Summer Break

For five and a half years, we have happily brought you Focusing on Life. We've loved every minute of it but this summer we decided we needed a creative break. We will do something we've never done - take off the months of July and August. 

We plan to use this time to relax, spend time with family and friends, catch up on personal projects and recharge our creative batteries. 

One of our stated objectives is to create a safe, welcoming community for creatives to share their art. We believe we've done this so we encourage you to continue to share your art with us on our Flickr page and Instagram feed (#focusingonlife) and we'll share ours there as well. We'd love to see what you're up to this summer!

Wishing us all a joy-filled summer!

The FOL Sisters

Focus on You

So many wonderful examples of backlighting in the Flickr gallery that you all made it very hard to choose one to focus on this week! But being partial to cats as well as the way the backlighting shows off the beautiful fur of this one made this image a favorite.  This was taken by Nikki Agnew of her mother's cat and I hope she frames it! You can see more of Nikki's beautiful images on her Photostream.  Thanks, Nikki, for sharing this with us!

Just Play

By Cathy

Summertime and playing go hand in hand. Summertime brings baseball, pool time, picnics, and vacations; lots of fun and lots of playing time. I can remember when I was a child looking forward to summer, because we could play all day. And play we did! I remember hours of sitting on a hot sidewalk playing Jacks. I even remember one summer my sister and I played a game of Monopoly all summer. That’s right, the game went on all summer. We just kept borrowing money from the bank!! I’m sure you have fond memories of playing as a child and even as an adult.

My goal this summer is to have fun and play with my camera. The idea of playing and having fun with my camera came as I was reading a photography book written by Kim Manley Ort, who is a contemplative photographer and author. There is a chapter in her book, Adventures In Seeing, where Kim reminds us to “never lose that sense of play, curiosity, exploration, and discovery.” On Kim's blog she has a very good article on The Value of Play in Photography.

I was flipping through a book about my camera while thinking of a way to play and discovered a feature that allows me to create photos with special effects provided by the camera processor; not in post-processing. The one I chose to play with first was Watercolor which creates a look with blurring and runny colors. I’ve been spending time outside creating watercolor pictures of everything I can think of. Did I get any breathtaking photos? No, but that wasn’t the purpose. The purpose was to have a little fun and I definitely did that. I’m even going to print some of them to remind me to play more often.

How long has it been since you just had fun and played with your camera? I’m not talking about taking pictures with it. I’m talking about having fun and playing! How long since you took a picture that made you laugh out loud because you were having so much fun? If you’re like me it’s probably been a while. One of the photos I took did make me laugh! I took a picture of a small piece of lichen floating in water. When I pulled it up on my computer it looked like the face of some a happy monster. Think Sesame Street Monsters!

To get your creative juices flowing, I’ve made a short list of photography projects that would be fun.

• go on a scavenger hunt with a list of objects to find
• photograph only one color
• shoot only reflections
• create abstract photos
• shoot without looking into the viewfinder or the LCD screen
• photograph children’s toys

Summertime is a great time to play a little with our cameras. Try it! You might just find yourself smiling or laughing at what you create or discover.

Shoot What It Feels Like

by Judy

"Don't shoot what it looks like.  Shoot what it feels like." I try to keep this quote from photographer David Alan Harvey in mind when I'm shooting, but like many things, it is easier said than done.  

As photographers, we spend so much time learning the technical aspects of photography and perfecting these techniques.  I believe this to be a necessary step to good photography, but there comes a time when we must push some of the rules of photography aside to truly shoot what it feels like. 

Some times when I shoot, I'm unhappy with the way my photos come out.  They are usually technically correct, but they haven't captured the moment the way I had envisioned it.  I have found that one area of photography that I am usually able to capture "what it feels like," is through back lighting.  I was delighted when Kelly chose this to be our theme for June since back lit photos can be so magical.

Do you remember the old rule to always shoot with the sun at your  back?  (And do you have many an old photo, probably from your childhood, where everyone is squinting horribly into the sun as they pose for a photo?)  That rule needs to be thrown out when shooting backlit photos!

The backlit photo up top is far from technically perfect, yet it does capture "what it felt like." I love how back lighting can create an ethereal feel.

