The photography blog all about

I have a NEW Blogsite...please come on over and check it out!

2011-03-02T15:29:00.000-08:00

Yay, my blog has moved to www.jaymefranklin.com.

Boo Hoo my new blog doesn't have the capabily (that I know of yet) to email my faithful followers to let you know I've made a new Blog post. I hope that you will find your way over to my new and improved blogsite. I am a bit sad about leaving All About Pebbles and BamBam, but the great thing is that all of my content from this blog was transferred over to my new site. I will still keep this site, maybe I will turn it into a journal All About Pebbles and BamBam?
Anyway, click on over to my new site, visit me often. Let me know what you think!

-Jayme Franklin

Franklin Family 4 x 12 Project: You get what you get and you don't throw a fit

2011-02-19T14:24:00.000-08:00

I've been so busy with my Project 52, that I have had to make a serious effort to fit in the most important project of all, my Franklin Family 4 x 12. The weather here is rainy, typical for February, so getting a family photo has proved very challenging. I've taken the family out to get a few photos, without much success. Hence the title of this post,

"You get what you get and you don't throw a fit"

Nate thinks all photographers should permanently brandish this into their brains. He gets impatient with me and the camera if we are out and about and I am trying to get "just the right shot". With two active kids, often my "time is up", and I am learning to take what you can get. Even if it is noisy, out of focus, no one is really looking the right way, I need to learn to accept that some photos may have to be this way if I want a photo at all.

Here is us. Just us. Being together. Nate and I. Our kids. Coffee. Muffins. Us.

February 2011

Fifty-two on Fridays: Love

2011-02-18T06:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome back to my Project 52, or Fifty-two on Friday's. I hope you've had a chance to catch up on my previous posts covering the themes Motion, Signs, Warmth, Shades of Red and Self Portrait. I am so fortunate to share this journey with 17 other talented photographers, so don't forget to link to the next photographer at the end of my post to see their interpretation of this weeks theme.

This week, Valentine's Day fell on Monday and naturally our group theme was LOVE. Valentine's day is a special day for my husband and I because before we were married it was our dating anniversary. Over the years Valentine's Day has changed for us, but one constant is the very simple and basic love we share. Life is complicated but I find my retreat in the simplicity of our love!

Here is a stolen moment of our love. Shockingly, we don't have one of the kids running through the frame! Amazing!

Now grab your coffee, tea, mocha or latte and head on over to the incredibly talent Seattle Child and Family photographer, Sarah Bunch!

A Before and After: Strictly a Lightroom 3 edit

2011-02-14T21:03:00.000-08:00

I have never done a Before and After post, so I thought I would give it a try. I was a good girl this Christmas and was given Lightroom 3 as a surprise. I totally wasn't expecting it! Thank you to my husband! It has taken me about a month to get it out of the box and get set up. This was no small feat, since on top of getting Lightroom, I also went ahead and bought myself an external storage drive. I took some time to figure out the best way to configure my system, and let me tell you the posts over at The Lightroom Lab are AMAZING! Their posts provided the step by step procedure so that I got it set up with my external hard drive the right way, the first time. So so happy!

On to the before and after. I was also given for Christmas a wonderful book by David duChemin (thank you Andrea!) that has really changed the way I approach my post processing. I give this book a healthy 5-star rating!!! No longer am I looking to actions to make my photo look the way I want it to. I have nothing against actions, I just think for me they have slowed the process of finding my style and how to express it in my finished photos.

This before and after is really to illustrate a simple clean edit performed solely in Lightroom 3. What I mean by clean edit, is that I adjusted the WB, exposure, blacks, fill, brightness, contrast, clarity, and used a medium tone curve. And a bit of luminance noise reduction, which is super impressive in LR3, followed by a more pleasing crop. Hope you like.

Fifty-two on Fridays: Motion

2011-02-11T06:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome back to Fifty-two on Friday's or my Project 52 journey that I am sharing with 17 other photographers around the world. Grab a cup of coffee and catch up on our previous themes like Signs, Warmth, Shades of Red, and Self-Portrait. And don't forget, that at the bottom of my post you can link to the next photographer in our blog-circle and her interpretation of the theme.

This week the theme is Motion. In our house, we have a saying, "Big muscles, require big movements". I knew that I wanted to catch my big mover in motion. So on a really nice evening this past week, we took the kids for a walk after dinner, which for Noah always turns into a run. I got my camera ready and gripped it to my hip as I chased him up the hill, shooting, while both of us used our big muscles.

I adore this photo because it reminds me of a Nike poster that hung above my bed all through high school and college which read,

"There are clubs that you can't belong to.
Neighborhoods you can't live in.
Schools you can't get into.
But the roads are always open.
Just do it."

These words were above a picture of a lone runner on a country road.

Our bodies in motion inspires me, because of the amazing motions that we ask it to do each day.

No go on over and check out the amazing work by Sarah Bunch, Seattle Washington, Family and Child Photographer.

Sometimes a nap is what you need

2011-02-05T15:39:00.000-08:00

I would love to take a nap every day. Some people in my house don't share my opinion.

I know it is probably mean that I was taking pictures while she threw a fit, but I'd tried everything else at this point. She eventually got herself to sleep though...thank goodness.

PS this is super grainy b/c it's at the ISO setting labeled, "way to high lady"!

Fifty-two on Fridays: Signs

2011-02-04T06:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome back to my Project 52, or Fifty-two on Fridays.

The Project 52 is a creative photography endeavor by 18 different photograhers worldwide participating in a blog-circle. In this project we all work from the same theme each week, putting our own creative spin and vision into the project. Remember at the bottom of my post is the link to the next wonderful photographer and her take on each week's theme. Please check out our previous posts, to catch up on the creative sharing for the month of January. Blog love, is loved!

It's the first week of February, and our blog-circle theme is, Signs. I knew immediately what I wanted to photograph, and the more I thought about it...it quickly became my back up option (see my outtake, I'll explain later).
When I was thinking about Signs, I was thinking about how a single sign or symbol can represent an entire brand, a thought, a perception, and how incredibly pervasive a sign may become. Take for example, McDonalds golden arches, Starbucks siren, or Apple's, Apple. All of these are signs that alone without words or print, point us in one single direction, and an associated identity.

My interpretation of the theme, Signs, is Peace. Peace the word, when spoken in different languages, for obvious reasons sounds different. Peace by definition or in print, may also mean different things to different people. But the sign for peace, is clearly understood around the world, and understood without the utterance of words or print.

My interpretation of Signs

Now for my outtake. When I thought of photographing signs, I immediately thought about photographing a tile designed into the words SHALOM. This tile sign sit's at the base of a set of stairs that I climb every morning with the children in front of their preschool. It is the staircase to the place where I leave my children to be cared for while I am at work. I have wanted to photograph this sign for many years now, and this project gave me the push to do it.

Shalom is a hebrew word meaning PEACE.

Now, please go check out the amazing photographer Shauna, at Simply Shauna Photography.

Fifty-two on Friday: Warmth

2011-01-28T06:00:00.000-08:00

I love having the challenge of a Project 52 each week. It was so amazing last week to see all of the creativity flow from the 16 other women in my blog-circle. When I saw that this week the theme would be warmth, I was truly excited to see what the ladies would come up with! This week, for warmth, I immediately thought of these things...

