Long Time/No See

I've been so busy with school, that I've COMPLETELY neglected my blog.

I knew this would happen.

I haven't had much time to schedule photo shoots because I live in Murfreesboro most of the time, and only visit my home only once or twice in a given month. But my photography classes that I'm taking are really giving me lots of new insight. 

I recently photographed my sister and her daughter on her birthday and it was the most fun I've had in a while. I had never photographed a family, so that was a new challenge, that (not gonna lie) was a little nerve racking in the beginning. But once I got in there, it was just a blast. 

The scenery was perfect for her ideas and just made it that much easier. 

Hopefully I'll be on here more often with new fall and winter photo shoots coming around the bend. I am so excited to see where I go in this line of work, and I couldn't be more happy to get to do what I love. 

Here's a few pictures from the shoot. More on my facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BellowPhotography

  

My Little Black Baby

So, guess what....

MY CAMERA CAME!!!

I am so happy right now. I ordered it a couple weeks ago and it finally came! It's a Canon EOS 60D and it's perfect. I just wanted to go out and shoot everything I saw. However my busy schedule made that pretty impossible, but yesterday I decided to go out and do a little photo shoot with some props.

I didn't have any of my usual go to's. I couldn't just call up and say, "Hey come on over, it's just a three hour drive!" So I used what I had. I had just gone to the library and checked out two more books to read. (I just finished Love Story, such a sad day) I got Breakfast at Tiffanys and an Agatha Christie mystery, both old fashioned hard bound. So I used those and a couple others I already had. I got a few pictures and homemade posters and ran out the door. 

I'm sure people were staring at me as I teetered on the wooden picnic table and running around getting different angles of my stacked books. But I sure didn't care. This was bliss for me.

  

 

It's so nice to be able to look at the photo you've taken right away to see what things you want to change. To see what works and what doesn't. I love photography.

After looking at them, I just wanted to do something different with them, and since I've been doing some double exposures in my digital class, I decided to try some with these.

I think I'm in love. Really.

So, simple to say that I love my digital camera. I have a feeling things are going to go quite well with my new baby. 

Old Photos: Scanning Assignment

My first assignment for my digital photography class is to scan in pictures, film, flat objects, leaves...and create a collage of sorts. I looked through tons of old photos from my Mother's childhood and my own. It's so funny to look at my Mom as a baby, a kid, and a young adult. I had a curious feeling- like I was looking at another person. It's hard to look at someone you know when they were younger and try to imagine who the were then. Even looking at pictures of my sister and I from when we were little, it doesn't even feel like it's me.

Mom and her dog Skipper.

Mom and her Grandfather.

My Grandmother and Mother. They were pretty stylin.

I've always loved looking at pictures and home videos because it's like going back in time and exploring another world. One that I hardly remember. To be able to look at myself and others, to look at life from years ago, is a strange phenomenon. And one that we are quite frankly blessed to have.  

Grandmother. Personality.

I've picked photos that immediately jumped out at me. Ones that caused me to stare at them in wonder and marvel at the people in them. 

My sister and I playing pretend. This is the epitome of my childhood.

Playing the piano even then.

Me and my dog Honey.

I've got to say that I am SO glad that my Great Grandmother, Grandmother, and Mother took photos. So many times at family get togethers and holidays, it seems like a hassle to pull the camera out and take time to record the moment. But oh man! How much we would miss if we didn't.

Camera Shopping

So, I'm shopping for a new digital camera. 

I'm taking a digital photography class in my sophomore year of college and I would really love to have my own, wonderfully and professionally functioning digital camera. 

I've loved photography for so long and I started with digital, but over the years I have become a filmy (don't judge me in my out-of-date style). When I found my grandmother's Minolta film camera from the sixties in my attic--it was like Christmas came early. Even though I hadn't a clue how to use it or even how to put on the lens, I fell in love--hard. I would choose film over digital in a heart beat. However, being that we are in the 21st century, I think it's wise to invest in a really good digital camera. 

Especially since film is so expensive both to purchase and to develop (don't get me wrong, it's totally worth it), there are times when digital is the better choice. Like when you have girls running and jumping up in the air and you don't want to waste one of your precious 24 shots with a blurry photo. 

