Alabama Gulf Coast Wedding and Portrait Photographer
Welcome to the blogsite of award winning photographer, Samantha Alday. Samantha is also a boutique-style photographer commissioning a limited number of wedding and portrait events each year delivering the most in personal customer service, detail and the specific needs of each client. Her work has been featured in ALABAMA WEDDINGS Magazine, The Knot online Real Weddings and has been awarded by the Wedding Photojournalist Association.
Whoa! What? What the heck is Aperture!? Stay with me for this lesson ’cause it’s good and it’s important and all kinds of light bulbs will go off in your head when you get this.
When we talk about aperture–listen to this–we will be referring to your LENS, not your camera. Did you see that? Read that statement again, I’ll wait for ya.
Got it?
Okay.
Yes, it’s important to have a ‘good’ SLR camera, but it’s the LENS lets you work magic.
Aperture describes the size of the opening in your lens that allows light in or keeps light out. Get it?
A larger opening will let more light in and a small opening does what? The opposite..keeps light out.
Take your lens off your camera and let’s look at it.
If you look at the back of you lens like this, you’ll see the opening I’m referring to.
Next, look at your lens itself. Your lens length and aperture are written along the edge like this.
The aperture is the F-stop number that’s written such as 1.4, 2.8, 4.5, 5.6, etc.
The lower the number the larger the opening. The larger the number, the smaller the opening. Yes, it’s opposite, but I don’t know why.
So now. You tell me why do you think having a lens with a lower aperture is important?
Think about it.
Why? To let more light to your frame in a low light situation!
Yay! You got it!
This is a freebie: you may also hear aperture referred to as the speed of your lens. A lower aperture is considered a fast lens. Just a little FYI in case you hear that later and won’t get confused.
This is why in some low light situations and have your ISO turned all the up, but still can’t get a good exposed picture…is because your lens may simply not be capable of doing it. Why? Again, most lenses that come with your camera in your camera kit are slow lenses with apertures that start at 4.5-5.6. These apertures just won’t get the job done for you in low light situations.
Another thing with lower apertures you’re going to get that nice blurred out background otherwise known as a shallow depth of field. You’ll hear that again, so take note.
This is important. The lower the number..or smaller the number..the smaller the area of focus. The higher the number..or larger the number..the larger the area of focus.
So, if you’re taking one person’s picture and even if you’re outdoors, set you aperture to a lower number to get that shallow depth of field or out of focus and fuzzy background that so many of us like. But if you’re taking a larger group then set your aperture to a larger number so you can get everything in focus. The aperture you choose is dependent on how much light you require to hit your frame or the depth of field you need (or what you want in or out of focus).
How do you do this? Simple. Get your camera off of the fully auto mode and turn your dial to Av or Aperture Value or Aperture Priority. With this setting, you determine where you want your aperture to be (depending on your situation) and your camera will appropriately set your other settings for you. Way cool, huh?
Here are a few examples. These are images I’ve posted before, but let’s review them.
ISO: 1000; Aperture: 1.8
It’s a dark room and I’m not using flash so I need to really open up my aperture to let as much light in as I can so I chose a lower number so more light could reach my frame. Now, keep in mind that with that lower aperture, my subject is going to be the only thing in focus. Re-read the above to see why.
ISO: 100; Aperture: 6.7
It’s sunny out so I need to control how much light hits my frame (I don’t need a ton or it would really over-expose my image, as well as, I need everybody in focus so I chose a larger aperture number).
Shooting in Av mode is a great way to learn how to use your camera and learn exposure. Take your camera outside and set your ISO to 100 and your Av to the lowest it will go. Choose a still object and increase your aperture with each shot and see what happens. Notice I’m not talking about what your Shutter Speed is doing right now because I just want you to look at your aperture right now. We’ll talk about Shutter Speed next week.
Here are a few more examples. Look at each image and think about if the aperture is set lower or higher?