Back lighting can help you shoot what it feels like by bringing out the tiny details of your subject.

Back lighting can create magical silhouettes.

And, if paired with the golden hour, back lighting can create a magical golden glow over the most mundane field of weeds.  

I know that this monthly theme is almost over, but with summer's longer days and good weather to get outside and practice, I hope that you continue to capture some magic all summer long by back lighting your subjects and shooting what it feels like!

The Right Lens for the Job

by Kelly

I have a confession to make...this is not the post I thought I was going to be writing today.

I guess I should back up.

So this past week I was chatting with my friend and FOL sister, Dotti, about gear. She reached out to me wanting to know what I thought about my new Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L lens that I had received from Santa this past Christmas. So I gave her my two cents worth which was, for the most part, very high praise due to its large aperture and overall sharpness.

In addition to my conversation with Dotti, I also had the chance recently to visit with another photog friend who happened to make a point of asking my about my gear - she had spotted another "red stripe girl" and wanted to know what I thought of my "L" glass. To which I gave the same high praise I had given to Dotti.

At any rate, it got me to thinking about gear and my new lens - my third 50mm lens (I literally wore out my f/2.8 compact macro) - and it made me wonder how my fancy new lens actually compares to all of my other lenses. So I decided to do a little experiment on the dahlias that have started blooming in my garden.

For the purpose of this comparison, I shot the same basic scene with the following lenses:

• Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 
• Canon EF 50mm f/1.8
• Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 macro
• Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L

To try to reduce the variability as much as possible, I shot in manual mode with an aperture setting of f/2.8, 400 ISO, and 1/640 shutter speed. I tried, as best as possible, to stand in the exact same location (except with the 100mm macro) and focus on the upper portion of the large, open bloom near the center.

Here are my individual shots.

At first glance there isn't a remarkable difference between my shots, however after a little closer inspection there are some subtle differences, mostly in the size and shape of the background bokeh.

1. Notice the shape of the bokeh in the first 50mm ("Nifty-Fifty") - do you see how the background bokeh has sort of a rough, pentagonal shape? It's a function of having fewer blades in the lens - a tradeoff which is, in part, what makes the Nifty-Fifty so affordable. 
2. With the 100mm macro lens, I had to step back a few feet in order to get about the same framing as the others. But what I love is how smooth and dreamy the bokeh is. I actually purchased this lens a couple of years ago from Terri and I am always happy with the quality of photos this lens produces.
3. In my shot taken with the 50mm L series lens, you might notice a deeper teal outline around some of the individual 'bubbles'.  This is what is known as chromatic aberration and it is my only minor complaint about my new lens.

OK. So we've established now that all of these lenses produce good photos, but what I really wanted to know is how they compare in sharpness. Because that's what L glass is known for - impeccably sharp images. So to test for sharpness, I cropped each of my shots in tight around the main flower that I focused on. 

Here they are side-by-side.

I betcha can't tell which one is which.

This is what I meant when I said this wasn't the post I had planned. 

I really expected the 50mm L image to jump off the screen in terms of sharpness and it just didn't. So what I learned from this experiment is that being mindful and intentional with exposure and having a sufficiently steady hand (or something steady to lean against) is the key to producing nice, sharp images.

That being said, however, I do believe that each of these lenses serves a unique function (outside of producing sharp images). I love my 24-70mm lens for giving me a wider focal length and a little more breathing room in my shots. And I love my 100mm macro for being able to get up-close and personal to my subjects. I also love my new 50mm lens because (like Dotti) I love the framing of 50mm as it most closely matches our natural view with our eyes. Plus having the option to shoot with a super wide aperture allows me to capture scenes with lower light.

So I guess the moral to this story is to decide how and what you love to capture, and choose the lens that best serves the function and your wallet. Then let your heart, your head, and your hands do the rest.

Until next time,

Kelly

The Little Things

by Dotti

What makes you happy?  It’s the little things that make me happy, like Gerbera daisies and the color red.  

Recently I came across a “class” that resonated with me, made my heart sing, sounded like just what I needed to launch my photography into summer. I’d like to tell you about it.

