Friday's Featured Resource - Ali Edwards

Ali Edwards, Oregon Coast, Summer 2008

I don’t scrapbook. I tried it once many years ago and failed miserably. Don’t get me wrong, my pages looked pretty good but I only got 4 done. The End. But when I see the volumes of cool and imaginative scrapbooks created by the incredibly talented Ali Edwards, I swoon. Suddenly I become a scrapbook junkie. Course, I haven’t attempted it again since my first 4 pages but still, I like to look and admire what Ali has done.

When I visit Ali’s blog, I know I want to make something amazing with my photos but then I get overly-inspired and decide I’ll leave it for another day. But then today is gone. Sigh. So, when I read the invitation to join Ali in a simple project to record a week in the life of my life, my family, using my photos, featuring what I see as important today, I will admit, I got a burst of inspired energy and determination. Maybe I can do this. Maybe I’ll start today.

Why this project? Why now? I guess it’s just the thrill of having this moment in time distilled into something tangible. Something I can hold in my hands as a reminder of this priceless and fleeting moment of my life. I take photo and after photo and am usually content with that being the end result. But the idea of using photos as a springboard sparks my interest. It’s as if the photo is just part of the process. It’s a whole new perspective. And it’s as simple as a focusing in on just one week of my life. I think it sounds wonderful and I plan on taking Ali up on her invitation by following along with her on her blog to see what I can come up with. Why not?

Ali is a one woman resource and offers so much via her blog, her books, her columns, etc etc). I encourage you to click around and discover the magic that is Ali Edwards. She’s one heck of a creative gal who likes to share and sharing is good.

Speaking of sharing, Ali has offered to give away 4 books (1 copy of each title ) to lucky readers her at Shutter Sisters today. Be sure to leave a comment today to get into the running…prepare to be inspired. You have until midnight on Saturday to be included in the drawing.

Confessions

Stephanie and friends, San Francisco

Sarah-Ji’s ‘break the rules’ post last Sunday was a stroke of serious serendipity and what she encouraged was exactly what I did at the Shutter Sisters / BlogHer PhotoWalk and it’s been on my mind ever since.

Many of us had the privilege of spending a little time with Me Ra Koh during her photography session at the conference. I think I speak for everyone in attendance when I say WOW! She was authentic, adorable, sincere and so photo-articulate (in the most relaxed and approachable way). Her willingness to share her knowledge was inspiring and what’s more, what she shared was so refreshing and enlightening. She is a true Shutter Sister through and through.

As she spoke I got a lot of looks and whispers from Karen and Stephanie, pssst, did you know that? I nodded yes on a number of points but I most certainly did learn a thing or two. One point that shed some light (pun intended) was the way she explained ISO. I know that ISO is virtually your film speed (without the film part) and that by shooting with a high ISO your images will have MORE grain or noise. What I failed to truly understand is that there’s more to it than that.

I confess proudly that I’m a 400-800 ISO girl just as I was a 400-1600 film girl. It makes it so much easier and fun shooting in low light with a higher ISO and so, I do it. Because I like easy and fun. Well, come to find out, you actually get the optimum color saturation when you shoot a Canon or Sony at 100 ISO or a Nikon at 200 ISO. WHO KNEW? Me Ra did. And now I do too. And so do you, if you didn’t already. To put it to the test and I decided to try it out on the PhotoWalk. I won’t lie, it’s not going to be easy getting used to not having the ability to shoot in super-low light while hand-holding my camera but since we were outside, it was a perfect place to break my own ISO rule and give it a go.

Jury is still out on whether or not I see a difference in my images…I need a little more experimentation time to figure it out. None the less, trying something new, breaking my own rules while shooting was as exhilarating as the cool, crisp air of San Francisco.

If you are so inclined, share your own photo confessions with us in the comments and if there’s a photo that goes along with it, we’d love to see it. And by all means if you are breaking some rules, do share! The fun part is along with your comment you will be entered to win today’s random drawing for one of Me Ra’s awesome educational DVD’s. One lucky winner will win Refuse to Say Cheese and another will win Beyond the Green Box. You have until Monday at midnight EST to leave your comment.

A special thanks to Me Ra for sharing her DVDs with us! You’re going to love them!  And if you haven't already, pop over and visit her blog at www.merakohblog.com.

adventures near and far

At this very moment my family and I are far from home enjoying a new landscape and discovering uncharted surroundings on our first adventure of the summer. But alas, you all know full well that you don't have to travel to find wonders both big and small.

This is the last week of our month long Sundays at Home series. Truth be told, I hate to see it go. Perhaps it will be something we decide to bring back time and again. What do you think?

In the meantime, go ahead an leave your comments here for your shot at the last random drawing to win the book America and Home (custom cover and all). And be sure to leave us a link to some kind of wonderful discovery you made at home. Magic is everywhere and you don't even have to leave home to find it. Show us what's going on at your place.

Congrats to Maine Momma Kristen who was the winner of last week's drawing.

the good old summertime

With the summer comes lots of sun, water and sand. The combination doesn’t sound like the best one for photographers. However, the carefree days at the beach or even around the house can make for playful, fun photo moments. When it comes to capturing the best of the best summer moments, the key is photographic experimentation and not being afraid of getting your feet wet.

Shooting into the light is nothing new around here (just check out these shots from bee bee mod, monamegs and and kristybee) but what about when you add water to the mix? My girls were sprinkler hopping the other afternoon and I was having a blast with my camera jumping in and out of the water sprays, clicking pix of my girls as they frolicked in uninhibited summer glee. The sun and the water only added to the magic.

As we kick off the start of summer, share with us some of your wet and wild photo moments (without the topless stuff, ahem).

And since its Sunday, we’re putting all of the comments posted here into the random drawing for a free copy of America at Home with a custom cover to boot! You have until midnight on Monday to comment.

Congrats to last week’s winner of the book Corey (aka Divrchk)!

At Home With Daddy

If you were to ask my closest family and friends what my strengths are, the words "COOKING" and "CLEANING" or any other term related to traditional domesticity would most definitely be absent from their minds.  Fortunately, I met the right guy to balance out my shortcomings on the homefront.  My husband Ted can whip up gourmet meals, brew quality craft beers, scrub floors, do the dishes and fold laundry like a Gap employee.  He's also been a Stay At Home Dad to Cadence since she was 8 weeks old while I work full-time at the office.  Simply put, I don't know what I'd do without him.

Some of my favorite photos of my daughter are the ones with Daddy.  Those two make quite a pair.  They do everything together--brewing beer, baking cookies, biking to the park, hanging at the local coffeehouse or just chilling on the couch on a lazy Sunday afternoon.  Simply put, I don't know what she'd do without him.  

In honor of Father's Day today, tell us about the fathers YOU want to recognize--your own, your kids', someone else's.  And since today is the 3rd week of our Sundays At Home Giveaway, if you have an image of dads around the home, share those as well. 

All comments will be entered into another random drawing for a copy of the awesome book America At Home (with custom cover).

For inspiration, make sure you check out these photos of dads by MOM~tographer,  giggletwig and Shama-Lama Mama.

Congrats to Maya at Springtree Road for being the winner of last Sunday's Amercia at Home drawing. Yay Maya!