So I'm FINALLY getting around to looking at some of the images I took in Florida over Christmas. We go down there to visit my family most years, and much to my husband's dismay,I usually drag my humongous backpack full of camera gear on the plane "just in case" I decide I want to take a photograph. As usual, I'm glad I did. I managed to drag him out to a few different nature preserves and a National Wildlife Refuge, and I got about three shots I like.

And I can't leave out the humor....

Seriously, the thought of anyone "molesting" an alligator is just creepy...

Anyway... Up in the next post, some adventure sports, Florida style!

I Want to be a Photographer

I want to be a photographer. I decided this (again) sometime in the last week. I miss it. All of it, even the parts I thought I hated. I want the excitement of brides on their wedding day. I want to capture the fun in a toddler's eyes as she discovers new things. I want to be that idiot laying on the ground at the park to capture the light coming through the flowers at just the right angle. I want to spend the hours at the computer, figuring out new ways to manipulate images that I think people will like. I want to remember how to use Photoshop to create the advertising pieces that so many people complimented. I want it all back.

Whew! I had to get that out. I feel better now. "So," you might be asking yourself, "where in HELL is she going with this, and what does it have to do with anything?" Well... I don't know. But just this morning, I found myself farting around, actually playing with manipulating images in Photoshop. Here are just a few of the results, starting with the original image. Enjoy!

Wow. 2010 is over. SO fast... I think I blinked and missed it. It was a tough year for me with photography. I've been pretty burned out on the whole thing. I played around a little bit this fall with a friend of mine, shooting for myself for a change, and slowly started enjoying it again. By now, I actually miss the people, the places, and the fun... Anyway, here are a few shots from the fall, with more to follow... I promise, this time...

We went to the zoo one day, and this guy was just hanging out there, posing for me. I have this stupid soft spot for bears, as long as they're not trying to eat me.

This was a rather phallic mushroom I found on the floor of a gorgeous forest at Meyer's Ranch Open Space Park.

Susie talked me into going up this (okay, not terribly) nasty four wheel drive road off of Fall River Road. Apparently there was supposed to be a lake up there. When we arrived, this fallen tree was the only thing worth photographing. Stupid drought!

This is another one from Meyer's Ranch Open Space. I swear, aspens have eyes...