My life... learning photography...

Moved!

2009-09-12T19:46:00.000-07:00

Okay okay. So, my new blog is up.. it's not even CLOSE to the way I want it to be, but for those of you who have been asking for the address, here it is! Please stop by and check it out, plus follow me on twitter.. HAHA (okay, I barely know what it is!)

www.feliciaeve.com

See you there!

MOVING.

2009-09-04T21:33:00.000-07:00

Okay, so here's the deal. I'm moving right now.. in more ways than one! First of all, I'm moving moving, have moved, but now setting up my house. The house "our children will grow up in". It's VERY exciting, after having lived our whole married life in the military, averaging a move per year!

Secondly, this blog is moving. Me and color have never gotten along here on blogger, so I am moving on. I will post here to let you know the new blog address, when I get around to that move. I still need to unpack boxes though :) Stay with me, it's coming soon!

Eensy Weensy Tease...

2009-08-24T18:07:00.000-07:00

My first older girl model...

Last one of this bunch. Maybe :)

2009-08-20T19:13:00.001-07:00

As promised...

2009-08-20T09:50:00.000-07:00

It's not a basketball, I swear. More coming tomorrow!

2009-08-19T20:07:00.000-07:00

4 years... I can hardly believe it...

2009-08-14T06:36:00.000-07:00

I'm not a writer.. and I can't put into words what the last four years have been. Only a few months into our marriage, Tom and I found out we were expecting. The situation was.. complex, not blog-able, joyful but difficult in many ways.

Everyone (and I do mean EVERYONE) says it goes by in a whirlwind, and it's so true. I really cannot believe that the little baby I was just holding in my arms is now 4 years old. She plays with a real tea set, is learning to read, loves art and can make her own bed. Where did the time go... Happy Birthday little bean, I sure do love you.

(P.S. I know this is on my photog blog, but these are definitely snapshots.. just taking pictures as life happens! Noisy, bad light, I know I know. No cc necessary!)

3 days old...

2009-08-07T05:53:00.000-07:00

Let me tell you one thing: for a mom who's not looking to have another one anytime soon, this is a DANGEROUS job! Even though this precious little one refused to sleep a wink while I was photographing her, once I was done she slept peacefully in my arms.. and I was pretty sure that's what heaven will be like! More to come from this one, I can promise you that :)

Tower Hill Botanical Gardens

2009-08-03T18:34:00.000-07:00

Noon= not the perfect time to shoot, ever :) Still, I loved all the shots I got with this cherubim. Margot was very smitten, even giving him kisses and playing "got your nose!"

Under a gazebo, taken with a reflector. I love the light on her face, not so wild about the expression. I begged for a cute smile, swear.

Someday I swear I will figure out how to make color look as amazing on blogger as it does in PS! These gardens are GORGEOUS. My first thought: someday I will shoot a wedding here :)

One more...

2009-08-02T18:48:00.000-07:00

6 Days Old...

2009-07-30T18:50:00.001-07:00

And how could I resist at least one of big sister.

Little fingers in little places... making trouble!

2009-07-22T10:07:00.001-07:00

Oh boy... no wonder it was so quiet downstairs!

First step is to remove all plastic key pieces. Detach off of keyboard at red arrow.

Gently detach at snap points.

Snap plastic pieces together at middle. Pay attention to orientation.

Here is what your finished piece should look like.

Slide plastic pieces onto keyboard, making sure metal clasp is on top of lower plastic piece (green arrow). Top piece should still be detached (red arrow).

Next attach upper piece with a small object like safety pin or toothpick. First one side then the other.

Now, using the pin, slide under top piece in order to attach key.

Attach key at top by snapping into place.

Press down gently on key until bottom snaps into place.

Ah, better.

Repeat (if you have a toddler). If not, then you're done!

Now be smart, be good to your Macbook, use an iSkin!

Does she even need a title???

2009-07-19T20:49:00.000-07:00

It's a summer day... not a cloud in sight..

