Looking Back

I take a lot of photos everyday. You know this. I've been taking at least one photo a day for almost a year and eight months. I don't always take the time to do anything with my photos as I take them. I select the POTD and move on. Since my camera is now somewhere in Southern California I'm not taking as many. So today that meant a look back. I found some photos I love that I didn't even realize I'd taken. And I found some that I got a chance to play with and edit in ways that didn't appeal to me (or I didn't know about) last year. This is a favorite of the day. It is so him, even a year later! I like it much better than last year's version.

Touring California Via UPS

In November 2003 after driving all over Seattle my husband I purchased the Canon Digital Rebel. The original. It was over priced, had been on the market less than a month. We paid about $100 for the HUGE 256mb card since no card was included with the camera. We were in love. With each other and more importantly with the camera. It was a logical upgrade from our EOS RebelX from film days.

I loved that camera. Marathons, triathlons, more marathons, and my son's arrival in the world. All captured with its 6.3 megapixel digital sensor. WOW! 6.3.

Technology has changed some. In 2006 in celebration of our 10 year anniversary I was surprised to receive the Canon 30D. Instantly I was in love and threw my old love aside. Stuck it in a bag. Stuck it in the back of the closet. Only retrieving it when my hubby asked if I'd teach him how to take pictures.

Today I placed my beloved 30D in a box. Handed it to the kind man at the UPS Store and sent it touring California with the final destination of the Canon Repair Center. It needs to have the BOULDERS of sand removed from it so I can take a photo at an aperture fitting a landscape photo without having to photoshop a bunch of brown dust bunnies out of it. I'm excited for its return but until then I'm without a camera.

Or maybe not.

I dug into the depths of my closet. I placed a battery in it. Gave it a nice shiny 4 gig card. And began to shoot. It isn't the relationship I'm used to. The buttons aren't in the familiar places. Its menu lacks the intricacies I'd come to love. But it is an old friend. It feels light. It looks just a bit outdated. But it is the camera I have. So here we go. A few days testing this relationship to decide if we can make it work again. It won't be permanent. Just a bit of a rebound relationship.

It captured the first vampire sighting in our house.

And this sweet little face.
I may date around a bit though. Thinking of trying my film camera out again. Just needs batteries. And somewhere in this house probably buried deep in another closet is our old Pentax that is a simple relationship. Takes gorgeous photos but means you must do everything with it. No fancy dials or buttons or knobs and definitely no menu. And if those don't work I have a polaroid with one last roll of film!

"Completely Candid" Photo Challenge

I took 558 photos during Justin's 11:40:08 Ironman. Fewer than I expected as watching with both eyes, clapping and cheering became important. At the end of the day one photo stood out for me. One capture of the pure raw emotion before the race started. I think this says it all.

A New Pet

POTD 092009 , originally uploaded by katrina.kennedy.

Saturday I cleared some garden beds to make room for winter veggies. In the process we discovered a tiny green caterpillar. Shea showed it to Ian thinking he would help squash it before we dumped the leaves in compost.

Nope.

Ian wanted to hold it. And keep it. And so now it sits in our kitchen in a jar with leaves. He gets it out every few hours so he can "feel it tickle me." He even set up a little rock wall for it to climb. He talks to it and tells it stories. He was a little considered that it was missing it's mom and dad but has decided we are an okay substitute family.

I think we can handle a pet this size!

The Unedited Moments

Watching 2,500 people swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles, and run 26.2 miles is an inspiring experience. Watching through my lens was AWESOME. Not in the overused word way but in the truly breathtaking way. I found myself shooting people I didn't know because the emotion was so raw and real and present.

I found myself playing with light and angles because the moment needed to be remembered.

Last night we had friends over to help celebrate my brother's achievement and I showed them all 558 photos I took. Unedited. None deleted. Just put them out there for the world. The blurry ones. The badly composed ones. Everything.

The pictures captured the moment. For me they help me relive the inspiration and emotion I felt at the time. For others they were able to experience the event from my angle, including the people who stepped in front of the camera as the shutter clicked and the blur of runners in front of the lens.

They didn't care. No one was there to critique the moment. They were there to relive it. Enjoy it. Revel in it. And that's what we did.

What are the moments of your life that can be left unedited?

I'll Time You!

Growing up my little brother had a lot of energy! We used his energy to our advantage, asking him to get things for us or do things for us paired with "I'll time you Justin!" We would then count very loudly and he'd run like crazy. On his return he'd ask, "how much?" I remember often answering 6. Not minutes, not seconds. Just 6. He didn't know how much was how much anyway. He was happy as long as we added, "that was really fast."