Many thanks for explaining aperture in simple words and for sharing your beautiful pictures! I am inspired! Happy Day!
admin -May 31, 2010 - 1:32 pm
Hey Kim! So glad you enjoyed it! You can also check other lessons you may have missed under the Categories tab. I’m expecting to see pics from the recital!
Kim Diegan -May 31, 2010 - 12:37 pm
Sam, I am sooo excited and impressed! I learned more in 10 minutes on your blog than I did in a class I paid for at South! And just in time. My baby girl’s first recital is Sunday, and I was freaking out because we can’t use a flash! Thanks so much for the much needed information. Must practice this week! I also learned that I spent a bunch of money on a lens with an f-stop that is too high. (BOO!)
ISO is a term we’ve heard as long as we’ve held a camera in our hand. Whether it be when we were buying film or now turning a digital dial to the correct ISO, it’s always been a decision to make. Many of you probably have never thought given it much thought, but I’m here to tell you: the ISO setting is your first important decision to make when you pick up your camera to take a picture. Why?? I’m so glad you asked!
The ISO setting on your camera determines your cameras sensitivity to light? Clear as mud, right…??? No worries, you’ll get it by the end of this post.
Stop. Get your camera and let’s look at it on your own camera. If you’re still can’t find it, go get your instruction book and look under the Table of Contents for ISO.
Got it? On my camera the lowest ISO speed is 100 and the highest number speed is 1600, but it actually goes a step further to “H” which probably represents 3200. There are many more cameras that reach up to a 6400 ISO speed.
Now listen to this, it’s important. The lower your ISO speed (i.e. 100-400) the less sensitive to light. I repeat: the lower your ISO the less sensitive to light…which means it will require more light to hit your frame to expose for a properly lit image. Why, because it’s not that sensitive to it, so it will need more of it to reach your camera. For example, if I’m taking pictures outdoors on a bright sun shiny day, I’m going to set my ISO to a low setting because I’m not going to require that much light to make a decent picture. And because it’s sunny outside, that low ISO setting is going to soak up all that light on my frame and therefore, soak up all the great colors, too.
Now, consider the opposite. The higher your ISO speed (800+), the more sensitive to light. Now, think about this: if I’m indoors taking a picture and can’t use my flash or I’m outside and the sun is quickly setting, I’m going to turn my ISO up to a higher number. Why? Because my camera is going to become more sensitive to the light and it will not require as much light to reach the frame to make a better image. You get it? Because a high ISO is more sensitive to light, it will require less light to reach it to take a better picture.
Compare this: If it’s getting darker outside and I have my ISO set to 100, my camera will almost never be able to read for a properly exposed image, because it will therefore require tons of light to hit my frame and there is simply not enough of it to do it.
Let’s review: ISO-your camera’s sensitivity to light (does it need more or less). Low ISO=less sensitive=needs more light. High ISO=more sensitive=needs less light.
Look at these pictures. This also gives me another opportunity to show off more DNOW Weekend pictures.
In this picture the kids were in their worship time. The room was dark except for a few particularly placed spotlights and stage lights. I didn’t want to use flash because it would take away from the ambiance in the room and you wouldn’t get the mood of the image. Where do you think I have my ISO set for this image?? Would you think lower or higher?
ISO: 1000
Dark room=need more light=higher ISO more sensitive to light (so any amount of light will reach your frame).
These next two images were during their game-time outdoors. Shelby gagged all over the place while eating chocolate syrup from a baby diaper. It was priceless! Again, where do you think I have my ISO?
If you guessed lower then you would be right!? Go you!!
ISO: 100
Lots of available light (bright sunshine)=lower ISO (remember a low ISO doesn’t require as much light to properly expose for a good picture).
In this last picture, Joseph attempts to lead his group in singing “Whistle While You Work” with crackers in his mouth.
ISO: 100
Ponder over this all week. Get your instruction book out. Read. Play. Ask questions. You’ll get it!
Disclaimer: The ISO setting is not the only requirement in exposing for a dark or well-lit area. Other major factors play an important role in attaining a proper exposure. That’s what these mini-lessons are all about: learning the basics for taking a good picture and getting your camera off the P Mode or fully automatic mode. It’s simply where you want to be in your photography skills and knowledge.
