Catchlight. That Girl. She has My Heart.

I'm still working on this 'catchlight' thing.  Otherwise known as making eyes sparkle.  So this afternoon when Brookie was demanding "Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit" (hint: doesn't sound like 'sit'), I whipped out the camera and snapped away.  Most of the images ended up in the trash.  For some reason, I couldn't make a lower ISO work for me, but I did pay attention to the catchlight-thing.  I'm liking the results.  I know it's bragging, I know it's my job as a parent, but this little girl is beautiful to me.  I'm a lover of black and white images, but can hardly make myself put her photos in that format because then you lose the vibrancy that are her eyes.  I have problems--like allowing my child to entertain herself with my "moan" (read: phone) in order to get pics. No doubt these poses will be repeated in her teen years.  I mean, unless her dad and I go all hard-ass and say,  "No cell phone ever because you might take nude pictures or boys might call you and that could lead to kissing and stuff and you are our baby girl."  That's a real possibility, people.  

So serious.  I like this one, but wish I had taken time to clean her face (parenting fail) and change her shirt. 

I lurve this.

Clearly too blown out, even if I do love how her eyes look.

I think the white balance is off in this one?  But yeah, her eyes really are that blue.

Obvi, I couldn't decide if color or B&W was the way to go. . .

A look and pose destined to be repeated in her teen years. 

Eye-Popping

I've been tweaking my photo editing skills again.  By again, I mean always, only this time I actually added a new skill to my tool bag.  Mostly I just try to teach myself by playing with the sliders in Lightroom and then being dissatisfied when they don't look like I envision.  So yeah, some motivation.  And I actually learned something:  how to make eyes pop a bit.  

This girl and her eyes are going to be trouble.  

When Manny Comes to Town

My sister and nephew visited this weekend.  It is perhaps my favorite in the history of ever to have my parents, my sister, brother-in-law, nephew and my tribe all in one place.  We didn't always get along, back in the day, but since approximately 1999 we've gotten along famously.  I dare say that since 2006 we haven't even had major disagreement.  Shocking, considering our early years.

Back to the subject.  We attempted to get all 4 grandchildren in one photo on Saturday morning to humor my mom.  It was comical.  And cute.  And the stand-out star was the 2 month old.  Who could've predicted such a thing?  Certainly not this mama.  But the pictures I have are of a far less formal occasion.  Cousin bath time.  Notice the blue-eyed beauty didn't feel the need to bathe or even to place her tush on the floor of the bathtub.

The last shot is of her semi-shouting, "Up!"  Notice the boys are not fazed.  

She's Serious

I like to play with taking pictures of my kids.  I aspire to be a good amateur photographer, and someday that title will be mine.  The truth is that I don't spend enough time on how to use my camera, although I do take most of my pics in manual mode.  Score. After some basic Lightroom lessons, I've tried to kind of teach myself editing.  It's not as easy as it might seem.

Straight out of the camera:

Running a basic preset from Oh So Posh Photography:

More editing of my own:

And the bottom one converted to B&W:

Not sure which one of the edited versions I prefer. . . weigh in?

Waiting for Special Moments

I like to say that I enjoy photography as a hobby.  Really, this means I like to take pictures of my kiddos.  Unfortunately, with the exhaustion of a third pregnancy in 100+ degree heat in the 8th and 9th month, I realized I went a whole month without taking a picture of my lovelies with a real camera.  Shameful, hmm?  Yep.  I had fallen into the trap of only taking pictures of "special occasions,"  definitely contradictory to the thought that life happens in the in-between moments.  So yesterday morning, I brought out the real camera to capture some lazy Saturday morning moments.

Elliott told me they were having a camp-out, hence the pillow & blue blank. 

I think he learned this pose from Glammy.  It's her go-to photograph pose.  

I love this picture.  Not modest of me at all, but I still am entranced.  

She's very serious about her playtime.

Check-out those crazy curls.  We're on experiment #4 of what I fear will be hundreds of taming solutions.

 

It was a good morning.  Simple fun.  No special occasion.  Just one of those magical hours that remind you of the importance of joy and how 'nothing special' can be the most special of all.  

What Our Fourth was Made Of

(should the 'of' be capitalized in the title?)

Midsummer celebration of freedom?  Yes, please.  We had a loverly day of swimming, bubbles, tractor riding, hamburgers and fireworks.

Yes, I was foolish enough to attempt another group photo.  Please note the new "cheese" face sported by my nephew, Griffin.

This one is almost straight out of the camera.  Her eyes really are that blue.

Griffin was 'helping'' push Ell on the tricycle (he refuses to pedal).  Chris encouraged waving.  Our version of an Independence Day parade.

Yep.  He really loves to pee outside.  I really loved the light in this photo, so I had to post it.

My mom's Fourth.  I was envious.

And my parents' arch-nemesis (plural?).  There's a plague.

He loved the smoke balls.

And the sparklers.

It was a memorable day, to be sure.  After waiting all day for it to be dark, Ell decided the fireworks hurt his ears and asked, "Daddy, can you not do that anymore?" He also commanded relentlessly that we all "cover our ears" each time Chris approached a fuse.  We saved some fireworks for Saturday, when we'll celebrate Amanda and Ben being finished with camp.  Tonight Elliott told me, "I'm so exciting for fireworks on Saturday."  Round Two--ding, ding.

Just Like Family

For my whole life, I've wanted to be surrounded and have my children surrounding by a plethora of friends who are like family.  I am lucky enough to have a best friend (okay, several friends) who will indulge me by getting our kids together once a month or so, until we remember that it's a foolish endeavor.  She has three kiddos:  one almost 7 years old, one 4 years old and one 2 1/2.  Now add in my rambunctious 3 1/2 year old and 1 year old and it's chaos in the making.  We stoopidly tried to take them all to lunch IN PUBLIC last   summer.  End of that experiment.  We now keep the chaos confined to our own homes.

Steph and her brood came over last week for a farewell visit before their annual trek to the Eastern Shores of North Carolina for the month of July.  I had the brilliant idea of capturing the friends-like-family moment with photos.  Ha.  Five children, aged one year to six and half, near bedtime.  Yes, I know what you are thinking--perfect photo-op.

*Please note Brooklyn's ever-sinking  posture & the progression of my dear Godson reaching his limit of seriousness in the pics.