Self Portrait

I wasn't looking forward to this one, but it was actually pretty fun.  I googled "self-portraits" and got all kinds of ideas - sitting in a corner, reading a book in bed, extremely close-up shot of eyes, and a few others that I liked.  So then I started thinking about when I should take this self portrait.  When would be a good time?  When could I not have Hope running between me and the camera right at the precise moment that the shutter opens.  When would I be able to keep a now mobile Juliana from being more interested in this tripod thing than any of her dozens of other toys?

Then I realized that I am really only by my "self" first thing in the morning when I am getting ready for the day.  So I felt a little silly setting up the tripod in the bathroom.  I really didn't have many options as far as angle - the tripod had two legs in the bath tub and one outside of it - that didn't leave much room for adjustments.  I did a lot of going back and forth between the back and the front of the camera.  I tried to use my remote to save some of that, but I probably should have done a least a little homework on that first because I couldn't get it to work. 

I had all kinds of shots with all kinds of different facial expressions (I took 51 total) - maybe I will post more of them on my regular blog eventually.  But for the photo challenge, I picked just one.

F/4.2 1/13 sec ISO 200 Indoor lighting, no flash

Next Week: Shadows

I Dreamed a Dream

All week, I was planning to take a photo of Hope in the morning.  She is at the point where she remembers her dreams and will tell me about them.  Sometimes at 3 in the morning like she did this week when she told me about her friend Jayda having a new baby at her house (which will be true in a couple of months).  But since the lighting isn't the best at 3 a.m., I was going to go for the morning shot of Hope in her PJs and her hair its typical morning mess. 

But then I watched Hope take a nap yesterday, and I went for her dreamy eyelashes while she was actually in dreamland instead.  The only thing I did in Photoshop was take the color out (leaving a little sepia tone in), just to put a little more emphasis on how dark her lashes really are.

f/1.8 1/10 sec ISO-200 natural lighting

Next Week:  Self Portrait (UGH!)

Made With Love

Made With Love - that is certainly crying out for a photo of my girls.  But I opted not to go that route, and save them as subjects for other weeks.

So, instead, I chose the daughters of two of my friends, Alison and Mike.  I received this birth announcement in the mail this week.  Meet Baby Ella, born December 20th, and her Big Sister Ava.  When I associated this with the theme, I actually wasn't thinking directly of the girls, but more of the card itself.   I loved it, just as much as I loved the announcements I sent out for Juliana eight months ago.  I have a hunch Mike designed it - and I bet he made it with love.

Next week's theme: I Dreamed a Dream

Project 52

I joined a couple of friends in committing to a 52 week photography challenge.  It is pretty simple really - I need to post one photo per week that fits a given theme.

I set up a separate blog so that I do not mix in who knows what photos with what might eventually be my children's baby books, if I ever get around to having my "normal" blog printed as I plan to.  Particularly since I haven't been great about keeping up with Hope's baby book, and I haven't even purchased one for Juliana yet.

I am not exactly sure what my goal is.  I think I would like to get back to thinking about photography again.  I would like to say that my goal is to take the absolute best photos that I think I can, but I don't think that is realistic.  I do want to do that challenge one year, but don't think this is the one.  So I guess at this point it is just to take photos regularly.  Maybe they will be of my kids.  Maybe they won't.  Maybe they will be great shots.  Maybe they won't.  Maybe I will put a lot of thought into them.  Maybe I won't.  But I hope I make it to the end of the year and can say I completed all 52 themes.   

We missed the first week - "Resolution."  At some point I plan on going back and making it up, so it really is Project 52 instead just Project 51.

Here we go......First assignment - "Made With Love"