Continual State of Becoming

So yesterday I had my first real Parent-Teacher conference.  Even though I suspected it would go well (based on the way Dylan talks about school and more importantly the fact that I haven't heard any thing from the teacher or school that would lead me to believe otherwise), I was really really really nervous.  I'm not really sure why, but I suspect it had more to do with the fact that I felt like I was going through one of those Parental Milestones that mark the passage of how much your child has grown.  With this conference I now enter the world grades, and expectations, and "real" school.  Except that it's still just kindergarten, so things can still be light for a little while longer… I'm clinging to that as much as I can this year.  :) Anyway, here comes the bragging.  I was happy to meet with the teacher and get her take on how Dylan has been doing in school so far (according to Dylan he is the best kid in his class).  And I think he may actually be clo

I'm so excited for tonight!  I found out about a local photography class offered by an art studio that Matt and I both like (though haven't been to in a while since they moved locations) from a mom of one of Dylan's friends and decided to sign up for it.  It's a 6 week intermediate course.  I'm hoping that I didn't over estimate my abilities by skipping the beginner class... and it starts tonight!  I am really looking forward to actually LEARNING more about photography instead of just kind of having an idea of something that may work, let me try it this way and that way, and oh look at how that came out-- I wasn't expecting that but it looks good so I'll go with.  I am also really looking forward to getting some good feedback about pictures I've taken.  I need the criticism and an outside eye to know what I need to improve. I'm also just looking forward to getting out on my own and engaging my brain again.  I hope other people take notes, becau

I've been wanting to try this out... take pictures of myself running.  I couldn't really figure out how to do it outside, but since I do most of my running on the treadmill these days I decided to just go with that.  I used a tripod and my 18-55 lens (which is my worst lens, but the only thing that would work for this situation) and tried a couple different angles.  I think my favorites are the ones showing my feet moving... they look so fast! Walking and hydrating to start off. Light jogging for 10 minutes. Usually in the middle of a treadmill workout I do what I call "sprints and recovery" It basically means I run as fast as I can for 2 minutes, then I jog for 2 minutes.  Repeat a few times.  I'm sure there's some technical running term for this (or better method), but I don't know what it is and this works for me.  At the moment, my fastest sprint speed in 8.0 mph Running hard. "you've never seen my feet 'caus

I took a couple shots just for fun the other day.  I was trying to play around with lighting angles.  It's interesting to see how different the pictures come out. I'm facing the window pretty straight on.  Window is on my right side. Window is still on my right side, but at more of an angle. Window is behind me.

I'm sure I'm not alone in the amount of blogs I read.  For the most part I enjoy reading them while in the moment of doing so, and then I tend to move on.  But every once and a while I read something that resonates with me....  I just stumbled upon this (somewhat old) entry on a blog I started following not too long ago and I really appreciate the way this woman talks about being a mother.  (also her house is pretty fabulous)  So I just thought I'd share. Here's the original post:   http://www.designmom.com/2013/06/living-with-kids-ginger-johnson/ And some of the snippets I liked (it's kind of long): " My children have forced me to dig deep into who I am and what I value and to draw upon patience that I do not naturally have, and become creative in ways I had not contemplated before (who knew a brand new box of tissues makes for the best entertainment on a 5-hour road trip for an 18-month old?), and be selfless in a way I could not have fathomed before

Just being your typical cute and clumsy toddler.

I got my recent film files today.  Here are the bathroom selfies I tried (that go along with the ones from the dslr I previously posted).  They are a little off from what I wanted, but I think I understand why for the most part, now I just have to learn how to correct things and how to change the way I normally shoot so that things turn out better in B&W.  But in the interest of learning from mistakes, here they are: I totally exposed the wrong thing.  I'll try again. too blurry Gah!  Not a bad picture, just a too serious face.  Also, probably need to just go ahead and use a tripod next time.