Day 204 – She’s just so willing!

I love working with very shallow depth of field and when a shot comes out exactly as I planned, well, I just have to share it. I really had hoped to post a non-critter post, but today I set up my soft box light, Maya was on the printer, and I couldn’t resist. She is looking up at the soft box which I had just to camera left and about six feet up and angled down toward Maya. I metered the shot, snapped my fingers so she’d look up, and bingo! Got it! Also, I used the pop-up on my camera at its lowest output (1/128) to provide just a teeny bit of fill.

And, of course, I couldn’t resist a black and white shot.

Day 201 – Practicing with Speedlite

The day got away from me, but I wanted to play with my lights anyway. I got this little vise from our HR director. I thought it would be a useful tool to hold reflector cards (and it is). But today I gave lighting it a go. I lit it from camera right with my Speedlite using an umbrella and a diffuser panel. To the left, a white poster-board bounced some of the light back onto the vise.

For fun I also shot our Maneki-neko.

Day 192.5 – We have to leave them for a while

Tomorrow morning we’ll be heading out the door for five days. They’ll be in good hands, but we’ll miss them. I got my to-dos done earlier than I thought so I pulled out my Speedlite and my reflector umbrella and set them up on the light stand. The cats were nowhere to be found, but the pups were available.

The heat of the day (100+ degrees today) had taken its toll on Buddy, and our big boy wasn’t interested in doing anything but lay out on the carpet.

Nina gave me a little more as she worked hard on the Nylabone, which as you can see, is about as big as she is!

Day 192 – Chain, chain, chain

Another “cheat” day, if you will indulge me. I took this one late last night (so technically it was today somewhere in the U.S.). Today is going to be terribly busy, what with work and preparing for our trip to Las Vegas tomorrow, and I’m really not sure, no, make that I’m pretty sure I’m not going to have a chance to do any serious shooting today.

We’ll be in Vegas Wednesday through Sunday for The Amaz!ng Meeting. I’ll be taking pictures, but not sure when they’ll get posted. Hopefully I will be able to post every day, but . . .

One more thing

If any of you can help me out and tell me what is wrong with our quaking aspens, I’d be very grateful.

Day 191 – Struggle

It’s been an exceptionally harsh year, weather-wise, not just in our neck of the woods, but everywhere it appears. But in my area, where the growing season is already abysmally short and precipitation is always in short supply, our mild, bone-dry winter has unleashed a torrent of all kinds of burrowing and nibbling creatures. Rabbits, voles, squirrels and other such creatures are laying waste to gardens all over our part of the state, from above and below. Our yard is no exception, and even our “desert hardy” bed has been decimated. We try planting and within a week the plants are gone. A rose-bush I planted out front was pretty much razed. The Mexican primrose and other flowers, usually left alone, have been mowed to the ground. It is beyond depressing.

One little plant is bravely trying to make a comeback. In the midst of sand and gravel, there is this one little flower.

I have no idea how long this one will last.

Day 190 – Neat and Tidy

I’ve been feeling a bit smothered lately by our Stuff, so I’ve started on a “lighten the load” trajectory. I found a video via a Freshly Pressed blog (!) on how to fold clothes and organize drawers. I have to say though, I’m not anal enough to color-coordinate my drawers the way she does. Actually, I am more likely to organize them by cause. I mean, really, I hate digging through my t-shirt drawer to find the perfect one for the occasion, be it a protest, a gay rights event, a feminist shindig, or a freethinkers meeting. Anyway, her method for folding t-shirts and putting them away got my attention.

So I did it today.

Here’s my “before.” Yes, that is Amelia Earhart. I adore her. Oh, and I applied a filter (Poster Edges) to make the shots look artsy.

Here is the after. Cool, huh?

I did it for Sweetie’s t-shirt drawer too. He loves it.

And I am now officially back on track with my 365 project.

Day 186 – Standoff

I caught Maya and a jackrabbit staring each other down through the front door this morning. I shot about a dozen photos, alternating focus between Maya and the jackrabbit. I finally settled on this one. I love that they are both looking right at each other and that their ears seem to mirror each other’s.