Week 9

This week I was focusing on taking a picture in manual mode and practicing my spot metering and focusing.  I used our cute cat, Socrates, as my model.  He was posing and waking up from a nap and I found it so adorable. 

Week 8

We visited Jerome, Arizona and stumbled into a kaleidoscope shop and it was so cool!  One of the people who worked there showed us how you can place the lens of your camera at the opening and I captured some pretty amazing shots!  The lens for my DSLR was too large so I captured these with my point and shoot Sony Cybershot.  Doesn't it feel like you are looking into something otherwordly?

Week 7

This Friday, our good friend Jeremiah from Colorado flew in to visit us for the weekend.  We had a Groupon for the new Phoenix Ale Brewery in Phoenix so we decided to check it out with him.  They have great beer!  My favorite was this Watermelon Ale that they make.  It was just the perfect mix of watermelon with beer...it was defintely not a girlie beer or overwhelming at all.  Rob and Jeremiah enjoyed their IPA and Pale Ale.  Definitely will be back and be looking for their stuff at Total Wine!

Full Moon

ISO 100  f/5.6  1/15

This is the first moon photograph I have ever taken.  I had tried in the past but always with overexposed, bright results that showed no detail of the moon at all.  I came across a professional photogragher in Colorado Springs and he conducted a class on how to take moon pictures.  I wasnt able to attend the livestream but I was able to read his notes for the class.  After reading them, grabbing my tripod and realizing today was a full moon...I headed out back in hope of catching a great shot.  I am quite pleased with the result, the photograph turned out better than I could hope!  Check out Paul's instruction (and website) to learn how to take one for yourself!

Week 6

ISO 800  f/5.0  1/15

This morning, I hiked to the top of North Mountain in Central Phoenix in hopes to catch a beautiful sunrise.  I was already on this side of town since I had to drop Rob off at the airport for a business trip bright and early.  This was a nice way to start the day, watching the sun rise over Phoenix.  The colors were beautiful and the air was crisp and cool.  The mountain you see off center of the picture is Squaw Peak or now referred to as Piestewa Peak.

Click It Up A Notch-January



I am linking up with Click It Up A Notch to submit my favorite photograph of the month.  This photograph is of one of my favorite flowers in Phoenix, the Lantana.  Lantana comes in white, purple and orange but this combination of pink/orange/yellow/white/purple is my favorite variety!  It is hard to find this one around town but when I do, I love to sit and admire it's beauty.  Must get some planted in my own yard!  This beautiful bush is found right outside my hubby's office.

Week 5

ISO 1600   f/9.0   1/200

The vivid pinks of the snapdragon plants in my backyard are about the only beautiful thing left to see in my backyard.  Between the broken irrigation system, broken pool and weeds popping up daily, gazing upon these flowers is a nice reprieve for the eye when viewing the rest of the yard!  I also want to add that this is my FIRST manual mode photo!  I have been reading and following this great blog, Click It Up A Notch, and it has given me some fantastic tutorials and encouragement to start shooting in manual.  It is intimidating and I am not good at it whatsoever but practice makes perfect!