SOOC second time around

Ohhh boy I have run out time today!!!
Link HERE for the SOOC challenge for today!!

Our assignment was "skies the limit".
I truly wanted to think outside of the box and shoot something to do with achieving goals, or having dreams that you are close to realizing.

It has come down to crunch time for supper so here is what you get.

This little tree is a little maple that we put in a few months ago. It is growing like crazy...despite the drought we are in.
He has no limit, it seems!





Also for you....ahhh my husband just walked in and supper is still where it was when he called to say he was coming home because I got distracted with pictures, and ebay, and email, and facebook. shrug!!
Okay so also for you...

I will take another picture of this same thing tomorrow so I can show you what I really wanted to. The grass was really wet, and well it would have meant me laying down in it to get the shot. ha haha.

Bye now....really gotta get.

Catch lights

There is a term in photography called catch lights which I think you need to know about.

I will use my trusty side kick Shelby to help illustrate this technique.

Shelby!!!

Hey Shelbster, where are you???

Oh, there she is sitting by the door desperate to go out and chase some squirrels.


Hey Shelby, if you help me out here, then I will let you go outside okay.

Hmmm, she isn't really speaking to me.
Man does she get tired of the camera pointing at her.

Shelby, come on this important.

Uhhhh Shlebs, in order for the nice readers to be able to see the catch lights in your eyes....

...you actually have to open them up.




Uhhhh, all the way please!





Ohhhh that is sooooo good. (I hope she doesn't sense my sarcasm)

Okay, super!!


Now turn your cute little doggie face this direction, so the light can catch in your eyes!

Ahhh yes, I suppose that will have to do.

Now don't move Shelbster, I will get up and take it from another angle.

Yes, again...not too bad.

The point is to position your subject in such a way that when the picture snaps you get that gorgeous sparkle of light in the eye.
Here is one from a couple of months back which shows the point excellently!!


The "experts" say to try to get the light at the 10 o'clock or 3 o'clock position.
Uhhhh, at this point we aren't gonna worry about being that technical, okay?

A good way to make it easy on yourself is to find the direction of light and then put it behind you, which lets it fall on who or what you are photographing!!

Light reflecting in a two dimensional image really helps with fooling the eye into believing the three dimensionality of it.
That my friends doesn't take a fancy camera... just a moment to pay attention before you push the button.
Give it a try, and make your photos have a special zing!

A personal look

Some of you have been praying for me for some time.

A prayer for God to point me in a direction for using my camera and growing skills in some way.

The hardest part about praying is the waiting and also the decision making in the meantime.
Cause you know, sometimes God just nudges us along in a direction and then other times it couldn't be clearer through circumstances what his will is.

I am still, obviously in that waiting/decision making time.

I am trying to form each day, clearer and clearer in my mind how I want to make pictures.
How will the images I capture speak to the people viewing them.

Will people eventually be able to glance at a shot of mine and say...Hey, that is a J D Waterhouse image!!

Oh boy, I am getting a little bit ahead of myself.
There are photos going on that you don't know about yet, some that I can't share with you yet, some that I finally can share, and some that are yet to come.
Things are moving quickly which is so awesome for growth as I find myself racing along to keep up and find my specific vision.

Now, if you are not an artsy type then frankly, I may have lost you with that last bit.
Let me try to explain it with pictures!!

I was finally able to get in touch with the bride from the very special wedding I was asked to help take photos of. I will use these to describe to you where I want to be and what I want to do.
I will start with some ouch/funny ones.

I want move out of my self imposed position so I don't miss the shot.

I was so dead set on maintaining a seated position so as to not miss the wedding party coming in. I would have been way better off just trusting myself more and roaming where the action was.

I want to have the skill set to take charge and get people posed for group shots.

Ughhh, the huge plant, the trees coming out of heads, the dappling sunlight. Ughhh!


I want to learn to more accurately control shutter speed to capture movement.