A few years ago, I attempted to buy a high end digital camera...or so I thought. Silly child! What I thought was the latest and greatest of cameras was---I don't even know. The only good thing I can say about it is that it zoomed REALLY well, like craters on the moon were found. NASA here I come. But really, it had a slow as molasses shutter, it's lens didn't come off, it's focus was bad. Anyway, you get the point. So this time I am determined to find a good camera. I've settled on either a Canon EOS 60D DSLR or a Canon Rebel T5i.

I will return when I've got my new baby. 

Any suggestions are gladly welcomed.

The Last Supper: Shrimp

I take meals very seriously. You already know of my love for food- but seriously.

So when it came time for my last meal with my family before I left for school, I decided to make a meal extravaganza. I decided to make shrimp.

Now, for some of you, shrimp may not be THAT big of a deal. You may live in Shrimp City. You may say, "If I eat one more bite of shrimp, I will die". For those of you who don't eat shrimp very often (like me) this is for you. 

I went to the store with the intention of buying it. But outside of a restaurant, I'd never bought shrimp. I had a meal in mind, and it would have worked out swimmingly--if my sister knew the difference between a cucumber and a zucchini. (Love you Beth!!!) 

I made baked carrots with sea salt and olive oil. Soooo good!

Understandably, these are a little squirrelly looking, but they were the bomb dot com.

   

Since my mom equates shrimp to a nice bowl of centipedes, I made her some chicken with parsley.

 Taking into account that I've never made shrimp, I think I did okay. I probably would have left the tails on, but I took them off, per request.

I added some salt and pepper and melted 3 tbsp of butter in a saucepan. 

I added 3 cloves of garlic and after cooked, added some parsley. 

The recipe told me to cook the shrimp for about 3-4 minutes. But I have a feeling I overcooked it a touch. Oh well!

 

I poured some of the butter garlic sauce to dip---I could have died happily.

Some pasta and alfredo sauce made it complete. I'd say it was a job well done.

 

CD Cases

 I'm the kind of person who goes WAY out of the way to make something-my own way. One of my absolute favorite gifts that I've ever given was when I was eleven or twelve. I didn't have any money to buy something for my step sister for Christmas, so like any kid would do, I decided to make a doll house---out of cardboard. Uh hu. It was a pretty good sized house. I cut out all the pieces by myself, taped them together with duct tape, and even created furniture and accessories out of toilet paper and scrap pieces of fabric. 

I think I was much more proud of my creation than the recipient was. Haha! But that showed me that anything (mostly anything, let's be realistic) that I want to make, I can with some ingenuity and creativity. 

I did a similar thing a few days ago. As you know, I just did a photo shoot for some senior girls. And I didn't want to be like everyone else and use a simple CD case, as I've done in the past for lack of an idea. So I made my own. 

I found some brown stock paper at Hobby Lobby and measured it to fit a CD if folded in half, with some room on the sides to sew down each one. 

Folded in half

Then I printed my logo on the top half, above the fold.

 

After I folded it, I punched holes all the way down the sides. And then sewed in and out all the way up and then the same all the way down. 

I'm so happy with how they turned out. Even though it took a long time to go through the whole process, I believe it was totally worth it. To create is such a wonderful feeling. And now I feel so much better when I hand a client a CD of their photos. Not only have I put my heart and soul into their pictures, but also in my whole product.

Finished product.

Ohhh Soup!

Okay, so I love, like LOVE soup. Any and all kids, I will devour. 

I think if I had ten days left to live, I would spend the time eating-soup. Won ton, chicken noodle, tomato, you understand. 

I made some the other day that was THE BOMB!!! I didn't really have a clue of what I would put in it or how it would turn out. I just went a little crazy and threw everything in. End of story, it was a success. 

 I'll try to remember all I put in, if any of you want to replicate it. 