...a smile that reaches all the way to someone's eyes

...cradling hot mug of coffee on a cold morning

...and hand knit mittens

I originally had a vision of processing these with bold colors to showcase the multi-hued mittens, but stumbled and stumbled to make it right. I finally was pushing some sliders and presets and found the duotone BW, and fell.in.love.with.it. Goes to show that even when you have a vision, your voice may take you in a different direction (yes, I am reading a book by David duChemin!)

I have to thank my dear friend Tara for allowing me to torture her again with my camera. She is so supportive of passion for photography, and has not turned down one of my requests to photograph her or her boys!

The outtake, but still one of my FAVS

Now, go check out the amazing creativity of Sarah Bunch at http://www.birthofaphotographer.blogspot.com/ for her take on warmth. Blog love is always appreciated, and see you next week.

Funny Glasses-Blogging all about Pebbles and BamBam

2011-01-22T15:22:00.000-08:00

I love my two monkeys! When I see these photos, I just think of the song, "So Happy Together"! Sing along with me!

Nicole was given this pair of Harry Potter glasses as part of a party grab bag from one of the friends in her classroom. Both Noah and Nicole had a great time trying them on. I would say, they might be able to pull off the blonde versions of Harry and Hermione?

They were singing me a song they made up, called, "I love my mommy" It's one of my FAVS

Those are some true, true giggles and smiles. I wish I could be that age again, hanging out with my brother!

fifty-two on friday: shades of red

2011-01-21T06:00:00.000-08:00

I hope all of you enjoyed the wonderful blog-circle of self-portraits last week for the kick-off of the Project 52. It was wonderful to get a peek at the 16 other photographers behind the camera, behind the creativity, and to see the "virtual" friends that I have made over at the Bloom Forum.

This week I have an embarrassing story for my project 52...This week, I had it mixed up, and thought that the theme was "Warmth". Luckily, my lovely new friends within my blog-circle sent out the list of themes as a reminder on Wednesday, and it was even luckier that I opened the email early in the day, because I realized that the theme this week was "Shades of Red". I was panicked, because I had ideas for this theme that I was thinking and planning for, but knew, just knew I couldn't pull them off by Friday morning. So, out of time and a bit desperate I looked around my house for inspiration, and found "Shades of RED".

Here is my interpretation of "Shades of Red", on a moments notice. Not my most creative, but incredibly meaningful to me.

Shades of Red

And here are the outtakes... You can get a glimpse of what is on our shelves, and within grabbing reach! And yes, it you look closely, you can see Nate's Ph.D. thesis on the Controlled Growth of Carbon Nanotubes, right next to Thomas the Train and Georges 1 to 10 and back again.

Now you must head on over to Sarah Bunch and check out her wonderful creativity at http://www.birthofaphotographer.blogspot.com/ for her take on "Shades of Red"

Fifty-Two on Friday: Self

2011-01-14T06:00:00.000-08:00

I am really excited to share with you my Project 52 post!

What is a project 52: It's a new theme each week captured and interpreted by what I see through the lens. Last week I started my project 52 alone, but this week and for the rest of the year, sixteen other photographers and I are doing our Project 52 together. Our goal is to learn and grow from each others perspective on the same theme. I am really excited to participate with such amazing women and I look forward to how all of us will be challenged and inspired by each other work and creativity.

How will all 17 of us work together on a project 52, well...I will take a picture of our theme for the week, the way I interpret it, and post it on my site. Then under my post, I will link another photographer who is part of the project for you to see her interpretation of the theme. After you see hers, you will notice a different link under her picture that will then take you to the next photographer’s website. If you continue to click on the link under each picture, in the end you should see 16 other pictures and eventually make it back to my site.

This week, our theme is self-portrait. This theme will allow us to see the photographers who are participating in this journey and put a face to a name. Remember to check out all of the links at the bottom of the portrait!

Here is me. This week, it was my turn to step in front of the camera. Me with my coffee. My day hasn't really started until I have my soy latte in hand, and the cup...well you can't see it, but it has a crab on it. That's intentional, because I can be a bit "crabby" in the morning until I get my coffee (hee hee.)

For the next fabulous photographer participating in this Project 52 on Friday check out Sarah Bunch at www.birthofaphotographer.blogspot.com

Franklin Family 4x12 Project-Blogging all about Pebbles and BamBam

2011-01-08T21:34:00.000-08:00

Along with a Project 52 this year, I have taken on the exciting task of doing a family project. It's called a 4 x 12 project. What this means is that I am committing to taking one family photo per month in 2011. There are four of us in our family and 12 months to a year, so it's called a 4 x 12 :-).

I am hoping that some of the photos will be artistic and creative, but I'm a realist and know that some will just be taken in the brief moments that Nate and I can corral the kids in front of the camera. I am excited about this project because I have so few pictures of the 4 of us together. In the end I hope to have 12 family photos that I will cherish for many years, and who knows, maybe even make a calendar for 2012?

Here is to 2011 and many happy family photo shoots!

Franklin Family 4 x 12

January 2011

A new year, a new project! Blogging all about Pebbles and BamBam

2011-01-07T22:20:00.000-08:00

This year I've decided to really push myself to be more creative. I love love love the technical side of photography, but I want to balance that technical know-how with the creative. When I went through my photos last week to pick out a couple dozen for printing I had stacks and stacks of portrait after portrait. Portraits are nice, but I don't need hundreds and they don't capture real life. So this year I have taken on a Project 52! One photo a week. Each week I will try and give myself a theme to follow, to inspire me, to push beyond trying to get a perfect portrait of my kids. Instead, I am going to photograph the fleeting moments where I see beauty, joy, chaos, the details of our lives!

This past week was week 1. The theme I set for myself was 8:00 am! 8:00 am is the busiest moment in our family's morning. It is when we are trying to get lunches packed, kids jackets and shoes on (the right feet hopefully), kids into the car, buckled in, giving kisses goodbye and last instructions, and all trying to make it happen without the threat of a meltdown.

Week 1: Project 52, 2011

8:00 am

If you are inspired to take on a project 52, leave me a comment on my blog. I would love to follow your journey through the year, don't forget to leave your link!

You know it's bad when...Blogging all about Pebbles and BamBam

2011-01-03T21:42:00.000-08:00

You know it's bad when you mother tells you to pick up your camera and take a picture already of your new home. My mom will be the first to tell me, "get that camera out of my face!", but pleaded with me today to show her some pictures of our new home. I was so busy with the move that I didn't even want to get my camera out of the bag, but I did snap a few with my iphone. All of these were taken just about an hour before the movers arrived with all of our stuff (hence the brown paper on the floors still). We waited and waited to find the right home for our little family and this is it. I hope that we will stay here a long long time and make many happy happy memories.

Here are a few of the inside. Our contractor was amazing. We took down one brick fireplace in the family room and dry-walled over it. The second fireplace in the living room we tore down, dry-walled and put up a new stone mantel. We also put in hardwood floors, new carpet, and new paint. We didn't remodel the lovely 70's kitchen this time, someday.

