Catching up

(photo of duck calls from Fishorama at Outdoor expo Perry Ga this weekend)
Wow, it has been some time since I posted here. Ive been busy. I started jogging and working towards my first Half Marathon coming 1 March 08. Ive been taking photos and working on a 365 group (taking a photo of me or parts of me everyday for a year!). Ive enjoyed running some races and keep finding new things and places to take pictures. I keep adding to my flickr site almost daily so keep an eye out there too. With Spring coming, it will mean time to get out and explore!

Using programs on your photos

This is my original photo.
This is using the HDR technique- ever so lightly HDRed.

This was using -sandstone-though to me, it should be called -grunge-.

This was colored pencil.
The photos above have had various effects done to them using PC3. It is always fun to tinker around with your photo (always use a duplicate not your original). Try out your various effects you can use on your photos and see what you come up with. Some can be really neat.

Holiday Glitter

This was fun to do- do the blur on purpose! I slowed the shutter speed down and moved in the middle of my photo. It turned out really cool.

He looked so jolly. These ornamental yard decorations are put up every year down from our neighborhood and I went to ask if I could take some of their photos. I want to go back in the daylight. They have a cool old tractor :)

This was a lovely door wreath in Madison Ga. I just loved it. The door and wreath were HUGE!

Whatever holiday you celebrate, make it a loving, fun and memorable one. Be kind all year round, take time to see those around you, get to know your neighbor, volunteer in your community, try something new this year, go see a place youve always wanted to go. Life is too short and there is no excuse not to. Get out there and live.

Action shots

These were taken in Madison Ga during 5/8K runs there that weekend.

Its always fun getting to practice some of your shootings and settings on your camera- action being one of those. At times, they can be blurry when you dont want them or no focuses where you wanted focused and you growl! Here are some of the ones I recently took a week or so ago, practicing my action shots. Action! ::Snaps the movie snapper thing::

Surpassing my goal

This is the Macon Tracks gals (some of them) getting ready for the Reindeer run on 1 Dec 2007 in Macon Georgia
This is me in the black hat, turning my iPod on and heading off for my first official race ever of a 5K distance! I set a goal and hoped to make it close to 40 mins to run the length. Before, I had ran it 45 mins, 43 mins and 41 mins 10 sec.

This is me on the way to the finish line. Kerry (already finished earlier) came to run with me, help spur me on!

I made it! I finished the race and here, Im showing Deborah my time. I was so excited I nearly burst into tears... Time- 38 mins 23 seconds!
I had so much fun running the race and hanging out with the Macon Tracks Running club. Thanks to my husband, Richard, for helping get me there, encourage me and help take photos when I was running. I love you!

Thanksgiving Day 2007

Macon Tracks- can also mean Macon Tracks Running Club. About 15 (give or take a few) people met up at The Loop to do a Thanksgiving morning run. As I was finsihed with my run and waiting others return, I took a photo of these tracks.
The house across the parking area of The Loop was decorated and so cute I had to take a photo of their fence.

This is the O family. Not sure their last names yet but its Kerry, Dave and their two kids. They were on the run today and Dave was so sweet to sacrifice his run and hang with me for the 1.5 miles I went before turning around to finish, making it 3 mile run for me. He went on to catch the others. Thanks for being so sweet Dave.

Sam, Monika (another new runner!) and Mary bringing their run home.

Me huffing and puffing my wayback. I felt tired but I made 3 miles in 42 minutes so I was happy. I saw Richard waiting at the return (or finish line) area and he waved at me. It was so nice seeing him there at my 'goal' stop area. Thanks for coming with me- you're the best honey!

Running sure isnt my ideal thing to do, but it is growing on me. Im proud of me. Go me!

Out with Gary

a welcoming path in the gardens at Henderson Village

A wonderful knotty tree at Henderson Village

Gary making friends

The cotton picker

A cotton plant

I had such fun with my friend, Gary. Wednesday, we went out looking for news and photos. Well, mostly things we can take photos of. We went to Henderson Village in South Ga and took some photos there. It wasnt as pretty as it usually is in the spring but I still got a good many photos from there.

Gary and I also stopped at a farm and took some photos of them getting the cotton in from the fields. They said they can clear 80-90 acres on a good day. Thats a lot of cotton.

It was a good day all around- taking pics and hanging out with my friend. Thanks Gary.