photography

I recently got a DSLR camera.  I've always loved photography.  Sometimes my students ask me what I would have been if I wasn't a teacher...and I usually mention photography.  After Christmas I got a f/1.8 lens...this lens has a lower f-stop, which means it's a high aperture lens, which means it lets in way more light than a normal lens, which means it has a smaller depth of field, which means it will focus on an object and the background becomes blurry, which means really nice portrait shots.  Was that confusing?  I try to only shoot in manual mode.  I've been practicing my hobby of doing portrait shots and here are some samples of what I've done...

This is Sam & Emily.  They were my first "photoshoot"!

Tyler and Melissa.  I love this pose!!!

My mom and dad.  I couldn't believe how natural they were  in front of the camera.

This was taken with a wireless remote and a tripod!

Well....Rollin wanted a model pic.  I think this one's pretty good! 

Another wireless remote and tripod.

Almost all of these pictures were taken in Lemontree park.  I have found my secret spots that have AMAZING backdrops for photos.

book recommendation: Passion for Jesus

I want to recommend a book you should read.  It is called "Passion for Jesus" by Mike Bickle.  It talks about cultivating passion for Jesus....I really don't know how else to describe it.  It's rich with life-giving and thought-provoking insights by Mike.  I was genuinely encouraged and filled with more adoration for Jesus by reading it.  If you would like to read it, you can borrow my copy!

lamps

Lately I've been into finding old and unique lamps at thrift stores and giving them a little face lift by spray painting the base and putting a new lamp shade on it.

This lamp was only $3.  It's very unique, isn't it?

Close up.

Today I worked on two lamps: the first one and a second lamps that is actually a touch lamp.  My plan was to use primer on both of them, then to paint the first lamp with the light blue and the second lamp with the plum.

The one thing I wish I had done with this brass lamp is sanded it to smooth the surfaces so that it would have had more of a glossy finish.  It looks great anyway, but sanding it first would have been better.  Before I spray painted them I spray painted a PRIMER first.  

There's the blue!

There's the plum!

Here's the final product with a lamp shade on top!

I like it!

Here's the plum lamp.