Reflections of a Sunrise + Hydrangea Centerpiece / Project 52 ~ Week 18

Happy Thursday {it's almost Friday!!}.

  I'm so excited to share Week 18 for a couple reasons:

1. It's about the beach...and the beach is one of my most favorite places to be for relaxation, rejuvenation and fun!

2. It means I'm {finally} caught up with past Project 52 weeks!!

  I'll set the scene first.  It was a stressful day at work, at home, and with life in general.  We all have those days, I know this, and most days I can cope quite well.  This day was different, I'm not sure how to describe it, but I was literally stressed beyond my normal coping point.  I called my younger sis for our normal daily talk - but I had a {BIG} question to ask.  We exchanged the normal "how was your day" question...then I dropped the request.  I {politely} asked if she would take a day or two off work to come down to NC for a beach weekend with me and the little ones.  And, being the most awesome sister as usual, she agreed to put in for some last minute vacation days.  My kids and I have been on such a routine lately with work, school and activity schedules that "fun" was not something we'd had in awhile.   

  A few days later we arrived at Myrtle Beach, SC and checked-in to our favorite hotel for a long overdue mini-vacation.  I woke up early on Saturday morning {I rarely sleep past 5am, even though I'd love to sometimes} and strolled to the beach with my youngest to watch the sunrise.  It was magical and refreshing.  I get to watch the sunrise almost everyday, it's awe inspiring to witness those beautiful colors and to know that a brand new day has been granted.  I photographed a few different times during the sunrise and loved every image...having to choose only one for Week 18 was a bit difficult!

"Beach Sunrise n.7" / Project 52 - Week 18
{Captured:  50mm, ISO 100, 1/320, F5.6}

  The other images from this morning are uploaded on Facebook in the album titled "Coming Soon", if you get a chance, please stop by to visit and view!

  I also wanted to share within this post some fun and fresh garden details!  Recently I purchased a vintage collection of aqua Ball mason jars with a metal carrier from a wonderful Etsy shop called SpringHillFarm.  I must admit, when I opened this packaging this week, I was even more surprised at how neat this collection looked together.  Last evening my daughters and I spent a few minutes in the garden clipping just the 'right' bunches of pink hydrangeas to fill each of the 7 jars.  Below are a few Instagram photos of how the vintage collection + fresh blooms = a simply beautiful centerpiece!

{love the look of aqua+pink}

{love the contrast of new + old}

{hydrangea love!}

...hope everyone has a wonderful day...

--Jennifer

{a little} Instagram Never Hurt Anyone... / Project 52 ~ Week 17

Greetings on this rainy Tuesday evening,

  Tonight's post is still part of my attempt to catching-up with past week's Project 52 photos - Week 17 {I'm almost there...I can see the end nearing!!}.   I chose a photograph taken with my iPhone, and more specifically Instagram on the iPhone.  I take a HUGE amount of photographs via phone...and have tested out quite a few apps.  I've used some awesome photography apps on the iPhone.  I have a few favorites that I enjoy using more frequently than others, Instagram being one of the favorites.  [If you haven't tried it, you should.]  The only draw back I've seen is not having full editing capabilities like some other apps, but there are quite a few presets available for quick use.
   
Sidenote:  I did import this photograph into PSE to add a black and white finish that had more depth and a light texture.  

"Rainy Daisy n.1" / Project 52 - Week 17
{Captured:  Instagram}

   Can't wait to share Week 18...it's one of my favorites from Project 52 so far...mainly because it involves the beach!

Have an amazing evening!
--Jennifer

Macro Fun / Project 52 ~ Week 16

  Hello, again!  I'm so thrilled to be posting another week so soon ... it means I'm that much closer to getting back on track with weekly posts.
  Week 16 was photographed in Saxapahaw, NC (a most gorgeous rural area).  I was out of town to attend a great portrait photography workshop.  I was presented with an opportunity to test out another photographer's macro lens...and was beyond excited!  I arrived before the class began on that Saturday, just to get a chance to try the lens on a few wild flowers around the parking area.  I fell in love instantly!  I have always adored nature photography and magnifying those tiny wildflowers was like magic.   I cannot wait to purchase my first macro lens, I'm currently researching which one will be the "best" one for my cameras (more to come on choosing the right lenses in future posts).

