First Day of Kindergarten

Today was my sweethearts first day of Kindergarten. He loved it and he agree to go back again tomorrow.



Just in case you were wondering, yes I cried. Once on the way home after dropping him off and then again as I saw him come out of the school with his classmates and his backpack on. He looks so grown up all of a sudden.

Photo Shoot With Francesco - The Only Smile

Francesco and I have been hanging out together this last week before he goes to Kindergarten (gulp). I had planned on doing a lot of outside activities, but atlas the rain - which I am so over- has put a kink in those plans. One day we had a few hours where it was not raining and so I decided to try and get some pictures of him. I did not want to take pictures in or around our house, I am so tired of the walls in my house right now. A short walk up the road is a building with brick walls and a cinder block wall on the other side. Seemed like an ideal place, which it was. My subject wasn't ideal though. This one picture of him with a smile is the only one out of 300 shots... the only one.





What I learned about doing a photo shoot with a 5 year old.
1 Bring more props. All I had was a point and shoot camera and a thing of bubbles.
2. Learn how to bribe well. I will give you a cookie is not sufficient for a 5 year old, it has to be more like I will let you drink a whole Orange Soda or I will get you a pack of Pokemon Cards.
3. Don't lug your tri-pod because a 5 year old doesn't stand still long enough for you to even put the camera on it.
4. Never tell them to smile, if you do be prepared to get the cheesiest smile that they won't be able to get rid of for the rest of the shoot.
5. When you say "chin up a little" expect them to look to the heavens, "chin down a little" gets you the opposite, there is no in between to them.
6. Don't even try to suggest a pose, it's just not going to happen.
7. Take a lot of shots and cross your fingers you get a few you like.
8. It's hard work!

52 Weeks of Me: Week 35 {Behind} & Week 36 {SOOC}

First off I still owe you a Night Shot. I had planned on getting a night shot with the boys while at Disney, that of course did not pan out. Each night at Disney we either did not make it till after dark or we looked exhausted. Let me tell you we had a great time but it wore us out. The boys actually fell asleep at dinner one night and we had to carry two sleeping kids out of the Magic Kingdom.



When it came to the prompt "behind" I took a cue from Jen. I started school, have a ton of work and a presentation to complete so I spend a lot of time behind this computer because I am very behind.







Now the SOOC I totally dreaded. I of course shot this wide open, hoping it would soften my skin.







Next weeks theme: Emotions/Expression - this could be fun.



Don't forget there is the Flickr Group and we also have all the themes posted there. Plus, if you want this cute blog button swing by Jessie's she has the code.

Negative Space - {Mortal Muses Theme}

Negative Space

Negative space in a photograph is very pleasing to me. I like how it really puts your focus on the subject. It's like de-cluttering your closet, once the clutter is gone you can really see what you have.



You can link in this weekend with the Mortal Muses on negative space. Swing by to check out what others have posted. You will find beautiful pleasing images with negative space that leaves out the clutter and focuses on the subject.

A Trip to Remember

We finally made our way to Disney! The boys had a great time overall. We learned a lot, ate a lot, waited a lot and walked a lot. We even got a lot of rain but you wouldn't know it from the pictures. The boys favorite rides were "It's a Small World" and "Toy Story Mania". If you ask Francesco his favorite part of the trip he will say, "the whole entire thing", if you ask Nicolo he will say, "the roller coasters". Not sure why he says that since he was not able to go on any roller coasters, but he went on a lot of other rides.



I of course took a ton of pictures. I made a little collage of my favorites.





If I had to pick one picture from the hundreds that I took as one to hang on the wall it would be this one.







I have a solo picture of Nicolo that I am going to hang and now I have one with a similar composition of Francesco. These are begging to be made into canvases.







Overall it was a fabulous vacation, a definite must do again. Now to get ready for school. Kindergarten is starting in two weeks and we have a few more things to do to prepare. Look for a sappy, emotional post about the first day.

Liberate Your Art

I recently participated in a unmistakably neat project called Liberate Your Art. Kat of The Kat Eye View of the World had those who wanted to participate send her 5 postcards with your art (any medium) along with address labels with your address and the stamps. She then dived out the cards, put on the postage and the address labels and sent then out. I've gotten 5 postcards from 5 different people from 5 different places around the world. How cool is that?







This one is from Steph, I love the single line flowers. I have such trouble not lifting the pen when "attempting" to draw anything. She is a creative writer and has a great website you should check out.







This one is from Joelle. I am not sure if she has a website but I know she is from Ohio. I like the interesting perspective of the shot. The blue and white contrast is really striking too.







This one is from Sassy she has a really neat site absolutely worth a visit. I have no idea what this is but I like it. I like that I am intrigued by not knowing what it is a picture of, plus the color green is so soothing to look at.







This one is from Rosa she is and artist and a writer. Her card was handmade, as well as beautiful. The purple is so regal.







Last, but certainly not least this one is from Lynn. Lynn's is a photo of a vignette style composition she learned from a online class. I've also sent Lynn one of my cards after corresponding with her via e-mail. That's the best part of this project, connecting.









Here are a couple of links to the people that I have heard from that received my cards.



Sun Breaks in the Forecast



Ann Isik



Hearts and Scars



Creative Explorer

52 Weeks of Me: Week 33 {Hands}

How impressed are you that I am posting on Sunday for our 52 Weeks of Me Project???? Probably not as impressed as I am (LOL)! This weeks theme was hands. I think I've taken more pictures of my hands than my face in this project so far. This is a shot of me writing a postcard...you heard it, I am sending snail mail. I can't tell you who I am sending this to because I want it to be a surprise. Don't you love getting a card in the real mail? I had some postcards made for the Liberate Your Art Project, I will be posting more about that at the end of next week.





I also tried something a little different- not sure if I like it but I thought I would post it so you could see that I did try to think outside the box. I think my arms look weird, but I think I am looking at it too much. If you look closely you can see I am actually standing in the rain.







Next weeks theme: Night Shot - that's going to be a tough one(think, think, think)!



Don't forget there is the Flickr Group and we also have all the themes posted there. Plus, if you want this cute blog button swing by Jessie's she has the code.