Me and my shadow

There's a beautiful wall in front of our local school that is covered with chalk.  I love it because on any given day you can find a kid dressed in ALL of the colours on the wall.  And no, it's not just because they've leaned on it. 


We checked out the wall one evening last week.  I love how the shadow of the tree cascades down the wall and how the sun is still strong enough to highlight Evan's shadow but soft enough to bring out the colours on the wall.  

Wispy Bangs

Not always a fan of cold, windy days, but this one danced with the wispies.   

Silent Auction ideas brewing

I'm trying to come up with more Silent Auction ideas for our Fun Fair as it seems that April has just about slipped away.  I have a few art project ideas in my head.  Inspired by the talent found on the internet of course.  I saw this video and right away thought it would be SO much fun to do with the Kindergarten kids!  Maybe less graphite and more chalk...and nailpolish...and glitter.

Living with Sharpie Markers and 5 year old boys

White Pinky, not to be confused with Pinky is now Rainbow Pinky.  And if you're wondering, using an eraser on your monitor WILL remove Sharpie permanent markers.  I don't think White Pinky will be so lucky.

Photographing kids: practising

Last week I found Sam dozing in the morning light.  There's often a gap in the curtains that lets the light stream in.  I love how it highlights Sam's little face and the marker stain from the previous nights drawings.

I was talking with a friend last week who said he wanted to practise making portraits but has a hard time finding people who will let him.  If you have little ones in your home they are perfect models...when they're asleep.  To a beginner, I would definitely suggest starting off with still children (mine are only still when they are asleep).  


Sam was so peacefully sleeping that I could open or close the curtains to adjust the light.  I could change the settings to over and under expose for effect and I had plenty of time to stand at different angles, to move in closer and zoom my feet backwards.  This is the composition I settled on.  I liked the way the bed, bedrail, shadows and pillows framed his face.


Often I take a quick, safe shot.  Then once I've recorded the moment, I explore other ways to capture it.  Take the safe shot, but don't stop there.  Best thing is, you can always try it again the next morning.  

Mug-less shot

Ok, so mug-less in the true sense of the word means "without a mug" (Wiktionary).  There were no mugs harmed in the making of this photo.  I'm using it in my own made up way.  Mug-less: LIKE a mug shot, but not a mug shot.  Nothing illegal happening here, just a poor kid waiting to make cheesecake, caught in the good light.  Goes both ways people.  My kids get to stay up past bedtime for a photo op. but if they stand in the "good light" cheesecake making will be delayed.    

Climbing

I just realized that both of my boys are climbing up but looking down.  Not sure that this means anything significant.  I like the way things look when I'm wearing high heels.  We all need a different vantage point every now and again.