I took these photos on a very cold day in November. It was miserable weather for having your picture taken because all we wanted to do was bundle up and go back indoors. By the time we were done we had red noses and frozen fingers.

In my haste, I lament that I didn’t take the time to make sure the shots were turning out. Many pictures had a good idea going but I didn’t execute the way I should have. I think I really didn’t have a good idea of what I needed to get either, which led to many random shots that weren’t kept. I guess that’s part of learning from you mistakes.

In the end I did end up with some keepers. Here are a few…

Before: This first photo was taken in 2010. I was trying out my macro setting on the camera and was enjoying how much detail I could capture in the weeds and yet how blurry I could get the background.

 

After: This is my new favorite recent picture. It was taken at Lincoln Brick Park back in January 2013 when we got out to enjoy above freezing temperatures and some fresh air. I love how much detail there is and how warm the colors are.

Again, I used the macro setting in the this shot. I like how I used the treeline in the second one and how it’s much brighter as well. I would say that you can see a big improvement in my technique.

This one was taken from my own back yard. I sat and watched the father and mother birds bringing food to the nest inside a hollowed out part of the tree. Earlier in the spring I got to see them working to build the nest that is now filled with hungry babies. This picture is of the father who is carrying some red berries, just before going into the nest.

If I had to pick a favorite season I would have to choose spring. Each season is unique in it’s own way but there is
something special about spring. The return of the birds and blossoming of flowers reminds me of the renewed hope that
we have every day. Every day is a clean slate and we have a choice of what we are going to do with it.

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23

All my pictures thus far have always been either black & white or color. This was my first attempt at trying
something new, the Color Accent setting. I’ll be doing some more of these for sure.

The rest I did in good ol’ black & white.

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I’ve been drooling over Canon’s EOS 60D and 7D for what feels like a few years now, promising myself I’ll be getting one real soon. But as time has gone by, I’ve realized that I still have so much further I can go with my good ol’ PowerShot SX 1IS. I’m also not quite ready to dive into photography for anything more than a hobby since my time is already occupied with other priorities. I will still be getting a new camera, just not yet.

For now, my CanonPower Shot is still my #1 tag-along!

You may be asking, “What is alphabet photography?” But chances are, you have seen it before.

It’s the process of taking photos of everyday objects that resemble letters of the alphabet, then arranging the pictures together to create your very own personalized letter photo art. You can make them in color, black and white, or even sepia if you prefer. All you have to do is take pictures of random things that resemble the letter you want, or if you’re really smart you can think of something that actually has to do with the word you are spelling out.

It’s been fun doing these because the possibilities are endless! The few I’ve made have become good wedding, anniversary, and Christmas gifts.

1. LOVE – “Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.” Peter 4:8

2. BREMER – May 14, 2011

3. HAYNES – April 23, 1983

I’ve been working on this post for a bit now when I read this weeks photography challenge at the Digital Photography School, all about photographing silhouettes. So, feeling inspired I took the one of the robin and added it to my collection before I posted this. I love the simplicity of silhouettes, don’t you?