Regular Ol' Family Time

Some longer videos. The first is of a typical family dinner. The second is of the kids just playing around the house. I've recently watch some home movies from when I was 8 and it reminded me how cool it is to have video of normal life stuff and not just special occasions.

Screamer

Cosette is such a screamer. I went into her room at 6:35 this morning because she was screaming like she'd had a limb fall off. I stumble in and look at her. Nothing appears to be wrong. I pick her up and she immediately stops screaming and sings: "Pa rump pa pum pum, rump pa pum pum." That little stinker!

Seeing Life Through a New Lens

Literally. I got a new lens for by big 30th birthday. I've always been into amateur photography, but lately I've gotten some help from a few kind friends with a lot more experience. I was finally inspired to figure out my camera from top to bottom and to take the training wheels off and go into manual mode full time. I really want better pictures, especially of the everyday kind of moments that go on all of the time around the house. It is a learning process. My biggest lesson so far is to not use equipment I haven't mastered at an event where I need a decent picture. I found out the hard way at Jackson's preschool recital that during a show is no time to be fiddling with new settings. Just put it in auto-mode and capture an ok picture instead of missing the moment all together. Here are some favorite so far with a lot of work ahead to get it right!

"Blondie" with Cosette

My first experiment with the new manual mode. A lot of errors, but fun and cute shots none the less. Out of focus.

 "Climber" with Cosette 

That's a no-no.

 "Climber 2" with Cosette

 "Chompy" with Cosette

She is a messy eater.

 "I'm Peaking" with Jackson.

 "Blondie 2" with Cosette

Very overexposed, but clearly shows the state of her bangs/crazy front hair.

 "Playdough" with Jackson

A few focus problems, but I like the colors.

 "Playdough 2" with Jackson

Tried to be artisy with having him out of focus, but I think I would like it better with a deeper depth of field (him and his work in focus)

 "Lashes" with Jackson

Just a sweet little boy face.

 "Ready for Action" with Jackson and Cosette

 Taken at Hamilton Park in Redwood City. Shows them in play.

 "On the Move" with Cosette 

I love the expression and movement of her body, however she s not quite in focus, which is unfortunate. 

 "Runny Nose" with Cosette

A cool afternoon. I would have liked if the lighting was a little warmer.

"Bright Idea" with Dan

 Looks kinda cool

 "Bright Idea 2" with Dan

 Much better shot. I have been really practicing shooting into the sun. As an amateur, that is a big sin because subjects are dark and the sun is so bright. However, I'm finding a lot of success now with spot metering!

 "Cheese" with Jackson

Yes a fake smile for sure.

 "Sweet Giraffe" with Cosette

Not in focus, but a tender moment.

 "Boggers!" with Cosette

Love her little face, even with a nose full of boggies.

 "Fierce As a Lion" with Jackson

I love his regal pose and strong brown eyes.

 "Fierce As a Lion 2" with Jackson

 "Sad Daddy" with Dan. 

He's sad.

"Silly Daddy" with Dan and Cosette

Again problems with focus and color of the light attempting to shoot indoors at night without a flash. 

 "Huggie Daddy" with Dan and Cosette

Sweet post-dinner moments.

 "Eskimo Daddy" with Dan and Cosette

 "Duck Lips" with Dan and Jackson

 "Kissie Daddy" with Dan and Jackson

My depth of focus needs work. I need both of these guys in focus. I do love how this portrait lens helps me blur out the rest of the house in the background that makes the subjects stand out and the background fade away.

 "Kissie Daddy 2" with Dan and Cosette

 "Sweet Approach:"with Dan and Jackson

 "Scrunchy Faces" with Jessie and Jackson

 "She's Mad!" with Jessie and Cosette

Though I didn't plan it in this shot, I like to be photographed from my lefts so that my false front tooth doesn't stand out so much. Can't wait until I get my permanent crown on that thing!

 "Eskimo Mommy" with Jessie and Jackson

Wish he was in focus!

 "Growling Mommy" with Jackson and Jessie

 "Beautiful Dancer" with Cosette

Taken in Santa Rosa at Thanksgiving. Close to perfect. Shutter speed was too low so she is not in full focus while moving. Kids are hard to shoot! 

 "Desending" with Cosette

 "Lovely" with Cosette. I love this one.

