The Houston Zoo

We've made several trips to the Houston Zoo over the last few years.  It's really is beautiful and it never ceases to amaze me that all of that along with Herman Park is packed into downtown Houston.  A new section open recently that's themed as an African Safari.  So, the good weather lead us to the zoo one afternoon to check out the new exhibits and enjoy some of the old favorites.

La Centerra - Photography Class Lesson 6

We were all surprised to hear we had extra incentive during our photo shoot on Tuesday night.  Our teacher had spoken with the manager of La Centerra to inform him that the class would be shooting there that night and the manager offered 2 gift cards to the best two photos from the group, including an entry to a $1000 shopping spree raffle to be held later in the spring, and the potential for your photograph to be included in future advertisements for La Centerra.

So, the whole class trudged out to the square, set up tripods, and got busy.  It was fun trying new techniques.  I've never shot at night before and let me just tell you, its alot harder than shooting during the day.  It took me several tries before I could even get a focused imagine and then several more before I could include enough light to make it visible.

When it was all done and I downloaded the pictures back at home, I was fairly impressed with myself.  I was able to capture two different images with a couple of new techniques that I learned in class.  We each get to submit 2 photos for review.  While I don't think I'll be winning any photo contests with these pictures (the composition is not as creative as I would have liked them to be) I'm just satisfied that I successfully mastered the techniques.  Here's what I got.

Water in motion technique                                              Light painting w/water in motion and starlights

A Warm Day at Last!

Thank goodness, we finally had some warm weather Saturday afternoon.  So after being cooped up in the house for so long, the kids migrated outside to enjoy the sun.  All parents involved were thankful, or at least I was.  Brenna was started to bounce off the walls.  Here's a few pictures of their fun in the sun!

Now I'm Having Fun - Photography Class Lesson 5

For this lesson we met on Saturday morning so we could get some daytime practice in.  I really enjoyed it.  It's the first time I've actually tried to focus on the composition of a picture without someone distracting me (no names mentioned.....)  I think I got a couple of good shots.  It was fun justing looking around at the things you see everyday and finding a new and interesting way to capture them through the lens.  We shot inside a history class room, in the barn, in the barn yard, and around the pond.  There was plenty of stuff to see.  Here's a few shots from the day.

I just liked the look of the old boots.  They were hanging from the ceiling of the history classroom.  Those and the coffee grinder were really the only two things that caught my attention in all those historic pieces.  Being from south Mississippi, there was really nothing I'd never seen before.  I could see most all those old pieces of farm equipment in my Pappaw's storage shed back home.  I took the picture of the coffee grinder just for Ms. Doris.  I think you should get one of these for your kitchen and make Marcus grind you fresh coffee every morning.
There were chickens, but they really didn't want to cooperate.  Actually, there was an ugly incident with another photographer that made it clear that the chickens were in no kind of picture taking mood.

Its Raining! Its Raining!

Brenna talked her Daddy into buying her an umbrella of her very own a few weeks ago.  Since that time, there's been a new game at our house called "Its Raining!"  At random times through out the day dark clouds form inside the house and it begins to rain.  Luckily, Brenna is there to save the day with her trusty umbrella.  And so, she shelters herself, or me, or daddy, or the cats, or blankie, or whatever unlucky soul is the one getting wet (apparently the clouds are very selective at who they rain on......)

"Do you feel rain?"                                                                                      "Look it's raining!"           

Hey! What's the Big Idea?

Imagination Movers are Music to Your Ears!

Ok, if you don't watch the show, you won't get it.  But, we went to see the Disney's Imagination Movers live at the Verizon Center in downtown Houston.  For those of you who don't know, the Imagination Movers are a rock band for preschoolers!  You read it right.  The band is originally from New Orleans and focuses on teaching preschools to use their brain to solve problems.  Pretty nifty idea, if you ask me.  Disney picked the group up a couple of years ago and they've had their own show on Disney Channel ever since.  The tour was call "In a Big Warehouse".  In the tv show, the Movers work out of a warehouse where they specialize in "Idea Emergencies."  If you've got a problem, they'll "Brainstorm" to come up with a solution.

Like in all major concerts, we had a warm-up act, which was none other than the Disney Channels' Choo-Choo Soul! The singing conductor and break-dancing train engineer got the kids up on their feet and ready to jam with the Movers!

