My life...just not on the road I expected (but it's still dang good).

Pumpkin Carving

We finally got around to carving out pumpkins last week. 

Not quite the same without Josh Downs around, but it was fun (and messy) all the same.

Annie made that bat-cat-hat at school (and I can't get enough of it.)

That's a witches broom.

And now it's her dance partner.

I don't know why, but I love that one (especially the blur of Shinand's wagging tail.)

I love that one too.

And the finished pumpkins...

A happy pumpkin.

A robot pumpkin.

And a pumpkin that never quite got finished.

Hope your Halloween is wonderful.

And if you're reading this Josh Downs...I'm not quite sure how I'm going to pull off all these holidays without you (but I promise to give it my best shot.)

Please Puppy-Dog

She calls it her, "Please Puppy-Dog Face" and wields it like the powerful weapon she knows it is...

No blogging for me the rest of the week. Feeling a bit under the weather and am buried with work so I'll catch you next week, hopefully with some Halloween-related shots to share.

And if you're reading this Josh Downs...I miss the way you rub my shoulders and simultaneously help me get everything back in perspective when I'm sitting at my computer, overwhelmed by work. (I could use that right now.)

His Birthday

As promised, Coley's birthday shots...

The party was at Ross's place. (That's Billy, Ross's roommate.)

And there's the birthday boy himself.

And Grandpa Tom carving the birthday boy's initials into a tree.

And yes, those two are still together. (Nice face Cali.)

And Ross, will you promise never wear that shirt again while I'm taking pictures?

I set up the birthday table and decorations at 1:00 p.m. in a great area of light.

By 3:00 p.m. though, the light was terrible (so I called on a little help from my family to help me hang a sheet to block the sun.)

Hey, at least I fessed up to it.

 

Thank goodness for that sheet or everyone's faces would have looked like Ross's.

I have a big can of pre-used birthday candles and Coley picked 11 blue ones for his cake. (Turns out there was one trick candle in the bunch that kept reigniting though.)

That one or Ross and Tate-r-ific make me laugh.

And so does that one.

And then there were gifts.

That's a survival kit from his dad.

And some military goggles he had been begging his dad to give him.

Nice face Courtney Lee.

Ross and Coley playing with Cole's new Halo MegaBloks.

There's a frog in those cute little cupped hands.

Nice face Peanut. (My dad made me promise I'd post that picture of his pup.)

Nice face Brad.

Nice gangsta signs too.

Oh, and that's a nice tummy you've got back there. (Thanks for sharing.)

And if you're reading this Josh Downs...I hope things go well with your event. (I know you can pull it off because you're amazing.)

Flying Trapeze Awesomeness

Every now and then I threaten to run away with the circus, but truth be told I've never had a talent that would qualify me for a life of circus entertainment (unless I quit taking steps to control my facial hair, in which case I'd make one heck of a bearded lady) until now...

 

An even more amazing feat?...I finally figured out how to add a video to my blog posts.

We (my sister, our family friend, Glendy and I) did this at the School of Acrobatics & New Circus Arts in Seattle last night. (None of us had done it before, but it was the funnest thing ever.)

If you live in the Seattle area or are visiting, you've got to check out this place. They're a non-profit group that will never turn away an kid based on their inability to pay. In fact, they've given away over $60,000 worth of tuition so far this year so they're a business that is totally worth supporting.

Glendy took the video and posted it to YouTube this morning (Thanks Glendy.) and she's responsible for the video title too (although I have to admit, it did feel like 'flying trapeze awesomeness.')

And if you're reading this Josh Downs...Are you proud?!?

Madi

The year Ross graduated, I got senior pictures of his best friend Dylan and I even managed to get pictures of his girlfriend, Cali (twice) but I never got any of Ross.

Initially, Ross was holding fast to the notion that senior pictures were lame and my attempts to convince him otherwise only deepened his conviction. By the end of the school year though, he had changed his tune and wanted me to take them, but for some reason it just never happened.

To resurrect my guilt, I took senior photos of Ross's girlfriend's little sister, Madi a couple of weeks ago...

Hope you love them Madi.

And if you're reading this Josh Downs...It's killing me knowing how homesick you are right now.

Paradise

I'm up visiting my sister up in Seattle right now.

I brought my computer with me so I could work during the day while she's gone and so Josh Downs and I could Skype. 