And here are a few of the outside. We completely landscaped the front and backyard to be kid friendly. Lots of green grass to play and a wrap around patio for the kids to ride their scooters and bikes out back. And the best part, is our location! We don't have any neighbors in front of our house, but instead look out onto a cross country course with deer, rattle snakes, and mountain lions! Yes, I said mountain lions! And those deer have already started eating my flowers out front!

Anyway, this is our new place we call HOME!

It's been WAY to long!- Blogging all about Pebbles and BamBam

2010-12-16T12:39:00.000-08:00

I'll admit it... I've been hiding from my blog. Once I got behind in posting, I felt hopeless in catching up. But my blog is supposed to be my creative outlet, a place where I post my latest and greatest pics, so why was I hiding from it. The short answer is simply that I got busy and a bit burnt out at the same time. Busy with work and burnt out after a 9 week long, intense photography workshop. But I kind of figure that I want to make one last post before the new year. Who know, maybe this post will kick start it for me again to make two posts before the end of the year.

This next year I am planning two photography projects, that I hope some of my friends (online and in person) will join in with me. The first project is called a Project 52. One picture a week. I am brainstorming ideas and themes. I want to in the end, put together a coffee table book for myself of the year 2011. I know some of my friends are doing a Project 52 with the theme being, "Things that they Love". The second project is called a 4 x 12. This project is to take one family picture once a month. The 4 represents Nate, myself, Noah and Nicole and the 12 for each month of the year. The bonus with this last project is that it is an instant winner for the 2012 calendar I plan to create!

In the time that I've been in hiding, I didn't let me lovely camera sit alone in on my dresser. Actually, I spent an amazing afternoon recently with 9 other local photographers that are part of the Bloom Forum that I am an active member. We gathered in Danville to share a meal and then set off with 3 gorgeous models to take a crack at photographing outdoor Senior portraits. Shooting with professional photographers was so so intimidating, but I learned a lot and really got to see how hard it is. If you want to see some of my work and the other ladies work from that day, check out this post!

Lastly, here are a few of the photos from the Natural Light Workshop that I completed in November. This workshop has given me the confidence to shoot in any sort of natural light situation. For Example

Back Lighting Mid-day Full Sun

Back Lighting Mid-day Full Sun with a reflector
My wonderful friend Dani came out to the Peninsula so that we could do a fitness inspired photo shoot. She runs her own fitness business in the East Bay, KickStart Fitness

Sun Set (Golden Hour) Back Lighting with a reflector: Just some sweet shots of Noah and Aiden!

Natural Reflectors: In this case I used the sun reflecting off the concrete during the Golden Hour. Again, a sweet pic of my little Noah.

Discovering the use of pockets of light: I love the sliding glass door in front of my kitchen table. Lots of diffuse gorgeous light.

Starburst and Sunflare: How to photograph this was tough, but I finally got it...yay! And I love the results!

Exposing for subject and sky: Nate my wonderful husband agreed to be my subject since at this point Noah and Nicole would break out in sobs if they saw me pick up my camera. They were so tired of me taking pictures for this assignment or that assignment!

Nate's facial expression says, "Sun too bright, hurt eyes, even with cool shades on!"

Well, that is just a fraction of the pictures that I took for each assignment. It feels really good to get those posted, and now I can think about my upcoming projects!

The Natural Light Workshop is Where I've Been Hiding!

2010-11-09T21:52:00.001-08:00

I haven't posted very much in the past weeks mainly because my time has been filled with photographing and editing for a Natural Light Workshop that I am wrapping up. I've been spending most evenings buried away in my room on the computer, it's been a super intense class. I have learned so much about light in this 8 week workshop, that I am kind of fanatical about light now. I see light everywhere, in movies, in magazine, at the dinner table, basically it is a bit ridiculous, but it is good. I want to share each of my assignments from the workshop over the next couple of posts. I will try to be good about posting my settings. Many of my friends who live close have been amazing in letting me photograph them or their kids for my assignments. This was really helpful since Noah and Nicole definitely deserve a break from the mamarazzi! Thank you so much Tara and Dani!

Anyhow, here is my first assignment.
Dramatic Lighting

Taken in our bathroom with me standing in the tub...

Exposure 0.005 sec (1/200)
Aperture f/3.2
Focal Length 28 mm
ISO Speed 1600

Oops deleted the original and can't find the exif data...

Thanks for looking tonight.

Happy Halloween to All Your Ghosts and Goblins- Blogging all about Pebbles and BamBam

2010-10-29T14:36:00.000-07:00

Just had to quickly post and say "Happy Halloween!" to all your ghosts and goblins. I hope that you are all very safe on Sunday night. Have fun and don't forget to save some of the good candy for yourself...hee hee.

What I would have submitted for the Gap Casting Call-Blogging all about Pebbles and BamBam

2010-10-28T15:48:00.000-07:00

I just thought I would post the pictures that I WOULD have submitted to the Gap Casting Call last week, that is if I had gotten my act together and pushed the sent button. Maybe next year?

These photos were taken as part of the Natural Light Workshop by Detra that I am taking right now. In this workshop we are on week 6. It's a very intense workshop where I am fighting the feeling of being burnt out! I am pushing onward because I am learning so so much. The workshop is amazing and the content is even more amazing. I feel like I can shoot in almost any natural light situation and make the photos work. The amount of time I spend in editing is hazardous to my health and sleep, so needless to say I will be taking a break for the holiday's.

The assignment for these photos was to intentionally "Blow" the background. That essentially means to blow out any detail, color etc...just white while maintaining the exposure of your subject. This is done in a lot of high fashion photos. At the bottom of the post you can see the straight out of camera shot, to see where I started with these photos.

I have ton's of pictures to share, but will stop at 5 for you today. Again here is my sweet and loving Noah.

I love this first pictures because for some reason it just capture a part of his personality.

Enjoy and Loves!

And these are the SOOC shot: All taken with my 50mm prime lens.

More from our time in Auberry-Blogging all about Pebbles and Bambam

2010-10-19T12:15:00.000-07:00

Just a few more pics from our quick trip to Auberry in September. Mostly, what we did was watch the kids ride around on the John Deere tractors. From sun up to sun down that is what they did! I think with our next visit, I will need to bring ear plugs for the kids, because I am convinced with the amount of time they spent tooling around the "ranch" on the tractors that they probably lost a few decibels of hearing. I am blaming the tractors for Noah not "hearing" me when I ask him to do something for nth million time, and not because he is 3 and already thinks that he is in charge. Both the kids had a wonderful time with lots of room to jump, run, ride, and play. Good times!

Hope you enjoy the pictures. Thanks for looking.

Tractors, Tractors and more Tractors!!

Country life...

The last days of summer-Blogging all about Pebbles and Bambam

2010-10-11T12:36:00.001-07:00

I have so many photos that I super behind in posting! Part of the reason that I am back-logged is that I started another photography workshop in mid-September in addition to getting really busy at work and bringing my work home with me at night (insert grumpy face here). I will post soon about my new photography workshop, it is awesome!