I Got a New Toy!

My wonderful husband bought me a brand new lens for Valentines!  He was even sweet enough to give it to me on Friday so I would have all weekend to practice with it.  (including our Saturday morning Photography class, which I'll have pictures coming soon).  This will most likely be the last addition to my photography arsenal.  But I'm so excited over my new lens!  While  I still need alittle more work with it to get really good at it, but its already by far surpassed all of my other lens in indoor picture taking capabilities.  This was the primary reason I've coveted this lens since first getting my camera.  Here's a few shots from my "opening weekend" with my new lens!

It's C-O-L-D!! - The Continuation

I saw this posted on a friends facebook page and just had to bring it over.  As I mentioned earlier, we southeast Texans aren't equipped to deal with this cold weather.

This picture was taken this week on a highway between San Antonio and Austin.  The unfortunate thing is, this statement pretty much summed up the general reaction of the south Texas population.  It's good to know that someone involved with Texas highway management still has a sense of humor.

Ahh, Now We're Getting Somewhere - Photography Class Lesson 4

At last, a chance to put our learnings into action.  It seems that our talk is finally dwindling and a time for action has ensued!  Ok, maybe that last line was alittle dramatic, but I was so happy to finally put my camera into action with what I considered a worthy opponent (i.e. not the three sisters, as our teacher so lovely refers to them).  At last nights photography class we had an opportunity to photograph the Cinco Ranch High School Orchestra performing on stage at the Performing Arts Center.  In general, these low light, stage lit scenes are some of the hardest to capture.  This gave me an opportunity to put into practice some of the things I've learning in class, as well as exercise my equipment capabilities.  God bless my telephoto lens (and my dear husband, for buying it for me!).

Here's a few of the shots I came away with.  Admittedly, I would have preferred them to be alittle more crisp in some places, but I thought overall the lighting worked out well.  Practice makes perfect and I'm glad I had this opportunity, as Brenna's dance recital is coming up in May, and I know I'll be facing the same conditions.

It's C-O-L-D!!

Well, at least by Southeast Texas standards it cold.  Last night I placed my camera on the table and went to bed with hopes of snowmen, snow angels, and a cute 3-year old all bundled up with hat and mittens.  We were cheated out of our snow and faced the 3rd day of below freezing temperatures.  Only today, things weren't just cold, they were cold and icy.

Still Not Sure - Photography Class Lesson 3

Well, I've just completed session 3 of my photography class and I'm still not sure whether this was a worthy investment.  The jogging pants and t-shirt is the staple attire for my instructor, and he continues to wander aimlessly over less than informative topics.  Example, we spent nearly 20 minutes discussing the error of a Japanese tourist would died of a antelope attack shortly after photographing the animal with flash photography at short range.  Hmmm, what can be learned from this experience?  Don't use flash photography within 50 feet of an animal weighing more than 300 pounds or can run faster than you.  How long did that take?  15 secs, 30 max!  Need I say more.  How long should you kick a dead horse.  20 minutes is alot to lose in just a 2 hour class.

Still, I can't say that I haven't learned anything.  I did enjoy his rundown on lenses and lens capabilities.  This was with mix emotion through, as it dawned on me during this lecture that I should shorten my expectations of my own photography.  Not due to lack of skill (oh, I never doubt my own abilities, I call it confidence, but I know some of you would say arrogance.....) but due to equipment.  Eventually I have to face the facts that this is indeed only a hobby and determine at what point the cost of this "hobby" out weighs the benefits.  I enjoy photographing Brenna and our friends and family.  It makes me happy to capture images that make me smile or remember.  That's what I want to get out of this.  So, with the exception of one more lens purchase later down the road, I think I've hit my equipment limitation.  So from here on out, it's just honing my skills with said equipment.

I am including a few shots from our last class.  I prefer not to elaborate on the pictures, as they seemed a lost cause from the beginning.  If fact, just by the pictures I've post so far from my photography class, it would seem I'm getting worse instead of better.  Here's the pics.  I'll let your mind wander.....

Pecan Park is One of My Favorite Places

I love to be outside.  The scenery is always so much more beautiful.  And like most kids, Brenna prefers to be outside too.  Wide open spaces to run, animals to chase, and of course, play grounds.  All kinds of fun is to be had outside.

