January 31 - Sometimes, you just gotta let it slide...

We are finally feeling better. Well enough to realize that the house is a mess from days of feeling sick. Argh... So, in an act of defiant ignorance, I took Leif to the park to play. If you don't see the mess, you don't have to deal with the mess.

I didn't practice any photo technique with this shot. I even shot it on auto focus.

Sometimes, you just gotta let it slide.

January 30 - All aboard!

It was a sad day when my husband learned that you could find a huge array of model trains to buy on eBay. For a while, boxes arrived one after the other. All full of trains, coaches, tracks, transformers, and various spare parts. This one has been up and running in the living room for a few days now. Hey, Leif loves it and it makes good photo ops.

I am still practicing manual focus and was trying to copy some shots I saw on flickr of short DOF with the focus on the back of the item.

I must admit, these coaches are my favourite.

January 29 - The Castle at Kronberg

The other night, on the way to Leif's swimming lessons, our navigation system took us a new way. I thought it was a mistake and tried to reprogram her. We have named her Navagina since she is a "Navigon" brand and her voice is female. She kept showing the same route and so, I followed. She has never let us down before.

She led us on a wild ride up the mountain, sharp turns, winding curves. I honestly expected to pass a sherpa and donkey leading a troupe of adventurers to the summit. It was getting dark and I slowed down and again, questioned Navagina's guidance. Around a particulary sharp turn, this scene appeared. Of course, it was already dark and I had no camera. So, I went back today (dragging my sick husband on his birthday!) to get a shot of the view.

This is the castle at Kronberg, about 15 minutes from our house. We have visited it a few times, once during the Christmas Market where the inner hall was filled with craftspeople and artisans. The town of Kronberg is one of the cutest around... picture-postcard perfect with narrow winding streets. This shot was taken from Koenigstein-Mammolsheim, on the opposite side of the valley.

January 27 - The Tractor

Still working on macros, manual focus, etc. And, another one of Leif's old toys is the subject. I have always liked this little Massey Ferguson tractor (another hand-me-down from his Papa) but I must admit that the colours just don't have the pop that I expected from it. Maybe a different background...

January 26 - Sweet 16

A frosty walk to school this morning was a great chance to get some neat frost and light shots. This shot is someone's house number along "the curvy street" which is Leif's favourite route to school.

January 25 - Snowball fight!!

We were so excited about our trip to the Roman fortress at Saalburg yesterday that we got out the map and went hunting for another one. We live near the Limes (Ly-mess) which was the northernmost line of the Roman Empire around 85 AD. So, the area is dotted with ruins of walls and towers. Today, we found the mountains covered in snow and filled with shafts of light on our way to the ruins of a fortress.

January 24 - A trip to Saalburg

Saalburg, a restored Roman fortress dating back to 85 AD, is Near Bad Homberg, about 15 minutes from home. Leif loved running around inside the fortress and looking at the artifacts. The cloudy weather made it great for pictures too. And, with the history aspect for Papa, everyone was happy.

I did a lot of experimenting with settings today, and did some final editing on some shots.

January 23 - Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head...

But that doesn't mean my eyes will soon be turning red, crying's not for me...

Ok, so why exactly is it that I can remember the lyrics to really bad songs from the 70's but can't remember my new phone number for the life of me?

It was yet another sick day for Leif and it was raining. We got all slicked up and went out in the rain to play a little bit. I did some practicing with manual focus and macros again.

January 22 - Outside my back door...

Well, Leif was still sick so we pretty much stayed around the house. It was the first sunny day in forever and I had hoped to get some nice shots. Turns out the best shot was right outside my back door... my neighbour has an awesome garage... I just love the textures and colours. The old gate is a bonus.

January 21 - The Junker

Leif was sick today... yet another case of Kindergarten Cootie-Itis. So, we had a fun, quiet day at home. He was a big help with today's 365. He helped me pick a few of his old cars to shoot and helped me to choose the backgrounds that he thought worked best. I think he did great! The final choice was this old Chevy Impala, a car he inherited from his Papa.
I was working on using the manual focus with a macro shot and I am really happy with the way it turned out. I am definitely going to have to practice with the manual focus. It takes me forever to take one shot!
After my project was done, it was Leif's turn. For his project, we made a scene using some of his train stickers. Cute!

