somewhere in alabama

A few scenic shots from a break at The 40, Intervarsity's student conference for Georgia schools.  It really was a beautiful place.

not in control

I decided to have some fun with the camera on my computer.  Since I did not have any say regarding the camera settings, I arranged lighting, composition and expressions.  

It was fun!  I highly recommend a computer with a camera - just taking more pictures is one easy way to learn more!

orchard visit...that turned into a date!

So...I've been distracted lately.  I'll get back into the swing of things!

wedding fun

This August Todd Adamson gave me the great opportunity to help out with a wedding.  Photography for weddings is the most interesting to me.  It was great fun!  Todd ended up passing along a few of my shots to the couple!  That is even more fun!  Here are a few of my favorites from the ones that he touched up and passed along.  Thanks Todd!

isolated body parts

Back in May I visited a rural Iowa community festival.  I'm still learning about the legalities surrounding posting pictures of people / children from public events.  Anyone know the facts here?  In light of those questions, below are a few isolated body parts!

photoshop practice

Before and after shots from downtown St. Paul.  This picture that has potential as a future puzzle, gave me some good practice in photoshop.  Do you notice the differences?  And even better...do you know what I did?

more roses

a little piece of living room worship

A good friend was visiting last week and his creativity with the guitar inspired me to get my camera.

A picture is worth a thousand...more pictures?

Here is one picture and more that were made from it.

A desperate walk

It had been so long since I had been able to get out with my camera I just took a walk and shot everything I saw...and a few things I didn't.

Is the red in the background identifiable?

The lovely historic district was home to dead things...

And very much alive things!

things about photography I enjoy...

natural light...

learning from a professional...

people willing to let you practice...
(you know who you are - if you duck every time you see a camera, twist your head around and throw your hands up - I'm talking about the smiling person next to you)

being really cool with little kids...
("of course she's a professional! You don't pay $700 for a camera unless you're really serious!") Since most professionals own multiple lenses that cost more than $700, I got a kick out of that one!

quality equipment...
This picture of me was taken with a Nikon D3 - which is just a little more expensive than $700...

sticking with photography...

Spring means lots of activity around the house!


Good friends over for brunch...




yard work...















and sewing projects!


After ruining a pair of work pants I was trying to hem, hemming a pair of capris the wrong direction and ruining my favorite work skirt - all while watching my roommate finish a set of pajamas...I have decided to stick with photography!

focal length : shutter speed

I was a regular model photographer with my friend's children. I was crawling around on my knees - taking hundreds of shots - and they were perfectly posed, exposed and framed...or at least it looked like it in the view finder.

However, photo...

After photo...

After photo...

After photo...

...was fuzzy or out of focus or something was just wrong. When I brought it up to Todd (see top right) he mentioned a ratio that I had not heard of before. Shutter speed should always be at least the same as the focal length. That should help reduce any lens shake. I'm excited to see the difference.

This last picture is here because it was one of my favorites from the weekend.