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...seriously don't know what to title this post!! At least the subject is a cutie. :)


While in Utah visiting family, I took my kiddos to a park with some pretty cool play equipment. One item was a submarine, which #2 spent most of her time in. Her favorite spot was this little port hole, just the right size to peek through.

Why do I love it? Check out the catch-lights in her eyes! And if you look close enough, you can actually see my reflection...yep, that's me standing right in front of her with my camera.
And I also love the chewed-off finger nail polish...because I didn't know that kids as little as Syd would ever think to bite their nails--and she's been doing it for a year-and-a-half...

Welcome

This is the front of an old Texaco station I pass every day when I pick my daughter up from school. I've wanted to shoot it for about two years now...and probably will again sometime. I think it'd be great to put a pot of flowers next to the door...or a welcome mat in front of it. Right?My favorite part? The springs from the bed frame, propped against the window...makes me wonder who thought that was a good place for it to go...

One Day of Winter

Winter in the boot-heel of New Mexico isn't like winter everywhere else in the country; if someone from back east, or even from Utah or Idaho heard me complain of the cold weather (which I've been known to do), they'd roll their eyes at my definition. We rarely get a taste of real winter, and even hover in the upper 50's or low 60's sometimes. But in my defense, it's the very common winter WIND that I have real issue with.

Anyway, with almost no real winter to speak of, when it IS white outside it's worth pulling the camera out for. This is a fruitless mulberry tree in our backyard--and honestly, I've never liked it...until it was bare and covered with snow. Then I decided it had a very interesting shape. I also love the way the trunk bends away from the heavy weight of the (un-pruned) branches , and how that trunk is framed in this shot.

SWNM Fair

This weekend was the Southwestern New Mexico State Fair, and I entered 10 of my pictures in the Photography Exhibit. I've never entered a contest before, and really, the main reason I did so this year was to hopefully get some feedback...I think it went really well, and I'm pretty pleased with the results, though I've learned what I want to do differently next year.

Since I didn't really know what I was up against, I entered the Adult division. Since then, I've learned that I could have probably done fine in the Advanced division instead, and I'll be required to do that next year--you can't enter the Adult division after receiving two blue ribbons in the Adult one.

Below are the pictures, their titles, and where they placed...I entered 10 photos, and came home with 8 ribbons...not bad, right??

"Boredom"

1st Place, People Category

"Sunshine in Strange Places"

1st Place, Other Category

"Busy Ballerina"

2nd Place, Special Effects

The Courthouse In November"

3rd Place, Other Category

"Just Married"

3rd Place, Still Life Category

"Narcolepsy"

Honorable Mention, People Category

"Happiness is Sunshine and a Swing"

Honorable Mention, People Category

"Burnt to a Crisp"

Honorable Mention, Other Category

"Oblivious"

"The View From On Top"

I don't think I'll enter so many next year (ten is the limit) because in a way, I think I was competing against myself. There were only six categories, and really, my ten photos were split up between only three of them, so...I think I'll be more selective next year. For now, though, I'm going to seek out a couple other opportunities to submit to contests throughout the next year or so...again, just seeking feedback, and trying to figure out where I fit in with other photographers.

Thanks again to anyone who gave input on entry suggestions!

A Few Disney Details

We took our family to Disneyland a couple months ago. These are a few of the non-child photos I took that I didn't focus on when I posted on our family blog. Each has something I love about it--angle, lighting, composition, etc...

Like this one, for instance. I love that it was taken in the near dark, and that the 'sun's' eyes glow so brightly. Plus, I always like to think of the sun as smiling...I guess because it makes me smile.

It probably bugs some people, but I'm really into off-center and tilted shots these days. I just think when you look at something from a different angle, all the sudden there are some really cool elements in shot.

The combination of the neon lighting and the rushing water of this fountain made it a really cool feature at our hotel.

I only WISH I had a waterproof camera. This was taken on a ride, shooting through the porthole. Something about the aqua-green water is really appealing to me...

Nothing by a lamppost, but I loved the interesting shape it made when I was sitting under it.

What is it about an arched doorway that just beacons for a photograph? The weathered doors and iron, combined with the stone pillars just scream old world (even though it was at Disneyland...I mean, how old could it really be?) It made me crave an overseas vacation--walking down cobblestone roads, bells tolling in the distance...