Wordless Wednesday

Should I start doing these? I don't know. I like looking at other people's pictures without words... Should I? Maybe so... but I've realized that I'm a totally typical Gemini. I start something, go off kilter and then usually either forget or I start something new and never finish what I meant to start in the first place.

Remember how I tried to do 30 posts in 30 days? Well, I fell off the bandwagon after 6, I think.

Le Sigh.

Ok, I'm up for it for a few weeks. Maybe I'll even schedule posts so that I won't miss Wednesdays. That's always an option.

So let's start (Oops, this is supposed to be WORDLESS, I apologize):

So Excited For June!

Ahh... Melissa Palomo might be coming to the Twin Cities! YIPPEE!!! She's one of my FAVORITE pet photographers in the country. Yes, yes... in the COUNTRY!!!!

And so I heard from a little bird that she might make a stop in the Twin Cities. I've got my Frye boots all set, Rusty needs a new collar (I was thinking this one...) and my hair needs to grow about 4 more inches (Hello, Biotin...) Bimmer Man needs a new picture for his office and I need to stock our future photo wall with awesome pictures.

So if you're interested in doing photos with Melissa, I can get you in! Yep, just comment with your e-mail address and I'll get you info! She's coming in June (the later part of June) and I just can't wait. I'm so flippin' excited.

Can you tell I'm jumping for joy?

Life In Pictures 3.1 - 3.6

Happy Birthday Bimmer Man

Ok, well for the blog... It's really happy belated birthday, Bimmer Man, but still. By the way Bimmer, you took your own birthday picture. So yes, it does get put on the blog. Any picture on my camera is fair game. But I think you already knew that!

I got the best surprise ever - I was uploading pics for the blog when I found these AWESOME photos.

And I do have to say that we have the best friends. They're nice, caring, open, honest and most importantly - they have a sense of humor. We've known the Dog Lady (as Bimmer calls her) and her husband for a very long time. Bimmer has known Stelly for longer than he's known me - so longer than 9 years (ACK!! 9 YEARS!!). We've been friends through tough times - fraternity days, crazy weddings and hundreds of miles. We actually introduced these two and now they're married (WOOT!!) and now they (ok, mostly she) rescues dogs. And cats.  And I'm very, very proud to have them as friends:

2011 Como Orchid Show

Happy Monday

It's me. With no make up. And my new haircut (Ok, sort of new but just a few weeks old...) Why? Well, because it's snowing outside and I knew that I would probably be late to work. Thanks, snow. And thank you Photoshop for the "vintage glow," I really do appreciate it.

Engagement Photos Are So Much Fun

Thanks to Ashley and Shawn, my creative side has been fulfilled this past weekend. Isn't she gorgeous? Her smile and serious faces are to die for... I couldn't have had a better couple to photograph yesterday! These are just 4 of my favorites.

I forgot how much fun it is to photograph a couple that's so in love. Shawn was fairly hesitant at first, which is fine, I generally rule out the first 10 photos anyway (those weird awkward-I-don't-think-I-know-what-I'm-doing smiles...). Also, you'd never know it, but it was about 90 degrees and awful humid, they had a blast and I did too!

The Google Reader

If you look closely, you'll see that there are a TON of subscriptions in my Google Reader. Some people tend to post more, others don't. And I've cleaned up my RSS feeds, believe it or not.

Generally I use Google Alerts for certain tags like green living, sustainability, cooking, etc... Those are shortened feeds which I only peruse the headlines (peruse... I really like that word). To get to this area of your Reader, click on "Trends" on the left hand side. I think you'll be surprised about who posts the most (Um, hello Perez) and who posts the least (which would be a friend that doesn't have the internet at home).

Mostly, I'm more addicted to iambossy.com, F***MyLife.com (which you can tell that a lot of these people are either in high school or make the shit up), Digital Photography School and my green living tips alerts (Oh, I can't forget Ideal Bite).

I try and go through my Google Reader daily, but sometimes I feel bad about commenting on a blog post that's older than a week. That's because I probably just got to it...

And you wonder why I've been posting randomly... I haven't had time to cook! I've been too enthralled with my Google Reader when I get home from work!

(Though, funny story = last night I made pulled pork and I didn't correct Bimmer Man when he called it chicken. Sorry, Bimmer. I just couldn't help it! You were way too cute!).

So, enjoy the stats!

I Broke Down And I Did It

Phoenix Smart Flash RF46N Macro Ring Flash Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

I wanted it so badly. So when I clicked through - I expected this awesome ring flash to be almost $200. But guess what - it's ON SALE!!!! FOR LESS THAN $100!!!!

Seriously, I think that all photographers need this. You know when you take photos of close ups, macros, etc... and you have the stupid dark shadows from bouncing your lights off the ceiling, well no more - check out the link below to see it test driven.

Ring Flash Adapter Test from the Digital Photography School

So awesome...

Marriage.

Happy Valentine's Day, Bimmer Man. Ok, so it's one day late. I'm a little disorganized, ok?

What's In My Camera Bag?

Lots of crap.

Ok, ha! Not really...


A Nikon D70s. It's an older model in camera years, but in its prime, it was awesome. It still is. Now I want a D300, but I have to save up a little bit.



The love of my life. The Lensbaby. It's like an accordian - you focus with the actual lens and you do have to know how to take manual pictures for this. Luckily, it's a medium aperature so it works well in regular light.



50 mm, f/1.8D Nikkor lens. OMG. I can't live without it. You know, if there was one lens to choose, please, go with this one. It's pretty cheap for lens - $129 and you'll enjoy every minute of it.


Wireless remote. Take pictures of yourself! HA! Family portrait my butt, I don't mention that I have it but, well, now the secret's out... Honestly, this is great to have, especially if you photograph children. Set up your tripod, and then you can walk around, have them watch you and you can snap pics as you entertain them. Sounds easy? Um, no... The taking picture part, yes!

Main point - I love photography and I'm leaving you with some "affordable" options for your camera. My tripod = hand-me-down, my backpack was new, but I'll have to hunt down a link for it because it is a little older.

Have some fun! Try new photo stuff! Jump into views that are out of the ordinary, and most importantly, keep your camera with you at all times. You never know what you're going to find!