Spring cleaning

posted by sometrouble @ 3:37 PM | Test Category Two | Monday, June 01, 2009

I am trying to prioritize things in my life right now...and it seems I have a pretty full plate. So some things are getting put on hold, like this blog. I know there probably aren't many people who miss my writing, or even notice that it's stopped.

One of the things I am working on is starting a photography business. It is something I've wanted to do for the past two and a half years. I just hadn't really put the time into taking the steps to get things moving at more than a crawl until now. This past Christmas brought me a new camera, and I've been acquiring other key pieces of equipment bit by bit. The biggest hangup now, is getting my identity and "storefront" set up. This means, choosing a business name and setting up a professional website. There are so many variables to consider when choosing a name, and I am not a decisive person by nature, which is making the process excruciating.

In addition to the photo business, I am still working full time at my current job. I also have been knitting a lot lately. I am hoping to get several projects done in time for an upscale craft show this fall, and after that, I have ideas of opening an online shop for handmade knitted items.

I have also taken more interest in my yard this spring. Last year, we completed building a shed, and right now, we are halfway through adding a deck to the backyard. Now, I am focusing on landscaping and flowers. I am not doing anything drastic, just cleaning up the existing flowerbeds and adding some plants to fill in where there are bare places. I planted some Irises that I got from my mother-in-law last year (she gave me more this year...those haven't made it in the dirt yet), I created my own hanging basket arrangement, and planted a lilac bush.

In all of this, I am finding a spirit of "get things done". I am learning that it feels so good to clean something off your full plate, and beginning to wonder why I have always been such a procrastinator. I am planning on finishing a lot of things I started or had ideas for, that never happened this year. My home needs some serious de-cluttering and decorating. I have hardly and pictures hanging on the walls and I love art!

As much as I love being a part of the online community, I will continue to limit my time spent focusing on this blog. I will probably post a little more at my photoblog. The link can be found near the top of the sidebar on this site, or here: "somephotography" When I get the business site up and running, I plan to include a blog there, as well. So far, my absence here has given me more time to focus on the necessary things, and be less distracted. My home is getting organized, projects are getting done, a business is taking off, and my marriage is more harmonious.

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Well DUH.

posted by sometrouble @ 12:56 AM | Test Category Two | Friday, October 10, 2008

The following post is a duplicate from my other blog, where I will most likely be spending more time in the coming weeks, months, etc. Feel free to check in there for updates if it is slow around here, as I won't be duplicating every post here.

Photo shoots have been few and far between. I have been having some confidence issues; feeling like I don't have enough knowledge, afraid the clients will be disappointed, etc. Mainly, I was afraid to pursue opportunities to take portraits because I felt let down by the results I was getting. I was frustrated that my indoor shots almost always seemed dark, even with my SB600. I couldn't figure out what was wrong with my settings, or my camera, or what I was doing wrong. I couldn't believe that with plenty of overhead room lights on, and with two floodlights in aluminum hardware store lamps, AND my Speedlight (on-camera) the shutter speeds were either too low to avoid blur or the image was dark and extremely lackluster.

Today, I figured it out. I am a complete idiot, that's all. Boy am I relieved to know that compared to the alternative of being a hopeless talent-less failure.

See, several months ago I was searching for help on Speedlight usage (since the Nikon manuals might as well be in Japanese). I found Ken Rockwell's extremely helpful site (www.kenrockwell.com). I'm not blaming Ken for this I'm blaming me for being a little over eager and not paying enough attention to his cautions that went along with the fantastic instructions on using your SB600 with your D70 wirelessly off camera here.

I followed the directions perfectly, played with it a little, and promptly forgot about it. Completely missing the part that says:
"HOW TO RETURN TO NORMAL SHOOTING

This is the bad part: you can't just put the flash back on the camera. It won't even fire if you forget to reset this all. You have to reverse all the settings you made above!

Even worse, if you forget to set the camera's flash back to normal operation you'll go bananas because it will look like it fires each time, however you'll get no flash in your photos! You'll see preflashes, but the on-camera flash doesn't fire for the actual exposure in commander mode. It will look like it's working, but you'll get zero!"

I was going bananas! I found today, when I went back to try these settings again, that the D70 was still set to Commander Mode! Oh boy. What a headache the last few (many) months have been...I can't even remember when I did that...probably at least a year and a half ago.

I haven't tested the theory yet, but I have a hunch that the lighting setup that I was trying to use would actually be adequate (and I was fed up and about to scrap it all and drop a large chunk of change on some Alien Bees strobes). My thought is that the camera may have been compensating its exposure settings (in AUTO mode) expecting the non-functioning flash attached to the hotshoe to fire properly.

2 Comments:

At October 25, 2008 7:19 PM, Blogger Liza said...

I think it is awesome that you at least get clients! You take beautiful pictures, but I totally understand the confidence issues. I don't know how to do much in photoshop, i don't know how to make my pictures look nice and while I have an awesome camera, I don't have a professional camera. I have a lot of people tell me that I should do photography for a living, but I know that I am just not that good.

 
At October 27, 2008 3:43 PM, Blogger Rachel said...

I'm glad that you have figured out the problems with your camera! I think that your pictures on your other site are BEAUTIFUL and it would be a shame for you to not continuing working because of some confidence issues.

I'm loving your baby pictures on the side! So adorable!!

Thanks for stopping by my site :) It's nice to get new readers ... they are few and far between.

 

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Monday Classifieds

posted by sometrouble @ 10:29 AM | Test Category Two | Monday, July 28, 2008


Anybody need a nice brand new fireplace set? We received it as a wedding gift...then we bought a house without a fireplace. After spending two years feeling guilty about getting rid of such a nice gift (that I wanted!) from a close family member, I listed it on craigslist today. I even tried to think of some cute creative way I could use it without having a fireplace. And I just couldn't make it work with our backyard fire pit. I listed it asking for $75 and it cost over $150 new. If you don't live locally, I imagine it will cost a significant amount to ship though...it is heavy.