You’ll hear photographers talk a lot about exposure. What does exposure mean anyway? Exposure is a simple term to determine how much light (or lack of light) your camera frame needs to take a decent picture. Exposure is all about light. That’s why when you have your camera on the Fully Automatic setting, it’s going to read the light around you and determine what it thinks is the correct Exposure…or how much light (or lack of light)… is needed to take a good picture. When your camera reads the light around it and around your subject, it will automatically set itself to the settings it feels necessary to properly expose for your picture.
So, why is this important for you to know? Because 90% (in my own opinion) of taking a good picture is based on the correct exposure of your image….i.e. is it too dark or too bright? For most pictures you only have one chance to get it right. Your child will only walk across that stage once, make that greatest play ever, or blow out their 16 candles once, and you don’t want to stand there waiting to capture that memory as it happens only to find yourself looking at the back of your camera screen to see a way too dark or way too bright picture staring back at you. That’s called EXPOSURE. The goal is to get it right the first time.
For the next few Monday’s, I’ll be going over exposure with you. I know this seems like a boring start to the Series, but this is the foundation of what we’ll be talking about over the next few weeks. We’ll talk about light and adjusting your camera settings to work together to create that perfectly exposed image you can be proud to show off! Not to give you too much info right now, but there are times when I intentionally over or underexpose my image because of the look I’m after, but for now our goal is to work on the correct exposure.
Review:
Exposure=how your camera (and eventually how you, yes you…’cause eventually we’ll get that camera off of the fully automatic mode) reads the light and therefore creates an image. Underexposed=too dark (under the appropriate settings for correct exposure, overexposed=too bright (over the appropriate settings for correct exposure).
Just right.My Aunt and Grandmother. I took this picture after an all day trip to Mobile.Best Friends before their Jr. High Prom.Don’t forget to share some love around! Let me know what you think…or if you have any questions!
For those of you just joining us, this Series is a 17 week Photography 101 course that originally began in May 2010. Because of such great response regarding the lessons, this is a re-posting of those lessons. You can currently view all of the lessons under the Categories>Photography 101 option on the top menu bar, but if you’re just starting out, I encourage you to not jump ahead, but rather take your time with each lesson as each lesson builds on the previous lesson.
You will also notice a new feature on each lesson: a Printer Friendly version so you can print and read at your own leisure.
Another new feature is the option of sharing these lessons with your social network. You’ll notice a variety of social networking icons at the bottom of each post to click and share with your friends. Feel free to share the lessons with others; that’s what they are here for!
With the fast moving techno age we’re in right now, many professional cameras are available now to you, the non-professional. But as I too often hear from so many of you, “I have a new camera, but I’m not sure what to do with it.” so many dials, buttons and settings, but you’re still only using the basic, fully automatic mode because you don’t know what all those buttons are used for. Sound familiar? You also probably paid lots of money for your camera so you can get those great shots of the dance recital, the greatest football or baseball catch of all times, those final Senior moments or simply those sweet, every-day memories that you don’t want to forget. But maybe something is still missing from your pictures; something’s just not quite right and you’re not getting those great shots you were hoping for. Maybe you’re not using your camera to its fullest potential. Oh! And that instruction booklet that came with your camera? It explains everything just perfectly, right? Wrong. If you don’t know what all those settings and buttons mean then how are you going to understand reading it in the instruction manual? Again, sound familiar?
No worries, starting this Monday and continuing every Monday, I’ll be ripping apart (okay, maybe not ripping) your instruction booklet and going into more detail about how to take great pictures. In this Photography 101 Series, I’ll explain what those techie parts of your camera, as well as review your instruction booklet with you so that the next time you read it, it will make more sense to you! You’ll also have the opportunity to post your work online here (more on that later) for personal review.
