Monday, September 20, 2010

A Weekend of Sun...

Well...Sunflowers...

This weekend was HOT HOT HOT, the humidity was crazy and the sweat just poured, but all the beautiful sunflowers seemed to thrive in the heat and gorgeous sunlight! I have been admiring this brilliant little flowers scattered along the side of the road, making our journey just a little bit brighter. They were everywhere and I just couldn't help but to stop and try to capture them and their sunny little faces! So, this weekend I decided to stop and smell the....sunflowers...and my son and I even picked a few! So, despite the heat it was a beautiful weekend! Hope you all had a great weekend too!

Right before sunset and was able to catch some nice warm light!
{Day 101 of 365}

I liked this shot...a delicate flower growing next to sharp barbed wire, plus you can see all the other flowers scattered in the background

I only got one on Saturday, we had birthdays and ballgames, so only time for one quick shot, good think it turned out! {Day 102 of 365}

On Sunday my oldest son and I went in search for a place to pick some sunflowers and bring them back home to his Nana!

How can you resist taking some shots when your mother-in-law has a great faded barn backdrop and great antique containers to use as props!

My favorite from Sunday and the weekend {Day 103 of 365}


Hope you all had a great weekend and that your week ahead is wonderful too!
Brooke

Friday, September 17, 2010

100 Days of Photos!

Well, its official...I have been on this 365 day journey for 100 days now! Well 101 today, but, I didn't get a chance to post this yesterday... This journey has had its ups and downs and there have been many days I've almost forgot to get a shot for the day and had to improvise or compromise creativity in order to have the photo for the day. All in all it's been very fulfilling, I've seen myself grow and I've seen my photography get better, I've stretched myself creativity and succeeded and I've also failed. But, I've learned, which was my goal when I took on this project. So, yesterday I had an idea in mind to commemorate my 100th day and ended up taking a series of photos, so I collaged them all up and thought I'd share with you! While I’m sharing and I have yet to share anything from this month I thought I'd share what I have for the month of September so far! I've been taking this journey month by month and I know that is the only way I've reach 100 photos...To all of you partaking in this journey I've enjoyed seeing your work and I wish you well as we all forge on ahead and get closer picture by picture to 365!






To see more collages of my journey and some of my thoughts visit my 365 page here on my blog

Or

 Visit my 365 gallery on Flickr and see all my photos from my 365 day journey in their full size

Have a great day!
Brooke

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

It's official I made a decision!

Well, I've been thinking about for months now, gathering opinions of those around me, watching views and comments on my flickr account, and holding voting contest on my facebook page...I've made a decision on what images I am going to enter into the fair. A few a picked because they were fan favorites, others I just went with my heart since they had a place there.

So, since I'm getting ready to display them for my great state to see I thought I'd post them for the world to see as well. After all what is the point of being a photographer and artist is you don't share your work and heart?

I entered six categories three enhanced categories and three amateur categories which require sooc images, good thing I got smart and started to remember to keep my original file, why I wasn't doing that in the beginning I don't know...anyway here they are!


First up Portraits, both of these photos I picked were from my favorite sessions and both just for fun 'practice' sessions. Even so, I love these two portraits!

This first one is my enhanced portrait, I could of used it for my unenhanced one, but I just love the soft faded look and vintage feel in this version of it. There was another one from this session that was an alternative option and was a family favorite, but this is one of those that spoke to me as a photographer, so it won!

My second portrait is my SOOC pick. This was one of those that was a fan favorite, I had another one from this session that I just loved, but, after matting and looking at it from far away my fans were right, this was more eye catching and it was my second favorite. I loved this session and thought they would be best for the unenhanced category since I loved them the second I took them, they only got better with minor enhancements! So This is pick number two!



Next up the miscellaneous category. This category is so vague, so I just used it as a chance to enter some of my favorites...