There are so many technical things wrong with this image that makes me want to haul it to the trash BUT, the look on her face as she searches for the first glimpse of her groom makes it a keeper!! I think more time with running horses is in order to work on my motion capture!


I want to see moments of beauty and be able to get all of my settings and focus points just right before the moment disappears.

I could just die!!! The prime focus is on the flowers, not the laughter.
I will say in my defense this is cut from a head to toe shot of 5 people.

Here comes the really personal part.
So hard to be transparent here and share, but here goes.

I sent a message to several of my friends with this prayer request the day of the wedding.
Please pray specifically that I am humble and kind. That I know where to push and where to pull back. That I can be CONFIDENT, without losing integrity. That I can keep my cool in a situation where I am totally out of my element and out of my comfort zone.
I need to be focused and be able to make beautiful decisions quickly. I want to be ultra aware of what comes into my lens and the choices I make when I click the button each time.
This is a chance for service and I don't want to mess it up!!
Thank you for praying with me as I tackle this and try to have fun!!

I only share that with you because I think you need to know that specific prayers were said, and God held my hand and my heart through the whole wedding day and allowed me to capture some truly amazing things.

God be praised, with His help I did okay!
So with that said...back to my list of where I want to be and how I want to grow!

I want to be bold.

I had just seconds to rush this couple over to click off a few shots before they were whisked away again. I literally held my breath and prayed that at least one of the hastily done images came out. This is probably my favorite "posed" shot of the whole day!


And yet, I also want to be subtle.

Sigh...isn't she gorgeous!


I want to find the emotion in a room and be ninja like to capture it.

(The bride is just about to leave and this is her Daddy!)


I want to tell a story that no one else got to see.

Yes, one has to step into the mens room to get some things. It was a first!!! ha haha!!


I want to be forgotten.

Double sigh!!! I just love weddings.


I want to look carefully and really see at just the right time.

This is just before leaving. Both Bride and Groom give their respective Moms one last hug.

I want to capture an image the way the one who loves you most sees you.








Yeah, I had to leave that one blank. It is a goal to work on for sure.


I want to notice details that some one worked hard to create and take the time to capture more of them.


I want to run around like a maniac, catching the chaos and moments between with grace and dignity!


I fought so many fears this day.
I got into the zone and worked HARD and loved every. single. minute. of. it.

That must be why I have agreed to do another wedding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I got a text message the other day from a Mom of a recently engaged girl.
This is a family I have known for...hmmmm, well a long time. At least 10 years, if not more. They are also a part of our church family.
She said and I quote "Hey Missy, would you be interested in doing some engagement and wedding pictures, we love the ones you just did!"
Yeah, I have known them long enough for her to call me Missy! ha ha!
I told her...once I get over the shock of you asking me this I will probably say YES!!!

That is my big news!
Time for more praying friends!!

Thanks for praying.
Thanks for reading.
Thanks for sticking with me as I open my heart and let you take a look.

So busy

can't write

got new makeup today

can order free sample


click this link
Try me

Fun news tomorrow

I promise

Edit day and something new

Ohhh ho!
Lookie here, I figured out how to add what they refer to in blogger world as a "button".


Somehow, in computer land when you click on that up there, it takes you where it is to lead you.
My poor little right brain just can't comprehend it, but I know it is so!!

On Monday I referred to this link in my comments section (As I was still figuring it out!)

The deal on this site is to take a themed picture on Monday and post it SOOC, then head back to a partner blog on Thursday to post your edited version and to learn a few tips about editing!!

Ohhhh so much fun to learn new things.
I have a feeling Photoshop is still a Loooooooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnggggggggggg way off for me (especially seeing as how I am saving my pennies for a new camera body)!
So much of what is talked about through that link is either photoshop, or lightroom, or something else that I don't have either!! Ha haha.

