Photo Feedback Week 4

It's a new week and time for another Photo Feedback Hop. I'm so glad to see that a few more folks are joining in. I have really enjoyed getting feedback on my work and find it very helpful to have some constructive critiques and also to critique other photographer's photos. It really makes you think through a shot and hone in on what choices you could make differently to make an image stronger.

 One of the things I need to work on most, I think, is shooting with intention. Making specific choices about what to include or not include in my images, and how to tell a story and evoke emotion within the frame. So, I am loving this weekly link up hosted by the lovely and talented Kim @ Mom Tried It. 

I hope you will consider joining in if you haven't yet linked up!

This is a shot I took during our visit to my In-Laws in NC last weekend. Here is my before and after from LR as well as my histogram.

And this is after a little editing in PS4. I warmed it up a bit, ran Coffee Shop's Butterscotch Vintage action and sharpened for the web.

Thanks for stopping in and taking the time to leave a thoughtful comment. I really appreciate your visit!

Project 366 Rewind Week 9 - Soul

Skidding in under the wire for my Project 366 Rewind this week! Whew, it's been a busy day catching up from our weekend out of town!  Here are my pics to share from last week's adventures. More from our trip to come later this week...so many photos...so little time to edit!  ;)

My super awesome husband bought me a new external hard drive, since our 1 Terabyte drive was nearly full. Now I've got 2T's for pics ;)

 I played peek-a-boo with my 4 year old when he built an indoor fort during last week's rainy spell.

 I went in search of more signs of Spring.

 I took a stroll in town and found out that city birds are much more likely to let you take their photo than our feathered friends in the suburbs.

 The big girl and I splashed in puddles. This is my pic for this week's prompt: Soul (a lame interpretation, I know. Sorry. I'll do better next week!)

 And we spent a gorgeous, warm sunny evening at the soccer fields.

Then we headed to NC for the weekend where I found this dude chewing the cud. OMG I did some major cloning of cow patties in this pic. I think I removed like 85 piles!!! You're welcome ; P

That's it for the quickie recap. I hope you had a fabulous week. Thanks for stopping by!

Sunday Scavenger Hunt - Week 9

Well, after last week's push to make it to the hunt early, I've managed to be terribly late this week. We spent the weekend out of town and I've been playing catch up all day...laundering, bill paying, child taxiing, doctor visiting, grocery shopping, etc. I also struggled a bit with this prompts for this week. Not that they were particularly difficult, but I just found that I had so much going on that it was tough to find the time to be creative.  Nonetheless, I hate to miss a hunt, so here I am...a day late and a dollar short, as they say. Or is it better late then never?

Routine: It has become our morning routine for me to make cinnamon toast for the kids. Butter, sugar, cinnamon? What's not to love ;)

Music: This kid looooves music. He's been begging for a drum set. Heaven help us!

Technology:  Remember these old "mobile" phones? We've come a long way!

Show Me Your Style: This is me - coffee, camera, jeans and a tee.

Mismatch - from the archives taken with my old point and shoot. This was our beloved pooch Max, who passed away a few years ago. He will be in my heart always. I loved his mismatched brown and blue eyes.:

That's it for this week. Thanks for stopping in!

Stopping to Smell the Flowers

We're spending the weekend with family, so I just wanted to put up a quick post. I have really been loving seeing the first blooms of Spring. Brighter days are coming ;)

I hope you have a lovely weekend! Don't forget to stop and smell the flowers ;)

The Pod

This week's selection may seem a little odd, but I'll admit that I was a bit fascinated by this seed pod. Soccer season is kicking up again and I found an entire bush of these pods that had taken over a mound of dirt out on the fields. The plant is obviously an aggressive weed, though I don't know what kind (let me know if you do!). I think the pods are so interesting in their texture and form. I just had to capture one. 

Be sure to stop by Kim and Misty's blogs to catch more Shoot. Edit. Submit. entries or to submit your own.

Thursday Snapshot

Just a quick snap shot of my 4 year old yesterday. It was a rainy, rainy day and the kids built a fort in the living room. I love the way this shows off his green eyes. He's the only one in the family with eyes like that. Sorry about the blue lips! He had just eaten a blue raspberry ring pop ;)

Now we're off to lunch with my little sis' and to enjoy the gorgeous warm weather today.

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you have a beautiful Thursday!!!