I’d love to know if you’ll be participating in the Series, so leave me some love (comment) at the bottom of this post. And don’t be shy, feel free to ask any questions along the way! I’ll see you Monday!
Hi Amber,
Yay! I’m so glad you found me. Don’t worry about starting late. Just click on the Photography 101 link under the Categories tab and take your time catching up! Hope you enjoy!
I just came across your website, and I love it! I don’t have a fancy professional camera, as of yet, but I’m dying to get into photography – really get into it. This looks like the perfect place to get started! I’ll be spending the rest of my morning reading through your lessons! Thanks!
oh. em. geeee!!! i am so so so SO excited! i just got a nikon d90 about 3 weeks ago and i’ve been shooting with a rebel xti for about 3 years and i must say, you have an AWESOME eye for photography
you did my cousin’s wedding a couple of years ago, and i am STILL amazed by her pictures!
admin -May 16, 2010 - 10:22 pm
Yay! I’m so excited to have new students for the class. Christy, although you don’t have an SLR, I hope to share information that will help you gain a better understanding of how to take better pictures overall. While I will go over your camera’s specifics such as aperture, shutter speed, iso, etc, your point and shoot has similar controls and settings that I hope to give you a better knowledge of. Hope that helps! S
Nissa -May 16, 2010 - 10:04 pm
Hey, Sam…I’d really rather you teach me hands on-this may even be a little over my head! hahaha Love your blog site-very cool! I’ll be checking it out…
Yay! I just learned about your 365 blog last week through Stacy Richardson’s 365 project. I am new to photography and love to learn. I got my first SLR camera (Cannon XSI) in Nov of 2008. I am so excited for your photography 101 series. I will definitely be checking out your blog. Thanks for helping us understand our cameras better. Blessings!
so excited to learn a little…I have a nikon D50. Really just love taking pics of my kids and their sports. Always love looking at your work. It amazes me every time…very powerful and moving.
I remembered the day she had new braces put on her ever-so-crooked teeth.
I remembered how beautiful and grown-up she looked at her first Middle School Prom.
…and then at her Middle School Pageant with those same best friends.
I thought about her participation in the Church Youth Group and the leader she has become and the young woman she is becoming.
I remembered the day she recently had those braces removed and how beautifully she smiled.
And now….
…when baby Elizabeth wouldn’t sleep any other way than Shelby rocking her, what did Shelby do?
She rocked.
And she sang.
And Baby Elizabeth slept.
And I cried.
It’s Merry Christmas, Not Merry Xmas Posted 12/21/10
Our topic in church this week was truly remembering the Reason for the Season. Yes, it’s cliche and we’ve probably all heard it spoken or even it said it so much, we really don’t even hear that phrase anymore.
But it’s the truth. One area that was focused on was how? How do we slow down? How to we take the time to reflect and appreciate Christ’s gift to us? Even when we are intentional about physically taking a moment to pray, meditate, read Scripture or listen to music, our mind still continues to spin so rapidly out of control.
I’m the first to admit that it’s hard to turn my brain off. Even with the special Christmas and Lord’s Supper Service that literally lasted less than an hour, I found myself constantly pulling myself back to the room…back to where we were during the service. And that’s just it: the music was beautiful, experiencing the Lord’s Supper was humbling and I really, really enjoyed it, but even still, my brain kept taking me elsewhere.
Then during the Sunday School lesson as we talked about staying focused, my mind was not 100% focused.
Here is a sampling of my thoughts during that hour of Sunday School. The italics reflects when my mind was actually participating in the class.
I totally agree. How do we stay focused. I’m glad it’s not just me.
That’s a really cute basket she has; I wonder what color I would monogram it?
I should blog about this.
What would I blog.
I also enjoyed the service.
I wonder if anyone else heard that person poot?
“But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them.”
Treasure. That’s what Beth Moore talked about.
I should make a list of my distractions.
No! I can’t sit here during class and make a list of my distractions!
How do we stay excited about Christmas?
We don’t have a true appreciation of who Christ is.
I wonder how many Christmas cards we’ll get this year.
