Painting with Light Photo Course

Have just signed up for a 10 week on-line "Painting with Light" photo course being run Cheryl Johnson. Really do want to learn how I can get the most out of our Digi SLR and take really good shots more often! Anyone that knows me, knows I prefer being behind the camera, but this means there are not that many photos of me.

The first challenge we've been set is to take a self portrait with your name in the frame (so you can't cheat and use an old photo!). Jon's flying out to Copenhagen today and Callum tucked up asleep so I ventured out into the garden to have a play.

I've left my mark in chalk around the garden in various places (hopefully the rain will wash it away!).

Don't think my efforts were too bad ... considering the subject!


We also had to choose our two favourite shots ... and two shots that didn't work as you'd hoped.

These are the two shots I have selected as my favourites ...

Taken in Las Vegas in 2001 with an IXUS 300 - it's my arty interpretation of the Paris Hotel on the strip.


This sunset was taken in Hawaii in 2002 (Canon S40) and was quite pleased I managed to capture the colours and get the foreground as a silhouette.

Now for the ones that didn't quite work ...

The monkey photo was taken at London Zoo last month with our Canon EOS 350D - the monkeys were moving so quickly and am disappointed I couldn't get the focussing right.


I love taking photos of Callum and this shot is one of my favourites ... although I am not happy with the lighting. Captured more by fluke as the Canon S40 has a bit of a delay in taking the photo!

I popped along to MJ's All Day Crop yesterday too whilst Jon kept Callum entertained! Managed to get three scrapbook layouts done, lots of gossiping and fair few cups of tea drunk (and we don't mention the chocolate cake and biscuits eaten!) . It's a great bunch of ladies and everyone always great day. Most will be mad enough to last the 12 hours it's on ... I left them to it about 5.30pm. Thanks a mill for a great day MJ!

Shooting Stars and Space Stations

We had fantastically clear skies in the evenings this weekend ... and I got to see my first shooting stars (and second, third and fourth!). We also saw the International Space Station pass overhead (with Space Shuttle docked) ... well it was more of a "star" moving across the sky but we can still say we saw it.

The last couple of weeks have been pretty hectic - as the weather was so good, we've been out and about. We headed over the Finkley Down Farm in Andover with a friend and her two children and had a lovely day. Lots of farm animals so Callum feed a few goats and also groomed a horse. There's also a pretend cow you could milk too. Big hit with Callum were all the diggers and tractors you could play on.

Children say the sweetest things though. I was driving and the Sat Nav was on. My friends son suddenly piped up and asked "What are Road Bears". I looked at my friend, she looked at me ... both confused. Then the Sat Nav chirps up "Road Bears Right in 500 yards". He'd been looking left and right and couldn't see any. Bless.

We've also been to Beale Park a fair few times, making the most of the season ticket. It's so much busier in the school holidays and you need eyes in the back of your head to keep track of where Callum and his friends are. Dressing them in the brightest possible clothes helps pick them out quite quickly.

We're also well into the rounds of birthday parties for all Callum's little friends. They are all turning two - I really do not know where the last two years have gone.