Young Adventurer Poses for Photographs

Playing Piano

Thinking

Telling a story

Thinking of friends

Bringing flowers

He is growing up,

and changing,

and staying the same.

Kids do that.

People do that.

Learning Curve

Having no prior experience with a camera that actually has manual settings, it's taking some time to figure out the manual focus, shutter speed, and all the other stuff that I don't know what it is or does. Yes, I know I need to take a class. Still, I am having fun!

This is what happens when you set the camera to full manual, when you only intended to focus manually. That is a photograph of a bird, in case you couldn't tell. I am thankful for the friend who was with me--she showed me the little switch on the lens that allows manual focus. Once I switched the other dial back to full-auto, the camera started taking actual photos again.

These next photos I took this morning with the camera set to a very fast shutter speed and focusing manually. Getting closer!

And then there's the geese. Camera set to "full auto." Sun and water set to "nice reflections." Sidewalk Driver set to stay out of the way of the guy with the really REALLY big lens and the tripod who was sitting on the ground framing his shot.

Note the goose drill sergeant.

It's nice to have all one's geese in a row, I'm sure.

iPad

Yes, it's cool.

Yes, I want one.

Yes, I have been conditioned to have the iPad be the obvious next device. My family and friends are entertained when I leave fingerprints on the screen of my macbook and become frustrated when I touch it's screen and nothing happens. This is the way things are supposed to work.

I see it has iWork.

Does it print wirelessly?

I will likely have to wait a while to get one. Even in it's amazing coolness, it's someplace behind "NEW dSLR CAMERA" on the priority list. And convincing Danjo that I Need one could be a challenge.

Name that bird

I'm not really this obsessed with birds, but they are the "people in my neighborhood" and so become the subjects of the photos. And no, not all of these are birds.

Practice Makes Perfect

Practice Music

Practice Painting

Practice Pictures

Practice Spanish, Aqui.

Cute pet photo

Indie is the world's sweetest dog.

Indie is black and therefore difficult to photograph, so she is underrepresented in my large collection of halfway decent dog photos. She is also difficult to motivate. She runs, not for food, but only on a whim. And she's very fast. This is a rare moment, and it makes me happy.

Things that happen on concrete pathways...

1. Waddling

2. "It looks like his walker got stuck"

Thank you, Kelly, for putting words to this picture. I could never have come up with this.

Driving On The Sidewalk recommends waiting till the cement has dried. The duck concurs.

Big Sister, Little Sister

Working Hard? Or Hardly Working?

I have recieved a complaint about my blog (actually I've recieved a threat too, but I'll assume it's an empty threat until I recieve that letter from your lawyer--you know who you are). Apparently I overlooked someone when I posted last night, so I am rectifying that error today. Gavin, this is your post. The first of two.

Gavin: Working Hard, or Hardly Working?

Gavin holding pink string.

Gavin gazing adoringly at Susan. It appears as though Susan is working.

(I think we can excuse this as a valid reason for him to stop work for a bit)

Gavin not working

Gavin looking official, but not officially working.

Boys with shovels. Gavin with boys, no shovel.

Gavin clearly not working.

Gavin still not working

Is that a cup of tea?

(well no, it's a bucket, but Gavin does have a cookie)

He might have been working, before...

Not working, and yes, the light was better facing the other direction, if only you had turned around.

That little scrap of blackboard looks heavy.

"Here kid, hammer this nail"

"I've been working! Really!"

More goofing off

The day just started and already taking a break

Me working, Gavin goofing off again.

Gavin sitting.

Just standing around

"If only this was a bottle of wine to go with my cheese and crackers and fruit"

Nobody better get in his way when he's "working."

Is that some sort of british gang sign?

Well, maybe he worked a little...

Significant fact, duly noted:

Among other things, Gavin did a lot of very patient working with little kids who weren't sure how to successfully wield a hammer or shovel--photographic evidence abounds.