The Showroom

This is what's going on...

here at home....

The nasty FLU has taken over...High fever, headaches, all over muscle pains, they have it all. Add a double ear infection for Manouk, and you have the full picture. 

Oldies...

I'm going through all my 2007 folders (I file per year/month/day) trying to delete or edit what's left. Sadly I must say that since September I hardly have any good catchs from the kids. I thought quitting my job I'd be in their face all the time. Not....

Instead I'm doing nudes, erotic, landscape, street reportage etc....The good thing is that the kids get a break, the bad thing is that are even more difficult to photograph.

About 2 months ago, I bought the b&w actions from Wynona. I just love them. They give great depths and beautiful shadows. Here's Maxim as Penelope, Caroline or Lucy..LOL, that's the name of Nona's actions. I'll get the link to her site when I get a chance. Of course some color ones in between.

Next post, an update....Well many!

    

Some kids of mine...

Finally...................Pictures of my kids...I mean, that's the purpose ofthis blog right?

Tuesday 01/22 is the day and madness as set here. I have about 100 pictures to present at 16:00 CET (just a little thought people would help, even those who are sleeping at that time!LOL).

DH is fed up already (as a man he hates that the attention goes to someone else...Ha! And came up today with some high sugar and cholesterol stories...LOL. I believe you darling you know that!!!!!) and I'm looking fwd to the 3 weeks of freedom hat come afterwards. I think I wil be ok, but you never know. I decided not to show my free work to a mentor before Tuesday. I have 6 of those, and i'm happy about them.

My kids are neglected photo-wise and love it....I miss the little daily details I used to take. So forced myself to take a few shots in the last week.

Nathan's cast (after the blue, an orange one), Manouk telling me she's still 2 for another 4 weeks (and I start to feel depressed about the upcoming birthday) and Maxim sharing DS' tips with his tiger. Life at our house....In color as usual (although I sneaked a bw in between...Loving Nona's bw action Caroline).

    

Pinhole + Fake TTV

What a title!!!LOL

For school we had to make our own  pinhole lens. My first thought was, come on people, I saved every cent I could to buy the best of the best lenses and you're asking me to buy a copper plate, make a pinhole in it and stick it at the back of a body cap to use it as a lens?????

As you can tell, I had my doubts, serious ones too. But well, we had too, so I did it too... That was 2 months ago. And since recently never used it, I still could not see the point. Also if you're anything like me, spending too much time on forums that only swears by sharp photos....Hmm, then you'll stay away from a pinhole lens (as I did). Because sharpness is not the key here...

So I googled, flickered, wasted lots of time on the net and then found this. Or rather found him ... And was sold.

Time is ticking (22/1 is the date) so I really did not give it a good chance but I will play again soon. Once I have made another one, smaller hole. Smaller = sharper. This lens gives you such cool effect. It can be addictive. I know you can buy them too but really making it is really part of the fun.

Then one day I also stumbled across Jackie's blog and was in awe of what she did and created wth her photography. I clicked on every links on her blog and eventually found this. If you are someone who lurks onto this blog, you will see very recently a photographer featured, also using the TTV technique.

I decided to merge the 2 techniques and voila. Nothing too spectacular (yet). But I will try again. I'm loving what the people do with this.

Hope everyone is having a great w/e!

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Birdie!

Once Nathan realised he would be spending much time on his back, watching the garden through the kitchen window, he asked that I'd buy "vet bolletjes" fo the birds. And I did. We have a few of these (or similar) hanging in the back and front gardens.

He then asked me to take a few pictures for his room. Nathan is our nature lover, always digging, looking for something (if possible creepy) that moves around in our garden. So got my 135mm out and shot a few yesterday. Wherever I was in the house, he would screame as hard as he could to get me down there and shoot.

Our little visitor then....

HAPPY NEW YEAR..

(This is the post I prepared yesterday but Typepad would not let me save..Before someone tells me I'm late!LOL)

From us to you! We had a great time going from 2007 to 2008 with friends. Unplanned and a little bit of stress to get everyting ready in time, but all went well. Kids had a blast with the 3 girls that came over. The older ones got out of bed at 11:30 in time for the fireworks!

Ok sorry don't beat me for this (this is for the Dutch readers), but honnestly I think you need to be born here to really appreciate the hours of repeated loud noise and blinding lights!LOL. My boys were born here and loved every minute. I ran for cover everytime one of these things went off. Made the whole street have a good laugh at my expense! Well so be it, vuurwerk just makes me edgy.

Enjoyed the champagne, went way too late to bed....And felt so tired this morning when Manouk (who slept the whole ordeal through..Now how is that even possible???) asked for breakfast. I mean it felt like I had just dived into my bed....

2007 was a good year. Despite what happened, it was a GREAT year, just because I stopped working, started school again and got to spend so much quality time with the kids. A real turning point, taken with fear, but as it now seems, for no reasons. It feels like years ago that I ever worked as an IT consultant....

I remembered that not so long ago (well in May actually, I need to check my archives) I had made a list of 10 things to do this year. Need to get it out and check what actually did happen!

Not sure what will happen in 2008 but I think it's going the right way already....