Simple is...

...as simple does.

I love simple...it has become my mantra lately. It allows you to focus on what's important....AFTER you weed out all the other stuff! Linking up with Kim over at the Cafe Kim Klassen cafe -
Using her fabulous new SIMPLICITY texture.

AND...
I had a lapse of consciousness, crazy idea & shared it with my girl Diane over at aug's blog
& she agreed to do a 12 month selfie project. Now, we've both been on a 365 self portrait journey & after shooting January's photo, I thought to myself..."how the heck did I do this everyday for a year?" Diane totally got what I was talking about. But truth be told, we both like the art of self portraiture. The theme was winter...Here's what I came up with.
Oh...and thanks D...you may decide that you don't want me calling you with anymore hair brained ideas! xo

                                                                   Happy Snapping!
                                                                             xo
                                                                           Kelly

Simple Tutorial...

Many of you commented on the cracked table on a few of my shots here:
 Hello, my name is... and here...Beyond...
So I thought I'd do a real simple tutorial on how to do this crackle top. It's SO easy.
Basically, I had an "a-ha" moment over the summer as I was passing a floor & tile store. The wood floor samples look like table tops so I asked the owner if he had any discarded samples he'd be willing to give up to an amateur photographer.
That story is here...~The Foodie~
Anyhow...

Frankie filled in the grooves with spackle. I asked him not to do it perfectly because I liked the imperfections. You can use any crafter acrylic paint from a hobby store. They are permanent, so wear old clothes.
 Paint the first layer with your darker color. I chose Arrowhead (grey). Let it completely dry. After the first coat dries, apply the crackle. I laid it on pretty thick. Let it dry at least an hour. It will feel "tacky" to the touch. It won't crackle until you add your coordinating color. I chose Snowflake. You'll need to work pretty quick. Don't pour your paint directly onto the crackle, use a plate or something you can work your paint and brush easily. After that completely dries, spray a sealer on it. I chose a matte (flat) finish. If you have any questions, you can post them in the comments section and I'll reply there to you.

Happy Snapping!

xo

Kelly

Pin It

This is what...

...Dreams are made of!

I have so many ideas dreams floating in my head I should be writing them in my journal because they are fleeting. In my head one minute...poof...gone the next. So my plan is to jot....jot down any and all my ideas for shots because I know I've let a few really good ones go.....but that's all I can remember, that I let 'em go!
So for today's Beyond Layers were talking about light & blur.
I get my blur from using my prime 50mm 1.8. I HAD to have that lens before I even knew anything about photography & I hated it...at first. There was such an margin of error. I spent a lot of time swooning & drooling over photos from that lens. I just loved the effect. So towards the end of my self portrait 365-I MADE myself use it...no matter what. And now? I CAN'T live without it!
Like Kim, I know the best time to shoot in my makeshift studio formally known as our formal dining room! We have east facing window with the most beautiful natural light.
I've included the original shot.
50mm, f/6.3, 1/50 ISO 500 manual mode
Florabella's B/W Chestnut pass thru @80%
KK's Lily (I skewed it) color burn @ 70%
Happy Snapping
xo
Kelly

My story...

...in six words

Can you believe forty-eight years could be described in six little words?  Six little words. Each one has such an impact on who I am today. Six words...what's YOUR story?
Happy Snapping
xo
Kelly

Gung Hay Fat Choy...

...May you be prosperous.

Just a quickie today. I don't know much about the Chinese calendar except I know it's the Year of the Dragon and I like to partake in fortune cookies! What's NOT to love about cracking open your fortune? I'm sharing mine with you!
Happy Snapping
xo
Kelly

Photo~Heart...