I love seeing everyone’s picture.
Why didn’t I take our Christmas picture? Again.
I could have done a collage from the year’s event.
I could have used Nana’s graduation, Shelby getting her braces off…
Mary understood her position.
The word understand. This is exactly what Beth Moore spoke about.
Mary understood who her Son was and his plan.
The world has forgotten that Christmas is because of Christ.
I need to go to Walmart.
Why don’t we share Christ more?
People need to know.
We need to be excited about Christmas!
So there you go, my internet friends. Pa-lease tell me I’m not alone here. I think that’s why I was anxious to blog about it, because I can’t be the only person who’s mind wanders more often than it is focused.
Make me feel better People!
I’d really like to hear you thoughts.
I nee-eed to hear your thoughts.
How do you stay excited at Christmas?
How do you turn off your brain from the distractions of life?
Do you have any specifics that force you to reflect on the Reason for the Season?
Shelby and Hannah Sing O Holy Night Posted 12/2/10
A Boy and His Boat Posted 8/24
I love this picture of Joseph working on his boat in the late hours of the night.
40 in 40 Posted 8/24/10
The way I see it, I hope to have at least 40 more years of my life to complete these 40 life goals.
1. write a book
2. speak to a large audience of women
4. learn to speak Spanish
5. parachute from an airplane
6. read my Bible daily, consistently *update-getting better
7. open a boutique photography studio
8. invent something
9. see all 50 states
10. mentor a teenage girl
11. win a contest
12. exercise on a daily, okay regular, basis *update-done
13. inspire someone
14. visit NYC at Christmas
15. photograph a celebrity (portrait or wedding)
16. photograph an international destination wedding
17. be less critical *update-getting better
18. improve my business savvy
19. organize better *update-getting better
20. get published in a high end wedding magazine
21. remodel my kitchen
22. attend a photography workshop
23. invest in the stock market
24. create a promotion video for my business
25. flip a house
26. master crazy lighting skills especially during full sun
27. increase the daily visits to my website *update-doing that now
28. buy a mac computer
29. get sponsored
30. go on a mission trip with my family
31. work at Yellowstone National Park for one Summer
32. photograph a woman battling cancer
33. replace the bedroom carpet with hardwood
34. complete my branding and marketing materials for each of my markets *update-done
35. actually commit to and complete the 365 project *update-maybe next year
36. go projection with my portraits and senior work
37. organize all of my personal photos
38. travel to Alaska
39. become debt free
40. accomplish something great
Joseph and Friend, Chet Posted 6/27/10
I wish I could have been there when they forgot to plug the boat (a.k.a. The Golden Knight) and it filled up with water.
I wish I could have been there to see Chet neck deep trying to lift the sunken boat out of the water.
I wish I could have been there when Chet could barely speak when he saw the ginormous snake swimming towards Joseph.
Don’t you miss being a teenager?
Double Rainbow Posted 6/5/10
And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come. I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.” Genesis 9:13-14
There’s a Snake in My Kitchen Posted 6/4/10
The following is the exact text message Shelby sent to me while I was at work:
dear mother dearest, you will probably see me in the er in a few minutes because i had a heart attack i was cooking my breakfast and i needed a fork so what do i do i open the fork drawer put my hand in pull out the fork and a snake wrapped around my hand looking me strait in the eye i throw the fork and scream at the ludest note possible joseph comes running and we chase the snake in the cabinet joseph finally gets the snake brings in out plays with it a little bit and takes it outside and chops its head off zack hank and annie bell are now going crazy
She then sent me this:
It’s a good thing I was sitting on the toilet when I received her message.
Nana Graduates from College Posted 5/8/10
Congratulations Graduate!
Vacation Week Posted 4/12/10
Shelby and Bailey feed the seagulls. If you’re really careful with it, they’ll eat from your hand.
Sweet Bailey.
Fun times doing nothing.
Sunset.
Fishing from the newly rebuilt Gulf State Park Pier; destroyed by Hurricane Ivan in 2004, it’s now the longest pier on the Gulf of Mexico.