2009-07-19T20:19:00.000-07:00

I never can get over little ones.. and how they are just utterly happy with the simplest things like an opened car window.

Over the shoulder pout :)

2009-07-06T18:26:00.000-07:00

He let me take his picture.. rather reluctantly :)

Comments?

2009-06-25T08:48:00.001-07:00

If you visit my blog, please leave a comment about what you like or dislike! I am trying to learn and every little bit helps. Thank you! Felicia

A day in Boston!

2009-06-24T12:26:00.001-07:00

Just a few from my mom's recent visit... aquarium and outside by Paul Revere's statue. This last one was inside, BAD lighting.. I can't believe I got any pic with decent focus! I know it's yellow. Some pro fix it!

My little woodland goblins... err, fairies :)

2009-06-24T12:22:00.000-07:00

Little Cutie B&W

2009-06-03T13:01:00.000-07:00

I know, it's bright. But I couldn't resist... she's just so sweet!

Sweet.

2009-05-29T21:15:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's urban processing. I think it goes with her smile and eyes.. what do you think?

For Lee, to compare. See the ug fence? This was under that big tree.. so the light wasn't great and the fence was SO close I had to really open up my ap (although in hindsight, I shoulda upped my ISO.. it was at 100!!! Shoulda been 400 I think!) And of course, BLOGGER is making this phot look.. dull. It just takes away some of the contrast.. but this pic is naturally very "soft feeling".. there's some sort of processing that I know would look good, just don't know what it is!

PS. All I did for this pic was use the exposure brush for her eyes a tiny bit (since there were harsh shadows) and run a minimal USM.

Tighter crop, 'nother boy!

2009-05-29T21:03:00.000-07:00

This is for Lee.. I know this pics were a little awkward. Backyard, kids going back and forth from watermelon to sand box. This one with the awesome bokeh unfortch wasn't a great pic.. but he sure was having fun climbing on top of the monkey bars! The little one is Claire's BFF from Cubbies. He's the sweetest thing in the world! By the way, secret?? HAHAHAHA.

Brother and Sister (times two!)

2009-05-29T17:06:00.001-07:00

Very Serious...

2009-05-26T18:42:00.000-07:00

Well we were in a parade for Memorial Day, after all. I only got to snap 1 minute of pics of this little girl, but she's an absolute doll! I hope to have some more time with her SOON :)

Honoring our fallen heroes...

Hey Cutie!

2009-05-26T14:28:00.001-07:00

I miss this little girl... who reminds me so much of my li'l precious Claire (bwwahaha!) Pay no attention to the fact that is was noon exactly :)

Same pic, tighter crop, B&W :)

Another old one...

2009-05-09T17:08:00.001-07:00

Today we went out to run some errands and Claire wore her tutu I had made AGES ago. Ages ago in her time anyways :) I know sometimes these kinds of pics seem cliche, but I certainly never tire of 'em!

P.S. How precious is that frown???

Sidewalk Chalk

2009-05-01T18:10:00.001-07:00

Wishing blogger showed color...

2009-05-01T18:06:00.000-07:00

I love these pictures of my little girl.. but sometimes I get SO frustrated with the color blogger shows. Flat flat flat, and did not do justice to these phots. So, had to restort to black and white. I think shooting at noon may have been one of the problems!

Ranc's

2009-04-22T09:27:00.001-07:00

This was our last stop in Lexington, a little hot cocoa to warm us all up!

"Where could it be?"

2009-04-21T18:55:00.000-07:00

I don't know why.. but when I came across this little pink shoe it just.. stuck with me.. because I knew exactly what some mom somewhere in this huge crowd was thinking "where in the world did her shoe GO?!" Having been in the same situation (many times) it just made me get all smiley (I've dashed across traffic to retrieve a stride rite!) Ah well, here it is Mom.

My Li'l Patriots

2009-04-21T15:28:00.000-07:00

My VERY serious soldier, standing at attention with her dangerous popgun. Watch out, that little orange cap can do some damage!

