It’s blog circle time again, and this month we are posting about, How I View FullSun. Normally, I hide from full sun… harsh shadows, and raccoon eyes… no thank you! This month’s challenge made me realize I need to take the time to get outside and shoot in full sun, because if you don’t you’ll miss the moments … it also helped me realize just how much fun shooting in full sun can be.
We took a family vacation this month to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, and had the most amazing time. My three kids could not get enough of the beach and the ocean. And even though sand in my camera was freaking me out, I brought it out there, and I’m so glad I did. I’ve captured my kids joy, and joy doesn’t wait for the golden hour.
Please take a minute to follow the circle around and see how my very talented friend, Allison takes on full sun!
Dani-Gorgeous photos Dana! I love the soft colors and the reflections. What a fun vacation!
Kristen L -These are just so cool! I especially love the reflection of the sky in the last shot! You tell that sun who’s boss, Dana.
aimee -dana, these are beautiful. that last image of the clouds reflected on the beach is amazing. looks like you had a wonderful time. love that south caroline shore!
Lisa Benemelis-These are beautiful, Dana. Gorgeous colors and I love the reflections on the last one.
Allison -Dana, that last shot, with the reflection, is out of this world! Really gorgeous!
kara-every time i thought about shooting for this month, i wished we were near a beach. you rocked these. that last one is perfect–love the reflection. we’ve been to hilton head a couple of times–such a lovely place.
Katrina-Dana — amazing! The last one blew me away. Amazing reflection, gorgeous colors — it’s perfect! Fantastic job this month!
Kristen R -Just gorgeous Dana! This is exactly how I felt when we were on the very same beach in early June! The golden hour was not possible for us but there was no way I was missing out on capturing the adventures of our vacation! You did a wonderful job of freezing these happy full sun moments of your family trip
Tracy-Oh, wow, Dana, that last photograph is breathtaking! The reflection is amazing and the mood is summer and warm but with an almost peaceful nostalgia for summer ending. I love it!
There is something about senior sessions that is magical. It is such a special time in life and I feel honored to capture these moments for you… without further adieu, the gorgeous Claire… best of luck to you this upcoming year Claire!
It’s time for our monthly blog circle, Letters to Our Children. Once you finish reading, please take a moment to travel around the circle. I am lucky enough to have become friends with some immensely talented photographers through the Clickin’ Moms Forum, sometimes I don’t know how got so lucky to be included in this incredibly talented circle of women.
This month I am writing to my youngest, my Michael.
Michael,
Do you know what is a hard word for Mommy? Five. Five is hard for me to accept. I don’t really understand how you are turning FIVE at the end of this month. It feels like you were just born, and now you’re five. It may be cliche, but time really does fly. When you were born, everything was a little crazy. Uncle Larry was very, very sick, and everyone was very worried. There were lots of tests and procedures being done to see who and how we could help save his life. So while you were still inside my tummy, I had blood taken and Uncle Vince had blood taken to see which one of us could hopefully be a stem cell donor for Uncle Larry. And I truly believe there is a reason that Uncle Vince was a perfect match. It would have been all kinds of craziness packing up two kids and a two week old baby to fly out to Arizona and help save Uncle Larry’s life, we would have made it work, somehow, but I believe everything works out for a reason….
I can honestly say you are like no other little boy I know. You are funny and quirky and one of a kind. You have all sorts of “Michael-isms” that make you who you are. So I thought I’d write out a list of all the randomness that makes you who you are:
– When someone asks you your name, you tell them it’s “Michael Jo-phes (Not Joseph) Foley”
– You use the words, actually and seriously in everyday conversation.
– Your new phrase is “on the bright side” (Seriously, what almost five-year old talks like this?!)
– I call you my angry elf, because you have a scowl like no other.
– You could eat waffles all day, everyday if someone would let you.
– You never, ever pick out matching pajamas. You wear them backwards, and inside out and mismatched every night.
– You have no interest of getting out of your pajamas ever. You could hang out in them all day, and some days we do.
– You love swimming and running.
– You hate bees and spiders.
– You are always the first to admit when you did something. You generally deny it once, and then reply with “Fine, don’t be mad, but it was me.”
