Framing Keys & A New 365 Photo

  I FINALLY pulled my camera out.  It was feeling very, very neglected, especially since I promised to use it on Friday but didn't actually take it out until today.

  Anyway, I was feeling crafty after viewing this blog post on framing old keys.  I have had three keys from a necklace I purchased a while back parked on my dresser for a very long time.  I kept wondering what to do with them because I loved them but they were so tiny and I knew at some point I would deep clean my room and see them and think, 'really, I need to get rid of these because I have nowhere to put them.'.  So, after reading the post, I decided to try framing the three keys.

  After work today I went to Marshalls (I love all their floral, vintagey stuff) and looked for just  the right frame.  When I saw the one I purchased, I knew it was the one.

  Came home and began crafting right after supper. Otherwise, I wouldn't have done it.

  Here is the finished product as well as my photo of the day. 

  So, what do you think?  Give me feedback!! 

  Also, one of my goals this year was to complete 6 crafts.  So I've done one!!!! Yay for me.... =)

Sara

Living a Life of Richness {And What to Do When It's Not There}

  I know I continue whining writing about how I feel when I don't do my picture a day (365 Project) which I have been neglecting terribly this past week.  But I suppose that I continue writing about it because I really see the impact not doing it has on me.

  This week I've been incredibly lazy.  I mean, lazy as in I get off work, go home, eat supper, shower, then sit in my room watching a british show called Inspector Lewis and watching Cinnamon play and binky around my room. Then, I go to bed.  That's literally what I have done every night this week.

  Every day, I think to myself, "Sara, you need to take your picture of the day..." and then I get home and I'm so tired (and lazy) that I say, "Oh, I'll do it tomorrow".  And then forget about it til the next day when I'm nagged by that same internal voice once again.

  I'm not sure how to put into words what it does for me when I take my photo a day.  All I really know is that when I don't take it, my life seems, in a sense, not as brilliant or fulfilled.  I suppose that's because photography is what I'm meant to do.  What I love doing and when you don't do something that you love or are meant to do, you feel that void.

  So tonight, when I get home, the very first thing that I'm going to do is pick up my camera and photograph something!!

  What about you? Have you been going thru any slumps lately in any area of your life? If so, I'd love to compare notes!

Sara

New 365 Photos [Finally]

  I have been sick, am still sick in fact, since last Tuesday.  I have Bronchitis. Something I haven't had since my childhood.  It's been quiet the adventure. 

  It's so funny how when you are sick it feels like this huge dream state and that you won't ever get out of being sick but it will just last and last and last and you might die in that terrible, purgatoryish state between feverish imaginations and foggy, mecidine induced trances.  Yea, that's how I feel in the worst stages of being sick.  Am I the only one?

  Anyway, I've gotten some antibiotics and the last two days have been a little better.  I was able to pick up my camera today and it felt so nice in my hands!!!  I took a picture of several of the things that have been sustaining me these past few days.

December 19, 2012





  Yes my friends, these three items are only a few of the things I found very dear to my heart during these past very long days (and nights).  I am so thankful for medicine and for Gatorade and juice in general. And cough medicine!!!

This photo below is one I mentioned that I was planning in the post last Wednesday.

December 11, 2012

  This verse is one that resounds in my head almost every day.  It helps me to refocus on the Lord no matter what situation I find myself in.  I thank the Lord that He is there to guide us even when everything seems like it's going awry.

Sara

What I've Learned from 3 Days of No Photos

  Today is the fourth day I havent taken a photo.  I actually plan to take one today and I have the perfect picture outlined in my head.

  I just haven't felt like picking up my camera since Saturday.  And its OK.  I'm not going to beat myself up about it.

  However, I am realize a few things about when I don't take my photo a day. 

  1-The days don't seem quiet as rich.  It's almost like looking forward to creating that one photo is the icing on a rather plain, boring cake.  There are so many options and opportunities to be creative with the photo and when I don't take it it's like I'm a non-creative being.

