creativity!

Hey all,

been playing... here is the results...

a wee digi LO for your viewing pleasure!

Having a sort of busy, yet lazy day!

Invited the family over for dinner, but sadly most had plans, anyway, am cooking a turkey for the first time, well by BF and I are anyway, neither of us have done it before...

Have warned all guests that if it doesn't turn out we may have to order a pizza!

Wanted to cook it on Boxing day, however I wasn't feeling so hot, so it was way more work than I had in mind that day!

Ok enough babbling, hope you like my LO and keep taking pictures!!

friday photo tips!!

In taking a good picture, how much depends on the quality of the camera and the options it has? I've been wondering lately if my camera is limiting my photography or if I just don't know enough about how to use it!

this was a question left for me on my comments, thank you for asking....

Great question!!!!

The answer as far as I can tell is both...

I know not very helpful! You can take a great picture using a disposable camera, or a not so great picture using a fabulous camera, know how your camera works and what its limitations are.

Keep in mind that all point and shoot cameras have other settings other than "auto" try them out!

Not just the picture ones but the letter ones too. Most point and shoot camera have at least two if not three "letter" settings, I will explain the `S`setting first, next week we will move on to the other ones!!!

S- Shutter priority, this means that you pick the shutter speed and your camera pics the rest. The shutter speed is the length of time your pic is exposed to light. it is represented by a percentage of a second(confusing I know) so if your shutter speed says 60 it is really one sixtyeth of a second, the lower the number the longer your shutter is open. If shutter speed is to low you end up with over exposed (to bright ) pictures. If the shutter is too high you end up with under exposed(too dark) photos! a smaller shutter speed will help you get those cool action pics, where you see a bit a blur to show action, water running in a water fall stuff like that. A fast shutter speed is great for kids who never sit still. keep in mind that as a rule the human hand can only hold a camera still enough to go as low as 60 any lower and you are likely to get camera shake!!

what do the other ones stand for that you may have on your camera...

A- Aperture priority,

M- Manual

P- Program

TGIF! photo tips!!!

Sad Sad Sad.... Not a single person "put there hat in the ring" and sent me a picture, how sad is that!! Clearly you guys aren't getting your cameras out enough, or maybe no one is even reading these, i guess that too could be an option... Question for you all: What do you want to know about taking a better picture or editing an almost perfect photo??? Todays tip is on processing your pictures: DON'T BE AFRAID TO CROP OUT THE UNWANTED ELEMENTS OF YOUR PICTURES TO MAKE IT A CLEARER SHOT OF THE SUBJECT MATTER!! How ever as a rule, centering your subject isn't the best way to compose your photo... Keep in mind the rule of thirds!!! (definition taken from wikipedia) The rule of thirds is a compositional rule of thumb in visual arts such as painting, photography and design.[1] The rule states that an image should be imagined as divided into nine equal parts by two equally-spaced horizontal lines and two equally-spaced vertical lines, and that important compositional elements should be placed along these lines or their intersections.[2] Proponents of this technique claim that aligning an image with these points creates more tension, energy and interest in the photo than simply centering the feature would. The photograph to the right demonstrates the application of the rule of thirds. The horizon sits at the horizontal line dividing the lower third of the photo from the upper two-thirds. The tree sits at the intersection of two lines, sometimes called a power point. Points of interest in the photo don't have to actually touch one of these lines to take advantage of the rule of thirds. For example, the brightest part of the sky near the horizon where the sun recently set does not fall directly on one of the lines, but does fall near the intersection of two of the lines, close enough to take advantage of the rule. The rule of thirds can be applied by lining up subjects with the guiding lines, placing the horizon on the top or bottom line instead of the center, or allowing linear features in the photograph to flow from section to section. In addition, many photographers recommend treating any "rule" of composition as more of a guideline, since pleasing photographs can often be made while ignoring one or more such rules..... the rule of thirds is still something I myself have to work on... I like things centered!! That is all from me for now, however remember this holiday season to pay it forward, do something nice just cause, smile and remember how lucky you really are!! BTW Life is short....TAKE MORE PICTURES!!!

Been a busy little bee!!!

Been busy with some very cute pics I took of a girlfriend of mine and her so sweet little daughter "J"....

