sweat for feathers

This summer has been pretty fast moving. It crept up on my very quickly and I am already behind in photo processing. I am not sure how it happens but it does.

Yesterday a friend and fellow photographer and I were out scouting some areas for family sessions and it was getting late. She was running low on gas and we were headed through a beautiful area in north Mesa, La Sendas when we saw a flash in front of the headlights. A bird had swooped square in front of the car's path. We didn't hear anything but I felt compelled to stop and make sure that we didn't have a squashed bird pressed against the front bumper. My dear friend opted to wait in the car while I carried out this task.

As I got out of the car I prepared myself for a grim flattened bird. Breathing deeply and wiping sweat from my brow I crouched down to have a look. The sun was now behind the mountains and almost all light was dimmed. I went to take a closer look at the radiator grill area and found the wing. It was pinned flat against the radiator. I grabbed a stick to try and knock out the birdie body and it began flapping frantically around. I was beginning to feel like John Lithgow from 'Harry and The Hendersons' with an animal I thought was dead then come to find it is very much not.

This poor bird was stuck in her car. It was trapped between the radiator and the bumper front fender plastic stuff. I jumped back and squealed that ' It's NOT DEAD!!!' The bird was in fact very much alive and not happy at it's current location. We couldn't stop laughing as this poor bird would not come close to one of the holes that would be it's escape back to freedom. Then the worst happened. A truck began to slow down, make a turn and pull in behind us. Not that we weren't grateful that some one had stopped but with these circumstances we were embarrassed for anyone to stop to 'help'. The gentleman clearly thought that we were crazy but proceeded to try and help us to the best of his ability. After something about not wanting to get aviary bird flu or something to that affect he suggested to leave it in there and just drive home if it was still there then it would come out when it was ready. We had about 10-15 miles to drive and really didn't want it in there any longer than it had to be. We thanked him and decided to get in and slowly drive to get gas.

At the gas station we tried again with objects to get the still very alive bird out of the grill. Having more light we quickly grabbed our camera phones to text pics to our hubbies.


With one touch the bird quickly jumped onto the bumper area and sat there heaving. The poor thing wasn't flying 35 miles an hour on its own it was being pushed. I couldn't control this bird and then it made it's mind to finally get out... almost. It heaved sitting there long enough for me to grab my camera and take these pictures.





After about as long as it takes to pump 16 gallons of gas I was ready for air conditioning and the bird to be free. I took a paper towel and tapped the back feathers and off it flew to a tree. The bird was safe... as safe as a bird in the wild can be. Or at least it wasn't in the car any longer. We had gas in the car again so the air conditioning was now on at full blast. Thank goodness for air conditioning.






These photos however were taken before the incident. This is a Cactus Wren. She was so pretty sitting there protecting her nest. I still can't believe that she was literally standing on that jumping cactus. No post production enhancements to color were made. Just sharpening and contrast bump for web. Gotta love AZ sunsets.

Commercial work begins

Working on some commercial work lately and it is so different from portrait sessions. Shooting a building or an object and making it look interesting is more difficult than becoming friends with a client to get a natural smile. It is more of a challenge and I love a challenge.

Here are some photos of random items I have recently seen through the lense.

