Happy Halloween!

The boys as batman and a mummy (or Lazarus...)

And Becca is an aircraft carrier...get it?

Practicing for Senior Pictures

Becca and I went out to Blanchette and McNair parks in St. Charles to scope out good shots for her senior pictures. We practiced...here are some of the ones I liked best.
I'd appreciate any photography, posing, or other advice you might have!

More favorite camp shots

Ok, so I didnt' take these today, but I took LOTS of camp photos!

The boys had a blast on the new water slide. The first shot is Kevin, next is Chris, and the last shot is their friend Noah.

Trying Portraits

While we were at camp, I played with the 'portrait' setting on my camera. Here are some of the results...I still need to think about foregrounds and backgrounds, and I want to work on less 'posed' shots.

More Camp Photos

Kayak boys...I wasn't sure I really wanted to let them go off across the lake all by themselves, but they did an amazing job!

Teddy Bear Camp 2

This is the 'Blob'. Neither boy was going to do it because they didn't want to go into the dirty looking lake water, but once Kevin saw someone else do it, he was sold. Chris held back until he was sure that Kevin was safe, then he decided to jion in the fun. These shots were taken on Chris' first try. First,Chris jumps off the platform onto the huge air mattress.




After landing, Chris moves to the end and Kevin jumps off the platform



Which launches Christopher into the lake.


Then Kevin moves to the end for his turn.




These were taken at a shutter speed of 1/200, Aperture f4.5, and ISO 100 (except the last one, it had shutter speed of 1.320, and aperture of f5.6.

Teddy Bear Camp - 1

The boys and I went to High Hill camp this weekend...they had a blast! The first thing they did was play on the new playground.

In A Friend's Garden

Do You Have to Flash That Thing?

I wanted to give Sam equal time, but he was in a shy mood...

My Shadow

Scamper has decided that she is my guardian angel. In the morning she lays on the floor next to my bed and won't leave until I wake up. She must be watching me, because if I roll over and my arm extends over the edge of the bed, she is right there with her cold nose checking it out. She stays close to me regardless of where I am in the house. I think she may be looking to me as HER guardian angel; to protect her from two rambunctious boys who want her to play.

I've had a lot of trouble getting a good picture of her...every time she sees the camera she wants to run up to it and check it out. That makes for some really fascinating nose pictures!

Profusion

The black-eyed Susan plant I put in a year ago has gone crazy!


Shutter speed 1/20
Aperature f3.20
ISO 100

Backgrounds

I'm trying to learn to pay more attention to backgrounds...it really makes a lot of difference!

Summers Promise Fulfilled

The tomatoes are ripe! And they are very yummy...

A little too centered...
Shutter speed 1/250
Aperature f4.00
ISO 100

Portraits

I wanted to start playing with the portrait setting on my camera.

indoors...shutter speed 1/40, aperature f3.20, ISO 100


outdoors...shutter speed 1/800, aperature f5.00, ISO 100

Catching the Waves

I tried to get some shots of the boys playing in the wave pool (Kevin's favorite place), but it took me a while to learn to shoot a second before the shot I wanted actually appeared! And of course I got a lot of great 'rear' shots of people who stepped in front of the camera just as I pushed the button!

The Ball Pit

Because the room was so dark, the shutter speed was really slow. I had the camera on a railing so it didn't move. There isn't too much movement here, but it's neat to see the bounce from balls that were being shot down from a floor above with air guns. The boys (especially Doug) had a great time fighting across balconies with the other dads and their sons. The moms started picking up balls from the first level, filling up the canvas bags provided for this purpose, and throwing bags full of balls up to the guys. It was pretty hilarious!


Shutter speed 1/6
Aperature f2.80
ISO 200

Series

I used my sports setting to see if I could get a good series of shots. They were all taken with a shutter speed of 1/60, aperature of f3.2, and ISO of 800. The last two aren't as crisp as I would like them, but I found out that my camera lens had fogged over...the camera was still cold from the airconditioned hotel room and the pool room was warm and humid.

The New Floor

Well, we are basically done with the floor in the kitchen, breakfast room, and laundry room. Of course this shot shows one of the three places where I still need to finish the moulding...oh well!

The Fence

Fleur de Lis Tea Room

A friend asked me to take some photos of her tea room for a brochure...it's a beautiful place!

Farm on a Hill

A farm on the first hillside you see when you enter Tennessee via highway 55 from MO. It was really far away, but I loved how it was nestled into the hillside.

I used the full extent of the telescopic lens, and the sky was overcast. I was surprised at how fuzzy, or maybe foggy, all the shots of this scene were. It almost looks like I took a photo and blew it up way too many times. Looking at it I realize that I made mistake number one -- don't center your picture! I do like how the sun is shining on the field in the foreground.

Tennessee Camel

I found this guy in a field in western Tennessee...he is part of the 'official' Tennessee Safari Park. He looks pretty happy!

Shutter 1/400
Aperature f5.60
Speed 100

Weather was overcast, he was pretty far away. I took the shot at max telephoto and then I increased it again through cropping.

July 11 - Obion River