While I’ve had my kahuna for two years now, it really didn’t click until about seven months ago. And that’s really when I started carrying it everywhere, not worrying about what other’s thought. And then I started the blog and started taking even more photos to share with the internet. My photography is still hit and miss but I’m more satisfied with the outcome these days.
With 2009 coming to an end, I went through all of my photos from the year and selected my Top 10. These are my favorites. I did not choose them just because of the finished product. Or because other’s had provided positive feedback. But they are my favorites because the feeling of triumph that came with capturing these photos. And that’s a feeling only the photographer knows.
1. New York Subway
This was luck. Pure luck. The subway came shooting by and like all the other trains we waited for, I started snapping. Only this one had the reflection of our neighbors on the platform.
2. Chasey Bear
My first good shot with the 50mm. I finally figured out that I had to step away instead of stepping into the subject.
3. Black Eyed Susans
I’ve fallen in love with this photo about 20 times now. The flower bokeh is perfect and the depth of field tells a story… all time favorite.
4. On The Midway
Carnival rides were the reason I toted my dSLR all day at the State Fair. And this has been a favorite ever since.
5. Rachel & Fire
The right marriage between ISO, aperture and shutter speed made this perfect. And the tripod. That helped a lot.
6. Amy in Red
Taken for the Weekly Photo Challenge. I had taken about 200 red photos already and the idea to use this hat popped into my head. And after three shots, I knew I had it.
7. Patterson and His Baby Girl
Emotion is the reason this is a favorite. The framing is off and the focus could be better but you don’t always capture love in pixels. I feel that I did with this one.
8. Mirror of Time
Also taken for the Weekly Photo Challenge. And again, an idea that popped into my head. Focusing on the mirror but using reflections boggles my mind every time I look at it.
9. The Wedding Dance
Experimenting can pay off. I set the camera on the floor and just held down the shutter button. The movement is whimsical and you can see how happy everyone is.
10. My Monkey
This little booger makes me smile all of the time but this photo makes my heart smile. And I like the fact that you can pay her to do just about anything.
Bonus: Zipper… and More
Another Weekly Photo Challenge entry. The subject was zipper but I wanted to spice it up. A definite “I can’t believe I took this” photo.
I love me some color challenges. You have more freedom when taking your shot. Do you like the entire frame to have the color? Or something in the picture that pops with that color? It’s all up to the person behind the camera.
At first, I had a few ideas of where I wanted to take this challenge. And I tried. Chocolate candies, leather, wood grain, hair (and boy did I try hair!) but after sorting through them none them screamed Photo Challenge. I wasn’t challenging myself or thinking creatively with the set up. Lame, I know.
Here is my brown:
And though the set up is not creative, trying to get the doggins pixellated can be challenging. This doggin, my BDD Chevy (she’s a Big Deaf Dog), is a bit easier because the camera noises do not bother her. And her eyes are big brown globes of trust. This 70-something pound dog is so trustworthy, she let’s us pick her up. Not that we really can, but she has no problem with it. Chase on the other hand, not so much.
Our new game with Chevy involves a red pointer light. A year ago, she’d have nothing to do with it. This week, she’s all about biting that red dot wherever it may go. The BDD may not be able to hear but she has keen eyesight. And the ability to make us roll on the floor laughing.
Next week’s challenge is “fire.” I have a feeling that I’m going to be playing with a lot of matches. This could get messy. Keep your extinguishers handy, friends! And don’t forget to check out the flickr pool’s photos or click on the challenger roll to see how the other’s interpreted brown.
I like taking the kahuna (my reliable dSLR) everywhere I go because you never know what you’re going to get. If the photos aren’t stellar or what you hoped for, you got some practice in. But sometimes you get to photograph things you’d never would have thought of.
I was invited to join my three amigas – Abby, Kelly & Natalie - for a night of chilling out, stuffing our faces with pizza and getting our hair done. I am always game for being with these fine ladies and stuffing my face. And I needed a haircut. Win-Win. So I ventured out to the Creek (an area of town) to the hairdresser’s abode. I toted along the kahuna not knowing what the place would look like or how the lighting would be. And I am so happy I did because I fired that thing off all night.
Shannon (the hairdresser… is that the appropriate title?) let us invade the lower half of her home for something like five or six hours. I don’t know how she put up with us for that long but she did. And we made the best of it. Of course, most of our time was spent trying to convince Kelly, my little skipper, to chop off her hair. And then tease her because that’s what love is.
Each one of us spent time with Shannon the Expert and she transformed us. Well, most of us. I don’t really consider Kelly to be transformed. More on that later.
Natalie
Natalie didn’t want too stray to far from what she had going on upstairs, so Shannon polished her up.
