View

This month the One Word on Shutter Sisters is a choose your own word. My word for the month is "view". There are so may ways to interpret that word, and many of them are very meaningful to my life this year.

We will have a new view out our window when we move to Houston in April. I am so excited about this new adventure, I can't express in words my feelings about this change in our lives. It will open up so many new possibilities for our little two person family. I have so many plans for the future.

I want to start this new year with a new view on life. The move will help refocus my life in so many ways, but there is a lot I need to work on from the inside. I need to let go of some things, and accept a new reality. I need to trust more in God. I am definitely not there yet, but I know it will happen with a little work.

To help with my visual "view" I got some new camera related presents for Christmas. The husband bought me a wireless remote for my camera. I used the remote on my old camera all the time, but I never got one for the new camera. Now that I have it, I don't know how I lived without it. The pictures below would have been very difficult without a remote.

I was also able to widen the view of my 50mm lens with a wide angle and macro lens adapter I got from my sister. I am in love with the wide angle adapter (which I used in all of the pictures below), but am having a little trouble with the macro adapter. User error is most likely to blame for that malfunction.

What views are you looking forward to this year?

All images are from Chagrin Falls, OH.

Inspiration

This weekend I said goodbye to a friend moving back to the UK. She lives near downtown Chicago, so we met up down there to hang out for one last time. We ate at our traditional place, Quartino's. If you haven't been, I highly recommend it.  Eat outside, though, you won't hear yourself think if you try to eat inside.

After dinner we decided to check out the Transformers 3 filming location.  I have never been to a "set" before, so it was kind of cool to see it.  We saw what appeared to be "bad" transformers (race cars with machine guns on them), really cool cars, and Tyrese, who plays Sergeant Epps in the movie. 

After a couple minutes of getting our movie set thrills we headed into the nearby mall to check out the Lego store.  In this mall there is a photography gallery filled with pictures of Chicago, among other things, taken by Cesar Russ.  This brings me to the whole point of this blog post, inspiration.  I have been in a photographic rut lately.  This usually happens in the winter because it is so freakin' cold here that I don't feel like doing anything.  The rut continues until I find my inspiration.  This time it came from Cesar Russ.

After seeing his gallery, and his photography of Chicago, I thought to myself, "I can take these pictures", "I can do this." While searching through some old photos on my laptop today I came across this picture I took of Chicago in July of 2008, 2 years ago. This picture has just been sitting on my hard drive. I took the picture, uploaded it to my computer, and then never looked at it again.  I decided it was about time this photo made its debut.

Since that day I have taken more pictures than I have all month.  I really needed that inspiration.
What inspires you? How do you get out of your ruts?

Standing Tall

Don't let anyone tell you what is right or what is best for your life. Do what is best for yourself and follow your heart. Stand tall and stand by your decisions, but always be prepared to admit your mistakes and admit when you were wrong.

I have made a big decision in my life about my future. My family and friends have been very supportive of that decision, but there are some people that haven't. At first I let it get me down until I realized that I am the one that has to live my life and no one else can do it for me. So, I shouldn't let a few non-supporters choose the direction of my future. I have to do what is best for me. You should do the same.

Florida Sunset

Oh to be back in Florida enjoying the sunsets, and the warmth. I'm still settling into my life of teaching and not traveling. It is taking me awhile to get back on my feet. Stay tuned for some tutorials I have been working on.

Country Time

Sometimes I miss the country. Especially when I'm stuck in traffic, or when I want to watch the sunset. Watching the sunset over a street of houses just isn't the same. Taking a walk through the Forest Preserve isn't like walking through a forest in the middle of nowhere. Today is a day where my heart longs for the open land, clean air, and broad skies.

Indiana Sunset

Before our road trip to Houston we had some friends visiting from Portland, Oregon. We thought it was a good opportunity to do something Derek and I had never done before. So, we decided to pack a picnic lunch and drive out to the Indiana Dunes. After more than an hour of sitting in rush hour Chicago traffic (somehow lunch turned into dinner) we finally made it to the dunes. We only had enough time to eat dinner, climb Mount Baldy, and walk along the beach. It was perfect timing, however, because we left right around sunset. The slight cloud cover from the quick rainfall we had made for a perfect sunset over Lake Michigan.

Through the Archives

I was browsing through some old folders on my desktop and ran across these photos I took back in October. I loved the way the sun lit up the grass like jewels on a necklace. Remember the sun, remember the green grass and trees. One of these days they will come back to me. Until then I have this photo to remind me.

Skies to Columbus

The sky was on fire and light from the heavens shined down on our drive to Columbus.