They both did great, and I think had a good time, now I just need to get the final touch up done, before sending them off to get printed!!!

two weeks in a row... bad blgger!!!

Dear wonderful readers!!

I am a bad blogger two weeks in a row I have not done my photo tips on time, how bad is that!!!

As I am sure you can all imagine it is a busy busy time of year, anyway, on with the show!

Ok, today my roommate Andrea asked me for some help working on an xmas present for her family, she wanted to make a scrapbook thing to show off her life here since she moved to Calgary. When she went on line to upload her pics it wouldn't work, well it would work but she had these "!" beside each pic as she uploaded them... with a note that told her that the pics would be tooo small(or something like that) Anyway, thats when I got called in, she was upset and just couldn't figure it out, between the two of us we realized with sadness what the problem was, and hence my tip!!!

UNLESS YOU ONLY PLAN ON UPLOADING YOUR PICS TO THE INTERNET, ALWAYS HAVE YOUR CAMERA SET AT THE HIGHEST RESOLUTION/MEGABITES....

because her camera was set at the lowest resolution/quality/megapixel setting her photos weren't even big enough to print 4x6, alot of people buy these great cameras but don't know how to use them, and by accident end up having there cameras on settings that won't ever produce the main thing they want "pictures, and Memories"

ALSO... don't fall over here, but......

MEGA PIXELS AREN'T EVERYTHING!!!!

you only need a 2 mega pixel camera to print a perfect 4x6 pic

and not much more to print a 5x7....

SO don't be fooled by cameras that brag about having a ton of mega pixels, unless you are wanting to print pictures that will cover a large wall, or billboard you really don't need all those pixels!!!

ok, now you know, always set camera on a higher picture quality, and meda pixels are not everything!!!

BUT wait, we had a contest running!! Can you beleive on even one of you sent me a picture??

that makes me sad, perhaps we could try one more time????

LADIES, want to win something free??

then show me you have learnt something!!! Go out and take some pics, send me them via email soulphotography@hotmail.com

and tell me what tip you used, I will draw a name and you could be a winner!!!!

ok last.....

here is a little joke to remind

you of the holiday season!!!

tee hee

was reading my friend Christy's blog and she had her recipe on it, so I decided I needed on too!!

SO fun, and oddly true for those that know me!!!

The Recipe For Laura

3 parts Moxie 2 parts Originality 1 part Charisma Splash of Seductiveness Finish off with a little umbrella and straw

What's the Recipe for Your Personality?

winter wonder land!

hey All I thought I would post a few pics I took yesterday... a winter wonderland, it is so beautiful....

well unless you have to drive in it, not as fun... Snow=Christmas to me...

finally I am am starting to feel a little bit like Christmas...

This will be the first year not spending christmas with my mom, she chose to go out of town for the holiday season and not be here with her family, two grandkids and two kids...

I don't get it  :(

finally feeling a bit like Christmas... 

I think

xmas card!

hanging out with my honey all day, what a treat, life gets so busy it is nice to be able to spend a day just relaxing with no pressure to do anything, now don't get me wrong I have a ton to do, however, I am 'allowing' myself this day with my love....

Monday we are back to work and the real world, this time tomorrow Mark will be starting a new p/t job at a friends restraunt... I am sure it will be very hard for him at first so I think it is good that we get to relax together before that happens!!!

Anyway, while we relax I thought I would create a digi xmas card to send to the family... (the one with us in it) as well as one I will send to the vet(who have been awesome to our pets!!) what do you think???

mirror mirror on the wall tgif... tip of the week!!

Hey Ladies,

as promised, "fridays" photography tip of the day... a few days late...

As mentioned last night, had a great time at my xmas party, got to meet some of Marks buddies, which was awesome and didn't even crack the big vodka... Not sure why but feel I want to save it, is that odd???

Ok, enough babble, instead of a photo tip I thought we would do a photo idea...

Have you ever tried taking a picture through a mirror?

If not you should, it gives a whole new take on  everyday pictures. In the first picture Mark, me and the pups went on an off roading adventure, I took a pic as you can tell in the mirror of marks BIG truck....

