My first wedding as a photographer!

Here are a few of my artsy shots from my cousin Sonja's wedding yesterday. Wow, I realized yesterday...it is such a demanding job to be a wedding photographer!

Did I post these already?

Can't remember if I posted these or not...Taken on Sunday at my grandparent's. Used my new soft focus filter on both.

More fine art

The picture is from last fall, and I have used two textures here...one beige colored with the scribbled like lines, the other a gray gravel like texture.

A huge rutabaga and another fine art attempt

This rutabaga grew on its own at my grandfathers. WOW!

Another fine art attempt...took the leaves picture this morning after church and added a grunge textured background.

Another attempt at fine art texture

I took the flower pic over the summer and tried another attempt at fine art texture. Only takes a few minutes really once you've found the right texture for the photo. I call this one, "Burning flower" (P/S see Trish's assignment below!)

Trish's assignment

Our assignment for the week was to take a picture of something close up, then another shot a little farther back, then another even farther back until we had the whole room with the object inside of it. Using my macro rings, I took the first two shots up close, then I used my standard 80mm lens to take the rest of the pictures. I mixed them down into the gif file you see here!

Fine art texture and photography

It's really Dr. Fraser I have to thank for this idea since he got me turned on to Jesh De Rox Photography. So now I am experimenting with fine art textures and overlaying them on to photographs. If you visit his site, jeshderox.com, you will see how he uses these types of overlays to create ethereal effects. I tried it out on this recent photo of Bre and Jonny, and I may try some out from my cousins wedding a a little over a week. Creates an interesting effect, does it? It like the second one better!

A light in the darkness

These are recent pictures sent to me of the orphans in Kalomo, Zambia. My church generously gave a large sum of money earlier this year to provide food, clothing and blankets for the children during the rainy season. I'm thankful that God finds ways to provide for people in need and that people give when the need is great. The bags you see in the picture are filled with provisions and my gratitude can not be expressed. Jesus commands us to be a light to others (Matthew 5). Reminded of how these pictures show that light, I also took another macro shot of a burning candle wick. The first one is without noise ninja and the second is with. I really need to buy the license so that that watermark doesn't show up :)

Holding on or letting go

Each of these photos could represent holding on or letting go...I'll let you be the judge as to how! P/S Jonny came home Friday for "96" (96 hours of leave) So good to see him and his fiance together and in love!

Macro fix

You will notice a difference when enlarged between this picture and the one from yesterday. For some reason, my first shot was filled with a ton of noise. I downloaded noise ninja free trial and if you look at them both enlarged you will see how much of a difference noise ninja made. This image is watermarked because it is a trial, but I will probably buy the license eventually!

Macro fun

I finally got a set of macro rings that works with my camera. The rings sit between the camera body and the lens, allowing the lens to get closer to a subject. These particular rings are the less expensive kind (about $7 on ebay) so the only real downside is that you have to use manual focus and if your hand slips, you could get some blurring (the automatic focusing type are around $60-100). However, they are a fun tool to use and I look forward to trying them out with things that have tiny details. My first shot is a normal shot of a piece of mini indian corn, about the size of a teaspoon.

Below is with two of the three macro rings on the camera. What I like the most about this shot is the tiny pieces of dried corn silk that are now visible between the individual kernels. I think that is cool!

Modified soccer games

These are just pictures I took to practice photography. Can't let my skills get rusty!

A feeling of excitement

I never really expected to win anything at the Hagaman art show this weekend. I didn't even really have much time to spend there, what with teaching all day Saturday, Mama's party, Church, etc. But having own this award was so very exciting to experience. It serves as a confirmation to me that maybe I really can do this photography thing. It's the same feeling I get when I write a good poem or song, but different in the sense that I am pouring myself into a different kind of medium. I still feel somewhat amazed and undeserving, especially after seeing the sheer amount of talent at the show and what was produced by other artists. All I can say is the confirmation feels so good and I hope I get the chance to experience it again. Strangely enough, this photograph was taken at a time when I was feeling a little lost and unsure, and now it is a source of elation and confidence.

Mama's 80th birthday

A surprise party for my grandmother, Mama (accent on the second ma) was a wonderful time inwhich I was reminded how truly blessed I am to have the family I do. While my father was there, my mother was invited as well because she stayed close with her ex-inlaws over the years. Both my mother and my grandparents were unwilling to simply stop being family. It was something that my mom did for us kids that I still thank her for to this day. Below you will see my Tia Carmen (tia means aunt in spanish) and I, Tio Effie and Tia Miri, Mike and I at our dinner table, My mom and John dancing wonderfully to some salsa music and above left, the guest of honor, my Mama Velez!