July 30 Minutes In The Life Remington, Virginia Photographer

I can't believe July is almost over. This summer has seemed to go by very quickly.  We start school here in a few weeks, so we are trying to have as much fun as we can these last few weeks.   One of my favorite things about summer is the carnivals and fairs.  I am crazy obsessed with Ferris Wheels for one, and I love all the lights and just the sweet smells of funnel cakes, and cotton candy at the carnival.  The music is loud, the people all seem to come together and are happy. It's just fun.   So last night I decided to go and just capture 30 minutes at the carnival for me. No photos of kids or people, just me playing in the low light and dark with the lights.  This is an area that I feel I could grow and learn more with my photography, so why not make the best of it and try some experimenting with oof and playing with different shutter speeds.  So here are some of my favorites from the evening.

At the end of my post be sure to follow the link to the next photographer and check out everyone in our circle. We are a group of photographers from literally all over the world and it is so interesting to see the little pieces that we each have to share.

 Next up in the circle is Kelly Tyack, from Australia. She always has some amazing beautiful art to share from her side of the world. Click here to check out her 30 minutes.

Thanks for checking out my 30 minutes this month... Until next time... xo

The Daily Frame July 16th- 22nd Remington, Virginia Photographer

Well Hello, Hello... Where is this month going? I can't believe we are almost finished with July. This week has been much more relaxed and back to normal. It felt great to shoot every day again and want to pick up my camera.

197/365:  Feeling Inspired
So last week I truly had no inspiration.  I didn't feel motivated, I was sad and depressed. I was looking through Ello, and I have to admit I found a photographer that I hadn't really followed before. There was something about her work... It was art, it was so beautiful. It was appealing to the eye, but it was so much more than that. It was the fact that you could tell she shot for herself and what she wanted. It wasn't what she thought others wanted to see, it was what she saw, her vision.  Now by no means am I comparing myself to this artist, but her art inspired me. It made me want to pick up my camera and create something I love for me. I even messaged her to tell her, how beautiful her art was and to say she had inspired me. I told her how I had been sad and just didn't feel like shooting. She told me something I had already been trying to tell myself, creating art will help you heal and feel better. I guess it's nice hearing your own thoughts reassured.  So I listened and went outside and photographed my husband. I love photographing him, and the way I see the world with him in it. This was one of my favorite images that I took that night.   If you want to see the photographer who inspired me, her name is Sharon Covert. You can check out her images here.

198/365: A Stop Along the Road
Tonight we had a long evening. On our way to pick up my step son we had a blow out on the highway. Thankfully my wonderful hubby and son helped saved the day on that one. By the time we got Ethan and got back on the road we decided to take the back roads home since we were on the donut spare.  I knew I wanted to get a photo today since I slacked so much the last 2 weeks, I didn't want to start missing this week.  We saw this field of corn on the side of the road, the sun was just about to set, but we decided to pull over anyway.  So my original photo idea didn't go as planned but I got these shots instead.  On the way back to the van Mariah and I decided to have a little race and Mat got this shot of the two of us. I didn't like it at first, because it isn't the perfect photo, I'm not happy how I look etc. I'm so glad I got this image of the two of us though.  I know I will cherish it and I hope she will too.  So sometimes unplanned stops along the road make really awesome memories.

199/365: By the Fire
The two of you are not always on the same page. Conor, you are a Mama's boy, which your Dad should understand because he is too. You are both not overly affectionate to one another, but you normally play and wrestle to show each other your love. Tonight we had a little fire and you guys just snuggled up for a few minutes together. It melted my heart. It was nothing serious, but just the two of you close together.

200/365: Beating the Heat
Today was incredibly hot, so we decided to go to my Mom's to go swimming. We had lots of fun and spent time playing together as a family. It was just wonderful! I even got a shot of all 4 of you together which is super rare!

201/365: Exhaustion
Today was another scorcher of a day. You work outside, so the heat just wears you out. Tonight you were barely finished dinner before you were fast asleep on the couch.

202/365: Just Some Girl Talk
I love our few moments alone together and the talks we share. You were not expecting me to take this shot, but I love how natural and real it looks. I love how I can see your vein in your cheek. I love that your hair is all a mess. Your eyes are tired after a long day of playing. This is an honest portrait of you.

203/365: A Drive By Iphone Shot
Sometimes I love my iphone shots just as much as my big girl shots.  Tonight we went to pick up Ethan and the light and scenery were so beautiful I just had to get a quick shot.  Mat was taking a photo of me while I was shooting. So here's that one too!

Next up in the circle is Colleen Putnam from New York City. Click here to see what she has to share this week.


Thanks for checking out my week in photos... Until next week... xo

The Daily Frame July 2nd - 15th Remington, Virginia Photography

Hello Hello!! So I've really been quiet lately.  I'm not going to lie, I've been in a major rut.  Life has been crazy hectic and emotional these last few weeks. I missed days shooting because frankly there was no time and also I felt nothing was worth capturing.   So I'm going to share some of what I have from the last few weeks with you.

183/365:  Dinner and bonding
Every other Friday we go to Front Royal to pick up Ethan. This week because of the holiday we went up on Thursday and got dinner at our favorite pizza joint. It was nice to capture just the two of you together catching up from the week and telling your stories.