January 20 - Early morning preening...

Well, it seems that spring is arriving in Europe. Walking to school this morning, the bird songs were constant. The pussy-willows are out and the magnolia is beginning to bud. I can't wait to see the slow warming of the season.

I was trying to get a good shot of these interesting shrubs... love the shape of the branches. I noticed a bird preening itself in the birch tree behind. I stood and watched for a while... he was totally unaware of my presence.

January 19 - An old flame...

I realized today that I have left behind all the music stuff I used to do. So, I dusted off my violin to take a pic. Ok, I understand that it doesn't count as playing the violin again, but it's one step closer.

I am still working on Depth of Field, macros, and again, did a little editing.

January 18 - Another rainy walk in the woods

Ok. I get it. It rains a lot here. Another Sunday, another rainy walk in the woods with my family. Fun? Yes. Great for pics? No. So, here is a mediocre shot that I had fun playing with. I would really love to get more into editing and get some real editing software.

January 17 - Leif and his imaginary camera

Well, I have not missed a day of my 365 so far. I have been trying to do my pic while Leif is at school but today was Saturday. So, we went for a family walk and I took my camera. I had to laugh when I turned around and saw this.

An imaginary camera. What a nutbar. I wonder if he has seen his imaginary friend, Nothing McNotherson, lately?

January 16 - Strawberry

Well, after looking at yesterday's bud, I realized that it isn't really a macro in the traditional sense. I was trying to do two things at once because I am excited about both. So, today was a step back from bokeh to try a real macro. I am wondering if a larger f-stop will make the focus better on the whole thing instead of just one area. Next time, I will try that.

And, yes. I ate it. Mmmmmm....

January 15 - Hey, Bud!

Ok. So, I have a new addiction. It's called Flickr. It's a photo site and it's like a train wreck. I just can't look away. I have looked at 100's of really nice photos from people all over. And, I learned a new word... bokeh. It means blurred... out of focus. And, lots of shots have it. I just never noticed before.

So, I tried to get some shots with good bokeh. This one is ok. I was also trying to do a macro shot but I honestly not sure that I even know what that is.

This was taken in my backyard. One thing I have noticed about moving to Europe is that nature is just a little bit different here... the sky is different, trees have different shapes, the makeup of the forests is just not the same as North America. This shrub is something that I have started to see a lot here... never saw it in North America. The buds remind me of ketchup-flavoured popcorn. Mmmmmm....

January 14 - Same pot, different day

A few days ago, I shot a pot of spring bulbs. Well, they bloomed! So, here I was practicing depth of field and macro shooting. I am pleased with the result... even though it seems a bit blown out against the window, I like it. The focal flower could have used a bit more light on it, but I was going with the natural light and the time I wanted to spend on it.

January 13 - Shooting a single object

I have this awesome cookie jar. For years, I have said that it would make great pics. So, today was the day. I set it up in the sun against a white background and took a few. I'm actually quite pleased with how it looks. I would like to learn to take interesting shots of objects and to crop them in a way to create more interest.

The jar came from my mom when I moved out of the house. It was originally a wedding shower gift to my parents in 1955. Funny, I don't really remember it ever being full of cookies. And, these days, we eat them right off the tray. Still warm. Mmmmmm....

January 12 - Depth of Field

Farmer's field, that is. Just outside town, there is a group of four trees in the middle of a field. Under those trees is a bunch of abandoned farm machinery. I have always said that I wanted to go there and take some pictures of the area. Why I had to choose the coldest day ever is beyond me. After a long hike into the frozen field, I got about 30 pics and my batteries froze. Argh.

With this shot, I was working on depth of field and shooting at a low f-stop. I would love to get a new lens that can even go lower.

