5-23, Capulin Volcano

I grew up in southwestern Montana.  Beautiful country to me was the valley where I was born and raised.  Finding, after many years and many moves later, that there really is no place like home, I have had to broaden my view of what I think of as 'beautiful'.  When you're in Denver (where we now call home) and look west, the mountains are beautiful.  When you're in Denver and you look east.....well, I'm still struggling to see the beauty in that.  We first discovered Capulin, New Mexico, on a road trip on our way from Texas to Colorado.  The volcano rising up out of the flatlands was very intriguing and strikingly out of place.  We have been back to visit two times since.  It's far from my classic definition of beautiful, but how can one not be in awe of something so grand as a volcano?!  

Capulin Volcano

I felt in touch with my roots watching the cows meander the fields.  I love the spring and all the new 'baby cows'.  You know you're just about in the middle of nowhere when the cows run the rules of the road and not the cars!

"Friendly Calves"

"Don't Mess with the Bull"

We found a very neat, old cemetery along the way.  I took many photos of headstones, but didn't feel it was right to include them in my gallery.  I'll save them as personal reminders that like can be all too short, and if we're lucky, long and fulfilled.  I found a few interesting details to capture and include instead.

"New Mexico Paintbrush"

"Fauxbluelous"

"Gatekeeper's Memories"

"Gateway to the Mountains"

"Time in a Bottle"

The view from the top of Capulin.

"Capulin in Bloom"

"Volcanic Vista"

"Rocky Mountain High" 

I have a 'thing' for 'naked trees'.  Here I got lucky with a group of three!

"Naked Trio"

5-14, Lilac Blossom

I love lilacs.  When I was little, we had a giant lilac bush by our driveway.  I couldn't wait for spring to come every year so I could smell that glorious scent.  Being a military family, we have moved quite a bit.  With each house search I'd ask my question:  "Does it have a lilac bush?"  Not like it was a deal-breaker, I just had to know (hope).  When we moved into our current house in the middle of a winter snow storm in Colorado, my usual lilac question had escaped my mind.  As spring approached, I told my husband that he should get rid of that big, ugly bush by the deck that blocked my view from the kitchen window.  A month or so later he uttered the words I couldn't believe, "I think it's a lilac."  No way!  This big, monstrous (ugly) bush might be a lilac?!  Yes, indeed, that's what it turned out to be.  It's not just any lilac bush either, it's just about the size of the one we had by my childhood house-- it's a giant!  I guess we'd finally found home.

"Lilac Blossom, 5-14"

link to As Eye See It Flower Gallery

5-12, Lens Comparison

I wanted to enhance my point about how large my new lens is by giving you a visual comparison.  All three of the below lenses, have a max focal length of 200 mm.  Look at how much bigger the new Tamron is than the other two!  It's crazy to me, it really is.  And why a Tamron instead of a Nikon you might ask?  Oh, umm... a mere $1,000 in savings.  I think I'd rather put that imaginary $1K towards another lens than the name brand status.  But maybe that's just me......

5-12, 70-200 mm Test Shots

I got it, I got it!!  Nine hours of waiting by the window for the UPS driver to finally arrive at my doorstep, package in hand.  I ever so carefully opened the box....and found the biggest lens I have ever owned.  This thing is a monster!  I'm not sure if I should head to the wild outdoors and get familiar with it or head straight to the gym so I can handle it for a session longer than 10 minutes!  I think technically it 'only' weighs 2.5 pounds, but that doesn't count the additional weight of my camera.  I knew it would be hefty, but I didn't realize just how much until I had the thing in my hands.  WOW.  So, of course, forget the gym, I set off around the house with a trigger-happy finger.  (Forget the wild outdoors, too, did you see the weather we've had in Denver this weekend?!)  So, straight out of the camera, no edits whatsoever, here are my favorite test shots (out of the mere 221+ that I took).  Me thinky, me likey.......  what do you think..... is it a keeper?

5-2, "New" Vintage Trike

The fun part about starting a children's photography business is all the fun stuff......like vintage trikes.  I don't know if it's more fun shopping for these things or getting 'down to business' with them.  If you start shopping through 'accessory eyes', there really is no finish-line.  (There may be a definite end to the storage of these items, but that's beside the point.)  Our daughter and I had a great time locating this treasure at a local antique store.  We may have to arm wrestle over ownership rights, though.  She's pretty convinced it's hers!  LOL..... I hope to use it in many sessions to come (while she's in preschool of course, or else there really will be wrestling over it!).

5-2, "Be Focused"

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately (ok, when am I not doing a lot of thinking?!).  What is my style?  Where should I focus my energies?  Where should I draw the line and leave the trends to other photographers?  It's easy to spend time perusing photography websites to compare styles, prices and methods.  I think it's harder to stay firm to your own virtues in a time when anyone and everyone can pick up a camera and "be a photographer."  Where is the difference?  Is it the education, is it the equipment, is it a state of mind?  I know one thing:  I love photography.  I love capturing moments-- all moments (not just the ones when there's a big smile planted on the subject's face).   Take for instance our son.  He has his own share of smiles and jokes-- just not when he's in front of my camera or studying karate.  Therefore, my husband's comment of "but he's not smiling" just isn't the point.  The following photos represent our son fairly.  This is who he is a good portion of the time and especially when he's doing karate.  The last photo of the session I did get him to 'give' me a smile ("for mom, please?!").  For the previous ones, he assured me that "you're not supposed to smile when you're doing karate-- you're supposed to be focused."  You know, I think I'm going to listen to the wisdom of his words......focused, yes, that is exactly what I need to remember.  When he is in a room full of other students practicing, he is focused on his karate.  When I am in a world of other photographers, I need to be focused on my photography.  Thanks, buddy!