Ingredients:

ground sirloin

onion

carrots

green pepper

banana pepper

potato

canned diced tomato

tomato sauce

canned turnip greens

garlic

basil

garlic salt

salt

pepper

dill

parlsey

 

I sauteed the sirloin in olive oil first, then added onion and carrot. Then I added tomato sauce and the green pepper, banana pepper ,potato, and canned tomato. Let that simmer for a few minutes and add some water (as much as you want to make it soupy or not). Add the turnip greens and put a lid on it. 

Add spices (1/2 tbsp each) and simmer until potatoes are soft (about 45 min.). 

I also made cheesy bread. Yes, I was having a really good day. 

Here's how I did it:

slice some garlic and herbs bread and put some butter on. Next add a little bit of salt and pepper. Then sprinkle some cheese (I chose mozzarella) and drizzle some olive oil on top. Put it in the oven on broil until the cheese is melted and a little brown on top. 

So Yum!

Senior Shoot Was A Success!

I am exhilarated! Today I got my film back from my senior portrait shoot. 

As you know, I was kind of nervous that something would go wrong. And though there wasn't a lack of obnoxious timing on the part of the weather, everything else went splendidly. 

I guess the reason I was so nervous was because I hadn't used my film camera and actually seen the results since my final project in my photography class. I was worried that I wouldn't choose the right aperture or the right speed. Ya know? But I must say that when I popped that CD in my computer and with one eye closed, opened up the first file...I was so relieved, and proud. Picture after picture that I opened, was just a reminder that I knew what I was doing. That I had learned a few tricks of the trade and could rest in that fact. Now, granted accidents happen and Lord knows I've had my share of them. Like forgetting to rewind the film before opening the camera! AAAHHHH!

But being a photographer, makes me an artist. An artist defines themselves by their art, by the process, by what they learned along the way. As I lay on the couch, exhausted after this very long day, I am so content with how the shoot turned out. It was just a new journey for me, and I'm so glad for the opportunity. Jesus has been so faithful to me and I'm so thankful for Him and all He is. 

These girls were SO fun to photograph! They were so enthusiastic and ready to try anything. Thanks Elizabeth, Natalie, and Courtney for being so beautiful, inside and out! 

Here's a few shots from the FILM. 

Elizabeth

Aren't they gorgeous! These girls. :)

Natalie

Courtney

If At First It Rains...

A few days ago, I was scheduled to take three girls senior portraits. We all headed to Market Square to get the city aspect of it. It was cloudy, but I figured it would settle out, like the weather really cares about my plans. Ha! I started to photograph two of the three, and before I could do the third, the pouring began...and never stopped. We all sat under the overhang of the restaurant and watched, and waited. Long story short, it never stopped raining. So we had to reschedule the rest for another day.

Yesterday was the day. It was SO sunny. Yay!!! I headed to Market Square to finish the third girl and then we rushed over to the Botanical Gardens before the weather decided to be cruel again. 

I took four rolls of film, and some digital. I was so exhausted afterwards, but so happy the shoot went so well. I cannot wait to see how the film turned out. 

Here's a few shots from the digital.

Natalie

 Such a fun shoot.

Elizabeth

Courtney

Iced Coffee

Last night I made the BEST iced coffee EVER...like ever.

I am so addicted to coffee it's ridiculous. I love it hot, cold, and any other way. I love it black. I love it from Starbucks. I love it from Shoney's. You get the point. So I decided to make my own iced coffee, that actually tasted good. You know how you get an idea to "make your own" and it ends up tasting like cardboard? Yeah, I've been there, numerous times. 

Here's how I made it:

  

I made coffee the way I normally make it in my coffee machine. And then I had to chill it in the fridge, otherwise it would melt the ice. Chill for about 30-40 minutes. 

There are hundreds of ways to make iced coffee, but this is just what I had on hand at the time. Also, there are hundreds of ways to flavor it: vanilla, mocha, caramel...

Get whatever glass you like, I chose see-through glass for beauty's sake, and fill them with ice.

Fill the glass with the chilled coffee. Don't leave room for the cream, you won't use that much.

 Pour in the heavy cream, as much as you like.

Then I added just a tiny bit of vanilla. Since this is not a whole batch, it really matters that you put just a drop or two, otherwise it'll be bitter.

Add sugar to taste, some may not like any at all.

Voila! Iced Coffee.