This Sunfish, weighing in at probably 500 pounds, rolled to the surface and put on a show for several minutes. This was a first for all of us and it was way cool!
Sad but true, this shows the good, the bad and the ugly of Summer beach time.
My Grandma and Aunt Posted 4/1/10
Joseph Goes to the Prom Posted 3/19/10
Never Leave Home Without a Full Tank of Gas and an Extra Pair of Earrings Posted 3/15/10
By the looks of it, it seems that all three of us must have had a similar Monday. Shelby was the smarter of the four of us and had already gone to bed.
My day started off like a pretty usual day. Clock alarmed at 4 am (although it totally felt like it was 3—but really at that time of the morning, it all feels the same).
Left a few minutes early to have time to stop and get gas. Not a big deal right?
Pulled into the gas station, started pumping the gas, knew I needed a full tank, so set the nozzle on auto and got back into my car….it was a bit chilly.
Car is still running.
Radio blaring.
Texting.
It was important. I was updating my Twitter and Facebook Status.
I really wasn’t in my car long, when I hear some banging and bumping going on at the back of my car.
I looked back to see a man holding the gas nozzle in his hand. My gas nozzle.
I opened my car door to find that my car was nearly floating in a lake of gas. It was everywhere.
Guess what I did next?
Turned the car off. At Guinness Record speed.
I know that man thought I was a total goof ball, but I can only the imagine the look I had on my face as I just sat there. Car door open. I haven’t moved at this point. I just sat there staring at him, staring at all the gas on the ground. Completely puzzled as to what had happened.
“Whhhaaatttt happened?” Seriously? Really did I ask him that? Like he knew?
“All I know ma’am is that I heard a sound like gushing water running everywhere and I ran over and turned off the pump.”
He was just as puzzled as I was.
I then attempted to get out of my car, but literally had to stand up on the car frame and jump over the pool of gas that was flowing all up under my car. The nozzle obviously didn’t shut off like it was supposed to and just kept on running. What normally costs about $30 to fill up the car was at a little over $41 when that nice man stopped the pump.
He was also kind enough to ask me, “would you like me to push your car out of the gas before you crank it?”
And with that, I opened my mouth again with the dumbest of dumbest replies, “do you think I need to?” Again I thought to myself, did I just say that out loud.
He looked at me with that same look he had earlier and answered, “it only takes a spark.”
“Well by all means brother, start pushin’”. And he did.
That was a really nice man.
I never did ask the gas station attendant for a $10 credit; I thought I’d just leave that alone.
From there, I actually still make it to work on time…feeling somewhat flustered, but I did make it. I only had a few gas fumes still lingering in my head, but all was well.
Until.
About 30 minutes into my work, another employee asked me, “do you know you’re only wearing one earring?”
What?!! Really people??!!! One earring!!?? I have short hair, I have to have earrings!!
Breathe. It’s going to be okay I tell myself and calmly remove the lone earring from the one ear and go on about my morning.
A short while later, I come to realize that there is a jewelry sale going on upstairs in the Atrium. It’s at that moment, the clouds parted and I could feel the heat of the sunshine shining down upon me.
I’ll be right back, I told my supervisor. And in just a few minutes I returned smiling with a new, shiny, $5 pair of earrings.
One for each ear.
Zack Hates Hank Really he does. Posted 3/9/10
I walked out on my front porch this morning thinking about my picture for the day. Nothing fancy really, just how the rain was falling on my front porch steps.
Then as I turn to go inside, I find Zack taking his usual post at the front door watching the rain…never…ever…to actually go out in the rain…
He’s much too regal for that.
This is also his normal response to me calling his name.
He must have woke up on the wrong side of the hood of the car this morning.
But then I wondered if something frightened poor kitty.
Or it could’ve been he caught first glimpse of my morning hair.
But soon realized he probably heard Hank walking up behind him.
And because Zack hates Hank. Why? Probably because he’s just…well, because he’s just Hank…Zack wanted no more part of his post at the door.
