Saturday, January 7, 2012

2012 Project 366 {El Dorado County Portrait Photographer}

January 1, 2012

So, I’ve joined the ranks of the “take one picture per day for a year” crowd. I take pictures frequently.  In fact, I’ve probably taken tens of thousands of pictures just last year.  I know I threw away more than 10,000 photos as I was going thru 2011 to find “The Best of 2011″ (which I will be posting later on.)  So, taking pictures every day is not really a challenge.  Taking good and/or meaningful pictures every day is a challenge and I see that I ran up against the wall just this week.

For day one I had several options…an 8 point buck, a flock of turkeys, my husband’s New Year’s Day food and pics of my family.  I will usually opt for a people picture, and especially a family picture, over other things any day of the week, so I thought this one of my daughter, her boyfriend and my husband with champagne glasses would be a good start to the new project.

January 2, 2012

January 2, 2012 was all about recovery.  My husband and I were home alone after several weeks of enjoying lots of company and Christmas celebration.  I love Christmas time because there’s lots of stuff going on and we get to host lots of people.  However, I also enjoy quiet evenings at home with my husband.  We watched football and movies and my husband cooked a simple Cheeseburger with freshly ground meat, cheddar cheese and marinated red onions.  We also had green beans with toasted almonds.  Simple, but luxurious and very tasty.  We even sat in front of the tv and watched “A Perfect Murder”, which was based on the Hitchcock movie, “Dial M for Murder” that we saw the night before.

January 3, 2012

On January 3, 2012, while Obie and I were out for a walk, I saw this tree and found it very “appealing”!  The ant was a bonus.

January 4, 2012

The next day I had quite a few photos to choose from because I was looking for things to photograph for a weekly challenge I participate in. I was photographing one of my favorite places when the sun started to go down.  It didn’t look like it was going to be a good sunset, but I waited and my patience paid off.

January 5, 2012

I admit that it was a rather slow day at the Schmautz Haus on January 5 and so I resorted to taking pictures of the wildlife.  It’s not a particularly good picture, so I will try to do better.

January 6, 2012

Day 6 was relatively uneventful until I decided to remove my outdoor Christmas decorations and discovered that my socks exactly matched one of my Christmas snowflake decorationss. I was delighted with this and couldn’t help but take a picture of it.  Actually, I took several pictures, but this was the best one.  The women in my family (my daughter and myself) love to wear colorful or interesting socks. In fact, we go out of our way to buy each other fun socks when we come across them.  So, this photo is probably only exciting to me (and perhaps my daughter.)

January 7, 2012

Finally today’s entry was all about another challenge.   The Challenge group I belong to has a new photography challenge every week.  The picture must be taken during the week of the challenge.  This week I got to choose the challenge subject because I won the challenge from the previous week. (Yea me!) So, I chose Depth of Field (or bokeh).  A shallow depth of field generally involves focusing on one thing in the photo, while the rest of the photo blurs out.  The blurred out portion of the photo either helps to tell the story or becomes indistinguishable.  The viewer’s eyes are drawn to the item that is sharply in focus. I got the idea for this picture while I was taking down my Christmas decorations.  This isn’t necessarily the photo that I will be submitting, but practice makes perfect.

Hopefully I will become more creative thru the process of taking a meaningful picture every day.

If you’d like to set up a photoshoot for you or a family member, or if you are interested in purchasing any of my photos, please contact me at schmautzhaus@sbcglobal.net or visit my website:  Sierra Springs Photography

Posted in My Life Tags: , , ,

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Thursday, December 22, 2011

Containing Edmond Elf (El Dorado County Portrait and Elf Photographer)

 

When last we saw Edmond Elf, he was outside waiting for a mysterious visitor (after getting into the eggnog.)  As it began to grow dark, Edmond realized that his visitor was not going to show that day. He assured me that his visitor would show up, but Edmond must have gotten his days mixed up (stupid Ephone).  So, he encouraged me to dust off my Christmas piano music and play some tunes that he could sing along. So, I obliged the little elf and turned to some of my favorites. Edmond, of course, favored anything having to do with Santa, elves or toys. Although his favorite is Joy to the World.

Some of the traditional songs I played inspired him to check out one of my nativity scenes. He was absolutely enthralled with the baby Jesus and sat quietly while I played “Silent Night”, “We Three Kings” and “Away in the Manger”.  He told me my playing was magical, but I scoffed and told him he was probably just emotional about the whole meaning of Christmas.

