Photo 113 - 365 Annie

This is Annie, my cat. The photo was not taken in black and white, but in color. I used the Dynamic setting on my camera. I followed her around for a while taking photos. She finally sat still for one shot. Pets make such great subjects. 

Photo 112 - 365 Gate in Green

Well, I have been working on this project for almost a year. I have been having so much fun and have been learning so much. It is my goal this year to get out of my comfort zone (flowers!) and challenge myself and my photography. And, to learn what my camera can do!
This photograph is of a wooden gate and I played around with the camera settings and gave it a green cast. I love how it turned out!

Photo 111 - 365 Sparkling

Today is New Year's Day, 2012! Happy New Year Y'all!  Last night we got out our sparklers and I took a few shots. I am still not great at night shots but I did get to play with the Bulb setting on my camera. This setup was my husband's idea. He set the sparkler in the glass and I held the shutter open for about 15 seconds. I think it turned out kinda neat.

Here's to a Happy New Year! Hope you all have a joyful, successful, prosperous, creative, adventurous and blessed year!

Photo 110 - 365 A Child is Born

Merry Christmas to you all!
I was playing around with the art filters on my camera this morning. I took a photo of our Christmas tree. I was focusing on the "A Child is Born" ornament but when I saw the photo I realized I had two more ornaments in the shot, the Angel and Rudolph.  Christmas is many things to many people. To children it is a magical time when Santa rides his sleigh (sometimes lead by Rudolph) all the way around the world in one night visiting all the other children in the world and leaving gifts. To many, the story of this day starts with the Angel who told of the birth of Christ which brings us to the "A Child is Born" ornament. Today we celebrate the birth of Christ. It is a time to be with our families and friends. I've been thinking about what it means to give, because this is,after all, the season for giving. It is such a joy to be able to give. We've heard so many stories this year about people being kind to others and doing things like paying for purchases for people (paying off lay-a-way accounts and helping people at the check out counters).  I hope that the giving doesn't stop when the New Year starts. I hope that we can continue to give all through the year. Just because this is the season for giving, it doesn't mean we have to stop when this special day is over. Be kind this year and smile. Sometimes all we can give is a smile and sometimes that is the best gift to receive.
Merry Christmas to you all!

Photo 109 - 365 Vic

This was a very sad week for me and my co-workers and photography friends. We lost our good friend Vic who passed away suddenly on Tuesday, December 13, 2011. He was a good man who had a zest for life and was, as someone in our photography group put it, "a wicked good photographer". He would send us "photos of the day" almost everyday. Some were shot that day, others were from his files, but they were always great photos. He had a habit of photographing alligators. We called him our alligator hunter.

In honor of Vic I am posting a photo I took of him in September. I had just gotten my new camera and he was happy for me, knowing how much fun I was having with it.

It is sad knowing he won't be coming back to the office, knowing he won't be meeting with our photography group. Not hearing his chuckle.

Bye Vic. We will miss ya!  

Photos 107 & 108 Portrait of an Action Figure (or two)

I am working on a little project for my Nephew. He is 5 years old and is about to have his bedroom completely decorated in Star Wars stuff! How awesome is that? So, I took some portraits of Star Wars action figures that I will print out and frame for him. He will need something on his bedroom walls, right?

Photo 106 - 365 Purple Lantana

One of the things I love about Lantana bushes is that they bloom for so long. My purple Lantana bush is finally producing some pretty flower clusters. I still have 2 or 3 other bushes that have flowers though the cold nights are starting to get to them.  So, I have a little bit of color in my yard right now which is nice.

Photo settings are: f/5.6, 1/125 sec., ISO 800.  This was taking just after sunset this evening. Enjoy!