New Camera, New Adventures

Got my Christmas present early....after lots of shopping around, I found the camera and bundle that I wanted and the sale was supposed to be ending (it actually got cheaper, and yes, I got the price adjustment, but I digress) so I told Mike we shouldn't wait.  This way I also will (hopefully) have a basic understanding of how to use it for Christmas.  I thought taking my point and shoot to manual was no biggie and SLR would be just as easy.  Needless to say, I still have a lot to learn (starting with buying an extra battery and remembering to turn the damn thing off, it doesn't do that on it's own), and will be mostly sticking with the programmed modes for a while....but I am having fun learning, which I guess is what happens when you get out of school for good and "learning" becomes something you enjoy instead of dread.  Can you tell we have a teenager in the house that isn't really in to school?  Ahhh, takes me back to the good ole days.  There's me digressing again.

So, right before the new camera, my sweet friend Kendra and family came down to the creek by our house hoping to get a free pic they could use on the old holiday card.  (Maybe this post should be adventures with the G boys, but it's not).  I think we got lucky, but more than that is the pic we got below.  Pretty sure no one in her family pops over here, but if you're reading this and you are related to Kendra in anyway shape or form, CLICK CLOSE IMMEDIATELY :-)  Don't want to ruin the unwrapping of the presents.  So, meet Red...

 Because I know you're all wondering (in case it's not obvious), YES, I tweaked it in Photoshop....not as much as you might think though.  Red's hair is really that bright, his eyes are really that blue and the grass was really that green!  I have been trying to getting something close of my own Spence, with no such luck...maybe he just needs a wig???

While we're on the subject of the old camera and grass (not that kind - you should be ashamed of yourself for thinking it), I have had this vision of having Spence lay on our bright green grass (yes, we have grass in the winter, husband - landscaper - you do the math) and using it as the background.  Small problem.  Spence lays down happily when and only when you put him in bed at the appropriate sleeping time.  Here's what happened.  It's awful I know, but stuff like this just makes me laugh so I am sharing.  No photoshop on this lovely piece of artwork.

So many other cute pics, had to add at least a couple of not crying ones :)

Okay, so I tortured all of the boys and tried to get a cute pic for the G-parents since the wagon was a gift from them.  I got a couple of cute ones and then realized I was too close for anyone to see the wagon.  DUH!!!  By this point, the excitement was done.

Now, onto my new fun.  Took this one of Josh last weekend (no the pool wasn't heated and he was out faster than he went in).  It's a good thing we live in Texas because our boys love to jump in the pool year round!  When it comes to the action photo, love what the camera did.  This is one of 4/5 that I got from him preparing to leap to a couple in the air and one going in.  When I clicked through quickly in the slideshow mode, it was almost animated.  Fun!  LOVE the frozen water drops, and of course the look on his face.  Josh has to be one of the sweetest kids I have ever met.  He truly understands simple pleasure, how sad to think our time with sweet Joshy is running out as teenagerdom approaches.

Okay, clearly need to work on the whole focus thing, but love this happiness...I just wish he understood why sometimes it's too cold, rainy, etc to go outside or to swim.  We also discovered tonight, that he ONLY likes to swim with Dad.  We thought it was just people he didn't know as well that he didn't like to swim with, but when I tried to give Mike's neck a break, he wanted no part of it.  Guess he thinks it's their deal.

And here, we are showing a new trick and why he can't play in the dishwasher (his favorite toy) anymore.  I'm pretty sure he's not the only kid that does this, but I just don't get it.  How does he already know that dishes in our house are Man Work???

Now that I have bored you all with my knowledge (or lack thereof) in the photography department.  I am vowing to get to bed early tonight....Guess I should stop drinking the Coke Zero now then, huh?

Hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving.  Ours was so laid back and uneventful, I couldn't have asked for more.

E

Now that my Photoshop Addiction has reached a high level, I decided it would probably help all involved parties if I also tried to actually learn how to work my camera other than in auto mode.  Wish I had done it sooner.  Had a blast of a walk with Spence today (and Hubby for part too) playing with the settings and going all out manual and no flash!  Pics of our adventure below :)  happy weekend...

I actually resisted the temptation to "improve" this one.

So one important thing I learned most noticeably in this one, is to make sure you change the quality back to high after you experiment with lowering.  wish the resolution was better...

The end of the walk, knocked out...like I am about to be.  This addiction really is keeping me up way too late at night...But the geek in me loves it!

Oh yeah, and another geek thing I'm having a blast with is the Pandora app on the blackberry.  I have it set up to stream through my car audio system when I'm driving.  So great.  If you don't know what Pandora is, check it out www.pandora.com.