Anyway, I want to share a few photos from our family trip to Auberry to see Nate's parents. We decided at the last moment to take a week off from work and found ourselves with 2 - 3 days with nothing planned. We packed the kids and a couple of suitcases along with my camera and made the 4 1/2 hour drive to see the grandparents. I took a BAZILLION (not sure that is a word, but I am going with it) pictures and I can't show them all here. But on one afternoon Noah agreed to model for me so that I could capture him in the beautiful late summer light. A few notes about the pictures...the green chair is what I would call vintage, it was Nate's when he was a child. It fit Noah perfectly! And the key around Noah's neck? Is it a key to a buried treasure chest buried deep in his grandparent's yard. No, it's better than that! It's the key to Grandpa's Shop, where all of the really fun stuff happens! I have lots more photos to share and promise to put a collage together this week. Until then...Enjoy these!

I've been on a black & white kick lately, so I am posting both color and BW versions.

An ode to the beautiful people- Blogging all about Pebbles and BamBam

2010-10-05T14:54:00.001-07:00

Well this post is so long overdue that I am a bit embarrased to share it. But because I love these pictures SO SO MUCH I have to share. Sometime in mid-August we made the drive to see my brother and his family in their new house in Roseville (Rocklin, really). Surprisingly, it wasn't too hot and we just sat outside and enjoyed the house warming party that they were having. This was one of those rare times lately where I didn't have my camera out the whole time and only snapped a few photos. I was having such a great time that I didn't want to bury my face behind the camera. But, I did have my camera with me and I caught these few pics of my neice and nephew, that I just adore. I titled this post, "ode to the beautiful people" because these two are so darn gorgeous and cute! I could build an entire portfolio around these two!

We had such a great time seeing my family and I wished that we lived closer so that I could spend more time with them and be there with my niece and nephew as they grow up. Maybe one day...

You now have a piece of my childhood- Blogging all about Pebbles and BamBam

2010-10-01T12:48:00.000-07:00

More than a couple of weeks ago we were in downtown Burlingame having dinner. We had some extra time to roam the shops and I was so EXCITED to see that there was now a Vans shop open on the Ave. Seeing this store brought back some warm fuzzies for me. I can still remember my Mom driving us to Vans store in Southern California (Covina, I think??) to buy both my brother and I our Vans. We both got the white slips-ons. Those of you who had parent that bought Stride-Rites for you as a kid(and you know who you are...), my mom was the cool mom that bought Vans instead! I love that she did those small things, and still does those small things for my brother and I as adults! Nate knows how long I have waited to buy both Noah and Nicole a pair of their own Vans, and so he suffered the almost 45 minutes in the store to pick out just the right pair for each of them. And now, they each have a piece or memory from my childhood to have as their own.

all pictures taken with my 50 mm lens on manual baby!

Yay the Bloom Forum is OPEN- Blogging all about Pebbles and BamBam

2010-10-01T11:34:00.000-07:00

Head on over to new and fabulous Bloom Forum.

For those of you who don't remember, it is the Bloom Workshop that I took this last summer to grow my passion for photography. The instructors of the workshop, Brenda Acuncius and Kristy Lane, just recently opened up the Bloom Forum. There is an incredible group of women over there that have come together to encourage one another to become better photographers and share their passion for this art. If you want to learn more about your camera, photography, and meet some really awesome people, head on over to the newly launched Bloom Forum.

This months October Creative challenge is all about You. Check out the forum and join in the fun, and find out the details about this month's challenge. You can play too!

Hope to see you there!

Dinner With Friends-Blogging all about Pebbles and BamBam

2010-09-22T22:11:00.000-07:00

I've been such a bad blogger lately! I usually make my blog posts on my lunch at work or in the evenings. I've been working through my lunches and editting into the wee wee hours of the night. But, I'm back to share with you a lovely evening we had visiting friends for dinner.

Meet Dani, Mike, and their amazing daughter Talia. For those of you who don't know or don't remember, Dani and I were gym buddies when I was preggo with Noah and her with Talia. We kicked butt as two very fit and very pregnant ladies in our Monday and Wednesday night cardio kickboxing class at the PJCC. They've recently moved back to the Bay Area. I am so thrilled to have her an hour closer!

We got together for a BBQ dinner a couple of weeks ago and let me tell you, or rather show you how much fun those kids had. As you can see, there probably needed to be a bit more parental supervision, or not? And of course, I tortured Dani and her gorgeous family with my camera (such good sports!). We loved catching up with them (they are the type of friends were you don't have to reintroduce yourself, even if you haven't spent time together in a year) and I can't wait to see them again.

The very beautiful Talia.

Two Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed. Again maybe they needed more supervision, maybe not, but they had so much fun. Look at those smiles!

Later there was the competitive game of Hungry Hungry Hippo. No one was hurt except the Hippos.

The cutest kids ever!

This was Noah's first kiss (from someone other than his Mom, Grandmas or someone related to him). The first that I know about anyway :-)
Lastly, my gorgeous dear friends! We had an amazing time hanging out with them and can't wait to do it again!

I promise to post more soon. :-)

Playing with my home "studio"- Blogging all about Pebbles and BamBam

2010-08-31T12:39:00.000-07:00

Oh my, oh my, oh my! It has been over a week since I have put up a new post on my blog. It's not that I haven't wanted to post, but that the day seems to escape me and another day passes. I have been spending a lot of time editing photos that I took during the Bloom workshop or photos that I have taken recently. I mainly spend the time editing since I am still looking for my style, trying to nail it down so that editing will go faster overall. I recently edited these gorgeous photos of my neice and nephew, but I want to ask their mom if I can post the pictures here before I put them up...maybe next time.

This time, I'm posting a few of Noah that I took using my natural light "studio" that I set up with my seamless background paper in the dining room. Noah, he is my little funny bunny! Nate and I have since figured out how to set this studio up more efficiently in the kids bedroom. In their bedroom they get lots and lots of creamy natural light (no yucky color casts), and there is loads more room to photograph. The photo of Nicole was taken with the "studio" in their bedroom. She is CLEARLY pleased to have her photo taken (ha ha ha!)

These were editted using Brenda's Color, Child's Play Pastel Wash and Contrast Boost.

Blasted to you Flickr who oversharpens my photos.....ggggrrrr.

I took these especially for my Mom- Blogging all about Pebbles and BamBam

2010-08-19T11:32:00.000-07:00

I took these photos especially for my mom, who I thought needed a bit of cheering up!

For once, I got some great photos of my little girl. How? you might ask. The trick is to have Noah standing nearby. I think, Noah is her most favorite person followed close behind by Elmo and Abby from Sesame Street. Noah was pretending to take pictures of her with his camera while at the same time he was attacking me with a stuffed Elmo doll (which is probably why she is smiling so much). Trying to take her picture and fend off Elmo (and Noah) a funny site...if only Nate was taking pictures of me taking pictures.

Hope these bring you a smile today, Mom! Love you.

Processed in Adobe Camera Raw. Used Brenda Acuncius's Color Boost action and Urban action (all opacities adjusted). Used Moira Compositor to create storyboard.

My final assignment from the Bloom Workshop-Blogging all about Pebbles and BamBam

2010-08-16T15:47:00.000-07:00

It seems like I am posting A LOT of photos of Noah these days and I feel bad that I don't post more of Coley. So I am feeling particulary bad as I write this post because this is yet another one with pictures of Noah. These days when Coley "sees" me with camera in hand, she will just look at the ground and not make eye contact with me to save her life! That stinker! On the other hand, Noah has become such a great photographer's helper. He helps me look for great places to take photos, and sometimes even helps me to set up my equipment. It doesn't hurt that he is just so darn cute and fun to photograph.

