Project 365 Helpful Hints to better a Picture

This is applying #9 to my shot. Still have a long way to go! But hey, it's only day #12.

Well, I am on day 12 of my Project 365. That's 353 more pics to take this year. I learned 10 great ways to better improve you photos and wanted to share them with you.

1. Get up close and eliminate distractions in the background

2. Know your camera's minimum focusing distance. Look in the camera manual

3. Learn how to lock the focus on you camera. Again, look in manual.

4. Know you camera's flash range and shoot from that distance. Look in manual.

5. Use your cameras flash when outdoors to eliminate harsh shadows on faces.

6. If you can find some shade outdoors to shoot, try it out.

7. Start to learn where light is coming from and use it to your advantage.

8. Shoot from different angles not just from a normal standing position. Remember to shoot from the ground.

9. Get creative with where you place your subject in your viewfinder. Move them out of the center.

10. Use your environment to frame up some shots if you can.

New Year 2011

I don't have any current pictures downloaded from my camera to the computer, so you'll have to settle for a wordy post this time. It's the new year and this is where I am supposed to write about all the things I want to change this year. Ya know revamp my life and adopt a bunch of stuff from other people's lives and then give up on them in about 2 weeks cuz they are not fitting in my life. The Lord placed a thought in me the other day when I was havein' a chat with Him, He brought to my mind, "how about working on the gifts that I have already put inside you instead of trying to create new ones that don't work for you!" WOW ya mean like when I keep trying to shove that round peg into that square hole? - it just doesn't work! Now, I am all about change and making improvements in life. Bettering myself for the sake of the Kingdom of God is very important to me. I am just trying to figure out which vehicle I need to use that works for me. Needless to say, I have really been thinking about that the past few days and really thinking it through for my life. First thought was "What are my gifts now after 5 plus years of baby raising, a major move and a new life somewhere completely new?" What used to be "me" has long since faded in the hot sun of change. Although, I do know that there are some core things about me that haven't changed. For instance, I love to be creative, I love to decorate. I love texture, color and the perfect placement of things. Everything and everyone has it's place in God's creation - no matter what. Something useful and somewhat broken to me doesn't mean destroyed, it means, "what does this need to work again?" Although I do love to purge useless clutter that causes chaos and of course to reorganize. I love the Lord, my family, my life and all that goes with that. I love God and I love His people! So this year is going to be a year of discovery again for me. A continuation of the unveiling of the gifts God has placed in me, just in a new light if you will.

Thus, so begins a project I have committed too in hopes that it will help me process these gifts again. I was invited to join a group of gals called "Project 365." It's a photography group where each gal commits to taking a picture a day of things in her life. My theme is based on my blog title, "Think in These Things and Phil 4:6" It's a bit scary to commit to 365 days of pictures and of my life based on this theme for several reasons, the greatest is committing to 365 days of pictures. Second is sticking with my theme and another is that I am not a photographer, but I plan on learning more. I think this is going to be one great venue to explore and to create a place for God's gifts in me to land. I think it's going to challenge what is already in me to grow a little more and take on a new perspective. It's very exciting, because I will be with some pretty talented ladies that take WAY better pics than me. That is VERY cool!

So here's to 2011 and the continued discovery of me through God's eye's. What I hope is with the pictures, it will reflect the Him in me. Stay tuned into the process!

The Latest and Greatest of the Contreras'

Ok Family, let me know which one's you'd like if any. All the above ones come in B& W as well.

Had to Write This One Down!

Little G is in this little phrase of asking this hysterical clarifying question. When someone says something to her that she doesn't catch or doesn't understand, she says, "What choo said?" It is becoming quite catching around our house. We laugh every time she says it and of course she get's highly offended and yells, "It's not too funny!" I know we should correct her and tell her it's incorrect grammar, but it's just too cute and I know that it will be short lived. Soon she will be saying it correctly and we will forget this fun expression. That's why I had to write it down. The days of these young years are flying by - gotta capture the moments!

Little G's 1st Pony Ride and Big G's 100th Train Ride

Little G loved her first pony ride on "Molly." It was a fast little guy. I thought I would be walking along side her and I was actually running to keep up with that pony! As for Bid G, he still loves a good ride on a train. I have lost count on the number of times he has ridden on one. He still loves his choo choo's!

Pumpkin Patch 2010

Our annual pumpkin patch trip was very fun and very warm. We picked up our fall decos for outside and grabbed some pumpkins for the kids. They liked going in the corn maze and picking out their pumpkins. Because there were so many, it was hard to pick their favorite one!

She's Such A Girl!!!

Little G is everything I have always heard about having a little girl! She loves her princesses and will lay and look at books for a good while. She loves to have her hair done and will pose her best pose for the camera. She loves to write and color and make cute little pictures for me and tells me about her favorite colors - pink is her bestest! She is tough as nails, but sensative to the core. She sings and dances her way right into my heart. I love my Little G!