  2- When I go to bed at night I don't really feel I've accomplished anything.  Whereas, if I MAKE myself take that one photo, even if I've neglected the rest of that day's "to do" list, I can go to bed feeling like I've done something.

  3- It's MUCH easier to take a photo a day if you have specefic events or special occasions that you're going to.  All during the Christmas holiday's, I was so busy with friends to visit, holiday lights to see, holiday baking, etc. etc that there was a constant plethora of interesting things to photograph.  Now that it's January, there aren't that many events going on.

  So, having a break from the camera is ok.  Like I mentioned above, I'm not going to beat myself up or feel like I have to start over on my 365 day journey.  I just have to know I can't stay in this place forever. 

Sara

PS. What about you? Have you taken on a photo project for 2012 and are getting behind or have skipped a few days?  If so, I'd love to hear your remedy for getting back on track.....

365 Project Photos Days 15-19

I have only missed two days this week on the project.  While I'm not proud of that, I am doing better than I did last time and I'm not going to stop or start over just because I miss a day here and there. 

So, here are the last few photos from this week....

January 1, 2012

  On Sunday night I went over to my baby sister's house and while I was there, made these Cake Batter Bites.  Well, long but funny (sorta) story: I really don't cook much at all.  So my sister just moved into this house and doesn't have much stuff to cook with.  I had to melt butter and I saw a glass bowl.  That's great.  Well, she doesn't have a microwave, only a glass stove.  So dumb me, I say, 'I'm not sure if it's ok to put a glass bowl on a stove or not but I'll be watching it closely and I only have one stick of butter, so I'll try it.'  Needless to say, it didn't end well.  I turned my back after stirring the butter and I hear a small explosion.  I turn and a piece of red hot butter flies into my chin.  Thankfully, nothing else splattered.  The bowl, however was in bad shape.  The bottom had just fallen out into a myriad of different pieces.  The stove was easy cleanup but the butter was EVERYWHERE on it. 

I now have learned a valuable cooking lesson: never put glass bowls on a stove (unless you're 100% sure that they're supposed to go there).

The Cake Batter Bites were delicious by the way.

January 2, 2012



  This was also at my sister's house.  I was seated on the porch watching the sunrise when I happened to notice this heart carved out of one of the railings.  I don't know who carved it or why but it made my morning.  Love=Everything.

January 4, 2012

  This is the front of my church at night.  I like the lights.  It reminds me of gaslights in paintings.

January 5, 2012

  I have been wanting to photograph these trees in a field on the way to my hometown for a very very long time but always made excuses.  Either I didn't have my camera, it was too hard to pull over, the light wasn't right, I didn't have time, etc.  But on Thursday night, the sunset was GORGEOUS.  An all cap kinda GORGEOUS.  And I knew the time had come to stop stalling and create something I'd been wanting to do for such a long time. 

  I was able to stop beside the road and have no one come up behind me for about 2 minutes, enough time to snap a few shots of these lovely trees.

  For post production, all I did was lighten the image a little and then use the Pioneer Woman's Define and Sharpen Action in Photoshop Elements 10.

January 7, 2012

  Today I had the opportunity to take photos of my beautiful niece Baby L (who was in her mama's belly in this post here).  Her mom wanted a photo of Baby L's feet with her hands.  This is the finished product.  Look how detailed her feet are.  God is a wonderful Creator.

Sara



What is Your Unicorn Name?

 Ok, so this is in no way photography related (or life related, really) but I found this link through a blog I read and the answer was so funny that I had to share!!!!  Go over and find out your Unicorn name (and let me know what it is =)

My name translates into:

Bluebell Jolly Nostrils

Bluebell is an eccentric genius with a big imagination. (I am eccentric and I do have a large immagination)

She is a jolly, brightly-coloured pony, (I am normally very jolly)

and she dances in clouds of falling stars. (stars are my favorite!)