Some, maybe all, of you may have heard of Karen Walrond. I’ve been following Karen’s blog and her work for several years. An original Shutter Sister, Karen soon went her own way with her own message. She’s a wonderful photographer, an excellent writer, a very insightful person and has an impressive professional resume.

A couple of weeks ago she launched her 21-day #shutterhappy project and I decided to jump in. It's something you can enroll in at any time so if you're interested, give it a try. The premise is that gratitude helps us attain and maintain happiness. The objective is to cultivate a habit (hence the 21 days) of looking every day for things that make us happy and taking a photo of at least one of those things. We’ve talked about this very thing here at FOL on more than one occasion and I believe it to be true so let’s chat about it today.

Here’s the cool thing: I’m barely half way through the project but all day long, I find myself looking at things and smiling because I realize how grateful I am for them. Most of them are simple things. For instance  -

A simple breakfast on the back porch -

The first swallowtail this season on one of our butterfly bushes -

The flowers on my back porch –

A coneflower ready to bloom into all its fullness and beauty –

The happy orange of a tiger lily - 

The blue of a hydrangea –

Some of these are my direct response to Karen’s prompts, some are just things that made me pause in my day and pick up my camera. Being more observant of things around me, particularly the little things that I’m grateful for has put a smile on my lips, my "center" seems calmer, I find that I’m happier.

Now I’m not naïve enough to think that it will always be easy. When  life gets tough, this practice will be harder but I believe even practicing a wee bit of gratitude at these times will help us weather these storms as they come.

Whatever it is that makes you happy, take the time to say thanks and smile at yourself and your gratitude. I think you’ll be glad you did.

Gratitude.

Focus On You

This week we've officially entered SUMMER. I am not ready for the heat and humidity, but I am ready to enjoy the summer flowers. I don't know of another flower that says summer better than a simple, sweet daisy. Honestly, can you even look at one without smiling?

I love these daisies against the gorgeous blue sky that Evangelina Murray has captured. Her photo makes me think of happiness and light and makes me feel a little nostalgic. I had daisies in my wedding bouquet way back in the early 70's!!  You can see more of Evangelina's beautiful photos on her Flicker stream.

Keep those summer photos coming to our FOL Flicker stream. Just a reminder that our focus this month is backlighting. Early summer mornings are a great time to get out and capture the light!

Summer Reading

by Linda

Well, the kids are out of school and the temperature's up. It must be summer! I still look forward to summertime with as much glee as I did as a child! Certain aspects can appear not so fun but all in all, summertime is fun.

It doesn't matter if you stay in town or plan a get-away trip, there's nothing like longer days and backyard BBQ's with family and friends. And fireflies, oh yes fireflies! Those magic little creatures that appear for an instant. I remember spending many summer evenings chasing those little flying insects. This is something I have been able to do with my grands and to see them delight in it as much as I do just warms my heart!

Summer's more leisurely pace (and high temperatures) often has me looking for a book to get buried in while I wait for the oven outside to cool down, at midnight, or 2 AM.

But I digress...

There is an app called Overdrive that I enjoy. It connects with my local library and allows me to check out books, audiobooks and videos. They stay on my device for 14 days then they go away. While the selection is not as extensive as what is actually available in the library, new titles are added daily. It's getting there. It is just so convenient to just do the whole thing online. No trips to the library to check out/return books. If a title I want is checked out, I can place a hold on it, just like at the library, when it is available I get an email and it pops in on my bookshelf. (virtual bookshelf)

Anyway...

Overdrive has partnered with Big Library Read. This is like a giant book club all online. The selection of the month is available for immediate download. I was somewhat interested in this when I got the email but didn't look at which book was selected. Then I started watching Genius on the National Geographic channel. Are you watching it? It's about Albert Einstein from his higher education to the end of his life. 2 different actors play him. I think they did a great job. His name has become synonymous with genius. I'm no Einsten but Albert Einstein is a well known name but how much do we really know about him? We know he was a scientist, but who was he? And for that matter, how much do we know about his first wife? Mileva Maric?