Below I am showing the last of my photography assignments for the Bloom Workshop. Our last assigment was aimed at Storytelling. We were given 5 different quotes/verses from the children's book "Oh, the Places You'll Go" and had to choose one to put into pictures. We were limited to no more than 8 pictures to tell the story. Here is the quote that I went with...

You'll get mixed up, of course,as you already know.

You'll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go.

So be sure when you step.

Step with care and great tact and remember that Life's a Great Balancing Act.

Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.

And never mix up your right foot with your left.

And here is my storytelling assignment (featuring Noah of course).

I promise my next post will have a picture of my sweet Nicole!

Noah goes on a field trip- Blogging all about Pebbles and BamBam

2010-08-07T20:28:00.000-07:00

My little Noah is growing up so fast. Just this last month he moved up into the Pre-School classroom. He is now in the 3 - 5 year old room. This transition was bitter/sweet, he was leaving his wonderful teachers Barry and Penny (he had been in their classroom for almost 18 months) but he was going to go hang with the big kids and get to do big kid things...like field trips.

The first week he was in his new class they were going on a field trip to the local pool. Nate and I didn't really know what to think about this, do we let him go, is he too young, he can't really swim, he will ride a bus, what! As you can image Noah REALLY wanted to go. So to get over all of the fears/questions that we had on sending Noah out on his first field trip we decided that I would follow along in my car after the bus and hang out as a parent chaperone at the pool.

Noah had an AMAZING time taking the bus and swimming with all of his buddies and teachers. When we got him home he was EXHAUSTED. Swimming field trip = no afternoon nap. Needless to say he went to sleep early and he slept like a rock.

And because this is my photography blog, let me tell you a bit about the pictures...I took all of these with a 70 - 200 mm zoom lens that I rented (it is a beast of a lens at 3 lbs), aperture set at 3.5, ISO 100, and fast fast shutter speeds (> 1/500) for all shots since we were outside in the bright sun. I edited the photos in Adobe Camera RAW (ACR) only, adjusting for white balance, contrast, and brightness. Lastly, I got a new photo compositor (Moira Compositor)that does automatic layouts in photoshop with a click of a button. I used the compositor to create the different grouping of photos, so that I can show more pictures for the same amount of work that it takes me to show one. Anyway, hope you enjoy the pics!

loves...jay.

Just a sweet picture of my Nicole- Blogging all about Pebbles and BamBam

2010-08-06T13:53:00.001-07:00

During the Bloom photography workshop I learned how to set up a "fake" natural light studio in my dining room. Before I purchased the gray seamless paper shown in a recent post below with Noah, I used a chocolate brown curtain panel purchased from Bed Bath and Beyond. The first time I did the studio set up I was so excited to try it that I just grabbed the curtain panel out of the packaging and started shooting. First mistake! The background had so many fold lines and was a nightmare to fix in post-processing. But, I got some really great photos of my sweet Nicole. So here is the final edit from that very first session with my "fake" studio. Other techniques applied here that I learned in the workshop are canvas extension, cloning, dodging, burning, and applying textures. Most of these techniques were used to even out the background because of the fold lines. Someone suggested (who will remain nameless) that I should try ironing the background...what's that?

Gggrr..I don't like how Flickr oversharpens everything!

What I can do with my camera- Blogging all about Pebbles and BamBam

2010-08-03T10:54:00.000-07:00

Well the Bloom Photography Workshop is almost over (insert sad face here). I have learned a lot of really great basic photography concepts, that when put into practice really result in fantastic pictures. Also, the group of women that I have had the opportunity to get to know in the workshop is the icing on the cake! I plan to keep in touch with many of these women since I view many of them as my friends.

The second part of the workshop is titled Create. This section really aims to dig into one's creative side. Those of you that know me well, know that I am more the analytical type. So needless to say, this section of the workshop was tough for me! Our first Create assignment was to put words into pictures. For example the words Light and Magic. The second Create assignment was to tell a story with pictures.

I am posting some of my work from the first assignment, my pictures for Light and Magic. I will post more of the second assignment after I turn it in tomorrow night! Tara and Steve, our neighbors were such good sports to let me use them as my models for the first assignment. I printed 8 x 10 photos of these pictures for them as a Thank You.

I titled this post: "Look what I can do with my camera", because before the Bloom Workshop I don't think I could have gotten shots like these. Hope you like them.

LIGHT

MAGIC

What happens when I try to copy someone elses style- Blogging all about Pebbles and BamBam

2010-07-26T13:05:00.000-07:00

This last Friday my new back drop paper arrived. It is Savage Seamless paper in Thunder Gray. When I see photos with this paper it makes me think of Gap Kids ads. Noah and I pulled the paper out and set up "our photography studio" in the dining room on Saturday morning, while Nate and Nicole were at gymnastics. Noah even picked out a few shirts he wanted to wear during his photo shoot and a hat. In addition to playing with the new paper I also had the opportunity to bust out my new gray card. I have never realized the power of the gray card until I found myself trying to edit 40+ photos for my workshop where there wasn't anything in the picture to set as a "neutral gray" for white balance. Using a gray card saves me a lot of time since most color casts and skin tone issues that need to be corrected in ACR/PS are quickly fixed with a single click of a button when I correct the white balance with the gray card. I could also set a custom white balance in my camera (this is great if you only shoot jpegs) too.

But the title of this post is about what happens when I try to copy someone elses post-processing style. I copied the editing style of Brenda Acuncius over at F8 Kids. She is one of the instructors of the Bloom Photography Workshop that I am taking. I absolutely adore her work. You'll see below that in the picture of Noah with the hat, that the edits just doesn't work. I actually like the SOOC best. The edit looks "muddy" for this photo and doesn't convey the "sweetness" of the SOOC shot. I am not saying that the editing style used is a bad one, just that it doesn't work for this picture and that each person has to find their own style, obviously I am still in search of mine but getting closer (see next set of pictures).

The second edit is another picture of Noah, where he decided it was time for a wardrobe change. Just for information we got his hair cut later that afternoon. I already miss those golden locks. The edit on this photo is much more my style...color, but a bit subdued, but not desaturated. I don't know if that makes ANY sense to anyone but me. Oh well!

The point of this post, is that I like it when I can turn something around in my brain. I had it in my brain that Brenda's post-processing style looks great all the time. Truth is it does, but on her photos with her style applied to it. I have to find my own style for my photos and for the style of photos that I take. Seems like I should have already known this little tidbit, but for me it took some experimentation.

SOOC:

Edit: Brenda's Color, Urban, Pink Haze, Vignette, Crop, Sharpen

SOOC:

Edit: Brenda's vibrant color, FB Velvet, Blue Haze, Vignette, Crop, Sharpen

Sweet and Sassy- Blogging all about Pebbles and BamBam

2010-07-23T12:01:00.000-07:00

Sometimes my girl can be everything that is sweet....

And well, sometimes she can also be a bit sassy...

I just had to share these photos of my little Coley. They make me laugh because I think they really capture who she is. She is her own little person, with her own little opinions and she is not shy to let us know what she thinks! I love it!