He grew up, but his energy didn't go away. He continued to run. The distance just kept getting longer and longer. And today I realized something. I'm still timing him! I've watched him finish short races, marathons, triathlons and on Sunday his crossed the finish line of Ironman Wisconsin -- 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and 26.2 run. He finished looking strong and happy.

And I timed him!

I'm so proud of his accomplishment. So proud of his dedication. And so proud he will finally be able to spend more time with us!

Photos to follow soon as soon I return from Wisconsin!

Lego Parenting Part 2

So every day Ian has continued to say, "remember, I'm working on my Crystal Sweeper." EVERY DAY. AT LEAST two times a day. It has been at least 20 days he's been working on it. It's really a good thing he doesn't have the concept of counting down completely.

I was waiting until I left for Wisconsin this weekend. I thought it would be a nice distraction for him. Hey, you have no mom for 5 days, but you do have A REALLY COOL lego set! Ahhh, such outstanding parenting techniques. Then I discovered it was going to cost me $20 more to buy it on Amazon than to drive 21 blocks to pick it up myself. So I drove. This morning. With a little boy in the back seat. The entire drive he said, "the Crystal Sweeper misses me. It has been SOOO lonely."

Did I mention that is the farthest I've driven in about, ummm, 3 months??!! I don't drive often, obviously.

Crystal Sweeper into the cart. The box is as big as he is! Crazy! How can tiny pieces of plastic I'm going to suck up in the vacuum cost so much?! He was thrilled though! He actually sat patiently as I wandered through the entire store looking at things I had no intention of buying. Weird. I don't shop very often. Well, except on Amazon.

We got home and that's when I realized my mistake. Buying it at 1030 in the morning meant hours before dad arrived home and there was NO WAY this little boy was waiting for someone else to put it together.

So TWO AND ONE HALF HOURS later, I completed the Crystal Sweeper. TWO books worth of Lego directions that take one page for the simplest ONE STEP and then cram 17 steps into another one page. I think they co-conspire with Ikea! I injured myself once, actually drew blood. WITH LEGOS! But wow, was that little boy happy with his mom AND his Crystal Sweeper. No crying. No whining. No asking for videos. Nothing but complete joy in our house! Complete joy and 5 bags filled with plastic parts that now are a crystal scooping machine! Here's to Lego Parenting!

Snapshot Saturday #6

Good Saturday morning! A three day weekend and 80 degree weather, who can ask for more?

Today I thought we'd join in a little fun from one of my favorite photography sites Digital Photography School. It is a HUGE resource for tips, pointers and perspective on everything photography related. You can subscribe to their daily email tips or follow them on twitter. And of course it is a great supplement to any classes you might think of taking (shameless plug).

Yesterday they posted a weekend self portrait challenge! I thought, perfect inspiration for our own challenge! Lots of great tips on taking them are included! So grab your camera find your tripod a reflective surface and let's see YOU! Once the light is a little better here I'll be doing the same. I'm also going for Saturday morning in the garden real...no makeup, hair up, natural shot! So don't be too frightened when you see it!

Link me up here so I can see what you've taken! Have fun, can't wait to see you!

The Lego Approach To Parenting

It started with a haircut.

We told Ian that if he let Dad cut his hair we'd buy him a lego set. It made sense. Haircut $20.00 + $5.00 tip = $25

Okay, so the Lego set they started with was slightly more than $25, but the theory was the sets would get smaller and the haircuts easier. And they did. He now lets Dad cut his hair with no bribery involved.

Then it moved to naps and healthy food. One sticker for each occurrence. Set number of occurrences. Lego earned. Notice I said...EARNED! And then one day having endured a high fever or temporary alien abduction I blurted out I'll buy you the Crystal Sweeper IF you earn it by sleeping in your own bed for 10 nights and quietly resting in your room during naptime. So that is really 20 occurrences. The problem?

CHECK YOUR PRICES FIRST! Good gosh it is pricey! And now he's expecting it. And well, he did earn it. In fact, he earned it like 7 days ago but didn't realize it because we never actually made the sticker board. He'd just say every night as we went upstairs, "remember, I'm working on my crystal sweeper" and dutifully march into his own bedroom!

So I'll spend the money.

But now we've really created a problem! My four year old child has become a collector. A COLLECTOR! He just wants to acquire them! Does he play with them? Yes. Will he play with them more as he gets older? I can hope. Now he spends most of his time asking to watch Lego.com so he can see what else there is. And he asks, "someday can I have the..." And we answer, "yes, someday."

I draw the line at the Millennium Falcon!