 "Down Dog" with Cosette

 "Near-miss" with Cosette

This is the kind of shot that could be so beautiful, but it so blurry it isn't usable. I can't wait until my skill develop enough to catch moments like this as they run at me!

 "Nosey" with Cosette

 "Beautiful Dancer 2" with Cosette

 "Beautiful Dancer 3" with Cosette

That shutter speed is really killing me here. I can't keep up with her movements.

 "Super Heroes Behaving Badly" with Evan, Jackson, and Cosette

Yeah, they are about to stuff Coco in the tool shed and they're not one bit sorry about it.

 "Batman Cries" with Jackson

His shoes won't come off.

 "Lydia in Blue" with Lydia

The sliding doors let in a lot of light for these indoor shots and that's very helpful. Plus she doesn't move very fast.

 "Lydia in Blue 2" with Lydia

 "Lydia in Blue" with Lydia

 "Waiting Around" with Jackson

He is actually waiting to get his gingerbread house, so it's pretty good waiting.

 "Gingerbread Glory" with Jackson

 I love the affect of the blurred Christmas tree in the background giving sparkle to the scene, plus the sweet subjects.

 "Gingerbread Pout" with Cosette

 "Gingerbread Pout 2" with Cosette

Examining her work.

 "Crunchy" with Jackson

 "Ornaments" with Jessie and Cosette

Not bad for a flash in the dark.

"Real Life" with Jackson and Cosette

I kind of like that Cosette is a blurry mess and Jack is tolerating it.

 "Mischief" with Cosette and Jackson

Both are up to no good.

 "Bagels" with Jackson and Cosette

 "Bagels 2" with Jackson and Cosette

"All Alone" with Jackson

Taken on a very sunny day in Half Moon Bay. I'm not really sure how to deal with such harsh direct sunlight yet. The pictures are all overexposed, but with a cool looking affect I think.

 "Turn Around" with Jackson

 "Desert Digger" with Jackson

 "Huddled" with Jackson

 "Sweet Boy" with Jackson

 "Purple Lady Love" with Jessie and Cosette

Thank you Dan for stepping behind the camera for this one. I love the colors, the pose and the lighting, though it is very bright.

 "Purple Lady Love 2" with Jessie and Cosette

 "Beach Crawler" with Jackson

 "Puttin' On the Ritz" with Dan, Jackson and Cosette

With the Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay in the background on the cliffs.

 "Puttin' On the Ritz 2" with Dan, Jackson and Cosette

"Handsome Truckin'" with Jackson

So cute and nice use of indoor light. Just need to get that focus straighten out!

 "Handsome Truckin' 2" with Jackson

Such a cute expression, but alas, focus problems. Missed opportunity.

 "Handsome Truckin' 3" with Jackson

 Such a sweet little thinker.

 "Cosette's World" with Cosette

She set these guys up and ran off to find more friends. I love this one of her in play, but not as the subject of the picture.

 "Together at Home" with Jackson and Cosette

 Just some sweet kids. A little too bright. I seem to err on the side of overexposed, but I prefer that to too dark.

 "Milk Rage" with Cosette

In all her glory, including her claw.

  "Milk Rage 2" with Cosette

 "Ohhh" - with Cosette

A tad out of focus, cute expression. Taken at Burton Park in San Carlos.

 "Squishy Smile" with Lydia

A little overexposed, but the colors really pop. Plus she was moving so I'm impressed on the focus I got.

 "With Papa in Pink" with Tim and Cosette

A little overexposed.

 "Stegasaurous Chompers" with Jackson

 Very overexposed but I love how crisp it looks.

 "Angelic Tunneler" with Cosette

I think this pose is so sweet. The eyes glow.

 "Papa Pal" with Jackson and Tim

 Sweet best friends.

 "Wild Hugs" with Diane and Jackson

Overexposed, but I love how the colors pop and don't mind the brightness too much.

 "Hugs in Action" with Diane and Jackson

 I like the movement of the love.

 "Blue Eyed Ladies" with Diane and Cosette. 

A sweet pair.

 "Cheeks" with Lydia. 

They only come in XL.

 "Squishy Smile 2" with Lydia

She's a happy girl. I'm really happy with the vivid colors and gentle lighting.

 "Mother and Child" with Natalie and Lydia

I love how baby is a little out of focus and mommy looks so peacefully content.