The second one is of the bride of a wedding I did a few months ago, I like how she is blurry but her back and hair isn't... a neat effect!!!

Hey Ladies.....

A challenge for you!!!

I have been doing these tips for over a month now, have you learned anything??

well PROVE IT!!!

take a pic using one of the tips  I have showed you, send me a comment with a link to your picture, and next friday I will do a draw, the winner will get a treat from me!!!! 

Oh dear....

Hello my sweet friends,

SO sorry for the delay on friday photo tips... been super busy the last few days and just haven't had the chance, I am so hoping you all forgive me!! Bad LOLO(Lolo is what my paternal side calls me) 

Had a lovely party tonight however, lost of friends, silliness and you guessed it vodka, however, I did manage to NOT break into my big huge kirkland... It is a legend around here, think I may keep it unopened for a while!!

Ok, I am too busy to keep typing, I will do my very best to get on here tomorrow and give you a new fab tip for you to try... and perhaps even two since I am late!!!

sleep well my cyber friends I know I will. 

Laura

Ps this is a pic of two of my favorite people, my nephew and my grandma!!! LOVE YOU GUYS

Oh, what a gift!!

My girlfriend Valena came to get her nails done today

(for those of you who don't know, that is what i do to pay the bills around here, I have a salon in my house)

When I walked into my salon I was shocked by a rather LARGE Xmas gift she had brought for me.

She had told me about the fact that "kirkland" aka Costco was now selling Vodka, she had found out that one of the top vodka producers had created it and it was significantly cheaper than its top brand brother, I tried to find it, but thinking for some reason she was talking about Superstore I was never able to find it... then today....

it arrived!

the biggest bottle of vodka I have seen in a long time, 1.75L of kirkland vodka...

I was thrilled, not because I intend on drinking it all

(no i am not a lush!!!) but because I am having an xmas party this weekend... and haven't bought the booze for it yet!! Valena always knows what a girl needs...

Thank you Beena, oh and thank you for posing with it for me as well... You are looking hot hot hot!! Hope to see you for a cocktail this weekend, do you like Vodka?? I seem to have an abundance!!!

looking for a blue speedo!!

I really did try to find a pic with a blue speedo in it, however, thankfully not that easy to find!!!

So in loo of that I thought it only made sense to use Allison to teach Allisons lesson!!

Now the people in the background of this first photo aren't wearing blue speedos but certainly could have been as we were on a cruise ship

(crop and cruise)

Also put on by Allison Orthner the goddess of most things creative!! (wow I should get paid for all this advertising!! tee hee)

Ok enough shameless plugs for allison!!

The people in the background are not in blue speedos but they also weren't invited to be in this picture so in this case they are the "blue speedos"

Does that make sense???

Ok hopefully my explainatoin made some sense, and will make Allison proud(see I was listening)

well that is all for now... if I find more pics I am sure to keep up loading, need to make up for my absense this week!

Smiles

Laura

It's friday ladies...

First I wanted to point out that I learned how to add music to my blog today, go me!!!

Ok, Friday photography tip of the day time!!

When taking pictures don't forget the curtains, Curtains you ask??

YES, just like we put curtains on our windows to center a window, and draw your eye in, photography can be the very same way!!

When looking into or on your view finder be mindful of what is framing your picture. In a perfect world it is always nice to have your picture framed, so it draws your eyes into the subject...

weither it be trees, with branches that gentlly fall to the side, or literal frames, like door ways and things like that. When trying to add framing to your pics be mindful of two things, that you get the whole "frame" into the pic and as 'Allison Orthner' would say

"watch out for blue speedos!"

What is a blue speedo you ask??? Well that is best answered by her, however the short version would be...

A blue speedo is anything in the background or foreground of your photo that you don't want in it or just wasn't invited!! Like the man walking along the beach in his blue speedo while you are trying to take a great sunset photo!!

Notice how I have "framed" these two pics...

oh, bad blogger!!!

Hello my sweet lovely readers,

so sorry for my MIA status, not sure what my excuse is other than a lack of things to post!

