365 Project | Day 31

A quick self portrait before heading to my presentation.

1/25 | 7 mm | f/3.9 | ISO 400 | Color balance

365 Project | Day 30

Back from my trip and reunited with the camera cord! One of my favorite things about traveling are all the little "extras" in the room - like the free shampoo!

1/40 | 13 mm | f/4.6 | ISO 800 | Color balance

Oops...

I forgot my camera cord on the counter at home, so while I'm taking pictures each day, you'll have to wait until Tuesday to see them!

365 Project | Day 29

Well, it was either a picture of Peanut or a pizza box (dinner) tonight, and I figured Peanut was the cuter option. So, here he is - posing nicely for the new camera lens.


1/25 | 50 mm | f/2.5 | ISO 800 | Curves adjustment (decrease red)

For the next four days, photos will be coming to you from on location. I can't promise I'll be able to upload them each day, but I will make sure to take at least one each day!

365 Project | Day 28

This beauty was waiting for me when I got home today, and well, I think I'm in love. She's a 50 mm, f/1.8 lens, which makes my "wide open" shots a whole lot more wide open. Bet you can guess which lens I'll be using for the next few days!


1/40 | 45 mm | f/5 | ISO 400 | Fog lift and edge burn (action)

And for those of you wondering exactly what that means (Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?), keep reading. Here are two pictures of the exact same thing - a box and a lens on the counter - but one shot taken with each lens.

Picture #1 - taken with the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens ("old")
(Note that you can see the jars in the background, but they're slightly out of focus).

1/40 | 32 mm | f/4.5 | ISO 400 | SOOC

Picture #2 - taken with the 50mm f/1.8 II lens ("new")
(Note how out of focus everything in the background is; you can't even tell what's back there).

1/25 | 50 mm | f/2.2 | ISO 800 | SOOC

Basically your f stop (the aperture) has to do with how much light is allowed into your camera lens and factors into depth of focus (how much is in focus and how much is blurry in the background). So by having a lens that gives me a smaller f-stop, I can make the background more out of focus.

365 Project | Day 27

Mmmm, runza rolls. I remember Mom first making these when I was in third grade, and I still think they're delicious. Since they make far more than we need for two people, I've been begging Mom to make a batch since they moved here. And tonight, the waiting was over!


1/15 | 47 mm | f/5.6 | ISO 800 | Old West action and sharpening

365 Project | Day 26

Today's picture isn't that exciting (or technically great), but it does sum up today - I spent several hours in the car, driving to and from a conference.


1/30 | 7 mm | f/4 | ISO 200 | Vintage action and texture overlay

365 Project | Day 25

My planner goes everywhere with me. And I love checking off the to-do items I've finished.


1/15 | 32 mm | f/4.5 | ISO 800 | White balance adjustment

Busy - and boring - week

It's been a busy week - but not an exciting one. Kim was off of work on Monday, so she enjoyed an extra day to relax before working really long days on Tuesday and Wednesday.

On Thursday, Kim met her friend Erin for dinner while Eric played basketball at the gym. Friday was date night, and we went out for a nice (and really filling!) dinner.

On Saturday, Kim went to the aquarium with Erin and her daughter, Leah, while Eric caught up on some work. Today we played Super Mario Bros. (we're on to world 4) and did stuff around the house.

Current gas price: $2.57/gallon

365 Project | Day 24

I read that the majority of people who start 365 photo projects quit after three weeks. Admittedly, it's difficult to find inspiration for photos some days, but at least I'm still going strong!

It's rainy and dreary here today, so we had homemade chicken tortilla soup for lunch (thanks Mom!), complete with Tostitos scoops for dipping.


1/40 | 34 mm | f/4.5 | ISO 400 | White balance adjustment

365 Project | Day 23

I spent the afternoon at the aquarium with Erin and Leah. We had a lot of fun walking through the shark tunnel, watching the penguins and hanging out in the jelly fish room. These are taken with the point and shoot again (must get a camera bag...), but I'm pretty pleased with how they turned out.


1/8 | 8 mm | f/4.2 | ISO 800 | Boutwell magic glasses (action)

And just for fun (because, really, who doesn't love Andy Warhol?)...same picture, but with adjusted saturation:

365 Project | Day 22

Shutter speed was waaaaay too slow, but a little post processing went a long way.


1/5 | 36 mm | f/4.5 | ISO 800 | White balance adjustment

365 Project | Day 21

I wish the flame had been more in focus, but I kind of like the ethereal quality of the photo.