And with that, Hank proud-fully, if only for a minute, enjoyed having his turn at the post.
Sharing My Day with You Posted 2/28/10
*Up at 7 or so this morning to get ready for church; we were still late getting there despite the early efforts.
*Left Joseph at home sick this morning…on the toilet (is that too much information)?
*Went to Church Service then called home to check on Joseph before going to Sunday School. He’s still on the toilet.
*Home from church and immediately start stripping down into more comfy clothes. (I’m thinking that may be a little TMI too, but you all know you do it, too).
*Made Broccoli Soup for lunch…super easy and quick…yell at me and I’ll send ya the recipe.
*Put a load of laundry in the washing machine.
*I can’t eat the soup because of the dairy, so I cook my own separate lunch of chicken breast, sauteed veggies and couscous (I’ve been watching too much Food Network). Make a double portion for my lunch tomorrow.
*Pack my lunch for tomorrow.
*Eat my lunch while reading the Sunday paper. Clark’s asleep on one end of the couch and Joseph’s on the other (he’s off the toilet now). Shelby’s cleaning her room (again) so the quietness around the house is nice, along with the sunshine peaking in the kitchen window.
*Clark gets up to eat lunch. I take his place on the couch.
*Watch a few episodes of “Into the Pride” about a man who goes to Africa for six months to live with the lions. Now I want to go to Africa.
*Doze off to sleep for about an hour and dream of going to Africa one day.
*Drink my afternoon coffee.
*Put a second load of laundry in the wash.
*Wash the lunch dishes. By hand. I wish I had a dishwasher…never owned one. Ever. Excuse for a minute while I wallow in my “I wish I had a dishwasher” moment.
*Shelby’s still in her room. I wonder if she’s really cleaning it or just hanging out in there? Teenage girls do that ya know…just hang out like that. Alone.
*Cook lunch for Joseph. No, he doesn’t want the Broccoli Soup (he’s afraid it’ll make him sick again). I cook eggs and couscous for him. I secretly try to hide the couscous under the eggs, but it didn’t work. He fussed and said that I tried to feed him deer corn. My family just doesn’t appreciate the taste I have for gourmet food.
*Wash dishes again. By hand.
*Shelby emerges from her room only to ask, “When is it going to warm up?” to which I reply, “probably July”, to which she replies, “well, that’s stupid” and disappears to her room again.
*Start cooking supper: Spaghetti and Meatballs (I’ve got the recipe for that one, too…aka Prego or Bertolli’s or whatever you prefer). I don’t normally cook on Sunday night, but I like leaving food cooked for my fam to eat while I’m at work and it also gives me lunch options for the next couple of days.
*Fold first load of laundry.
*Shelby emerges again.
Shelby: “what are you cooking?”
Me: “Spaghetti and Meatballs”
Shelby: “it looks like the meatballs are burning”
Me: “no, I want them crispy like that on the outside”
Shelby: “well, I think you’re achieving that”
Shelby: “can I throw a spaghetti noodle on the ceiling?”
*Fold the second load of laundry.
*Finish up supper and wash dishes again, hopefully for the final time tonight.
*Set the coffee pot for 4:55 a.m. and as I turn out the lights for the night, I realize that life’s not all about having dishwashers.
It’s been a good day.
Joseph’s First Home Run as a Leroy Bear Posted 2/23/10
Homeeeee Ruuuuunnnnnnn!!!!!!!!
Shelby’s Birthday Posted 2/21/10
To celebrate Shelby’s birthday (which was yesterday, 2/20) we ate dinner at Felix’s Fish Camp.
And because I’ve seen the Food Network stars cook Fish Taco’s several times lately, I had to give them a try today. Lemme tell ya! Super Fine! Made with White Fish (not sure what kind of fish that is), cilantro mayo, black beans, and shredded cabbage. One taco is already missing from my plate and it wasn’t long before the plate was empty!
Shelby was honored with a key lime pie for her birthday dessert.
