Tag: photos

Fun with Photography

So, it’s that time of year when I need to take a picture of the girls for our annual Christmas card. Now that I’ve been accumulating all of this photography experience and knowledge, I really want to put it to good use.

Years past, it used to be that I would battle the masses to the Picture People or Portrait Innovations to get a great shot.  That has proven, time and again, to be an exercise in insanity and aggravation.  There were two years that I can immediately recall where I just said, “Whatevs. . ” and used some random shot from a good time we had at the playground.  Last year, when I was just getting comfortable with things like ISO and manual exposure, I did a pretty good job in getting the girls at their smiley best.  Remember these?

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Pretty cute and I love the how the tree made a natural backdrop for me.

So fast forward to this year and I’m wondering how I’m going to improve upon last year’s card. It’s a personal challenge. I’m so weird.

I was trolling around on Pinterest (what else is new), when I saw a few backdrop tutorials. There was one using some Christmas lights that gave off the effect a kind of snowy background.  Hmmm. . .I could do that.  So, I read up on the how-to’s, got my supplies and decided to try it out.

First, I rigged up my backdrop support and crossbar. I hate how this thing just came in a bag with no instructions. I’m a college educated woman and yet, putting this thing together made me feel like I was blind in one eye and couldn’t see out the other.  Still, I got it up.

Then, I grabbed my Target queen sized white sheet (I spare no expense) and tacked that up on the bar.

I used these nifty clamps, just like the pros use, to make sure there was no slippage.

After that, I started threading my Dollar Tree twinkle lights across the bar and on the backdrop.  I had to fill in with the other twinkle lights that have been earmarked for our Christmas tree because, truth be told, the background was looking pretty thin.

Let there be lights! It looks kind of sad, like Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree, but I keep reminding myself that this is just a test.  Now that I look at it in the picture, I’m probably going to have to use the other sets of tree lights to really make this thing pop.  We usually get the lights strung on the green wire to blend into the tree, but now I’m seeing the utility of the white wire ones. Well, if the picture doesn’t come out way quite the I want it to, then, I’ll upgrade to more fashionable lights. Besides, in my head, this is a tight, tight portrait shot, so really, whatever is on the sides doesn’t matter.

Okay. I got all my stuff in place and of course, I can’t find my tripod. Still.  After that big office clean-up, there are still some things that have yet to turn up. Maybe if I stop looking for it, that’s when I’ll find it. And maybe it really went out with the trash.  *le sigh*.

Anyway, the backdrop is set. The lights are up. The lights are on. Let’s see if we can make this work.  My nikon is powered up with my nifty fifty lens in place.  I’ve got my ISO on 320, my shutter speed at 1/60 and my apeture at 1.8 for that nice, creamy bokeh.  Now, where’s my model?  Oh, right. That would be me. And keep in mind, these are SOOC (straight out of the camera), so be kind.

Ooooh, not bad for a first try.  I think fiddled with some of my settings between the two shots, hence the blue tint on the first one. Plus it’s a little dark.  And I’ve kind of got a people’s eyebrow going on a bit in that one.  Anyway. . . I keep cutting off my head and my chin because my arms are only but so long.  Stupid tripod, where are you?! I can’t work like this.  I need another model.

 What a diva, but she’ll do.

I’ve still got some tweaking to do (I really want to blur out the strands and just see the bulbs).  Sure, it’s a very amateur, very MacGyver type situation I’ve got going on, but I’m going to make it work for the Dixon Christmas Card 2011. Overall, I’m going to say, mission accomplished here.  Now, to get the girls geared up in their holiday finery (read: clean shirt and combed hair) for the real deal.

And you, dear reader?  Go wait by your  mailbox!

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IN: ON: November 28, 2011 TAGS: , , BY: Hilary
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Office Space, Part II

Per all of the requests, here are some photos of the office.  And SN: Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who reads this blog and to everyone who leaves great comments and feedback. I really appreciate it.

