Favorite Photo Friday

I'm just finishing up a clients wedding pictures and had to share this one of the two little flower girls.

These 2 were beyond precious and just stole everyone's heart. I had a hard time not swooning every time I pointed my lens at them.

And another favorite photo was after some rain earlier this week and my roses (this one is the climber "New Dawn") were heavy with raindrops. That's the time to grab an image and then I softened it up in editing.

Very few words today because......I'm unplugging for a few days.......time to just chill and play with the kids.

Bring it on!

Happy Friday!
xoxo

Sunday Snapshot

Another school year....gone!

Here is where I can really see how her face is maturing.



......but her silliness cuteness remains the same.


Anybody notice that Milana has gone from standing beside her big sis and just looking cute to................the honorable role of "pack mule"! I sometimes try and change the course of this division of power but this morning it just made me giggle. That backpack is hanging so low that if I attached clippers to it she could mow the grass as she walks. (Not that I would do that or anything....)

Talking photography for a minute - the above collage is a good example of the challenges of grabbing pictures of your kiddos as they move and run. We had about 2 minutes to grab some last day of school pictures or we woud have been late. The light conditions changed with each shot so it's a constant scramble to change the settings. ISO, shutterspeed and aperature changed here 3 times in about 5 seconds. You can really see the changes here in these 3 shots.

For a look back at previous years of first and last days of school for Dahlia, click on the link below. 

http://atlastmilanascominhome.blogspot.ca/2010/09/black-and-white-wednesday-woo-hoograde.html

Oh, how they change and grow!


(Same time last year, above)


(And the beginning of this school year, above)

Back to now....June 2012 and last day of Grade 3. 
And school is OUT!!


And as the school bell rang for the last time this year, we could hear squeals of delight as the kids came pouring out. Dahlia is so overjoyed, instead of walking or running....she's doing the happy dance.

This has really been a watershed year for all of us. Dahlia became a "reader" this year. She loves to read her chapter books, visit the library and read everyday this year. Her marks continue to improve and the things she is learning surprise (and shock) me. I know we didn't know half the stuff she knows at her age. She's interested in history, geography and how things work as well as art and music.

Dahlia and Milana have become inseparable - playing together constantly which has helped Milana so much with her language development. Milana has being a little chatterbox now of course, which confirms that old adage - "be careful what you wish for". (Kidding of course, we're delighted with her advancing language skills.)

My camera: Nikon D300

Lens: 28-75 mm 2:8

ISO,shutterspeed,f/stop: all over the place.

Yes, it's been a great Grade 3 for our big girl. 
We are so proud of you sweetheart!

Now.....let the summer begin!!!

Happy Summer everyone!
xoxo

Sunday Snapshot

Daddy's two treasures, walking out of church on our way to Sunday brunch.

Happy Father's Day!

Camera: iphone 4S

Settings: who knows......how refreshing!

;-)

Tuesday....around the world.

I think there are two different kind of people in the world.

Those who "hate" black flowers

and those who love them! 

One guess which side I'm on. Oh, come on....do you think so?

And a few other colors too but true black flowers fascinate me. The black petunia above has almost no purple in it...it truly is black. I was like a kid in a candy shop when I found it....bought 2 boxes and mixed them with white geraniums and some green.



My little garden fairy, watches over my garden as she has for many years.

I'm happy to say I finally spent a Saturday tending to my garden that was being threatened by every weed known to man. The girls were pretty handy with their garden chores - each one trying to win points as to who was the best garden assistant.

Of course, they both thought they were and I wasn't about to contradict them. Garden help is garden help...rewarded with fudgicles and running through the sprinkler.

These pictures were all taken around 7:00 PM when the sun was it's most delicious. 50mm 1:4 lens - opened wide.

 

Happy Tuesday.....around the world!

Favorite Photo Friday

What with all the work lately (and playing around with fancy equipment), I just took a few shots of some roses the other day.


With my trusty Nikon D300....which I still love....even though I had a quick and steamy affair with the D4!!

And what with the mound of editing still in front of me, to save some time I thought I'd try out some Florabella actions on these roses. I used the Luxe, soft pink and from the Classic Collection, the soft haze. 

A bit of a departure from my usual "in your face already" style but I like it!

Do visit Lisa's blog and check out some amazing photography. Just oogle or join in - always a great way to learn.

This will be the first Saturday in awhile that I'm not working so the family is hitting the yard and garden. My flowers are now shouting at me...."hey...remember us?". So this week-end I will.

Happy Week-end!

xoxo

Tuesday......Around the World.

A few days ago, I got my hot little hands on the new Nikon D4. Which is the equivalent of "nirvana" to a photographer.

So, I had to try it out....Dahlia had the day off from school and though the clouds were rolling in....we headed to our little park around the corner.

You might think that I direct her, suggest props and coax her into these poses....but I really don't. I just have one mantra. "Relax your mouth". That's all I ever say....the rest is pure Dahlia.


I laugh every time I remember how she used to growl at me as a toddler, whenever I would bring out my camera. I really had to work hard to get a decent picture.




Yes.....that would be me in the garden globe. I little souvenir of working with such an amazing camera.

My goal this year is to get the new Nikon D800 but after getting to play around with the D4.......well....it's like a Ferrari. Anything less is.......just less.



However.....I'll still work for the D800. And be very grateful when I get it. (My motto has always been - never own anything you can't afford to replace.)

So...back to Dahlia. She can look so mature and serious one minute and then becomes my crazy little girl the next.


I just love all the different sides that make up my Dahlia Grace.

Join in the fun and tour the world this Tuesday.

Happy Day!
xo