76/365

Chloe has been a really happy baby this week.

© Michelle Hines

75/365

The sun was lighting the trees beautifully this morning. I had to run and grab the camera. I know there must be a better way of catching this gorgeous morning light. Hopefully it will happen again on a weekend when I have time to explore it from more angles.

© Michelle Hines

74/365

We spent time in the nation's capital as well as in our state capital today. The sun came out this afternoon so we hopped on the metro and went to see the cherry blossoms. Peak bloom isn't for 3 more days but I couldn't tell. It was beautiful. I have lived in Maryland since the 3rd grade and today was the first time I saw the cherry blossoms.

I took a few digital photographs but for most of the day I shot with film. I am still working on landscapes for class.

Kate took this one of me. I am photographing the Washington Monument.

There was something different about this trip.... everyone and I mean everyone had a camera. Many of which were not simple point and shoot cameras. It was actually difficult to get from one place to another without having to stop and wait for someone to take their picture. In class we have been discussing the ways that digital imaging has changed photography and how widespread camera use has become but it is truly amazing when confronted with this phenomenon. At one point during the day Marine flew over (actually 2 of them, the one that held the president landed on the White House lawn, the other just flew away) and within seconds most of the cameras in the crowd were pointed up. What does it mean to the world of photo journalism? A newspaper or magazine can acquire the photos they need from anyone who was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time.

Kate also took this one of Patrick and I with the cherry blossoms behind us.

And this one of the cherry trees with the monument in the distance.

Half way around the tidal basin she gave me back the digital. I spent the rest of the afternoon with 2 cameras around my neck. Thankfully there are no pictures of that. The above is a quick shot of Kate at the FDR memorial. In all of the visits we have made to DC this was the first time we had seen the Jefferson and FDR memorials. Definitely worth the walk. I would love to go back and spend more time a the FDR memorial. It was very large with lots of little alcoves and water features.

After a wonderful time in DC we headed to Annapolis for dinner. I left the cameras in the car, big mistake, I missed some really cool shots. Like a colonial reenactor in costume riding a segway. I did grab this shot of the spire on St. Anne's Episcopal Church with the beautiful blue sky behind it on the drive in.

It was a wonderful day. After days and days of gloomy weather I was so thankful for the sunshine, warm temperatures and the opportunity spend the day outside!

© Michelle Hines

73/365

This weeks assignment is Landscapes. I watched the weather forecast all week and it looked like we were going to have a sunny day today. I was excited to have clear skies, fluffy clouds and some directional light. The weather man was of course wrong! It is dull and overcast today and it is suppose to rain or be gloomy all weekend. Since this class began I have not been able to buy a sunny day. All of my outdoor photos have been dull. I have already decided that I will just have to take photos in the rain this weekend. Maye if it is actually raining it might be more interesting than overcast photos are turning out to be. I just have to decide if it will be downtown Annapolis or the almost in bloom cherry blossoms in DC ... maybe both.
Here are some digital samples from today.

This one might actually work.

© Michelle Hines

72/365

Lilly is officially done with diapers!

A few weeks ago we went to Build A Bear and bought Stella, a pink monkey. We brought her home without stuffing her. All poor unstuffed Stella had on was a pair of big girl panties. She was Lilly's "potty buddy". I told Lilly that we could take Stella back to Build A Bear and stuff her when she was wearing big girl panties all the time too. Today Lilly got to stuff Stella and buy her a dress. This makes Lilly the 17th child I have taught to use the potty.

Our friend Meghan came with us. It was her first trip to Build A Bear...
I don't think it will be her last.

© Michelle Hines

71/365

Yummy! a chocolate dipped cone.


There is a little place near my home that serves these and some of the best foot long hot dogs on the planet. Ann's Dari Creme has been in business for 58 years. I can remember my Poppop loading the grandkids into the back of his station wagon, pre-seat belt/car seat laws, and taking us to get a dipped cone. There is a little counter with about 8 stools, a very short menu on the wall, the line is almost always out the door and the girls behind the counter do not write anything down. It is an amazing thing to see and taste!

© Michelle Hines

70/365

He steel brushed...



Dug holes...



Poured cement...




and now we finally have a clothesline!
By next weekend we will be able to hang our clothes out to dry!

© Michelle Hines

69/365

Yesterday I had a difficult time with the photos I took. I was using my 70-300mm to shoot my godson's flag football game. Unfortunately the game was played indoors and the lighting was low. Low light and slow shutter speeds produces blur. Having not purchased a speed light yet I was stuck with the on board flash and that wasn't much help. There were some salvageable shots and one really interesting blur.

© Michelle Hines

68/365

Mr Spoon


We generally use cloth napkins. A few weeks ago Matt, Kate's boyfriend, said that we should learn to fold them in interesting ways. Not long after that comment I found a napkin folding book on the bargain rack at the book store. I bought it. Mostly as a joke but it has become something we use when we have time. Matt made Mr. Spoon for last Friday night's dinner.

67/365

On the grill tonight....


a fire breathing dragon !

Looking through the photos of the fire tonight was like looking for shapes in the clouds. Can you see the dragon in this one?

© Michelle Hines

66/365

Have you ever wondered what a two year old would/could do with your camera? Lilly loves to take pictures with her camera or to pretend with an old camera so today I showed her how to use mine. The camera was in programmed mode so I think that the blurring was because the camera was heavy for her. She did a pretty good job. There were a few shots that she cut my head off but again I think it was from the weight of the camera.

Photos by Lilly :)

I would love to give her a real digital that she could easily handle and see what she does with it. The VTech kids digital is nice but the view finders do not line up with the lens making it difficult for her to get the object she is photographing in the shot.

© Michelle Hines

65/365

I decided on a paper sculpture and shot a roll of film tonight.Of course I took some digital shots too.


The object was to build a paper sculpture and shoot it under different lighting
situations on a dark background.

© Michelle Hines

64/365

Just a few quick snapshots.
Not my best photos but they do show what I have been up to.

Our next project is to create a paper sculpture and photograph it in different lightening situations. These are a few of the pieces of paper I was playing with last night. I am not sure I am happy with my "sculpture" pieces yet. I like the curves but unfortunately there are some crinkles in my paper. I will photograph them with my digital on a dark background tomorrow night and see if I like what I get.

© Michelle Hines

63/365

Let the shopping begin!

I can not share what I purchased but it is the first of what I know will be many adorable things for my grandbaby!

© Michelle Hines

62/365

Spring!

I love watching the world wake up. The photos below were taken this evening after work. I played with the aperture setting and flash until I got the background to look much darker then it was.


maple tree


weeping cherry tree



forsythia



japonica

© Michelle Hines

61/365

It was gloomy and looked like it would rain all day but it was 70 degrees! I decided the risk of being rained on was well worth some time outside at the park. Our local park is also a working farm. There is a wonderful play area and many paths to walk. After playing for more than an hour at the playground we went to see the animals.

Hungry piglets!

This guy was really strutting his stuff.

Yep you guessed it.... The Easter Bunny!

Mamma goat and her 2 little ones.
Last week these little guys were still to young to be out but today they were climbing the rocks and logs. There are 2 other little ones who were just recently weened. Lilly really liked one of them and the feeling was mutual. He followed her all along the fence.

and before I could stop her she kissed the goat ! I thought I was going to grab a shot of him looking at her through the fence. I am glad I had the camera at the ready.

Chloe watched it all from the stroller.

She did get down at the playground. She was very interested in the pine bark but surprisingly did not try to eat it.

© Michelle Hines