Sunday Stills Happy New Year!

Yes, it's been awhile. A long while. Things have been a little chaotic here over the last few months as I settle into a new chapter of life. So, the photography has been a tad neglected lately. But, to start the New Year off right, I thought I'd answer the Sunday Stills challenge this week: post your favourite photo from 2011 and your photographic hopes from 2012.

Here's my flickr set for Best of 2011. But, if I had to pick one picture, it would be this one, for what is probably obvious reasons. I took this in Fort Myers airport waiting to board the plane. The light through the windows was incredible and the kids were happy to pose at the end of our Florida vacation.



For my photographic hopes for 2012, perhaps a new camera body and making time to take more pictures of everyday moments.

Happy New Year!

Sunday Stills: Macros or Extreme Close-Ups

After a few weeks off, I'm back to Sunday Stills. This week's challenge was Macros or Extreme Close-ups. The first shot is on the dock of our friends' cottage, taken a few weeks ago. The ankle bracelet is one the girls' made at art camp, but what I really like is the cute toes! :)



And, these are George's jelly beans. We've been gradually working our way through a very large jar of them...I liked the shot with the reflection of the jelly beans on the jar.

Sunday Stills: The Letter F

Thanks goodness for Sunday Stills! It gives me a much-needed kick in the butt each week to grab my camera and DO SOMETHING with it. After a year of taking pictures every day, I find it odd that I need more motivation now. But, of course, I'm working fuller time hours now, helping with the hubby's business handling their online marketing, helping more with our other business, real estate investments, taking up jogging and golf, helping coach soccer, raising two kids and generally trying to keep life running smoothly.

So,  Sunday Stills keeps me honest. This week's challenge, The Letter F, was an easy one for me. I have my very own F, Faith, that provides me excellent subject matter. We decided to take this one even  more seriously.

On Thursday, Faith got her first set of braces (top only). Now her smile is even more sparkly! (And the F is from her Gramma.)

Sunday Stills: Patriotism (Canada Day)

This week's Sunday Stills is Patriotism -- so Canada Day for us folks north of the border. Here oare a collection of shots taken just before or on Canada Day.

I took the kids to the park last week and thought this one said Canada Day.



I saw this front yard, Canada Day decoration on Victoria Street and couldn't resist a shot of it.


And, finally, on July 1st we hit the beach near my parents' house for a Canada Day sandcastle contest. The flags were lining the road to the dock.

Sunday Stills: Black and White or Sepia

The Sunday Stills this week - Black and White or Sepia - inspired me to pin down the 4 year old for some portraits. He is notoriously difficult to get to sit or stand still for a picture, so we tried some in the morning, and some after his bath at night. You can tell he got a little happier as the day went on. I was very happy with the results, although he made me promise not to tell his friends that he was "my model". Shhh!

Sunday Stills: Potluck

This week's Sunday Stills was Potluck, meaning any subject as long as it's not archives. I have a new route to work due to construction season, and I pass by this corner. I've been wanting to try a picture of it for a bit, although the light isn't the greatest when I'm passing. This is my first attempt. It doesn't live up to the shot I have in  my head though, so I may have to try again.

Sunday Stills: Weeds & Grasses

We have enough of the Sunday Stills challenge this week: weeds and grasses. I spent a little time pulling out weeds this weekend, and this dandelion was one of the victims.



The fields of dandelions have been quite spectacular this year. I took Blake out last weekend just to have a little fun taking pictures with the dandelions. It was the middle of the day, so the light isn't the greatest but he had a good time picking up weeds, sticks and rocks and I had fun with my "model".

Sunday Stills: Looking high, looking low

The Sunday Stills challenge this week - looking high, looking low - let me have a little fun at the stable where Faith has her lessons. While Blake ran around picking dandelions and grabbing sticks to use as swords, I was crouching in the grass looking up with my lens. Here are my two favourite shots:

Sunday Stills: Rust

 I love taking pictures of old things, so this week's Sunday Stills, Rust, had me excited (sad but true) I picked up the camera on our way to Faith's horseback riding lesson and trolled around the farm a bit to find some suitable subjects. Here's what I came up with.

The tongue on a wagon - no idea what the numbers mean...



The back of an old freezer:



An old chain:



The jack holding up the wagon:

Sunday Stills: Wildflowers and flowers

It's been awhile for Sunday Stills - April is just a busy month for us, what with tax season and all. The challenge this week was wildflowers and flowers. Considering I woke up on Friday morning to snow on the ground, we haven't exactly had blooming weather around here this April.

But, when we were shopping for groceries, Faith picked out some lovely pink tulips for Easter weekend. So, I'm cheating a bit and posting a shot of those instead, with a little bit of a softening effect for some added "romance". :)

Sunday Stills: The Color Blue

When I saw the Sunday Stills challenge this week - The Color Blue - I knew it was easy for me because I look into gorgeous blue eyes every day.

Sunday Stills: Canine Companions

I'm back after a little break. Between weekend activities, and a virus that meant a complete rewrite of my harddrive, I've been a little lacking in my photo taking lately. This week's Sunday Stills, Canine Companions, is one I'll have to complete with some archive photos of our friends' dog, Finnegan (a sheltie). Finnegan is over a year old now, but here are some photos from his first months in his new home.

