More on the farm

Brian's Grandparents farm provides so many opportunities for me to learn and explore with my camera. Here are a few more that I took, but of the old house. This house was built around 1800, and was still lived in when Brian's dad was born. I don't know when the new house was built and the family moved, but I love the feeling around this old house, knowing that my hubby's family "grew" from there.

I edited this one, two different ways just for the practice. 

I know I posted this one before, but wanted it included with the house pictures.

I think this one is my favorite!

Fun with Flowers

Those that know me, know that one of my favorite things to do is get my hands dirty. I Love (with a capital L) to work in the yard, and plant flowers. I sort of have a theme going. I have every variety of daisy I can get my hands on planted in one of our flower beds. Actually, it does not even have to be a daisy, it can just look like one. Right now I have just a few plants that are blooming, the fall perennials.  We had a nice long rainy day today, so everything was well watered. These pictures are from one of my newest flowers, just planted a few weeks ago. Again, I used the macro lens which seems to be my lens of choice this week. I love playing with the different effects on Picnik.

She thinks my Tractor's Sexy

My husband spent lots of time at his grandparents farm, especially after his Grandad passed away. I've heard many stories about his childhood, most of which center around the farm. There are lots and lots of stories about the different tractors. He learned how to drive on these tractors, used them for farming, and still uses them to pull a deer out of the woods when hunting. We also have some kid size tractors from when he was a child, that are put up until Seth is old enough to play with them. Brian is not a typical "John Deere" tractor guy. He appreciates any tractor when he sees one. Even if it happens to be the one holding him up on Highway 64 during the drive home from work. 

First “paid” Awkward shoot..

I’m not using the term awkward lightly this time. When I say awkward, I mean really awkward….

Sunday was the day I wanted to go to a pumpkin patch and pick out pumpkins and hopefully get some cute pictures of Seth. Seems simple enough, right?

So, in order to support our local community, Brian decided we would check out the Pumpkin Patch close to our home. This was in someone’s front yard, which had a farm. They seemed to have a very nice display, with lots of pumpkins, gourds, mums, and straw bales. There was even an area for kids to paint a small pumpkin.  But, by the time we left I was wondering what else might be growing and… um… consumed on that farm…..

The couple that lived there was nice enough, but most people in the area are.  The wife seemed to be close to my age, and her husband(?) a tad bit older. That lady was all over the place, talking a million miles a minute.  When she saw my camera, she asked how much I charged to take pictures. I told her that I am not a professional, I just like to take pictures of my boys, and for hobby. She started showing me around, so I told her we just wanted to get a couple of pumpkins and I wanted to take a few pictures of the baby with some they had out.  She left us to look around and pick out what we wanted. About 5 minutes later she came back over and asked me if I would take some pictures of her and her husband, using their own SD card. Trying to be nice, I said sure. She goes into the house to find the card. We make our selections and are waiting for her to return, when her husband starts talking to us. We pretty much heard all about his recent car accident, the damage to his foot, how they started this “farm” and how much money they were bringing in with it. We are patiently waiting, when his wife FINALLY returns 2O minutes later.  She has grabbed their dog for the picture and messing with him, then grabs something else. When she finally makes it over to us, I get her set up in the shade in front of one of the nicer displays. I ask her for her SD card. “My what?” she says. “Your camera card,” I say. She looks confused at this point.  Her husband speaks up, and tells her I need the camera card that she had gone into the house to find. Ah, we have a light bulb going off!! She starts digging through her pockets, purse, etc. Guess what? No card!

To save us all a little time, I told her I would take the pictures and email them to her. I got her email address, Brian paid for the pumpkins and we started loading them up. Since I was so nice, and took pictures for them, they even threw in a free mum! My first “paid” photo shoot, awkwardness included!~~~~

Just for the heck of it- here is my first "awkward" people photo shoot. Faces disguised with Picnik, of course!!!

"Non-Kid" Photos....

Today was the day that I came up with the idea for this blog. It came to me while I was at my husband's (my super awesome hubby, btw), grandparents farm. There are so many opportunities for great, non-kid, pictures. I grabbed the camera as we headed out the door. When we got there, I realized that I did not have the camera SD card! DANG IT!!!!! Actually, I think I used a few words that I would rather not repeat here. So, super awesome hubby let me take his truck to Wal-Mart to get a new one. Finally, after the quick side trip,  I was on my way to taking some pictures! Here are a few of my favorites. I was using my macro lens. I have read that it will take some great photos when not used as intended. I edited these on Picnik, because I have no clue how to use anything that starts with "Adobe."  This is why I will probably always be the "awkward photographer." I have no idea how to use photo editing software.
So.........

Defining Awkward

I'm officially one of "those" people. You know, a parent that buys a DSLR camera to photograph the kids, and decides that they can be a photographer. I'm admitting it up front, now, so that everyone knows that I do know this...
I have always loved taking pictures. Does that count?  For the record, sometimes I also use my iPhone to take pretty cool pictures. At least I think they are.
So, here it is. My photography blog is now official....
Warning: There will probably be a lot of pictures of my kids on here, though I will try not to bore you with them too much....

Definition of AWKWARD

1

obsolete : perverse

2

archaic : unfavorable, adverse

3

a : lacking dexterity or skill (as in the use of hands)<awkward with a needle and thread>b : showing the result of a lack of expertness <awkwardpictures>

4

a : lacking ease or grace (as of movement or expression)<awkward writing>b : lacking the right proportions, size, or harmony of parts :ungainly <an awkward design>

5

a : lacking social grace and assurance <an awkwardnewcomer>b : causing embarrassment <an awkward moment>

I think 3, 4, and 5 apply in this instance....