There are more beautiful skies from all over the world over at SkyWatch Friday.

Carefree

Oh how I miss those carefree days of laying in the grass, watching the clouds go by, and blowing on dandelions.

Sky Watch: I Wish I Was Here

I wish I was camping in Door County and watching the fog roll in in the morning. Instead I am studying for my qualifiers in a cold basement in Locy Hall. Four more weeks from yesterday and it will all be over, ahhhhhhh.

For more SkyWatch head on over here.

Skywatch: Dusk

For more Skywatch head on over here, there is a lot to see.

ABC Wednesday: "Z"

I have been looking forward to "Z" for a long time. I have been waiting to share with you one of my favorite places in the U.S. , Zion (Utah). The colors in these rocks are amazing, the hiking is amazing, the fun to be had is amazing. We have been here twice, once as Out West trip counselors and again last summer for field camp. Each time I just can't believe how beautiful it is.

Things I would recommend doing:
Hike the narrows. Wear your water shoes because you will be walking down a river through some narrow canyons. Don't go if it is raining, people have died due to flash floods.

Hike to Observation point. This is an 8 mile, 5 hour, hike up to a beautiful view of the park and through sky high canyons. It is definitely worth the hike. The pictures below are from our first trip out there, so not the best quality.











This is on the East side of the park. The rocks in Zion are mostly Navajo Sandstone formed by the fossilization of ancient dunes. It is very recognizable by its cross stratification (the diagonal lines that criss cross the rocks).




For more information about Zion

For more ABC Wednesday, or to add one of your own, head on over to Mrs. Nesbitt's.
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A Weekend at the Cottage

We went up to the in-laws cottage on Lake Erie this weekend. It was so nice to relax and not have to worry about anything. I took a nap two afternoons in a row, and there are some unfortunate pictures to prove it.

It is funny how things can change over 9 years of going to the cottage. The first time I went up there kids were everywhere. There was a baby, some toddlers, and some teenagers (me being one of them). It was fun shooting marshmallows at the little buggers and playing in the lake. Now, it is a completely different story. There was not a child in site. A couple marshmallows were shot, but overall the day was filled with sitting around, eating food, taking walks and riding bikes. Someone needs to start popping out some kids so we can feel young again (hint hint hubby).

Here are some of my favorite shots of the cottage.

The back dock out onto the bay.



We used to jump off of this dock into thick, black, muck. It was so much fun and disgusting all at the same time. Now the grasses have grown up and the water has dropped so there is no more muck to play in, which is probably a good thing.



My sister-in-law and I built this swing with grandpa. He passed away a couple years later, but we have the memories and this place to remember him by.



Me and my puppy. She was such a good girl and followed my everywhere, some of the times without a leash. Our little girl is growing up so fast.



I have lots more to show you so stay tuned.

Zapping Zits and other Blemishes in Photoshop

Don't you hate it when you get that perfect shot and it is ruined by a big red zit, or a cookie crumb you were saving for later. Well, I know how to fix it, and I will let you in on my secret weapon. It is called the healing brush tool, and you can find it in any version of Photoshop CS.

Because I am a nice person, and I don't want to embarrass any of my friends or family by using a picture of them with a zit, I will offer myself up for demonstration (ignore the crazy man on the left). Here is an old picture of me with a giant zit or two on my chin. Do you see it, it is glaring at you in all of its redness. (Sorry about the pixelyness of the photo, old camera). There is also a scar on my forehead and several small zits I will try to get rid of, but focus on that giant one on my chin.



Now we want to zoom in so that the evil blemish is clearly visible. Choose the healing brush tool in the tool box, it is the one that looks like a band aid, or simply press "j".



Now, choose a brush size that is just a tad bit bigger than your blemish. While holding down the alt key click somewhere nearby that doesn't have a zit. Release the alt key and then click on the zit. Zap, it is gone and the area is blended in nicely with its surroundings.

Here is the image with the zit removed. My scar is gone too, and so are some pesky little zits, see?



Isn't that a fun trick, now you never have to wear makeup again. Yikes, that could be scary. Have fun :)

ABC Wednesday: "V"

Vast Views:

It is way too late and I can't remember the name of this place. When I get to school I will look it up in my field notebook. I do know that it is near Ferron, Utah. That's my friend Rich, "Hi Rich!"

edit: Ok, I looked it up and I'm pretty sure this is from Dry Wash near Ferron, Utah.



One of the most beautiful place I have ever been. The grass was amazingly green, the skies were perfectly blue, it was amazing. This was a taken at an overlook just outside of a ski resort in southern Colorado.



