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NmB Photography Blog

Website Update

Yeah - nmbphotography.com is working again. I still have to transfer galleries and create web pages ;-) I had no idea how complicated it was to transfer a domain name OR that I didn't really need to do it. Oh well, I learned more in the process.

BTW - my email address is changing to nmbphotography@gmail.com

Now, if I could just decide on which Blackberry/smartphone to buy? Anybody have any suggestions? At this point, I'm learning towards a Blackberry Curve. My Verizon store still doesn't have the Storm as there have been some bugs and updates to fix and I wasn't very fond of my son's when I got to try it out. I would totally choose an iPhone if AT&T had decent service where I live.

New Blog and Website Coming

Please bear with me - it's a crazy time to be doing this but I'm in the process of switching to a new web hosting company and my blog will be located at the same address. Meanwhile, www.nmbphotography.com is not functioning but VERY soon I will have a new, beautiful blog.

Thanks for you patience!

Look at these Seniors!

Wow, I've had fun working with some seniors lately. Since I'm kind of behind on this, I'm going to show the last ones to you all on one date. Not to minimize them, but just to get these great faces out there!

First comes Heather from Stockton:





Then there's Josh from Freeport High School. He has such a great face; very expressive.




And just finished Halley today:

Sunrise over Lake Havasu

Sunrise over Lake Havasu
Originally uploaded by NmB Photography

Let's see, this was last Saturday morning of our vacation week. I had just photographed the Grand Canyon at sunrise on Friday morning. but this was a MUCH, much warmer project. I took many photos up there, too, but I have too many backed up photography projects right now. I'll post more later, though.

Gosh, it was wonderful to see my extended family for my sister's 50th anniversary celebration!

Preparing for Vacation

OK, I am going to finally blog about Weight Watchers. Not very photography related except that losing weight makes me a better one - being able to bend, squat, jump up and down off of stools, etc. are all easier without so much weight holding me down.

Weight Watcher's has an amazing set of e-tools which makes points calculating a snap. I'm utilizing the Tools for Living by creating a strategy for maintaining my 15 pound weight loss while on vacation. I've just been to the store, mostly to buy my favorite Ego whole wheat waffles, but also to purchase healthy snacks that I can take with me so I will be ready when I need them. I'm taking Pringles Stix that my friend Jeanne told me about - they are a two point snack and really yummy. I'm also taking single servings of light microwave popcorn, apples and 3 pt granola bars.

This is a birthday gift from my two girls and families and I spent quite a while yesterday figuring out how it works and downloading some music to pump me up when I'm out walking. It's the Nike + iPod sensor kit. The sensor tracks your run, then sends the data to your iPod.
As you run, your iPod tells you your time, distance, pace, and calories burned. And it gives you feedback at the halfway point and in the final lead-up to your goal. You can also see the details of your workout on your iPod.

I can't wait to try it out this afternoon - amazing to me that I'm even saying that! Mind you, I'm not to the running stage yet so I also loaded a podcast called Couch to 5K - that's pretty much my speed right now. My girls have been super supportive during this first six weeks with Weight Watchers and I think that's so incredibly sweet of them.

Mindy & Shawn are Engaged!

I love it when everything comes together: beautiful weather, beautiful sky, beautiful couple! We met at Wolf Hollow Golf course in Lena, where Shawn had proposed, and jumped on a couple of golf carts to beat the setting sun. I am so impressed with the beauty of this course and Shawn & Mindy's willingness to "go out on a limb" to capture these spectacular images. Wow, thanks! Here's a link to their slideshow if you would like to see more -

Grandchildren Update

I'm a little behind because I have travelled to see all my grandchildren in the past month. After the trip to Chicago, we headed out to Ohio at the very beginning of October. We thought we would be seeing two football games, but plans changed a little when Jason broke his leg during his third game of the season. He was unbelievably disappointed to learn that not only would he not be able to play any more football for the season, but he could not play basketball for his 7th grade class either.



So, Nic has taken over the football limelight playing center and being involved in every single play for his fifth grade team, the Raiders.



Two weeks ago I went to Iowa to see both of my sisters, AND to watch Kelby's flag football game and Erin's ballerina class. What a hoot - Kelby was fairly prancing with joy as he dodged and weaved to evade the flag stealers.