Last one that I will share today, Coley making tea. Note that she has a camera in hand. And why you might ask, well her Mommy these days doesn't do much without a camera in hand. Like mother, like daughter.

Working with the light- Blogging all about Pebbles and BamBam

2010-07-19T10:25:00.000-07:00

I am finding that I am scared of the sun. As someone who is developing a passion for photography, it is funny to me that I am afraid of the most powerful thing that brings light to photographs. I defintely won't take my camera into the mid-day sun and take a picture. It almost sounds like I am describing my camera as vampire-like (heehee). No, really I just don't know how to shoot in the mid-day sun and not get blow outs, and harsh shadows. If I do take pictures in the middle of the day, I always find a patch of shade, or overhang of some sort.

So I've decided to stop being afraid and work with the beautiful light God gives us and challenge myself to shoot more photographs in the sun. I am not jumping into the "deep end of the pool" here and going out mid-day to photograph the kiddos. I am not that brave, yet. Instead, I'm embracing that warm golden light before sunset by taking pictures of Noah and Nicole after dinner.

Here's a recent one where I was working on getting that really popular hazy/flare look. I think I got in this one.

My sweet little boy was picking flowers for his mama. Love him so much!

Edited using ACR and Florabella Hibiscus and Bluebell actions from Spring Sets I and II. I think that I like the grass in the SOOC shot...less muddy looking. I need to figure out how to get the best of both the edit and the SOOC. Oh, well next time!

Straight out of camera (SOOC)

Discovery- Blogging all about Pebbles and BamBam

2010-07-16T10:57:00.000-07:00

It has been absolutely gorgeous weather here this last week on the San Francisco Peninsula. It doesn't get too too hot here, but it does get really windy, especially in San Mateo/Foster City where we live. The last couple of nights the weather's been warm and not too windy, and perfect for taking the kiddos outside after dinner to run around. During these nights, both Noah and Nicole have discovered dandelions and flowers. And much to my delight, they love to bring me bunches of flowers (and a few weeds mixed in for good measure).

These photos were taken of Nicole the other night. She loves to hunt and search for dandelions and loves even more to blow them away. The photos were taken with my 50 mm 1.8 in manual mode.

The first picture is the post-processed version. The photo was adjusted for skin tones. Notice that in the SOOC shots that her skin looks a bit gray. I've learned that digital cameras do this to skin tones and she has a bluish color cast from the shade she was in, so sometime this needs a bit of fixing later in post-processing. I than ran a color boost action from Brenda Acuncius, and Pioneer Woman's Color Boost action. To top it off I added a soft pastel wash from the Child's play Workflow set. Lastly, I cropped, resized for the web.

This is SOOC, no adjustments.

Create through my lens- Blogging all about Pebbles and BamBam

2010-07-15T13:50:00.000-07:00

The one week break from the Bloom Photography Workshop ended last weekend and I am again "one" with my camera. This session of the workshop lasts 3 weeks and is titled "Create". This session is much more challenging in that it is requiring me to delve deeper into what I want my pictures to say, mood to convey, emotion to evoke, and how to get it in-camera. I read this morning the following on The Creative Mama Blog, an interview with photographer Erin McCobb:

The art I produce is (has to be) created through my lens. Not the lens on my camera but the personal filter that dictates how I see the world.

This is what I aim to achieve.

This is a photo from the other night. When Nate and I ask them to sit next to each other they sat 10 feet apart from each other. So we tried a different tactic, Nicole sit in Noah's lap...her interpretation of this is to sit on his lap! This picture to most would be perfect if Noah and Nicole had looked at the camera. But for me, I love that I captured a moment of happiness, where you can see the tenderness in both of their sweet faces. And oh yeah...Nicole is holding a camera, just like her Mama!

Trying out the new Florabella Luxe Action set-Blogging all about Pebbles and BamBam

2010-07-09T22:10:00.000-07:00

Well, I caved today and bought the new Florabella Luxe action set. I justified it because I had a 20% off coupon for being a "loyal" customer. I love Shana Rae's stuff. The woman is seriously talented with Photoshop. Here is my first go with the London action with a bit of icing on top. I adjusted many layers within the action to "taste".

The photo was taken on the 4th of July. Noah has a love/doesn't like so much relationship with my camera, and errors on the "doesn't like so much" side most of the time. But, when I can actually get him to look at my lens, I can get the most gorgeous photos of my sweet boy. I am blessed that God chose me to be his Mommy!

Florabella Luxe: London plus some other edits

Straight out of camera (SOOC)

The beauty in everyday life-Blogging all about Pebbles and BamBam

2010-07-04T15:41:00.000-07:00

One of the things that I am trying do is look for the beauty in everyday life. For example, there are evenings when I just want to rush through the bath time routine and get the kids to bed. But the other night during Nicole's bath I captured a moment of pure beauty in her gorgeous long eyelashes.

And just in case your interested, here are my camera settings:
Manual, 28 mm, Ap f/2.0, ss 1/125, ISO 200, spot metering

Snapshots from our vacation-Blogging all about Pebbles and BamBam

2010-07-02T20:23:00.001-07:00

A couple of weeks ago we took a "Staycation". So instead of going somewhere warm and tropical like Hawaii we stayed at home and had vacation, San Mateo style. We had a wonderful time with the kids just doing things in and around our own city. So often Nate and I forget how close we still live to the beach. Half Moon Beach is only a 20 minute drive over highway 92. During the months of May - August there are a organic farms that have "U-Pick" strawberry fields. As part of our Staycation, we took the kids to the Swanton U-Pick Strawberry fields. The strawberry fields are just across the road from the ocean. It is beautiful there.

You can bet that we came home with lots and lots of strawberries. The farm charges you by the pound, so I think that we also should have weighed Noah and Nicole before and after picking! Both of them couldn't help it, they saw a strawberry, it was picked and very quickly made it into their mouths. It was also really great for Noah to see where strawberries grow because up until now I think he thought they "grew" in the aisles of Trader Joes.

Lastly, because this also my photography blog I have to tell you a little bit about the layout of the photos for this post. I am using MCP Action free BlogIt Boards. They're free on her website and super easy to use! Also, I won the self-portrait contest in my photography workshop (see post below). The prize I one was a set of workflow photography actions by Child's Play. All of the photos in this post used an action or two from the new set.

More vacation photos to come soon.
Thanks for keeping up with the Franklin's.

Bloom Self Portrait-Blogging all about Pebbles and BamBam

2010-06-28T08:56:00.000-07:00

This is week 3 of the Bloom Photography Workshop! It's been a wonderful workshop and I am learning tons. The contest this week is to take a self-portrait where somewhere in the picture it says, "Bloom". "Bloomie", "I love Bloom"...you get the idea. Self portraits are always fun, especially since it is rare that I am in a picture because I am always the one behind the camera. Here is the photo I submitted. Nate thought this was very telling...he said that the only time he has seen my face for the last two weeks since this workshop started is behind my camera or in the reflection of my iPad as I sit and look through the Bloom Workshop Forums! Hope you like and have a great day. Picture of Noah and Nicole coming soon.

June Bloom Workshop-Assignment number 2

2010-06-21T13:33:00.000-07:00

Well I started my photography workshop on June 7. Since the kickoff I have logged several gigabites worth of pictures. The workshop is called Bloom and is run by Brenda Acuncius and Kristy Lane. They are amazing teachers, photographers and mentors.