We spent Patriot's Day in STYLE attending the day's events in Lexington, Mass. Toward the middle of the parade I admit we ducked into an adorable ice cream shop for hot cocoa (those pics are for another day...) I apologize for the pink tint on all pictures... red flags, pink hats and jackets, plus chilled cheeks and noses= well, pink!

I love her.

2009-04-01T18:33:00.000-07:00

On our way to Boston we got to visit my brother and sister in law. She's a fellow "photog in learning" (her blog is linked from this page). We practiced a little on each other against this cool building. We had about five minutes thanks to my little one's tantrum followed promptly by a dirty didy. (TMI, fine). I actually let her pull an entire thing of wipes apart just so we had a FEW minutes. Which was plenty with this pretty subject, who can't look bad no matter what!

My free spirit.

2009-03-24T18:47:00.000-07:00

On long road trips (such as ones across the entire United States), we try to take good breaks to let the girls stretch their legs and get some energy out. So we stopped for gas, bathroom breaks, and some teeter totter and play in a park :)

I love these images (and all of them, not just the crisp ones) because they are such an example of my little girl's personality. Like... if she could be any one "thing" in the world, it could definitely be a leaf twirling around in the wind on a sunny day. I love that she finds so much enjoyment in the smallest things. SOOC except for contrast and small curves, no crops. ISO 100, f/3.2, SS 1/2000 (hello 4 o clock)

... there are some cute ones from the merry-go-round too, maybe some of those tomorrow.

Friends

2009-03-18T20:54:00.000-07:00

Flying HIGH!!!

2009-03-04T20:43:00.001-08:00

An old one..

2009-02-23T15:08:00.000-08:00

I always loved this picture of Claire from Mississippi. I took her to the park to take pictures with my point and shoot for Regis & Kelly's "Cutest Kid Photo Contest". She didn't even get honorable mention but I'm pretty sure she should have won :)

Call me :)

2009-02-22T12:47:00.001-08:00

I hat blogger and the lame color you see on it.

Which is why I hafta always make a B&W to compensate. This is using Jenica's fudge action (thanks girl!)

I HEART YOU!

2009-02-16T19:32:00.001-08:00

These are a little late, but were so adorable I couldn't help but posting some images of Claire's valentine cookies for her Cubbies friends! Sugar cookies with pink buttercream frosting, topped with sugar crystals and delicious as can be! All snapped using natural light, all but the last two at f/1.8, ISO 1600 ss 1/2000. Last two were f/2.5, ISO 800, SS 1/125.

Turn out the lights.

2009-02-12T09:58:00.000-08:00

Or at least down! So, I feel like a huge dope but it was just brought to my attention that having your monitor set on the brightest setting can actually make your exposures look pretty bad. THANK YOU J, for helping me figure this out.. but I'm glad I was consistently looking underexposed ;) ***note to self, must learn histogram*** Anyways, from here on out, I'm turning down the brightness, and hopefully in turn that will brighten up my images on the blog. Sorry about that and PLEASE cc if you see me making huge mistakes! ~Fle

Barely snow. edited

2009-02-11T16:31:00.000-08:00

50mm, f/2.8, SS 1/2000, ISO 400 (both)

50mm, f/3.5, ss 1/80, ISO 400

I can't put my finger on what I DON'T like about these pics.. I looked at 'em too long! I know I didn't shoot them perfectly, but that's what learning's about right??? As always, any CC is welcome!

JMK

2009-02-10T22:21:00.000-08:00

Just my kids, mommy goggles, call it what you will. I know, it's missing a mouth, it's not rule of thirds.. but I just love this little thing "ta death"! She's so mischievous it hurts :)

Old & New

2009-02-06T12:40:00.001-08:00

In a recent visit to a Great Great Aunt and Uncle, I decided to take some phots of them for their kids. As I've found with older people, they often like the "posed" look (even my parents!)... Well, those shots I didn't like, but this one... I just snapped while we were all talking and they were just naturally gently touching. I love it, and I pray that one day T and I have photos of our hands just like this...

Shots like these are probably a dime a dozen, but I couldn't resist posting these lashes.

