08 Sunday Sep 2013
02 Sunday Jun 2013
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Remember when “practice” was just playing?
Posted by jb | Filed under Life, Our View, Photography, Soul
27 Monday May 2013
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black labs, dogs, lab puppy, photo blog, photography, puppy love, soul
My quest for a black lab puppy continues. This week, I drove hours to meet this adorable little guy… unfortunately, he wasn’t “my dog”. I grew up with black labs – lots of them. I never guessed finding one of my own would be such a challenge. It’s heartbreaking and discouraging. (Although I thoroughly enjoyed all the puppy kisses! It’s been a long time since I’ve had any of those.)
I’ve never been good at giving up and I’m determined to find my black lab puppy. Any references/suggestions are greatly appreciated!
03 Sunday Feb 2013
Posted in Ocean, Photography
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Whenever I’m at the beach, my soul feels just like this little girl jumping up and down in the waves. It reminds me that I need to feel like that more often.
This past week, I had the opportunity to be on the photo team for the school’s drama department. It’s my second year on the annual team — and despite how crazy-full the week is — shooting 1000 pictures a night, followed by culling, evaluating, editing, learning from mistakes, then turning in the best 5 (only 5!) to the team leader (for the lobby poster. We’ll use the top 70 per cast for the DVD) and starting over with a new cast the next day — I love, love, LOVE it! Photography fills my soul in an entirely different way.
I learned a lot on the photo team this year — about photography and myself. I’ll spare you the details (which may make you question my sanity, although I’d just blame it on cold medicine and sleep deprivation) but here’s one of my ah-ha’s:
My soul loves photography so much that I’m determined to learn everything I can about it and to do it every chance I get.
Which brings me to Chapter 3 and our weekly photo lesson. But first, I must share my gratitude for anyone reading this post, because making my weekly photography goal public has (finally!) made me make photography a priority in my life. It’s been at the bottom of my list for too long. (And if you suffer from the same disease of putting your personal goals last, I highly recommend committing to a goal publicly – even if it’s just to one person who will hold you accountable. Not new advice, but I can now tell you personally, it works.) Thank you!
Okay, here we go, Chapter 3 Assignment:
(from the awesome book “Nikon D7000: From Snapshots to Great Shots” by John Batdork. It was a lifesaver while shooting in a dark theater this week!)
Hey, that’s not so hard, right?
Remember, these automatic modes are there for a reason and there’s no shame in using them! Their purpose is to use the settings that are usually best for that scene. For example, portrait mode creates warmer, softer skin tones. Landscape mode enhances the blues and greens — colors that are often found in landscape pictures and uses a small aperture (making everything in focus — not just what’s closest to the camera.) Sports mode uses a fast shutter speed to capture the action with less blur. See? It’s not cheating, it’s useful. And, if you want to learn more – you can use the information saved with each picture about shutter speed, ISO and aperture. When you understand what settings your camera is using automatically, you’ll know what to do if you want to adjust them by shooting manually. (Or you can happily keep using scene mode, take great pictures, impress your family and friends and not worry about it. It’s all good.)
Feel free to link to your pictures from this week or ask a question. Or just tell me — what makes your soul full? (Because I’m curious that way and I’d love to hear from you.)
22 Sunday Jul 2012
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jb: During my recent summer wanderings, I discovered Swanton’s Berry Farm. Not only were the strawberries organic and delicious (way better than the ones I grow in my backyard!) but the place was so peaceful – it was like visiting another world. There’s strawberry picking with an ocean view, a Slow Coast store in an old Airstream Trailer (I’ve always been inexplicably in love with Airstream Trailers) and an adorable store decorated with antique signs, collectibles and games (to be played with – yay!). Not too mention every imaginable berry flavored treat (strawberry lemonade, strawberry hot cider, berry truffles, berry mini-cheese cakes and a jam tasting bar – mmmmmm.) But most impressive of all was the trust – you weigh and pay for the berries you pick on the honor system. The treats are sold on the honor system, too. Yep. The till is right there, wide-open on the counter and you make your own change. There’s nothing like being surrounded by goodwill, strawberries, the ocean and photo ops to feed my soul.
25 Sunday Sep 2011
J: There are a lot of reasons I practice yoga – to challenge myself, to learn the art of flow, to reach, breathe, feel my own strength. But more and more I find it’s the chance to meet myself that draws me irresistibly, every morning, to my mat.
Meeting myself for lunch
jb: This week, I attempted to move mindfully through my list of errands instead of dashing through them at my usual mach-5-with-my-hair-on-fire pace. I noticed leaves changing, sunshine through the trees and the fact that I’m actually hungry around noon. As I finished at the grocery store, I noticed the beautiful park that I used to take my son to for lunch in the days of strollers and doing errands together; I missed him and those days. Suddenly, it popped into my head “Why don’t I ever take myself to the park for lunch?” So I did. As I sat down at my bench with my grocery-deli sandwich, I saw this picture of myself. It’s how I’ve drawn myself my whole life, only I didn’t draw this picture; it was waiting for me at the one table of all the tables I could have chosen to sit at. I had a nice lunch with myself and I apologized for keeping myself waiting so long.
