Week 2 of The JOY of LOve...

Here is my second installment of my month long photography class...

Day 6... Who they love...I must admit, I didn't have much time for this week's so the editing wasn't up to par for what i wanted. I chose to hop down in the floor with my kiddos and get some lovin from them! ...

Day 7... Generations...This one was a little tough since our generations of family's are all over the place....so I chose to take a picture of Colten looking at all of our generations thru photos! a photo of a photo! ha, I was showing him shots of his mother as a baby...ha, and of his grandma's and grandpa's and of his great and great grandma's and grandpa's! What a blessing to be able to show him pictures of his family!

Day 8... Gifts...a special Gift from a Loved one...

I love this one and had to think long and hard about what I wanted to take pictures of...The teacher gave the example of her camera and her husband bought it for her! rats! that was my idea! So i thought long and hard and came up with this shot...

It is a ticket stub to Alaska and my very first engagement ring from chris! I loved it! He bought me a ticket to Alaska to visit and that was a huge trip in itself! I flew from NC to AK all by myself and I had no idea it was going to change my life forever! I just knew that Chris was fun and adventurous and I wanted to be that as well! So...6 years later and 2 children later...here is how it all started! ...

DAy 9... HObbies and Passions...

I got a little shabby on this one as well, I didn't have time to pull out all sorts of stuff for this shot so I took a picture of chris doing whatever he was doing at the moment and it just so happened to be what he enjoyed. He was working on his gun and that is just the sort of hobby i was glad to get a picture of him with! He was ok with that too...and for the class, the instructor has asked us to try and get in close on our subjects...bring it in tight for the pictures...I love doing that anyways! So here is Chris tinkering with his gun...

Day 10...Space...where they are most comfortable...

I just love when my son sleeps in his bed all night long and he has been doing great...he gets all cozy under his blankets and sucks his thumb and just looks so precious. I chose to get him in his most comfortable spot...the only spot he is really still long enough to get settled...his bed!

The joy of LOVE...week one!

So, I have enlisted in a photography class for the month of February...It is called "the JOY of LOVE" and it is meant for practice of course, as well as, rediscovering all the ones that I love! Great class for February! We just finished up week one and I have taken 5 pictures...One for each day. I plan to update my pics once a week or so on my blog so I am not overwhelmed with doing it everyday...as if a mother of 2 really has tonz of time to sit on the computer to update...

Day one...What they do...I chose to show a picture of what my boys "do" ...Carsen usually sleeps while Colten usually plays...

Day 2...How they look...Since both my boys look just alike, I chose to use the shot of them sitting together on the floor together with the same expression on their faces! rather cute i must add...

ok so for DAy 3...

Now and Then was the theme for the day...I chose to be symbolic in my picture...So, back then, when I first met chris, he was a "LOGGER"...he worked his summers Logging in Alaska and spend his school days in college residential treeworking. The man loved to climb trees! He was practically born to do it...so I took a picture of his infamous chainsaw! He loves it! and for the NOW picture...I chose to take some of his uniform garb that he wears now to show what he does now. He is in law enforcement so he uses handcuffs as well as wears a hat, a much different career choice from treework, but he still serves his community...just in a different way!

I am proud of him no matter what!

Day 4...What they wear...

I got super lucky this day, chris decided to go hunting so i took a pic of him in his winter get-up...i love his parka and i love the picture i took of him...

Day 5...What annoys you about them...

I had to laugh at this one because there are tons of things i could've posted about....for example, the laundry that lies all over the floor, or the dishes that sit in the sink for days...but then I would be talking about myself...So i chose to take a picture of the one thing that annoys me and that I don't do and that usually ends up in me yelling..." Colten...why did you put your toys right in the middle of the hallway!" ...

and who's with me on this one when I say..."ouch"...Thank goodness this was just a prop and not the actual toys that i step on!

Ok, so in a few more days, i will post up some more from "the JOY of LOVE" photography class...

Just a day in the Life...

...So my husband has his weekends and they are great.. It's a chance for us to hang out together and have fun. Usually, he likes to go out on his snowmobile and hunt things or just ride...when the boys are bigger...I plan on taking over!

...The typical morning goes by...we sleep in late, Colten stays up all morning and plays and watches cartoons. I fall half asleep with Carsen on the couch while dad gets the entire king sized bed to himself for the morning! nothing new...

...He says that he is going fox hunting...ok, "good luck" blah, blah, blah..."love ya" and out the door he goes.

A few hours later...my husband rings the doorbell (at which, he knows drives me crazy) and he is standing with a nice and furry fox! yay! he was so proud...then the fun begins! If you know my husband and you know me...he says to me..."i'm going to skin it in the kitchen..." and i say..." no" and he says, " yea, go get me a board to put down" and before i realize it...i have already gotten the board and the whole thing is set up...i really am gullable for that man! (i will have to blog about our crazy stories sometime...)

...So then he begins to skin the fox out in the kitchen floor and the boys are just watching...and I mangaged to get pictures of the whole process...