Last, I took many photos of Erin and the other three-year-old ballerinas learning to be graceful with tap shoes and little soft ballet slippers. They spent most of the time doing their own thing but I can see graceful potential in this pretty little girl -

Kim's Family

Kim is Erin and Kelby's former babysitter but also a very dear friend of my daughter's family.


Kim drove her four siblings from Iowa to create a special Christmas gift for their parents and we planned it about four months ago! We had just a great time - they were tons of fun. Here are a couple of my favorites plus the link to their slideshow if you'd like to see more of Kim, Michelle, Megan, Abby and Michael.

Quite a Week

What a busy week but everything was great - the last event, the Eagles concert at the United Center sort of did us in. We rolled into bed at 2:00 am as the band amazingly played until 11:30 for a total of three hours with one short break. I had never been to the United Center before so, I was unbelievably excited to go. People that Jim works with in Chicago invited us to join them in a Club Box and our parking spot was sweet. Don Henley and Glen Frey sounded the same as ever and Joe Walsh was SO entertaining. The light show and videos that they project were inspirational.

On Monday, I attended the ProLight Seminar put on by Hansan Fong and John Woodward after staying on Sunday night to see Paige (and family). I got to go to her school and help her with her homework - yes, she's four!

Dinna and Andrew entered these photos in the Gap Casting Call Contest

Morgan and Chase

Last month I travelled to Iowa City again for a photo session with these charming children. The day was perfect and after some scouting we decided to meet at the Herbert Hoover library grounds in West Branch which is about ten minutes from my daughter's house. Morgan and Chase were so relaxed and comfortable being photographed so, we really got to explore several different locations there. I'd love to do another session there as the library and grounds are quite spectacular. These kids are so darn cute.

Lannie and Scott's Wedding

Beautiful bride, beautiful day, beautiful kids, and beautiful family - that's why I love being part of these special days. The church had a vaulted lobby with an additional layer of windows which made for some sweet light. Please see more images from the date in their preview slideshow.

First Climb

On Tuesday I had the opportunity to travel with the first Wind Techician program at Highland. The sixteen guys were SO thrilled to be going to the top. It was such a beautiful day to be outside taking photos in the middle of the great blue sky and a corn field.

Nicole Van Photography

I have been a huge fan of Nicole Van's photography for a long time. I noticed one of her images today in my Flickr Contacts and jumped over to her blog for a look. Wow, does she have some great tips for new photographers. I'm always impressed when experienced photographers really take the time to explain the technical AND creative side of photography in their blogs. The first photo on her portrait site won a huge award by the Professional Photographer's Association.

Sharing Flickr Slideshows

I'm taking a graduate-level Podcasting course so I can help my faculty create audio lectures. One of the links in the course, Podcasting News, just pointed out that I can embed Flickr slideshows into a web page - very cool! I check and upload photos to Flickr almost every day. I just found and added Barack Obama as a contact.

This slideshow is from Kelby's birthday party two years ago, before I got my current camera.

Urban Dictionary

Another interesting piece of internet importance was delivered today from Molly (along with my black shorts). This was a clipping from her paper describing the Urban Dictionary and one entry in particular. Follow the link and find out how a "mouse potato" is defined - could she be describing me??

Highland started this week and we have ben SO busy. Between photography for the nursing wing fundraising campaign and teaching brand new students how to use our instructional technology, I'm exhausted at the end of each day. Oh, how I miss Eric Welch, my old boss.

Our enrollment is up 3% this fall and we have more brand new, traditional students than we have ever had before. I'm impressed how faculty can lecture for four hours/day. It's HARD. Thankfully, they are also very experienced in crowd control. These new students can be a little rowdy at the beginning of the semester, but magically they turn into mature students who assume responsibility for their own learning. While we have physical disturbances at our high school, I have never witnessed (or heard) any of that at Highland.

We are having a great time with events for our internal fundraising for the new nursing wing. Yesterday, was a Survivor event with Karaoke and American Idol to follow. You can see lots of images from the groundbreaking ceremony right up to what's happening today at the Highland website. BTW - I take most of the middle photos on our home page. Thanks for looking.

Hiptionary

hiptionary
Originally uploaded by NmB Photography

OMG we have had so much fun with this little black book that Molly brought when they came home a few weeks ago. Lots of terms in here to help 50-something year-olds stay kewl with our peeps (grandchildren).

