Somewhere in the Middle

Focus

For the past week and a half I've been completely consumed with learning the technical side of photography. I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with all these terms... F stop, aperture, metering, RAW images. And don't even get me started on lenses, filters, external flashes and the other million things out there to improve the quality of your photos. I can easily get carried away. But I need to focus. Take baby steps.

For years, I've had a love/hate relationship with my digital cameras. Sometimes I'd get these amazing shots while other times I'd wind up with dark, blurry photos. Very frustrating when you don't truly understand what you're doing wrong. Of course I could try to read my manual but it always puts me to sleep and doesn't explain in what situations to use the various manual modes. Playing with these settings and getting inconsistent results is becoming a tired, old game. And now that I upgraded my camera I'm ready to learn and experiment and develop a loving relationship with my new Canon.

So... I decided to finally sign up for a photography class. I originally signed up for a class in Brussels but when it was canceled I started to research online courses. After comparing various photography sites, I decided to go with BetterPhoto. The selection of classes is amazing! It took me days to decide on a class & instructor. In the end, I decided on an 8 week Introductory Digital SLR class. The course focuses on getting a good grasp of the manual settings and it also includes weekly assignments, Q & A with the instructor and other students, and critiques on your photos. I'm excited. My class starts Wednesday.

The Photograph

Capturing life through photographs is what I love to do. I have a handful of photos that are truly special to me. Out of the thousands of photos I take though why are these photos special? Sometimes it's as simple as a smile or beautiful lighting while other times it's the story behind the photo that makes it priceless to me. These photos are like time capsules documenting my life.

This photo here is particularly special to me. It's the first time it made me think about photography as more than a hobby.

This photo put a little seed in my head that just maybe I could become a professional photographer. Don't we hear it all the time how you should do something you love? Why not me. This is what I love. I have a lot to learn but I'm excited and scared about the possibilities. Since I arrived in Belgium I've been thinking about this a lot. And I think I'm finally ready to take some serious steps forward and see where my love for capturing life will take me. Wish me luck. ;)

Photo Challenge: Infinity

Tulip Fields, Netherlands

Colors are for Everyone

Pink is a color we know well in our house. Lil' C loves the color pink. It's his favorite color. If it were up to him he'd own everything in pink. lol! That's how much he loves the color.  And why not, it's a great color.

When he comes home and tells me stories about how so and so said, "only girls can like pink" or "boys don't like pink" it drives me crazy. What I've taught Lil' C to say is "Colors are for everyone".

Why are 4 years olds already saying these things? How I wish society didn't have these preconceived ideas about what is acceptable for boys & girls to like? No one questions a girl when her favorite color is blue so what's the deal with pink?

But I'll admit even I'm guilty of this to some degree. At times it's challenging finding the right words  to explain to him why pink Crocs, jewelry sets, and ballerina tutu are just for girls. I suppose it's difficult when there are so many contradictions all around us like grown men wearing hoop earrings or men wearing skirts at dance performances or cultural events. Through time I'm sure Lil' C will come to understand these things. 

Right now we'll just enjoy pink and all the happiness is offers.

Provencal fabric I purchased in St. Remy de Provence.

I think I may be the only person in Belgium with a pink phone. lol!

Lil' C's Pink Magic Wand

Pink Roses

It's a Red Thing

Antique VW we spotted in the NL

You might say I have an addiction to the color red. For me Red is hot, sexy, and passionate. You can't help not notice the color Red. It's a bold color... making a statement every time.

If you looked in some of my closets you'll find the color red everywhere... sweaters, shoes, lipsticks, nail polish, etc. I've even owned 4 cars that were red. In the last few months without even realizing it I've bought oven mitts, measuring spoons, heart shaped ceramic stoneware, a set of ramekins, and a casserole dish all in Red. I even want to trade in my boring cream colored Kitchen Aid mixer for the red one.

