Black Hills Photo Shootout~Closeups Roughlock Falls

This is the first in a series of posts

that I will do about my experience

at the Black Hills Photo Shootout.

The first morning, my photo buddy, Dede, and I,

were like two little girls on Christmas morning

waiting for our parents to get out of bed

so that we could open presents!

Our photowalk was Black Hills Closeups

~

my favorite photography

~

macro & super-macro.

As far as my own personal photography,

this was my favorite session.

My favorite season in one of my favorite places in South Dakota.

Dede knew

from the moment we stepped

our shoes onto the path

that she and the group leader had lost me . . .

I was surrounded by infinite possibilities.

He could have assigned me a 10 x 10 foot square space

and said that I could not leave that square for

three hours.

I would have been completely content.

~

{Note:  My camera is a Canon PowerShot S3 IS.  It would be called a "point and shoot" by most, but I love it.  It's small and easy.  I have my favorite settings which are super-macro and SCN in the foliage setting on superfine quality.  In super-macro mode, I can touch my subject with the lens.  After this weekend, I am motivated to play some more with other techniques.  The only altering I did with these photos was trimming.  No color enhancing on this post.}

All photos copyright September 18, 2010, Jodene (Jodi) Shaw.

Anticipating BH Photo Shootout ~ Shoot the Hills

Looking forward to a fun weekend

of photography

at the Black Hills Photo Shootout.

My husband is thinking this weekend

is going to cost him a new camera.

I am thinking maybe

some accessories.

I may come home with serious "camera envy".

Perhaps . . . but I like simplicity over complexity.

Less to tote around versus more.

So, we will see.

I am hoping it is not way over my head.

I have not taken a photography class since high school.

Even so, I can always take pictures,

on my favorite settings

and be content.

Put me in nature

with Super Macro

and I am in the zone!

photos copyright 2010 Jodene (Jodi) Shaw.

Don't worry Mom, I'll still snuggle you . . .

Erin's first day of preschool

Conversation.

Mom:  You're supposed to be my little baby.

Erin:  But I'm not.  I'm growing big!

Mom:  Yes, you are.  I am glad, but it kinda makes me sad.

Erin:  Don't worry, Mom, I'll still snuggle you.

Finished Art Pieces

Here is the original photo

of my project from the last blog.

I had my first request to purchase one of my photos yesterday.

She encouraged me to open an ETSY shop.

I have been thinking of selling my prints.

Decisions.

Yesterday was the first day of the e-course

Believe Truth.

Do I add more things to my plate?

Food for thought anyway.

Here are my finished projects.

Enjoy.

Have a lovely day.

Sneak Peek Friday: BEGIN...one small step at a time

Today is . . .

Sneak Peak Friday ~ In The Studio

Sponsored by Jennifer over at Studio JRU

If you'd like to join, just click above!

So here is my sneak peak of creativity this week . . .

I am working on a piece

"Begin...one small step at a time"

It is what I have been doing lately

even though some steps have felt like

giant leaps of faith

those did require small steps to get to the leaping point.

It seems to be a theme at this time of year and life

*back to school for my kids

*New friends from Flying Lessons~artists, photographers, writers taking new steps

*writing this Believe Truth e-course

*registering for the Black Hills Photo Shootout

Beginning one small step at a time

often includes walking toward one thing and away from another.

Even when we know we should and want to

there is a part that wants to stay and hang on to where we have been.

This morning my three year old daughter Erin wanted to visit Grandma.

So we decided it would be a step of courage for her.

She was quite hesitant to go,

but Toby, the beagle, went with her.

I gave her a popscicle for the walk...a treat to occupy her mind.

She walked along the road

looking back at me every so often

standing on the deck.

Then started down the hill.

I saw her blonde top-knot pony tail bobbing along

until it almost disappeared.

Then she called, "Mommmm??"

And the pony tail reappeared.

"It's ok!"  I hollered to her.

Then she disappeared completely from my sight.

Again, she called, "Mom?" from the point where she could not see me

but she could still hear my voice.

"You're ok"  I called back.

She has to pass through a spot

where she can't see home

and she can't see Grandma's house.

But then I saw her appear again at the bottom of the hill . . .

first the pony tail along with the white tip of Toby's tail.