1/40 | 55 mm | f/5.6 | ISO 500

365 Project | Day 20

This was taken with the good ole point and shoot since I didn't want to drag the good camera to the Arena (especially since I don't have a camera bag yet...I really should get on that). At any rate, I think it turned out pretty well, given how dark the Arena gets when they dim the lights. And as an added bonus, the Flyers won. Go UD!


1/30 | 5 mm | f/3.3 | ISO 320 | Dim the lights

365 Project | Day 19

I love ampersands. (Okay, I use em-dashes the most in my writing, but ampersands are the most fun looking form of punctuation. And one of the most interesting/most varied in different kinds of typography. Neat, right?)


1/60 | 46 mm | f/5 | ISO 400 | Vintage

365 Project | Day 18

We're only 18 days into the project, and I'm already antsy to start taking pictures outside. But, alas, it's cold and dreary. So for today, you're stuck with a picture of my morning vice: hot tea.


1/12 | 50 mm | f/5.6 | ISO 800 | Vintage

The snow has melted!

As of today, we could see nearly all of our grass again. And even better? The temperatures were in the upper 30s/low 40s...which is somewhere in the neighborhood of 20-30 degrees warmer than it has been. Break out the shorts; it's a heat wave!

In honor of the warm weather, we spent most of Saturday cleaning the house. The linen closet got reorganized, the wood floors got cleaned (and all the salt got mopped away), the floors got vacuumed, and our cars finally made it through the car wash (so they're no longer white). We also watched UD lose to Xavier in a really close and intense game...and a somewhat controversial one as the clock stopped at one point while the game was still being played. *sigh* Hopefully we'll beat them at home next month.

And today, we finally hung pictures in the den. It's taken four years, but hey, better late than never, right? We also watched a bunch of football, and are mostly happy with the four teams who will be duking it out for the Super Bowl. We'd love to see the Saints play the Jets...but we'll see what happens!

Current gas price: $2.67/gallon

365 Project | Day 17

1/10 | 40 mm | f/5 | ISO 400

365 Project | Day 16

Man's best friend? Dog's best friend is more like it. Peanut was enjoying a belly rub this afternoon...in fact, he's been a "daddy's boy" all day. The shutter speed was set too slow for this shot (the light isn't that bad in the den!), but I still love the sentiment behind the picture.


1/10 | 45 mm | f/4.5 | ISO 800

365 Project | Day 15

As much as I like photographing still life (okay, and Peanut...who is anything but still), I really hope to improve my portrait photography - since I think photos of friends and family are the ones that are the most meaningful over time. (Plus, who doesn't like having a great photo of themself?!) So thanks to Eric for being a good sport tonight.


1/50 | 55 mm | f/5.6 | ISO 400 | Perfect portrait

365 Project | Day 14

1/60 | 49 mm | f/5.6 | ISO 400 | Curves adjustment

365 Project | Day 13

Aren't fast shutter speeds fun? Superman can stop a speeding bullet - and I can capture a stream of water mid-drip. (Personally, I think this talent is better...)

Love it? Hate it? Feel free to comment on any of these posts/pictures!


1/200 | 47 mm | f/5.6 | ISO 200 | Warmer action

365 Project | Day 12

1/60 | 24 mm | f/4 | ISO 400

365 Project | Day 11

It's a Peanut day again - just look at that adorable face! When I got home tonight, all he wanted to do was wrestle with his rope. And let me tell you, it's a bit challenging you take a photo with one hand while playing tug-o-war with the other!


1/60 | 39 mm | f/5 | ISO 400 | Colorize and curves adjustment

Who ordered this weather?!

It's been so cold this week - the last two weeks, really. We haven't seen a temperature above freezing, and most of the time has been spent in the teens (or worse, single digits!). And that's before wind chill. Needless to say, we've been spending as much time inside as possible - not even Peanut wants to get up in the morning!

This was a basketball week, with a game on Tuesday and Saturday. On Tuesday, we got to move down to 200-level seats, thanks to someone in Kim's office who was unable to go. Unfortunately, that game was an utter disaster (59-35)...while we won, it's NO fun watching another team only score 35 points. Oof. The game on Saturday was a nail biter that went into overtime, but we managed pulling that one out in the end. Phew. Let's hope we can keep up the win streak!

This weekend was mostly spent with Kim's family as we spend time with her brother before he goes back to school. And we watched season 2 of Big Bang Theory, since we've gotten her dad and brother hooked on that!

