Last Wedding of 2007

I know, it's a little bit late but this is kind of a nice, slow time for me so I'm working on an album for this couple, Jake and Liz. These are a couple of my favorites:

iPod Video Available

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my Jason!

Just had to post another photo of my cool, little Nano. I've been experimenting with photo slideshows and adding video. I watched a bunch of photography podcasts while travelling to and from Ohio, too.

So, now - if your order qualifies for a DVD slideshow, I will also add the same slideshow to your iPod. My Nano is an eight gig and I must warn you, these files aren't small.

BTW - the Nano is sitting on my Circa Planner from Levenger. This paper-based calendar system is working so well for me. I love being able to punch things like the prayer list from church and add it right into my church notes section. I have a plastic, zip-lock envelope in the front to hold my receipts and coupons. A divider in the back holds my stamps and return address envelopes. Everything seems to be right where I need it now.

My time lapse documentary photos are posted on the right - they record the changes in my backyard as we move to the first day of spring in NW Illinois. Oddly, and unfortunately, there haven't been ANY changes except to get another 1/2 inch of snow yesterday. Aaacckkk -

24 Days Until Spring

I'm going to shoot out the back of my house to note the dramatic changes that will occur over the next month. It gives us hope! Yikes, what a winter we have had in 2008.

Jason's Third Birthday

He looks older than that, doesn't he? That's because he was born 02/29/96 so, this is only the third time he's had a real birthday. We had a great time celebrating with his friends at the skating rink and also seeing both of their basketball games.

He's definitely not a little boy any more. Jason is becoming more independent, letting his hair grow, creating his own MySpace page and excelling in most everything he tries. He will always be my fist grandson and hold a special and dear place in my heart.

If you want to see more check out the video at:
Jason is Three

Newborn Jacob - how Sweet!

This has simply got to be THEE best part of being a photographer - seeing a newborn in the very first days of his life and capturing some of those fleeting looks. The wrinkly and flaky skin, skinny legs, curled up legs and wispy hair. Add to that two escstatic parents and it's just beautiful. Meet Jacob at nine days old -

Tragedy at NIU in DeKalb

This time the news of the university shooting has struck VERY close to home. DeKalb is located seventy miles from Freeport and many, many residents either attend currently or have graduated from NIU - myself and my son, Andrew, included. When he called me last Thursday with the news at about 3:15 pm we had no idea it was going to be so disastrous. Andrew graduated with a Biology degree and I finished with a degree in Economics so, we are both familiar with the area of Cole Hall.

My heart goes out to the family and friends who spent some uncertain time waiting to hear that their loved ones were safe. It also makes me worry for my daughter who teaches at a law school in Iowa because we see, again, that it can happen any where. We have reinforced our knowledge of emergency procedures at the college where I work but we are still left with unease and worry.

New Bucket Tote Purse

I couldn't wait to open the box with this sweet little bucket bag in it yesterday. I chose to have a photo on each side and black lining. It's a heavy, tight lining with a zipper pocket inside and a key fob. It has a snap closure with these jaunty red handles plus four little metal feet. I got it just in time to take it out with me for our Valentine's dinner at Imperial Palace. Wow, Freeport restaurants were jam-packed last night.

The length of the 20" handles is just perfect and I could have chosen pink for the lining instead.

Awh, Sweet -

This was my surprise Valentine gift from my sweetie this morning. I thought he was getting me a plant! Our iPod is old but, of course, it still works. I have been yearning for a new one that lets me take my photos with me and listen to photography podcasts that are done in video.

I put all of Erin's birthday photos on it this morning and it hardly used any room at all. I was able to set transitions for the photo slideshow and even add music to it. It's just too cool!

Abby Jo - My Great Niece

I'm finally getting some things caught up and it feels SO good. While making this CD for my niece of photos that I shot last June (yes, it was a long time ago) I came across this one of my great niece, Abby Jo. We had a fine time sitting on the stairs of their beautiful home, just chatting and taking some photos. Little girls are such sweet subjects, aren't they? Aren't her pouty lips just lucious?


I received a new catalog yesterday from CWD Kids I just love these kid's clothes but haven't tried them yet so I can't attest to the quality. The designs are really colorful and fresh.

Boys and Girls Club

Yesterday I had the privilege to meet and photograph some beautiful young people. I was asked to donate to the silent auction part of the Red and White Ball scheduled for next Saturday at the Masonic Temple. It is meant to be a fund raiser to help re-open the Boys and Girls Club. As Teresa and I talked, we came up with a plan to let people know who these kids actually are and what they look like.

So, I met them at the MLK Center which houses the Boys and Girls Club. Everybody showed up on time and looking fine. A few of the kids were a little nervous, but wow, do I love these images of them.

Here's the link to a slideshow if you want to see a bunch more!

Inspired by Tara Whitney

I started following a couple of photographers a few years ago when we were all very active on Two Peas in a Bucket. This is an all-encompassing site for scrapbookers: shopping, message boards, inspiration, etc. Two that I continue to follow as they have transformed into professional photographers are Tara Whitney, Brenda Acuncius and Marie Cox.

I always come across things that pique my interest on Tara Whiteney's blog. This is from a recent post regarding a YouTube video:

BTW - YouTube is extrememly educational. I have found and watched countless tutorials on photography, lighting, photoshop, etc.

