from the beach

I took these way back in August during our vacation to Virginia, but never got around to editing and sharing them until now.  These were all taken from the balcony in our hotel room on the first morning we were there.  It was raining, or else just had been.  But it was beautiful.

No idea who this guy is...He was technically "supposed" to be in the picture.  Tsk, tsk.

This was our complete view - so lovely.

Throwing in this shot of our railing here.  Love those raindrops.

which is your favorite?



By the way, thank you for your votes on my poll.  I'm currently planning some rather exciting posts for the coming week - tutorials, photos, perhaps even a photo challenge if I can get my act together.  And the answers to your questions, too.  Be sure to see below.

So long, lovelies!

-Hannah

i heart faces :: smirk

I wasn't exactly sure what to use as my entry for I Heart Faces this week, mainly because I wasn't entirely sure what one should consider a "smirk".  Here's how it's described...

A smirk refers to a smile evoking insolence, scorn, or offensive smugness. Whatever you think constitutes a “smirk” on someone’s face will be acceptable for this week’s challenge.

 I finally decided upon this one of Megan from the "pixie photo-shoot" I did with her a while back.  I rather think this pixie expression could be considered a smirk...It's definitely something:-)

Isn't she darling?  This photo makes me smile.  Like, real big.

Looking forward to seeing everyone's entries at I Heart Faces this week.  Do head on over!

scavenger hunt sunday

I'm joining my lovely friend Ashley of Ramblings and Photos for this week's Scavenger Hunt Sunday.  It's super-duper-fun, dear friends. You should definitely head on over and check it out.  Like, really.

wish/dream

I'm sure Kirby wished he could reach up and play with Megan's birthday balloons.  But alas, it was all for nought:-)  I love this shot - look at those whiskers!

clean

I love showers, mainly because of the exhilarating clean feeling one gets after taking one.  And I love our messy, wide selection of shampoos, too.  Although it's never fun when they all fall over on you.  Just sayin'.

currency

I took this pretty literally...sorry if you're falling asleep or something.  The main reason I wasn't thinking outside the box here was because I wanted to try "the plate trick" that I had learned from Louise.  I'm loving the clean, undetectable background that the plate gives.  Yay!

pair

My dirty, too-small, about-to-be-replaced pointe shoes.  I adore them.

square

I was looking around the house for something "square" to shoot, when my eyes fell on this.  A block on our whatever-you-call it.  Well, you know.  The thingy where you push the thingies on the thingies?  Never mind.

Which of these is your favorite?  I'd love to know!

lovely photo wednesday ~ sunkissed

My baby sister Megan turned eight last Saturday.

isn't she a beaut?

I'm uber-happy with the sunburst I captured here.  And I was in a "cross-processy" mood while editing these.  Loving it:-)

It's Lovely Photo Wednesday at Aspire today.  And guess what?  Things are a bit different this week.  As in, excitingly different.  Head on over to Hannah's to find out more...

I'm also linking up at Alicia's and 7 Clown Circus.

Have a really wonderful Wednesday, sweet friends!

i heart faces :: vroom, vroom!

I had some grand plans for incorporating a vehicle into this week's challenge, but, me being me, none of them ever came into being.  I'm still working on it.

I therefore had to resort to a shot from Stephen's birthday party on Labor Day weekend.  His brand new Playmobile motorcycle - definitely the best present, in his opinion.  It lit up, and it was a motorcycle, for goodness sake. 

He loved it like I would love it if some sweet person randomly decided to give me photoshop, a few new lenses, and an this camera bag.  (That's another way of saying a lot, just so ya know.)

The downside to the shot?  It was taken at 9pm, meaning a high ISO and not-so-great lighting.  Sigh...

But hey, when you have a cute three-year-old model by the name of Stephen, things like that don't really matter.

Nope, not at all.

More vehicle shots at I Heart Faces this week...

something beautiful - moi's entry

You'll remember from my last post that I'm helping to host the Something Beautiful photography contest held at the Bloom! Staff Blog.  You can read about it more and link up at my blog here.  Right now I'm linking up at Rachel's blog (another gal hosting) and posting my own entries for the contest. 

Flowers.  Ahhh, love these...

editing: just a slight boost in exposure, contrast, temp, etc.

editing: cropped, boosted in exposure, contrast, etc.

editing:  once again, just raises in coloring and contrast

editing: more basic adjustments, as well as my vivid sunlight recipe.

What do you think?

Which is your favorite?

And now - do come join the fun!  Just read through the rules on my last post, post your four flower shots, and leave your link here!  I'd love to have plenty of entries here on my blog for the Bloom! contest.  thanks so much ;)

wordless wednesday

I'm becoming well aquainted with these lovelies this week.

 I'm sure by next May we'll be getting on eachother's nerves mucho, but for now, I'm enjoy them a lot...

Wait, do pencils have nerves?  Never mind.

Do share your Wordless Wednesday photos at Hannah's and Alicia's today (just click)...

{I've decided to start doing Wordless Wednesdays here on my photography blog from now on.  It just seemed more...fitting:-) }

Does anyone else here adore new school supplies?

i heart faces :: beach fun!

This week's theme for I Heart Faces is "Beach". So I thought of this one of Megan from our trip to Virginia.  She was digging an epicly massive hole one day when she found this rock. 

 I love her wind-blown hair here.

More "Beach Fun" at I Heart Faces this week...

Those Sweet Candid Moments...

...Are often the very best ones.

  ♥I love these♥

.:Peach-Picking:.

Just a few "peach-picking" photos from a couple weeks ago, as my wowingly creative title states;-)  Our family usually goes to Eckerts every year to do this, and I had so much fun with my camera this time.  So many lovely photos were taken - these are a few favorites, even though I know it seems like a *lot*.  Just couldn't help myself!

Which one is your favorite?  I'd love to hear your thoughts!

I Heart Faces :: Gotta Wear Shades!

We're celebrating sunglasses at I Heart Faces this week - how fun of an idea is that?!  I don't have anything extremely amazing or unique for this week's challenge, but I do have plenty of lovelies in my folders that would qualify for the theme.  Looking back at our Virginia Beach vacation (which I really, really, really need to edit!) I found this one of my sweet Godfather...

Taken on the dolphin-watching cruise we went on - lots of fun! I love how you can see the reflection of the deck in his glasses:-)

Head over to I Heart Faces for more photos... 

And I'd love to hear your thoughts as well, my dears!

Kitty Paws

Kirby.  Sleeping.  On my bed.  With his little paws in the air.  I love it.

♥♥♥

My White-Chocolate Morning;-)

A few days ago my sweet dad went to Starbucks and bought the whole family drinks for breakfast (It was actually a kind of "reward" for a particularly hard flight back to St. Louis the day before...long story:-).

I got my absolute favorite coffee drink of all time (or at least, my favorite Starbucks drink), the lovely White Chocolate mocha.

Aside from being my favorite, this also happens to be the most expensive drink in the shop.  Which is saying something, as we're talking Starbucks.

Just my luck, right?

But complete with some delicious blueberry bread and a taste of CJ's cinnamon roll,

It was quite the white-chocolate morning!

♥my favorite shot of the day♥

{you're gonna have to excuse the sheer and utter randomness of this post.  It's about 11pm and I way need to get to bed...if you haven't noticed;-)  I just couldn't resist sharing these lovelies!}

What's your favorite coffee drink?