– For your birthday all you want is 200 pieces of bubble gum.
Happy Fifth Birthday to you, little man.
I love you to the moon and back!
Love,
Mommy
Next up in the in the circle is my friend , Heather, of Little Birdie Photography. Take a moment to follow the circle around to see what she has to say.
This month’s blog circle theme is The Way I View Details. I’m always inspired by all of the amazing macro photography on the Clickin’ Mom’s forum, and I thought of shooting some gorgeous macro shots of flowers or water; but then I decided to shoot the details of what seems to be our everyday around here…Summer! We are enjoying the simple things, like getting outside and playing, and on warm days we generally spend a good amount of time in the pool, eating popsicles and blowing bubbles.
Please follow the circle around to see how my talented friend, Tracy views details.
Tracy-These make me want to head outside! I love all of the summer, kid details you’ve captured.
kara-what a great series of summer details, dana! the color just scream summer!
aimee -Dana, I love these! Perfect summer snippets. I love the color and energy. So vibrant and fun!
Katrina-Dana, these are fantastic! I love all the little details you captured and the series just says SUMMER to me. Perfect!
Kristen Lester -These are wonderful, Dana! The subjects, the processing all scream summer to me. Great work!
Allison -Dana, these are fantastic! So summery and fun! I especially love the popsicle mouth shot, probably because that’s a familiar scene at our house, too!
Lisa Benemelis-Oh Dana, these are so bright and beautiful. They are all the details that make me think of summer. The bubble shot, WOW!!! I loved your interpretation – gorgeous!! <3
It’s once again time for our monthly Letters to our Children blog circle. This month I’m switching up the order and writing to my little girl once again. I hope you stick around and follow the circle to see what some of my very talented friends have to say and show you.
Dear Livie,
It seems like you just started a new school year at a new school, and today, you are no longer in the second grade. I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around just how quickly time flies. In the blink of an eye you are in third grade… what happened to my little girl with her pigtails and bangs, who sucked her thumb and couldn’t leave the house without her “doe-doe?” You are growing up too quickly for me. As a Mom, I think the best superpower I could have would be the ability to freeze time; I’d love to keep you as innocent and sweet as you are at this very age. You’re kindness to others and your ability to see the good in everyone truly amazes me. While I may not be able to keep you from getting older, or stop you from experience the negativity that is in this world, I do have a slight version of that superpower… my camera… it allows me to capture you just as you are, to freeze time, so that when someone looks into your beautiful eyes, they can see what I see, a little girl who is as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside.
I know I drive you crazy with my camera, (but let’s face it, you are the most willing subject I have around here), but taking photographs of you helps me remember everything about you on that day, in whatever stage you are in life…. so bear with me, Liv, I don’t think I’ll be putting my camera down anytime soon <3
I love you to the moon and back, my third-grader!
xoxo,
Mommy
Next in the circle is my friend, Danika, take a moment to see what she has to say and check out her beautiful eye candy!
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Dani - Gorgeous photos Dana! I love the soft colors and the reflections. What a fun vacation!
Kristen L - These are just so cool! I especially love the reflection of the sky in the last shot! You tell that sun who’s boss, Dana.
aimee - dana, these are beautiful. that last image of the clouds reflected on the beach is amazing. looks like you had a wonderful time. love that south caroline shore!
Lisa Benemelis - These are beautiful, Dana. Gorgeous colors and I love the reflections on the last one.
Allison - Dana, that last shot, with the reflection, is out of this world! Really gorgeous!
kara - every time i thought about shooting for this month, i wished we were near a beach. you rocked these. that last one is perfect–love the reflection. we’ve been to hilton head a couple of times–such a lovely place.
Katrina - Dana — amazing! The last one blew me away. Amazing reflection, gorgeous colors — it’s perfect! Fantastic job this month!
Kristen R - Just gorgeous Dana! This is exactly how I felt when we were on the very same beach in early June! The golden hour was not possible for us but there was no way I was missing out on capturing the adventures of our vacation! You did a wonderful job of freezing these happy full sun moments of your family trip
Tracy - Oh, wow, Dana, that last photograph is breathtaking! The reflection is amazing and the mood is summer and warm but with an almost peaceful nostalgia for summer ending. I love it!