Backlight

I've been experimenting with backlighting.  Ross has been experimenting with snowboarding. 

 

I'm still learning... as is he.   

 

In the first photo, I should have stepped to my left to allow that tree to block more of the sunlight.  I also should have asked the girls to fall down the hill.  Which they later did.

 

 

Backlighting gives a hazy-dreamy quality to a photo.  They aren't as crisp as front-lit photos, but can be a fun way to set a mood.  Backlit photos tend to appear 'washed-out', so I find it helps to bump the exposure up just a tad when processing.  Whatever a tad means.

 

These photos were taken Thursday evening around 6 p.m.  We had significant melting on Thursday.  Friday morning we woke to 3 inches of freshly fallen snow.

 

Like I said, Ross is still learning too.

 

In the below shot, the sun was lower which let me capture his silhouette. 

 

 

In this photo, you can see sun flare.  Although a little harsh, I kinda like it.

 

 

Meanwhile...

 

 

I figured out why snow pictures usually turn out sharp and crisp.  The snow acts as a natural light reflector which is essential for sharp photos.  Just some food for thought.

 

 

The below photo of Maisie is a front-lit photo (meaning she's facing the sun).  Front light creates less shadows and brighter colors but can also appear one dimensional. 

 

 

In this shot, Maisie looks washed-out.  I should have increased my saturation and decreased my exposure.  I'm sure there are a zillion other things I should have done to make this better, but again...I'm still learning.

 

 

Told ya they'd fall down that hill.

 

All photos were shot in manual mode at 500 ISO and 2.8 f-stop.

She Didn't Need Me

It's not that I really loved listening to the stories at library story time.  But she needed me next to her.  She's shy.  We attend 'school', as Molly calls it each week.  She refers to the librarian as her 'teacher' and the reading room is her 'classroom'.  The other moms sit outside the reading room chatting about pregnancy weight, sick kids and what they're having for lunch.  Not this mama.  Molly's shy and wants me to sit with her.  She needs me.

This week was the Valentines party.  Lots of kids showed up and the teacher even brought cookies.  One poor little girl had to leave halfway through the party when her mom noticed the kids eating cookies.  Apparently her daughter is allergic to eggs and milk.  Can you even imagine?

However, before the party began, I asked Molly if I could go look for a book and be right back.  She said "No, not right now."  A minute later I asked again.  She replied, "okay mom."

As I walked away, I caught myself looking back at her.  She didn't appear phased by my leaving.  I wandered the library feeling an odd sense of freedom.  I decided I didn't like it.  I snatched the current issue of Food Network magazine and found a place to sit outside the reading room where I could see her, but she couldn't see me.  I heard her talking during show and tell, I saw her make a Valentine card out of a doily and eat  cookie sprinkles off the carpet.  That's when she looked up and caught a glimpse of me.  She burst into a smile...she was proud...she was confident... she's growing up.  Suddenly I noticed my heart was heavier than normal.  As much as I pray she grows to be a strong, confident and independent woman, she is and always will be my baby girl.  

And as the chair I normally occupy during library school sat empty, it was clear she no longer needed me. 

Good gravy, when did I turn into such a sap?

A Nap?

Quote of the week by Sugar Plum...

"Your acting so nice today mommy.  Did you take a nap?"

One day she'll learn just how powerful a glass of wine can be for us mommy's. 

Lots of Faces

I've been trying to make the eyes in my photo's sparkle more.  Luckily for me, I have a willing subject to practice on. 

 

No matter how many times I asked her to remove it, she insisted on the wig.  She said it made her look like a 'mama'. 

 

I'm not sure what to make of that.

 

This is her smile face.

 

This is her mad face.

 

This would be her surprise face.

 

Her sad face.

 

Her laughing face.

 

But hands-down, my favorite is her smile face.

Father Daughter Dance

Click the link for a slideshow of photos from the Father Daughter Dance.

 

Father Daughter Dance

All Kinds of Awesome

Maisie made this for her sister at school today.

 

 

That girl.

She's all kinds of awesome.

There She Is

Molly can't get enough of the Miss America theme song.  This morning I let her watch Bert Parks sing his version on U-Tube. 

Of course I went straight to the crowning moments of 1986-1991.  I'm a bit partial.

 

 

She was in heaven.

You see, there's nothing quite like watching Miss America being crowned while eating oatmeal, then twirling around over the heat vent to make your dress poof up. 

 

 

Good God. 

Life is Good.