Photo Lesson #2

I got a private photo lesson today on how to shoot kids-on-the-go in the backyard. It was supposed to be a group event, but I was lucky enough to be the only one there with the fabulous Nicole who helped me learn about capturing the eye sparkle. I'm still working on it. My subject was the lovely, wiggly Cosette.

Got the eye shine going here!

Fun expressions chasing the kitty "Dragonfly"

 Tempting fate

 She finds it all hilarious, especially since she didn't get scratched. Cosette's outfit really pops in the foggy morning light. Also Nicole's backyard is awesome for shooting. So many great fences and bushes in the backgrounds.

Shooting from a lighter area into a darker patio with subject facing the brightness. Pretty nice.

I learned to set up an activity in a play area where the light is to my liking and get them to face the way I want, instead of hovering around their play hoping to catch the right light. Here she is washing my little ponies in soapy water with Nicole's girls.

 Forming bubbles in the air. How sweet.

 Soaping up.

 Examining the foam with pony in hand. I love the mossy fence in the back. Adds character.

 It's hard to get her to look up during such fun play

 These play outfits are perfect because they are cute, but not nice fancy clothes. 

 Sprayed in the face

 Dragonfly is back!

 Going eye to eye. I should have used a hair bow that contrasts her hair color more. This one blends too much.

 Of course she has to taste it. If it's covered in soap, it must be good to eat. This Cosette Principle also applies to things covered in dirt.

 I also learned to sit and wait with the camera in focus for the right moment to click when they look up or make the face I'm wanting to capture.

Some ideas for the future are to get them to play ring-around-the-rosey and capture the laughs when they fall down, or to get them to run laps and get them as they come by my set up spot.

Thanks Nicole for answering questions and holding still for this one. Adults are just so cooperative!

Walk the Plank!

Today Captain Jack is givin' the orders. He's demanding that Cosette walk the plank, and she has accepted. As usual, Jack will not test the equipment himself, but relies on his sister as guinea pig.

Setting up the plank. Mommy had to check the span between ships to make sure it wasn't too unsteady.

Now the chanting. "Go, Princess, go. You are the princess and you have to talk the plank. Go Angel Princess!" 

Setting up other possible planks. Some defy gravity, a lot. They also had to decide on a name for Cosette. "Are you Princess Charity or Princess Hope?" Jackson

"Princess Charity!" Cosette

These are characters from a book series Jack likes

Supervisor Jackson: 

Jack: "Stand up, sit down now. You can jump into the goo, ok!"

Cosette shrieking: "NOOOOOOOO" 

J: "Cosette come on, I'm not doing to let you fall into the goo." 

C: "I'm ready" 

J: "You are ready to jump into the goo? Are you listening to my words? Come on then."

C: "Oww, don't pull my shirt"

J :"It's not a shirt it's a dress. Cosette, roll in the mud and you will be a doggie"

Cosette looses interest in following orders and goes to put her baby to bed.

This goes on forever :)

This is one plank we will not be trying!

Bragging

I've never been more proud (or delirious!) I've had a killer stomach bug going on four days now that has put me flat on my back. I've been useless with the kids and Dan's had to come home early every day and has been on full kid and house duty. He has done a fantastic job of stepping into my shoes and managing the kids, house, meals, clean up and kept up his usual routines of bath and bed time. It blesses me so much to see my kids and house well cared for when I'm weak and out of it. 

Meals for little crazies

King of Laundry 

Showing Olympic clips

And kissing boo boos

New Years Day at the Zoo

Sorry, didn't get any animal shots, but lots of the kids playing on the cool brand new play structure. There is a rain forest, iceland, and river section for play. The playground just opened this fall and it is really cool!

The Climb

 

  Ice Jumper. These rocks really were very slippery. We had to stop him from jumping rock to rock.

 Glacier Scramble

 This is really bright, but these hanging baskets were really cool. I had a hard time with the light and shadows in this part of the playground 

 In the otter's river 

These otters are so cool.

 Tamer of turtles

 Always making a friend

 Come join me on this otter

 Let's go Giants. Loving this shot. Now to convince Jackson to use a better cheese face.

  Riding a froggie

 

 "Let's go Cosette"

 Help me Daddy!

 "These are FROGS!" 

 King of the frogs

 That looks too scary

 Ok, let's try it together

 Roaring like a turtle

  Hanging. She does this on the top of every slide