So I did my reseach for this one...

I'm mortified by my inability to recognize plants and flowers. Trees I thought were dogwoods are potentially not. I don't know which end is up anymore. =)

But I found this teeny little daffodil in the middle of my yard today, all by itself. It's super tiny (though I know it doesn't look it in this photo) and completely out of place. So I did some googling... it's a Narcissus Poeticus! =) Woo!

Flower doofus.

Are you all just too nice to point out that the lovely pink tree blossoms I photographed below are NOT "cherry blossoms" as I indicated, but indeed magnolia blossoms?!

I've noticed lots of people photographing them lately, and it occurred to me that I've completely mis-identified them, and no one has whacked me upside the head to tell me. =) Duh.

I'm so confused... it is a magnolia tree, right? Can you tell I have the worst green thumb ever?

For years (again, going back to how gullible I am) my dad had me convinced that the dogwood tree by the garage "woofed". He'd tell me to go listen to it, and he'd quietly bark. It was a long time before I put 2 and 2 together.

Those white ones below ARE dogwoods, aren't they? LOL...

My Little Ray of Sunshine...

I'm getting him used to wearing it, prepping him for some good "flower" shots outside this Spring. ;) My little sunshine...

And just typing that, I was reminded of a funny story. Everyone knows the song "You Are My Sunshine," yes? My mom and grandmother always used to sing it to me. As you all probably know, the lyrics go:

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are gray
You'll never know dear how much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away.

The other night dear as I lay sleeping
I dreamed I held you in my arms.
When I awoke dear I was mistaken...

And here, up until I was in college, I was under the impression the lyrics were "So I went right back to sleep." =D Hey, it fit the rhythm and it made perfect sense! I never had reason to doubt it... haha.

Turns out, my Pollyanna grandmother and mom felt the actual lyric "And I hung my head and I cried" was just unnecessary and took a little "mom" poetic license. Hee hee!!! Going back to sleep was much better than crying!!

Annnnnd there you have a little more insight into my quirky, ever-the-optimist personality. ;)

If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome. ~ABradstreet

I adore this time of year for all the cherry blossoms and dogwoods on my street. =)

“Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.” ~Eleanor Roosevelt

Who better to be a total goober with than someone who has known you for 13 years, through ups and downs, goods and bads, milestones, spring breaks, and summers of sloth.

We met during freshman orientation in college 13 years ago (yikes!!) and I will never be able to thank her for everything she's done for me over the years, for the wonderful, loving friend she has been... and most importantly, for going bowling Friday night on a whim with me! =)


It was near impossible to take any pics right after we got there, as it became "Rock'N'Bowl" complete with dark alleys, black light, and teeny bopper DJ, but I tried. This was the best I could do... Suffice it to say, we rocked the house.


And FYI, beer makes bowling infinitely more fun.


I highly recommend re-living your goofy childhood and hitting the alley if you're ever stumped for something to do! Hee hee... =)

Rediscover You Love of Shooting Workshop ::: Part III

The last batch... the fabulous Justin & Mary Marantz, photographers-turned-models for the day. How cute are they?























For more, click here!

I'm still all fired up... I need more workshops to attend. =) And I'm totally crashing the PUG meeting tomorrow... so if any of you read this, I'll see you there!!!

Rediscover Your Love of Shooting Workshop ::: Part II

On to the next batch! This was the lovely Nicole Frechette.









And just a couple fun ones...





For more, click here!

Rediscover Your Love of Shooting Workshop ::: Part I

This past Monday, I had the amazing opportunity to attend an all-day workshop given by the fabulous Carla Ten Eyck and Steve DePino.

I can honestly say it was one of the best things I have ever done for myself. I met a huge group of really kind, fun, awe-inspiring photographers... and I left with hoardes of new info and confidence that I didn't have 12 hours earlier.

Everyone there seemed to be infinitely more "professional" and talented than I, but that didn't matter. Every single photographer had the patience of a saint, dealing with the girl who really doesn't know how to shoot people and just laughed her fool head off the entire time. =)

Carla and Steve... well, they wouldn't let me sit back and watch. ALL I wanted to do was just be a fly on the wall and absorb everything around me, but the whip was cracked and I was forced out of my comfort zone. Nerve wracking to say the least, but much much needed. I'll never step out on a limb without a shove. =) I cannot thank them enough!! Nothing like being thrown into the fire.

Unfortunately, I haven't had a spare moment until now to sit down and go thru my 1,000 shots!!! Special thanks to our fabulous models Cara (below), country music artist Nicole Frechette and Justin & Mary Marantz, photographers-turned-models for the day. =) (Pics of Nicole, Justin, and Mary to come!)

Without further ado...

Steve DePino: Sun God?






















Full gallery can be found by clicking here. There will be PLENTY more to come, once I get my act together. =) And if you have the opportunity, check out Carla's blog for a super fun slideshow of the day.

To be continued!

Shooting thru slobbery lenses...

Nothing better than spending 3 whole days surrounded by snorting, wiggling four-legged subjects. They're so darn easy to shoot... ;) I spent this past weekend at the Bulldog Specialty shows in PA for the Connecticut Bulldog Club, Lower Susquehanna Bulldog Club, and Bulldog Club of Philadelphia. Must share a smattering of the fun pics...