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Yesterday Win and I were in the parking lot of the grocery store when he saw a big yellow semi truck. He started begging me to go see it. I told him that we could get in the car and drive near it. That’s when he started begging, “Crash. Crash. Crash, please.” He was asking me to to drive our ‘95 Dodge Stratus straight into the big yellow semi.
Yesterday was perfectly sunny and upper 60s. Gorgeous! Win helped me water our new arborvitaes. He had a lot of fun with the hose.
At times the hose would turn on him!
After we finished watering the plants he began watering himself. I guess that’s why he’s so tall!
Photography tip:
I can still remember the first time that I saw a photograph from a digital camera. The print was being passed around as everyone was exclaiming, “Look at that! You can’t even tell that it’s digital.” In order to be socially appropriate I agreed with something like, “Amazing!” But inwardly I was thinking, “Something about that image looks really fake and flat. I don’t think that I’ll ever buy a digital camera.” hmm…
As you know, I did buy a digital camera, a pretty expensive one too. I love digital photos, as do most professionals. Now that I know why that image looked so fake and how to avoid it I LOVE the upsides of digital photography.
If you are having a problem with your images looking too “digitally” it’s ok, there is a solution. And you probably won’t need to buy a new camera. Digitally looking pictures are the result of over-sharpening. Sharpening is something that most cameras do to images to give them a sharp, focuses look. The problem is that when images are over-sharpened they start to look really fake. Sharpening is a good thing, but like seasoning in cooking, you only want just the right amount.
Here are some samples.
Over-sharpened image:
Properly sharpened image:
Do you see the difference? It’s subtle, but it’s the difference between realistic and fake. If you can’t see the difference look at his eyelashes. That’s where I see it most.
Most cameras allow you to adjust the level of sharpening that they do to your images. If you are noticing this problem fuss around in the menu of your camera and look for anything that addresses sharpening. Turn it down. When in doubt less sharpening is better. I have the sharpening turned all of the way off in my camera.
Simone (Shartow) Tennant and I were 18 and freshmen at Hope College when we broke into Jason Koedyker and Benjamin Tennant’s dorm room. I’d briefly met Benjamin once and hadn’t yet met his roommate Jason. Simone had a little thing for Ben, but wasn’t telling. We, with 18-year-old bravado that I haven’t totally gotten rid of, felt that we were welcome to steal their stuff and vandalize their room. Simone and I spent about 20 minutes labeling every object in the room with Jason’s little yellow post-its until they were all gone. Wall, door, lamp, book, The Ides of March, poster, desk, floor, you name it and it had a little post-it on it.
Fast forward 11 years. Simone and Benjamin have 3 boys. Jason, whom we all call “Kool” has been my friend for 11 years. He is getting married on June 7th!! and I am photographing their wedding. He and Lisa had their first date in September 2006. By October everyone who knew them was pretty certain that this was it. She is fabulous, kind, fun, beautiful and PERFECT for our friend Jason. I just love Lisa and can’t wait for her to move to Holland next month.
On Saturday I shot some pictures at her bridal shower.
Jason’s mother organized some fun games.
Isn’t Lisa beautiful!
Jason gave her the most beautiful engagement ring.
We all had a great time.
Today has been a really good day for Winfield. It started off with the sound of a dump truck and front end loader in the street. Win loved watching them load sticks into the dump truck.
Then, Win and I spent the 35 degree-but-sunny morning planting little “Christmas trees” along our property. Win loved scooping up dirt and running around outside.
My daffodils will be blooming soon. I love this time of year!
Today Win, Harriet and I were at the store when I had my first sighting of a SmartCar. Um…wow! They are small. They look a little like a P.T. Cruiser that’s been chopped in two. Here’s a picture of the one that we saw. Win and I went over to it to get a closer look. In it we saw the perfect accessory–a 7 pound Yorkie standing guard.
