Time with my girl

Today I am happy I got to spend some one on one time with my daughter.  We took a mini road trip up to Tulsa (about 2 hours from me) and went to the Tulsa Zoo (imagine that, I went to the zoo!! haha).  It is about a third of the size as the OKC Zoo, but it was a nice change.  They have some animals that we don't.  Namely....PENGUINS!!  Most of the animals were very cooperative for my photographer side.  I will do a whole post on the zoo with tons of pictures.  I do have a couple I would like to share now.  The flamingos were extremely close and there was a baby!!!  After we got back from the zoo, we went and saw the new Percy Jackson movie.  Elexis has loved these books for years and she was glad that they finally made the second movie.  We spent a low key evening at home in prep for our busy weekend and really busy next week.  I love my girl and I know I have very little precious time with her and I want to soak it up.  Sometimes she gets on my every last nerve, but I know those moments will pass.  I am her parent first, but she is truly one of my best friends.

Also, tonight my husband unexpectedly brought me flowers home.  I was completely shocked.  They are so pretty.

On to some pictures:

Baby Flamingo!!  I love the gray.

Flamingo eye.  My new background on my computer.

My flowers!! 

Photo Day 9: Rice

At first I didn't want to do it.  Rice is boring.  Then I told myself "that is why this is called a challenge, to challenge yourself"  So, here is some rice.  It's long grain and wild rice.  I really loved the way it turned out.  This rice is uncooked, I liked the texture.  

A Photographer Pet Peeve

I just posted a few photos on Facebook.  I love being able to creatively grow as a photographer.  I challenge myself.  I need to challenge myself more.  With that being said, I hate it when after I post pictures people often say "you have a nice camera" or something along that variation.  It is NOT the camera that composed that shot, or set the settings on the camera (I shoot in Manual most of the time).  Did the camera take the picture I told it to? Yes it did.

I take really good pictures with my iphone.  Back before I had a DSLR I had a $100 point and shoot camera.  I took really good photos with that.  They aren't what I can do now, but they are good.  It is not the camera that made me better (though having certain settings are nice) its the training and techniques that made me better.  I plan on doing an experiment to see how many people really can tell the difference in cameras.

I am not saying that I am the best photographer out there or anywhere close, but I do have a few photographs that I am extremely proud of.  Some are before I went to school to know what I was doing.

Another pet peeve topic for another time: "Can't you just photoshop it?"

Err
I leave you with a photo I took at the zoo on Monday.

Who doesn't love a purple flamingo?? (yes, photoshop was used in the manipulation)