Okay, so this is the right side of the office.  We’ve got the green accents in full effect with a wire mesh trash can that I scored from BB &B for $1.99. There’s the paper shredder and the desk with all of my papers, pencils, and what not.  The desk is in the open position, but I can slide it shut so that it looks like a dresser.  It’s pretty neat and a definite space saver. So the color palette up here is primarily white and green.  I started with my diploma (Tribe Pride!) and to complement the cherry on that frame, there are two pictures of Craig and myself from our trip to Spain a billion years ago.  Behind the chair is the first of many bookcases and to the right of that is one of the two wall cut-outs that is full to the brim with the stuff I didn’t know where else to put. Over the first cut-out is Craig’s fraternity certificate. Over the second cut-out (not pictured but just a full of stuff), is my sorority certificate.

Here’s a shot of my desk.  Trying to find some desk accessories has been a real hassle. At first, I went with some green ones from Target, but 1) they looked like someone had been chewing on them, 2) it was way too much green with the lamp right there and 3) it wasn’t really what I wanted.  I saw this desk caddy at Pottery Barn, but once I got it home, it became clear that it was more of a French Vanilla than a white.  I go back and forth about that. I mean, everything doesn’t have to matchy-match, but at the same time, I’m just not sure I like it.  I think I need to get some craft paint in the right shade of green and just sponge the desk caddy to give it some texture.  Hmmm. . .that’s not a bad idea, actually. 
Here’s a better view of the bookshelf. 

 We are some pretty avid readers.  After I had put this shelf unit together, I realized we were definitely going to need more.  Those shelves are tight, tight, tight.  To pull one book out, you’ve got to brace the rest of the unit and then do this wiggle-waggle-shimmy with the selected book so that the whole shelf doesn’t blow up in your face once some space is made.

When I look at the shelf, I think of that Jerry Seinfeld bit where he’s saying that people keep books like trophies to prove that they can read.  Why, yes, I can. And I read quite a bit.   Oooh, the lamp.   I found a pair of them on clearance at Target (love Tar-Jay).  I think I paid more for the lightbulbs than the lamps themselves.  And yes, that’s a picture of my lovely pledge class to the left and my Centennial AKA Barbie to the right. I have to hide her up here because the girls are frothing at the mouth to take her out of the box and brush her hair.

 This is the left side of the office.  I really love the green photo boxes, not only because green is my favorite color, but because I feel SO organized when I look at them.  If I need a picture of one of the girls for a class project, I know exactly where to go.  I’m tempted to replace those books and candles on the left side with the myriad of photo albums that I have.  Still, the clean, streamlined look of just the white and green is really appealing. I also found that floor lamp at Target, which is the same color green as the other lamps.  I have yet to sneak up here with a cup of coffee and just rock it out in the glider with a good book, but that is definitely on my to-do list.

Oh, Craig’s Porsche collection! We’re going to get you one that for the driveway, Craig, I promise.

So, that’s a mini tour of my office.  Thanks for stopping by.  Oh! And if you have any suggestions for office decor, must-have desk-top accessories, or what have you, definitely let me know.  
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IN: ON: November 17, 2011 TAGS: , BY: Hilary
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Two for the Road

So, I’m coming up for air in the midst of packing, summer camps, road trips, and keeping my dad off the crazy train whilst my mom recovers from knee replacement surgery. I feel like Atlas, and I will say after finishing the Rebel Race with DH, BBC, et al., I’ve been feeling mighty strong as of late.

A few weeks ago, I was driving my normal route from pre-school drop off back to the house when, as I rolled up to a stop sign, I spied something in front of a real estate office that hadn’t been there before.

A friggin’ mermaid.

Let me tell you, when I started this project, I thought it would carry us from June to August — of the same year!  Here it is close to two years later and these sirens keep popping up. What killed me about this mermaid or rather this particular location, was that we’d found a mermaid there on during the inaugural outing!  You can’t switch ’em up on bi-annual intervals!  We’ll never get closure!

Summer 2009

Summer 2011
Look at how much Mo and Co have grown.

 Granted, these are two different mermaids, but I thought we’d had this block covered.  The one from 2009 is gone.  Been gone for two years!  Now, here comes this new one (albeit on the other side of the building).  Anyway, the girls were excited.  Coever decided to wiggle it, just a little bit to demonstrate her level of excitement.

I snapped a few shots of her gyrations and when I scrolled through them, it was like watching a flipbook.  Hilarious!

Now, please understand that my griping about the preponderance of mermaids is all in good fun.  Nothing makes me smile than when I take the girls on a mystery ride and see their faces when the mermaid comes into view.