If you are interested, get a hold of me...if you're not then just ignore this post.

Happy Monday!

1 Comments:

At September 25, 2008 1:32 PM, Blogger Allie said...

Where have you gone, lovely?

 

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This or That

posted by sometrouble @ 10:47 AM | Test Category Two | Friday, July 25, 2008

Why can't life be simpler?
Why can't our choices be clear cut?
Why can't our decisions be easy?
Why can't the pros always far out-weigh the cons?
Why can't we know the impact it will have years from now?

Just when you think you are settled and well adjusted an unexpected opportunity comes along that turns everything upside down. It is a good opportunity...but there are just as many reasons not to do it as there are to go for it.

I wish I could look 20 or 30 years into the future in these two parallel universes and see now which one we are happier in.
Unfortunately, all we can do is speculate and guess which will turn out better...or which will turn out worse.

Why is it easier, when doing a comparison, to pick out the flaws and take the lesser of two evils than it is to see the better of the two opportunities?

2 Comments:

At July 25, 2008 2:09 PM, Blogger Allie said...

I think we make life as simple or complicated as WE want it to be.

Sounds like you like things the way they are, but don't let being comfortable hold you back from exploring something new. Experience is what shapes us into who we are. You have the rest of your life to be settled. Use this time to shake things up!

And will you be hinting at to what this opportunity is? :O)

 
At July 26, 2008 10:52 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I agree with Allie's wise advice and I wish you luck in your decision making process. Often we all know exactly what we want in our gut feeling. Following through to that decision can be really hard tho.

 

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I'd rather be sunbathing

posted by sometrouble @ 12:20 PM | Test Category Two | Monday, June 23, 2008

I'd rather be enjoying the summer...instead I'm being the good, responsible wife and cleaning the house. I know my husband was just being sweet when he sent me the text message this morning reading: "Im glad to have u as my wife." It made my day, and inspired me to get some work done to make him happy. So guys, here's proof that a little sweetness goes a long way. We know you love and appreciate us, we just like to hear it from you. The smallest little ordinary note means more to me than any hallmark card ever could. I don't need him to come home with flowers and gifts all the time...I just love the unexpected note that says exactly what he means and comes straight from his heart. It's the day-to-day love that is the best. Knowing that we are both thrilled to go through life together. Dating was fun, and it built our relationship...but marriage is so much better. Even when we argue, there is no one I'd rather be with through the ups AND downs.

3 Comments:

At June 24, 2008 12:14 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm kinda confused by this. Who says that the wife has to be responsible for doing the cleaning? Good husbands clean house too. You can be a good wife in many ways besides keeping a clean house.

 
At June 26, 2008 2:32 AM, Blogger sometrouble said...

You're right, Rachel...and we do share the cleaning. I said that because I know it is something he appreciates me doing (because then he doesn't have to worry about it); and he does plenty of dirty gross fix-it type stuff that I don't have to worry about. By "responsible" I didn't mean that it was a wife's responsibility...only that I am a wife...and that the house needed cleaning...and since he was at work, and I was home I was being a responsible "adult" (would have been a better word to avoid confusion).

And trust me...I am a good wife in MANY ways. *wink wink* :o)

 
At June 28, 2008 7:21 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

are you guys throwing around any names for potential babies? check out babynamewizard.com, it is addicting and sociologically relevant.

 

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posted by sometrouble @ 11:37 AM | Test Category Two | Tuesday, June 10, 2008


Guess what I was doing last night?
Enjoying the Dave Matthews Band in concert for the first time!
My husband gave me the most awesome birthday gift ever! I have been a fan for over 11 years...and always wanted to see them live, but never had the chance. He knew that, and got me tickets for my birthday. What a sweetie!

This poster hung on my bedroom wall before I got married. It was a gift from my then new step cousin, who also happened to be a huge fan. I suppose if she hadn't moved to California, I probably would have gone to a concert at some point with her. I'm kind of glad I didn't though. During the show Chad leaned over and said "I'm so glad I get to share this with you." Which is exactly how I felt. I wouldn't have wanted to see it any other way.

We saw the show at DTE Energy Music Theatre in Clarkston, MI. It is a very nice venue. You can purchase either pavilion tickets or lawn tickets (cheaper). I am so glad we had pavilion seats, because there was a fantastic thunderstorm during the show. It was perfect! Two of my favorite things, Dave Matthews and a good storm!

One of my first favorite songs of theirs was "Satellite." I remember recording the music video off of MTV on VHS. I'm pretty sure I still have the tape somewhere.

Last night's playlist was:

Everyday
Warehouse
Corn Bread
The Idea Of You
The Dreaming Tree
Grey Street
Gravedigger
Money *
So Damn Lucky
Dancing Nancies
Sister +
Two Step
Crash Into Me
Anyone Seen The Bridge
Too Much
What You Are
You Might Die Trying
Encore:
Hey Hey My My ~
Tripping Billies

Guests:
All songs with Tim Reynolds
All songs with Rashawn Ross

*Pink Floyd cover
~Neil Young cover

The cover of Pink Floyd's "Money" was pretty sweet. I hadn't read anything online about this years Tour, and it was a nice surprise. I'll leave you with one more video of a live performance of another of my favorite songs.

2 Comments:

At June 11, 2008 6:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am so glad you got to go to this. It sounds like a blast. I hope all is well with you and Chad. Talk to you soon.

Sara

 
At August 24, 2008 6:10 PM, Blogger Liza said...

so jealous. i heart me some dave.

 

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