Shoe fettish...

OK, I'll admit it, I have a serious problem! I have a shoe fettish. I don't get to indulge this part of me very often, but when I do, I get all giddy inside. Not quite as giddy as getting a new lense, but giddy enough to get super hyper and begin talking with lots of hand gestures (it runs in the family when we're excited or just trying to tell a story. Actually, come to think of it, we talk with hand gestures all of the time.) I usually like all of the shoes I purchase. Every now and then I make a dumb purchase (like satin shoes to go with a prom dress...yuck!) They don't happen often. We're talking like once every 5 years or so. But, then again, every so often I run across a pair of shoes that I just love and would wear every day if I could. (My normal outfit of sweat pants and t-shirt don't look too good with these shoes). These red flats are just such a pair. I love these bright, "look at me, look at me" shoes. Now I know why Dorothy wore ruby red slippers. You feel special and very chic in them. I thought I would document my fettish for the world today...(And, I needed SOMETHING to photograph on this dreary rainy day...right?)

Singing in the Rain

Ok...I'm almost peeing my pants I'm so excited. I finally got my new lense. It was more expensive than I would really like to think about right now, but after this photoshoot, I'm thinking it was worth every penny! So, it came in the mail yesterday and I couldn't take pictures because I was preparing for a Young Women's activity. I awoke bright eyed and bushy tailed today hoping for a photo op...and guess what? It was POURING rain...all day. Weslee and I looked out the window sadly. But, providence smiled upon us around 5pm! It quit raining for about 30 minutes and I toted Weslee outside just to practice. I didn't really think I'd get anything great. We were in our driveway after all, not really looking very good (if you look closely, there is some crusty snot around Wes's nose and yogurt in his hair..we won't even discuss what I looked like), but I wanted to get a feel for my new machinery! I was literally singing while taking these pictures (Bubbly was the song, in case you were wondering). Weslee got excited right along with me. He has started mirroring my emotions lately. When I'm super excited, he flaps his arms and gets excited with me. When I'm sad or crying, he does it too. Anyway, the practice session turned into one of my favorite photo shoots ever. I still am stunned that this came from my camera. I'm quite pleased with myself, in case you couldn't tell...and quite pleased with my purchase (A Canon EF 24-70mm, f/2.8L lense). Yea!!!

I'm wishing for Spring!

Nasty first pic...I was worried when I pulled this pic up! Seriously...ugly! But, after a little "Black and Color" action, erasing the flower back into color, upping the contrast and saturation and burning the edges, I LIKE it...alot (if I do say so myself).
Next is my favorite pic. I may hang this on a wall somewhere. I really want to go contemporary in one of my rooms. Lots of Black and White with bright pictures on the wall. If I ever get to do it (because we're too poor to do it right now), this pic will go on the wall. Unless I've taken a better pic by then, which I guess is possible.

Here's what I started with...not bad, but not something I'd frame either! Kinda dull!
Then, I oversaturated everything to make it look like a painting, sort of...
Then I went to equalize, to give the picture some "edge"...
And then I fused the oversaturated and equalized pictures together and erased the equalized layer until I was pleased with the finished product...Wah-lah! (If that made no sense to you...I usually make no sense, so don't be worried).
Here are some photos of the only 2 flowers I could find in my whole stinking neighborhood. I think it's completely wrong that Easter has come and gone...it's legal to wear white shoes and spring dresses and everything...and there are NO FLOWERS! What the heck? I wish someone would tell Mother Nature to get her act together. She's running way late this year and my pasty white legs would really like some sun! But, who wants to go out in shorts when it's cold and windy?

Anyway, I had tons of fun playing with these photos and giving them my own special touch in Photoshop. I will say that if Photoshop were a drug...I'd be in trouble. Serious trouble. Lately, since I have nothing new to play with, I've been going back over old pictures. Yep...spring, you'd better come quickly!

P.S. I posted the process along with the end product...just so you can see the madness.

Cooking up some fun!

Yeah, so this is what happens when mom finds something cute at Target...we come home and play (Weslee with whatever it is that I bought...here a chef's hat and apron) and mom with her camera. I will say that this was probably Weslee's favorite photo shoot ever.

OK...for those of you who don't know enough about my "studio" shoots and my current house, here is the 411. Yes, these were taken in my sickeningly skinny living room where the only good source of natural light comes in. Yes, I had to smash myself against the couch to get far enough away to even snap pictures without Wes touching the lense (or wanting to). Yes, that is real flour...and it is now all over the carpet, the couches, the wall, the backdrop, and pretty much every toy he now owns. And, lastly, yes! It was worth the mess.

Something you should know is that Weslee loves to "cook" with me already. If he isn't right in the thick of things when I pull out a pan or a bowl, he howls in protest until I either get on his level and let him see me stir things up, or pick him up where he can see the water boil and watch me stir the pots. I'm a little worried that he's so fascinated with the flames on the stove...but luckily, he can't reach them (yet) unless I'm there with him. I've tried giving him his own bowl and spoon to play with while I cook...but he's a smart kid and knows that it's not where the action is. In some ways, I'm tempted sometimes to be frustrated because it is hard to enjoy cooking with a child strapped to your leg howling. But, on the other hand, I know that in the future, if I nourish this desire in him now, we'll have lots of fun moments cooking and learning together in the kitchen...and lots of memories to share too.