Current gas price: $2.77/gallon.

365 Project | Day 10

It's been freezing here. Fuh-ree-zing. In fact, the thermostat in our room showed it was 0.1 degrees Fahrenheit outside when we went to bed last night. On the upside, it made for some very neat ice/frost on the trees this morning, so I was able to get this shot.


1/640 | 47 mm | f/4.9 | ISO 100

365 Project | Day 9

I had a lot of subjects today: office supplies. Some of the photos from today's "shoot" will end up as artwork in the office. Here's one of them - but you'll have to come visit to see the others!


1/15 | 23 mm | f/4 | ISO 800

365 Project | Day 8

With all the snow we've gotten, the roads and parking lots are pretty slushy, so today was the perfect opportunity to wear my wellies! Wearing them gave me the strongest urge to jump in puddles, but since I was in dress pants, I refrained.


1/60 | 34 mm | f/4.5 | ISO 400 | Bold pop

365 Project | Day 7

I worked from home today (woo!), which means I made grilled cheese and tomato soup for lunch. And thus, today's picture.


1/25 | 18 mm | f/3.5 | ISO 400

365 Project | Day 6

Between the front that's moving in (and all the snow we're expected to get tomorrow), a long day at work and a really frustrating trip to the grocery store, this photo pretty much sums up today.


1/25 | 25 mm | f/4.5 | ISO 400 | PW Seventies

365 Project | Day 5

We got 2 inches of snow last night - with another four on the way - and our poor garden gnome looks pretty chilly.


1/3 | 51 mm | f/4.5 | ISO 400 | Moody Pop

365 Project | Day 4

I warned you Peanut would be making frequent appearances! His much-loved stuffed toy had been out of commission with a ripped seam. But I fixed him up last night, and they've been fast friends ever since.


1/30 | 32 mm | f/4.5 | ISO 400 | Vintage action

Happy New Year!

2010 - wow. It's hard to believe the new year and that 2009 (and the last decade, for that matter!) have gone by so quickly.

This week was a wonderfully relaxing one. We both took Monday off of work, which gave us a day to recoup after our Christmas trip. Kim ran to Ikea and found some artwork for the den (which we still need to hang up...) and we mostly hung around.

We had a two day work week, which was amazing...we're both not sure we're going to be able to make it through a 5-day work week now!

On New Year's Eve, we opted to stay in, cook a nice dinner and relax. On Friday, we tried to watch the Flyers game (vs. New Mexico), but the game was up against the Rose Bowl (OSU) and Sugar Bowl (Cincinnati), so we were out of luck. We ended up following the game on GameTracker, and were sad to have lost by just two points - so close. Saturday was full of playing Super Mario Bros. on the Wii (we're addicted) and having lunch with Danielle. And today, well, we decided we should finally clean up the house, do laundry and all of those other jobs we've been putting off. Oh, and we also cheered on the Bears as they won the final game of the season - at least they ended on a positive note.

As you've probably seen, Kim has also started a photography project this year, so you'll have to sift through more posts to find out what we've been up to each week. But hopefully you find the pictures slightly interesting...feel free to leave comments!

Current gas price: $2.57/gallon.

365 Project | Day 3

We've spent quite a bit of time playing the Wii this weekend, and we've really enjoyed the New Super Mario Bros. game. In fact, we've done really well in two-player mode - which is good, since other friends of ours have jokingly referred to it as "divorce mode"!



1/40 | 36 mm | f/4.5 | ISO 400

365 Project | Day 2

Who says champagne is only for New Year's Eve? I'm really enjoying the ability to change aperture on my DSLR so I can focus on a certain object - and have the rest fade into oblivion.




1/10 | 18 mm | f/4.5 | ISO 800

365 Project | Day 1

For my first post, I'm cheating and posting two pictures.

Peanut will probably be an oft-used subject for this project. After all, he's freaking adorable...though this face seems to say "Seriously, Mom?"



1/64 sec | 41 mm | f/5 | ISO 400

This one was technically taken two days ago, when I got my new camera, but I was so excited about the bokeh, I had to post it! And since we're taking down our Christmas decor today, it seems appropriate.



1/8 sec | 29 mm | f/5 | ISO 800

A year in photos

Happy new year! For 2010, I'm embarking on a photo project to document 2010 - and hopefully improve my photography in the process! So, you'll be seeing a lot more blog posts on here...a photo post each day, along with our weekly update. Enjoy!

-Kim