From last January, after Finnegan arrived -- nothing cuter than a puppy:



Cuddling with new friends:



Cheering for Canada during the 2010 Winter Olympics:



Playing with the kids on a warm April day:

Sunday Stills: Old churches and graveyards

The Sunday Stills challenge this week, Old Churches & Graveyards, was a little daunting given how bloody cold it's been around here. But, we did have a nice thaw this week which meant holding a camera outside wouldn't freeze your fingers off, so thanks to good timing and my ever-present cameraphone, I was able to get a couple of shots that fit the theme...not great but they are new. :) I am however going to dig in the archives and show one from my Ireland/England trip as those countries know something about old churches and graveyards. (To see more churches and graveyards, I have a set on flickr.)

At sunset I was driving my daughter out to her horseback riding lessons, and we hit the the perfect time to stop by a church I drive by every day. The graveyard was pretty interesting in the snow...



But, the church windows are the best part at sunset. The windows glow with this unreal red fire as the sun shines through the church. This isn't the best picture, but it does give the idea. As you walk from one side the church to the other, the fire in the windows seems to follow you. The kids thought it was very cool.



And, from the archives, my favourite graveyard picture from a little place called Hale, outside of Liverpool.

Sunday Stills: Emotions

This week's challenge for Sunday Stills was Emotions -- as in evoking one in the person who views the picture.

First, I went for a sappy one...Logan and Blake are a year apart and they love playing together. Or, should I say getting in trouble together? We now have a set of rules when they take off upstairs at either of their houses, based on past "incidents". And if we can't hear them, we know there's trouble.



And, then I pulled one from the archive as I think this photo will definitely elicit a powerful emotion. My dad had surgery one year ago in January to fix problems with his elbow. And, then he decided last week to bang it all to hell loading cattle at his brother's farm. Based on what he went through before, you'd think he's be a little more careful. :) (My dad's reaction when he saw this photo last year? "I didn't think it was THAT bad!")

Sunday Stills: Circles

I'm a little late with this one, but it is still Sunday. This week's challenge was Circles. I'm still playing my macro lens, so when Blake pulled out his lego today, and I took a good look at it, it definitely fit the theme.

Sunday Stills: Green

The Sunday Stills challenge this week, The Color Green, had me thinking for a bit until I looked a little more closely around the house.

The first one is the front of the rock'n'roll guitar Blake got for his birthday...he can actually play cords on it as her rocks out to "I'm gonna rock'n'roll all night..."



And, another mystery photo to figure out...


I'll give you a much better idea...



Thanks to my very willing model...he's suddenly become a poser.


His Aunt Kim made him a new dragon hat that covers his ears. It's fantastic!

Sunday Stills: Macro + Happy Birthday!

This week's Sunday Stills challenge, Macro, coincides with Blake's 4th birthday. It's hard to believe that this little guy came into the world 4 years ago, about 7 weeks early and raring to go. He's turned from a baby into a toddler into a boy in the time it took me to blink.

So, in the spirit of blinking, macros, and birthdays, here are few shots of my four-year-old. Up close and personal.

I can't really describe Blake's eye color, but this shot does a pretty good job. It's a mix of brown, blue and gray. He had a hard time standing still to get the shot, so it's a little fuzzy, but I couldn't resist it.




Here are the famous eyelashes, inherited from his Dad, that he gets so many complements on:



And, finally, the freckles that sprouted on his face, many of them this summer:

Sunday Stills: The Letter W

The Sunday Stills challenge this week, The Letter W, took me awhile to figure out. That is until I woke up on Saturday morning and wanted to do two things: make breakfast and play with the macro portion of my new wide angle/macro filter.

Can you guess my W?



This one should give it away.

Sunday Stills: Best Shot of 2010

The Sunday Stills Challenge this week sounds easy, but... Yes, time to do the year in review and pick the best shot of 2010. I find this one like trying to pick your favourite movie, or your favourite author. It all depends on the genre. Are you talking portrait or still life or landscape? Black and white or color?

So, because it's so hard to pick just one, I put together a set on Flickr of what I thought were my best shots of 2010 (and you'll notice I have a strong preference for portraits). To give you a taste, here are what I thought were the best of the best.

Best Portrait 
...and probably best shot of 2010...of my goddaughter. Shot this outside on a cloudy day with my 55-200mm lens.


Best Still Life
This is called a Jacob's Ladder and my mom got it for Blake on our trip to Ireland/England.


Best Landscape
This pond is on my way to work...it's surrounding by ugly wires but I managed to get a shot in between that looks quite peaceful.


Best Action / Horse Shot
Sydney showing Faith how to work with Indigo.


Let me know if you agree or disagree...best shots are really just a matter of preference.

Sunday Stills: Hats

The Sunday Stills challenge for the week, Hats, was perfect timing for me. We've been hat crazy around here.

My sister-in-law, Kim, is a talented knitter and maker of extremely cute kids' hats. They were over on the weekend, and I caught my niece in the snow, in her snazzy flower hat knitted by her mom.



I didn't get a recent shot of Blake in his dragon hat, but here's one I took last year, again courtesy of his Aunt Kim.



All this knitting seemed to inspire Faith. Another aunt, Melissa, is also a knitter. So, she gave Faith a knitting thing-a-majiggy for Christmas. It's a set of round looms(?) that you can easily knit hats and other items on. (And, you can tell I'm so not a knitter.) She made her first hat in about three hours...a gift for her friend. Very cool! She has, however, learned, not to leave her yarn out when her brother and cousin are playing....things get a little unravelled!