Here's a spoiler-she was from Eastern Europe at a time when Eastern Europeans where looked down upon and she was a women at a time that women were forbidden to attend school and she was born with a handicap. She was also quite a genius herself, having managed to attend school and do very well in the face of a male dominated society. Extremely well, she was a physicist and mathematician, a lone woman in a male dominated profession. She was at least at bright as Albert Einstein and perhaps, more, and there is much discussion about how much input she had on the many papers he wrote and published during their marriage and how much input did she have on his most famous paper - the Theory of Relativity.

You know, that one. The one that involved lots of physics and math.

The paper he won a Nobel Prize for, and interestingly gave Mileva the prize money, was a paper he wrote in 1905, while married to Mileva, was an explaination of the photoelectric effect.

You can imagine how surprised, and interested, I was when I took a look at which book was selected for the Big Library Read.

"The Other Einstein" by Marie Benedict. This book is based on facts but there are so few facts about Mileva Maric Einstein, the author did have to use her imagination to fill in some of the gaps, a fact she acknowledges. Mileva did not keep a diary but there were numerous letters written between Mileva and Albert that capture the nature of their relationship. A relationship initially based on intellect and equality as well as passion. This book was very thoughtfully written. It was not written to discredit Albert Einstein in any way. It was written to show Mileva and her life with Albert Einstein, her struggle with choosing between an intellectual life and a domestic life which is probably one of the reasons their marriage did not last. And it's fascinating. She was fascinating.

If you're looking for an online book club, or a good summer read, check out Big Library Read through Overdrive.

All you need is a library card.

Do you have one?

...

Being A Nana

by Deanna

I love being a Mother, I love being a Grandmother, and I really love being a Great-Grandmother.Let's back up just a wee bit. I was married young, (20) becoming pregnant instantaneously followed up 3 years later with baby number 2. I think I was a good mother, with both children having good memories of their childhood, but I think now looking back, I could have been better. I think I am a good Grandmother, at least my 3 grandchildren also have fond memories of being with their Nana and Pop Pop.  Bailey (one of the three on my left) even lived with me for a year What fun we had together, I miss her still.  This photo was taken almost 6 years ago, it's difficult to get us all together now that everyone has either married (Brandon) and left home or their careers took them away.

When these 3 were young they would come to Nana's and Pop Pop's every year a few days before Christmas with just us without parents.  We had great times, shopping, eating out, playing games, going to the movies, but then little by little those times spent together began decreasing by one....Brandon first with college and jobs, then Bailey with college and working, and finally Brie was the last one to come to stay with us at Christmas.  Now all are graduated from college and all are living the life of adults with jobs, responsibilities and families.

But now, we have a new generation that is in progress. I'm sure you have heard me mention my great granddaughter, Matilda Mae. Oh the joy she brings to us all. It's been many a year since we have had little ones around, since my youngest grandchild is 24. Tilly, as she is called is a bright spot in each of our lives. Look at that smile, that's pretty constant all day long.

Her grandmother, my daughter, Lisa, is as charmed and in love with her as we all are. It's just too bad that she lives a good hour and half to 2 hours away from us both. I would love to stop in and eat breakfast with her, or walk her to the playground, or drive her to pre-school. But because of the distance and time constraints it's just not possible for either of us.

When we do get together, I don't know who has more fun, Lisa or Tilly. And then her grandfather, Sam, my son-in-law is just perfect for Tilly. He is a big kid himself. Look at them together taking selfies.....

Lisa even admitted to me that she likes it when we girls are by ourselves, it gives her more time to be with Tilly. When Sam's around, Tilly is drawn to him like a magnet because he has the inventiveness that children love. He gets down to her level, both mentally and physically, what a gem of a grandfather. My sweetie was like that with our 3 grandchildren. He would hoist them on his shoulders and march around the house singing at the top of his voice. "stout hearted are the forest rangers..." from Little Mary Sunshine. They love him just as Tilly loves Sam.

And I am pleased and thrilled to announce that Tilly's Mom and Dad are expecting baby number 2 which is a boy for sure.  I've known for awhile, but they asked that we not publicly announce until all was well.  See below for how they announced it on social media.

