you capture - depth of field

I had no trouble with this week's you capture because shallow depth of field is the look I go for most of the time anyway.

My neighbor's hydrangeas of which I am very jealous.

And....then there's my yard. Now that the azaleas are gone, this is about all it has to offer.

Next year, my friends...next year.

And the little porker's feet as she was barking at me because she hates the camera.

you capture: yellow

This week's You Capture theme is yellow! And a sushi dinner with the cousins at Do in midtown made the perfect subject.

Oh man these are making me hungry. I think I could eat sushi for every meal.

spring cluttering

It's You Capture Day, and the theme is Spring...again! Even though it's felt more like summer around these parts lately. So this post is all about the spring shopping that's been going on. Forget spring cleaning...I'm junking this joint up!

Starting with the patio. I went to Garden Ridge last weekend in search of chaises, but isntead found these chairs for $19 each. Sold.

But I still wanted some chaises. I scoured dozens of websites trying to find what I wanted. But everything either looked cheap or would cost me a kidney. I finally found these with these cushions (the floral) from World Market. They had me with the pull-out tray. Thank you, tax refund check!

I had thought about moving this rug from the living room to the patio (it's an indoor/outdoor), but major clash with the cushions.

So I'm on the hunt for a rug. Possibly this. Thoughts? And I definitely want to add some of these string lights. I have an old marble-top sewing machine table from my grandmother I'll probably use to hold some planters. Then I'll just need to round up a little dining table and a grill. See what I mean about the cluttering? I'm on the fast track to this.

In other junk shopping news, I found these collars on etsy from Coleys Collars. I love that you can get them in a big size with a narrow width. The furballs like em thin. I think Honey's getting the stripes and Sal Pal's getting purple. That pink buckle is my favorite part.

The next two I can get away with on the budget front because I used a gift card I'd been holding onto since Christmas. My overcrowded jewelry holders are not pleased, though. Both from Charlotte Russe:

These came with yellow, too, but they were in my ears. Who you calling lazy?

I swear I'm not a hoarder.

three for your thursday

It's You Capture day! The theme is spring. This post is on the disjointed side, but it's springy enough I think.

1. I know the interwebs are probably way sick of Honey this week. But she is the best model of the four, and I keep finding another shot I like more than the last from the weekend. And I can't keep all that cuteness to myself.

So much fun to shoot them in the pretty spring weather. Can you believe that big girl was this little girl a year and a half ago? I can't. 

2. These are my new favorite shoes. They're just 16 smacks from Old Navy, and I think I'm going to have to get some more. But I can't decide which color. I was thinking that rusty red that's already sold out online. Might have to hunt around this weekend.

3. I'm a little hung up on shooting the sun straight on and out of focus. Feels like summer. Just have to be sure not to expose on the sun. Learned the hard way that creates nothing but a dark mess.

I love Thursdays. Good tv night (Parks and Rec, Office, 30 Rock, Grey's, Private Practice. whew.). And on Thursdays you can see the light at the end of the tunnel that is the weekend! Have a happy one!

fireworks success = sweet

Linking up with You Capture.

 

This winter, I read quite a few articles and blogs about shooting fireworks. Friday night at the Redbirds game was my first shot to test out my new knowledge.

One hiccup. Every one of those article says a nonnegotiable in fireworks shooting is a tripod. Something I don't have yet. Something even if I did have, I probably would not want to haul to a baseball game.

So I took the camera and the lenses anyway and planned to wing it. The show started, and I tried resting the camera on an unsteady rail, producing shaky images at best.

Then I sat down. The bottom of two fence rails and the ground ended up making a perfect stabilizer. I could leave the shutter open as long as I wanted, and I got sharp shots.

Then at the end I started to play. Swirling and swaying the camera while the shutter was open. So much fun.

So my reaction to my first fireworks photoshoot was "Sweet." Can't wait to try again. Who needs a tripod?

who knew?

(Linking up with You Capture. The theme is fresh!)

Who knew that green onions would do this...

...for weeks and weeks on my counter. They just keep growing and growing.

I first saw this trick here and was doubtful. I have a black thumb, you see.

But it's so easy even Maddi could do it.

All I do is trim the tips and the roots every few days.

How great to always have fresh green onions?

footography

This week's You Capture theme is feet! One of my favorite subjects, especially if they're fur covered. Here are some of my favorites.

honey.

sallie.

maddi.

sallie and lilly.

my feet in the snow.