2010-03-22

Helium-depleted balloons still hanging on from Stasia's shower.  Vibrant, incredibly colorful violas, Pellegrino, limes, fresh mint from our garden, pomegranate juice and/or do-it-yourself, far-less-acidic coffee.  Cost Plus critters.  Wonderful women sharing resources, laughter, ideas, questions and answers.  Things yet to be discussed.  And conquered, such as HOW THE HECK DID SHE MAKE THAT MONTAGE OF PICTURES/MIX OF MUSIC INTO THAT WONDERFUL YOUTUBE THING?  I'm sure it's very easy.  Yeah, right.  Tutorials next time.  Gifts of information and wonderful, wholesome creams to spread on our skin/thank you.  I'm sure I'm forgetting something.  I'll remember tomorrow.  Or not.  The last day to enjoy this year’s unbelievable crop of tulips, thanks to Don, The Gardening Guy/he'll be here next time, promise.  Hands helping others create a project that could go in so many different directions/send photos of where it went, OK?  Good.  All thanks to Ninon who shared this bit of brillance last week.  Side conversations which need to be continued.  Emails to and from Kathi regarding our upcoming pilgrimage to healing spots on the island.  A spring-time celebration.  Definitely a day to remember.  Thank you, everyone.  Jack Johnson, on Pandora as I type.  OMG/Better turn him off before I'm awake humming his tunes all night again.  Finally, The Most Wonderful Dessert, literally lapped up from Nacole's plate/you HAVE to HAVE this recipe/all from our garden.  Aunt Lil and Uncle Mont would be so proud!  How lucky am I?  Incredibly so.  Sweet, spring-infused dreams, all. 

Forget the flash

Which, in my mind, totally obliterates all the magic. Given the choice, I’ll Almost Always pick a slightly blurred shot over A Far-More-Flattened, significantly brighter, photo.

Simply steady your camera or yourself against a tree, post, rock or table/anything sturdy... Turn off the auto flash on "point and shoot" models, crank up the ISO if that's an option and fire away. For additional stability, use your camera’s timing device and/or a mini tripod.

So here are some of my favorite hand-held photographs. Know that I took a LOT of pictures to score a keeper. I'll add several stabilizing devices, such as tripods I use, on the product page.

Better Than a Bouquet

Your photos turned into homemade stationery.

Details drawn from our wonderful week together