We Have A Winner

blkcow(pam) you are the winner! through a very scientific process of putting names in a hat :) email me or pm me and we'll hook you up with a class pass!

class starts tomorrow and it's not too late to register!

and Pam's super creative winning photo

Today I AM

Today I might cook brown rice and tofu and lots of veggies from the garden.
Today I am reading Snow Flower & The Secret Fan.
Today I hope to see the light change in the garden.
Today I hope to talk to my mom.
Today I am watching Ian play.
Today I am wearing yoga pants.
Today my mood is good.
Today I am going to change things around here.

Contemplative

Do you have days that you just reflect on who you are and how you are and how you are positioned in the world? Today was one of those. Today I couldn't help but stop and think about choices I make and the lifestyle I live. I couldn't get my mind wrapped around much else.

I found out today a dear friend had a stroke earlier this month. One of those friends you share great history with but the present has led you to drift apart. You don't email or call. You both have lives going in different directions. Milestone events happening but they are so dissimilar your paths don't cross.

All I can think about now is how difficult this time must be. And how I can't call her. I can't talk to her right now. She's having difficulty remembering and speaking and really the last thing she needs is to try to remember her flaky friend who she hasn't seen in 2 years (or more).

So today I just think about her. A lot. And selfishly I think about me. And my boys. And all of the what ifs. And the whys. And the what do I need to do's.

Too many people this year, too close, telling me to make some changes. I think it is time.

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I'll post the winner of the class pass tomorrow morning. Today I just needed to think.

Snapshot Saturday #5

Week #5! I hope you've been enjoying these. I thought we'd try an old favorite again! Scavenger Hunt time! Wander around today, see what you can find.

1. Red

2. Sweet

3. Four

So you could take a photo of four strawberries and have this one covered or you can stretch and find three unique things! Whichever path you take, enjoy! (oh, and for extra challenge fill the frame or try a different angle as you shoot)

Today I'm playing along with you, so I'll post my favorites later today. Link us to your blog here and stop by Get It Scrapped for all of the blog challenges! I've decided to keep this going as a regular Saturday event I hope to see you here next week too!

Oh, did I mention that I'm teaching a photography class that starts September 1st?

And since I'm feeling spunky this morning, how about a free pass?! Post your link to your scavenger hunt photos by Noon Pacific Time on Sunday 8/30 and I'll draw a random winner!

Happy shooting!

August At A Glance

I didn't realize what a full month this had been until I saw it in pictures!

Credits here

Summer Shoes

Ian is a one pair of shoes kind of kid. These have been his summer shoes. No question. They absolutely make me smile. This is our last full week of real summer and today was one of those perfect summer days filled with activities. The kind of day that when I sit and begin to write I think things from this morning must have been yesterday, but nope, they were just a mere 12 hours ago now! Crafts in the park, Funderland, the Zoo, JBF Consignment Sale shopping, dinner out with Uncle Justin and now home. Just writing it all makes me tired! More pictures soon.

Oh, and did I mention I love my new lens?! Someone asked me today if I was a photographer for the newspaper. I loved saying, nope, I'm just a mom! A mom who is really lucky to get to help other people capture their lives through the lens!

This Is Going To Be Fun

I new addition to my camera bag arrived today. I think we are going to get along very well.

These are all SOOC (straight out of camera) with only a conversion from RAW to JPEG so I could upload them here. My first photo with the new lens was of my tomatoes because Ian was taking a very long nap! Tomorrow we venture out to see how it performs on the playground!

It Was A Good Adventure2

Just a sneak peak of our adventure today! It involved a lot of map reading! By both bigs and the little!

I Heart Faces - Nostalgia

I Heart Faces challenge this week is Nostalgia. Remember the plastic fire hat? I think I remember walking there in preschool or perhaps kindergarden getting a plastic hat and hearing them blow the horn. It is one of those memories intertwined in photos and stories I've heard so I'm not exactly sure if it is my true memory. Does that happen to anyone else?

Ian loves everything related to the fire department. Seeing him in this hat just made me smile!

The Biggest Fan

Once again Ian got to sing with Music Matt. This time though he belted out the words like he was an old pro! A fun evening with friends, food and music in our park!

Snapshot Saturday #4

Good Morning Saturday Snapshotters! Since I'm on the West Coast it's early, but I wanted those of you on the East Coast to have plenty of time to grab your shots today! So, I'm cheating a little bit for this challenge using photos I didn't take today. I guarantee you though, I will take some today. We are headed to the State Fair which is a perfect spot for this week's challenge.