This is my SOOC entry for this category, I actually love all the photos from this series of photos, but this is the one that I was most drawn to and looked best after being matted!


This one is my enhanced entry, didn't enhance it to much, just a little levels balancing and a slight color pop...This was one that was a heart choice, I had another one of my cherry pictures in the running to be picked and the majority preferred it over this one. However, this one just kept speaking to me and it also speaks 'me'...So, this time  heart won!



Of course everyone has a flower entry...

This entry is SOOC and is a heart winner. I took this photo on a whim while out garage sale hopping and fell in love with it. It is my favorite photo I've taken. It's not always a fan favorite, but it's my favorite. This has even been blown up and displayed as art in my sister's house, so it's at least one fan's favorite! Thinking I might blow it up too for my house!


My final entry fits in the candid category...

Of course I like this photo, after all my adorable youngest son is in it.  But, it's not my favorite and I'm now completely happy with it...However, it's a fan favorite and I think I got out numbered for my final selection! So, here is my enhanced candid entry.

Sweet Shot Day
So, here they are, not necessarily the best, but the favorites! Thanks for letting me share my hearts work with you!


Have a great day everyone!
Brooke

Friday, September 10, 2010

All rolled up in one package...

Well, I am finally back! Between recovering from my surgery and having issues with blogger, I am finally able to post something! Has anyone else been having issues with blogger??? OK, on with my post...Things have been a little crazy around here! Our life has been turned inside out and upside down, I'm having to learn how to accept the help of others and let my family do things for me! Which is a hard task, when I 'm just use to doing it all myself. I'm learning not to feel guilty for accepting all the help I've been given and instead just be grateful! I am grateful, very grateful! I have been very blessed to be able to have my mom and husband here by my side, helping me keep my house in order and my children happy! If it wasn't for them, I'd be very tired and very stressed and my house would be quickly piling up with things to do! It has been beyond hard to hear my little boys ask for me to hold them and have to tell them no, their little minds not being able to understand my inability to physically hold them. So I have to wait, wait for someone to help them on the couch to sit next to me. But, it's only for a short time and soon I will be good as new! I just keep reminding myself,the closer I follow doctors orders, the faster I heal and I avoid anymore trips to the surgery room! All this craziness has made me realize that things have got to change, especially with my lifestyle habits. So, as soon as I am released to do something other than walk, things are changing around here. Our family is going to attempt ignore all our southern family food traditions and start eating better! We are going to need your help and encouragement too, its hard when every time you visit with family(which is about every weekend) attempting to find something is not fried is quite daunting!
So, I said I was rolling up things in one package, well I am! Since I've been gone I have missed out on my regular photo challenges and group participation! Well, I've already let you in on my bigger picture moment, now how about some Sweet Shots that also happen to fit the theme for The Sunday Creative!

The weekend before my surgery my family and I went to a few antique malls, a flea market and a quiet little stroll on some land near our house....Well we hit the jackpot! I ran into all kinds of finds this past weekend!

I found an old cardboard suitcase and some weathered books.
I also discovered an old rusty scale that just happens to boast my state's capital on the side!

I added to the pile an old silk and lace dress complete with gloves.

And to just add to the weekend finds, we discovered some gourds growing wild just off the path we choose to walk that evening!
Like I said, a weekend full of great finds, right?? Not to mention I managed to snag all these treasures for around $20! I just loved these shots from my weekend of treasure hunting and if I had not been in surgery on Tuesday I would of posted this next picture for Sweet Shot Tuesday. I thought these shots fit the theme, Timeworn, for The Sunday Creative quite well and I just happened to already have the shots before the theme came up, it just worked out perfect!
I'm glad to be back and sharing all my wonderful finds! Hopefully I can get myself updated on all your wonderful blogs and get back into the swing of things!!!
Don't forget to stop by all the wonderful link-ups I've mentioned in this post!
The Bigger Picture Blogs: Hosted this week by Sarah at This Heavenly Life


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