Family photos by Christine

Christine Comstock took some gorgeous pictures of my family. I tried something new and rented a studio space. But the lighting was off because of a cloudy, rainy day. And the backgrounds weren't what we were hoping for. But even the backgrounds were a little bland, the people in the pictures are gorgeous. 

I love these pictures and Christine for being a genius behind the lens!!!

We also had a big Dewey family picture. This is the only one I have of them right now. Not my favorite venue.

And this is just a pretty picture of Sydney.

More awesome pictures by Christine.

Sydney-the Wilderness Photographer

Sydney loves being in nature and especially hiking. This summer she has taken some really beautiful pictures.

Family pics - finally

We finally got new family pictures taken. Last family pictures were in 2011 and looked like this. Look at Hashbrown's face. I LOVE it. Its going to be hard to take that picture off the wall. That was such a sweet moment of life, when my children were these young ages.

And look where we are now. I can't stop looking at this beautiful group of people that are mine!

Families are Forever

Sunrises

Oct. 21

Oct. 22

Oct. 23

Oct. 25

Oct. 27

Oct. 28

Oct. 31

Nov. 1

Nov. 1

Nov 2

I just can't believe how famous we are!

So, I blogged a bit ago about how Rachel and Ster had their "photo spread" in the Freedom Festival magazine.
See that here.

And then there was the time Ster and I were mistaken for American Eagle models.
See that here.

Now, we have Parker's photo in the Daily Herald  newspaper in an article about the Veterans Memorial Pool.
See that here.

That pool is seriously the funnest pool I've been to in a long time.

This is just the kiddie area. Amazing!

All out doors. A great kiddie pool, and so big. Another separate deeper pool. Two AWESOME slides. We went with Ster's sister, Audra, and her family. We had sooo much fun. And Parker was just thrilled when a photographer waded up and asked if he could take Parker's picture. It was finally his turn to be famous!

Wheeler Farm

Our day at Wheeler Farm

Post-edit:
Um, so that's really like...'my kids' at Wheeler Farm, (not 'our day' at Wheeler Farm). And mostly, it just my kids my kids my kids...cuz they're gorgeous...and they're mine.

Photog

I love to look at beautiful photograhs. You know the ones -- they speak to your heart. It seems to me, a really great photograph has power.

Power to make you laugh, despite yourself,

try to swallow that lump that has suddenly appeared in your throat,

feel inspired to be so much better than who you are,

or simply to be grateful for the beauty that surrounds you,

whether it be your natural surroundings

or your own gorgeous children.

I long to be that kind of photographer. Alas, I'm hampered by my own lack of confidence and my super-nice but simple, point and shoot camera. Regardless, I AM the family photojournalist and relish the responsibility. And I have found a great book to help me improve my picture-taking abilities.

"Expressions" by Donna Smylie and Allison Tyler Jones is a great book for aspiring photographers. Although it is geared somewhat for cameras a little more sophisticated than my point and shoot, I still absorbed lots of great tips.

The authors go into detail regarding the "five 'S's of Compostition":

See the Possibilities

Subject

Simplify the frame

Setting

Share the Story

And the "four 'M's of Lighting":

Main Light

Meter

Mood

Modify

Each section was written in a simple manner, so that I could understand the technique, even as an amateur, without being condescending, which I appreciated. Scattered through the pages were also "photo notes" and captions, that helped clarify things a little more.

Admittedly, perhaps the best part of the book are all the striking pictures that not only illustrate the technique, but inspire and speak to you. It is a quick read and very worthwhile to those of us who long to take beautiful pictures, even if it is with a simple point and shoot camera.