Then bit by bit her whole little body,

and Toby's too,

were visible.

At that point, I could hear Grandma call, "Hi!!"

Erin started skipping and faintly I heard, "I have popscicles!"

Grandma's yellow lab Ruger started barking his greeting.

She was at her new destination.

Starting with one small hesitant step in the way she wanted to go.

Isn't it like that?

I know I am supposed to go a new way.

I have to take that hesitant first step in this new direction.

I take a companion for comfort.

And maybe a little treat for some diversion.

But then I cannot see where I left, nor where I am going.

Yet, I am on the road.

And the road keeps going showing me the next steps.

I call out to God.

To know He is there.

I cannot see Him, but I can hear His voice.

Even if it is not audible to my ears.

I can hear it in my spirit.

And it gives me courage when I can't see where I left

and I can't see where I am going.

But then, stepping one small step after another,

I begin to get a glimpse of the new destination.

And there it is that my fear turns into enthusiasm.

And I start skipping.

Photos and text copyright Sept. 2010 Jodene (Jodi) Shaw.

School Pictures

After waiting with my 3-year-old

to get her photo taken only to have her

frown with her eyes and smile with her mouth

{at the same time}

or stick her tongue out

or lift her dress

or look away . . .

I think I have decided

that in the future

I will not buy school photos.

The kids can take their pictures for the class picture and the yearbook.

But then I will take the money that I would have spent

and buy snapshots instead.

The day of "school pictures" is loaded with anxiety.

And why not? 

There is the pressure that THE photo taken today

will go down in infamy as the way you looked

in 2010, or 1979, or 1962.

And is it really accurate?

The forced smile.

The awkward discomfort.

The stiff clothing that you don't normally wear.

The hair poofed or slicked down in a style that

makes people think

Who is that?

So, grandparents, don't be surprised

if you get one of these

for your wall

instead

of the traditional stiff pose.

{say cheeeeeese!}

~ Wings of Time ~ Part 2

Yesterday was a double portion

in the nostalgia corner of my heart.

Not only did my kids go back to school, but

my dad had his 70th birthday.

I grew up admiring my dad.

People knew him and liked him.

Everywhere we went, people smiled when they saw Phil.

And he did too.

Always cracking a tease . . .

or giving you a nickname . . .

which was a sure bet that he liked you.

He calls my mom "Alice".

Her name is Linda.

My kids have grown up knowing,

"Papa only teases the people he likes."

I didn't inherit the teasing

~

I am always the serious one.

But I did want to be like my dad.

I wanted that recognition like he had...

when people heard his name,

they knew what he did

who he was

that he was the A.I. guy...

that raised gelbvieh cattle.

His name was positively associated with his work.

I wanted to emulate that.

I was proud to be his daughter.

I think that growing up, I thought everyone loved my dad like I did.

I wanted to be loved like that. 

I wanted people to see me the way I saw my dad.

We gave my dad a birthday card

to make him laugh.

It plays "The Chicken Dance".

My kids loved it . . . so did he.

Erin is 3.

Yesterday she called to "tell him it was his birthday".

He was already gone for the day, but when he called back in the evening,

I said "Hello"

and on the other end of the line

I heard

"The Chicken Dance".

As we passed the phone around to wish him

Happy Birthday,

each one was treated to "The Chicken Dance".

He was and is a blend of hard work and laughter

and loving my mom . . .

that I thought was true of all dads.

just like Charles and Caroline Ingalls on TV

on Little House on the Prairie.

I was blessed with parents like this.

I wanted a marriage like theirs ~ and I have one.

Last night, on my dad's 70th birthday and my kids' first day of school,

we finished reading

Little House In The Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder.

It ended in the fall.

The words were fitting,

"She thought to herself, 'This is now.'

She was glad that the cosy house,

and Pa and Ma and the firelight and the music,

were now. 

They could not be forgotten,

she thought, because

now is now.

It can never be a long time ago."

I am glad that I was happy, like Laura, 

to have now be now

as a girl growing up.

This is now.

I embrace it.

My dad at 70.

My kids at 11, 8 and 3 ~ going back to school.

Time 

keeps flying

to a new now

a new season

a new age.

Happy Birthday, Dad.

text copyright 2010, Jodene Shaw.