Into the Clouds

Into the Clouds
Originally uploaded by NmB Photography

From a recent session of Andrew climbing to the top of the 13th green behind our house. I was drawn to the huge bank of clouds that I often see above the green from my kitchen window.

The very next night, my husband called me to grab my camera to shoot a huge mama doe and her two tiny ones in exactly this same place. Alas, my camera wasn't ready in time -

Cousins

Cousins
Originally uploaded by NmB Photography

Another photo from last Friday in Dubuque. Erin was quite happy and adept at orchestrating this "session" and the following one with just girls. She is very good working with Grandma and the camera. Katherine (on the left) isn't usually this outgoing but who can resist Erin's smiling face here. Click here to see the slideshow

Ann Marie

Ann Marie
Originally uploaded by NmB Photography

I've experienced a couple of firsts in the last couple of days. Last night I finally met my great-niece, Ann Marie, and today I'm watching the olympic opening ceremonies in hi-def.

Both events are amazing!

Just the Five of Us

Just the Five of Us
Originally uploaded by NmB Photography

Got some good ones of all five kids this time: from left Nic, Erin, Kelby, Paige and Jason. We had an incredible time last weekend with everybody home but Andrew. We went to Cannova's Thursday night and to the lake on Friday with just Molly's family. Saturday morning, eight of us (not me) ran in the Lincoln-Douglas 5K with Lars getting first in his age group. There's a video on the Journal Standard website of Dawn and Dinna finishing. That night we went to the UD and Cruise Night. I just could not believe how many people were downtown for that. Saturday the whole group went to the lake.

It was eventful, too. Jim had to spade a ground hog to death in front of Jason. Our dog, Bogie, had him in a death grip and neither animal would cry uncle. Then, at the lake, Jim and the two girls made the mistake of all sitting on one side of the picnic table and it tipped over spilling them all onto the cement. Each one of them got scraped up but were able to laugh about it. We did SO much laughing ...

Erin's Eyes

Erin's Eyes
Originally uploaded by NmB Photography

I only had time for a few shots of Erin this past weekend. They were only there for 24 hours on the first stop of their week-long vacation.

This photo made it to Explore's Most Interesting today, July 23, 2008. Haven't had a photo there since February! Yeah - that's a big deal for me. See Flickr for my processing information.

Alicia & Dayne

June 28, 2008 - a day that is memorable on many levels. Alicia & Dayne were married outside on her mother's property and their day started out just gloriously perfect. Then, the wind picked up (that's a subtle way of saying we had 50 mp winds). And yet, the bride was stunningly gorgeous and the groom was happy and loving every minute of it. These are just a couple of my favorites from downtown and the fainting couch. More photos in their slideshow. You may wonder why we are in front of a power plant?? Dayne & Alicia are both electricians and that was his great suggestion!

Bright Eyes

Hailey was so happy for her nine-month session. I can't believe our next session with be our last one already. The first image is my very favorite!

So This is Where Sunflower Seeds Come From

So This is Where Sunflower Seeds Come From
Originally uploaded by NmB Photography

I love to wander the grounds of the Highland campus and capture the beautiful flower images that our crew create for us.

4th of July

Ah, it's been a busy start to the holiday weekend. I got to have Paige for three whole days (she and I were both very excited). She's so independent for a four-year-old - knows when to take her medicine, how much, when it's time for the vitamins, when to give the dogs treats and dog food and which song is the best on her CD. We went to the Freeport library (first time for her) and checked out eight books. It is a 'novel' idea to her to return a book. The library has some great, educational toys and we even met a little girl there that we later saw at the swimming pool. After our trip to Union Dairy, we sat in Debate Square and just acted silly together. The little park is being improved in readiness for our sesquicentennial celebrations. There are a couple of photos of her on my website.

Today is mine, though, and I've just returned from picking up two pieces of Great-Grandma's maple furniture that Paul, at Celia's redid for me. I love the way they turned out. Shabby chic worked out perfectly. Now, I have to get busy and get a couple of new lights and probably different rugs for the living room where the two pieces are at home again.

Just found this blog and really love the tie-in with reading and photography - two of my very favorite things. I arrived there while googling the Wordpress blogging software. I think I want to combine my blog and website if I can figure out how to do it!