Birthdays, Sparkles, Balloons and more... / Project 52 ~ Week 14

  Good Afternoon!  Where do the weekends go?  We've spent about 1/2 of the last 2 weekends traveling to and from St. Louis.  We enjoyed a {busy but great} vacation.  Now, I'm going to try to catch-up on editing the hundreds of photographs I've taken since the beginning of April!!
 
  Today's post is actually for last week, Week 14.  On April 1st, my youngest turned 3!  I could hardly believe that 3 years had passed, and so quickly.  I love to spend birthdays reflecting with my wee ones.  We normally have a calm breakfast, followed by preparing their favorite dinner.  I try to make all their cakes starting at age 3, and they always get to pick their flavor and icing colors.   This April 1st was no exception.  My youngest and I spent the day together baking and talking.  She always amazes me with her stories and excitement...and her "princess" attitude!
 
  We took her birthday photographs in a few different locations this year.  And she was more than eager to cooperate after seeing her balloons.  I couldn't decide on just one for Week 14, so I have added 3 of my favorites:

...every Princess should have pink & sparkly shoes..
{Captured: 50mm,  ISO 100, 1/100, F1.4}

..a bunch of bright balloons, pink tulle on her dress and a sprint to the big tree..
{Captured:  50mm, ISO 160, F4.0, 1/2000}

..bright backdrop of azalea blooms, shady area and lots of pink hues..
{Captured:  50mm, ISO 160, F4.0, 1/400}

  The first image was taken indoors, so I adjusted the shutter speed and the aperture to obtain the desired lighting and a bit of blur.  The second image was taken outdoors, mid-afternoon {I normally only like to photograph during early morning light or late afternoon light}, the shutter speed was adjusted for the bright sunlight and her quick movements.  The third image was taken outdoors, mid-afternoon, the area was mostly shaded by tall pine trees so I was able to adjust the shutter speed and aperture to capture the desired amount of detail in the lovely azalea blooms and her cute dress and shoes!

  I'm hoping to catch-up with editing this week, and post Week 15 as soon as possible...it won't be long and I'll be traveling to a Photography Workshop.  I'm so very excited to work with this amazingly talented photographer and continue to grow and learn for YDP's future endeavors!!

Hope your day is wonderful!
--Jennifer

An Abundance of Azaleas / Project 52 - Week 13

...what...a...week...!?!

  I'm going to make this post quick, I need to catch-up on some long overdue SLEEP.  I must admit, that I'm slightly jealous that all 3 little ones are resting peacefully.  We've had a rather hectic day - but a beautiful one...today my youngest turned 3 {more to come on next week's post}!!

  So I'll admit...the last 2+ weeks have been a little overwhelming for me.  Normally I try to handle everything that is thrown my way...but without a break, even I cannot keep up the pace lately.  Vacation...is just around the corner...almost there...

  I didn't get out and about this week with my camera, but did manage to capture some lovely images with my iPhone camera.  Going forward, I'll try not to include these in Project 52, since the camera phone doesn't provide any manual control over images.  This week's photo was captured on our way to the car...and I feel like the image couldn't be more 'fun'.

Project 52 ~ Week 13
{Captured:  iPhone photo}

  The wall of azaleas provided a fun and vibrant backdrop for a quick image of my youngest {who was jumping with joy}.  Those bright pink blooms are in great contrast with the green grass - love when that happens in nature!

Have a lovely week!
--Jennifer

Taking 20 Minutes / Project 52 ~ Week 12

  It's been a fairly busy week and I was so relieved to finally finish editing some fun spring time images from this week.
  On Friday afternoon, I was picking up my youngest from her grandparents.  I had brought my camera along to capture some quick images of the blooming wisteria.  When she asked if we could go visit the billy goats and the chick-chicks with her Pa, I paused thinking of all the things scheduled within just 1 short hour, but knew it was important to her, so I happily agreed.  I am so glad that I spent those next 20 minutes with the two of them.  We visited the goats, then went to the chickens.  She knew exactly what to do, she gathered some grass and calmly fed the chickens.  I watched her for a few minutes, and then when she wasn't paying any attention, captured some lovely images of her in her element...walking back and forth in front of the pen "talking" to the chickens.  It was by far the calmest 20 minutes of the day and I loved the un-planned images that were captured!

{Project 52 / Week 12}
{Captured:  50mm - ISO 100 - F3.2 - 1/1600}

  Some of my most favorite images are the spontaneous ones, they become welcome memories of a wonderful moment in time.

Hope everyone has a wonderful week ahead!
--Jennifer

Excited For Spring / Project 52 - Week 11

  It's been an exciting week - and an even more exciting weekend.  We've spent LOTS of hours outside this week, cleaning, raking, planting, and expanding our paths in the back gardens.  It is so great to see all our hard work transform year after year!  