Shelby is crazy about horses and dreams of owning her own farm one day, so we treated her to a tour of a friend’s Thoroughbred Horse Farm (Thanks Tuck!).
Snow Day Posted 2/12/10
A slideshow of how we spent our day.
One Sunday Afternoon Posted 1/31/10
While Clark and I were out walking today (with camera in hand of course), I took several pictures and wanted to share more than just a picture with you. Today I’d rather share the story of our walk…kinda like having you there with us. Who made up the rules anyway?
Blackbirds by the hundreds. I wish you could hear them. Imagine the sound of a helicopter taking off above your head. It’s the craziest thing though: they take off and they land, they take off and they land…over and over again, and usually only a few feet at at time.
They finally grew tired of me following them and perched in the trees.
Now Hank wonders where they went.
And then came Luke: a long distance neighbor (long distance meaning across the pasture neighbor).
Whatcha up to Luke?
I’m waitin’ on my PawPaw, he’s gonna to do some work with the tractor.
Is that a new Gator you got there?
No it’s my PawPaw’s, but he lets me drive it.
I gotta see if this works.
Well I gotta go, I hear my PawPaw coming.
And just like the blackbirds, he was gone.
We then headed around to the pond.
Wait, my shoe’s untied.
The end.
Do I Really Need More? Posted on 1/6/10.
So I get this promo card in the mail yesterday advertising a free year’s subscription to MORE Magazine: The magazine for women over 40. How in the heck did they know I was over 40? (I’ve only been over 40 for 6 months; it’s probably another government thing, just like the weather), but anyway, that’s another post… Another thing is in big letters written across the front of this card is, “The Prime of your life…is the time of your life!”. Huh? Prime? Me? Hahahah!! This is when I drop the card, lose control and begin laughing hysterically! Do they mean I’m in my prime season of hot flashes? Or it must mean that I’m in my prime because I’m now having to pluck hairs from areas on my body where there should be no hair! Or it must mean that for the first time in my life I’m the proud owner of a Remington Facial Hair Trimmer just for women. Pause…going to clean up the dog’s puke. I’m back. Or is it this: I’m in my prime because I’ve only gone through 1,182 bras in the last year trying to find one to fit my ever-changing body!? Pause…Clark is screaming from the back of the house to come there. Back again. I’d really like to know their meaning of “prime” because I’m definitely thinking their idea and mine are much different. They’re talking about
“hitting the re-start button, and “dreaming big” and “savoring each moment”…while I’m savoring all right, it’s just not the moment. It’s each piece of chocolate I can get my hands on to satisfy my sweet tooth…(which will make my skin break out worse, my mood swings swing harder, and my hips fatter, because you know women my age have lower estrogen levels causing more weight gain!)
Before you know it, I’ll be getting a card in the mail wanting me to subscribe to “Mature Living” and I’ll have grandkids giving me peppermint for Christmas. (You know you have all given your grandparents those soft peppermint sticks for Christmas at some time or another). But for now, while enjoying being in my “prime” of course, I’m going to finish my cup of coffee, pluck the new hairs I’ve discovered this morning and get this subscription card ready for the mail.
The aperture is the F-stop number that’s written such as 1.4, 2.8, 4.5, 5.6, etc.
Here are a few examples. These are images I’ve posted before, but let’s review them.
Hope you enjoy!
4 comments
Hi Monica,
Glad you found me and I hope you continue to enjoy the lessons.
Many thanks for explaining aperture in simple words and for sharing your beautiful pictures! I am inspired! Happy Day!
Hey Kim! So glad you enjoyed it! You can also check other lessons you may have missed under the Categories tab. I’m expecting to see pics from the recital!
Sam, I am sooo excited and impressed! I learned more in 10 minutes on your blog than I did in a class I paid for at South! And just in time. My baby girl’s first recital is Sunday, and I was freaking out because we can’t use a flash! Thanks so much for the much needed information. Must practice this week! I also learned that I spent a bunch of money on a lens with an f-stop that is too high. (BOO!)