Finally, the husband at the Great Sand Dunes. One of his favorite book series is "Dune" by Frank Herbert. I'm pretty sure that if he could live here he would.



To learn more about the letter "V", or to post your own photos, head on over to Mrs. Nesbitt's.

I'm off to bed for now, see everyone in the morning :)

Sky Watch Friday

While at the Great Sand Dunes last summer we noticed a storm rolling in. A friend and I decided to hike a ways up the mountain to get a better view, and it was well worth the hike. The colors of the sun peaking out from the clouds, the dark heavy clouds over the dunes, the green trees and the bright dunes all made for a beautiful scene.

The storm didn't make it to our camp until much later in the night. It just so happens that that night a bunch of people decided that it would be a good idea to sleep outside. They missed the memo about the storm coming in. We woke up the next morning to find wet sleeping bags and people sleeping in the vans. It was nice being warm and dry :)

For more Sky Watch photos, or to add one of your own, head over to Wiggers World. Have a wonderful Friday!

Sky Watch Friday

This picture was taken way back in 2003, long before my beautiful Nikon came into my life. It is one of my favorite places in the world, the Grand Tetons (Wyoming, USA).

We spent a couple of days here when Derek and I were chaperons on a high school summer geology trip. The only negative thing about this part of the trip were the mosquitoes at our campsite. They pretty much ate you alive. We cooked dinner bathed in insect repellent with every part of our bodies covered with clothes, gloves on our hands, and only our eyes visible to the world. Yet, the mosquitoes still swarmed us and tried to eat us.

You can't beat this view, though. It is worth every mosquito bite I got. Even with all of the tourists you can always find a peaceful spot to just gaze at the mountains and take in all of God's beautiful work.

To see more sky shots, or to join in on the fun, visit Wigger's World

Sky Watch Friday:California

My post today is so late that it is already Friday, so here is my Skywatch Friday.

This is from my trip last week to California. I drove from Oxnard to Santa Monica on Highway 1 to visit a friend. On the way I stopped to take some photos of the beautiful coast. Unfortunately, I was driving down in the early afternoon, so the sun was high in the sky. This was the best shot I could manage.



Head over to Wiggers World for more sky shots.

I'll try to post something else when I wake up to make up for my late post today.

Sky Watch Friday: Dunes

Sorry about my lack of posts this week. We have been really busy with the remodel and trying to move. This weekend is the big floor laying weekend and then we have to be moved by the end of the month, so it will be busy around here.

I had a request for a picture of the dunes from last week's post, so here they are. This is my favorite shot of the dunes, although I am disappointed with the blown out corner.



We woke up at 4:30 am to be sure we made it to the top of the dunes by sunrise. There was a chill in the air, and everyone else was huddled in their warm sleeping bags fast asleep. There was no need to brush teeth or comb hair. No one would see us anyways. I threw on some jeans and a t-shirt, pulled my hair back into a ponytail, and stuck a hat on my head. We were ready to go.

We took off our shoes thinking it would be easier to hike the sandy dunes in bare feet. The first part of the hike required a trek across the flat river bed. Sharp stones and the cold ground quickly found shoes back on our feet. The sky was starting to brighten as we made it to the base of the dunes.

Moist, cold sand made the hike easier at first, but as we got higher the dunes became drier. Every step forward made us slip half a step back as sand slid out from under our feet. We could see the top of the dunes. As we made it to the summit we realized it was only an illusion, there was another summit even farther up. This time there was a basin in our way. We had to go down to get back up again. The sky was turning blue and the sun was just behind the mountains. We had to keep going to greet the sunrise.

As we made it to the top we saw a tiny figure walking across the dunes. It was even higher than us, there was even more sand to cross. We had to make it to the top. We couldn't stop now, what would be the point. A chubby little colorless grasshopper was making little tracks in the sand. If he could make it, then we could too. This was it. This was the real summit. As we climbed higher and higher, more and more dunes came into view. The last step opened up a world we had no idea even existed. Mountains surrounding us, and dunes reaching out to them. An amazing view that was worth getting up early to see. The sun slowly rose over the mountains and showered the dunes with light. Shadows danced all around them, joyous for the new day.

For more sky shots head over to Wiggers World

Sky Watch Friday: Great Sand Dunes

This place is amazing. Just you and the landscape, the sand beneath your toes, the big blue sky above you. You start climbing to the top of the dunes, just a little bit farther, then you see it. The dunes stretch out in front of you and continue for as far as you can see. The mountains tower over you like giants. I could have spent the entire day here just lying on the sand.

For more beautiful sky pictures go to Wiggers World