Rantings of a Creole Princess

Christmas Eve 2010 Pics!

13700 Candids

 

Lucy is trying to look all sweet and innocent.  Nobody likes her.

I can't sit in the armchair in my office.  Why?  She's always sitting there.

When you're working you shouldn't have to worry about other people in your office taking candid sneak shots of you.  That ish just ain't right in my mind.

She watches over the neighborhood and makes sure all is well.  If she sees anyone who doesn't belong...baaaaaaaaaaby...you're going to hear about it.

Continuation of Beautiful People I See

I love sneaking up on people and catching them in the act.  By the time she saw me aiming and took her finger down...I'd already snapped.  ROFL!

"Mama Is Tired."

These eyes don't lie.

I think they can...wait...they did!

Happy to be here.

If Morgan Freeman hadn't played God...I imagine he could have.

The Book...

Doug Box's Guide to Posing for Portrait Photographers

Portraits and Outside Lighting

onefromphilly had a FABULOUS Fall Wine PAR-TAY on Saturday and I took my camera.  Why?  I'd just finished reading a book about shooting outside, Robby hates posing for me, and I KNEW my friends would be looking CA-YOOT!

How did I know this?  Cuz they ALWAYS look CA-YOOT!

Check out my FAVORITE pics from Saturday.  The colors are absolutely PHENOMENAL! 

We call her Brutiful.  Why?  Because...in all the times we've known each other we have NEVER seen her dressed DOWN.  Like...she is always, ALWAYS ready.  Hair did, makeup did, nails did, everything did.  To me she looks like Barbie's Black friend.  Her eyes and cheekbones are 2.Die.4!  Skin?  FLAWLESS!

Her eyes are deceptive because she truly looks so sweet but baaaaaaaaby...behind that gorgeous smile is a brain that is calculating and intuitive.  Always working.  I seriously imagine a hamster in a wheel in her head always whirling even when she's sleeping.  LOL!

Me on the beach...

I swear to GOODNESS Robby's azz is going to a damn photography class ASAP!  Why?  Because EVERY.SINGLE.PICTURE he takes of me is the world's worst picture.  Seriously.  Let me give you an example or two, three or FIFTY.GAMILLION!

 

Only after ADDING saturation to this picture was I even able to see my face.  Notice how weird and sickly I look?  Well...that's because the lighting is unnatural and after the fact.  I'm standing in front of a theater full of folks answering questions and Robby takes a photo of me that makes me like look the creature from the black lagoon.

Seriously?  Seriously.

Now take this picture on the beach today:

 

WHO TAKES A PICTURE OF A PERSON WHILE THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF PUTTING THEIR HANDS ON THEIR HIPS?  SERIOUSLY?????????????????????????  WHO CUTS OFF PEOPLE'S LEGS??????  SERIOUSLY?????????

I'm too mad to even SHOW yall the other offside, cockeyed, cut off pictures of me.  The pictures of him?  PERFECT!  Postcard worthy!

I feel the need to do some things to this picture so it, TOO looks crazy in our photo album of memories:

Swallowtail Butterflies Make Me Smile!

 

When was the last time you noticed a butterfly?

I find beauty in people...sometimes...I have my camera with me...

Can YOU see what I saw beautiful in these pics?

1.

I find beauty in people...sometimes...I have my camera with me...

Can YOU see what I saw beautiful in these pics? 

 

1.  

Bird Paradise

I was sitting on our deck this morning having my coffee and I quickly grabbed my camera after watching all of the different types of birds eating from the bird feeder and chilling in the preserved woods behind our home.

Digital SLR for Dummies

I've been using this book a lot because well...hey...it's for dummies.  LOL! 

It kinda makes me feel like I'm in a class and I actually do sit with the book and practice using the settings the book suggests for different shots: 

Digital SLR Cameras and Photography For Dummies

I'm getting better and better and I do think this is a MAJOR reason. The other thingy I've used is this: Magic Lantern Guides: Nikon D3000 Multimedia Workshop

Now THIS is hot. It's like a straight up class based solely on YOUR camera. They have them for most of the cameras and there is a book and two DVDs that help you out BIG.TIME!

I straight up can't wait for Spring man. There is seriously nothing cooler to me than taking pictures right now. I LURVE it and I also love that so many of my friends are doing it now too because we straight up have SERIOUS conversations about equipment, technique and tools! Don't get Kayla started...baaaaaaaaaaaby...she won't stop! LOL! When Spring hits I TOTALLY see she and I hitting the city with cameras in hand together! GO.US!

Have YOU ever been bit by the camera bug?

Lowepro Camera Bag

I've been searching high and low for a new camera bag and hadn't found anything that made me feel warm and fuzzy.  There was one bag that was for lens that was promising and I thought they were going to make a bag to carry your camera too so I was EXTREMELY excited but then they announced their new bag and I was like...BLECH...