This morning while we were Skyping, I told him about the cute new shirt I bought last night with Jill, my best friend. (We've been best friends for almost 29 years now you know.) He asked me to show it to him, but I said I couldn't because I had left it out in my car. He told me he'd wait while I ran outside to get it so I threw on my sister's slippers and ran outside (still in my pajamas) to grab the shirt.

As I ran back towards the front door in the rain, I could hear my sister's earlier warning ring in my ear, "Don't be stupid and lock yourself out of the house while I'm at work Karen." 

And sure enough, I was locked out.

No cell phone and no shoes. Just me, my car keys, my pajamas and my fancy new shirt in a Macy's bag.

I quickly remembered that my sister hides a key in her backyard but as I stood on my tip toes, straining over the top of the fence to unlatch it from the inside, I realized that it was padlocked and that I was going to have to traverse the six foot fence.

Then I realized that Josh was probably getting worried about me so I ran to the front window, where I could see my computer and hollered, "Josh, I'm locked out of the house but I think I have a plan!"

So I pulled my car up next to the fence and made several embarrassingly unsuccessful attempts at climbing on top of the wet, slick hood of my car with nothing but the non-existant traction of my sister's slippers to aide me before finally making it over the fence only to stick my hand inside several cob-webby, rocky crevices looking for the spare key. Then I fumbled with my muddy fingers to unlock the back door and I ran back inside, straight to my computer where Josh Downs sat, waiting patiently  to see my new shirt.

After showing him my new shirt and laughing about getting locked out, we talked for awhile longer and then I told him about my favorite new song (You should click on this link to play it and then turn it up really loud and then come right back...I'll wait.) that I had been listening to over and over again all morning because it reminds me of him. He told me to play it for him so I played it as loud as the volume on my computer speakers could go while Josh Downs (blurred from a bad connection and with an O.S.U Beavers banner that I sent to him growing out of the top of his head) pretended to sing it to me all the way from Afghanistan.

And if you're reading this Josh Downs...Every time I close my eyes, I think of you. (Paradise.)

Making the Shot Issue Two; Low Light Shooting

About a year and a half ago, I released the first issue of Making the Shot to my past and current students (Making the Shot is a PDF + Audio lesson that covers advanced photography topics.) with the intention of releasing 3-4 issues per year.

Unfortunately though, it takes more than good intentions to write one of those issues so it wasn't until last week that I (finally) released Making the Shot Issue Two.

It's a 60 page issue devoted solely to how I shoot in low light situations without a flash and it's pretty good if I do say so myself. That said, I may be a little biased so I asked some of my students what they thought...

I've not quite finished reading the issue yet, but it really made a difference in my granddaughter's music program I went to last night. I have always used a zoom lens because my thinking was, I want to get close up shots as well as a wide angle of the whole stage. And because the widest aperture is 2.8, I had to crank up the ISO to the upper stratosphere to get enough light, and then I had poor photos due to all the noise. But after reading the first part of the lesson I realized I was approaching it all wrong, so I used my 50mm f1.2 and was able to shoot in the ISO 320 - 400 range. No noise, and I was even able to get the close up shots I'd hoped for. 

Anyone who has ever taken a class of Karen's knows that she is incapable of doing anything less than first class, super organized, completely detailed, easy to understand, fully illustrated, and she sneaks some humor in also. I am SO GLAD I got and read this issue because I do so much shooting in low light. It made a difference for me in the first week!

Nancy Boothe

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I am a new (in Jan) student at a probably novice level (with some understanding of ISO, Aperture and Exposure but still limited practice and shoot in auto and Aperture priority rather than full manual mode yet) and I love the course.  I am very keen to capture good shots of my kids in low light and have already learnt heaps and consolidated some of what I already knew.

I have only listened to an hour so far but have been able to do it whilst sweeping and even settling my 15 month old - so thanks for both the pdf with the pics and the audio!

Can't wait til Jan next year!

Kristy

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It is well worth the purchase.  You have such a talent in explaining things and you have covered so much I can't imagine the amount of work you put into this "Making the Shot"  I am spending time each day on reading everything so it really sinks in.  I have taken a few online photography classes and nothing has come even close to yours.  I am still learning from the original class I took from you and this really enhances that. We live in a very "dark" house (in terms of light for photography) so this issue is helping me immensely in thinking of ways to improve my picture taking.

 

Thanks for all you do!!!