...Connection

**Big Sigh**
I couldn't believe the random post today over at the Shutter Sisters - home
I mean what are the odds of that post & what I was feeling/shooting before I even read it?
At this moment on my photography journey, I'm finding what I shoot has more personal meaning. And It gives me a good feeling when others connect to what I'm saying.
 Right now my photo-heart connection is TIME.
 I always want more. I want it more than anything...I really want to go back into time & hold my babies just a little longer. To soak in every detail that has escaped me through time.
 It hit me the other day as I was in a texting conversation with Justin when my land line rang. I didn't recognize the name on the caller ID & usually I ignore those...but you know that little voice inside you says, "You may want to take this."  It was a young A.F. wife that was part of a support group for deployed soldiers. THAT'S when it hit me...I'm the mother of a deployed soldier going to the Middle East, to serve and protect.
 Can I please hold that little boy one more time? Can I please just drink him in after his bath? Can I please read him one more bedtime story & kiss him goodnight-not kiss him goodbye?
Can I please have more time?
**Big Sigh**
Happy Snapping
xo
Kelly

Beyond...

...Excited about the first photo assignment for Beyond Layers.

It has ALL the elements I love more & more these days. Simplicity, light, negative space, subtle texture, purposeful with meaning.
I couldn't wait to get off work today. It was hard to focus on fractions and ten frames when I knew I really wanted to be home "playing".
So today's image is shot at f 8.0, 1/50 ISO 500 Canon 50mm 1.8 lens.
I used Kim's Awaken layer on Darken. I hardly use this blend mode, but it filled in a blown spot at the top right corner of the photo. I also used a bit of Florabella VINTAGE WASH. It tones down a bit of brassiness and it brought out some fiber highlights on the string.
If you've thought about joining Beyond Layers...it's not to late!
Happy Snapping!
xo
Kelly
 

Wide Open...

...Spaces

Having Monday off, my days are all screwed up and I thought today was Texture Tuesday! I couldn't figure out how so many people posted! At any rate...I wanted to join in on the fun over at Kim Klassen cafe -

I used her EMBRACE texture here using the prompt OPEN. I took this on Kauai over the weekend at Frankie's suggestion. It's perfect for today's theme.  

Happy Snapping

xo

Kelly

Scavenger Hunt 1/15/12

I have a VERY good reason why my SH is a day late. It was my birthday Sat. & sometimes the stars & planets align for things to work out. Austin & I decided to try and fly stand-by ( a perk from the airlines) to go on a trip with Frankie. He had a a 26 hour layover on Kauai & that's where the stars and planets aligned! It was such a fun trip and totally worth the flying time! It was a last minute decision, I already had 3 shots lined up for the hunt & still wanted to play.  There are 2 shots that I had in mind for WINTER WONDERLAND & FROZEN but wasn't able to do because I was away....but I plan on shooting them anyway just for challenge.
So here's what I've got...

STACKED UP

This was the first thing I thought of so I went with it!

WINTER WONDERLAND

   





































I know, I know...
BUT if you live in Hawaii...This IS your winter!



                                                                           SWEET
Need I say More? I have a sweet tooth...BIG TIME!

HOLE

Self explanatory!

FROZEN

My boys...I love them so much. I like to hang back & watch them and wonder what they talk about. I have one moment, FROZEN in time even if it means nothing to anyone else...It's everything to me.

Happy Snapping!

xo

Kelly

Hello, my name is...

...Kelly
and I'm a candy-holic!Seriously-I've never known anyone who loves it~I mean REALLY loves candy as much as I do. I go in spurts between chocolate and anything OTHER than the latter. I eat a sweet (or two) Every Single Day...I kid you not.
 Now there are a few sweets that I admittedly am a candy snob towards-and I reserve that right!
This post is nothing more than just a random fact about me-Oh....and if you've been following me for a while...you know I ALWAYS eat (or drink) my (edible) props...
mmmmm...taffy!
Happy Snapping!
xo
Kelly

Winter...

...Schminter!

Our poor little trees-they get so confused this time of year.We get weeks and weeks of beautiful weather & so they are tricked into thinking that hibernation is over. They no sooner lose their leaves & they start budding...This tree will be busting at the seams real soon, and I'll be ready!

Then, there's winter in Hawaii! I wish I could take the credit for this photo but I can't. Frankie took it on a recent trip to Kauai and I loved it so much I just had to share.  It is the epitome of leisure....and winter!
Happy Snapping!
xo
Kelly

1/8/12 SHS...