  Yesterday my youngest and I were continuing to tidy up the back garden and she was "helping" me build a new pebble walkway / path.  She's been a bit terrified and paranoid lately that the giant bumblebees are going to "get her" and we made frequent trips inside until it was safe to return to the garden.  It was a pleasant surprise when she found a small toad {or otherwise known as her friend}.   I quickly retrieved my camera to capture some quick shots:

{First 2 Images: Captured: 50mm - F3.5 - ISO 100 - 1/1000
Last Image:  Captured: 50mm - F2.2 - ISO 100 - 1/2000}

  She was completely entertained with every little move the toad would make - pure toddler bliss.  After the toad found his escape, she returned to her "gardening" as seen in the last picture.  To her defense, she'd had a hard day and it was rather hot.

  She really wasn't much in the mood for being the subject of Week 11, and I could understand.  We'd had a long morning of chores, she'd gotten a few bumps and scrapes and had fell on her eye earlier {it was not her day for balance}.  I wanted to make sure I let her choose how she wanted to be photographed, so I provided no "coaching" and didn't ask for a smile.  Instead we had a fun conversation about the toad and she decided to demonstrate {to the best of her ability} how the toad's mouth moved.  

Project 52 / Week 11
{Captured: 50mm - F2.2 - ISO 100 - 1/2000}

  I set my aperture at 2.2 because I wanted to capture the details on her shirt, but not too terribly much of the background.  She was in constant movement, telling her story, and the sun was very bright, the shutter was set at 1/2000.    While normally, with toddlers, I like to make sure they are at their most relaxed and have tons of patience to get "just the right" shot, I knew that this wasn't 'her day'.  Instead, I was happy to share the story-telling moment and capture a few shots of the sillier expressions that toddlers make!

  Adding one more image this week - I think this was during the point of her telling me how the toad was covered in polka dots and stripes but wasn't too pretty:

{Captured: 50mm - ISO 100 - F2.2 - 1/2000}

  I love to work with toddlers - I love their sense of humors and huge grins!!

Hope everyone's week is wonderful!

--Jennifer

Hazy Sunlight / Project 52 ~ Week 10

Hello and Happy Sunday!
 We've had a wonderful weekend, so far!  The weather has been amazing, and the sun quite beautiful!  We spent yesterday cleaning indoors and headed outdoors to clean-up and add-to our front and back gardens.  The kids were especially helpful, which was much appreciated, so I had promised them a trip to visit with the baby chicks.  We left late afternoon, with plenty of beautiful sunshine left.  The kids had so much fun seeing the progress of the chicks {and scaring them}...they eventually moved on to running towards the cows {and communicating with loud 'moos' and laughs}.
 
  After a quick trip through the pine trees, we walked past the cows once again {poor cows} - it was then that I captured a quick image of my oldest daughter.   She had climbed the gate and was having a blast "communicating" in loud 'moos'.  The sun had lowered and was casting a lovely haze on the scene.  I took a moment to snap two shots and chose this one for this week's image:

Project 52 / Week 10
{Captured:  50mm - ISO 100 - F5.6 - 1/400}

  I love how the sun cast a hazy yellow light on the tree line, cows and my daughter.  She's calm being in an environment of her choice, with no posing or smile requested, leaving the final image relaxed and a bit more serious.  I find that some of my most favorite images are a result of "following" the subject so that they are more relaxed and natural.

  I am looking forward to more of these lovely sunny days this year!
Have a wonderful week!
--Jennifer

Rushed Moments / Project 52 ~ Week 8

  This week's post is a bit later than normal.  First, I must admit, I forgot to take a picture!  I can't believe it, but Sunday morning arrived and I had multiple nature photographs (for my JLP Project 52), but had neglected to capture even one image for this week's Project.  So, this week's image was actually photographed this morning.
  Earlier this week, my girls and I had noticed several of our Hyacinth bulbs had emerged from the ground. We planted these seemingly forever ago...and were delighted to see the beautiful pink and purple blooms!  Regretfully I didn't have my camera outside with us to capture a quick shot of the discovery.
  This morning, I asked my 8 year old {very sweetly} if she would accompany me outside to get a quick shot for my Project.  She was willing {thank goodness} and I allowed her to choose her outfit and pose outside.  With her relaxed, I was able to capture a side profile of her with these lovely pink blooms:

{Captured:  ISO 125 - F2.8 - 1/250}

  While processing this photograph, I chose to add a few different layers for more of a "vintage" feel with just a slight haze added and some selected color pops to make the main subjects stand apart from the dark brown garden floor.

  This week has shown me that I really need to set a reminder to make sure I work on the Project at least once per week!  I'm definitely going to do a check each Wednesday going forward.

  We have some fun announcements coming soon - the next 8 weeks has some exciting adventures and fun sessions planned for Y.D.P.!!

Hope everyone has a wonderful week!
-Jennifer

Red Boots, Umbrellas and Clouds / Project 52 ~ Week 6

  Oh! What a week it's been.  Then adding in some COLD weather and cloudy days this weekend...we're in a bit of a gloomy mood today.  Which worked well for a theme on this week's photo.

  My 8 year old daughter enjoyed playing with an umbrella yesterday {what little one doesn't?} - she even braved some cold temps to assist with capturing this week's image.  We had fun editing this one too.

