All Boy I Heart Faces Photo Challenge - Rock on Eli

Only 1 week old in this photo and Eli is already "All Boy." Many who saw this photo said he was rockin' out on an air guitar. Too funny, I didn't see it before they mentioned it. I Heart Faces challenge this week is to post a photo that fit in the theme "All Boy" and this photo cried out to be entered :)

We'll be seeing Eli and George rockin' it out together over the next year in the series "The Incredible Shrinking George." Each month I'll be taking a new photo of Eli and George together to show off just how much Eli has grown.

This photo was submitted to the I Heart Faces photo challenge – www.iheartfaces.com

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Photography: Not Just Faces - Capture Places

It's pretty safe to say that I've liked photography since I can remember. When I was old enough to start taking my own photos, I always had a stack of film waiting to be developed. Remember how expensive photography used to be! Not only did you have to buy the film, but you also had to pay to have it developed and you really had no clue if any of your photos would even turn out.

Flash forward to the birth of Conner, my photography addiction went through the roof. I simply couldn't take enough photos of him. I wanted to freeze every moment to relive as he grew up way to fast. Thankfully, I was now shooting digital and had the freedom to capture a gazillion photos and not go broke doing so. Digital also allowed me to practice taking better photos.

However, I don't only take photos of my kids. I've been known to stop on the side of the road to capture an amazing dark, moody sky with a happy little rainbow or the bend of the road just before my house. Because these are moments and places I also want to remember because they evoke strong emotions for me.

This photo is a prime example of a place that I love to look upon each time I drive by. It's just down the road from my house. I love where it sits on the hill and the way the sun filters through the rows of trees. Yesterday, we went on a walk as a family and I brought my camera along. On the way home, my hubby pulled the truck over so I could finally capture this image and I'm so happy that we stopped!

Is there a place that you love, a place that makes you feel something each time you come upon it? Have you taken the time to photograph it? Share it with us, use the Linky tool below. *Linking will be open for one week. So if you haven't already taken your photo, use this as your push to get out there and do so!

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It's easy to participate. Here are a few suggestions:


1. Make your post easy to find. Link to the post that includes your image, not just your blog address.
2. Keep all images family friendly. I will delete all non-family friendly links.
3. Link back. It would be awfully sweet of you to link back.
4. Have fun!

Where have I been?

Have any of you missed me? I know I have been missing! A couple weeks back I fell and hurt myself (learn from me that a folding chair does not make a good step stool). As I healed, I spent some time focusing on my new exciting adventure.

I'm taking a leap of faith and officially stepping into the world of professional photography. Stop by my new website www.ChristineDavidPhotography.com and my facebook page and say "hi."

No fear, I'll be back to posting Close To My Heart goodness here, very soon!

 

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Friday Fabulous Find - Her Photography Lives On

What an amazing story about Vivian Maier, a street photographer and nanny. She may have been rather unknown in her life, but her photos will live on.

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Friday Fabulous Find

Click on photo to check out the SLC Camera Similator

The other day I came across this nifty site that I just had to share with you! It's an online SLR camera simulator that will allow you to experiment with lighting, ISO, aperture, shutter and distance settings in a mock photo session. Understanding how each of these components interact will give you greater control and help you capture your pictures as you see them in your head.

I'd love to have you join us on my Close To My Heart Fan Page and share any photos this simulator helps you capture!

 

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Just have to share with you...

As many of you know, I love photography! I'm still learning and hope to someday capture amazing photos like these talented and uber sweet ladies. They are so great that I just have to share them with you...

Karen Russell - Snapshots of a Good Life

My dear friend Nona, directed me to Karen for photography classes after winning a spot in her online class. Her classes are so amazing that she has quite the waiting list and after taking her class, I can tell you "rightfully so." I had been looking for a photography class for a long time, but nothing I came across seemed to be what I wanted/needed. Karen's approach to photography fit beautifully with what I wanted, being a scrapbooker herself. Not only did she teach me more about my camera than could have hoped for, she also freed me (well, I am still working on this part) from that pesky perfectionism. Sometimes we capture emotionally perfect photos that are not technically perfect - guess what in the end is the the emotion that matters the most (thank you Karen). If you have been looking for an online photography class, I'd highly recommend Karen's Photographers' Workshop. If you are looking for a does of adorable photos that will make you smile and heartfelt honesty that will sometimes make you laugh, check out her blog here.

Erin Cobb - Erin Cobb Photography

Monday was a very exciting day to me (and many, many others)! Erin Cobb's Clean Color video tutorial became available for purchase. We have been patiently waiting and the moment it became available, I jumped at downloading it.

What is "Clean Color" you might be wondering? Well, have you have looked at a photographers photos and wondered how they achieved such phenomenal coloring that brings the photo to life? Have you looked at your photos and thought, they looked dull and lifeless? Erin, who has super cute kids and posts photos that pull at your heartstrings, has shared her color flow process. Theses tutorials are step by step and very easy to follow, she even includes the sample photos for us to practice with and cement the techniques. In just the short time I have had "Clean Color," I have been able to take a few of my photos, follow her process and I am thrilled with the results (I'll share them later).

If you take photos and want your final photos to be timeless and full of life, go get "Clean Color" now!

While you are there, check out her blog. Her posts (and photos) are like a little dose of daily sunshine that make me smile.

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PS I have not been compensated in any way for this post (and my opinions). Matter of fact, neither one even knows that I am posting this. :)

Happy Birthday Moriah

I think I need to purchase another memory card for my camera. At Moriah's two parties I took over 300 photos (yikes, I know). Here is my favorite of the bunch! I have decided to use this photo as my submission for Jenn's Friday Photo Challenge.

Passion...

I have discovered a passion for photography and over the last several years have learned more than I could ever expected. I am still searching for classes that are worth the money and ones I can afford, however until then I'll be doing the best I can to learn on my own. I already shared one picture of Ella from her birthday party, but I knew before I left her house that day I had a project that I needed to complete for her and her mommy (Jenn). Yesterday, I finally got the time and here is the finished project - it is a 10" x 20" storyboard that I created using a tutorial on Jessica Sprague's site.