Pool Fun

This was taken last weekend at Girl Scout camp. This was our troop's turn in the pool. I love how the water spray is coming off the ball.

Camera:	Fujifilm FinePix HS20EXR
Exposure:	0.0042 sec  (10/2400)
Aperture:	f/4.0
ISO Speed:	100
Focal Length:	13.3 mm

Bloomin' Thistle

A thistle I found just blooming outside the dining hall at girl scout camp this past weekend.

Camera:	Fujifilm FinePix HS20EXR
Exposure:	0.004 sec  (10/2500)
Aperture:	f/2.8
ISO Speed:	400
Focal Length:	4.2 mm

Row of Faucets

This one is SOOC. It's the outdoor faucets outside the dining hall of the Girl Scout camp that my daughter's troop went to for their neighborhood camp this weekend. I found it interesting.

Camera:	Fujifilm FinePix HS20EXR
Exposure:	0.0045 sec  (10/2200)
Aperture:	f/4.0
ISO Speed:	400
Focal Length:	12.7 mm

Swimmy

This weekend, my daughter's girl scout troop went to camp with the neighborhood troops. This is her during our troop's turn in the pool. She loves to swim and is in the pool a lot as she is on our local Y's swim team.

Camera:	Fujifilm FinePix HS20EXR
Exposure:	0.0033 sec  (10/3000)
Aperture:	f/5.6
ISO Speed:	100
Focal Length:	15.5 mm

Beveled Door Effect

Or at least it kind of looks like a view through a fancy old fashioned glass door to me.... whatever, I just liked the effect of it.

Camera:	Fujifilm FinePix HS20EXR
Exposure:	0.002 sec  (10/5000)
Aperture:	f/2.8
ISO Speed:	200
Focal Length:	4.2 mm

Spider's Cathedral

I named this before I was told this is probably tent worms.  I had never heard of them until now, so my fellow photographers have taught me something new.  This is in a tree at the park that my daughter and I went to last weekend.

Camera:	Fujifilm FinePix HS20EXR
Exposure:	0.0063 sec  (10/1600)
Aperture:	f/4.5
ISO Speed:	640
Focal Length:	23.9 mm

Reface Tel Ikon

Really don't think words are needed for this one.

Camera:	Fujifilm FinePix HS20EXR
Exposure:	0.0031 sec  (10/3200)
Aperture:	f/4.0
ISO Speed:	100
Focal Length:	6.3 mm

Berry Wine

Ok, so not wine as in the drink but as in the color, and not really berries, but whatever

Camera:	Fujifilm FinePix S1800
Exposure:	0.0083 sec  (10/1200)
Aperture:	f/7.1
ISO Speed:	64
Focal Length:	6.3 mm

Jumping Spider

One of the things my photography has given me is the courage to get close to things I would never have gotten close to before.  It has opened up my curiosity and made me see beauty in things in which most people do not see beauty.  It has helped me see the world through different eyes.  It has made being a live and living even more wondrous and exciting.  I think that is what art is supposed to do for all people.

 In the spirit of this, my picture for today is of a jumping spider.  My daughter freaked out when this guy started jumping across the path in the woods we were walking on and usually I am not a fan of spiders.  But, since my camera was in my hand all I could think was "I got to get a good close up picture of this little guy."

Camera:	Fujifilm FinePix HS20EXR
Exposure:	0.0063 sec  (10/1600)
Aperture:	f/4.5
ISO Speed:	500
Focal Length:	24.9 mm

Clearly Reflected

Here are some pictures of the lodge that can be rented for events at the park that my daughter and I went to for a photo shoot today.

Camera:	Fujifilm FinePix HS20EXR
Exposure:	0.0033 sec  (10/3000)
Aperture:	f/4.5
ISO Speed:	100
Focal Length:	10.5 mm

It Ain't Easy Bein' Green

These pictures were taken in June.  I was at a local park wandering around taking pictures of fauna and flora.  I walked past the pond a couple times, but about the third time past I heard a frog.  It was kind of funny because it was almost like he was telling me to come back.  I was able to take TONS of pictures of him before he'd finally had enough of me and jumped under the water.

Camera:	Fujifilm FinePix S1800
Exposure:	0.0056 sec  (10/1800)
Aperture:	f/5.6
ISO Speed:	400
Focal Length:	90 mm

Weekend Special

I am adding an extra post to the blog this weekend.  I have been  working with photo processing to create abstracts of some of my photos.  I have really enjoyed this and have come up with some incredible results.  So, I thought I'd share some of them.  There are three that are very similar because they were all made using a photo of a dandelion going to seed. 

This last one is not actually a photo I took.  It was a photo posted for a challenge in which those who wished to participate were supposed to take the photo and edit it in any way possible. 

Menage A Toi

No other words necessary... LOL!

Camera:	Fujifilm FinePix S1800
Exposure:	0.0059 sec  (10/1700)
Aperture:	f/6.4
ISO Speed:	64
Focal Length:	5 mm

Oh Lovely Mud!

A Capybara at Grant's Farm. For those of you who've not been in a primary classroom... my title comes from the book "Mrs. Wishy-Washy." It is one of my VERY FAVORITE books and my students love it every year.

