Let the Games Continue...

      I have been back in Augusta for over a week. I am glad to back surrounded by trees and two way streets. Also it's fantastic to have weather that cools off again a night.

I was welcomes home by almost a 150 balloons gracias a la mis amigos. 

Tyler being a chef and making his own honey mustard.

Tyler's nephew had his birthday party. It was an olympic themed adorable riot.

When I am Feeling Sad

Missing this smile but it's all the way back in Texas again :(

Travel Anxiety

Packing for home. I hate packing. I will miss Dallas and it's skies.

What Texas Taught Me

... about photography. Nothing too serious here.
Being in a new state for a little over a month was an odd learning experience. I wasn't holding little children who just need someone to love them and give them some hope in a place that is so unmerciful like Chelsea and praying for the slightest opportunity to shine some light in a country that is so dark like Courtney.
But for the first time, um, ever I was in a totally new place to do A LOT of thinking and learning about myself (also I further learned how blessed I am with Tyler in my life but that's another story).
It's safe to say I put most of my energy into photography. Pictures make me happy. They honestly do, if I am frustrated/confused/sad/feeling uncreative, anything, looking at photos can make me feel better quickly. Not like looking through Facebook pictures, going to a blog I like and seeing the world through an artists eyes.
So this time in Texas has challenged what I was comfortable doing and opened my eyes to moments that need to captured. I have tried to condense the things I have learned.

1) I need to take my camera more places. I am so glad I brought it to random places in Texas not just to a prearranged shoots. I need to do this more and document more memories with the people in Georgia too.

This is Tyler's good friend Courtney (not the same one from the above listed blog) she and her  friend Abbey are leaving their family and friends and serving over seas for a year.

The lillies represent wishes for their safety and ministry.

2) Not every photo needs a face. This is a hard one for me since I normally consider myself a "portrait photographer" but there are some great moments, details, and memories that don't need a human in them.

3) How to think "In black and white." Before I just wasn't wild about B&W but it was mostly because I was scared of it and was worried I wouldn't be good with it. I am still no where near an expert but I have more appreciation for it now and am slightly obsessed with it. For a quick article on taking good B&W's go here.

4) How little I knew about photography.  This is a world and artform I've barely skimmed the surface of I am so excited to grow more.

I had the privilege of taking photos for a local family.

5) If you miss a moment or don't capture a photo perfectly, learn from it and move on. I have a bad habit of beating myself up when I don't get exactly the shot I wanted. But I am learning to chill out and be more appreciative of the the opportunity at hand.  While I may have been reading "From Snapshots to Great Shots," I learned sometimes the snapshots are the great shots.

6) How much I love these people. This may not technically be related to photography but the pictures of them are the ones I cherish most. I have a lot of great things going on in my life and I am not going to sit around and tell God what's missing. Life is not a perfect situation for anyone but I am blessed with people that fill every crevice and I need be more thankful that.

*The draw in picture is my mentor and I. Considering how much time we spend with cameras we really should get a picture together

The Final Tally

For those of you living under a rock (with only internet access to my blog) the Olympics are over)   :(

After two weeks of watching some amazingly talented people reach their goals here is the update on my summer goals. 

• Eat Whataburger- 
• Try at least 1 new restaurant every other week with Tyler
• Download and read 1 book a week on my Kindle- Sadly did not happen. Maybe I'll read again this semester when I am trying avoid school work
• See Madagascar 3 and the new Ice Age- I can't believe neither of these happen...
• Cook with Mrs. Leah
• Get better at Frisbee
• Take pictures at least once a week
• Have pictures taken with Tyler regularly-  did it but of course it will never be enough
• Convince Tyler to take me to either Hamilton Pool or Barton Springs
• Go to a drive in Movie
• Make prints of pictures I like instead of just leaving them on my computer
• Keep up my running schedule 
• Back my pictures on a hard-drive and CD's- Still in progress
• Find a place to swim in Texas, don't just sit inside
• Have a Columbia shirt collection that competes with Mr. EJ's
• See a Rangers game
• Develop a B&W Lifestyle Potfolio
• Play golf maybe once, maybe once several times 
• Find a good camera bag, preferably one that can double on as purse
• Go through one Chapter a week of "Black and White: From SnapShot to Great Shots" with Tyler
• Grill Out
• Make a PhotoBook of my 2011 pictures and start one for 2012

So yeah. Not bad. 

For things not on the list.

Tyler surprised me by taking me to the shooting range. Not to sound ungrateful for the rest of the vacation I have had here but this probably my favorite outing. And being the awesome boyfriend he is he took me again. Shooting a gun is surprisingly similar to shooting with a camera. Both are completely addicting and both challenge you to come back and get better each time.

Today we also went to the Dallas Gardens. This place was remarkable. A glass blowers work was placed throughout the garden but the neat thing about it was that the art wasn't random despite the glowing colors every piece blended seamlessly into it's surroundings giving it almost a Dr. Seuss feel. 

Inside a little play church

Stoppin' by the General Store on our way out.

Do these remind anyone of Starwars? I believe the battle scene of Episode I ?

I love finding reflections in random places so I can have a a picture of Tyler and I together :)

Prince and A Princess

I got to Skype with Chelsea and her mom the other day so in the honor of Leslie I am finally putting up the "Purple Rain" preformed by Darius Rucker. 

But since this this was such a short video I looked up a better quality and longer version.

I have been going back through the pictures from the wedding I second shot earlier in the summer.

I especially like this one because it's the bride immediately followed by her sister and her soon-to-be sister-in-law.

 I have never been very into vignette in photos but this one I felt really needed one. I used this tutorial which I am not crazy about but I plan on continuing to look for another one.