The only thing more numerous in my backyard than the dandelions are the wild violets.  I know I should probably put down chemicals to stop all this from coming up but I hate doing that to the environment and, dang it, they are just so darn pretty…

I think I’ve lost my mind.  Like I don’t have enough to do, I’ve decided to start a third blog.  I know I’m no expert in the field of photography but I do tend to have the occasional “how did you do that?” comment and the “I wish my photos looked like yours” comments so I’m going to try something new…

I’ve started a new blog called, “Hey, Jules, Teach Me How To Take a Better Photograph.”  I’m starting with the very basics of digital photography and I’m going to try to explain it to the people that don’t want to be photographers - they just want to take a better photograph.  It’s going to be plain talk about cameras and their settings, simple instructions on where to stand and how to frame an image in the viewfinder, a little Q&A and some simple at-home assignments.  As the readers progress, so will the topics.  If you’ve got an Aunt Susie or an Uncle Joe that has a simple point-n-shoot camera or a DSLR that they have no idea how to use and are always bugging you to teach them, send ‘em over to the new place and get ‘em off your back!

The first post is up with more to come by the end of the week so slide an email over to anyone that complains about their lack of photographic compency and let’s get them learning how to be happy with the camera they have.  

There’s just something about reflections on water that totally intrigues me.  This was taken last Friday when the blue sky and big, white clouds were floating overhead…

Ummm…

 nuts. 

If you know me well, you know my love for Gerberas.  Every spring I cannot wait for these lovely potted plants to show up at storefronts, ready to take home and brighten up my day. 

And if you know of my love for the flower itself, then you must also know of my intense love for photographing them.  They are wonderful subjects for letting the light peek through their petals.

Well get out of town.  I mean seriously. 

I just hopped over to my favorite photography critiqueing forum, Bird Photographers.net, and found out I was awarded the Image of the Week for the Macro/Flora catagory. 

I’m sitting here in shock, just waiting for them to take it back. 

Seriously, somebody must have been sniffing film processing chemicals a little too long, if you get my drift. 

I’m shocked.  But honored.  And you could knock me over with a feather right about now.   

Sparrows…there’s so many of them you look out on your birdfeeders and start to think “Crap.  It’s just another sparrow.”  Then you walk out into the woods where it’s quiet and peaceful (except for the squirrels as they scamper from tree to tree) and, suddenly, your eye catches something exciting and you click the shutter and it’s then you exclaim, “Hey!  It’s a sparrow!” 

At least you do if you’re me.