The Rodeo

I didn't realize until this year that it was "legal" to bring your camera to the Rodeo.  I guess I just assumed that, sure you could use your smartphone, but to bring in a high megapixel camera and the longest zoom you own, was just not okay.  So, when I brought it up to the hubby before we left for our annual rodeo day, he said he didn't see why it would be a problem.  This added a whole new dimension to one of my favorite events of the year!  Now understand, I had no idea where our seats actually were in comparison to the action, what the lighting would be like, or if I could really even get anything worth while.  So I grabbed my 70-300 (which I actually haven't used in a REALLY long time), my 7D instead of my Mark just in case something went wrong got smashed, etc. and headed out the door.  It turned out that our seats were 10 rows up, but on the OPPOSITE side of where the animals and riders come out -- meaning opposite side of a football arena to where the action takes place.  A zoom can only do so much.  Without the right lighting and then distance factored in, oh, and then action shots, this means ISO is high, aperture is low and shutter speed is as fast as the camera will allow (which is pretty slow in low light)...basically in layman's terms - grain is high, focus is difficult and blur is common....Simply put, it makes capturing a solid shot very difficult.

So, technically they are not up to my "normal" standard, but compositionally and personally for what they are - they were fun for me to take and perfect for me to add to my collection.

Camdyn Belle: One Year

I can't believe it's been a year since this little one was born....and I can't believe I've been lucky enough to capture her all along the way.

Part 1

Showing Off 

 Part 2

A Smashing Good Time

The Happiest Place on Earth - MoeCakes Style

MoeCakes and family recently returned from DisneyWorld.  It was a gift to the girls for Christmas.  We've been to Disneyland, but Moe barely remembers it and Cakes was still crawling.  So this was a big deal!!  It was the first vacation hubby and I went when we just started dating and I have always loved everything Disney....how can you not?  Innocence, pure happiness, excitement, family and fun all wrapped into one.  

The girls ate it up.

Cakes first ride ever - Space Mountain - began what I believe will be a life long love of "anything fast!"  Moe was intrigued with everything Walt Disney and all the art.  She was even able to meet one of the artists on site.  

It didn't fall short.  It may have been our first time there, but I have a feeling it won't be our last.

Here are just a VERY select few of some of my favorites of the week.

Enjoy!

Back Where I Come From: Meet My (Entire) Family

When my mom came to me before Christmas and asked if I would be willing to do family pictures for my entire family, I have to admit the first thing I thought was "holy geezums Batman".

22 people, 6 families, 10 kids (including 1 infant).... and then the fact that I have to BE in some of these shots?  I mean, I can work a 10 second timer, but this was a little beyond that.  Plus - you have to understand, the last time we took extended family pictures was in 2004 (and in a studio).  Moe was days old (and looked a little, um, scary) in the shots, and then Mr. MoeCakes was sick as a dog.  To the point of hurling out the window on the way, asleep minutes before each shot was needed and then in the end came out looking a little green in all the pics.  So the whole idea of this was just a tad overwhelming.

But of course I would do it.

So the orders began.  Colors were chosen, a date, time and location were set, clothing was bought, and a phone call was made.  A great friend was called on to help out with the shots that included me.  I was all for setting things up, posing the troops and taking what I was NOT in, and doing the final edits...but to only be able to take one shot at a time on a 10 second delay or even remote (when I was in the shots), just wasn't happening.  And she rocked it.  Thanks Bran.

The edits took me awhile to actually get to.  When it's your family and own "personal" work it tends to get put on the back burner.  And I've been a little consumed with other projects this last month.  But I promised myself I would get them completed - so here they are.

We have a large family.

We have a close family.

We shared rooms - long after most didn't.

We vacationed in a very large van.

We ate out at McDonald's...and not very often.
We didn't get allowance, we had a job jar.

We always ate dinner together.

We had to answer the phone a certain way (Hello, Finkel residence....)

We learned from each other (what to do and what NOT to do).

We grew up together.

We have a large family.

We have a close family.

We are loud (and getting louder with each kid that is born).

We sing and dance to Copacabana like no other.

We play games...lots of games.

We have fun.

We like to talk...sometimes a little too much.

We love margaritas.

We argue.

We disagree.

We have HUGE, marathon, Christmases.

We absolutely CHERISH what family means.

We have a large family.

We have a close family.

....And I LOVE IT.

The Originals.

From Oldest to Youngest.

The Garner Family.

The Finkel Family.

The Franks Family.

The Finkel Family.

The Sorhus Family.

The Grandkids (to Mom & Dad).

The Nieces & Nephews (to the "kids").

The Cousins (to each other). 

Can you guess who they all adore??

The Oldest (all born within (almost) 1 year of each other).

This is where I come from.

This is my family.