184/365: You are my wild 

Today we were running errands and out and about.  Mariah got her ears pierced. ( I have photos from this for another post) we did some shopping and then enjoyed our evening grilling and playing outside. You never seem to surprise me with your crazy outfits. I love it, I love how your character and imagination always shine. You are my sweet, loving baby boy, but you have a wild side that I just adore. 

185/365: Independence Day 

Today we are spending the day together enjoying our freedom just being together. I love this image I captured of you today. 

186/365: Gone again 

Today we took you to spend the week with your Dad again. You wanted to climb the tree while we were waiting for him to arrive. I really missed you this past week.

187/365: Fuck Cancer 

So here's where things start to go down hill. Today we got the call that our dear sweet Mary Anne was really not well. That this would be it... .It could be a day or it could be hours. Our work family had dreaded this day.  I think we thought if we didn't believe it, it just wouldn't happen. Well it's happening.  It's sad, it's scary, it's frustrating, and damn it, it's not fair! This sweet, beautiful, kind, brave woman was leaving our world.  Just before lunch our group of managers packed in the car to be with her.  We are not your normal group of coworkers. We are family. We care. We know just by looking at one another when things are not right.  We arrived and walked in the room, there she was looking so tiny and frail burning up in fever. We said her name and took turns holding her hand. She did look up at us, open her eyes and smile. This would be the last time I see her smile. We spent hours with her, holding her, loving her, wishing we could ease this pain and have our friend back with us.  Our hearts broke today.  When we left, she was still fighting, however we knew it wouldn't be long until our sweet girl became an angel. 

188/365: Sadness 

This morning I got the text when I woke up at 3:30am. My heart just sunk. I have this overwhelming sadness. I know this is not me, but truly this is how I felt all day today. 

189/365: No photo.... No inspiration and no desire to pick up my camera, however I was so happy to find this old photo of her and her husband that I took a few years ago at our Christmas party. This is how I want to remember her. Smiling and happy. 

So this week, I didn't  feel up to capturing anything until yesterday. Work is just busy and I've been on the run all week.  Then I started thinking, it's time to get out of this funk and take time to enjoy and create again. So next week I will have much more to share and something much more positive to share with you.   Thanks for following along. 

Next up in our circle is the awesome Colleen Putnam from NYC. I always love getting to see New York through her eyes, click here to see what she has to share this week. 

Until next week. xo 

The Daily Frame June 24th - July 1st

Hello Friends! It's that time of the week again. I hope you are getting to enjoy today as a holiday with your family.  This week I have really made time for my photos and I have to admit it has been so good for my soul. Photography truly is my passion. When things were toughest for me a few years ago, I have to say it is the light that brought me out of the dark.  I was so happy for the time I had with my children that I wanted to capture as much of it as I could.  So now, I think I still feel the same and this project has just magnified that and made me feel even stronger about it.    So here is our week.  Be sure to follow along the circle and check out what the other ladies have been up to this week. 

176/365: Mornings
Last week your sister was gone for the week, and you missed her terribly.  In the mornings the two of you always sit and eat breakfast together and then play with the dogs. You compete to see who can get ready faster.  So this week as I get ready for work, you spent your mornings snuggled up on our bed since you missed her. There were many mornings I had to pry to get you to eat breakfast because you wanted her there to eat with you. Needless to say Friday cannot get here fast enough.

177/365: Welcome Home 

This evening you got home from your vacation and we were all so happy you were home. We all missed you including your best friend.  The two of you couldn't wait to get outside and play together. 

178/365: Fun in the Puddles 

This morning we had lots of heavy rain.  Luckily it cleared off mid day and you guys had the best time playing in this large puddle on the sidewalk.  I loved watching you play and capturing your reflections in the water.   I took lots of photos, but these were my favorites! 

179/365: Sunglasses 

You found these sunglasses today and have been wearing them all day.  You think you look super cool in them. I have to agree, very cool! Enjoy these little things. :) 

180/365: Queens Anne Lace

I love these wildflowers. They are delicate and beautiful yet somehow stay in a dried up form through most of the winter.  Tonight we went to the back field and had some fun with the flowers.  Even Dad stepped in to play. 

181/365: 6 Months of Photos 

 Some days I have an idea of what  I might want to capture but most days I don't at all. Today was one of those days.  I first wanted to just capture you guys playing on the play ground, which I did.  Then I started thinking wow, today has been 6 months of this project.  I'm proud of myself for sticking with this. It has been so good for me.  It has helped me grow so much in my art and how I look at the way I photograph.  It has challenged me to find beauty in the mundane and then later look back and be so thankful I captured that moment. So then I decided to take a photo of myself with my camera. I don't have the fanciest or the best camera there is, but this baby is my best girl. She is part of the magic that shows all of you how I see this world. This is pretty much how my family sees me for part of the time we are together anyhow, so why not capture it right. 

182/365: You Play Music, I Take Photographs

We both love our hobbies, they are our escape from the stress of the day to day. I love your hobby and I hope you love mine. I like that we support one another in what we love as well.  So tonight you played guitar and I photographed you. Anyone that has been following along, knows that I love to photograph you just as much as the kids. So I wanted something a little different tonight. So I started looking at not only you but the shadows that were showing or the details in the moment. 

Next up in the circle is Colleen, of Colleen Putnam Photography in New York City, Click here to see what she has been up to this week. 

Until next time... xo