Please notice the baby bump. Hilary is about 22 weeks pregnant and doing well. Another lucky one who doesn't get sick during pregnancies, unlike so many.  Baby boy, we won't know the name until he is born, is due in October, about a month after Tilly turns 3....perfect.

Tilly is super excited that she will have a new baby brother that she can help with changing diapers, play with, read to, sing to. I wonder when she will begin the "is he here yet?" Please notice the red boots. A new addition to the always changing, never boring, always accessorized wardrobe.

Life continues on, and I am so blessed and happy that I am still here to enjoy and love our ever growing family. Oh, by the way, I'm still Nana to this next generation, easy to say, easy to remember.

"What children need most are the essentials that grandparents provide in abundance. They give unconditional love, kindness, patience, humor, comfort, lessons in life. And, most importantly, cookies."   ~Rudy Giuliani

Summer Stroll

by Leigh

It's not officially summer quite yet, but it sure feels like it in my neck of the woods!  The cooler days of spring have past and anytime spent outside now is either early in the morning or late in the evening.  If you dare go out in the middle of the day you better be near a pool to cool off!  I've found myself waking up earlier in the morning so I can spend more time outside before the afternoon heat forces me back in.  The other morning I took a stroll through one of my favorite yards....where I grew up.  My parents have lived here since I was six and the backyard was a dream for my six year old self.  Even now at forty-something the backyard is still one of my favorite places to be and it has become my own test garden for various landscape design ideas.  I pretty much have free reign back there and I'm always trying new and different things.  Landscapes are ever evolving.  I don't think you're ever *finished* with your yard.  No sooner than you think it's right where you want it....an ice storm comes through and takes out mature trees.  The areas that were always perfectly shaded nooks are now full sun exposure so I move some plants around, create new areas and planting perennials that I was never able to before.  Beds become mature and some plants thrive while others just peter out allowing for new design, new ideas, new plants.  Along the sidewalk above we ended up with an area that stayed very wet.  The Boxwoods and Roses quickly died from having "wet feet".  Then I decided to try a decorative gravel and some containers, but it was kind of blah.  Then I remembered one of my favorite plants....Horsetail Reed Grass.  It can be tricky because it likes to spread...quickly and is considered invasive.  It also likes to stay wet and will grow in ponds.  This particular area is bordered by concrete on all sides and stays wet....Horsetail Reed ended up being the perfect solution and looks super cool around the curved sidewalk.

A boring, old shed needed to be dressed up a bit.  A simple wrought iron window basket was the thing to give it a pop of color and bring it back to life.  Virginia Creeper climbs up the sides and helps the shed to blend in a bit more.

Soft Mexican Feather Grass is planted along a back sidewalk.  Even from the patio the grass offers a nice visual with it's gentle movement in the wind.  It's one of those plants that begs to be touched and I can't pass by it without running my fingers through the soft blades.

The shady areas are full of perennials such as Hydrangeas, Hostas and these dainty Autumn Ferns.  They thrive in the understory of the mature trees and really show off in the late afternoon when the sun shines through them.  They continue to grow and spread and even pop up in areas that I didn't intend for them to be, but at some point you have to let go of the reigns and see where the plants lead you.  I can design and plan all I want...but the ultimate plan is designed by mother nature herself.

The Aftermath of Parenthood

by Carol

In Tuesday's post, Leigh wondered why her attitude about summer is changing as her kids change. I responded that the hard and wonderful part of motherhood is that the kids are always changing. With more thought I'll add that the goals are always changing. The surrounds are always changing. and the times are always changing. And guess what? All that means that you are always changing - whether you want to or not.

Now, I am not insinuating that bringing up a new puppy is anywhere near on a par with bringing up children, but I have been noticing lately that it is highlighting a different me. I have brought up three puppies in my adult life. I have never attended a puppy training class, hired a dog-walker or bought anything but grocery store food. I let them play around me as I gardened, let them out the back door at night for a quick pee, and bought whatever leash the local pet store carried. And they all have been wonderful canine citizens, living long and happy lives with my family.