Erin Turns Three - Priceless

• Gas for trip to Iowa City - $55.00
• Bedding for Big-Girl bed - $145.00
• Hannah Anderson Outfit - xxxx
• Being in church to witness Kelby protect his little sister in front of the whole Sunday School group while Happy Birthday was sung to her, watching him stroke and kiss her little head - PRICELESS
  
  
  When Erin turned three last week her big-girl bed arrived and the the "bees" were supposed to depart - or fly-away. She loves her bees so much that they haven't decided to go yet. She calls her pacifiers bees as many are shaped like bees.
  
  We had our our little photo session in her room with the new pretty and bright bedding that was our birthday/Christmas gift to her. She will just pose and pose. I was ecstatic to get just the right light coming in her windows to truly capture her beautiful blue eyes.
  
  

Photoshop User TV on "Real TV"

I'm a big fan of Scott Kelby. I have read several of his books, gone to his workshops, and a few years ago signed up for kelbytraining.com. At that time, I was just learning to use Photoshop and so I bought a monthly membership to watch videos on all kinds of Photoshop tutorials.

Now, Kelby Training has added loads more high-quality short videos on a wider range of topics, including photography. I just started another month of watching videos and I've picked up some great tips. I highly recommend it.

Also, I see on my Google page today that Photoshop User TV is going to have a few time slots on Fox TV. Central time is scheduled for Wednesday at 12:30 am so, I'll be setting my DVR to record it. Kelby is super entertaining along with informative. Check it out!

Another benefit related to Scott Kelby is the National Association of Photoshop Professionals (NAPP). He is the president of this organization and membership buys you some valuable benefits. For intstance, I buy most of my photography equipment from BH Photo Video and NAPP members receive free shipping. That pays for the membership price right there. Photoshop User magazine, another benefit of NAPP membership, comes eight times a year and I read it cover-to-cover for all the great tutorials.

Kelby's Room - again

Kelby's Room - again
Originally uploaded by NmB Photography

More photos from last year - this time from way last July but I thought I had lost them and was SO relieved that they were still on my backup hard drive. Praise the Lord. It makes me feel so uncomfortable and uneasy when I think I have lost photos. I always back up to DVD as well as this new 500g external hard drive, but one time, just one time, I permanently deleted photos that weren't backed up. Horrors!!!

Yes, it takes that much room to backup my photos. Using a 12mp camera and shooting in raw creates some montrous files which I am loathe to ever delete.

the Rucky goes to School

the Rucky goes to School
Originally uploaded by NmB Photography

This is my daughter on her way to teach at the U of I law school last September. She looked so overloaded with this bags that she would certainly tip over. She gets a much better parking space (and conserves gas) by driving the smalles motorcycle that Honda makes.

Sophie and her Brand New Family from Iowa

I was touched to meet Kerri and Eric's new daughter, Sophie, last October. The couple are long-time friends of my daugher, Dawn, and they all live in Iowa City now. The met while getting their undergrad degrees at Luther (all but Dawn) and then got their advanced degrees at the U of I. Anyway, after a long and arduous process they are blessed by this sweet little addition to their family.

The photo session actually occurred on Oct 28 (my birthday) and that is when we were celebrating Kelby's 6th birthday. It makes me miss the green and yellow glorious colors of summer and fall SO much. Especially since we have received about another seven inches of snow this week in NW Illinois.

Sophie is nine months old in these photos and it was just fascinating to hear about their experiences in China and about how Sophie started her life there. She just seemed so comfortable and relaxed to me - different than I expected. It seemed like she had been a part of their family since birth!

Brand New Pettiskirt

Morgan, from my session on Saturday morning, wasn't nearly as thrilled with my new pettiskirt as I was. We had already taken lots of family photos and things were starting to go a little down-hill with this beautiful two-year-old. We did manage to get a few, though. She has such amazing, blue eyes and lashes. The sucker worked as a bribe for only a limited period of time!

Sweetest Six-Month Old

Emmory's Mom purchased the "Cuter Every Day" package so I get to see her grow and change during her first year. How cool is that? I love, love, love being around babies and young moms. Six months couldn't be a better age, could it? The kiddos are so smiley and happy to stay where you put them (pretty much anyway).

Emmory looks like she might be a gymnast when she grows up!

New Year's Resolutions 2008

Do you make, and KEEP, New Year's Resolutions? Since all the family is gone now(boo-hoo) and it's time to de-clutter the house of Christmas crap (sorry)I always think about making great plans to clean the closets, shelves, drawers, drapes, etc. I bought a new organizer from Levenger "planning" to be able to track all my photography projects better. There are SO many details that accompany each project.

Our family had a great Christmas together. We were so blessed to have Molly in relatively good health and she seems so much more relaxed (understandably). There were 13 of in the house for about 48 hours and we did great getting along and helping each other. We even got a family photo session accomplished which isn't that easy - definitely not something that will occur every year. Especially since I don't have a backdrop wide enough for thirteen people. I was all set to do another sucker photo of the five grandkids and completely forgot about it. Dawn got my business bookkeeping pretty caught up in QuickBooks so, that was awesome, too!

We played SO many new and old games: Qwerkle, Family Feud, Battleship, Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader, Wii Guitar Hero, and, of course, Euchre

Here are a couple of the photos that I love because my little girls are having SO much fun with Aunt Molly -

Before the Crash

Before the Crash
Originally uploaded by NmB Photography

This was the shot I got just before i realized my son-in-law was jumping OVER my grandson rather than stopping him. Seconds later my camera was in the snow and I was cut off at the shins. Therefore, I fell directly onto my chest, bruising my ribs. Wow - I was shocked. But, I got this shot of Lars about to be airborne over Kelby at Krape Park. This is some extreme sledding. I understand our ER has seen MANY people since the sledding here was was fast and furious.