My new toy!!!! A new Flash

So - I had some money - I wanted to spend - and I bought myself a new toy! I got myself a Speedlight (a Nikon Flash), I am crazy excited. 

Here is case and point of why it is awesome!  Here is a picture of my daughter from tonight - with the flash.

Then I took it off real quick - more to justify to myself (and my husband) that the purchase was worth it. So here is the picture with the onboard flash.  It cranked up my ISO's so it was grainy - it's super bright on her face.  Not so pretty.

Which do you prefer - I don't know about you - I prefer my new flash!

When I first started looking at photography I read so much about natural light photographers - and I thought - yes - that is what I want to do. But - after buying this - I think it is a crazy great tool to bring when the lighting isn't perfect.  I can't wait to learn more!

Chillin' in the Kitchen

So, when you are only making pancakes for dinner - it allows the kids to play a little more and me to get some good pictures!

So this is what Mike does while getting ready for dinner.

I like this picture - Mikey is almost 2 - don't you love how at this age they kneel down like this.  That perfect posture.  He loves going in the kids cupboard and getting everything out.

Everything out!!!!

He also loves to color. And as he is starting to talk - he'll ask for "paper".

This is probably one of my favorite from tonight.  Very "life at my house".

So representative of where he is right now.  Feet hanging over the edge, just being a little boy.

Yes - that is chalk he is putting on his head - at least it's still in the wrapper.

Then we get to the actual eating of the pancakes.

Mike "More please" - Man those kids can house pancakes!

Then the oldest making sure everything is clean.

I really like capturing our day to day life - it makes me happy.

Pure Joy

So - this weekend I let the kids just go wild in the backyard with the hose.

As I sat here looking through the gobs - yes I said gobs - of pictures I took, I found that the majority of the ones were of my middle child - Hayhay.....And below - you will see why - look at this expression!

That my friends is called pure joy!!!!!!!!

The best way to describe this child is infectious! She has this power - the power to infect you with her feelings.  When she is experiencing joy - it is pure joy.  You see it in every being of her body.

Yes there is smiling and laughing - there is playing and being a kid.  But with Hay - there is something that consumes you and you can't help feel what she feels.  Her smile is contagious, her laughter is infectious!  When she feels joy - you feel joy - and when she is hurt - you can't help but cry.  Her emotions are so raw.

One of my favorite things about capturing the memories from this day - is capturing that innocence of my children playing with a simple hose - and the sheer joy it can bring to their heart - and mine!



 Don't wait for birthday's and holiday's to get those memories of your children.  Capture them all!

I Heart Faces - Pets

This week over at I Heart Faces is Pet Challenge!  Well - I have to say - I have thousands of pictures of doggies!!!!  So trying to pick one was very very difficult.  I actually ended one with one that isn't my puppy - but his brother - out on a trip to play with his brothers.  Here it is:

Go check out the other entries over at I Heart Faces.

I Heart Faces - Beautiful Eyes

Another I Heart Faces Challenge - this weeks challenge is Beautiful Eyes.

I have so many pictures of my kids and their crazy beautiful eyes - here is my little man from this summer.

Check out the other entries over at I Heart Faces.

Shutter Speed at the Fair

We went to the fair today - and I had way to much fun playing with my camera - go figure!

Here after the girls were done on the swings - I took some pictures at different shutter speeds:

Photo 1: taken at 1/30 sec at f/22

 Photo 2: taken at 1/50 sec at f/22

Photo 3: taken at 1/80 sec at f/22

Photo 4: taken at 1/125 sec at f/14

Photo 5: taken at 1/200 sec at f/11

Photo 6: taken at 1/1000 sec at f/5

Photo 7: taken at 1/2000 sec at f/3.5

Then I played with my oldest on spinning rides - panning on a slow shutter speed.  

This one was at 1/40 sec and f/11, ISO 100, at 55mm

This one was on a different ride - and I think my favorite of the day.

Taken at 1/30 sec, f/13, ISO 320, 75mm

You never know when will be a good learning experience - get out your camera - take it off of auto and have fun!