Busy day

So we have had some active days recently and my camera is getting used. Not just the normal things like silly faces and moments to remember but really fun things. We had a litter of kittens born in our back yard under our rosemary bush a few months ago. Bet those kittys smelled wonderful, so I tried not to let the kiddos in the yard too much unattended. Every time we would venture outside the mom would take off. Leaving the kittens mewing loudly... my children would have loved to keep one I assure you. So to keep love wants from happening I just tried to avoid it as much as possible. Since we hadn't been out there much we had neglected the yard a touch.... to say the least. The weather has been so nice that this past week and being that the family of kitties has moved on we started working on the yard. The weeds are gone. The rocks raked. Yes I know I know why on earth would you have rocks in your yard let alone rake them... we live in AZ where like most of the west coast there is a drought. Mind you everyone and their monkey has a pool here.... go figure. And the yard mo...
ok so while I was getting ready to mow the weeds we found a broken sprinkler head. Now we are renting our place but a broken sprinkler head is hardly a need to call the landlord. So off to Wmrt to get a new one. Looked for 1 hour. Found someone who said that 'they were here. last week saw em here.' well after that they were gone. Went and researched the areas in the store where he said that they could be. Nope. Back outside. Lemme call 'leon' yup they were here but now they are here.... 100 feet away and we didn't see em. There are now only 4 of them and all 4 have no innards. The springy thing is there but I need all of it. Hummmm maybe this would work. Can I get it anyway. He checks but it is out of the system. I'll give it to ya. Um thanks? is this wrong? Well I had to get other stuff. Went inside then came back and they were closed. I totally forgot that the inside stays open but the garden section closes around 9pm. Oh well. I went to the register and the nice lady charged me a buck. Alrighty. Back to the yard. So this sprinkler that is broken I look to see if the kids ran it over with a truck or the youngest beat it with his shovel. Nope it jammed and the force of the water pressure blew it to pieces. It literally was broken from the inside out. I took it apart then used the cap and some other pieces and crossed my fingers. No my yard is very pretty normally but after this kitty/broken sprinkler there has been a serious lack of water in large patches and overgrowth where the water would probably shoot out like a fountain. Since I wasn't going out much I never saw... and it goes off at 5am.... for the birds not me. The head is fixed tested and passed! Now to start weeding and mowing. . . WAIT!!!!! There are praying mantis EVERYWHERE! I must save them all. (here is where the normal person would laugh or look at me like I am totally weird. Well I am weird. I love saving creatures in the wild/my messy backyard. so you may proceed to scoff at my crazyness. My hubby does.) Ok so the sun is quickly setting .... or not so quickly but hubby is working hard and keeps glaring my way when he sees me trying to catch a mantis and set it free. I grab the edger/weed eater to some and begin working frantically on a corner of the yard where there is little mantis growth. I soon finish that area and mow a portion of the yard. Ahh hah daughter got caterpillars for Christmas and they had a cool tent pavilion thing that I can put the mantis in. Running to the room I jump over toys elated that I can watch them for a bit. After arriving back outside with the 'mantis pavilion' hubby again looks at me in amazement at my insanity. Within 10 minutes I had 5 mantis from 1/2 inch to 3 inches in the net. HEE HEE this is so fun. Well I had to keep mowing to keep him happy so I would wack down some grass with the eater then I would catch more... 10, 11, 12 and he just kept staring. I kept calling myself crazy for catching these cool creatures and then said I was done as I picked up 15, 16, 17 and this went on for a bit. So then I was getting ready to do something and my loving hubby stated that 'you can't save them all hun. I think that you did great. Let the rest just survive.' UM no praying mantis has a fighting chance against an electric lawn mower!!! I was on all fours trying to save these little monsters in the grass bidding for daughters help while daddy got the mower going again. AAAAHHHHH STOP. this is a big one. And I quickly grabbed one before it got in the way of where he was mowing. He again had the look of ' what did I marry??@??@?@?' ok so by the time it was all done I had saved over 27 in the net 10 or so were put on other plants too. Then came the funny sad part... what was I going to do with these little monsters? As we sat there watching them . . . wait what is that one doing??? Eating another mantis!!! The largest mantis had another in its claws happily eating as the front of its dinner was trying to run away. The poor thing. Well hubby reminded us that mantis get big by eating lots of protein. And what are smaller mantis... protein. I grabbed the phone and began calling anyone in the area with a possible active garden. I found a few but by the time I was ready to leave for the evening it was late and I had one option. We proceeded over to their home where the two youngest girlies (under 6) were happily awaiting their new residents. They had never seen or held a mantis so I helped them to their new pets. They were so cute! They wanted to hold every one that came out of the tent. So after a bit of coaxing we got all but one mantis out and into their garden. Hopefully they will keep the garden clean of little monsters. The last mantis went to my grandpas house to live on his grape vines. I thought that it would be a perfect home since I have never seen one I hope to see more now... it was a fairly large one. I took some photos of them... have to put them up soon. So if you were wondering where I have been that was just one day.

procrastination

This has been a busy week. Not with photography. I really wish that it had but with other crafty things. I will put it this way. Thursday cupcakes for SIL birthday, also Thursday tiered cake for friend/client then Friday more cupcakes for a client bridal shower, Saturday video taping a family friends wedding activities. I am kinda weird because I thrive on stressful or fast paced situations.

