Ocean City

   I wanted to at least make a post once a month while in school but as you can see I missed that by a day. The good news.......I am done!!!! **HaPpY DaNcE* I have finished my my Masters in Social Work. I truly forgot about the joy of having the choice of how you spend your time when not working. My time was so wrapped up in the next deadline for a paper or exam that even for those moments I was not doing school work, in class or working that I did not truly enjoy those simple moments. So here I am loving the joys of life again, I just hope I don't forget the preciousness of it.
  So on to the topic of "My Adventure in Photography." The Thursday before Memorial day weekend (for some Thursday is the start of that weekend) I get a text from my friend Leigh, asking if my husband and I would like to join them on a trip down to Ocean City. As you can see we made that trip. Those pictured below are Leigh and her soon to be hubby, Dave.
  One more thing, I am realizing, that I sometimes over-edit my pictures causing the colors to be too bright. I thought about re-editing them and re-posting some of those pictures. Then I thought, this would not be a blog about my progress in photography, so I will embrace my flaws! My father has talked to me about some tools I can get to make sure my colors our adjusted correctly on the computer screen, I just have yet to invest. Yes, I am blaming my flaws on the computer. As humans we must rationalize! ;)

+Epiphany+

When I am learning something new (that I am interested in), I incur much anxiety to know all about this "something new." I must know all possibilities and options this something new has to offer me. After this is done I want know how to use is it to its optimal performance. I guess this is what you call perfectionism. This quality I dispose has been a double edge sword for me. While this quality has served positive purposes, aka, furthering my education and now my photography, it makes me high-strung while mastering my new skills. If my husband is reading this he is probably shaking his head. I will admit I was becoming a little pessimistic about my ability to grasp these intertwining concepts to produce a picture that is held in my imagination.While I have received many compliments, I had yet to really, I mean really wow myself.

So my husband and I ventured to Rock State Park and hiked up to this waterfall. First barrier, was I going to take the chance to walk on the few SLIPPERY rocks available to get the angle needed, with my equipment. Well, I made it across the rocks. So I am setting up for my shoot. During this time there had been a family to my right playing in the water. Soon as I get everything set up the family decides to play in the waterfall. Really? Well I will just take odd angled pictures that will not include the family. As I was taking my initial pictures I kept overexposing (too much light). So I am trying to remember my "exposure triangle" and thinking what needed to be adjusted. I did move to one more place for another angel. After sometime I was starting to become frustrated. Oh wait, the family is leaving. This was my last shot I took before I left (the first one).

Anywho, I wowed myself!!! This was a much needed picture for me. The rest of the pictures are of my husband and his other wife. Enjoy!!! (See perfectionism pays off!)   

 

BlOoMiNg...

This is one of my favorite times of year, when all the different flowers are blooming. I sometimes think I am going to cause a car accident from starring. While I am not suggesting you cause a car accident I am suggesting to not let the beauty pass you by. I also don't just mean don't let beauty pass you by but to truly take in the entity of the flower. This quote explains what I am trying to say the best...

If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change. - Buddha

Some Sun light and Buddha is always good for the soul!

On a day of shopping, I found this jewel for five buckeroos!! It is real ceramic as well!! So one day when I was getting ready to head out, I noticed the sun was setting and I thought Buddha, sun setting......good picture. Enjoy!

"By living deeply in the present moment we can understand the past better & prepare for a better future." -Thich Nhat Hanh

"If you can, help others; if you cannot do that, at least do not harm them."- Dalai Lama

Distric of Columbia

Ever since moving to the Baltimore area, I have taken many trips to DC. Well it was time for another trip. My sister was in town at the end of March and we got a chance to go down on a really beautiful day. Below are some pictures I captured while there.Yes, that is my sister's real hair color.

Light Blulb Has Gone Off!!!

I have been messing around with the free photo editing program, GIMP. As I was reading and watching tutorials nothing was clicking for me. Getting colors to "pop" was going no where. Well folks I figured out some basic, fundamental editing skills out. Below are my before and afters.

                                                               

                Before (It may seem that this picture is fine the way it is)

After (Notice how the white is brighter and the yellow in the middle has popped)

                                                     BEFORE                                   

 AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

                                                         BEFORE                                                       

 

AFTER

 BEFORE

            AFTER

Another AFTER (Depends what look you are going for)

 BEFORE

AFTER