Photo 52: A Play on Light (Week 37: Diffused Light)

This is week 37 and our third week of diffused light. We have had a lot of overcast and rainy days lately and Saturday we made the trip to New Jersey to spend time with our family. Big sister and older cousin dressed up Harper complete with hair and makeup and I was swooning over the soft light coming in from the huge windows.  ​

Please follow along the circle and see what Lisa Rigazio chose for her photo this week HERE

Letters to My Daughters | May 2013

My little eyes are watching all you say and do
And when I grow up big and tall I want to be like you
My little ears are listening to everything you say
I am learning how to grow up to be like you some day
So be careful how you teach me
To be the person that you are
You're the best friend that I could have
You're my brightest shining star

--Patsy Gaut

 

This poem is called "Big Sister" but I found the words very meaningful for all ages, including adults. I am so often reminded of the importance of how I speak to my girls and to other adults and children in my life because my girls watch and later mimic my behaviors. We all need to be role models for the younger generation.

Girls, I strive to set the best example I can for both of you. You two are the brightest shining stars in my life. I love you more than words and love watching your beautiful imaginations at play and often wonder just what you will be when you grow up big and tall. I know I will be one proud Momma regardless.

Please continue along our letters to my daughters blog circle by seeing what my friend, Nicole Johnson of Colie James Photography wrote to her darling little girl HERE

Photo 52: A Play on Light (Week 35: Diffused Light)

This month we are focusing on diffused light. This is light that is soft and doesn't have the intensity or the glare of direct light. The light is scattered and comes from all directions and it tends to wrap around objects. This week I chose two photos from our trip to the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens after school on Friday to see all their cherry blossoms in full bloom. It was spectacular! These two photos were shot with backlight (sun behind my subject) as this is highly diffused lighting.

Please continue along the circle and see what my friend Jill Cassara chose as her photo for diffused light HERE



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Photo 52: A Play on Light (Week 34: Night Light)

This is week 34 and the last week of our focus on light during different times of the day. We are looking at photographs during the night, when you utilize artificial light sources typically. This is a fun one, but not exactly my forte. A tripod is really the best means to capture light trails and starbursts and long exposures if you want to capture fun city shots, but unfortunately mine is broken. So, on date night on Friday night I took my camera and shot through the cab in an attempt to shoot an out of focus shot. This is definitely out of my ​comfort zone, but this is my choice for the week.

Please continue along in the circle and see what my friend Erica Collins chose for her night shot in the rain HERE

​Through the cabbie in a NY minute

Photo 52: A Play on Light (Week 33: Evening Light)

Week 33 and this week we are focusing on evening light. This is my favorite time of day to photograph. The harsh shadows disappear, the light is "golden" and you can really shoot in almost any direction when the sun is low enough on the horizon. It's fun to experiment during this time. Sadly, my kids won't be seeing the golden hour until the Fall because true golden hour falls a half hour before until a half hour after sunset and now it's way past their bedtime :( My photo for this week was taken on one of our last nights in Aitutaki. The sky was unreal! And, if you follow my blog posts, you know that silhouettes are one of my favorite techniques to practice.

Please follow along the circle and see what my friend, Erica Collins, beautiful mom of FIVE little ones chose for her evening/golden hour shot this week HERE


Sunset on Aitutaki, Cook Islands

Photo 52: A Play on Light (Week 32: Exploring Day Light)

This is week 32 of our Play on Light blog circle. I have some catching up to do after having no Internet access while we were traveling so will be adding posts in the next few weeks so I am all caught up. This month we are exploring light at different times of the day, beginning with morning light last week, day light, then evening light and light at night. ​