  I chose the image below for Week 16:

"Macro Yellow n.1" / Project 52 - Week 16
{Captured:  ISO 320, 1/1000, F3.5}


  

  It's really amazing that this small flower was only the size of my thumbnail.  I was able to magnify the otherwise missed small details of the petite bloom...and it was one of my favorite flower colors, yellow!

  Just a few more weeks to review and post...can't wait to share the recent ocean images!!

Have a wonderful Monday :)

-Jennifer

Going Home / Project 52 ~ Week 15

  Hello.  It's been awhile!! I've got lots of weeks to catch-up...and hopefully can get back on-track this week {fingers crossed}.

  During Week 15, I traveled back home to St. Louis with my little ones.  We enjoyed a much overdue visit with our families.  We planned activities for each day, including the zoo, butterfly house, Botanical Gardens and a few more.  Going home provided a much needed change of pace and a fresh perspective that was very necessary.  I believe it's very important to kick-start your creativity each year with a new environment and/or new scenes.

  I chose the image below for Week 15:

"Tropical Orange n.1"
{Captured:  50mm, ISO 400, 1/500, F3.2}

  This image contains some of my favorite colors, combined: oranges, yellows and pinks!  We were indoors in a tropical plant exhibit at the Missouri Botanical Gardens {enjoying some warmth on a cool spring morning}.  This bloom seemed to 'scream' compared to the lush greens in the other displays.  I photographed a few more plants and blooms in this area, but this one was by far one of my favorites.

  All images from the trip have been added in the "Coming Soon" folder on the Facebook page, stop by if you get a chance.

  [Hopefully] coming soon...weeks 16, 17, 18 and more!  Have a lovely week!
--Jennifer

Unique Beauty / Project 52 ~ Week 9

 Happy Weekend!!

  I was so excited to receive a wonderful surprise this week...two lovely bouquets of ranunculus flowers!!  I've {really, really} wanted to photograph these intriguing flowers for some time.  These blooms were the miniature type and each bouquet was full of incredible color {reds, pinks, oranges, yellows and purples}.  

  

  On Friday, I separated some of the pinks, purples and oranges and set to work on capturing some long overdue images.  I love how the stems wind and curve, each petal with light textures, each bloom unique and at a different stage.  I decided to group my images by flower color to obtain a more uniform view.  This week's image:

Project 52 - Week 9 / "Purple Ranunculus n.1"
{Captured:  ISO160 - F2.0 - 1/80}

  The richly deep purple petals, with a light texture and haze definitely made this image the right choice for Week 9.   It was a hard choice though, because the orange and pink ranunculus images were equally beautiful.  If you get a chance this week, stop by the Facebook page to see additional images in the Coming Soon folder.

  I'm looking at this rainbow of flowers this morning and they are continuing to change daily.  I'm hoping to get a few more images of the other blooms this week.   I really would love to add a space in our back gardens this year to grow some of these amazing plants, their bright blooming flowers would look great next to the roses and peonies.  

  On a sidenote:  Spring is nearing everyday, I've noticed our tulips are growing and I can't wait to capture some images of these, hopefully soon!

Hope your week is amazing!!

-Jennifer

  

Fancy Pink Petals / Project 52 ~ Week 8

  Happy Weekend!  I'm running a bit behind this week and have been processing several photographs captured this past Friday.  I found the most gorgeous bunch of pink gerbera daisies this past week. Unfortunately we were greeted with some clouds, thunder, lightning and rain on Friday....meaning I had to photograph indoors...again!   I chose a rainy window sill and selected three of the best in the bunch.  

This week's image was captured in the cloudy natural light, with a rain dotted window providing some interesting shadows.  I chose one of the images that was very detailed and macro-like for Week 8:

"Rainy Fridays n.10"
{Captured:  ISO 200 - F2.5 - 1/125}

  I've always found daisies so beautiful.  Each petal so delicate all leading back to one amazing centerpiece in the middle.  These gorgeous pink daisies were no exception.

  I'll be adding a few more images to the Facebook page today, stop by if you get a chance.