I hope to get with some of the ladies here in town and learn to make some sweet clothing items like mittens or hats or even a parka! Mostly i am thinking of making some sweet mukluks...slippers...for the boys and myself!

...My attempts at making a Watermark...

Yay,
so I found this blog the other day and I love it! She is a wonderful lady and her blog posts are even better! I love that she gives her thoughts and actions on Photoshop as well as Photography out for all to read and learn from! I read up on tons and decided to try out a few...




I tried her Watermark tutorial! I am so happy b/c I really need to refresh my skills on Photoshop...It has been since college! and that seems like forever ago!

So, I Followed her steps and here is my first attempt at a watermark for myself...






I liked it last night at 2am...and the next morning I decided that it was to jumbled for me, so I thought I would play with the tutorial again and make a nice one that isn't so clumped. I came up with a nice second choice and so I shall post it as well...

I changed the purple...yes, that has purple in it, and I changed it to a brighter blue and a simple letter in "Edwardian Script"...and of course I thought of popping in my twilight dvd and watching Edward-ian...:)

Ok, enough about that, here is my second attempt at making a watermark...



not bad...i have lots to learn...

Just for fun...

...Just love the expression on my little guy's face! Priceless to see the focus on him and also the same shot with the focus on the toy...gives a totally different feel.

So, Here in the fridgid Arctic, we have been experiencing some cold cold conditions....WE had minus 40 temps! that is freaking cold! So, like any other Alaskan family, we have been cooped up indoors next to the TV. It was too cold for our truck to start! Yep, that cold...so I decided to practice up on my pictures on my children! they don't mind and it gives me something to do on these days...

I got some fun shots of my little boy playing with his toys and then our new little boy learning to play with fun toys! He is getting so big already, he was practicing his rolling over the other night...got some time, but we practice! I was able to book another summer wedding for myself and i am very happy with! They are great friends of mine and they are super cute too, so I am glad to do there pictures for their special day! Of course, I find myself thinking of how incompatent I am at taking pictures and my confidence is crazy low because of my lack of experience, but I am saying my prayers that all goes well. Last summer, I had a blast with my first wedding and I loved it! I loved the hype it had and I loved the artistic aspects of the wedding and I loved the bride and groom and the ceremony and being right there in the middle of it all and I loved the reception fun as well...ha...

I hope to have a great opportunity with this wedding as well! I am saying my prayers now...

As for now,

We practice with the surroundings...my children! ha, so here are a few shots....

My Alaskan Inspiration...

Ok, so first of all, I have a wall in my dining room that needs a big piece of artwork. I decided to look around and come up with something to go there. I also happened to notice that on one of my friends' profile on Facebook that someone had posted up a link to this really neat piece of Alaskan art. So i went and looked at it as well and actually liked it! I love the map of Alaska and I also liked that this person used watercolor...my favorite medium..along with lots of other mediums all jumbled together! ha. So, i decided to try it for myself and mimik her picture and add all of my little twists to it as well...

So, I borrowed some watercolor paper from my lovely neighbor and stayed up super late..or early..depending on how you look at it...and then created my artwork for my dining room. I pulled out my old watercolors as well as some acrylics and also some other crazy things...such as, sharpie markers, some salt, some charcoal and some spraypaint! yep...i said all that...ha.

I plan to mount my paper onto some matte board when i get the chance...i had to let the picture dry before i can do that...but i am posting my picture for all to see and with some luck...maybe i can make a skill out of my artwork or just make my dining room wall look better!

...We have moved!!!!

I added some shots of me and my best winter garb and a little of the town. My family and I went out for a drive to catch a glimpse of our surroundings. Very nice I must admit...

We have moved from our cozy little town of Wasilla, Alaska to a remote village farther North...We have moved to Kotzebue, Alaska! Yea, it is a much different way of life up here and I hope to have many opportunities for taking photos and bettering my skills! It is winter right now up here in the Arctic Circle and that pretty much means...snow and cold! The daylight has been limited too..I don't see nearly as much of that pretty sunshine we used to see...But it hasn't gotten to me yet...many of my family members are worried! ha, but I have bigger concerns to think about instead of fretting over the lack of sun. We just had our little baby boy number 2, so I have my hands full with unpacking boxes and chasing my two year old and then doing it all while holding baby boy number 2~ but it is fun! We manage to get out every once in a while and do what all good villagers do...check the mail! That's all there is to do in town for the most part! ha...We spend 30 minutes or more to start the truck and scrap the ice and then another 20 minutes getting all the children and myself ready...We then hop in our nice warm truck to drive, 2 minutes away, to check the mail! We then drive back home! ha. All in a days drive!

Since moving...I have had to stock up on some warm weather neccessities. I had to buy myself and nice warm parka..my husband insisted..and I am glad he did. Then for christmas, he buys me a super nice warm "Fox" fur trimmed hat! With real fox fur! So I am all geared up for winter...Now if only spring would come!