And then...I found those uber girly bags and, even though they were girly, the kid wasn't feeling them because I am usually in jeans and a t-shirt when I'm out taking pics and a jazzy bag just really doesn't fit ya know?

Yeah...ya know...

Erica B. and I had been discussing bags for a while now and neither of us had a solution but I had a bag in the back of my mind that I knew COULD work even as it was lacking a whole lot of what I truly needed and wanted in a bag. 

So...today I went out and got serious about looking and I finally decided on this bag: 

Lowepro Fastpack 100 (Black)

I liked the sling one better but that is a bag made for a guy. No way in hell would my antibacterial gel, lotion, wallet, floss, lip gloss, smell good, wallet, wipes, snacks, etc. fit in the top part of the sling but in the backpack...yeah...I'm good.

It's slim and lightweight and everything is right where I need it to be. I can unhook my right arm and swing it around to the front of me and the camera et al is right there in front of me so it's very practical as well.

GO.ME!

When I get more lens, etc. and they make a bag that makes me happy-er...I'll upgrade. Until then...I'm good.

What kinda camera bag do YOU have?

Signs of Life...

Mafia Dogs

It's such a beautiful day today and I've been sitting out on the deck building a character.  Lucy was out with me but you know Jaru AKA OCD Dog was NOT and got pretty pissed in tone trying to get me to understand that...say bruh...I want to come outside so you need to get these leaves off the deck hell.

After a minute or two or 53...I decided to. 

By the time I put away the leaf blower they'd posted up and it struck me that they look like they would straight snap someone in half.  ESPECIALLY Lucy (the debil dog).

 

But then...that look lasted all of 2 good minutes before they were back to their norm:

 

Spring is coming people!  I.CAN'T.WAIT!  Do you have any plants to plant in your yard or make a container garden on your deck or balcolny this year?

Random Pics of a Creole Princess

I worked until 3:00 am this morning.  The Lucy girl stayed up with me.  She's funny because every now and then she has to get up and get a good "look-see" over my shoulder.

 

My Tripod!

The tripod I use for my Nikon D3000 (Nikon D3000 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens ) is a lightweight tripod that only cost $14.14.  I just don't need a tripod for my DSLR that weighs fifty-lleven pounds. 

Sunpak Digital Tripod, 5200D, Light Weight 52'' (Platinum Plus Series), for Digital, Video, and Film Cameras

What about you?  Do you own one for your camera?  Is it lightweight enough to carry around with you if you want to take pics outside?  Do you?

TOTALLY loving my wireless remote! GO ME!

I can even hit it with my back turned!  LOL!

Talk about up close and personal!  LOL!

Playing with my wireless remote!

I got out my tripod today while I was on one of my breaks to setup my wireless remote.  Then, of course, I got sidetracked and forgot all about it.  LOL!

Cuz I'm old and have bad memory!

When I returned home from the gym I started playing around with it taking a few snaps to see if I had it set up right.

 

All close and whatnot.  Not a good look.  LOL!  (Why do I make me laugh?  ROFL!)

Back a lil ways.

Of COURSE I was interrupted by the Godson and the "unofficial" Goddaughter!

 

Fortunately they were too busy doing in depth interviews of Jaru and Lucy (notice Jaru is nowhere to be found...) so they weren't in my office for too long.

 

This thing is pretty cool!

See that FABULOUS scarf E is rocking as if he were in the Taliban?  Well...his mommy, Tsiporah, made that for him and he hasn't taken it off since except to shower.  How CA-YOOT is that?  (With his lil evil genius behind.  ROFL!)

Now I don't need the inhabitants of 13700 to let me take pics of me so I may practice!  I can take pics of my own self hell!  Humph.  GO ME!

I can't WAIT for Spring!

I  picked up some tulips yesterday and while arranging them...the stem on one broke.  I used a mini bud vase and put it on my desk.  Watching it open was really pretty!  LOL!

 

Check out the dew drop.  :)

 

I got the bug to take some old boring pics with my super zoom lens today.  It's too icky outside to take any pics of anything worth while and, looking at these pics it just REALLY makes me wish Spring would come quickly-er.

 

I was trying to focus on the orange sign but my camera decided those branches were more focus worthy.  ROFL!  Since it's the camera for dummies...it has a mind of it's own sometimes.  ROFL!

 

Nikon Wireless Remote

The best $13 I've ever spent in my life!  GO ME!

Nikon ML-L3 Wireless Remote Control for Nikon D40, D40x, D60, D80 & D90 Digital SLR Cameras

Do YOU own a wireless remote for YOUR camera?  

Practice Makes Perfect...(one day...hopefully)!

I'm practicing depth of field while changing the focus just slightly using the same objects on my desk:

 

 

And one of him just because he's so darn cute!

