be fun.  I'd like to get better at "capturing the moment" photography for photojournalism, family memories, or historical documentation.   I'm having a lot of fun with the odd photography though, playing with lights and things that glow and make the photos look digitally created too.  I'd like to make those photos where people draw photos with something that lights up.  I don't know if it's a laser, a flame, or what.  

I've begun to ramble, so I guess that's a sign it's time to go to bed.

My 14th Entry -- Cold blooded, Warm hearted, Happy.

:thumb111185570:  So Strong.
:thumb110979428: So Confident.
:thumb103924186: So Soft.
So Bright.
So Fast.
So Smart.
So Amazing.
So Dreamy.

My 15th Entry -- inspired by Facebook

After reading the 25th or so "25 Random Facts about Me" posts I gave in and wrote my own. I was surprised I had trouble limiting it to 25.  I shouldn't be, since I'm an open book, but I was surprised I could write 25 fairly independent thought on the subject.  I was trying to be careful to not be negative about any of the items.  That led me to an idea of purging the negative thoughts out of my head.  I thought I'd try writing them out of my head, and might as well put them here for any of you interested who may relate.  I have a gift.  I can see the negative in almost anything.  I'm sleepy, though, so it'll be interesting if this post make any sense when I re-read it later...

25 Random Negative Thoughts I Wish Would Get Out of My Head

1. I've let my husband convince me that most people are idiots.
2. The idiots haven't tried to convince me otherwise.
3. People don't ask me to do things (socially) because I'm too busy.
4. I can't stop gaining weight.
5. I used to {be cool, do something that mattered, be healthier, be interesting}.
6. Being good at fixing computers makes me boring at social events.
7. I envy artists and wish I could express myself like they do.
8. I have to re-read, re-write, re-think everything because it's not good enough as-is.
9. If I'm not entertaining, I'm not worth hanging around with.
10. I was a lot more special when I was younger and had accomplished more than the average young person.
11. Being average is not good enough.
12. My daughter prefers my husband because he'll watch stupid batman cartoons.
13. I can't do anything pretty with my hair because I can't wear it up.
14. I can't be in a photo because I've gained so much weight and my face looks funny flattened in photographs.
15. I'm more different than the average person in every way that isn't good.
16. If you don't try make an effort in a relationship the way I do, it's not fair (and you obviously don't care).
17. If I'm the only one asking questions in a conversation, I'm the only one who cares enough to have the conversation.
18. I can't say something I'm thinking because it'll make someone mad.
19. Feeling connected to a friend other than my husband is unfaithful.
20. I work harder than my husband does.
21. It's not worth trying to do something if I can't do it 100% perfectly in one sitting.
22. People are stupid when they think they're "cooler" than everyone else because they refuse to enjoy popular things simply because they're popular (e.g. American Idol, Social Networking sites, etc).
23. Noone pays enough attention to me to know when they're being offensive.
24. People are too self absorbed about everything.
25. I need to improve myself. (clarification versus I want to..)

My 33rd Entry -- Inspired by bugs.

I tried not to get crazy with it... But you should see how many images I bothered to save and NOT post! I really had a tough time picking which ones I thought were post-worthy from yesterday's visit to the St. Louis Butterfly House.  The first one I posted, My Self Image, is my favorite.



It looks like a digital creation, but other than cutting out the wall around the butterfly and its shadow, I promise I did nothing more.  I'm pondering how to frame it.. or whether I'd prefer the open edges of a canvas print unframed.  Feedback would be great.

Still no new camera.  Still $150 short of goal.  Had to deposit the fund into the "bill paying" fund anyway, but I still will claim it back, once I've gotten my extra $150.  I could get a refurb D90 for $699 that someone from St Louis referred me to.  I have until next month to get one of those deals... Very tempting... very very tempting.

Life is... moving along.  I'm not working overnights now, so I'm not getting as much done.  But, I'm awake during hours to go shoot daytime photos, like the butterflies.  Who knows, you guys may want me back on nights.. LOL..

Anyway, sorry for the flood of images (to my watchers).  Hope you enjoy!  Let me know which ones I should retire.

My 38th Entry -- Inspired by IlovemynewcameraIlovemynewcameraIlovemynewcamera

The title says it all.  I do.  I <3 my new camera.  It is as amazing to feel like I have control over what I see versus what I capture in the camera as it is frustrating to realize I forgot I changed some silly control and now the image looks like crap   Gotta love the learning process.

I just spent.. hour(s?) or so continuing to clean out my gallery.  I cut another 10-15% out.  Especially important given my number of recent submissions and the trip I'm leaving for in the morning which is likely to leave me with much to post (since it's soul purpose is to break in my new camera.. I love my new camera.  Have I mentioned that yet?)

I want a new lens to go with my new camera.  I want the Tokina 11-16 and either the 70-300 or 80-400 VR lens.  I know, patience kara.. another great deal will come your way if you're patient... but, I don't wanna be   I want the battery grip and shutter release cable and I want.. and I want.  Heh.  I sound like my 7y/o.

I've come across some great photogs to add to my watchlist.  Check these out! (each from a diff artist)








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My 40th Entry -- Inspired by belonging

With the flood of photos, if you're watching me you've probably already figured out I went to New York City last week.   Sorry to those of you at home, I can't lie.  I have never enjoyed myself so much for so long.  Steven says that's why they call it a vacation.... *sigh*  I guess I'd never had one of those before

The epic moment of my trip was caught in this photo.

It is my favorite of the trip and was one of my "take my breath away" moments I had while in the city.  It has been nearly 10 years since I'd been there.  I promised an officer (I want to say his badge said Valquez) at the 42nd Street platform that I would be back soon.

I took hundreds and hundreds of photos.  I tried to only post my favorites here, but nearly each one is associated with an experience that makes it difficult to determine if I love the photo for sentimental or technical reasons.   Maybe I'll get lucky and some corporate photog will think I need to go back   Ok, ok, so a girl can dream, can't she?  I'd settle for just a computer geek job.  I'm not *that* picky...

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My 46th Entry -- Inspired by calm

This is the first day in a while I've felt calm and in control.  I've been getting a lot of work done, and still getting some play time in.  The pool is clearing up, customers are buying stuff, and I'm churning through laptops, slowly but surely.  There, nothing depressing to complain about

I'm still not really digging the light tent.  I think I'd have better luck with a better flash.  I am having fun with the desktop lights (with diffusers) that came with the tent though.   I just don't think they're quite bright enough to do what they're supposed to with that tent.  I still get bad shadows and a lot of texture from the fabrics, even with low F numbers.  I'll keep trying though.  Product photos with flash have definitely been better, but I don't have an SB flash for my camera, and the built-in causes more trouble than its worth with most of my lenses.

I'm playing with food and my macro lens.  I played with cherries today.  Now it's time for cherry salad, cherry jello, cherry snacks, cherry...  yeah..   I have some other things to play with too..  Maybe I'll post more before the night is over... but I really should get some more work done first.

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