Week 3 Homework...

Yes I know...it's just a washing machine. Or is it?? I am showing several parts to reveal a location. Laundry soap, dirty clothes, washing machine...all this means I'm doing laundry!

Framing...I am using the slide to reveal my subject. What is even more cool about this, is I took this picture at the Fluvanna playground at almost sunset(so the community center is blocking most of our light). Normally you wouldn't be able to see her face, but changing the settings on my camera it revealed her perfectly!! YAY!!!

Bad angle...shooting up...also known as "nostril shot"

Good Angle...I got eye level with them...

I tried getting pictures of Syd...I think she's getting tired of her picture being taken...cause she just wouldn't hold still.

Week 2 Homework...

This past week we only had two assignments...

Selective focus...I shot through the head locks to focus on Miles. The back ground isn't as blurred as I would like, but I'm still learning.

Miles was so cute when I asked if he wanted to go outside so I could take his picture...He asked me if he could wear his cowboy outfit...

Large focus...It's all about focus focus focus! This is probably one of my favorite ways to shoot. Especially kids.

Little stink just wouldn't look at me. Doesn't she look so angelic...unlike the "little monster" she is. I love her oh so much!!!

 My little goofball! I think she was having more fun than I was...which is hard to believe, because I am loving this class!

 Now he's just being silly! You can look at this one and the one of Tenley and see the difference that focus makes. This picture is not a good example of "large focus", but I didn't want to leave Miles out.

I may have to start shooting "subjects" that cooperate a little more than these three little munchkins do!! I have to say though...they make really cute pics

Homework...

Goose bought me my fancy Cannon camera a couple of years ago. Since then, well basically, I look like I know what I'm doing, but I don't really have a clue. 

When WTC started offering a photography class through College on the Square, Goose suggested I take it. Well, I put it off and put it off. See while I was working the thought of staying in town for a two hour class one night a week was not very appealing. Now that I'm staying home...it's a little different. A chance for a little break and I get to learn about all the really cool things my camera will do...sign me up! 

I am loving it. It's just a small group of ladies...there are 5 of us and our fearless teacher Carol. We laugh (at ourselves mostly) and we learn about our cameras. We are learning how to make them work with us not against us.

My first class was last week...this was my homework...

The kids were more than happy to be my subjects.

Here I shot with a fast Shutter Speed...So it froze the motion...

 This is a slower shutter speed...so I captured the motion, but there is slight blurring.

 Very slow shutter speed...perfectly capturing Miles, but blurring everything else...catching him in motion.

 Medium shutter speed...you can see the rain drop hit, but there is also some blurring.

  Shallow depth of field...

Deep depth of field...If you look closely you can actually make out the birds in the sky and the poles in the background.

Since this isn't actually credited course work Carol doesn't give out grades...but I am happy with what I shot, and really that is what's most important...right?!? In most of these shots, I'm trying to focus your eye to what I want you to see in the picture...and blur out all the "extra". More to come...I have homework again this week.

This class is so much fun. I wish I had taken it a lot sooner...I'm realizing things that I have been doing wrong all along. There is A LOT more to taking pictures than just pointing the camera and shooting. That is...if you want better pictures than I usually take.

Spring Flowers...

..Bring Winter Babies! At least this seems to ring true for our family.

Baby Stansell #4 is well on his/her way to making an appearance in mid Jan. 

 This little guy/gal weighs 1.7lbs! So small, yet every part(arms, legs, lungs, heart, brain...etc) is formed and functioning...OUR GOD IS WONDERFULLY AMAZING!!! You would think, with this being my 4th pregnancy that this would all be"old hat" to me, but its not! I am still amazed and blessed every time I have a sonogram or feel this little one move. I'm blown away by the blessing that, of all the women in the world God chose me to be this baby's Mom, and of all the possible babies, He chose this one for our family! How incredible!! Yet, there are people who have experienced this miracle and they still deny there is a God...

My heart aches for all the women who long to be mothers and are struggling through one way or another. I say to you...God has a plan for you and he knows the desires of your heart! Hold onto Him and trust that He is working on your special miracle.

The black and white profile shots are always my favorite...

I imagine He/She is holding their hand in front of their face thinking..."oh, I think they can see me...yikes!"