Spring is Coming

I took these photos last Spring...but with Spring right around the corner, I was anxious to do some designing that was warmer and brighter.  I love these old homes and can't wait to get out this year and photograph some of the old homes with the Spring bloom!

Spring Cottage

Welcoming Spring

Zoo Visit

I just noticed I haven't written anything in a while.  Guess it's time to catch up.  I've been trying to use my down time to work on some photo editing.  By the way, I got two new lenses...finally!  I studied for weeks reviews and charts and although, some would say never buy anything but Nikon I decided on two very wonderful Sigma lenses.  The first for group and individual portraits, the other, a macro zoom lense, which should also be great for portrait work.  Still playing with them and trying to find my "zone."  Guess I'll have to get Beki out there again. 

Yesterday, I wanted badly to go out to the zoo to test out the zoom lense.  Tried heading out in the morning, but the skies looked threatening and we decided to go home.  Late afternoon, we decided to try again.  Well, for my first try with this monster lense, I think I did fairly well.  Here's a peak at some of my zoo favorites.

I think this is my favorite of the day...he just pierced me with those eyes.

Either he was thinking about dinner or maybe that I was looking a bit appetizing. ;o)

She looked so regal sitting up there.

When this guy saw me coming...he strutted right at me just like he was coming over to pose and then he did!  Another passer-by even commented that he must like the attention and the camera.  I was just afraid he was going to spit on me!

...another favorite.

The storms did finally hit with some tornado watches and warnings again in our areas.  It didn't stop us though from meeting some friends (Kelly and Phil) way out on the other side of St. Louis for a taste of Lebanese food at Saleem's.  It was great company and wonderful and will have to be added as another favorite.  The 45 minute drive is well worth it.

And a couple nice shots of my hubby...



Winter 2011

This winter takes me back to my childhood memories of long ago winters when the snow seemed to be around us all the time, well, at least that's how I remember it...snow angels, igloo forts and frosty snow men. We woke up yesterday to a fresh coating of about 4 inches of beautiful white snow. Our neighbor, Pat, was so sweet when he stopped over the day before and asked if I could take some winter pictures for him and offered to pay. I told him I'd love to and, no, payment was not necessary. I've given him two other photos of his bridge in spring and fall and he wanted a winter one to match. So, I went out yesterday and snapped some photos. Now you can imagine that with all that fresh snow, my pictures were pretty "white". So, I decided to spruce up a few and here are the results.

After my little photo session, John and I headed out to Troy for Beki's Show Choir competition.  Unfortunately, they did not place at this competition.  They are a good show choir, but their show is way "out there" and a lot of judges don't like that.  They did really well and deserved to make finals.  I'm a parent and I might be a tad biased.  (wink)

John and I then decided to make a quick stop over to see the eagles, but they weren't cooperating and all I got was a couple distance shots of them sitting in the trees.  Going to have to get out there one day at the crack of dawn, I guess to see them in action.  The pelicans were fun to watch though over by the dam.  They were funny...they'd ride the current down the river then fly back up towards the dam and ride the waves back down again.  And I sure could have used that 200 or 300 zoom lense!

Eagle landing in top of the tree

 Coming in for a landing

Pelicans riding the waves

More new textures....couldn't decide how I liked this photo, so decided to post both.  One's more traditional and the other, well, you can see...

Sitting Pretty

Window Dressing

Strolling through the streets of historic Kimmswick, Missouri, I saw this window.  The cross in the window caught my eye.  There's something about windows that grab my attention.  Maybe it's the unknown...what is life like behind the window.  Windows are the eyes of a home...they see all and we see life through them.

Window Dressing 

 

Welcome to the New Year

Wishing everyone a great 2011! 

Photo from my in-laws house.  We had a white Christmas!

Reflections

The original of these photos did not have the reflections.  The reflections were created in Photoshop.  I love the artistic freedom this program allows.  I'm learning new techniques every day.