Hope your week is amazing!
-Jennifer

Rainy Days / Project 52 - Week 6

  After a long week stuck inside, I was hoping for some outside time and some warm sunshine this weekend.  But instead, I was greeted with dreary storm clouds, rain and much colder temps that dropped steadily yesterday.  Staying inside was the best {and warmest} option!

  This week's photograph really reflects my "stormy" and "cloudy" mood.  I worked indoors to capture this small and fierce bloom with natural light during yesterday's storms.

Project 52 / Week 6:  "Sunny Inside n.4"
{Captured:  ISO 200 - F1.6 - 1/60}

  I loved this final image for a few reasons:
   *This bloom is different - almost like fireworks exploding - each petal seemed to have a different shape and shade.
   *Using a rich black and white was the best choice - this allowed the different shaded petals to be showcased and gave some depth to the small shadow.
   *The minimal empty space.  I sometimes like to offset my main focal points.  Normally I leave an equal empty space for balance.  When I reviewed the image, I decided that this flower was bursting with originality and leaving a smaller empty space really showcased it's features.

  Do you ever struggle with weather limitations or notice that weather affects your art's output and mood?

Because I won't be posting until next weekend - I wanted to wish everyone a very

Hope everyone has a wonderful week!
-Jennifer

Taking A Second Look / Project 52 - Week 5

  This morning, I found it a bit difficult to get up early and finalize this Photo Of The Week post.  I've been struggling with some late night ideas...the kind of ones that won't go away until I get them finished.  Currently I'm working on a new watercolor.  I have this small blank canvas and every day I pass it at least a few dozen times.  I know what I want to paint...and hopefully today I can finally get it finished. I forgot how intense and demanding a painting can be at times - but I wouldn't trade this for anything.

  Photography can be quite similar to a painting.  The photographer sees the final product, even before clicking the shutter release button.  I know I do.  When I found a few minutes to work on this week's photo, I already knew what the image should look like, it was only a matter of perfecting the lighting and scene.

  Earlier this week, when I was changing out the vases with new bouquets of fresher blooms, I came across  one older flower that captured my attention.  I found myself taking a second look and really looking at the petals and structure of this bloom.  I knew that I wanted to use it for this week's photo in that same minute.  While the bloom was nearly on it's last days, I could still see the brilliance that it once held, and still held.  I took a few minutes on late Friday afternoon to capture this image indoors using natural light from a nearby window.  I applied a small texture to the empty space and was immediately in love with the final image:

Project 52 / Week 5:  "White Bloom n.1"
{Captured:  ISO 200 / F1.4 / 1/400}

  I try to make it a point to always take a second look, to look for the beauty in everything, even if at first glance it may not appear.

**I'll be adding lots of fun images today to Facebook - stop by if you get a chance!  Below is a sneak peek:

"Buttons n.1" 

"Candy Love n.4"

  Hope everyone has a wonderful week!!
-Jennifer

Rain, Rain & STILL more Rain / Project 52 - Week 3

  Oh, the rain...it's still here this morning.  I'm hearing reports at work of other areas in the West, Central and North East receiving snow and/or ice...and I must admit I'm a little jealous.  Not about the dangerous roads..but missing out of the sparkle of a fresh snow!  Being originally from MO - our winters were always promised at least one snow and several days with sleet.  Here in NC...rain.  I still remember my very first winter here - it rained for a week straight.  There's nothing more frustrating to me than being cooped up indoors with so much overcast from rain clouds.  It proves to be a bit of a challenge for Project 52 as well, since I'd much prefer to step outside at first dawn or a late afternoon sunset to photograph some gorgeous flowers.  I chose to shoot indoors again - but still ended up loving the finished result.
   I was more than excited to see the fresh-cut tulips return to the store this week!  It may be a sign that Spring is nearing...and that means some gorgeous blooms will be here soon as well.  This week, I chose purple and red tulips.  I kept them separated in different vases and checked them daily.  When I first purchased them, the really weren't where I needed them to be for the image I had in my head.  They were tightly closed and hidden in their tall leaves.  A few days later and they were opening up quite magnificently.
 I was on target - I set my space up when the afternoon lighting was spilling through the room's windows.  I chose a vintage mason jar - with a small bit of water to photograph 2 tulips of each color.   I did not like the purple tulips - the petals had opened up a bit too much and the stems were a bit droopy.  For this image,  it just didn't work.  I feel much more comfortable with red/orange/pink tones - so I was in love with this week's final image:

Project 52/2012: Week 3
"Red Tulips n.3"
{Captured: ISO 160 / F3.5 / 1/125}

    This image had every bit of "spring" that I could create myself:  a hint of blue in the glass, the fresh green stems and leaves and the glowing shine on the bright red petals.   This image was taken using natural light from a nearby window which created a small light shadow - I chose not to remove this shadow from the final image because I liked the way it provided depth on the bottom left side.   