 

 

Sara

Keep this ONE New Year's Resolution and You'll Need No More

  I know this post is rather late since the first of January was four days ago but I just felt impressed to post this today so I am!

  On Sunday our pastor brought a great message in the morning about worrying.  It was from Matthew 6 and his text was verses 19-34.  His main focus, however was on verses 25-34 which you can find here. 

  Towards the end of the message, he focused on verse 33.  "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."  As he read those words, I thought, 'That's all we that are Saved need.'

  I have to admit that I have in previous years been on the New Year resolution bandwagon but this year I decided not to be.  I decided instead to let Matthew 6:33 dictate my life. 

  In practice, to live this verse is the only New Year's Resolution that we need to have.  If we keep our priorities in order (seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness) then He will do the rest (and all these things {everything: food, clothing, job, house, car, the desires of our heart, etc etc...} shall be added unto you). 

  Let's face it.  What are our resolutions normally about?  Our health, our attitude, what we want to accomplish, etc.  I believe that all those things can be changed, strengthened and grown by putting that verse into practice.

  Believe me, it will be hard.  As of yet, I haven't faced really any testing as I am beginning the New Year with this verse as my guide but I know opposition will come.  The hard days will come when I wonder if that verse really means what it says.  But it does!!

  Has anyone had a verse that spoke to your heart at the very beginning of this New Year? I'd love for you to share.

Sara

                              

First Read of 2012 - The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

  I just finished reading The Hunger Games.  It is one of the best books I've read in a very long time.  One thing that stood out to me was that there was no foul language in it at all which is a rarity.

  I read the book on the slight mention of it from a friend who said she had to read it for a class she was taking at her University. 

  While the whole premiss of the book (it really reminds me of a communist state) is distasteful to me and the Hunger Games themselves as a practice are inhumane, the character's and the humanity they show is great.

  I'm not going to give away the plot but I will say that if you begin reading it (which I recommend you to do) you won't be able to put it down.



Sara

White Balance - A Little Change with a Big Effect

  I began a photo tips email to my clients the beginning of January.  Each month I plan to send out an email with a tip, trick, how to, or answer to a question I've received.  I haven't gotten any feedback from it yet but hoping and praying more people will be interested and sign up.

  Here is the content from the first email.  I'm sure most of you guys already know about White Balance but here's a simple tutorial as a refresher! 

White Balance

 

This is a New Year and I'd like to share with you one small tip that really can make photos you take indoors (or outdoors) turn out much better!

You may or may not have heard the term "White Balance". So I'll give you a condensed meaning! Boiled down to the bare bones, white balance is the camera setting that makes white images look the correct shade of white in your image. Have you ever taken an indoor photo only to find that it's too cool (has a blueish tint) or too warm/orange? That is because the setting of your camera's White Balance is not set correctly for the light you are in.

Setting the White Balance is simple and most camera's should have this feature available.

Here's how to set your White Balance for the location you are at:

1) Find the Settings on your camera

2) Find the White Balace selection

3) determine what lighting type you are in (there should be several different choices [tungsten, fluorescent, cloudy, etc].

4) Choose the setting that best represents the light you are in

5) Take a photo while in that setting

You should see that your photo more closely resembles the actual lighting that you see with your naked eye.

If you want even better results, follow steps 1-2 and then go from here:

3) Go to "Preset"

4) There should be some prompt to let you manually fill your screen with something white or grey and take a shot. Once you have filled the lens with something white [a sheet of computer paper, etc] or grey and have taken a photo of it, the correct lighting should be set.

5) Take a photo & see the difference!

Using this simple but highly effective tool I have greatly improved my photos in the last few months!! I hope that you have success with it too.

If you have any questions regarding White Balance or the instructions in this post or can't find where this might be located on your camera, please email me and I'll see if I can help!

  When did you learn that setting your White Balance could help your photos look better? And do you have any comments or suggestions regarding White Balance?

Sara