Photo-a-Day! Another peek!

Okay, I can't help myself! Another peek at Ashley & Byron's engagement shoot! I am so in love with these pictures...and the two of them...! :]

Photo-a-Day! And...a little message about authenticity!

your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's
life. don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of
other people's thinking. don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out
your own inner voice. and most important, have the courage to follow your
heart and intuition. they somehow already know what you truly want to
become. everything else is secondary.

- steve jobs

Photo-a-Day! Springtime swim.

We were fortunate enough to get to spend a really lovely Spring weekend in the Tetons last weekend (before the rain and snow returned!)...and we had a morning snack on the river bank at the Oxbow (Oxbow Bend of the Snake River). We were a little remorseful that we hadn't loaded up the kayaks, as the river was so pretty and calm...but we enjoyed a little bird watching all the same.

Photo-a-Day! "Whatcha got?"

This little face was waiting for us while we were resting at a turnout on Going to the Sun Road in Glacier National Park! Okay, he wasn't so much waiting for us, but rather, waiting for us to drop some crumbs so that he could have a snack too! Glacier is an amazing place...it should be on your list of places to see...and the Going to the Sun Road is an amazing adventure...(hint, if you are afraid of falling off a cliff, sit on the north side of your car...and don't look down!)!

Photo-a-Day! Depth of field assignment!

Okay, so this one has taken me awhile to get to, but finally...a comparison for our depth of field assignment. The first photo was taken with an aperture of f5.0...the second at f22...and the result is pretty clear in terms of what is sharp vs. what is soft in the photo. With macro photography (close-up), the difference is tremendous.
So, is one "better" than the other, that's a personal preference kind of thing! I kind of like soft focus in close up images as it makes it kind of creamy...but if the intent is to show detail, then a longer depth of field is a must!
Some tips with macro photography...a good macro lens is a must...it allows you to get super close focus! A tripod is also a must with macro...it is so vital to keep your camera absolutely steady and oftentimes you are working with longer shutter speeds with up close work making it nearly impossible to hand hold. Windy days are not good days for macro work outdoors...but practicing with the flower arrangement on your kitchen counter is a great way to experiment! Macro photography can force creativity because you see things so differently when magnified! Oftentimes it becomes about shape, color and textures, almost abstractually...so play with it...and enjoy!

Photo-a-Day! ...and assignment!

The last assignment that I posted (which was largely ignored...ahem...even by me...it must be the nicer weather..?!) was a depth of field challenge! Tyler has stepped up to the challenge and turned in an example of a depth of field comparison! Yay Tyler!
The first photo, he used an f3.5 aperture setting, his shutter (shooting wide open) pretty quick at 1/500, with his focal point near the front of the truck...everything else is a little soft. And the second, he shut down his aperture to f11, resulting in a slower shutter speed of 1/50 (less light coming in), thus more depth of field (same focal point)...the background is a little bit sharper.
This is a pretty subtle example of the differences in depth of field...but photography is all about subtleties! Nice job Tyler! Thanks for doing the work! :]

Photo-a-Day! My favorites...engagements!

Two months away...?! Yay!!! Had a lot of fun doing this shoot...two of my very favorite people!

Photo-a-Day! Sun-drenched weekend!

It seems I am obsessed with sunshine! I get that way in mid-May, when the days of true warmth and sun have been few and far between!

So, I am taking the weekend off, to play...and am wishing everyone a weekend full of sunshine and time to be outside enjoying the warmth and renewing powers of Spring! Whether you spend your time in a garden or in a lawn chair, playing catch or playing on a swingset, on the water or on a hike...breathe deeply and enjoy!

Here comes the sun!

Photo-a-Day! Spring has Sprung?!

The first day of Spring, according to my calendar, already occurred...in fact, months ago?! It, however, hasn't felt much like Springtime out my door...until today...and, it seems, this weekend the nice weather will continue! Yay! Flowers are blooming, the sun is shining, the days are getting longer and sweet little babies are popping up everywhere!

Enjoy the sunshine!!!

I haven't forgotten the last assignment...have you?!

So the last assignment I posted was a couple of weeks ago...and the response has been, well, pretty silent actually!

To refresh your memories, the assignment is a depth of field task...to take a photo showing two different depths of field...one to isolate, perhaps, and one to show depth.

I know that a couple of you are still working on this...and I look forward to your images soon!!! (Mine too, I promise!)

Photo-a-Day! Black bear encounter!

This is a bit of a preview... As I mentioned in an earlier post, my husband (Mike) and I will be featured next month at Marigolds in Pocatello...and this is one of the new prints we will be showing! ...a beautiful, healthy black bear we encountered in Yellowstone this past winter.

We are launching our new website soon...check back for more information!

Photo-a-Day! Cow!

Don't you just love their big eyes!

Photo-a-Day! Daisy!

My favorite flower arrangement...yellow roses with white daisies! I have a beautiful arrangement of those on my kitchen counter, thanks to my daughter (with the help of her daddy)!
I hope all moms were treated to your 'favorites' yesterday!

Photo-a-Day! Happy Mother's Day!

Happy day to all Moms! To mine...I miss you, always!

Did I mention...

...that Mike (hubby) and I are merging our fine art photography business! We will soon launch a new "Mike & Kris Ryan Photography" website (and blog, if I get really ambitious!)...and we'll be featured as next month's artist at Marigolds (a GREAT new wine and delicacies shop in the Gold's Gym plaza in Pocatello)!

Our website will feature our landscape and wildlife work...as well as macro and travel! We offer custom prints in a variety of sizes and finishes, canvas wraps and new, really vibrant, metal prints...as well as frameable fine art cards.

Stay tuned!

Photo-a-Day! Snow Day!

So, yesterday was definitely a snow day, much to my dismay...but I enjoyed it all the same! Sometimes you just have to take on the attitude of your pets...and just go with the flow!

Photo-a-Day! Snow? Really?!

Woke up to snow this morning. It's May. Hmmmm. So, I made an extra big pot of coffee, threw in some laundry, put on some music...and it's going to be a reading day today! Well, that, and working on our new website!
Hope you enjoy your day!

Photo-a-Day! Here's Looking at You!

Spent some time yesterday, during a very windy evening, staring up into this Great Horned Owl's nest...waiting for this little guy to poke his head out, which he did, if only momentarily! He seemed as annoyed by the wind as we were!
We always appreciate it when people let us know when they've spotted something we might enjoy photographing, as was the case here. Thank you for the tip, and the escort, Randy!

Photo-a-Day! Return from Mom's Weekend!

I promise to get "back to business" soon...but just wanted to post one photo from my weekend with Allison at Oregon State! We had a great time...and I am very, very proud of her!
She organized and co-hosted the Greek Awards Banquet, as part of her duties on the Panhellenic Executive Council on Thursday night. It was a great success! Friday night we attended SING, where Allison's house, Kappa Kappa Gamma, along with their SING partners, Lamba Chi did a GREAT job...and, took 1st place!!! Saturday we played...and partied, just a tiny bit, with the other Mom's visiting for Mom's weekend!
All in all, it was a fun weekend...and always good to see my baby!
Now, back to reality...and...I have to get to that assignment on depth of field!