So, I got some gorgeous FREE photoshop actions from the wonderfully talented Annie from over at Funky Photoshop Actions

So easy to install, use and adjust. They will be my new love.

Just processed this photo I took in July at Pt Lonsdale with the Gerberah Blossoms action and Golden Leaves action and love it!

Thanks Annie!

Had a great day today. After netball (Bee’s team won!), Bee and I went over to Ashburton here in Melbourne. We went to the Vintage Extravaganza because my sister-in-law, Alicia from Time Worn Style was having a stall.

It was so lovely. Lots of yummy vintage pieces – I even managed to get a great tin measuring cup and a lovely old enamel (cream and red) pot – both for my kitchen.

Above are some great letters that I would have loved to buy – no where to put them though!

Here are some more fabulous items.

I have been doing the online course of Sheye Rosemeyer’s as mentioned in a previous post.

This week, for task two, we had to randomly choose three words from a list of ten words and come up with a creative shoot.

The three words that I selected from a hat were:

Yellow, Water and Shadow.

I had limited time to organise myself as I was away for the weekend and the task was due tonight (Monday night). So, when Bee finished school today, I asked her if she would do ‘just a little shoot’ down at Brighton Beach.

Here is the diptych I came up with…

In the first image, I really like the reflection of Bronte on the right wall and in the second image I love the Conver All-Stars and the sunflare.

Other images I toyed with submitting were…

I believe that the more technicalities you let creep into photography, the more you drive out the creativity.

Jack Manning     –    News Photographer

I found this quote tonight  and was thrilled as this is exactly how I feel about my photography. It is probably because I have a background in Fine Art, no, not probably – definitely. Often when I take a photo, I  feel what I see through the view finder. I am not one for the technical – never have been.

So, thanks Jack Manning – for saying what you did – it helps.

Do you have a saying that you would like to share that has really ‘fit’ where you are at the moment? If so, would love to hear it – leave a comment – I need some inspiration.

Here are more Red Bird photos – by now you must really know that I love my little red bird!

Not much to say about this storyboard but I just loved the images…more to come tomorrow.

At this very minute, I am immersing myself in an online photography course called evolve. This course runs for four weeks and we are in our first week. It is facilitated by the fab Sheye Rosemeyer, whose work and words I greatly admire.

I did the explore component last April. Loved every second of it. ‘Met’ some wonderful women from all over the world and learnt a lot about myself and photography.

evolve is the 2nd component and for some reason, my confidence in my abilities is not that high at the moment. To see the work this group produces, well let’s just say, I sit here in awe.

The first assignment is Soul Happy. What makes my soul happy? When I saw the topic my heart sunk. I am not good at introspective stuff. I don’t like delving too deep into myself. at. all.

Too hard. Too personal. Too much.

But today, an idea evolved!

Below is the post that I wrote accompanying my submission.

So, I decided to simplify. I decided to try to not ‘over think’ the task. I almost decided not to do the task to tell you the truth.

Yesterday was my birthday. I was so spoilt by family and friends. I was loved. I realised THAT made my soul happy. But how to show it? I took my camera to Morning Coffee. Spent some time with friends that I have known for ten plus years. While I had a lovely time I didn’t feel it ‘right’ to bring out the camera.

I went out to lunch with another group of friends – one of these friends and I share our birthdays – again – took my camera. Had lots of laughs and great food. Received plenty of gifts and hugs. No photos.

Dinner up at our neighbours place. Nice food. Nice company. Nothing camera-wise.

The day was a total dud in the photo department.

Today, I was looking at my cards and gifts and feeling very loved. Standing in the kitchen, I was holding up this gorgeous ceramic bird that my daughter, Bronte, gave me yesterday. Admiring its imperfections. Admiring its ‘redness’‘, for I do love the colour red in my kitchen!

Bee walked in and said do you want to take a photo of the bird? I could hold it if you like? I was pleasantly surprised at her suggestion as now, she normally runs from the camera. Yes please! So she went and changed into something that she thought would ‘match’. And it was perfect – a cream hoodie with red accents and embroidered red birds. She thought it all through. for. me.

This. This made my soul HAPPY.

Thoughtfulness. Not only of her gorgeous gift to me but her volunteering and getting changed. But wait! There’s more! She was even agreeable to posing suggestions! Wowee!

So, here is what made my soul happy today. A daughter, a red bird and winter light through my kitchen window.

That was a revelation to me – that such a simple gift of time, love and a bird was soul happy. I was looking too hard and too much before. I love how this just came to be.

It wasn’t set up – she just picked up my lens while I was putting the 50mm on the camera. She is curious and inquisitive. I did notice something strange about what she was doing though.

I am left-handed. So is she. So, out of 5 of us – 2 of us are lefties and the only 2 girls – yay! However, I notice that she does a lot of things right-handed as well. She is a lot more ambi-dextrous than me.

For instance, in this photo, she is holding the lens in her left hand (naturally) but is using her right eye to look through it. To me this is not natural because in many cases, you will find that lefties look through view finders and telescopes etc with their left eye. Not a big deal I know but I always notice these things.

She eats right handed, kicks left footed, throws the basketball and netball left-handed but bounces the basketball with her right hand. She is one confused lefty! lol

Whereas, my totally right handed boy, Sam, eats left handed. I just find these kinds of things interesting. Not earth shattering but interesting.

In my family, there are 5 children. I am the youngest and the only lefty. My mum and dad were right handed as were all of their family etc. I am an aberration! lol However, one of my brother’s has two children and they are both lefties and I think (but am not totally sure) that his wife and her family are all righties.

Any lefties in your family?

Driving along New Street, Brighton, here in Victoria I was looking at St. Andrews Church and saw the most beautiful light hitting the doorway.

I stopped the car suddenly, almost tossed Bronte out of the car and said ‘sit there! quick! the light is just about to go!’

Poor kid – she was a bit lot reluctant as she had just been to physio and we were on our way home. She said “I’m not dressed right” “You look fine!”

Snap, snap, snap. She had had enough but I did get a few that I was happy with. What do you all think?

For some reason, I love skies that have powerlines in them. Something to do with peacefullness = urbanite maybe?

I don’t know the reason – I just like them. Today I have been looking through my many memory cards and found this set. Hope you enjoy!

Taken just out my driveway in the middle of suburbia.

as I wanted to enter a photo this week over at i heart faces.

This is the photo I ended up submitting for the challenge – mainly because I adore the light and the fab red flare! Check out my entry over at my Challenges Blog.

The following are photos of him that I loved for one reason or another. Most because this shoot only took 10 minutes and I managed to capture that beautiful golden late afternoon light. Warms me up on a winter’s day!

The shot above was the other that I was considering to enter into the challenge. What do you think?

I call this one ‘Golden Boy’

Love the colours and textures in this and I love the way he is looking at the viewer.