Wednesday, October 19, 2011

#3days of Exploring God's Creation - Day 19 - Take Time 2 Take Pictures


The #31days of . . . series is brought to you by a handful of awesome bloggers including:
Nester of "Nesting Place"  and  Darcy of "My3boybarians"  
Thankfully, this year they've opened it up for others to join in on the month long challenge. 

Day #19 - Take Time 2 Take Pictures 
You won't be sorry you did! 

Now, I am not a professional photographer. I don't claim to be. I've had no formal training at all
I have no fancy equipment- just an old point and shoot that I picked up on clearance. It has served me
very well! I've been able to capture pictures for local magazines and newspapers which have to be blown
up to gargantuan proportions - all with my little Sony cyber-shot with its 8.1 mega pixels. 

I love my pictures. I realize they are not "award winning photos", but each and every one of them 
represent to me - a moment in time where I stopped to focus and really "take in" the subject matter. 


  
We were late to church on this day, but I just had to turn around and stop 
on the side of the road, with my boys, to appreciate the majesty of the Bald Eagle. 

 
The tree and the sky could NOT have been better! Isn't he a beauty? 
We were "giddy happy" when we finally pulled away that day! (sorry Pastor)
But, we still talk about it every time we drive by that old tree!

This picture below, was taken at the Creation Museum in Kentucky 
I took many pictures that day, and we had a wonderful time together. But, I was plain
awe-struck when I saw these bright and beautiful tulips. They serve as a reminder of the
time we spent walking in the garden at the museum and the entire experience. 

 

A pro can point out everything wrong with my pictures. There's too much light. It's the wrong time of
day to be shooting outside. . . . but I wasn't scheduling a photo shoot. I don't follow all the rules. I don't 
even know them. 

That is not the point of this article. If you want photography tips, you must visit Darcy from
  "My3boybarians" - she is currently doing a #31days of Photo Tips  - What I'm getting at is the act of stopping a moment in time, with a photo. 

It may sound a little sappy; but I am a little sappy! I have given cameras to all our boys for them 
to do the same. One of the cameras we even found in the woods on a family camping trip- with a new
card, it worked perfectly well. They enjoy their binoculars too- they serve practically the same purpose.

~ Observation. Appreciation. Capturing the moment. ~

We aren't just walking through the garden, you see. We are stopping - and taking the time, caring and appreciating creation enough to look closely, photograph it, sketch it, see it with binoculars.

 I love to look back at our pictures and discuss the time we had. We enjoy taking photos we've shot
and making entire unit studies out of them! When you see something through the lens, you are making
a closer, more careful observation. For me, it automatically gives a deeper appreciation for the thing.
Any scrapbooker can tell you that when you begin to photograph life- it changes your perspective. 

 
This photo is more than 2 years old. Yet, it brings that day back to me so clearly.

It was taken on a family "hike" in the Bernheim Forest. It was the first time in several months that we
were all in the same state and walking in the woods was the perfect way for us to connect to each other
and share special family time! The photo isn't perfectly clear. The sky is washed out in the background.
But, I was struck by the orange glow of this tree in early Fall, and it brings back the beauty of the 
memory itself. 

Isaiah 55:12

"You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills 
will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands."

I know many of you have seen this tree before, but it's my absolute favorite Fall photo
So far!



Job 35: 11

"Who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth, 
and makes us wiser than the fowls of heaven." 


Thank you for visiting! Y'all come back now- ya hear?

Other #31dayers I think you'll enjoy:

 Mandy- Biblical Homemaking            Heathalee-ButterflyGenes:           

                      

Melanie- Only A Breath             Amy- Missional Mamas Soul

         


Amanda-ImpressYourKids:             Coleen-MuralMakerandMore:

Photobucket                               31-days 

8 comments:

Jill said...

Oh Kelli! These photos are all beautiful! I have a cyber shot too and I love it. I only wish it had a better zoom but I'm pretty happy with it too. I don't know/follow any rules either! :)

Hodgepodgemom said...

Those photos of the eagle are amazing! You have wonderful talent. ~Tricia

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

Your pictures are truly amazing!

MJ said...

What an wonderful time you had! The photos are gorgeous and in Ansel Adams words
"There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs."

Perfectly said I think :). And camping sounds terrific!!
Lets talk more about it!
xoxo

Unknown said...

Absolutely stunning! Wow! If I could take pics like those I wouldn't paint so much. Huh - maybe God knows what he's doing . . . ya think, lol!

Donetta said...

These pictures are GORGEOUS! I want one of those trees in my yard! :) LOVE them! And what an amazing capture of that eagle! WOW!

I totally love this post! I'm all about taking pictures every opportunity I get! ;)

Sheri said...

What amazing photos! The bald eagle is just beautiful.

Amy said...

What amazing photos!