And then showed her how to wear her hair wavy. Nat has the thickest head of hair I’ve laid eyes on this side of the Mississippi but Shannon got it to wave.
Hello Sexy Mama with the beachy (aka jbf) hair. How you doin’?
Abby
One word: Fearless. This chica has worn her hair long, her hair short, her hair curly, straight, up, down, sideways… she has no fear when it comes to hair. Except maybe being brunette. Well, I think that scared me more than her. How the hell am I supposed to recognize her with brown hair? She’s been blonde since we were eight. Thankfully we do not need nametags as she did not go that route. Yet.
By the way, I just love this picture. I have absolutely no idea what Abby is talking about but this face… this face is hilarious.
This night, she chopped it off. And it was cute cute cute.
Hello little darlin’ with the cute hair. How you doin’?
Kelly
One word: Fearful. Little skipper is attached to her hair like velcro is attached to… velcro. Don’t get me wrong, she has beautiful, thick hair that looks good all of the time. It’s just been this as long as I can remember.
As much as Abby changes her hair, Kelly doesn’t change her hair.
This is how much hair was removed. What is that? An inch? Two inches? Can’t complain though because she looked good when she was done.
Hello Rapunzel. How you doin’?
This is her “thinking face”. And she’s fixing her collar, not popping it. But it makes me warm and fuzzy inside. I love this little skipper.
I, too, got my hair done. I put my faith in Shannon’s hands and she gave me a bob that is cute. But this was the weirdest haircut I’d ever gotten. How is that, you say?
When a lady gets her hair done, she’s usually with other ladies. Your head is wet as a mop, it’s flipping and flying all over the place, you’re vulnerable under that plastic curtain. And then walks in three men that you don’t know. Oh, Shannon and Abby knew them. Kelly knew a couple too. But I was the one with the wet head with strangers looking on as my hair was falling to the floor. Oh, and this was at 11:30 at night after a full day of work. Can we say bye-bye makeup and hello darkening circles under my eyes. Yes. Yes, we can.
So when one of the fellas took the seat when I was done, I couldn’t help myself. I picked up the kahuna. Mind you, I don’t even remember this fella’s name. He could have been cursing me under his breath. But Shannon worked her high-and-tight magic on him. Sucks when you know people are watching, doesn’t it?
Like I said, a fun night. And I had a blast sticking the kahuna in my friends’ faces. Love those girls. And a big THANK YOU to Shannon for letting us squatters hang out and talk your son into putting stuff up his nose. OK, only I did that but it was still funny. Nine year olds are awesome.
As you know, I’m new to knitting. I’ve got my scarf done and I have yet to start on the matching hat. I’ve enjoyed knitting so far. I go to “class” with my Mom and her knitting friends but my PodMate, Susan, also gives me tips along the way. She encourages me in my new craft that I find fun and relaxing but complex. When it comes to sticks and string, it can be very complex.
I look at my beginner level scarf – and I love it – but then marvel at the stuff PodMate creates. She’s really good at knitting. So she shared a secret. Well, maybe not a secret but something special nonetheless: her first knitting book. Which, thanks to her, happens to be my first knitting book too.
Stitch’n Bitch.
Groovy title. Cool quips and sayings on the inside. With drawings and easy-to-understand directions. This is my kind of book.
I haven’t dived into yet but have flipped through it several times. This will be an excellent resource for when I get stuck again [and again]. And there are some cute patterns too.
Like this one. Pretty much the same pattern for my scarf only mine has 22 stitches and this one has 32 (making it wider). I can’t wait to start telling people “This is my ‘ribbed-for-her-pleasure’ scarf.” I didn’t say that to my Granny though – I have manners ya know.
And Miss Wendi, this is the difference between a knit and a purl. I couldn’t have said it better. Actually, I didn’t. I kind of failed at that. But now we know.
And knowing is half the battle. I kill myself.
PodMate, I really really like my new book. You know you didn’t have to go and do a thing like this but it is very appreciated. Muchas Gracias, my amiga! I can’t wait to break in the binding. And still bog you down with crafting questions. 
For the past few years, we’ve gone over to a friend’s house for a holiday get together. I look forward to it because many of my favorite people are there. A bunch of friends from college that are busy living their lives but make the time around the holidays to be with each other.
Making time to eat together, drink together, laugh together… I love these people.
Spending time like this – with people like these – makes me happy.
We forget about what’s going on at work and get another scoop of guacamole.
We forget about our shopping lists and sit around the table to tell dirty jokes.
We forget about cleaning the house and stuff our face with cookies.
Bad cookies. You’re making my waistline expand. Boo waistline, boo.
The hubs and I had a great time. But instead of talking about all of the shenanigans that went on, I’ll just share some photos with you.
Hope you all had a merry holiday like we did. Now I’m looking forward to the New Year.
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