Christmas Cranberries

  Photo forum lesson was on food photography and Kris shared about having it in context so was practicing that concept.   I am still not sure if I succeed or if the first one is too busy but I do like how there are layers to the image.  My pallet board table top and barn door backdrop is getting lots of use for these still life set ups!

There Is A Candle

Our song this month for photo forum is one of my favorites but by an artist not known by a lot of people, Susie is Reba McIntire's sister and has several gospel albums.  The words speak volumes and hold a lesson I need to apply daily.

There is a candle in every soul
Some brightly burnin', some dark and cold
There is a spirit who brings the fire
Ignites a candle and makes His home

Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the hopeless, confused and torn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle and go light your world

Frustrated brother, see how he's tried to
Light his own candle some other way
See now our sister, she's been robbed and lied to
And still holds a candle without a flame

Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the lonely, the tired and worn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle and go light your world

We are a family whose hearts are blazing
We raise our candles and light up the sky
Prayin' to our Father in the name of Jesus
Make us a beacon in darkest hours

Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the helpless, deceived and poor
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle and go light your world
Take your candle and go light your world

  Susie Luchsinger - There Is A Candle Lyrics 

Frosty Blueberries

  Usually it is frost on the pumpkins this time of year but I had frost on my blue berries after I took them out of the freezer.  I found a great little store in Stromsburg that sells primitive décor and purchased some pieces to use for flooring and/or backdrops for my smaller still life arrangements. Pam one of the co-owners was even nicer than the store, it is probably a good thing they are an hour and half away or I might need an intervention.

 

Honey Crisp Time

Honey Crisp apple season is as great as Pumpkin Spice season to this girl!

 

U.P. Steam Engine #844 Trek to Tennesse

  The Union Pacific Steam Team completed an all-systems check of the No. 844 steam locomotive on July 12, marking the icon’s return to the main line after a three-year absence.  The locomotive’s overhaul was so significant – extensive firebox repair, rebuilt air brakes and piping, new flues and tubes and, of course, a fresh, glossy coat of paint.

  Dan and I Saturday started out early in the morning in Fairbury, Nebraska and chased it all the way to Topeka, Kansas, cross country, getting video and different images from different locations.  Sometimes we were able to beat it the next crossing and other times not but had a great day chasing it.  It was quite the adventure, very minimum maintained roads which at times were barely cow paths in a field, sliding to a stop to jump out with your camera just in time to get a quick shot off before it would blow by and then jump back in Clide and race off to the next crossing!  It is quite a grand old train to see and we were amazed at the speed it was traveling, met a lot a great train and photo enthusiast's along the way also, which added to the experience.

 

Macro and Dew Drops

Love that Trader Joe's has such a variety of beautiful flowers and they are so reasonable.  Played with using water and glycerin, the glycerin works much better for placing the drop exactly where you want it and having it stay in place. Took several images at different apertures, stacked the layers in PS and then brushed in the areas from each layer that I wanted to use to create one image.  Lots of fun, need to fine tune the look I am actually trying to create but am off to a good start.

2LO texture added background

Honey

  I was up to the challenge of photographing with one arm once I got the camera on the tripod but it was a bit more time consuming.  Basic adjustments, slight tone curve and one texture.

Proverbs ~ Recipe for Life

Dan and I were part of a Worship Arts project the last 12 months, the project has been completed and all the art is on display at church.   We were to interpret the 7 core values of the church, this was mine for Biblical Instruction.

Proverbs ~ Recipe for Life

Savor ~ Marinate ~ Rest ~ Massage ~ Flour ~ Spices ~ Rise

Leven ~ Simmer ~  Taste ~  Organic ~ Process ~ Oil

All words we have heard or read many time while cooking or watching our favorite chef’s on popular tv shows but they even have a place in the ultimate recipe book.

Our recipes start with our basic ingredients or staples that are always in the pantry, our core values that that keep us grounded.

Some recipes are quick, simple easy to learn, while other are more complicated, need time to soak overnight and simmer for hours, remember patience is a virtue.

Sometimes the ingredients are not right or in the correct proportions or never rise.   

Tweaking the recipe (life lessons) is where things get interesting, complicated and sometimes discouraging and let’s face it there are some that have to be trashed and you better have your go to pizza place on speed dial! P.R.A.Y.E.R.

Some recipes call for a mixture of ingredients that you would never dream of mixing together it just doesn’t make sense or they are opposite flavors, it is a lot like people but God has way of making it all work.

You don’t have to make everything from scratch, you just need to trust the recipe giver!

Fall is in the Air

I have not been out too much with my camera do to my shoulder injury but today I just had to give it a try.  Went for a little stroll around Holmes lake and was so glad to see the sunflowers which to me speak fall, there was also a gentlemen with his faithful companion that was just wiggley to be fetching his "duck" out of the water.

New Camera with Flippy Dippy Screen

 I have been using the Canon 7DMkii for about a year and a half but I always shoot in manual and when they moved the exposure level meter to the side instead of at the bottom it was darn near impossible to see, especially in daylight.   It was a struggle just couldn't live with so when the 80D came out I made the decision to actually go down a step in cameras but am so much happier with the features on the Canon 80D.   One of the most helpful features is an articulating screen, I think I will really find it useful for still life photos, especially the top down.

Street Characters

Revisiting some old files and thought both of these images would lend themselves well to a black and white treatment.  I watched a tutorial using a faux Ansel Adams zone system technique and have been using it, I would love to understand and learn how to implement all 19 zones but for now this will have to suffice. 

Lavender Farm

We visited a lavender farm a few weeks ago in Iowa just outside of Missouri Valley.  It was a sweltering day but definitely plan on returning later in the season when it is a little cooler.

Feeding Frenzy at Sunset

  We went for a drive in the country on the 4th of July and came upon a feeding frenzy of barn swallows.  The little one would sit with it's mouth open watching the sky and she would appear out of nowhere and cram a bug literally down it's throat! I was using my 70-200 with the 1.4TCiii and have been quite pleased how they work together.

Play Ball II

  I decided to do some of the images in black and white and really like the nostalgic look it gives them.

Play Ball

  I made it to Kansas this week with no problems and got to see Braydon play baseball.  I do believe I have photos of a future All Star!!! I might be a little biased but he is one good little ball player and I am one proud grandma.

Lemonade from Lemons

When your given a lemon and have three grandsons with you stuck on a country road for 1 1/2 hours, you let them run buck wild in the corn fields and take advantage of the fact that you had your camera with you and make lemonade!

Ahh-choo

Wildlife at the Smokeys

 It was a fantastic spring for black bears in the Smokey's, that doesn't mean I was successful getting great images but sure did enjoy seeing them with their cubs and sometimes that just has to be enough.  We also saw an abundance of coyotes and they sure weren't as straggly looking as the ones I usually see around here.

This guy almost ended up in our truck, the windows were down and he could

smell the popcorn, we have a photo of his nose print on the side of the door,

poor Dan was getting a little nervous!

Oakland Cemetery in Downtown Atlanta, Georgia

This garden cemetery, founded in 1850, is the final resting place of many of Atlanta’s settlers, builders, and noted citizens like Bobby Jones, Margaret Mitchell, and Maynard Jackson. It is also a showplace of sculpture and architecture, and a botanical preserve with ancient oaks and magnolias.

I love the juxtapose of the old tombstone with the cityscape