Project 52 / Week 6
{Captured:  ISO 100 - F7.1 - 1/160}

    I chose a much larger aperture this week to really bring in lots of dark and gloomy details.  During editing, I wiped out most of the color from the surrounding background {it was much too competitive with her red boots and floral skirt}, during final review, I noticed the image was still missing just a bit of drama to emphasize our "gloomy" moods - so I added a scratchy texture.  I was in LOVE with the final photograph!!  More importantly, so was my daughter.

  Do you find that young ones seem much more relaxed or excited during a photo session when given an interesting and fun prop?

Since we won't be posting until next week - we didn't want to miss an opportunity to wish you all a very:

  Hope everyone has an amazing week!
--Jennifer

13 Years of Capturing Memories / Project 52 ~ Week 4

  We've had an exciting {and busier than normal} week since last Sunday.  First, my oldest had his 13th Birthday last Sunday!!  As I write this, I still find it completely unbelievable that 13 years have passed by so quickly!  Last Sunday morning, I woke up a bit earlier than usual and I reviewed his first 3 years of photographs, looking for the perfect one to place in his Birthday diptych {or as he called it his "before & after}.  I have thousands of photographs that I have taken {seriously, thousands}!  When I get a chance {normally on Birthdays}, I love to look back at these images and sometimes there's smiling and more often a lot of happy tears.  Looking at his first 3 years of photographs really reminded me that life moves too quickly.  I am forever thankful for the memories I was able to capture over the years and I know my little ones will enjoy all of these images to share with their future families!

  It is so hard for me to think of him as a teenager...even a week later.  He was my first baby and continues to be 'my baby' ... even against his will.  He is an amazing child {ooops, teenager}, he's super smart, full of humor, gracious, very humble and just the right amount of sensitive.   I have no doubt, he's going to be an amazing adult {in like 5 years?!?}.  I've spent his whole life teaching him to embrace everyone's differences, to be thankful for everything and everyone and to turn the other cheek when people do not treat him with the same amount of fairness that he was taught to show others.  He is now an awesome young adult!  I'm sure as he begins his next 5 important teenage years, we will have some ups and downs as he needs more independence, but I have no doubt he will keep his great core values.

  {Sidenote:  You can NEVER have enough photographs of your little ones.  Whether with your camera, phone camera or professional images - it's so awesome to be able to look back at each year of their lives and they also enjoy looking at these photos through the years.  Cataloging these digital images by child, events and/or years helps to easily find the images when needed.  And don't forget to back these up as often as possible!}

  I chose this photograph for Week 4:

Project 52 / Week 4
{Captured:  ISO 100 / F5.6 / 1/500}

  I picked this image for a few reasons:
    1. He's a little sullen in this picture, more serious - which really worked well for a "teenage" theme.
    2. Black and White can be difficult  - but this image was easily transformed with all the tires, metals and shadows. {I never capture images in b&w, instead I capture a highly contrasted and rich image first, then transform to the right amount of b&w}.
    3. This one wasn't planned out - but instead we used what was available, sunlight included, to capture this image.
    4. He 'posed' himself, making him more relaxed and at ease.

  On a different note,  my sister came down from VA to visit with us this weekend!  The kids and I were so excited to visit.  She is one super amazing sister and aunt - and a very important part of Y.D.P.  I captured this image of her yesterday as we were crossing the road to photograph some baby lambs.

  I love my little sister - she is so super cool, and forever patient with me when I get an idea like this one.  I wouldn't choose such a busy road to photograph on normally - but when the idea hit, and we were already on the road, it was a must.    Next time {if she's willing}, I have another idea I'd like to try on a road...with yellow dotted lines....fingers crossed!

Hope everyone has an amazing week!
-Jennifer

The Beginnings {Project 52 / 2012}

  I've always thought beginning something new was one of the hardest things to do.  Today I'm starting a new blog for Yellow Duck Pictures.   Over the next year, I cannot wait to share my journey with portrait photography!!

  This post will be short and sweet - my main purpose to is to not fall behind on my Project 52 in 2012.  I'm sharing Week 1's photograph today - and will hopefully follow-up with another post later this week which contains more details, some before/after images and other random thoughts!  If you're also participating in a 52 Project this year, please leave your link, I'd love to follow along!!

  It was taken on January 1st.  My sister and I wrangled up the family for some beginning of the year group shots.  It was late afternoon, and as anticipated, the sun shining through the tall pines was nothing short of awesome.  This shot was actually a "practice" shot.  I was testing some of the manual settings to ensure everything was perfect for my sis to take our group photos.  I haven't finished processing all of the photos from this day, but this photograph of my youngest captivated me, so it made the "cut" for Week 1!


Week 1 / Photographed 1.1.12 {F8.0 - 1/200 - ISO160}

  There are quite a few reasons that I loved this shot.
My top three:
    1. I know it's not perfect
    2. No posing
    3. Lovely afternoon lighting = one magical image!

{If time permits, I will post a follow-up this week which includes the before/after of this shot.}

Stay Tuned - Lots more to follow in 2012!!
-Jennifer, Yellow Duck Pictures