Don’t say anything to him, but his voice isn’t very good, although he sings with great enthusiasm. I was hoping that he was done with the singing because it was beginning to make my ears bleed, but as I sit here writing this, I can hear him  “Fa la la la la-ing”  in another part of the house.  Frankly, I’m not in any hurry to see what he’s up to now, considering what he got into after the singing.

After I finished playing I thought it was safe to leave the room for a while.  But as I walked by the living room later on, I saw that he was terrorizing a small Christmas village that my youngest son sets up every Christmas on top of the piano.

The Villagers all seemed to be running from him in terror as he merrily yelled out, “Fe Fi Ho Ho Hum, I smell Christmas Cookies,” and “Bring out your Sweets” and other terrifying commands.   Sigh.  I asked him to please leave the peaceful villagers alone and help me clean the house for Christmas Cleaning Day.  That seemed like a good idea to him and he hopped off the piano to help me out.

He quickly lost interest in cleaning when he saw that it involved wet rags, brooms and smelly sprays that did not in the slightest smell like Christmas or cookies baking.

He found his chance to be a treetop Elf Angel and without any Lightning Bolt throwing angels around, he climbed the “tree” and declared himself Master of the Universe or some such nonsense. When I didn’t make any sort of comment, he hopped off the tree and ran down the hall shouting, “Run, run as fast as you can.  You can’t catch me I’m the Ginger-Elf Man”. (Note to self:  Stop reading Children’s Stories to Edmond.)

I didn’t pay much attention to him until I heard paper ripping.  Then I did run down the hall and here’s what greeted my wondering eyes:

My sudden entry into the other room startled him and caused him to fall into the package that he had opened up.

Serves the little imp right.  He told me he thought it was an early Christmas present for him because it had his hat on the outside. And even if it wasn’t an early Christmas present for him, he saw that it wasn’t wrapped very well, so he was trying to rewrap it for me.

“You know, Edmond”, I said with a large sigh. “I do not have time today to be chasing after you and cleaning up your messes. Company is arriving at the house tomorrow and I needed to get the house in shape. “  He said he thought the house looked pretty good, but probably needed more lights and maybe another Christmas tree or two.  He offered to help.  I don’t know what got into me, but I decided that I needed to contain him for a while just so I could get some things done around the house, finish wrapping (and re-wrapping) Christmas gifts and do a little cooking.

So…I contained him.

At least I put him in a Christmas cup.

(no elves were hurt during the filming of this post.)

Contact me for a quick portrait session after Christmas to update your Social Media.  Quick, painless and great pics.  schmautzhaus@sbcglobal.net

 

 

Posted in Adventures of Edmond Elf, Christmas, My Life
Saturday, December 17, 2011

Getting into the “Spirit” of the Season {El Dorado County Portrait and Elf Photographer}

When I got home last night it seemed a little quiet and then when I walked into the kitchen, I was greeted by this. What in the world was Edmond Elf up to now?

I decided that I wouldn’t interfere unless he got into real trouble just because I was curious to see what he would do.  He eventually discovered that if he flapped his one arm and kicked his legs, he could swing the door. I still wasn’t quite sure what he was up to, but I did think it was more than just swinging around on a cabinet door.

He apparently enjoyed swinging around, because he swung back and forth a couple of times before he collapsed inside the cabinet in a fit of giggles. He is a merry little elf.

 

It seemed that Edmond wanted to try some Eggnog, which I wouldn’t have minded. All he had to do was ask. However he had other ideas.  He apparently spent the afternoon watching old Christmas movies and got the idea that the eggnog needed to be spiced up with more than nutmeg.

So, when he got down the whiskey, dragged out the eggnog , and began to unscrew the top off the whiskey, I thought it was time to step in before he got into big trouble. When he saw me, he tried to make up some story about a friend coming by and how rude it would be if he didn’t show his friend some hospitality.  I suggested that there are other ways to show your “friends” hospitality. And when he took one whiff of the Whiskey, and just about keeled over, he agreed.

Anyway, he said he had a better idea about how to greet his “friend” and hurried out the door while I was cleaning up his project.

Hmmmm, maybe he really was expecting a visitor. I wonder who?

For a quick portrait shoot that’s painless and easy, contact me at schmautzhaus@sbcglobal. and we can set up an appointment.

