photography retreat - part 4

The spot I felt most comfortable shooting was Middleton Place - I was in my happy place there!  Flowers, flowers and more flowers...birds and crocodiles...did I mention me being in my happy place?!?!  Well, maybe except for the crocodiles.  Every time I would hear something in the brush I would assume it was one coming for me - HAHA!  I'm happy to report that I still have all my limbs.

For the final posting about the retreat, please enjoy Middleton Place through my lens!

photography retreat - part 3

If you have been following along for awhile, you have probably figured out that I tend to navigate toward plants and animals in their natural dwelling when I take photos.  So when I saw there was an opportunity to work with models and flash photography I took the opportunity to learn something new.

It was a lot of fun to work with the models and dancers!

Enjoy!

This 1931 racing Bentley was another opportunity we had to work with models but I wasn't happy with any of the photos that actually included the models.  Just try to picture a couple of really cute models all dressed up in their '30's outfits!

photography retreat - part 2

Another opportunity we had to get out and practice shooting was a downtown tour.  If you have never been, downtown Charleston is BEAUTIFUL!

This particular opportunity was the hardest for me.  Buildings don't necessarily inspire me and I struggle to find interesting subjects, even though it's all beautiful.  As you will see, there are far fewer pictures that I liked than from "part 1".

Enjoy!

photography retreat - part 1

Last weekend I went to Charleston, South Carolina to participate in a photography retreat.  As I just do it for fun, I really just wanted to get better with my camera and pick up some tips to make my photos better.  It was such a great experience and I definitely learned a TON!

There were lots of opportunities to sit through classes to learn new techniques and opportunities to get out and shoot - photos, that is!

One of the opportunities was they arranged for fire dancers, the Inspiral Fire Tribe, to come out and perform so we could get pictures.  I'm not great with low light photography so this was extra challenging for me but I'm actually very proud of what I was able to capture - some of this was even hand held!

Enjoy!

Week 1

Last year I participated in a 52 week challenge where you take one photo a week for the whole year.  I didn't share the photos here.  :(

I've decided to participate again this year and plan to share the photos here!

For Christmas I got a deck of cards that gives you ideas of what to photograph for the week.  I asked my friend's son to draw a card for me for this week and it just so happened to be the "self-portrait" card.

So, for week 1, I present to you "self-portrait" (which also happens to be my first attempt at flash photography).

birthday month fun - part 2

part 2 of the birthday month fun involved...
you guessed it...
pats season opener!!!

and you know what happens at a season opener
when you're the reigning super bowl champs???
you get a flo rida concert

and you get celebrity sightings like
this wrestling guy (i think)

and mark wahlberg

and they unveil the new banner

and rub it in everyone's face

and way overdo the fireworks

and hand out a lot of gifts

and a crap ton of people show up

besides attending the game
we also took guzzy with us and camped at a nearby campground
and did some pregame tailgating

as well as postgame tailgating

i definitely enjoy attending the pats games
but my heart still belongs to my cowboys
and hopefully we'll make it to a game this year
but not for this birthday month
and btw...the pats cheerleaders
aren't even close in comparison to the dallas cowboy cheerleaders!  :)

this was a mixture of cell phone pics and "real camera" pics
yes, i braved the crowd and took my "real" camera into the game
it was fun for once but don't think i'll do it again  lol