Fashionable Camera Bags

I'm in LURVE! Epiphanie

Momtography

The Momtographers

Nikon D3000...I can't wait for Spring!

So sue me.  I like the way it looks.

The view last night from my office.

Nighttime reading.  JUUUUUUUUICY!

My mommy and my husband in our bathroom.

Bathroom bookends.

One eye open.

I hate snow.  Seriously.  Even snow this beautiful.  Did you hear that we're expecting 20 + inches this weekend?  Sheesh.

Nikon D3000...playing with the shutter speed!

Icicles nesting in our holly tree earlier today.

 

See the snow falling?

 

 

 

 

Look!  I got snow in my hair!  I was seriously on my way to bed when I decided to snap a few shots playing with the shutter speed.  GO ME!

Jaru Photo Shoot!

Hey Yall! HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Whatchall doing?  How's the weather out by yall?  Send me some Halloween pics!  I LURVE, LURVE, LURVE seeing folks dressed all up for Halloween!

It's a beautiful Fall day out here today and we've been expecting rain all day today but it still hasn't started.  I hope it doesn't start right at Trick or Treat time because I have an entire cauldron of candy to give out!

Have I shared with yall how much I LURVE Fall?  The colors are so beautiful to me which I why I used them throughout our home!  I'm posted up on the sofa nursing my sick and look at my view!

 

I plan on putting my leaf blower to work tomorrow on the deck for sure.  Not in the mood today.

I love this red flower trying to hold on till the last bit of warm weather leaves us!

 

I hope you are somewhere REALLY seeing the beauty around you and REALLY enjoying it.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! (Off to take my Robitussin DM!)

Nikon D3000, Maxwell, Sissy and ME!

 

 

Nikon D3000: Models Wanted!

I'm NEVER going to get better with this dang camera if the mammals that live in my home continue to be so uncooperative.  HUMPH!

Me:  Robby smile for me!

Nikon D3000

Just testing my "eye" on a new setting.

POTUS

Nikon D3000...How will I EVER LEARN??????

Me:  Hey...lemme take a picture of you using the lil icon with the man and the star in the square.

Robby:  Why you trying to pull me into this camera mess this morning?

Me:  Just smile hell!

Nikon D3000 and eDress Me

Um...yeah...so...I was gonna do some eDress me posts this morning but here is a sample of the pics I came up with using the fancy dancy camera on different settings.

Playing with my Nikon D3000

Aiight...I took some inside and outside playing with the GUIDE setting that's like remedial operation for big dummies. LOL!

 

Nikon D3000

I'm still smiling at my FABULOUS new camera.

Or at least I WAS.

It was suggested to Robby that I should get the book, Digital SLR for Dummies, so I went over to get it today after gym time.  When I got to the bookstore I noticed there were dummy books for pretty much every Nikon camera out there...but not mine.

So I ask a dude.

Me:  Dude...where's the book for Nikon D3000?

Dude:  (on puter...clickety, clackety...) That book isn't out yet.  It's a brand new camera.

Me:  I know...it was just released this week.

Dude:  Yeah...book won't be out till November.

Me:  Cool.

So I head over to the photography magazines section and LOOK!  There's my camera on the cover of a fancy magazine!

So I opened it and flipped to the article which started off with the words:

"The Nikon D3000 is a new entry-level digital SLR camera designed to make photography simple and accessible. Aimed at the complete beginner, the D3000 is primarily aimed at anyone who wants to take photos without having to worry about what the camera is doing. The intelligent Guide Mode asks you about the image you want to capture and automatically optimizes the settings for the best possible results. When you’ve gained more experience, you can then use the Guide Mode to find out how to adjust the settings yourself."

Now this is what I read:

The Nikon D3000 is a fancy, smancy camera that makes it easy for dumbazzes like you who don't know ish from shinola about taking pictures so they don't fug up taking even the SIMPLEST of pictures.  We know yall wanted something nice and all...but ya just can't be trusted to adjust ish right and we are NOT trying to have yall posting jacked up azz pictures talking about you use a Nikon and have folks thinking it was the camera's fault.

And now I'm feeling SOME.KINDA.WAY. 

Robby:  Monnie...you're a BEGINNER.  It's a DSLR camera for a BEGINNER.  When you get better...we'll get you a BETTER camera.  IF you get better.

Me:  *BLINK*

Sissy:  What does DSLR mean?

Me:  Hell if I know.  Whatcha asking me for hell?

Sissy:  BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!  CUZ YO AZZ IS A BEGINNER!  JUST DUMB!  YOU ARE JUST SOOOOOOOOO DUMB!  REALLY?  REALLY?  BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!  YO AZZ TOO SIMPLE FOR THE DUMMY'S BOOK!  IS THERE A CLIFF NOTE FOR THE DUMMY'S BOOK?

Me:  I so hate you.