challenge: cook and shoot

It's a photograph-kind-of-day! I love photography...and follow several amazing photographers' blogs, including this lovely lady, Susan Lloyd. I got to meet her in person on my trip to the Carolinas, and she takes wayyyyy better shots of our favorite band than I do. Well, she tweeted about this challenge tonight, and I decided to join her! Now, I wasn't cooking anything fancy but I have to say it was yummy! So, here is me cooking, and well, shooting!

A few things to note:
-The picture of "Need to breathe: Always" started out as our "Need to buy" list. A clever friend who knows of my love changed it, and I had to add always...and it's stayed since.
-And yes, in the background of that same picture, there is a bottle of Cheerwine in my fridge. :)

favorite picture...so far

So I get challenged by a good friend all the time to take pictures, and her latest challenge is to post the best/favorite picture you've ever taken. Instantly my mind went to this shot. I love everything about it...it's of my favorite band, the lighting, the focus, the detail...for my little camera, I felt like a semi-legit photographer in capturing this shot. I am pretty sure I've shared this photo before, but I don't care! :)

NEEDTOBREATHE April 17, 2010- Music Farm, Charleston SC

rearview mirror

This photo shoot brought to you once again by Photo Freak.
Challenge was to capture yourself in the rearview mirror of your car. :)

eye. heart. ewe.

This picture is brought to you by a challenge by Photo Freak.

I bought this heart ornament two Christmases ago, and it has made a permanent home on my wall in my room. I took this photo about 6 months ago.

Chip's modeling career

...or my assignment from Photo Freak? I give you Chip Cooper. He's kinda cute.

I love how here he magically looks like a kitten. He's not.

No, I did not use the strap on my camera as a distraction ;)

Thank you Jess, for always encouraging me to look at the world through my lens.

weekend.

This weekend I crossed off one of the first of the 29 things on my list! I went wine tasting...and it was so fun! Our first place, Cougar Vineyard ended up being my favorite and Stephanie and I joined their wine club. We liked all of their 9 wine samples, which is surprising...the other two places offered less samples (for more money) and we liked 50% of them or less. So, I am excited I've crossed off something on my list...and look forward to crossing off more! I also got to have tea with friends the other weekend. Next up I think will be baking the pie from scratch and seeing NEEDTOBREATHE at least twice. I've started the reading the bible in a year, but that will not be accomplished until next July!



I also was asked to do a photo of eyes and submit it to Photo Freak. I got my entry in too late, but I thought I'd share it here. I took it on the way back from our trip. :)

published.

I think Jessica Cheatwood will be proud of me when I share this...my recent photos are being used in the promo materials for my work's annual fundraiser! Every year we hold the Avila Beach Music Festival, and all proceeds go to our cause- full inclusion for persons with disabilities. I found out last week that a few of my photos that I took at a birthday bonfire at the beach are being used in some of the materials. I would never have fancied myself as a photographer, even though I do enjoy taking pictures. But here is an example (the top part of the beach is my photo!):

P.S. I do realize this is also a shameless plug for a great event...if you know anyone who is a ZZ Top fan and will be in the area on September 2, tell them about this opportunity to support a wonderful cause!

one spot.

So, I follow this blog...and it keeps on encouraging me to take pictures of things and post them. I have to admit that I secretly enjoy these assignments very much! The latest assignment was to go to a spot, any spot, and find beauty. I cheated a little, in that, I actually took these shots from two different spots. BUT they will be differentiated.

Spot 1:

i love old fashioned furniture. it is simply classy.

fireplaces are so fun! love the shadow...

a contender for my fave photo of the night. this is the only ring i wear,
a reminder of the kind of woman
God made me to be...a woman of faith.

i liked that i could peek through a hole and see beyond.

this makes me want to see two people in love leaning in toward each other in these seats.


Spot 2: (because there were no people...)

the waiting wall. love the dangly feet.

action on the dance floor!

other contender for fave photo. i love that i captured this moment
between two people whose story i do not know.

and walking out, these two glasses sat, satisfactorily empty. i liked that.

I have dreams now, Jess, of owning a much nicer camera than my point and shoot...and have fallen in love with editing. I blame you. I am learning that you don't have to have the best equipment or even the best skills to make great artistic shots. You need your own style, and need to not be afraid of using tools to help. This was fun. :)

photo love

I have several good friends who are also amazing photographers...one of whom has a photo blog! She recently wrote about what she loves about pictures and why she loves taking them. This inspired me to share some of my favorite photos. I am not an expert photographer...in fact, these were all taken either on a cell phone or a point and shoot type of camera. But if you know me at all, I love pictures. I love taking them, I love collecting them, I love putting them in albums (online or hands on). So, here are a few recent faves. Enjoy!

taken with my old cell phone while on a lunch break...love the colors

i love quirky little things like fun cake toppers.


also taken with my old cell phone. yes, i took this myself. i saw how the light was coming in and had to capture it!

Bo's shoes! so so fun, i am proud of this shot!

took this on my new phone with a fun photo application called "toy camera"

old cell phone, early morning baby sitting. took advantage of a fun moment. mirrors make for some cool pics!

the lighting was great for this shadowed looking shot of this gorgeous church

angles make photos look cooler. that's my unprofessional opinion.

i was just playing with flash/no flash. so glad i did! look at this incredible shot! it's like an expert...but not!

same idea, but this one had different lighting. needtobreathe looks epic here.

babes. both looking adorable.

another cell phone capture. it is a MUST that my cell phone can take pictures. here is a good reason why.

As you can see, I have a variety of subjects I enjoy, and have no official style to speak of. But I love pictures...and all of these were taken by yours truly. Even the self portrait. I like to look for shots that look artistic. I also like purely fun shots.