Back from Vegas

Here are a few highlights from our trip. I don't normally do the "strip" while we are there (I lived there for a year and it's just some place I try to avoid now). Although, I do stay on the strip as my little man LOVES to stay at the Castle aka Excalibur. My daughter spends most her time with her Great Grandma. Ashton, my son, is too much for my Grandma to handle so I generally do things with him, while Amelia and Great Grandma spend time together. Overall, it was a good trip. I did get hit by a taxi and he took off. Ashton handled the excitement of the trip much better than I expected. Although it wasn't easy by any means! I got to visit and photograph one of my favorite places - the Redrocks. I wished I could have made it out to The Valley of Fire again - next time.

Redrock

Isn't it just gorgeous!? I could photograph this place forever and never get sick of it!

The road on the scenic route in Redrock Canyon

I love this one =) But of course if you've been on my blog or flickr you know I love flare photos!

 Ashton at the Redrocks.

I did try to get him to walk the strip, but all the commotion - people, lights, noises - he started to panic. So we went back to the room where he was happy.

I think I can say this was the highlight of the trip for him! Ha. He LOVES to watch the chicken go round and round.

See - happy (and very loud, lol)

Well, that about sums up the trip. Now I need to go peek around and find some new photo challenges to enter =)

Sunny Sunday!

I'm going to bore you guys with more sun flare, but I'm an addict. I. Can't. Get. Enough!

photo challenge: YELLOW

Well, the rules in OUR game of Operation is you MUST make the noise and nose light up to get the piece out! I couldn't convince Ashton otherwise! 

Didn't your mother teach you not to play with your food?

Ha ha - she loves making faces when I have my Fisheye on my camera and she LOVES her asparagus! =)

Weekly Challenge: Trees

Thanks to another blogger (thanks Kel) I found another photo challenge. I was just out and about the other day taking tree photos while hiking. I LOVE these beautiful trees - they are all over my neighborhood. Just gorgeous!

Before and after - fix it friday

Sharing another before and after -


SOOC - just resized and sharpened for web

The result  - I used a Lightroom preset (one from TRA gosh I can't remember which), then I gave it a vintage feel, and lastly I added a texture.

I heart faces photo challenge: Best face photo in January

I just HAD to use this photo. His pure joy and happiness had me smiling from ear to ear!

I love me some flare

Need I say more? =)

Dusting off the Fisheye ...

Oh how I forgot how much I LOVE this lens! It's been a while since I had real fun with photography (dang life) ... well, I put my trusty 50mm 1.4 high up on a shelf and said goodbye for a while ... I want to have fun with my Fisheye again!

I heart Faces photo challenge: Innocent Wondering

I was excited for this challenge! Ashton is always off looking at something, wondering. It always makes me wonder what going on in his little head. I can just imagine! He doesn't give me big cheeses when I ask him, or pose for me. So, I get some of my best photos of him because of his innocent curiosity and his beautiful outlook on life. With hopes one day he's verbal enough to share his world with me! =)