...Winter vacation is officially over for me when I hit the sack tonight. Back to work w/fresh enthusiasm to see friends & co-workers and all those little faces who can't wait to talk about what "Santa" brought!
I didn't know if I was going to participate in this week's hunt as I've been busy as ever trying to get all the laundry & house cleaning done before Monday rolls around. I know I'd be all bleary eyed come Wednesday after being home for 3 glorious weeks. I've thought of a new word for combining prompts...Cheater-pants! Yes, I'm a cheater-pants...but I've decided that it's ok because I met the challenge of all 5  prompts as creatively as I could!

SOFT

not only are these loofa's soft...they make winter skin soft too....

That is my EMPTY LAUNDRY basket with a (small) pile of  bokeh LAUNDRY in the background. Can't let the world see the unmentionables!!

That there is ONE DOZEN cinnamon sticks that are all ONE COLOR!

There you have it-this is what cheater-pants photos look like..feel free to use that term any time time is of the essence and you still want to hunt!
Happy Snapping!
xo
Kelly














Scavenger Hunt

The Other...

...woman! Yes, Frankie has another love besides me...
 "She" is a single seat Turbine Powered Helicycle.
ge‑eaglehelicycle‑n571dk‑2.jpg

--------->
cyclic

<--------
strobe

----------->
Rotor















He keeps her safe in the garage we lovingly refer to as "the dungeon!" I mean-Frankie has more gadgets...

...and gizmos.

I call this "The Blue Thingy!"

It really DOES look more like a dungeon than a garage!

I mean this gadget's SOLE purpose...

...is to crimp that little piece of aluminum tubing!

But in all seriousness...

It's an amazing process to see something delivered to your house in tubs, bags, crates & boxes to become something that actually flies! The attention to detail Frankie puts into this(really everything he does) would blow your mind. Every wire, dial, switch, light, and button has been painstakingly thought out. So besides spending quality time together, there's some really cool stuff to shoot in the dungeon...er garage!

Happy Snapping!

xo

Kelly

DO try this at home...

...I have a bit of a perfectionist problem.
 I go thru my blogger buddies blogs & just swoon at their images. I think some people are born with certain creativity "genes" & are naturals at what they do....Then there's me! Oh I know there's creativity stuffed somewhere in me, it just takes a little longer to bubble to the surface! That's ok because I'm here for the long run~oh...I'm like the tortoise & the hare! At any rate, with a little conscience effort & an article I read a while back on an exercise that forces you not to think so perfect. Basically, go for a walk & every few minutes STOP & you HAVE to take a picture from the spot you stopped in. I decided to try it last night before the golden hour and really had fun. Come...let me show you parts of my neighborhood. I'll have to figure out how you do those link ups so if you decide to try this....I'd LOVE to see what you've done.
Happy Snapping!
xo
Kelly

same fence, opposite direction

I have a thing...

...for dead flowers!
I find them equally as beautiful in death as when they were living~for different reasons.
I mean everyone can't wait for spring and the bloomers-me included-but when do dry, shriveled up, past their prime, flowers get to have a chance at shining one more time?
I relate to this logical/illogical analogy. I've got #48 FAST approaching & somedays I don't feel my age-or feel I look my age or even act my age-then there are days I'm like..."whoa" whats going on here, or here....and what the heck?
Yeah...some of you know what I'm talking about! I just want to be like a flower-not the dry, shriveled up, past their prime kind....the fresh as a daisy kind!
Happy Snapping
xo
Kelly
 Linking up with Kim Klassen cafe - 
for Texture Tuesday...which was yesterday....but I never got on line...once!

You know what's great...

...about CA winters?

There's never a shortage of color. There are a few trees that shed their leaves-but it's CA so we have lots of palms & evergreens. And no matter what, there are always flowers blooming. I could while away an entire day trying to capture that perfect bee shot. Looking through my lens gives a whole new meaning & perspective to life so precious and often unnoticed. It  keeps me so enraptured, that time  stands still for me...
Happy Snapping
xo
Kelly