The first assignment was focused on the exposure triangle, the relationship between aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. It was all about tweaking the camera settings to get the photo that you want. I won't bore you with the photos that I took since they were pretty drab.

The second assignment was putting the exposure triangle to work while learning a bit about composition. Below are the photos and the different settings used to get each one. I have also included my before and after post-processing for fun!<

Rule of Thirds:28 mm, Ap: 2.8, SS: 1/80, ISO: 400, Spot metering

Before:

After:

Perspective: 28 mm, Ap: 2.8, SS: 1/80, ISO: 800, Spot metering

Before:

Leading lines combined with perspective: 28 mm, Ap: 2.5, SS 1/100, ISO 400, spot metering
Before: Making Father's Day cards

After:

I added one more set because yesterday I took the opportunity to take some photos on Stanford Univ. campus which has all of this wonderful architecture. I thought I would try and frame some shots in the arches. Honestly, when we got there I didn't know how to make the arches work for me...

Framing: 28 mm, Ap: 2.8, SS: 1/200, ISO: 200, Spot metering

Before:

<
After:

Mama got a new lens-Blogging all about Pebbles and BamBam

2010-06-18T21:41:00.000-07:00

Well the Franklin's went on vacation this week (lots of pics coming in another post). To kick off the vacation my new lens arrived in the mail. A 28 1.8 mm wide angle lens. With this lens I am able to capture more "storytelling" like photos rather than just "portrait" like. Already, Noah and Nicole were fighting over who would be the first to get their picture taken :-). Nicole is a determined little girl, can't you tell.

Oh, yeah...I started my photography workshop this last week too. I am learning lots, taking hundreds of pictures, taking up gigabites worth of space on our hard drive, and begging Nate for a full frame camera...more pictures from my workshop to come.

Knowing that favorite place to take a picture in or around your house-Blogging all about Pebbles and BamBam

2010-06-06T20:43:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share my two favorite places to photograph Nicole and Noah. If you have little ones knowing the best places in and around your house to take pictures is critical. Get them to play near these places and you are bound to walk away with a few good photos!

For Nicole, I love to get her on the adorable rocking doggy in front of the big window in their room. She sits on that dog and my camera goes into action. I love this photo below because it actually shows me taking her picture. A bit of storytelling.

For Noah, I like to take him to the bottom of our stairs just outside our apartment. It has wonderful shaded light to take pictures in without there being dappled light. We take turns doing a photo shoot. I take pictures of Noah and then he asks me to sit down in the same spot and he takes pictures of me. Usually we do this when Nate is putting Nicole down for her naps!

Uncommonly common photos-Blogging all about Pebbles and BamBam

2010-06-06T20:09:00.000-07:00

Last week Nate and I rented a 50 mm lens to test it out and to decide whether or not we want to purchase this lens. Renting lenses is a great way to really get a feel for the glass on your camera body or to rent a funky lens like a fisheye for some fun creative shots without having to pay the full price for the fun! I like to rent from BorrowLenses.com here on the Peninsula. We liked the lens and got some really wonderful photos with it. I called this post "Uncommonly common photos" because these are just a few photos where I am actually in front of the camera (the uncommon part), the common part is the game that Noah and I are playing in the pictures called "Puppy dog kisses". What? Everyone doesn't play this game:-)!

The three photos above were edited in ACR and then taken into PS CS5. I am working on different recipes for processing my photos. On the three above I used Pioneer Woman's Boost Action at 75% opacity followed by MomaZiggy's XPSoft Action at 100%. Both actions are free and can be used in Photoshop Elements and full version of Photoshop! Check out their blogs in my sidebar!

Just because I need the practice-Blogging all about Pebbles and BamBam

2010-05-30T21:00:00.000-07:00

This is gonna be a short post. I just wanted to share my latest post-processing edit. I need to practice as much as I can in CS5 to get comfortable. I literally sit at the computer and and my mind goes blank...my workflow, my steps, my tricks, uugghh. Anyway, a quick edit of a photo of Nicole taken this week. Quick edit, yeah right! It took me 30 minutes (insert sad face here). Oh well, I know that practice will make it all come back. Enjoy the picture of my gorgeous, spunky, little girl.

I am not above bribery- Blogging all about Pebbles and BamBam

2010-05-25T16:19:00.001-07:00

Well this week I have learned that I am not above bribery when it comes to getting a photograph of my children. Noah is old enough now that he will run from the camera or make a silly face as soon as he sees me pull the camera out. I've changed my tatic...bribery. I am now offering Noah M&Ms (only one or two at a time) in exchange for his agreement to sit (as still as he possibly can) so that I can take his picture. I of course make this "bargin" only after dinner.

Well, even if he's agreed that he will "let" me take his picture there is some prep work involved in assuring that those M&Ms give good returns! I make sure that the chair I want him to sit in is all set up in front of the sliding glass door, which gives us beautiful evening light. My camera is ready, with my iso, aperture and shutter speeds dialed in (I have figure out already my exact settings for this location in our apartment)so that I am not losing valuable seconds to fiddling with my camera. I have learned twice this week to have napkins on hand before I take his picture...while M&Ms don't melt in your hands, it doesn't mean that it doesn't end up all over Noah's chin! If I were smart I wouldn't give him the chocolate until after he lets me take his picture. But oh well. Last but not least, I make sure my camera is set to continuous shoot mode.

Here are few "straight out of camera" (SOOC) shots from this week and the resulting photo after post-processing. I am loving CS5, and getting more comfortable with the software everyday! I was able to get a few shots of Nicole too, but no real bribery was involved in her photo shoot. I hope you enjoy the pictures.

Photo editting: Blogging all about Pebbles and Bam Bam

2010-05-21T12:54:00.000-07:00

Let me just say that this post won't have any pictures (insert sad face here). Nate just loaded a solid state hard drive (Intel, of course) on our Mac and he is transferring all of our files over to the new hard drive. Along with this upgrade came Photoshop Cs5 for me. I opened up the program last night to test drive, and let me tell you...the full version of PS has overwhelmed me. I feel stunned, frozen, and unable to process my photos (insert catatonic picture of me here). I am hoping that as I get over the inital shock of the Cs5 that it will be like riding a bike, something you don't forget (except CS5 is the super duper titantium version of your old aluminum bike). I will keep you posted on my progress...

In the mean time, since launching my blog I have recieved lots of personal emails from friends and family asking me about the equipment, software, books, forums, blogs that I use or can't live without. So here's a list of some of those things...

Equipment: My darling little Rebel XSi and my 50 mm 1.8 prime lens. I am saving for an upgrade to a full frame body, until then I am trying to "rock" the camera I've got. My 50 mm 1.8 lens never leaves my camera. I sold my kit lens and 55 - 250 VR lens because I never ever used them. This lens is referred to as the "nifty fifty", and if you don't own one I would highly recommend getting one. This lens is a gem, it goes down to a wide aperture of 1.8, allowing you to shoot in low light indoors without the dreaded flash. Best of all it is under a $100 buck! Camera bag: 4 million dollar Crumpler, a wonderful gift from my in-laws for Christmas! Love it!

