Seafood Festival

Last Sunday, my boyfriend and I headed off to the Safety Harbor Seafood Festival. It wasn't a large event but still quite fun nonetheless. You wouldn't believe how much I was craving seafood, so this festival was quite timely (or was my craving timely?). So first things first, I grabbed a plate. Although, I could have very well gone for the large fried seafood combo w/fries, I settled for grilled fish. I really wouldn't have minded the more sinful platter, but my conscience was poking me in the thighs. Either way, food is always better when someone else cooks it.

We stayed long enough to listen to the reggae band as they performed some well known songs. Seafood and music under the warm sun, what more can you ask for. The weather was absolutely perfect: mild with a slight breeze drifting through the crowded block. I was so at peace that day that I didn't even mind the drunk obnoxious middle age lady, sporting a mid drift t-shirt, speaking loudly just in case her friend sitting right next to her didn't hear her story. Quite entertaining.

Of course I brought the camera. See the evidence below.

I hope that's not blood!

After the Fog

Word of the Day

It was a few minutes of walking around the house aimlessly, before I spotted something I was interested enough to photograph. You would think that with all the senseless things bought at the whim of a materialistic urge there would be plenty of subject to entertain a photographer for hours on end. But indeed, that was not the case today. With the short days of winter and the gloomy cold weather outside, I have been physically stuck indoors while yearning to run around recklessly outside. I have to try to make the best of this self afflicted seclusion (there is such thing as night photography after all).

As I closed the fridge door after getting something to drink, it hit me. Right there in front of my face were all these magnetic words floating like dead fish during red tide. I had purchased a bunch of these that you can string together to form verses about 5 years ago. It has been stuck on every refrigerator door I have ever had since. Perfect subject!

Plan A.5

So all my talk about taking more pictures didn't really pan out. My mind comes up with all these crazy ideas, but my ass is just so comfortable staying in one place. So what am I to do to get these two critical elements to work together? Don't know. I did come up with one small idea as I was sitting so comfortably in my cushioned seat with my brain was working at full speed. Well, not exactly my idea. Call me a copy cat or whatever new term there is, but I really like Robert's idea. He came up with this cool yet incredibly doable (is that a word..do-able?) idea using his beloved iPhone to start a Photo a Day Gallery. What an awesome idea! My first picture of an almost new beginning is posted above.

Now time for self-psycho analysis. I need to start slow. I think I was feeling that if I was going to take pictures it had to be this big long production of walking, searching, lighting, and everything else. Just that in mind and my inability, no...my resistance to move at all kept me from doing all that. SO if I start off with just doing a picture a day, I can slide back into to this year like a turtle approaching the finish line.

*Please note that I stated I will be taking a picture a day, NOT posting a picture on the blog a day...for those of you who will be holding me to my word.

Look at her!

I got my ass up and going today, with the help of my friend Laura. I had invited her over to hang out and got a few test shots out of it. She is one of the few that I picked out as my test models, so everything worked out perfectly. In case you are wondering about what I look for in a model......Requirements: patience, ability to freeze when I yell "Freeze!", willingness to hold weird bugs.


It was late in the day so we couldn't take advantage of the natural light. I had to set up my "poor man's" lighting studio. It was a bunch of white household lights and white boards to reflect the light. It was better than nothing and I thought the pictures came out awesome. I dug in my closet and pulled out some props. She's lucky I didn't make her wear my boa that was at the very bottom of the bag and do the "Glamour Shot" pose. Although, we did try out the pink sari to give her that exotic look, and boy did she look exotic. You can see why she made such a good model.

5 Days in to the New Year...What have I done?

I'm not going to be so hard on myself. A few days before the New Year I had psyched myself up with all the things I plan to accomplish....everything from making my own sweater to saving the world and everything in between. For some reason as soon as we finished cleaning up the trash from the New Year's eve party, I felt completely lost. I didn't want to pick up the camera (not like I have for the past couple of months anyway), I didn't want to exercise, I just didn't want to do anything. And it had only been 24 hours in. What is this sense of uselessness and forsakeness that has washed over me. Is this sensation synonymous to postpartum depression? I have somehow given birth to the New Year filled with hope and prosperity and yet I ...I ...I just don't know. BTW...this has no bearing on my future responsibilities as a parent. I promise to be the best mom ever.

I shook that off quick. Nothing like a bucket of self doubt and downright lazieness to dampen a fresh start on life. I mentally reviewed the list I threw together from those moments of invincibility and will be kicking my own butt to get more focused. Main goal: pick up the damn camera and shoot! I can't believe how I have been slacking off on this. That will change this year. I had gotten extension tubes with the gift card I got from my wonderful friends and coworkers. I've been playing around with it a little bit here and there, but have been unsuccessful in getting the eye shot since my "model" refuses to sit still for me. But below is a picture of a lily petal I took with the extension tube. I am going to have to find a different subject. We'll see what tomorrow brings.