Round 2: Fruits and Veggies

Thanks to Dana and her daughter's birthday fruit kabobs and her wonderful vegtable garden, I have new subjects to practice on. My favorite is "Little Black Bug" (a shot within a shot):

Ok, I will try...

isn't that all it takes? A change of attitude? I have been moping around my house for the past month being jealous of all the wonderful photographers out there (um, Kim) and spending most of my time just staring at the pictures on their websites and wishing I could do the same. For some reason, something hit me tonight - why are you sitting here? You aren't going to get any better just wishing, get out and take some pictures. So I dragged my kids outside as the sun was setting and attempted to get some good lighting shots. Lighting is my enemy. So is focusing. I think I might need to get my eyes checked or something, because I think a shot is in focus and then when I get it on my computer it isn't. Very frustrating. I don't think I could live without the auto focus. Even then I never know, I think I am on Kendrie's eyes and wind up on the fence behind her. All challenges that I am determined to conquer. So here you go, experimental photo shoot - round 1:

Subjects: a very over dramatic Kendrie and a reluctant Kort.

Look what I found....

For those of you who read my blog, who knew me way back when, this entry is for you. While going through some pictures to scrapbook today, I came across these pictures. I hope you enjoy the memory as much as I did.

January 8, 1992 - What do you get when you mix Corvallis 3rd ward youth with egg carton-pig-noses and a pile of spaghetti? One of the messiest and funnest mutual activities I can remember. Show us how the piggys eat, oink, oink!

And let's not forget the wheelbarrow-while-blind-folded-chocolate-pudding-drop-from-a-ladder obstacle course:

Jayson & Kassi

In the early morning of August 16, two families came together to witness the marriage of Jayson and Kassi in the Logan, Utah temple. The following photos are the best of 150 pictures I took. Lighting continued to be a challenge for me, as well as batteries dying and memory cards getting full. I am so glad I was not the only one taking pictures, I would have a very disappointed bride on my hands if I was. Despite of the camera challenges, it was a fabulously beautiful day. I am so happy and excited for them as they start their next chapter in life together. Oh, happy day!

a new do

I used my new haircut as an excuse to give myself a "self portrait" and to play around with photo editing using dodging, burning and contrasting. I have decided that I prefer myself in black and white (you can't see all the wrinkles and sunspots, agespots, whatever). You can, however, see that I gave in and chopped off almost 5 inches off my hair. I was not sure about it at first, I have not had good experiences with cutting my hair short, but I think it turned out ok.

Hazel in Black and White

My friend Tammy had her baby girl, Hazel, last Tuesday. While in Mesquite this past weekend I was able to visit and take advantage of a photo opportunity with her. She is so tiny and precious. Congratulations, Bingham family and thank you for letting me practice my non-photo skills on Hazel.

At the Zoo

On Tuesday July 31st, Kelli and I took our kids to Hogle Zoo, mostly to see the "Ghost of the Bayou", but enjoyed all of the exhibits. Some were more interactive than others. The pictures of this rare white alligator didn't turn out as I had hoped. It had piercing blue eyes that only reflected in the camera as big red ones. My camera tutorial this week: How to take pictures through glass with not very good lighting plus movement. This is the best I got and it is after I edited it. Any suggestions?

I do much better with natural light and a little more freedom to get the shot I really want, unhindered by glass and tons of other people. Here are my favorites:

A "Hale" Storm Lands in Utah

WARNING: The blog you are about to read contains a plethora of images from the Hale Family Reunion. Much fun and excitement exude from these images and may cause smiling, laughing and maybe even a trip down memory lane. Proceed with caution!

On July 27th, after much driving and flying and not very much sleep, the Hale family embarked on an all day adventure to The Lagoon in Farmington, Utah. It was a hot day and the kids were filled with excitement that overfilled their little bodies and spilled over to the adults, who were often seen skipping and, dare I say, shaking their tail feathers.

But the excitement was cut short for a time being. Upon entering the park gates after waiting in line for tickets, the balloon of excitement was popped by an announcement that the entire park had lost power and all rides were closed, as well as the food stands, games, water fountains, anything that ran on power was now still and silent. We watched as the lines filling out of the gates were growing increasingly longer. We decided to stick it out and wait for the power to return. We walked to Pioneer Village and let the kids run around from "store" to "store" looking in the windows of the old ways. Within an hour of gazing at the past, with one loud burst of music, whirrs and clicks, the power returned. The kids screamed with excitement and we raced off to the log ride to cool off. After getting a taste of coolness, we raced over to the Rattle Snake rapids to take care of the dry spots on our clothes that got missed on the log ride.

Once everyone was successfully soaked, we embarked on the roller coasters to dry off a little.

We continued on through the park, hours past and we rode almost every ride, some twice. The day was getting hotter and the shade was a welcome site. We drank every bottle of water, Gatorade, and Capri Suns we brought, but the refreshment of these didn't compare to the family drenching in the motion fountains in the middle of the park. On the count of 3 we attacked the water that was flying over our heads and sometimes up our shorts. The kids even dragged Grandpa in. Kari decided I would get better refreshed if she picked me up and carried me in, of course not letting go until I was right in the middle of the falling streams.

We couldn't have been any wetter. We tried to wring out what water we could and then walked out to the cars to go home. After a fabulously fun day, we returned home to a wonderful BBQ meal that Jim and Grandma prepared for us. Jim had to work and was unable to join us at Lagoon and Grandma and Grandpa stayed home to relax.

The MegaMask Fashion show: brought to you by Grandma Imagin-a-tarium and Cranium. One by one our little cuties came up the stairs and shared their new creative faces with us. Each mask was personally designed by the models and was complete with distorted, high pitch voice changers. This display of creativity was followed by a fountain of sparkles in the street. Grandma Hale brought a very large fountain firework that amused the night with it's changing colors and high pitched squeals.

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Saturday was a special day, it was the day we got ready for Sunday. We drove to the Square and saw Kourtney there, who we won't see again 'til Monday

(Sept. 17th that is. I was singing the Primary song "Saturday is a special day" in my head when I wrote this).

Sister Hale gave us a wonderful tour of Temple Square. We started in the Tabernacle where she told us the history of the unique building and gave us an acustics demonstration with newspaper and straight pins. An amazing and beautiful building.We then went to the North Visitor's Center and was able to get a family picture in front of the Cristus. It has been almost 2 years since we have all been together. This was a very special and wonderful experience to have as a family.

We continued on to the Conference Center, where Sister Hale gave us the specifications and history of this massive building. She was moved to tears as she bore her testimony and we enveloped by the Spirit as we listened.

Saying goodbye is the hardest thing to do after seeing Sister Hale. Her nieces and nephews attacked her as we prepared to leave and let her get back to her other tours. She left us at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building to watch The Restoration. I have seen this movie before, but was so moved to tears as I witnessed the accounts of Joseph Smith's life once again.

We stayed on Temple grounds for another hour or so, taking in the beauty of the buildings and the flowers as we took advantage of the scenery to take some family photos.

Kari and her family left for Colorado Saturday afternoon and the rest of us traveled back to my house for some much needed feet-on-the coffee table time. (note to self: no heels at temple square) Sunday was the day my house became empty once again. I managed to keep them there until 4, but they all got in their cars and drove home. But before Grandpa left, he managed to get Maggie to lick the carmel corn off his fingers, probably because I told him not to.