 

Laura Stroebel

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Wow - Low Light shooting is EXACTLY what I've been waiting for!  Can't wait to get my D7000 in to the dark and practice what you are preaching.  You have outdone yourself Karen . . . can't wait till the forum opens so I can share what I'm learning.

Beth Phelps-Lambert

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I'm not quite done with the issue, but Karen, you are a genius at taking something and making  it so easy to understand.  This Making the Shot is great as both a refresher and an extension of your class.  Keep 'em coming!

Stephanie

http://dreamingladolcevita.blogspot.com 

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When I took your class, I thought I was already 'intermediate.' Pretty quickly, I realized how little I actually knew, but you gave me the tools to learn it all! Same with this issue. I really thought I knew what I was doing when it came to low light, but after reading this issue, I realize any success I had was pure luck. It is already helping me be more 'intentional' with my low light shooting, giving me better and more predictable results. I can honestly say that this shot would not exist had I not read your latest Making the Shot. 

At Universal Islands of Adventure, my daughter was sitting outside, eating dinner. As I sat with her, I was watching the light go down and looking around for opportunities. Because I was looking, I found the perfect photo. I conveniently showed her how great the view was on the lake and pointed out a bench that put her right where I wanted her! It was so simple, but brilliant. I am continually grateful for all you've taught in The Photographer's Workshop and both issues of Making the Shot. Your teaching has taken my photography to a place I didn't even think to take it. I am recording the history of my life and my family - memories and moments that would otherwise slip into the blur of a happy life. Thank you so much for sharing your gift of teaching and photography with us all!"

Marilou

http://mariloujaen.com

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Again, the issue is just available to past and current students of The Photographers' Workshop, but I wanted to post some details about it here since unfortunately, I have no way of contacting some of my past students since their email addresses have changed. (If you're a past student whose email address has changed since you took the workshop, be sure to log in at www.snapshotsofagoodlife.com to update your current email address by clicking on the label with the class dates of your workshop, selecting 'resources' and then 'update your profile.')

And if you're a past or current student who wants to purchase the issue, you just have to log onto the site, select 'go shopping' and then add the newest issue to your shopping cart. (I'm offering the issue in a PDF + Audio format or a PDF + Audio + a two week Q&A Forum related to the issue that starts on Monday, October 24th.)

And here's a few sample pages from the issue...

Hope you guys enjoy it.

And I had planned to get all of Coley's birthday shots posted this week, but alas, I think it's going to have to be next week.

And if you're reading this Josh Downs...As much as I love listening to you play that ukelele over Skype, I can't wait for your first live performance at home.

Eleven

Coley's eleven...

Won't be around the next few days, but I'll be back with the rest of the birthday photos on Wednesday or Thursday.

Hope your week is great.

And if you're reading this Josh Downs...I know you always win the staring contests, but it sure is fun anyhow.

The Very Rest of the Day

And then on Saturday, after the pumpkin patch, after breakfast at Morning Glory, after the park and after a trip to Barnes & Nobo's, my little nieces came over.

The girls played school most of the afternoon.

Apparently this one belongs in the nursery though.

And then we rented Diary of a Wimpy Kid and grabbed McDonald's.

And then the older girls read bedtime stories to the younger girls.

And then they listened to a recording of Josh Downs reading Frosty the Snowman.

And I wish that I could say that this perfect day had a perfect ending...but sometimes perfect days don't have perfect endings. (And this day ended in tears with a bunch of girls that were too scared to go to bed and an abundance of high-drama.)

Life I guess.

And if you're reading this Josh Downs...Just hearing your voice makes everything better.

The Rest of the Day

After the pumpkin patch, we headed to Morning Glory in Ashland. (My favorite breakfast place.)

Annie's too.

Actually, I think it might be everyone's favorite.

I've never played Angry Birds before, but apparently all of my kids have.

And then Roscoe-T drove us to the park.

I'm in love with that pretty little moment.

And then per Ross's request, we went to Barnes & Nobles (or as Annie calls it, Barnes & Nobo's.)

I actually don't think I've ever shot in Barns & Nobo's before (and it was quite fun.)

And someone asked where I got Coley's blue and gray striped shirt...Got it from Old Navy just a couple of days ago.

And if you're reading this Josh Downs...Turns out that I didn't need to worry myself trying to come up with option #4 after all because God was already working on option #4 for me and he decided to share it while I was reading this morning:

For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18