But now, with my kids grown and a new puppy on board, I am nervous about doing things right. Perhaps this is because despite having a veterinarian father and having brought up  three dogs and 5 cats, two pet adoption agencies turned me down because I work! They were adamant about puppies needing several small meals throughout the day, special food and lots more attention than a working person can give them. I know these people's hearts are in the right places, but I feel that is a bit extreme (since most of America works, and these potential adoptees were living in cages).  Yet it planted self-doubt. I guess the advice is always changing. Perhaps this is just a part of the high maintenance culture now. (I mean, do you ever remember your mother having regular manicures and pedicures?) The times too are always changing.

But I think its also me who has  changed. When you have been a parent; when you have lived a few more years, you have seen a few more things. You realize the value of precaution, and also the frailty of it. You see the potential situations carry for both harm and good. You truly understand the trust that a young soul puts in you, and the importance of unconditional love in each life (and in the world). When you have survived "putting down" a few best friends, you realize that you have truly made a "cradle to grave" commitment. You also realize, like Leigh did last week, what a miracle it is to watch a life develop, how very quickly the time passes and how every moment of joy must be savored. And how very lucky those of us are who were brought up by loving parents

So this isn't really a post about puppies.....Happy Father's Day!

FOY Back Lighting

Our theme for this month is backlighting....what could be more perfect than the image of this beautiful setting/rising sun throwing its rays of light into this lovely scene. I especially like that it is b&w which seems to enhance those radiant beams. This beautiful image was created by "hiddendoorfour" on flickr.  To see more of her lovely images click on the following link https://www.flickr.com/photos/hiddendoorfour/.  Once again we thank you all for contributing to our flickr group, we so appreciate your interest and contributions.

Spend Time With a Children's Book

by Cathy

During the spring and before the summer heat becomes unbearable, you’ll find me eating my lunch outside with a good book. Not an adult book, but a children’s book. I have a love affair with children’s books and own quite a large collection of them. I ran across this quote recently at Read Brightly. 

"Children's books are a fascinating blend of simplicity and life lessons. They're like security blankets - all warm and fuzzy on the outside, but deeply symbolic on the inside. They can be funny,  touching, deep, dark, poignant, or charming, but in the end, they're just the books we love. That's why they so often stay with us well into adulthood."     ~ Devon Corneal

Over the years of reading and rereading my children's books there are two characters that stand out above the others, steal my heart, and bring me joy . . . Peter Pan and Anne of Green Gables. Peter because he refuses to grow old and loves adventures. Anne because she has such an optimistic spirit and the most original view of the world. I’ve revisited my “bosom buddies” (as Anne would say) by rereading their stories while eating lunch.

After reading four books about Peter, I began rereading the Anne of Green Gable series. Lucy Maud “L. M.” Montgomery, a Canadian author, wrote these beloved tales of a young orphan who stole the hearts of a rather conservative brother and sister, Matthew and Marilla. As I mentioned above she stole my heart, too! Published in 1908, the first book sold 19,000 copies in its first few months and went to print 10 times in the first year. The book would ultimately sell over 50 million copies. This was truly an amazing feat since it was written by a female author about a female protagonist and sold without Amazon!

Montgomery’s character Anne has a unique way of expressing her optimistic spirit and her delight in the world. She is grateful . . . she is hilarious . . . and she is wise. I’d like to share just a few of her lovely words accompanied with some pictures. 

“That is one good thing about this world . . . there are always sure to be more springs.”

“Isn’t it good just to be alive on a day like this?

I pity the people who aren’t born yet for missing it.”

“One can’t stay sad very long in such an interesting world, can one?”

“I like the lane because you can think out loud

there without people calling you crazy.”

“I have a conviction that there are scores of beautiful nooks

that have never really been seen although they may have been looked at.”

“Life is rich and full here . . . everywhere . . .  if we can only learn to open our whole hearts to its richness and fullness.”

I would encourage you to pick up a children’s book this summer and read it. There are so many wonderful choices out there. If you have any suggestions for a good children’s book for my summer lunchtime reading, let me know in the comment section. I’d love to add them to my list.

In case you’re not interested in reading children’s books, Deanna gave us a great list of summer reading material last week in her post. I’ve added several of those to my grownup reading list.

Happy Summer Reading to you all!