This week we are looking at photos during the day light hours- typically the time of day when it's best to avoid photographing in direct sunlight given the harsh sun and harsh shadows the light can cause. We were in the Cook Islands (in the South Pacific) on a dream vacation with my family and my parents for two weeks and I have to say about 80% of all my shots I took on the vacation were during the peak hours of the day because it's when the sky and lagoon and ocean turned the most magnificent colors. I have never seen so many different shades of blue and turquoise. And it would change if the sun went behind a cloud or if was morning light or late afternoon light. It was stunning and it never got old to look at (or photograph). I chose three shots to include this week and yes, I am still dreaming of going back!​

After you finish this, please head over to my New York friend, Sarah Roemer Davis and see what gorgeous shot she captured of her urban lifestyle HERE

​Running along "Honeymoon Island"

​Drew and Gabba snorkeling in the lagoon

Girls on the lagoon cruise

Letters to My Daughters | April 2013

This is my third letter in our "Letters to My Daughters" blog circle with some lovely and talented friends. You can read my first installment HERE.​

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My sweet Harper,​

This month I am writing my letter to you. When did you become an almost four year old? I am reminded daily that you are turning four when you ask me how many more days until June 3! Birthdays are the best. I often think about you as a baby still and how tiny you were when you were born, especially compared to your big sister. I have stopped comparing how different the two of you are size-wise because I truly love that you are so unique and your own person. In so many ways, you make up for your petite size in your strength, tenacity and energy.

Time continues to fly by and I am astonished at how much you are learning and at what a quick pace. I tell you all the time how lucky you are that you have a big sister to watch and learn from. I would do anything to have a sister. Luckily I have the best friends in the world to make up for it. You pick up on everything Drew is learning and then some. She truly is your role model and I know you want to do everything she is doing and don't tell her... but you just about are!

You are fish in the water. You swim with ease as you learn the crawl and backstroke from Gabba and never want to stop. I put my hands out in case you need to hold on, but you just keep on moving to the other side of the pool. I can see this shaping into the analogy of your life. But, I'll always be there with my two hands.

​​You share so much love with your friends and family and it makes me so proud. There are times when you hug me and say "Momma, I just love you so so so much. You are the best Momma in the whole world" and you snuggle into my lap in the fetal position. I fear the day you are too big to do this. You love your daddy. Oh, do you love him. You recently told him that you want to marry him because he is the nicest man in the whole world. Your daddy would do anything for you and he will have your back for the rest of your life. And most importantly, you love yourself! Whenever you talk about who you love, you always include yourself and that is pretty awesome.

You love princesses. You just love them and cannot get enough of the stories, the dressing up, the crowns, the heels and the hair. For you birthday, you have asked for a Rapunzel wig so you can have hair as long as Rapunzel's. Just wait until we surprise you with your first trip to Disney at the end of the year! You love school and learning and working on your numbers and your letters and trying to read. You love drawing hearts and rainbows and stars and princes and princesses with long hair and dresses  -all the things that make your heart sing. And you LOVE playing make believe. Just today I heard you drawing birthday cards for each member of our family and you were sounding out "I love you" so you could write it. You hid it in the house somewhere and I can't wait to find it one day!

Harper, I love you to pieces and while your Dad and I are a bit worried about you in your teenage years given the attitude and sass we can get from you occasionally, I know you won't let anyone take advantage of you and you will take a stand and be brave and courageous, and most importantly, you will love. It's just who you are. 

I love you, pumpkin!​

Love, Mommy

Please continue along our circle and read Emily Lovald Jackson of Cat and the Fiddle Photography's letter to her daughters HERE.

Here are some photos from our recent trip to the Cook Islands. Many more photos of our trip to be featured on the blog in the near future!​

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Photo 52: A Play on Light (Week 28: Artificial Light)

This is week 28 of our play on light and we are focusing on artificial light this month. I had a difficult time with my theme this week, so chose a photo I took last weekend when I was down in Clearwater, Florida with some of my best girlfriends. The sun had already set and on our way to dinner I ran to the beach to see what the dock looked like. I loved how the dock and water were illuminated by the lights. Here is my take for the week. 

Please continue along the circle and see what my friend Lisa Rigazio chose for her photo this week HERE.​