I am A-Okay with that. I think at this point I still need to keep working on my initial skills and when the time is right God will provide what I need to grow!
Besides, it is way easy for me to get overwhelmed with technology. (laughing at self)

Blah blah blah...where are the pictures you ask?
My new blog friend Cedar did a super cool thing where both of her images are overlaid on one another, but change with the scroll of a mouse!
I hope that isn't too complicated to learn, cause that is awesome!
For us, we are gonna rely on old school SOOC image first with Edit displayed second.


So on the above image I began by cropping, sharpening, covering up a car with some bushes, bringing the gamma down, shadows down and highlights up.

Do you almost wish I hadn't even tried to tell you all of that??

It was a bit complicated to keep track of....so I didn't for my other two shots.

I have decided that I do like this one the very best, especially after the edit.




This next one I took huge steps with.

I decided since I like the other ones so much, it was just a bit of overkill for me visually to try and rework the same basic composition again.
I decided a nice patriotic wallpaper for my computer would suit me better!!

So I cropped a ton off and boosted and pushed and pulled and came up with this.



Before I go on, I feel that I must thank my loyal readers for seeing me through the many phases of this blog.
I don't know if it is pleasing or frustrating to come each day not knowing if you are gonna get just a single image, a recipe, a biblical quandary, a parental rant, a gushing mom, or who knows what else. Thanks for coming back anyway, and thanks for sticking by me as I transition through this crazy life and all that God is blessing me with!
Obviously right now my focus is on growing my photog skills, so it is what I am writing about!!

Apology/thanks/probably unneeded statement of obvious insecurity over!


Alrighty then, now on to something new!
In the spirit of the newest SOOC challenge I tried to really push myself on composition and lighting today only allowing for minor cropping once the images hit my computer.
I am finding that what I think I see through the viewfinder is not always what I get once I see the image full size.
Maybe I need to mess with that adjustment a bit more.

A friend of mine needed a ride home from the airport the other day.

Before I dropped her off at home, she whipped out this box exclaiming "I brought you a present!!" (yes I re-wrapped it for these shots!)
Ding ding ding...love language speaking loudly right here, second only to acts of service!
I LOVE gifts, I don't care how big or small. Just that someone took the time to think of me and choose something specifically...whoa, love it!!!

Inside was a delightful tri-fold card.


Written to the far right were these words, in what initially looked to be handwritten script; "Antique Thais" are created with metals handcrafted in Chiang Mai, Thailand
For You, JM


Ohhh, my fave...peridot green!




And that is all for today friends!

Hopefully I can share some fun news with you tomorrow!!

Basic Bible Outline

Whoa...I am not sure where this vine is headed, but it has long outgrown its respective box!

Happy Wednesday!
Yes, I am still doing laundry...don't judge me too harshly okay?

On Monday (while I was also doing laundry) I chose to link up to a photo challenge.
It has been so NICE to go and visit all the blogs of the other people who have linked up as well.

Why is it nice??
Well for the most part they are people just like me.
People who love God and want to talk about it a bit as they ponder on the other stuff going on in a day, AND they all take pictures...and have the ups and downs that go along with that!

So, that has been a big blessing in a short amount of time!

Now on to today's pondering!
All scripture is quoted from the NASV.
I want you to go check out (or just read it right here) Genesis 12:1-3.

1 Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father's house, To the land which I will show you;
2 And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great ; And so you shall be a blessing ;
3 And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you the all families of the earth will be blessed."

In my Thursday class our teacher has pointed out this threefold promise given to Abraham which is in essence a threefold outline to the bible in general...condensed!

3 promises given, 3 promises fulfilled!
Basic outline of what the Bible is all about.
Genesis-Exodus 1 is the promise of a Nation.
Exodus 1:7-Joshua 21 is the Nation seeking to obtain the promise of the land.
Joshua- the birth of Christ are stories from the long lineage from this nation leading to the "Son of David" finally making his debut!!!
After that it is a bunch of wonderfulness to help us make good choices about how to live.