When S & I bought our first home, I desperately wanted to paint the rooms to make the house feel more like it was"ours". And what better way to make that happen than with a little paint. But what colors do you choose? Over several weeks, I went to Lowes, Home Depot, and Sherwin Williams and collected about every single paint chip possible. I studied & analyzed a range of colors, carefully arranged paint chips on my walls only to rearrange them with new colors after a few days. I was totally consumed with picking the right color. At the time, my Mom was also trying to decide on colors to paint her rooms and we'd talk about different paint chips. I knew I was in trouble the day my Mom mentioned a color to me and I said, "oh, yeah I know the color...that will be perfect for the living room". I had memorized these color paint chips! lol!

I've always admired homeowners who choose bold colors for their rooms. I had a friend who painted her half bath a rich chocolate brown with Tiffany Blue accents. It was beautiful. And no that dark color didn't make the room feel smaller. She gave me the courage to step out of my comfort zone and surround myself with colors I loved.

For me, one of the boldest colors you can choose for a room is Red. No more playing it safe and picking neutrals. So after much thought, I chose Ralph Lauren's Chimayo Red for a section (my craft area) of the Rec room. According to the RL directions, you need to use their tinted primer to achieve the look of the true Chimayo Red. So that's exactly what I did. I didn't want to be one of those people who said, "hmm... the color on the paint chip looks so much different." I labored over this project with much love and attention. I gave each wall three coats of tinted primer and about 4 coats of paint. Every time I'd look at the wall I thought it looked spotty or as if I had missed a section. So this lead to another coat of paint. God help the person who wants to paint this wall white again! lol! The results are beautiful and I love my red room. So for those of you who have contemplated painting a room red... Go for it! You'll love the results!

Here are a few more red things around me that caught my eye.

Lil' C's Art

Mailbox

Last year, Lil' C wore this shirt for a school performance and he cried when we put it on him. He did feel better once he saw all the other boys in his class wearing the same shirt. Yet, this year he loves his red shirt and wears it all the time with his waggly shirt.

It's Like Orangey...

That's exactly what Lil' C says when something isn't exactly orange but it's in the Orange Family. Have to try and record all these cute things he says.

For todays Color Week Summer Project it's all about Orange.

Lil' C's new Automoblox which he is just crazy about. He loves to disassemble it and then take all the little people in and out. He already told me he's going to ask Santa for the blue one this Christmas.

Detours & Deviations

New Construction

Who doesn't love Happy Faces! Yeah for Friday! Bon Weekend!

Rich Chocolate Browns :: Warm Honey

At the Farm today, we played a game where everyone received a card with 5 different things to find in the woods. Lil' C loved it! Here are some beautiful little pinecones we found in the woods. They remind me of little chocolate roses. Perfect for the today's colorweek project.

Love Lil' C Converse even more than mine. So cute.

And my favorite summer accessory... a warm honey brown purse. I can't think of a better color that goes with just about everything.

For the Love of Green

Lil'C Froggy

Embroidery from my favorite tee

My Converse will always remind me of my Paris shopping trip with T. While she was in Paris she sent me a quick e-mail letting me know that Converse sneakers were all the rage and I had to bring mine. Really? I didn't plan on bringing them because I mean this was Paris...fashion capital of the world.  Fashionistas everywhere.  Sneakers usually scream "American". But I wasn't going to argue. My Converse are ultra comfortable so instead of leaving them at home I wore them on the train ride in total comfort. And wouldn't you know it while we were shopping one of the salesgirls at Cecile Jeanne's boutique (who I might add was this pretty, thin French woman who could make anything she threw on look good) told me she loved my shoes.

Blues in the House

It's all about Blue today... one of my favorite colors.

Color Week :: Shades of Yellow

This color week summer project really appealed to me. It's made me really open my eyes and look at the little things that sometimes go unnoticed. Here are a few photos I had in my collection but for the next few days I'm going to try and take some photos of the colorful little things around me. Enjoy!

I swear I did not make him put these on! lol!! Lil' C loves to do the dishes. He thinks he's washing them but really it's just a little rinse. But I never let on. I'd hate to discourage him from this activity! lol! I'm already training him! ;P

Love these cute little European cars. They always come in such fun colors.

And of course flowers... it's impossible not to adore these little petite roses.