All that being said, Pecan Park is quickly becoming one of my favorite places.  It's just a simple park in one of the neighborhoods here in Houston, but no matter which way you look, the views are beautiful in any seasons.  So, its no wonder photographers flock there with their clients.  It happens to be the same location that we had our family pictures taken back in 2009 (whew, its getting time for an update).   That's how we originally discovered the park, and we've been back several times just to enjoy the playground.  I've always wanted to take my camera, but never planned it out just right.

We've been couped up a bit with some cold weather lately and this week finally brought some manageable outdoor temperatures.  So, this Friday we met some friends there for the kiddos to play and burn off some energy and finally a chance presented itself for me to snap some pictures.  These are just some funs shots of Brenna and John enjoying their day outside!

Fun at the Fire Station!

One of the moms at church organized a great playdate for our preschoolers.  We got to visit the Sugarland Fire Station and met the Firefighters.  The was excited.  We had been reading a Fire House book all week in preparation for our visit, and her main objective was to slide down the fire poll.  She was disappointed to discover that this fire house only had one floor, no fire pole!  But, that was quickly forgotten once the firemen took over.  They started the tour by gathering everyone into the general living quarters and talking to the kids about fire safety.  Then Fireman Greg, geared up to show the kids all the equipment that a fireman must carry and what the finished product looks like.  And yes, despite the Captains best effort to explain that it was still Fire Greg under all that gear, we still had a some tears from some of the smaller kiddos.

The Good, the Bad, and the UGLY! Photography Class Lesson 1

Well, as all of you know I've become a bit of a picture taking fool lately.  So, in and effort to improve upon my foolishness, I decided to take a photography class with friends.  Our first class was this week and I had been very excited about the prospect of what new and interesting techniques I would learn.  However, the overall first impression was a bit of a mix bucket.

The Teacher - Upon first glance, I was a bit worried that this man could possible know anything about photography or teaching in general.  He was dressed in a much too tight plain black t-shirt that hugged his enormous belly to bear thread.  The t-shirt had been hastily tucked into a much too small pair of jogging pants that didn't leave much for the imagination.  It was apparent that he had no concern for appropriate dress and I was stunned to hear that he had once owned his own photography business.  Well, as the old saying goes, you can't judge a book by its cover.  He was indeed very enthusiastic and knowledgeable about photography.

The Classroom - This was just a regular old everyday classroom that was no different the the millions of others across this great country.  However, something has obviously changed in the last 10 years in the manufacturing of students desks.  After sitting for the length of the 2 hour class, I felt I may need someone to get a can opener to get me out.  Why is it that in college I could sit for hours, fully attentive, and ravenous for knowledge as I listened to lectures on thermodynamics and reactionary chemistry (you believe that right, ravenous......) but now I feel like a sardine that's just been released from his aluminum prison.  Not that I've ever given much thought to continuing my education, but this experience has assured my that my classroom based learning days are over.  Looks like it online tutorials from here!

The Class - As a mention, the teacher is indeed very enthusiastic.  I'm not entirely sure if this is to our benefit.  He started the class by saying that we would be doing a flash exercise later, which I thought sounded interesting.  However, his enthusiasm drifted into the first camera ever invented, past photo shots concerning cafeteria women, and demonstration on how to build you own monopod.  It's seems he has trouble focusing his enthusiasm.  So, we didn't even pick up a camera until 5 minutes after 9 pm, at which point everyone hastily snapped a few photos leaving no time for discussion or review.  My hopes are that as the class continues there will be alot more picture taking and alot less talk.

So, here's my first photos from photography class!

Hello 2011!

Well, another year has come and gone.  I guess time flies when your having fun!  We had a wonderful and action-packed Christmas.  We enjoyed a slow week at home with Jacob being off work.  On Christmas day, we all hit the ground running.  We had to wake Brenna to kick off Christmas and in her sleepy state her only concern was whether Santa had eaten all the cookies.  Only after we closely evaluated that he did indeed consume both the cookies and the milk "He must have been hungry, Mama!" did we moved on to gifts.  Once we made our way through the pile, Brenna began to play, while I began unpackaging toys and putting together our new Toy Story tent and Jacob went outside to jerk down (literally) all the outdoor Christmas decorations.  Within 2 hours everyone and everything was crammed into the car and we were headed to the airport!