Let me lay it out a bit more for you with scriptures to aid in the journey!
Now the promises are not fulfilled in the original order given, but you can be flexible right?

Promise 1:
I will make you a great nation.
First we need to visit Genesis 15:4-6 where we learn more about this.
4 Then behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "This man will not be your heir ; but one who will come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir." 5 And He took him outside and said, "Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be." 6 Then he believed in the LORD ; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.

Now head over to Genesis 21:5
Now Abraham was 100 when his son Isaac was born to him.

Promise fulfilled in another 190 or so years!

Check it out, Exodus 1:7
But the sons of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly, and multiplied, and became exceedingly mighty, so that the land was filled with them!

Promise 2:
To the land which I will show you!

For this one we must head all the way to Joshua 21.
Those children had some trekking to do before they could finally settle in the promised land.
verses 43-45

43 So the LORD gave Israel all the land which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they possessed it and lived in it. 44 And the LORD gave them rest on every side, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers, and no one of all their enemies stood before them; the LORD gave all their enemies into their hand. 45 Not one of the good promises which the LORD had made to the house of Israel failed ; all came to pass.

Now for the third promise which affects us personally!
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed!
Lets take a closer look at that one over in,
Genesis 22:15-18
15 Then the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven, 16 and said, "By Myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this thing and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore ; and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies. 18 "In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice."
That there is a big promise!!
HUGE!
We have some trekking to do in the scriptures before we find out where it is fulfilled.
Luke chapters 1 and 2 tell the story magnificently!
In 1:54, 55 Mary is talking, maybe even praying and says,
"He has given help to Israel His servant, In remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever"

She knew the promise was close to being fulfilled and had been taught the significance of it.
I do really like though, the passage in Galatians 3 where Paul is trying to explain justification by faith!!
13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of Law, having become a curse for us...
14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

16Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, "and to seeds," as referring to many, but rather to one, "And to your seed," that is Christ.

Yeah, I would say coming to know Christ is the biggest blessing a person could attain!

I have all of these passages marked in the margins of my bible for ease of finding!! All I have to remember is Genesis 12 and then I can just follow the bread crumb trail I have created for myself. (you know...since my rememberer isn't so great!)

I hope that this has come across concise and not confusing.
It is something I have been meaning to share for some time!
We review it so often in class that it is just second nature to me now, so I hope I had my explainer working okay today!

I need to get some summertime action going on now.
See ya tomorrow!

More lily shots

I wanted something different for you today, well before I show you more of the same old, same old...ha haha!!!

There is so much around that I just don't take the time to look at, and I bet you are the same way!

This particular view is usually not available to me since our large green trashcan usually hides it!
Ahhh ha I thought...something new!!!

I didn't make any mention of it being exciting...just new!

Alrighty then on to other stuff today.

Oh boy...I just remembered that I have a load of laundry in the dryer.

Ha! It has probably been sitting there for a good 40 minutes because as usual I have gotten distracted!!

I was going to type out a nice long post, but alas I got a phone call from someone needing some help!
So, instead I will make it a short post and leave the long one for when I have time!

I am sooooo excited about my lily/fish pictures today!!

You know for the longest time I have moaned and moaned about just not being able to get good crisp shots of my fish.
I keep trying early in the day and late in the day, but never have given the middle of the day a fair chance!!!
Truth be told, I am not often here in the one o'clock hour so it has never really occurred to me!

Just check this one out!!

This shot made me so happy, I instantly made it my computer wallpaper!!


Consider that the fish were not the intent of the picture, but an accompaniment.



I then tried several different angles on the flower for you.


Well, angles that my creaky body could accommodate!!


Well, I simply must move on, though I wish it were not so!!

I need to whip up some chili...for a treat night supper of Frito Pie!!
I am gonna sneak as many veggies in there as possible AND use V8 as my soup base!
Hee hee hee(evil laugh, as opposed to girly laugh-these things are hard to tell via written word!)