Happy New Year!!

This copied from in(courage)
I was hoping to print these off and share them with our New Yers Eve guests but alas my printer is out of ink....again!! They should just give the printers away for how often you spend $$ on ink. But I digress.

20 Questions for a New Year’s Eve Reflection

1. What was the single best thing that happened this past year?
2. What was the single most challenging thing that happened?
3. What was an unexpected joy this past year?
4. What was an unexpected obstacle?
5. Pick three words to describe 2010.
6. Pick three words your spouse would use to describe your 2010 (don’t ask them; guess based on how you think your spouse sees you).
7. Pick three words your spouse would use to describe their 2010 (again, without asking).
8. What were the best books you read this year?
9. With whom were your most valuable relationships?
10. What was your biggest personal change from January to December of this past year?
11. In what way(s) did you grow emotionally?
12. In what way(s) did you grow spiritually?
13. In what way(s) did you grow physically?
14. In what way(s) did you grow in your relationships with others?
15. What was the most enjoyable part of your work (both professionally and at home)?
16. What was the most challenging part of your work (both professionally and at home)?
17. What was your single biggest time waster in your life this past year?
18. What was the best way you used your time this past year?
19. What was biggest thing you learned this past year?
20. Create a phrase or statement that describes 2010 for you.

I am still contemplating most of these reflection but as I look back over 2010 I feel it was a year of success - my photography business continues to grow and the pilot project I am in charge of with SHR has been tremendously successful. I have a new grand baby who is healthy and happy. 
On the challenging things, I am tired and likely taking on way too much in my life the result being a few health challenges this year and I truely dislike it when my lack of health gets i the way of my crazy busy life. :) However, that being said, I am thankful to BE healthy, to be able to continue to be productive and to be able to love the people around me.
There were several trips with the love of my life this year and for that I am very thankful.
Biggest personal change - health concerns can draw you closer to God and cause you to rely on Him a whole lot more - and I am. Thank you Father!
Single biggest time waster. LOL I NEVER waste time!!  okay biggest time waster is the 20 minute commute to and from work. And I can't change that.I am learning to be a more patient driver.
A phrase that describes 2010 for me? Productive - a lot was done, a lot accomplished.

So what phrase or statement or even word best describes 2010 for you.

AT&T Don't Text While Driving Documentary

Moo.com

I have to tell you about Moo.com
I discovered the them over a year ago an have ordered products four times now. Every time I am blown away with the quality and service. You have to feel their cards  - super nice!

Moo makes my business cards, my little thank you tags, tags for wedding gifts. Just anything you want to put a photo on, Moo can do it.

My last bride bought the Moo mini cards with an engagement photo on one side and a thank you note on the other. Then she attached them to a little gift for each person. It was elegant, personal and very very classy.

I am always amazed with the ideas.
Imagine putting your photos on stickers - what a great idea for kids.
I have put a link on the right.
Go ahead have a visit.
You will be amazed.

And then let me know what you think. 

On another note but still related to photography, I am starting up the old 365 again. I have been putting a few shots up there for the past month but starting January 1, 2011 (is it 2011???) I will be posting according to my own very stringent rules - a photo a day!! Taken on THAT day. So bookmark it or put it in your Google Reader and see what I come up with every day. :)

D'Arcy and Jessica

Last Sundays winter wedding photography.

Handels Messiah

I tell ya I just can't get enough of the Hallelujah chorus from Handels Messiah!!



An even better version is here.

Christmas at our house and other musing...

It was a crazy, crazy week and I am not sure if I slept. It is a good thing I am happy spending endless hours on my MAC.
It began with a wedding shoot last Sunday 


That long, fun and busy busy day was followed by  a turkey dinner with all the trimmings for 12 people Monday evening. Mark was home for "Christmas" but just a tad early since he had to return to Thompson to work Christmas eve and day. Such is the life of a fireman! So we celebrated with family and friends on Monday.

Tuesday was a marathon of wedding photo editing, and a little more entertaining and fun.
It was Allison's birthday - so more food, cake, goodies and celebration.

Wed and Thur were two very busy days of work - the kind I put my health care cap on for - not the computer photo editing kind.

Friday was recovery day and another marathon of photo editing. ..I can easily stay up into the wee hours playing in Lightroom because I love it!

Saturday was Christmas with family that are here. Eva did not seem to comprehend the significance of all the food and gifts and revelry however she did appreciate the Christmas tree lights.

 It is not hard to fill the on line kids gap shopping basket for this cutie!!!

I got a little unexpected something from my sweetheart....... and we agreed no surprises but the best part of that yearly agreement is we both know that I will keep to the agreement and he will not. (BIG grin) he spoils me and I love it!

 Eva thinks she can read and grandpa can't turn the pages fast enough. She LOVES books just like her Mommy.

Christmas day dinner was a tad slower paced then Monday..phew...and Eva slept through it. What a well behaved child!