The second mermaid I found happened to be when I was slogging through an early morning run with friends.  We tried a new route, threading our way past schools, across bridges, along busy roads until finally turning into a charming neighborhood with excellent waterviews.  I had no idea this little jewel of a community was back here.  We rounded the bend of the road, huffing and puffing, when what do I see?

A mermaid.

One we hadn’t seen. One that I am almost certain isn’t on the Norfolk Mermaid Poster.  One that is missing a hand like so many others.  What’s up with that?  SN: There’s a mermaid hand-nabber out there, just breaking off hands right at the wrist. Only one, usually the right hand.  Weird.

I took the girls back there after our visit with the aforementioned mermaid. They were amazed not only at the mermaid, but the roughness of the water due to the whipping winds.  “This wind sure is strong,” Morgan remarked.

“I’m strong,” declared Coever.  The proof is in the pictures.

Look at them muscles!
Posing, posing, posing.
I love how giddy Morgan is here. She’s so amazing. 
So, two more mermaids in the bag.  I’m sad to have this little piece of their childhood end.  Truthfully, I’m hoping another mermaid turns up before we pull up stakes.  You know, it’d be just like one more dollop of icing on the cake. 
Mmmm, cake. . .
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IN: ON: June 23, 2011 TAGS: , , , BY: Hilary
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Packing Break


It’s like a cardboard factory in here, what with all of the boxes.  Thankfully, I’ve got a pretty decent helper to make things speed along. Although, getting in the box to practice “Le Tigre” might get her taped up and sent to Tyra.

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IN: ON: June 13, 2011 TAGS: , , BY: Hilary
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Day 25: A Photo That Inspires You

Gah! I am still working on this 30 day project even though I am WELL beyond the 30 days.  Before I get much further, let me first say, no, this is not my bod, nor my necklace. However, I saw this picture on  Pinterest and was motivated, nay, inspired to get crafting. 
Maybe the reason why it’s taken so long to finish the last few entries of this 30 day project is that I really don’t care for the “assignments”.  Find a photo that inspires you. Find a photo of something that makes you smile.  It’s getting to ooey, gooey, Disney-fied for me.  I’m not saying that I’m wanting to post something that makes me nauseous, but how about “find a photo of your celebrity crush”.  Total no-brainer.  Well, maybe not seeing as I have several. But I digress.
So, like I said, I was on Pinterest, looking at pictures that make me yearn and burn: modern kitchens, vertigo-inducing high heels, DIY projects and scrumptious recipes to try.  While I’m still putting in work on the French and the photography, I’ve been wanting to do something else.  I’ve been wanting to make something.  
I had been reading this book, The Dive From Clausen’s Pier, and the protagonist sews.  She uses sewing as a coping mechanism for the stressors in her life.  The descriptions of her running her hands over bolts of fabric, of making something out of nothing, of closing her mouth around the bitter metal of pins — I just wanted to be there. I wanted to see my own hands cutting, threading, finishing.  I called my mom, a veteran quilter, and said, “I want to make a quilt.” My neighbor gave me a pattern to make blossom hair bows for the girls. I went to the Fabric Store, Morgan and Coever in tow.  The bolts of fabric came together with a satisfyingly muffled thunk as I sorted through them. It was a buffet of cottons, silks, poly-blends, and flannels.  There were prints and solids, muted hues and sharp brights. I wanted to open my purse and clothesline it all inside. 
I saw the tie-necklace on Pinterest and knew that was going to my next project. DH has a rack of ties he hardly ever wears and while I was tempted to just pilfer the ones that I liked, I waited and asked for a few of his cast-offs (talk about a great reason to buy him some better-looking ties.)  The instructions were easy, and soon I was pinning, threading, tacking and finishing.  The girls would see me with my needle and pins out, my pin cushion balanced on my knee while I sat stitching on the sofa, and would skip around the furniture calling me Betsy Ross.  Talk about an ego boost. 
My necklace is all but done. It just needs a good press. I’ve already got the outfit to wear it with picked out.  I’m tempted to just stitch it to the shirt, actually.  Maybe that’ll be my next project.  . .
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IN: ON: May 4, 2011 TAGS: , , BY: Hilary
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photography projects & DIY

Mermaids (still) on Parade

The girls are on spring break this week and somehow, I haven’t been as pro-active as I need to be in keeping us occupied with activities.  The fact is, I’m tye-red. Not tired, tye-red. My groove has been off since daylight savings and we sprung forward.  Losing that hour has really knocked me off kilter. I’m out of orbit, out of sync, out of joint, and out to lunch.  It wasn’t that I didn’t know that spring break was coming. It just caught me off guard, like when you think you’ve got a few sheets left on the roll and really, you don’t have a square to spare. 