    Hoping that over the next week, the weather will clear-up a bit so that I can head outside for some shots of the surrounding area.  As a photographer or artist, do you ever find yourself drawn to one or similar color palettes?  I seem to choose pinks, red, oranges a lot, and am hoping over the course of Project 52 to feel more comfortable photographing other gorgeous colors in nature.

Hope everyone has a wonderful week!

-Jennifer

Artistic Moods / Project 52-Week2

  I've had a busy week (as normal), and I almost forgot to capture a photograph for Week 2!  This year, I'm committed to staying on task with Project 52. 
  Every week, I purchase a new bouquet of flowers for my fireplace mantel.  I have this lovely white teapot, that displays these bouquets quite beautifully.  This week, I picked a very bright and bold bouquet - I know my mood had a lot to do with this choice.  It was Thursday night, I was near exhausted, but had just received some great news and felt a bit rejuventated, the flowers definitely reflected this mood!  I rarely photograph an entire bouquet, I love to find one or two blooms that stand out and separate these from the group.  When I looked at the bouquet yesterday evening, the flowers that really stood apart were the Alstroemerias.  I knew at that point that these were in the running for Week 2.  In a separate vase I had a small bouquet of petite soft pink cluster roses.  Being undecided, I just HAD to photograph both. 
  While I was processing the final images, my daughter (our resident artist) was overseeing the edits.  I asked for her artistic opinion, the bright and bold Alstroemerias or the soft and light roses.  She quickly decided that Week 2 should be the Alstroemerias....and I value her opinion greatly.  Below is the final image selected for Week 2:



Project 52/ 2012:  Week 2:  {"Alstroemeria Blooms n.1"}
 Photographed: 1.14.12
{Captured:  ISO 100 / F2.0 / 1/30}

    I took one stem of these spotted blooms and photographed them within a vintage bottle I found last year.  I loved the final image for a number of reasons.   I've noticed that I'm drawn to creating very bright images.  The deep rich red petals and long pointed bright green leaves stand apart against a neutral background.  The leaves are really what 'made' this image for me, I love how each one is going in a different direction, curved in their own way. Very similar to how I felt this week - pulled in a million different directions. 

  Do you ever notice how your art will mimic your moods?

 (I'm also in love with the rose images captured yesterday - these will be added to the Facebook page this morning). 

Have a great week!
-Jennifer

It's A New Year {and Project 52 / 2012}

Happy New Year!!

It's been quite a while since my last post, plans for 2011 drastically changed and shifted my entire focus.  But, I'm always ready for new {and exhausting} challenges. 

I'll keep this post as short as possible {Monday mornings are r-o-u-g-h}.  Today, I wanted to share the {re}start of my Project 52 in 2012.  This will be a weekly post containing one image taken during the previous week.  I'll be using this project to further expand my photography, find new inspiration and try new things!  {If you're also participating in a 52 project - please feel free to leave your link - I'd love to follow!}

I am so excited about Week 1's photograph.    There's lots of texture, depth, rich hues and softness - all packed into one image.  I definitely stepped out of my comfort zone with this image, I normally like to keep soft flowers from rich textures...but I loved the finished product!!

Project 52 / 2012:  Week 1 {"Shades Of Purple Blooms n.4"}
{Captured: ISO 100 / F2.8 / 1/160}

Stay Tuned:  More to come each week in 2012!

It's only Tuesday?

So, it's been quite a while since my last post/update.  Things have certainly been busy so far this spring.  I've been adding LOTS of new spring themed pictures on facebook, but haven't had the chance to add them to the Etsy shop, just yet. 

