Quarterly Top 5

I'm participating in a Quaterly Top 5 challenge.  All you do is post your top 5 favorite photos you've taken of your kids or pets between January and March.  Fun!  Alexa was just home for spring break so most of the photos are of her since Kyle avoids my camera like the plague.  He must take after his mother, ha!

I did get this one of Kyle during one of our rare snow days.  He cracks me up.  I can't believe he's graduating high school in June!

Here's my current favorite of Joy, our dachshound.  She had just been to the emergency vet the night before and was resting in her blankie, poor thing.

I really like the next one of Alexa and Caligirl.  It was taken on March 21st, the one year anniversary of Alexa bringing her back from her spring break in California from an Orange County animal rescue.  It's been quite a year with Cali.  The most expensive rescue dog in history (or at least ours).  I also like how Alexa had just come in from a run and yet she looks fabulous.  Aw, to be young again...

I like this one because of the pose.  Alexa just happened to look down and I snapped it.  She has beautiful eyes and I never thought about posing her this way before.  (eyes closed looking down) It really had to be in black and white.  I couldn't imagine it any other way.

My last photo is from the same session last week.  I love the softness and how grown up she looks here.  Yes, I know she's a grown up (20) but she always complains about people thinking she looks 15 (see the third photo) but here, she really looks like a woman in her twenties.  It made her happy. 

Well, that's my 5.  You can join the fun by clicking the link below!

Quarterly Top 5

A Week in Black and White

Inspired by a few portraits I took of Alexa last week I made a commitment to shoot exclusively in black and white for one week.  I started on Sunday and it's already proven to be quite a challenge.  I want to work more on composition and subject rather than relying so much on color.

 This self portrait was taken a few weeks ago.  How I ever lived without a wireless shutter remote release for so long is beyond my comprehension.  I've been shooting the heck out of it, especially with macros.  Definitely worth the investment! 

I'll post some of my BW images this weekend.  Wish me luck!

One Year

It's hard to believe it's been one year since Alexa brought Cali back from spring break in California.

And what a year it has been!  Never a dull moment with a puppy in the house.

What Alexa is thinking in this photo: I love you Calibelle!

I can pretty much guarantee Cali is thinking: I wish this girl would put me down so I can go sneak over and chew on those shoes someone left in the corner.

Yep.  It's been one busy year of potty training and shoe shopping, and we can't imagine our lives without her.

Alexa is home for spring break this week as well.  When she goes back to school on Saturday I won't see her again until Mid-July!  She leaves the day after school ends for an internship in London. 

It seems like yesterday that she ran around the house in her Snow White costume that she refused to take off.
Of the photos I took of her yesterday these are my favorites.

Isn't time a funny thing?  When they are little it seems they will be little forever and then it seems to go on fast forward when they hit high school and now, she will be graduating college next year.  Wow.  Now off to spoil her a bit while I can.


Linking up with This and That Thursday

The Beauty in Urban Decay

I spent Saturday morning on part of the Philadelphia riverfront that very few people get to experience.  Our camera club went on a photo shoot outing at an abandoned coal pier along the Delaware River in the Port Richmond section of the city.  It's definitely off the beaten path and out of my country mouse comfort zone, but surprisingly, I really enjoyed myself.

The first few minutes were overwhelming; I really didn't know what to expect, or what to start shooting, but then everything started coming together.  I could see passed the litter, paintball spotches and crumbling-soon to be torn down structure and envisioned a canvas instead.  The colors and textures popped, the art became more clear to my eye.  Once I started shooting, the process just flowed.

Hello, Gorgeous!

The pond is coming to life. The amphibious love songs will soon begin and we will have tadpoles. 

This makes me happy.

Spring

The first sign of spring in my garden each year is when my crocus pop.  This year was very early, they popped in January!  I can't remember the last time that happened and now they are all about up and blooming.

Of all the photos that I've taken of the crocus this week, the one below is my favorite.

It's a long exposure shot taken with my Tokina 100mm macro lens, indoors using two reflectors, no flash, only window light; processed in CS5 and Topaz Adjust 5 filter.   The rest of the stats can be found on my Flickr page.   

A Stroll in the Park

Tony and I took a walk in our local county park on Sunday afternoon.  We were both really exhausted from the weekend events but it felt good to get out in the fresh air.  It was a plus that it was an overcast day, we even had a few snow flakes which has been a rarity this winter. 

Tony was very patient as I took these shots of the Brandywine Creek and it was a treat to have someone to help me carry the gear along the trail.

Long Overdue

As you can see by this photo, Timmy was more than due for a clipping.

My friend Jackie is a talented groomer! 

(Anyone who can clip my cat, Ashley, without benefit of sedation or assistance is number one in my book.)

I'm always amazed how she can turn Timmy from a hairy mess to show dog within minutes.  This time I couldn't resist the comparison to The Lorax. 

The resemblence is uncanny, isn't it?