Posted in Adventures of Edmond Elf, Christmas
Friday, December 16, 2011

Whatever Happened to Peace on Earth? (El Dorado County Portrait and Elf Photographer)

Edmond Attacks the Santas

I was just beginning to think that Edmond had been fairly good since his last adventure.  I figured “Cookie”, his girlfriend, was a good influence on him.  He had made a beautiful Christmas card and he was keeping a low profile.  Unfortunately, I was wrong.   This morning, as I rounded the corner the above scene greeted me!  What?

Shock and Awe

I have developed a little Santa Collection over the years and I put them by the front door to greet any visitors that may come by at Christmas time.  Apparently, Edmond decided he would have a little fun with these Santas.  He dragged a bag of mini-marshmallows into the entry and began pelting the unsuspecting Santas.  Several of them fell over out of shock.  The rest were in awe of what the little elf was capable of. I guess he figured he was already in the “Naughty” category, so he might as well go all the way.  No sooner had I shooed him away so that I could clean up the carnage (no Santas were hurt during the filming of this post), when I heard the candy jar top being unscrewed.

I hurried into the other room, and discovered this:

Edmond Pop

I need to apologize to the men in my life because I had accused them of eating all the candy when all along it was this little imp.  The bad thing is that he wasn’t the least bit remorseful.  In fact, he was rather proud of his accomplishment and offered me first lick.

Edmond put in his thumb and pulled out a pop

I didn’t think that was a good idea, so I told him that I was on a diet.  He looked a little hurt, so I assured him that it was the thought that counted.  Probably the whole candy thing was a ruse because just as I was beginning to relax a bit, he was off on his real mission:  to challenge the Angel Christmas Tree Topper.

Edmond Challenges the Angel

Luckily, she’s not quite as sweet and gentle as she looks.  She put the potential coup down in one quick lightning bolt aimed just past the little elf to teach him not to fool with her.  I was a little surprised because I had never seen that side of her before. (Note to self:  Don’t tick off the Angels.)

I think that whole episode scared a little bit of sense into Edmond because he hurried away and hid.  Unfortunately, he’s not very good at hiding.  I found him  in the basket of Santa hats with his hands covering his eyes.  I guess he figures that if he can’t see me, I can’t see him. I pretended like I didn’t see him so he would stay there for a while waiting for me to find him.  Every time I walk by the basket I hear giggling.  I’m sure he will figure it out soon enough and then I will have my hands full.  But, for the time being I’ll let him think I’m still looking for him.

Edmond "hides" in the Santa Hats

PS. you may be wondering why I have a basket of Santa hats.  When you visit my house at Christmas time, we always invite you to get into the spirit and wear a Santa Hat.  You would be surprised at how wearing a Santa Hat can brighten your day and make others feel good too.  Joy! to the World Christ the Savior is born.

If you would like a mini portrait shoot, contact me at schmautzhaus@sbcglobal.net.  I’ll make sure I leave Edmond at home.

 

Posted in Adventures of Edmond Elf, Christmas, My Life Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Sunday, December 11, 2011

Christmas Cards and Edmond the Elf (El Dorado County Portrait and Elf Photographer)

Edmond Finds a Girlfriend

Edmond apparently got into my digital scrapbooking stash overnight and created a few items for me. Ever since he saw the Shelf Elf with the cute Barbie in a flashy Barbie car, he’s been busy trying to find a suitable companion for himself. He rummaged around until he found “Cookie”, but she came with a reindeer chaperone. He seemed to be okay with that because she is such cute “arm candy”.

He also got into the spirit of Christmas decorating by decorating a Christmas Card.

Edmond's Christmas Card

I don’t think he understands the fine art of subtlety.  Here’s a piece of advice, Edmond: Less is more.

Anyway, my oldest son and his darling girlfriend stopped by last night on their way to a Christmas party at a local winery (Miraflores).  So I snapped a few photos of them while they were here and all dolled up. I put together a sweet little Christmas card with one of the pics.

Of course, not to be outdone, Edmond had to get into the act and again inserted himself (literally)…

Edmond inserts himself

It’s kind of  ironic that Edmond would do this to an otherwise lovely Christmas card because my oldest has always been a ham and frequently tweeks me by doing something goofy in a picture.  Payback is a bother.

I don’t know where he gets his weird sense of humor…

Anyway, as I was getting ready to post this, I happened to find this very lovely Christmas card underneath a pile of digital scrapbooking stuff that Edmond neglected to put away.  My sentiments exactly.

.

Never a dull moment around here.

 

If you’d like to have a portrait to help you remember these types of moments, contact me at schmautzhaus@sbcglobal.net

 

Posted in Adventures of Edmond Elf, Beautiful women, Christmas, family, My Life

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