I want to see details! Filling the frame is one of my favorite techniques. So show us something up close. Zoom right in or take a few steps closer than you might normally! In fact, Robert Capa said "if you're pictures aren't good enough, you're not close enough!"

Need inspiration? Take a look at this group on flickr for some fun examples! And look how fun this photo is from DD POTD member Sarah Danyelle

Let's see what you've got! Link us here or over at Get It Scrapped.

Tradition

POTD 082009 - Tradition, originally uploaded by katrina.kennedy.

I feel like I'm carrying on a family tradition! I spent an hour on the phone with mom talking about how to can. Two hours on the internet sorting through conflicting information before I finally just said, what the heck.

In the winter I'll be able to tell you how it tastes and, well, if I give my family food poisoning!

Have No Expectations

Karate Day 2

He didn't want to go. No reason. Just didn't want to go.

I was planning on paying for his September session and buying his Gi.

We went anyway just in case he had one of those 4 year old crazy mind changes at the last minute. He sat on my lap and watched and laughed and smiled, but wouldn't move off of it. Until 5 minutes before it was over. He ran to his orange dot. Stood on it. Jumped. Sat down. Bowed. And class was over.

I didn't buy the Gi. I didn't pay for class.

We'll see what Monday brings. And I'll just ignore the urge to push him into something I know he'll love because I guess he is really the only one who gets to decide what he really loves.

And then last night I read this post. Perfect timing.

I Thought It Might Explode

His face that is.

Ian took his first karate class today. He was so excited to go and stood on his orange dot without hesitation. He spent the entire 30 minutes glued to the instructor's every word, following every command, and even kicked standing on his "little foot"! When it was done he asked if he could get a shirt like the other boys. He'll be working on "self discipline" to earn his belt!

So excited to see him so excited! More photos to follow, I was too teary and excited to take many good ones today!

ETA...I had to post this less than perfect photo just so you could see that perfect exploding smile!

Confessions

POTD 081609 - Long Beans, originally uploaded by katrina.kennedy.

Last summer we went to the farmer's market almost every Sunday. We have only been twice this summer simply because we don't need to go. I'm loving growing everything in our own backyard. I love that if I want a tomato I walk outside and pick a tomato. I love snacking directly from the vine.

Last night I told Shea I wanted to go to get mushrooms and avocados, the two things not in my backyard! (although I'm trying to figure out how we could change that!) I told him I wanted to go early which for him translates to, "she's taking the camera." Little did he know I had a completely different reason for going. I wanted to compare prices. I wanted to walk around and get a sense of just how much it would cost to buy what we've been eating.

I got so excited after seeing that my long beans looked better than the market's AND that the eggplant that is multiplying DAILY was $2.50 a pound, I forgot to check other prices! It was fun to compare the size of my green beans and tomatoes and zucchini to those being sold. I loved being reminded of things to plant next year. (okay, I really loved knowing eggplant was $2.50 a pound...eggplant that I've been giving away!)

The best part? I know I cooked at least $8.00 worth of long beans just last week and I've been eating them for about 3 weeks with several weeks to go still!

Picture Of The Day Question

A perfect summer day today filled with just enough activity and friends and fun and food! Days like today make it hard to pick a picture of the day. Days with lots of photos, none that are stellar, but many that are fun. So I thought I'd leave it to you. Which would you pick?

#1 We started our day with a concert by Music Matt who recognized Ian immediately and asked that he play the drums. You might recall this day or this day with MM.

#2 We followed it up with a cool beverage from our favorite spot. It's been a while since I've had a beer photo as my POTD.
#3 And like most days I started and ended the day in the garden. My eggplant is producing like crazy! I just love the flowers, although not the eggplant! Stop by if you want some. :-)

So no masterpieces. Just some shots of our day. Which would you pick? (I bet my mom says #1)

Snapshot Saturday #3

If you've been following the August blog challenge at Get It Scrapped you know we've taken a look back and been on a scavenger hunt. Today I want to look at the same thing differently! Great photos are made when the artist behind the camera sees things in a way that most people don't. They see a small detail that others don't catch. They catch an expression as it flashes across someone's face. They find an angle that no one else considered.

Today find a subject, any subject at all. Put it in great light if you can. Capture it three ways. Three different views, three different feelings, three different angles. What does each say to you? Which appeals to you most? Which tells the story you want to tell most effectively?

My bit moody eggplant complete with bug eaten leaves!

A bit of punch, a little more like what my I saw.
The big picture from my son's play structure! You can see the egglplant in its context(as well as the pumpkin patch taking over the garden).
Just the plant.
And the aged moody look.