 Eva's first Christmas family portrait.... she is learning to smile for the camera.
...or does she just think grandma  looks like a big black lens....

Tryptophan(sp?) kicking in.......?

Today has been a little fellowship with the saints, a little entertaining good friends for lunch and a whole lot of fixin the MAC.

Not that it is broke, but I hit 200GB in my photography "work" file and the MAC said enough already. It started acting like it had tryptophan too!!

It's all those slide shows I made you people. :)  okay and a full format sensor and a 21 mp camera and a few weddings..... So I have put the work file on an external hard drive and decided three years is the max I will save my clients photo shoots. Just no room especially shooting 1000 wedding photos in RAW. But do you know how long it takes to transfer 200GB?

And so ends another wonderful Christmas - busy as ever but I wouldn't have it any other way..... although I am looking forward to a boring January.... and another wedding shoot :)

Another Christmas Story

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Jessica and D'Arcy

What a beautiful couple. In every way. The love was permeating the air.
What a joy to be able to capture their special moments on their winter wedding day.

A Christmas Story

starring the Cortens clan....

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Eva Sophia

A few more photos of our sweetheart.....

need a Title

Need your help.
Took this photo last year in South Carolina. On this particular beach, a storm and changing tidal patters I think had removed a lot of sand and soil and caused severe erosion.

Sp what would you title this photo?
I am stuck.

 

"Naked" I am liking that one so far. But keep the ideas coming. This is great. 

Did anyone notice the kite stuck in the tree behind the "naked" tree?

Merry Christmas

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From all my guys!

Great Grandparents

Click here to view this photo book larger

Tanis and "Hee"

BIG smiles from me...

EVA Photo Time

Got all the photo gear out Sunday afternoon and did a photo shoot with Eva!!

who has apparently found her hands..... too cute.

Now tell me this girl is not the spittin image of her daddy!!
Go ahead.
She's got that look down pat.
You know that..... "have you read any DA Carson lately....." kind of look.

Before Sunrise

To learn the magic of light, get up before sunrise...and watch. - Ted Grant 

When you photograph a man in color, you photograph his clothes. When you photograph a man in B&W, you photograph his soul. - Ted Grant 

Stay tuned.

When I have a chance (oh man am I busy!!) I have to tell you about meeting Ted Grant!!!

For and hour and 20 minutes!!

Merry Christmas

from the Cortens gang!

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

I am the one behind the camera.....

Christmas Food Court - Hallelujah Chorus

Hallelujah! Love this! Wish I was there!

God is less interested in answering our questions than in other things: securing our allegiance, establishing our faith, nurturing a desire for holiness. —D.A. Carson

Monday's shots

Some photos of Monday...we are just hanging by the pool, walking the beach, gaining weight, getting fat and lazy.....it all ends soon. sigh!



Our pool routine starts with towels, suntan lotion, books and mags, the camera gear and a jug of guava/pineapple/coconut/orange juice with ice and lime poured into some pretty pool approved plastic glasses. ahhhhh

and pistachios.....you can NOT spend a few hrs at the pool without them!!

He is on his third novel. He would be on his fifth but the work laptop and conference calls are eating up reading time.......
So while he "works" I play with my camera. Our condo is the one on the rt. 13th floor in the middle. We see the sun rise off the back deck and the sun set off the lanai. And this week we see the full moon over the ocean every morning. Thankful.

I am missing my MAC. This Dell PC of my husbands is, well, VERY slow. I have had to fix it in safe mode 4 times - no virus but having to revert to previous settings. I get Internet Explorer "NOT RESPONDING" messages every time I change anything, open anything or scroll down when posting and spell check in Google is not working. But then again I am on holidays so what's my hurry?
Time for an overhaul.... or a Mac book. :)
Please ignore spelling mistakes.

HOW ABOUT THEM RIDERS!!
We missed the game, but got updates via texts from home. Looking forward to Sunday's Grey Cup.

Some beach shots from Saturday

if you click on the photo and zoom in you can see all the glorious details of an ocean wave hittig the shore

It was a lazy day and that is what vacations are for.

I know, I know, I was up at 5am getting full moon shots and the sunrise, but for obsessive photographer types that is also what vacatons are about. Sunrise and sunset - best light for photos!

It was extremely hot on the beach so we only lasted 3 hours. We did get a dip in the salty ocean - the waves are quite strong this time of year so it was fun getting tossed around - almost lost my bathing suit bottoms. Seriously - had to hang on to them - time to get out!!

It was fun watching the younger, fitter ones, play in the waves.

Spent the rest of the day lounging on the lanai and reading.

... a mai-tai, a photo pro mag on an Hawaiian beach with the man of your dreams... it just doesn't get much better!

another photo worth blowing up to see the details.

 On Vacation  (this is not us btw - just  playing with the 70-200)