Anyway, seeing as at the end of this summer, we are going to be pulling up stakes here in the Tidewater area, I figured it was time to wrap up this mermaid quest once and for all.  We haven’t gone mermaid spotting since last July.  In that time, I’ve spotted two new ones.  
This one is by Mystic Mermaid, and the owner of the shop calls her “Annie”, as in “Orphan Annie”, since no one will buy her or decorate her.  Morgan was quick to offer up my wallet to shoulder the burden, but thankfully, I was able to cough up my rote “I left my wallet in the car” response to quell that foolishness.  Besides, we all know how I feel about arts and crafts.  Crafting up a mermaid? Hold on while I sell this ice cream cone to an Eskimo. 
This one is over by Sentara Leigh Hospital.  It’s like her hand is in VA Beach and her tail is in Norfolk. 

I also decided to go for two that were affixed to the sides of buildings.  We’ve driven past them time and again, and there really wasn’t a valid reason not to include them on our tour.  They’re just up really high. True, there are two others that we missed (one on the Scope marquee and one precariously close to the Waterside Overpass).  I didn’t think investing in ropes, anchors and carabiners for a few frames was worth it.

 

This one, Techno Maid, I had spied through an office window over the years as I drove through town.  I had never seen anyone go in or out of the building. I didn’t know what was going on in there, but I thought, “The answer if no, if you don’t ask.” I’d go in, state my case, pushing the girls forward with their big pleading eyes and we’d get our shot.  I hadn’t expected to need a swipe card to get in the building.  Luckily, someone had propped the door.  Still, it wasn’t easy.  The elevator worked by swipe card.  The stairwells worked by swipe card (SN: isn’t that a fire hazard? What if there’s a fire and you can’t use the elevator? What if the power goes out? You’re stuck).  Anyway, a few employees were out smoking some butts and were kind enough to let us hitch up to the second floor.

  The whole office building smelled like something was burning, stale air, and lethargy.  When the elevators opened to the second floor, there was a herd of office chairs and several pyramids of overstuffed file boxes. The guy that let us up insisted on standing there, watching us while we took the photos, even though he assured us it was alright to do so. Judging by the closed postures of the girls, I wasn’t the only one picking up on the weirdness.  We hustled out of there so fast, the meter I had fed hadn’t even rolled over. 
No doubt, I’ll happen across another mermaid before we leave.  Truthfully, I hope I do.  It’s been a fun junket, taking the girls around and amassing this little collection.  I finally took the Norfolk Mermaid poster to get framed and plan to hang it up with the girls’ favorite picture from our adventures.  What I enjoy most about flipping through the mini album we’ve created is seeing how the girls have changed over the course of the past few years (the outfit that Coever is wearing in these pictures, Morgan was wearing last summer).  
When we started, this whole thing was just a way to fill up our summer days and learn about the city in which we lived.  Now, it’s a sweet reminder of the time we’ve had in Norfolk; a time when we didn’t have anything to rush for, except be the first to shout, “There goes a mermaid!”
 
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IN: photography projects & DIY ON: April 19, 2011 TAGS: , , , , , , , BY: Hilary
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Day 27: A Photo of Something You’re Looking Forward To

Driving to Richmond at the crack of dawn. 
Viewing 9 different properties between 10am and 2pm.
Mad dash to the hotel to shower and get glam.
Wedding with my hubs and my sorors.
Drinks and dancing.
4 inch heels and a new pair of Spanx.
More drinks and dancing.
Fast forward to the next day.
Brunch.
More house hunting.
Driving home.
Back into the fray of reality. 
Point me in the direction of the Tempur-Pedic and some 1000 Thread Count Sheets.


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IN: ON: April 10, 2011 TAGS: , BY: Hilary
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