Validation and Gratitude: A Blogging Award

January 28, 2013 by LB

Entering the world of WordPress 7 months ago was exciting, a bit overwhelming, and ultimately a blast! Writing this blog has been a way to share the story behind the photographs that I take and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it. Even more, I have loved reading and viewing so many of your blogs and have learned much from you – about photography, food, books, travel and life in general.

I am still very new to this process though. I just learned how to use my Reader a month ago, for goodness sake! So of course, I’ve read blogs that have been nominated for awards, but an award seemed incomprehensible to me. After all, I’ve just been happy to have people “like” a post that I write. To receive a comment? Even better!

When one of my favorite bloggers nominated me for the Blog of the Year Award 2012, I was thrilled. I mean there I was, avidly reading JG’s latest post in Map of Time / A Trip Into The Past and saw that my very own blog had been mentioned.

WOW! Someone likes what I am doing! How very, very cool!

Thank you, JG! You made my day! I have loved reading your blog and learning more about history and the individuals who make it. I look forward to each and every post. http://jgburdette.wordpress.com/

FIRST! The Rules

Blog of the Year Award 1 star jpeg

The ‘rules’ for this award are simple:

1 Select the blog(s) you think deserve the ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award

2 Write a blog post and tell us about the blog(s) you have chosen – there’s no minimum or maximum number of blogs required – and ‘present’ them with their award.

3 Please include a link back to this page ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award – http://thethoughtpalette.co.uk/our-awards/blog-of-the-year-2012-award/ and include these ‘rules’ in your post (please don’t alter the rules or the badges!)

4 Let the blog(s) you have chosen know that you have given them this award and share the ‘rules’ with them

5 You can now also join our Facebook group – click ‘like’ on this page ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award Facebook group and then you can share your blog with an even wider audience

6 As a winner of the award – please add a link back to the blog that presented you with the award – and then proudly display the award on your blog and sidebar … and start collecting stars…

SECOND! The Nominations (so many wonderful blogs to choose from!)

I follow several photography blogs but I am gradually expanding my list of blogs about travel, food, and life.

Photographers whose work I love to view:

1. http://hikingphoto.com/ – Canadian Hiking Photography

2. http://giddysap.wordpress.com/– Quirk’n It

3. http://smithiesshutter.wordpress.com/ – Life, Photography & Other Mistakes

4. http://thehourofsoftlight.wordpress.com/ – the hour of soft light …

Writers whose posts I love to read:

1. http://jgburdette.wordpress.com/ – JG Burdette, a great teller of the stories in history

2. http://maesday.wordpress.com/– a story of family and friendship

The Early Morning Colors of Winter

January 26, 2013 by LB

While I didn’t really want to be up and on the road to Charlottesville at 6:30 am for a professional meeting, the views and colors along the way were beautifully subtle.

As I traveled farther down the road, the sun gradually came up and the colors became brighter.

Adding a soft focus to this photo really highlighted the red.

The colors of the cows added to the palette.

But my favorite colors of the day were those found in this tranquil farm scene … the smoke from the chimney, the fog over the mountain, the barely rising sun against the brown of the trees and the white of the snow … just lovely!

Do you Tweet?

January 25, 2013 by LB

The Daily Post recently published two compelling posts about Twitter and I started wondering if I should venture further into the Twitter world.

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/01/22/twitter/

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/01/23/social-media/#more-13476

I took my initial steps several years ago in an effort to follow the Virginia Tech Hokies at their annual bowl game (one of the longest bowl streaks in college football). Other than an occasional update via email, I had not looked at Twitter since that time.

These two posts have me considering social media as more than Facebook.

I’d love to know what you all think – especially other photographers.

Comments very much appreciated!!

A Different Take on the Setting Sun

January 23, 2013 by LB

The sunset was stunning tonight and so of course I pulled over to take shots of the horizon. The resulting photos were pretty enough, but they just did not do justice to what mother nature had put on display.

On the other hand, the view through this overgrown bush outside my office (that I’d seen before I headed home), put a whole different perspective on the sinking sun.

In fact, I loved the way the bright light darkened the leaves

Kinda cool, don’t you think?

Perhaps kinda hot is a better descriptive.

The Remains of the Tree

January 20, 2013 by LB

No doubt this snowfall was beautiful, and 3 days later the snow is still on the ground because of the cold temperatures – a bit unusual for SWVA. It was a wet dense snow and it definitely took it’s toll. Both trees and power lines came down, leaving many without power.

One medium sized pine fell across my driveway and the wood is now stacked up and ready for use. Something about the sun on the wood that next morning caught my eye …

Don’t Be a Hater of Snow

January 18, 2013 by LB

I know, I know … snow can be an inconvenience, and yes, even dangerous.

Still, I just can’t help but love it!

It brings out the child in all of us (and boy, did it bring out the child in me and my friends last night – but that’s another story!).

The beauty of snow is almost overwhelming.

Snow in Southwest Virginia – Finally!!!!

January 17, 2013 by LB

Enjoy! In a few years, we’ll be saying “Remember when it used to snow”?

My First “Real” Photography Gig!

January 14, 2013 by LB

This past weekend I photographed my first wedding! Not as a pro, mind you, but as a favor to a dear friend, the mother of the groom.

This wedding came up suddenly and I readily agreed to do it. Yet almost as soon as I said yes I began to worry. Not only had I never photographed a wedding before, I would not necessarily be the one you would want. I’m not a “traditional” person in life or in my photography … some of the typical wedding shots would just not be my thing. I rather prefer candid shots and more artistic ones. In addition, I don’t use (or own – YET) a DSLR. Finally, and most importantly, I wanted my friend to be happy!

Thankfully, I only had 7 days to stress it and I talked to some professional photographer friends before hand to get some hints. I came home after shooting for 5 hours, was pretty beat and after viewing the pictures, was not pleased. In the light of day and after a good night’s sleep, I felt much better about them.

It was quite an experience and I had such a good time, even though it was WORK! I have much to learn about this type of photography (not that I plan to do this for a living). I’m only sharing a few (for privacy purposes) but am happily including several shots of the location – along side a creek in Giles County, Virginia. The water was so still and the reflections on the surface were incredibly clear.

Shootin’ In the Fog?

January 12, 2013 by LB

The trees were back lit by the street lights and their silhouettes were not completely shrouded by the fog. It was so cool and kinda spooky looking that I stopped several times on the way home to take pictures …

and it’s quite obvious that I don’t have a clue how to shoot in the fog!!