Let's go fly a kite!

We have a lot to do 'round these parts. So much, I find ways to escape it. Clean? Pack? Oh, did I not mention that we are moving in 3 months? Below the mason-dixon line, no less, yeeeee-haaaaaa! Whoop. Whoop. Okay, so, what was I saying, oh yes, nah, forget all that house work, let's go fly a kite instead. Right?

Now, I am feeling kind of...uninspired lately with the picture taking thing. I get this way when I have too many pics on a memory card that I have yet to edit. But, I desperately want to record these days with my boys. So, my solution? Break out the film camera. Point. Click. Develop. No photoshop. No clearing that memory card that is full.

 Now, this picture is deceiving. It looks like we were masta' kite fliers and all. That is not true. Not in the least. We got these kites off the ground for...maybe a second...twice? I let the boy's pic out their kites, and Pete picked Batman. His was the cheapest, flimsiest, yet it flew the best.

One-armed-Joey managed to pick out a kite with dual holders. You know, where you need TWO hands to steer the kite? I did not notice this minor inconvenience until after we got to the park. So, eventually, Joey used Pete's kite, on account of only having ONE hand. 

We pretty much gave up after this. We hit the park, but not before grabbing a picture of my Joey.

So pensive, serious. Joey, relax babe. 

This park is great, by the way.

Now, you may ask yourself...'ya know, I swear she has four kids, but I only ever see pics of one or two...where are the rest?"

Here they are, and *this* is why you never see pics with all 4. 

Yeah, you will see single pics of these kids for some time to come. I try. 

And before we got into the car, I had Joey lay down for a pic I have seen and wanted to duplicate.

But allergy eyes and a bright sky are not a good combo. I still think he is cute though. :) 

Fuji 400h, in case you were curious. ;) 

Been busy.

Hi everyone!

Yeah, been too busy. As usual. *sigh* We went to Vermont, and I don't think I will post all those pics as they are still in memory card land, and well, we just got busier. So, I will post what I have, give you a little update and then just get started on with our busy day. :) 

Vermont was really pretty and really cold. Joe had to buy me a sweatshirt. Not kidding.

We went letter boxing.

In a graveyard.

Creepy. Kids got a kick out of the milk stamp. They were like, "Milk?!! What does milk have to do with a graveyard?" LOL

Then we went to this lake beach that had 100,000 newts.

Jude was really cute with the water and newts.. :)

Then, Joey broke his arm. :( So, baseball is over for us. :( Today we have to check to see if it is set, get it casted.

A dear friend had dinner ready for us upon our return, which was a real thoughtful treat. :) And, I have no shame to admit that I am eating the leftovers for breakfast(okay, second breakfast). Good friends are worth their weight in gold.

I have mean meaning to tell you...a couple of weeks ago, I took on a project for my sistah. I photographed some of her amazing designs/branding. Now,I did not photograph everything. For example, park cellar, bup, logo portfolio, and lana bell were not photographed by me. But the rest is my work. Check it out! It was fun.

The Thoughtful Type

Okay, we are off to get x-rays and a cast and more milk at the sto.' Have a great day!

The magic and beauty of telephoto...

I bought a zoom to capture my budding baseball star. Joey loves baseball this year. He has turned this corner with it. He gets the game. I mean, he really gets it now. When he gets that ball, his eyes dart to all the right bases, and he quickly throws it. He does a little happy dance when he is fast enough to get an out. And, I desperately want to capture it all. So, I obsessed over buying a zoom. I got the 70-200mm 4L, non-IS, in case you were curious. No action pics yet, later on that. I will say that I need serious practice cause I am not thrilled with my 200mm 100% crops. Anyhow...I just had to share some bokeh at 200mm. It is really amazing. I never shot with a 200mm lens. This pic is on my porch. The background is a nasty road, guard rail, buildings, and cars. But you can't really tell at 200mm, can ya?

And this is in the backyard, grape vines behind Paul.

Now, I must stop playing with my new lens and go pack for our vacation!

Summer!!! And a filmy weekend to celebrate!

School is out. It is Summer. :) 

Shot through 3 rolls of film this weekend. 

Kodak Portra 400. Now, I did get this developed at...er...um...{whispering] walmart. I know. Still, skin tones too magenta/red. Did not bother to tweak, hope you don't mind too much. ;) 

And, of course, if I am outside, you know that means macro. Fuji Superia 800.

For iso 800, I think it retained detail pretty well! 

I bought some Popsicles. We are going to thoroughly enjoy Summer, and I hope you do too! 

Film...

There is just something about it that really melts my heart. Is that melodramatic or what?!! No, really, I love film images. The above one was a fun shot, just for the love of color. I did not do one thing to this in Ps5...no sharpening, no curves, no color poppage...nothing. To me, that says alot about the beauty of the medium, because to get this same look, I really would have to tinker around with midtones, hue saturation, and probably even a color fill to get the grass that hue. My digi grass is always more yellow than blue, but it is quite the opposite with film.

I just recently took part in a film workshop called shooting the breeze. Wait, I did not take part in anything, I was a total bum! :( It was a great class...the pdfs are beautiful and informative, the interviews and pictures are inspiring, and Suzie is talented, amazing, and sweet. I feel terribly for not being more active in it. I signed up for it on a whim, thinking it was such a great idea, it would force me to shoot more film. But...between editing my digi images, taking on a new project, and having a busy life with 4 boys(and this time of year is especially busy with baseball!), I ended up being a silent observer, and before I knew it, it was over. I am the worst procrastinator, and time slips outta my hands pretty easily. It was a beautiful class though. Anyhow...I guess this is where I am at with film and digi, I feel like I don't really have the time to devot the attention either one needs unless I focus one ONE medium. That is a silly sentiment though, I know, so I am going to do my best to explore film *and* digi, and utilize my time better overall...

Anyhow...isn't that swing pic full of pretty color? :) 

Fuji Superia Xtra 800, if you are wondering. ;) 

Pete's many friends...

So, you know Pete has an imaginary friend, Bingo, and Jimmy the Monster lives upstairs. Well, now, whenever we are outside, Pete has to find a friend...a bug friend. He will find a bug, any bug, and walk around with it on his arm or hand, picking it back up when it falls. Sometimes he puts it in his shirt pocket. He loves having bug friends. He ain't scared either. He tried to pick up one of those freaky horror movie millipedes in the woods a couple of weeks ago. You know, the HUGE ones? He tries to pick up centipedes and spiders. I tell him that some bugs bite, so to ask me before he picks up a new friend. So, he has been asking me, "mom does this one love me?" LOL That is his way of finding out if it bites. Too cute. The other day, he found the biggest rolly polly(or potato bug, depending on what you wanna call it).

Sorry if that grossed you out. I know...

And, we have the prettiest flowers in bloom...Dahlia, I think?