January 11 - Portrait of a Player

Today was Sunday and we spent the whole day playing inside. It was cold and Leif was feeling "a little bit not so good". It was delightful to just be silly with him.

And, I just realized that this blog was intended to be a photo blog and that I was hoping to get better at taking pics. So, I have been taking all my pics on manual settings and have been trying to do a variety of shots... honestly, I see some people's portfolios and I see a theme... something they are really good at. So far, I haven't found my groove. I just like to take pics.

January 10 - The Christmas Tree Decoration Factory

Today was a day of dread. Fear. Loathing... I despise taking down the Christmas tree. Just the thought of all those prickly needles and plucking those poor, unsuspecting decorations off their branches. I mean, they had just settled in. And, then there is vacuuming up the needles that fall off the tree that I am not sure I actually ever watered. Oops.

Leif made it better by pretending that we were working in a Christmas Tree Decoration Factory. Every decoration had to be inspected for perfection. Then, it had to be popped back into the blister pack it came in. A few of the special ones had to have a little story to go with them. Geez, he's delightful. And, he made the job tolerable.

This little porcelain angel is my favourite of all time. There is just something so serene about her face and body language. It's probably because she doesn't have to take down her own Christmas tree. Bitch.

January 9 - Green...

Green, green, you know what I mean... greeeeeeeeeeen, green!

My delightful husband brought me these narcissus bulbs yesterday. Every time I see the green of a new shoot, I am sure that I have never seen that green before. So fresh, so intense, so promising. Man, I need spring.

January 8 - Surprise!

We have lived in our place for 5 months. Today, I looked out my bathroom window and saw this. Since when does a cool, vintage, jet blue tractor live in my neighbour's back yard? Man, I need to get more observant. I just love the colour and the look of it.

January 7 - Washer woman... a self-portrait

This is what ripping the band-aid off all at once looks like. I decided that there are probably not many people who would love their self-portrait. So, here I am.

I decided today to cut myself some slack. I am 42, I had major surgery two weeks ago, I have a 3 year old, and I have moved 6 times in the past 4 years, twice internationally. With all that in mind, I am actually ok with my self-portrait. Ok, minus the fact that there is ALWAYS laundry.

January 6 - Prep for Self Portrait....

Ok. So, I will admit it. I really am not fussy about the way I look. A self-portrait would be great to share in my 365, I thought. Until I realized that I would have to be in it.

I thought and thought of funky ways to mask my face. This is a shot of textured glass in our kitchen door. I stood on the other side and used the timer but I could still see myself. I decided to use just the texture and screw the self-portrait for today.

January 5 - No branch left behind

After a heavy snow, this tree outside our front door looked so incredibly intricate... almost lacy. Every branch was covered in a frosting of snow. The sun behind it was a bonus.

January 4 - Winter Green

Another family walk... this time around the castle at Koenigstein. Beautiful tangled branches and mossy rocks.

January 3 - Forest Flare

Today we took a family walk near the hospital, just to get outside. For 12 days, I looked out my hospital window at these trees. They look much better up close and in the fresh air.

January 2 - And the "Mr Photogenic" Award goes to...

Wow... for a kid who doesn't really ever take a bad pic, this is a doozy! We were in the car on the way home from the hospital. I had my surgical staples out. The only reason I chose this pic today is because it was the only one I took today.

I guess there really is nowhere to go with my photos but up.

January 1 - Ring a Ding Ding!

Alright, so I fell asleep before midnight. Even with the most major fireworks display known to man outside my window. I fell asleep.

I am still recuperating from major surgery. Emergency, of course. I spent Christmas in a hospital in Germany. The upsides were not having to cook Christmas dinner and having the opportunity to learn many, many bodily functions in German.

My first day of my Photographic 365... a pic of a favourite decoration on my tree. At the church I grew up in, there was a woman who made hundreds of one type of decoration every year and sold them at the Bazaar. I still have a bunch of them. So, this New Year's Day, I am thinking about scars, surgical and other. Man, church people.