I actually did a tiny test on myself in high school. The middle of the year was encroaching and I was curious as to whether or not I would score better under pressure in a procrastinating-scramble-to-get-the-work-done state or in a organized and timely study-prepare-rough draft-revise-final thing. So I knew what the assignment was and I had 6 weeks to turn it in with all of the drafts and the information gathered yadda yadda. When I handed in the assignment that had been finished for more than a week I felt unsure about it. I knew that I had rewritten it so many times that I wasn't sure if it was my best work. B.
Then came a similar assignment just different semester. Well this one I decided to tackle like I normally did my work. Procrastinate. I waited till the week it was due... I did read the book and did research like in the first case I just didn't start working on actual product till the week of. I stayed up all night typing on my computer that didn't even have the internet yet. It could have I guess being dial-up had I actually had a long enough phone cord. Any way. The night before I stayed up typing the final draft until 4 am and I had an A-hour class and got one hour of sleep. A+ with extra credit essay question answered. Ever since this little experiment I try to keep on top of things without getting so behind that I procrastinate. For some reason as an adult procrastination isn't as easily marked. So when I grew up and had kids and started a business the whole thing went out the window. Under extreme pressure I still function well though I have learned to try and organize some things better though. My kids are not a thing I can procrastinate on, photography again not something that can be procrastinated on, crafty things though.... I perhaps procrastinate a tincy too much. Yup I have a shelf full of items that would love to be finished.

networking

So as I peruse through other awesome blogs I feel inclined to leave a comment on the photos that strike my fancy. When reality hits I am only allowing myself to sit at the computer not being 'productive'in my sweet hubby's terms for half an hour sometimes a bit more a day. I have to justify sitting infront of the computer when the kids are busy with playdoh or crayons or in the back yard or crossed fingers napping... ya right mr m is 5 and miss e is almost 8 mr d is the only one who naps regularly. Off that and back to . . . I love being inspired by photography blogs lately I have fallen head over heals for Jasmine Star'sblog.
If you haven't seen it you simply MUST. She has this presence that you can feel literally through her blog and her photography. I really do admire her. And she is a beautiful gal to top it off. Plus her hubby is her second shooter. Lucky!!! I would have to get a sitter to watch my monsters. Scott is a good photographer when he thinks about it. He is a graphic designer so he has an eye for art. LOVE HIM!!!
Now I just need a second camera Mark II maybe (malicious grin) then he could come with me. I love it. Back to Jasmine you've got to check out her blog. Let me know what you think.

So just know that I am making my rounds very slowly these days and love to get emails or comments of awesome photography blogs. Then I'll link them here for others to share in the wealth.
Thanks for your comments.

love session J & A

This was a great session. Normally the guys get weird or self conscious. Not John. He had fun and looked comfortable. Angie was extremely sweet and beautiful. This dress was beautiful on her. The color was perfect against her skin. She was so natural we even had a mini flirt session. John loved that. These two have a summer wedding date. It's going to be gorgeous.

















You were great. Congratulations!

bitty C session

This session was supposed to be a itty bitty session but she grew. Mom would call 'she's sick' or we would go on vacation or life just happened. By the time we got this session going bitty was 6 months old! Holy moly time flies. She was soooo sweet. I love when they get drooly and their tongue is all over licking their gums. She was clearly teething. I think that catching the drool actually hang from her lip was the cutest thing. Not sure if mom liked it but I loved it so innocent. They are right when they say better late than never.





Thanks again mama c

welcome session

This session was so fun! I really enjoyed this family. All of them! There is this amazing couple that I know and they have been unable to conceive. So without telling everyone they went through the adoption process. About a month before they received this blessing they announced "we're having a baby!" they were glowing ok so daddy wasn't glowing but he was beaming. So excited for their special delivery they had their bags packed for the flight when they hoped to be there for the delivery. This wonderful woman had chosen them to be the parents of her precious child. About three weeks after they arrived home is when I come in. They asked if I could shoot the welcome shower. I was truly honored. The couple is amazing and they could easily be modles! Their little bitty is the sweetest thing around. She was alert and bright eyed till the very end. So sweet and all spoiled already. Who says you can spoil a baby? I don't think so.






Thank you again!

Bright glow session

This is one of the most awesome families there is. Mom bright is the sweetest. She was expecting number 5 and I had found out that she had never had a photo session while expecting. She was such a great sport! I loved this session. All of her bittys are sooo adorable. They all have these amazing eyes that just pierce the heart. Watch out boys... girls too (they have 2 handsome boys now) I am hoping to get to do another session with them all. Oh did I mention that mom and dad to these bitties are both gorgeous! You can see mama and two bittys here but haven't gotten daddy and 3 of the kiddos yet.

bitty K session

This baby was the sweetest to work with. Only weeks old and already full of those cute rolls. I love the hair! The nurses in the hospital gave her a faux hawk when they brought her to mama after some testing. How fun! Just a dreamy bitty.









Thanks again bitty blaus!