Camera:	Fujifilm FinePix S1800
Exposure:	0.008 sec  (10/1250)
Aperture:	f/4.8
ISO Speed:	64
Focal Length:	20.2 mm

Butterfly Profile

One of the many cool butterflies that can be found at The Butterfly House in St. Louis, MO.

Camera:	Fujifilm FinePix S1800
Exposure:	0.0179 sec  (10/560)
Aperture:	f/3.1
ISO Speed:	200
Focal Length:	5 mm

A Simple Pleasure

There are so many incredibly simple wonderful things about summer. It's just an amazing time for a mom and her kids when we're all on summer break. The small things are what bring wonder to my heart. What is better than getting to dangle your bare feet in rushing water on a hot day?

Camera:	Fujifilm FinePix S1800
Exposure:	0.0071 sec  (10/1400)
Aperture:	f/5.3
ISO Speed:	100
Focal Length:	33 mm

Flagondry

I found these amazing dragonflies when I was on a walk through one of our wonderful county parks.  I don't think I've ever seen dragonflies colored like this before, but they were so much fun to photograph.

Camera:	Fujifilm FinePix S1800
Exposure:	0.0056 sec  (10/1800)
Aperture:	f/5.6
ISO Speed:	64
Focal Length:	55.4 mm

An Old Water Pump?

This is actually another picture taken at the cemetery.  I took this while playing around with negative spaces.  It was the result of an entry in a negative spaces challenge.  It has been edited and processed to create the "old" look.

Camera:	Fujifilm FinePix HS20EXR
Exposure:	0.0022 sec  (10/4500)
Aperture:	f/4.0
ISO Speed:	100
Focal Length:	4.2 mm

Egotise Who

Here's one more of the pictures I took of water fowl at the cemetery.  I really enjoyed that evening.  I have many many more that I hope to share in the future.

Camera:	Fujifilm FinePix HS20EXR
Exposure:	0.0036 sec  (10/2800)
Aperture:	f/5.6
ISO Speed:	200
Focal Length:	44.8 mm

AFLAC!!!

This is another shot from my evening at our local cemetery. A little comic relief with this one.

Camera:	Fujifilm FinePix HS20EXR
Exposure:	0.004 sec  (10/2500)
Aperture:	f/5.0
ISO Speed:	500
Focal Length:	36.8 mm

Calms Wanness

I love taking pictures of nature.  We have a local cemetary with a lake and lots of water fowl.  It's a beautiful place and I have been able to get so many terrific shots.  This is one of my favorites.

Camera:	Fujifilm FinePix HS20EXR
Exposure:	0.0036 sec  (10/2800)
Aperture:	f/5.0
ISO Speed:	200
Focal Length:	34 mm

Double Trouble

An updated pic of my two Scottie puppies.

Camera:	Fujifilm FinePix HS20EXR
Exposure:	0.025 sec  (10/400)
Aperture:	f/3.2
ISO Speed:	800
Focal Length:	5.8 mm

A Wetly Rill

I love water lilies.  They are so beautiful and graceful.  They are this spot of wonderful color amongst water.  This one in particular I just loved because of the spiky petals.

Camera:	Fujifilm FinePix HS20EXR
Exposure:	0.0031 sec  (10/3200)
Aperture:	f/4.5
ISO Speed:	320
Focal Length:	59 mm

The Door

There is something about doors that is very alluring.  Maybe it's because they create a barrier between you and what's on the other side.  Maybe it's because they are the opening of something.  Whatever the reason, they seem to hold a lot of interest to a lot of people.  Is this why we work hard at making them aesthetically pleasing.

Camera:	Fujifilm FinePix HS20EXR
Exposure:	0.0042 sec  (10/2400)
Aperture:	f/3.2
ISO Speed:	400
Focal Length:	5.8 mm

Practice Photo Shoot #3

My daughter is growing up so fast.  I cannot believe she starts 7th grade tomorrow.  She amazes me every day.  She is so smart and beautiful it makes my heart ache.  I feel extremely blessed to have been given the chance to be her mother.

Camera:	Fujifilm FinePix HS20EXR
Exposure:	0.0118 sec  (10/850)
Aperture:	f/3.2
ISO Speed:	100
Focal Length:	6 mm

Practice Photo Shoot #2

Here is another pic from my practice photo shoot.  This is my son and he is not as easy to get a pose out of as his sister.  He is also not as easy to shop with or for as his sister.  We've been school shopping all weekend because it is tax free weekend here and he's driven me crazy everywhere we went.  He has a lot more stubbornness about what he wants and how much of what he wants than his older sister.   However, he is my boy and I love him dearly and I am really happy with the way this portrait of him turned out.  Plus, I had a lot of fun editing it.

Camera:	Fujifilm FinePix HS20EXR
Exposure:	0.01 sec  (10/1000)
Aperture:	f/4.0
ISO Speed:	320
Focal Length:	13.3 mm

Practice Photo Shoot #1

I have been asked to do my nephew's senior pictures.  This will be my first time performing as a "professional photographer."  So, I took my kids to the place I want to do my nephews photos and practiced while scouting out spots for photos.  This is just one of the photos I shot during this time.  I will be posting more over the next several days.

Camera:	Fujifilm FinePix HS20EXR
Exposure:	0.0031 sec  (10/3200)
Aperture:	f/3.6
ISO Speed:	320
Focal Length:	9.3 mm