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.

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.

the fog was a.mazing!

This was taken to the left of Brighton Beach, towards Hampton and Sandringham. Normally you can see the marina and other things but this day – zilch. I love how this turned out – almost like the end of the world – step into my oblivion!

This lone walker was walking in the direction of Melbourne the city. Normally you can see the city quite clearly in the distance from here. Not this day!

Colour at last! Love this storyboard of colour on a dull winters day! The famous Brighton Beach Boxes!

Taken from Urban Dictionary

I belong to a great Aussie photo forum that has just started out. Filled with lovely people of all ages who takes photos of all styles. Amazing really to see soooo many different styles and ideas. I love to be there because I love to learn abount all aspects of photography, from lifestyle portraiture {my personal fave genre} to hdr to scenic to product photography – you name it – someone will try it.

Such a diverse group from whom I have learnt a lot.

Well, there is a monthly challenge – the first one is the word ‘photoholic’ and below is my interpretation…

I have been thinking of how to tackle this for a week or so. I had quite a few different ideas and the finished product turned out better than I hoped planned.

To reflect that I have been into photography for many years – started really in the late 70′s – I wanted to incorporate my original film SLR camera – the gorgeously, now retro, Pentax ME Super. Then I thought that I would put my new-fangled ultra wide angled Pentax lens on the front of it (isn’t she beautiful?). Ferretted out some old photos that I took, along with old slides both Agfa and Kodachrome. Fortunately, I  inherited snaffled my dad’s slide collection after he passed away. Then I added to this mix an old Kodak slide projector that I found on hard rubbish just a week ago! My gosh it is a gorgeous piece of equipment. I do still have dad’s old Hanimex projector but this one is so retro-swish that I couldn’t resist. Finally, a bottle of Smirnoff Vodka – my favourite alcoholic drink – trying to represent the late nights spent processing.

So, do you think this works? I would be interested in {any} replies!

it isn’t.

Another year has been. Mother’s Day is {bittersweet} for me.

Really, I do love it. I have 3 children who love me and love to shower me with affection for the WHOLE day. Sometimes {if I’m really lucky} they might not even argue for the whole. day. Can you believe that?

Showered with breakfast and gifts especially chosen – really it is almost better than a birthday!

But when I really think about Mother’s Day, I get sad. Sad that another year has gone by without my mum. It’s been nearly 12 years now and you know what? It doesn’t get any easier – it just gets different.

I look at my children and see what I would love to share with mum. She would have loved to know them as they are now. They were only young when she left. Well, Bronte was born 17 days after mum passed away – so it is even sadder that they never met.

Mum would have been so happy and proud to know my children. I know I am. {when the arguing stops that is!}

Thank you my 3 gorgeous off-spring (and Stan my husband) for a super delightful day.

xxx

So, here’s wishing that everyone reading this had a lovely, love-filled day!

Photo is of Stan and Bronte – Father and Daughter – on my special day. Love this because it is them.

And here are some photos of my 3 today – not technically perfect by any means but favourites because they show them as they are….