Software: Currently I have PSE 6 and PS CS5. I have also downloaded the Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) plug-in for both PSE and PS since I shoot in RAW 100% of the time. I also use the Spyder 1 Express monitor calibration software. This software is particularly important for getting the skin tones right in post-processing. I periodically will use Actions or presets (free/purchased) on my photos. I am still trying to find my own style, and sometimes the use of actions define your style for you, so I use them sparingly right now. But if you were to ask me what Actions I have in my PS pallette, here they are: Pioneer Women. Florabella. My4hens. MCP Actions. Paint the Moon.

Books: The best book about photography that I have read is Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great Photographs with a Film or Digital Camera by Bryan Peterson. Since reading this book I have become much more comfortable shooting in manual. For anyone who wants to learn about the relationship between aperture, iso, shutter speed, get this book! Because I prefer to photograph in natural light as much as possible, I also really like the book Available Light: Photographic Techniques for Using Existing Light Sources. For post-processing references, I frequently will find myself flipping through Layers: The Complete Guide to Photoshop's Most Powerful Feature. Additionally, since Adobe doesn't provide a manual for PSE or full versions of PS I have purchased such titles as Photoshop Elements 6 for Mac: The Missing Manual. I have loads of other photography books, but these are the ones that I grab most often!

Forums: I am a huge fan of Clickin Moms. This forum cost $50 for a one year subscription. So far I think it is money well spent. The people on this forum are very helpful to the photography enthusiast and the professional alike. In the forums, there is opportunity to get critique on photos, learn post-processing, learn the basics and not-so-basics of photography, learn technique with on and off-camera flash, photo challenges, business questions, and the occasional non-photography related topics. The other forum that I will sometimes frequent is Ilovephotography (ILP). Aspects of this forum are free to the general public. This forum has a wealth of information as well. I've just started checking out this site, so most of my opinions aren't solid yet.

Blogs and other resources: I have listed the blogs that I most often read along the sidebar under "my blog list". For more of a community blog, I would definitely check out Iheartfaces.com. For inspirational lifestyle photography: Tara Whitney and Jinky Art. For a wonderful babies, children's, family photography: Derksen Photography (she is a friend of Nate's from highschool who is VERY talented!). For one-on-one photoshop training I have completed a few sessions with Damien Symond via Skype. This guy knows his stuff, teaches clearly, and has a lovely Aussie accent. Lastly, I thought I would list out some of the workshops that I have heard about that could be interesting to those of you wanting to take their camera's off AUTO mode and learn how to shoot in manual, shoot creatively, or learn some post-processing techniques: Bloom Workshop, Cori Derksen Photography Workshop, Karen Russell's Photographers Workshop, The image is found ShootShops, Maggie Holmes Workshops, The Natural Light Workshop, SnapHappy Workshops, MCP Action on-line Photoshop classes, Kylie Phaunts Naked on-line Photoshop classes.

Anyhoo...just thought I would share today.

7 days and 10 steps part III: Blogging all about Pebbles and BamBam

2010-05-16T21:34:00.000-07:00

Day 7: Day 7 occurred about 3 days ago, but I finally downloaded the pictures from my camera card. Ten large steps down the stairs...getting ready to ride (scooters) like the wind or into the wind as it is at our house. And of course the kids have helmets! I include a second picture of Nate and Nicole, taken many more than 10 steps away from where my camera originally started. I think that Nicole was telling Nate that he really needs to push her scooter FASTER, "more Daddy" as she is fond of saying.

All pictures shot in RAW, adjusted for WB and exposure in ACR. Used Florabella "Soft Color Pop" action

7 days and 10 steps Part II-Blogging all about Pebbles and BamBam photo challenge

2010-05-14T08:19:00.000-07:00

Days 4 - 6: Wow... 10 steps with your camera is harder than you would think. I love to shoot in natural light, so I gravitate towards the one window in our apartment that gets good diffuse light. Any where else in the house is dark and requires me to use my flash. I don't like my flash. So my ten steps are turning out to be mostly baby steps in and around the same area...the dining room/kitchen/outside deck. Though, as I am writing this I realize that the kids room gets wonderful light in the evening hours. Hmmm, maybe for day 6, I will try getting a picture in that room, just to spice things up a bit.

Well here is Day 4: Noah sitting in a chair facing the large window that gives me great light.
I decided to include a second set of pictures from day 4, taken in our living room with my flash. I have to use my flash in the living room because no matter how open my aperture seems to be, I still have to use a slow shutter speed to get enough light. Slow shutter speed doesn't go very well with super fast, always movin', little people!
This captured moment is of Noah peeling stickers off the cardboard "school bus" that he decorated, and reapplying them to his sister's arm because she now "needs" decoration, of course!

Day 5: It was an exciting night in our house on Day 5 because Nicole got her own bike helmet. It's a lovely white helmet with flowers on it and safety lights that blink in the back. She is ready for the road. She is funny with the helmet though, she wants to wear it for a time, but then will throw it on the ground and exclaim, "ball" will a giggle. She knows it's not a ball, but like to watch our reaction. Funny girl.

Day 6: 10 medium sized steps into the kids bedroom. Lots of great beautiful evening light to take a picture! Though this light is not so great when we are trying to put the kids to bed! Thank goodness for blackout shades. Nicole is learning so many words, one of which is Dog. She loves to give the rocking Dog some love. She is my sweet girl.

7 days and 10 steps-Blogging all about Pebbles and BamBam photo challenge

2010-05-09T18:56:00.001-07:00

Well this week the photo challenge that I have decided to undertake is to take a picture a day for 7 days. The catch...I can walk, run, skip, baby step, waddle or crawl only 10 paces from where my camera is sitting to get the shot.

Day One: My camera was sitting on my dresser...10 medium size steps to the dining room where Coley greets the camera with a smile.

Day Two: Mother's Day...10 very itsy-bitsy steps to the kitchen area to capture my family making me some Mother's Day waffles.

Day Three: After school fun on the front steps. If you know where we live we can imagine the large steps required to get from the kitchen area down to the bottom stairs. I may have cheated a bit and taken 12 steps, but I needed to be safe, Noah was watching me :-).

My Photography Blog Kickoff - Blogging all about Pebbles and BamBam

2010-05-07T13:37:00.000-07:00

Well, I have finally decided to do it, start my own blog. This blog will aim to capture through photography the lives of my real life "Pebbles" and "BamBam", aka Nicole and Noah. I have a passion for learning as much as I can about photography, and so I will share with you my journey to improving my photography.

Right now, I belong to this great forum called Clickin Moms. This forum is comprised of hobbyist to professional photographers that want to share their love for photography. I love this site, it has help me improve my pictures by ten-fold.

In a few weeks, I am starting a 9 week online photography workshop, put on by Bloom Photography Workshops. I am excited to participate and will share with all of you the photo assignments each week, where I will no doubt be featuring photos of both Noah and Nicole!

I thought to get this photography blog started that I would post a few pictures from Noah's 3rd Birthday. He is such a wonderful little boy, that blew out all three of his candles by himself! The theme for his party was "Handy Manny and his tools"

All photos were process in ACR, followed by PSE with Florabella Sweet Haze Vintage Actions and Blog storyboard template by Rita at Coffeeshop actions!