Which do you prefer?

Try from above. From below. Zoom way in. Step back and get the big picture. Convert it to black and white. Crop it so only part shows. You pick. And don't forget to share them with me!

Finding different angles is one of my favorite lessons in Your Life: Captured Through The Lens. If you missed it the first time I'm teaching it again! At $50 it is a STEAL! Class starts on September 1st, I hope to see you there!

Someday Can I Be A Fireman?

Because my mom asked :)
I looked through our front door and thought I saw smoke. Or was it the sprinklers in the park? It looked strange. We went outside to discover the fire department was conducting a hose training drill in the park! An opportunity we couldn't miss!

Ian introduced himself to the firefighters and they stopped what they were doing long enough to give him a badge, sit him in the driver's seat AND let him step on the horn! He was a little uncertain about the horn but once it started he didn't lift his foot! 

As we watched them run through their drills he was giddy with excitement asking me if he could be a firefighter with boots and a hat and pants and a jacket and a...

Perfect little boy morning!

So Much To Share!

POTD 081109 - From the Garden, originally uploaded by katrina.kennedy.

I have so many things to show you! Photos of my girls' weekend in San Antonio, Ian's fun encounter with Fire Engine 14, the bountiful harvest from my garden today. Funny thing is after 4 days away from the boys I just want to enjoy my time with them and haven't spent much time on the computer! I have photos to edit, posts to write, and a house to clean! I spent 4 hours in the garden this morning just harvesting everything! So a photo from today with the intent to share the last week soon.

Snapshot Saturday #2

I loved seeing all of your great photos last Saturday! Thanks for playing along. Since I'm in San Antonio for the Designer Digitals Digicrop I thought I'd change it up some with a fun theme that is super easy when time is tight.

You can call it looking back, this day in history, one year ago today, or whatever you'd like. Simply look through your photos. Find one on the same day a year or two (or more!) ago and post it. The story of the photo is always a great touch too. Doris' Thought Provoking Thursday Challenge is a great help if you are stuck on journaling.

Here's mine, one year ago today!

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One Year Ago Today was 8-8-8. We set out on our bikes looking for eights! It ended up being one of our favorite days of the summer as well as the day Ian got his first library card. I took 424 photos that day, substantially more than an average day! I loved looking back at them and seeing the day all over again! My favorite though is Ian getting his very first library card! My library card has always been such an important part of my life, watching him get his was complete bliss! I'm looking forward to lots and lots of trips there!

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Be warned though, looking for the photo can lead to hours of reliving memories! No photos from this day a year, two or three ago? Take one today so that next year you'll have one! Link me up so I can leave you some love!

Happy Camper

Camping was a success! Only one minor meltdown over needing his house and his toys. Food was incredible, I don't know how we ever camped without a dutch oven! More photos to come. For now my boys searching for Hermit Crabs which Ian named Hermit of course.

And a peak at preparation of dinner night 2!

And now I must go to bed. Somewhat bitter. Must work tomorrow. Glad for work, just don't want to go!

Snapshot Saturday 8/1

Saturday is a perfect day for a snapshot or two! Over at Get It Scrapped we are hosting a month of blog challenges! I get to kick it off with Snapshot Saturday! Each Saturday I'll post a prompt for a challenge for you to follow! I can't wait to see what you come up with.

So here goes! A blog just isn't the same if you don't dress it up with a few photos! In fact some days a post with photos is all you need to tell a great story. My friend Mel, aka Britgirl, does a beautiful job letting photos guide you through her posts. I also love picture blogs like my friend Teri's. Entirely photos with just a little caption. Her photos are gorgeous and as soon as Ian is old enough I'm sending him to her house for the summer!

Do you get stuck wondering what to capture?  You are surrounded by opportunity! People who visit your blog want to see your life. What makes you uniquely you. Your photos don't have to be perfect. Just yours. So how about a scavenger hunt for a little inspiration?

Show us

1. Something you love
2. Something yellow
3. Something from above

Three photos or just one if you want to get creative! Don't worry over settings*. Shoot away. Capture it. Post it to your blog and link me up in the comments! Next Saturday I'll post my favorites here along with the next Saturday Snapshot.

*And if you are worried about settings, remember good light always makes photos better. Find a window with light streaming through it and place your subject in front of it. Go outside into open shade or wait until late afternoon or early morning when the sun isn't directly above you.

And my photos...

Something I Love

Something Yellow

Something From Above

You can click on the titles to see the settings I've used. You can also get more inspiration in the Designer Digitals Picture A Day Group at Flickr. A fun group with great support!

Don't forget to link me up!