The last 2 weekends I have been busy photographing my little ones, and what joy that has been!  It is always amazing to look back just a year and see the dramatic changes they have each undergone.  My youngest has become a toddler, when did that happen?!  I loved how each of the 'sessions' turned out:


12 years, 7 years, 23 months



Their personalities couldn't be anymore different, and they shine through in each shot!  They each have a different, yet equally beautiful, shade of blue eyes which looks great in natural lighting.

Now, we have a Birthday celebration around the corner, my youngest will be turning 2 on April 1st!! We have the cutest pink tutu all ready to go, and I can't wait to capture these moments :)  I've also been super busy outside building two new flower gardens, for which all the new plants arrived today!  My 7 year old has a 'green thumb' and enjoys planting flowers and vegetables.  She's helped me pick out some of the most beautiful rose trees, rose bushes, butterfly bushes, flowering shrubs and hydrangeas.  I cannot wait share photographs when all of these bloom this summer!!

Some new(er) photographs in moods of spring:





From Top: Striped Pink, Silver Ocean and Abstract Dandelion Yellow




From Top: Trouble Ahead, Fly Away With Me, In Fields Of Green























and with spring rains I was able to capture these inspiring moments:


"Beneath The Petals"




"Fade In Fade Out"


Lastly, is it Friday yet?? 

It's almost....SPRING!

Things here in NC are beginning to look a LOT like spring!!  I couldn't be more excited.  Spring is probably my favorite season.  It brings along new growth, soft sunlight, gentle breezes, light rain showers, flowers, flowers and more flowers!  I have certainly been taking advantage of the warmer mornings to capture some flowers 'glowing' in soft sunlight.  

Here are a few shots from the past two weeks:

"Afternoon Resting"



"At Ease"



"Outward Shine"

"Daisy Explosion"

This week I ventured out early on Monday morning to photograph some gorgeous Tulip trees which have begun to bloom.  I cannot wait to process these photos.  The morning was near perfect, with bright sunlight shining through the bare brown branches to highlight dramatic deep pink and white blooms! Last week I had photographed the buds, which were beautifully unique with a creamy velvet appearance:

"Spring In Wait"

Some shop news...There's soon to be a MULTITUDE of prints in 8x10 and 5x7 sizes with a lustre finish - these should be in and listed in the shop within the next 2 weeks.   I've also recently ordered some 16x20 sized prints with a lustre finish, to test quality with a new printing company.  If all goes well, I will be listing these new sizes available in the shop soon!

Can't wait to get outdoors this weekend and photograph more "spring" images...

Thanksgiving, Coming Soon, Matting, Gallery blocks...and more!

It's been a bit since my last post, so much has been going on these days. 

First, I'm happy to announce that I have received my matting kits and will be posting the option in the store this weekend.  The mats are simply divine.  Double white and nice thickness to make a great addition on any print order in my shop...this means the 8x10 photographs can now be received ready-to-frame!!

Second, I've been busy busy busy working on some new layers and finished photos containing a magnificent morning dew and some wonderful hydrangea blooms!

"Endless Circles"

"Dreams In Blue"

"Hope"

These are just a small sampling to some new prints coming soon!

Third, I have been searching and researching some new gallery print options.  I just received a sample order I placed earlier this month.  I used a personal photo of my children from a summer trip at the beach.  The photo was printed on block wood, with black sides and coated with lustre scratch resistant coating.  It is phenomenal, I have to order a few more samples, but will definitely be offering these types of gallery displays in the future. They look fabulous displayed in any room!!

On a sidenote, I'm super excited about some upcoming trips in the next 6 months.  We're heading back to St. Louis to visit with my family over the holidays and I cannot wait!  There is wonderful architecture and history around every corner and hopefully lots of beautiful snow - the camera will definitely be in tow :)  I'm also planning a trip to DC in the spring of 2011 to visit with my sister and to photograph the Cherry Blossom Festival.   If all goes well this month, we may even be able to sneak a trip up to Asheville, NC! I would love to see some snow in the mountains..fingers crossed...

Hope everyone's Thanksgiving was wonderful!  We had a lovely time visiting with family and enjoying the mild weather outdoors - we even managed a pre-meal hike through the woods, which will be memorable for all of us :)