And, in color, because I loved these bright red dots! (It's too bad these shots in the park were at noon, A LOT of them just turned out overexposed, too bright, etc. and I just don't know enough to fix them!)

The Look!

2009-02-06T12:36:00.000-08:00

My sweet second-born child. Slightly amused (watching sister), content being away from the danger of tough love C!

Mooooooo (no offense Meg)

2009-01-30T22:13:00.000-08:00

Note to self: lame without mountains/sky. Who cuts off the tops of mountains??? The calf was pretty cute though.

... more M, playing with PS, and obviously don't know what I'm doing :)

2009-01-30T15:29:00.000-08:00

Sweet M

2009-01-29T22:35:00.000-08:00

I'm having fun with the extra subjects!!!

2009-01-26T21:29:00.001-08:00

We had a few minutes and so I snapped this shot of my very naturally beautiful SIL. Edited in CS4 and LR2. f/4.0 ss 1/50 ISO 400, natural light.. imagine the warmth that's in the colors outside of blogger!
Cropped for close up.

My beatiful MIL

2009-01-25T16:51:00.000-08:00

f/2.5 SS 1/80 ISO 200 Edited with LR2 and CS4 (subject at 8, me at 6-7)
Same as above
Ugh. f/1.8 SS 1/400 ISO 800 Edited in LR2 and CS4
f/4.0 SS 1/50 ISO 200, edited in LR2 (subjects at 7, me at 6)

M's Best Friend

2009-01-24T22:56:00.001-08:00

First word, not "mama" but "koka"... yep, she got more love for the dog than for her own mama!

Happy Birthday MIL

2009-01-24T22:42:00.000-08:00

As part of celebrating my dear MIL's birthday, we brought banana split fixins! Who could resist taking a picture of anything with a sweet maraschino cherry? Kitchen lights, f/1.8, SS 1/100, ISO 800. Edited in LR2. This was also my first pic shot RAW (T changed the settings without me knowing it...) Once again, this blog phot just DOES NOT look the same as in PS, Lightroom or even preview.

Poof, there's magic

2009-01-24T00:20:00.001-08:00

Only took a few pictures today of Claire playing with her fairy wings. It was cute, our neighbors kept calling her the Tooth Fairy and she's like "wha??" but tried to enchant them anyways. Natural light, f/4.0, SS 1/640, ISO 200. Edited in PS4 and LR2 (contrast, edge sharpen, some saturation). And now that I'm looking at the blog version, it still looks a little blah. I noticed that with your pic too L (once I opened in PS the colors were WONDERFUL!) Hmm.. one more thing to figure out I guess.

HUGE. EYES.

2009-01-22T22:46:00.000-08:00

SOOC f/6.3, ss 1/30, ISO 800 HELP! What I don't like: bright light behind her, too much wall (but no way to make a nice crop either!), not enough natural light, blurry, grainy.. the list goes on!

The truth is it was a rainy day, I didn't get out.. I took some pictures but didn't really like any of them! (I got a few good clear ones, but my baby girl just looked so miserable!) This one was obviously edited and didn't really start out as a good photo. Edited in CS4 and Lightroom 2.

Little Red Riding Hood

2009-01-21T17:20:00.001-08:00

I just wanted to. But.. I'm really starting to feel the need to learn something about taking pictures :) And photoshop. The only thing that's perfect is the adorable-ness of my DD! These pics are all SOOC, no cropping, no adjustments.

Tutus and frogs, what a scrumptious combination!

2009-01-21T16:53:00.000-08:00

This is bad.. not in focus, blah colors.. BUT, she's so cute!

First outdoor play time.

And one sweet girl by the window

First day with my Rebel Xsi!

2009-01-21T16:49:00.000-08:00

So, today I got my Canon Rebel Xsi in the mail (thanks T!) and I'm loving it already. This is one of my first phots on the first day. This blog will be a whole lot of pictures, probably some really bad ones (and maybe by chance... SOME GOOD ONES TOO!?) So here goes...