I have a date night with my bf tomorrow and am totally looking forward to it, we sort of met, and that was that, we never really dated, he moved in almost right away, and we sort of just fit. ANyway, he went and booked time off for me, and informed me we are going on a date, how romantic, I asked him if he was going to pick me up/drop me off, kiss me goodnight and open all doors for me, and he giggled and said... "ya ok!!"

then I have a very easy weekend, no side jobs, no stress, may even get my house cleaned, ok who am I kicking there is far to much crafting to me done for that!!!

Ok HELP...

need some gift ideas for a distant friend of mine who has been so supportive in my photography, helping me with words of advice when ever asked and supporting me all the way.

the problem is she lives out of town so it is something I would be snail mailing to her....

any thoughts???

she is a scrapbooker as well...

a wife

a mom

and an awesome Photographer, she is the person who inspired me to get into this craft!!

and the crazy thing is we have only ever met once... would you do all that for someone you didn't know, not many would, but she did!!!

what do you give someone like that, some one who gives so selflessly???

well if she lived closer she would get a HUG for sure...

and more thank you' than I can hold!!

ideas???

please??

Laura

for those keeping track...

I thought I would send a quick update for those keeping track of my weight loss highs and lows...

I have been doing my best to eat ask many fruits and veggies as possible, however, since learning about the great "timmy" disappontment I have had two tim Hortons coffees... I know, bad Laura!!

I seem to do great in the day, then at night after Mark goes to bed, it all goes downhill... Fast!!

I think I have now eaten all of the crap food out of my kitchen so I hope this week will go smoother!

I haven't weighted myself yet tho, why.... well I think if I weigh my self and I have lost weight I will think I can cheat and if I weigh myself and I haven't lost any, then I will be disappointed and binge... does this make sense???

ANYway, I may "weigh In" tomorrow as that will be my two week mark since starting this dreading idea of dieting!!!

Now on a positive note I did walk on the tredmill three times this week, and took the pups for a few mini walks as well... well to be honest Maggie takes me for a walk by escaping, and making me chase her around the block, cute puppy, good think or I could kill her sometimes!!! but how could you be mad at that face!!!

what a cookie!!!

TGIF time for some tips!!

Hello my Sweet "friends"Here is your fridays photography tip of the day....

This is a simple one, but something we forget to do....

When taking pictures of small things, kids, pets ect... get down to there level and see life through their eyes...

We know what life looks like from were we see it, so why not go on your knees or even lie down and see how they see it... (remember tip number one and get close to your subject!)

This will add all sorts of new interest to subjects we take pictures of everyday...

here is an example of this....

first pic is from my from an adults view....

The next one is from "Maggie's" eyes so we see into them and look at her from her height...

hope this helps!!!

See, I didn't forget!!

Hello My dear sweet awesome readers,

as promised here are some pics of my LO's I did Saturday at the Jingle Bell Crop!!!

Would love to stay and chat, but allowed myself a Tim Hortons coffee today, only if I get my Butt on the tredmill, so here I go, begrudgingly....

will post again perhaps before bed!!!

Hope everyone had a great Tuesday....

What a night!!!!!!!!l

Had an awesome night at school, learned some new tricks, how to "paint with Light" so cool!! 

here are a few pics... just so you know we only had two models....

One girl and one guy!!!

FUNKY

JIngle all the way!!!!!!

Here a just a few pics from the awesome event I went to yesterday put on my Monday Night Class  These girls, there husbands and families worked there BUTTS off  to make it a fabulous success!!!

There were three stores you could shop at, "Monday Night Class", "Paper pasttimes" and "Scrapbook Pantry", classes to take, make and takes, and all sorts of products

demos... It was fun!

We got all our meals for the day, TONS of free giveaways, tons of room to scrapbook, even homemade Carrot cake... they were even kind enough to realize food allergies and restrictions. Pour Carol of paper pasttimes, broke her arm and still managed to show up and keep us all in line!! she is so funny!!

 For those of you who have not heard of MNC, they have an awesome business for scrapbookers of all levels... Classes in a bag, you take home, and create, learn new things, all in the comport of your own home. Cindy also happens to be the face behind, the Bloomin Inn's awesome Alberta scrapbooking retreats!!! I highly recommend you check all of these great companies out....

Ok will post pics of my "creations" 

when I get home from shopping... arg!!!s