I Heart Faces - Beautiful Eyes

When I saw the theme for this week's I Heart Faces I knew exactly which photo I wanted to enter! Sweet Alexa and her rainbow coloured eyes....and if you look real close you can see me reflected in those sweet "windows to the soul!"

Just some pretties for a Saturday evening....

Since I began my foray into photography I have been more fascinated with getting a good shot of a person, rather than of a thing. Of course that doesn't mean I don't like a good photo of something pretty now and again! Here's a few from a walk I took in Assiniboine Park last week....playing with a wide aperture!

Pretty Daisies!

"Schoolgirl" by Leo Mol

I don't know what these little white flowers are, but they reminded me of something I saw in Switzerland...so pretty!

I Heart Faces - People's Choice March

This was such a tough decision this month! I had two days in particular where my camera and I managed to take some great shots of my niece and nephew, but to pick just one was nearly impossible! This shot is of my niece Alexa, taken in early March when she was just over a month old. She's eight weeks today, and even more alert and bright-eyed now.

Bitten by the bug...

Back in February I wrote about having "camera envy" while taking my photo class. I originally planned on waiting a bit, shopping around, and then eventually making my purchase of choice and buying my DSLR camera. Well, that didn't happen. A little less than a week later I took the plunge and purchased my Canon T1i DSLR, as well as a spare lens, and a little while after that I took the plunge on a telephoto lens that was on sale. Of course, my purchase wouldn't have been complete without a gorgeous Kelly Moore camera bag as well! It was a little daunting, I must admit, to receive my Visa bill last week with my purchases on it, but I don't regret it one bit.

I'm getting more used to the idea of taking my camera with me to my sister's place, to my parent's place, and quite honestly, sometimes I'm tempted to carry it with me more often! This is an addictive hobby though. Before I bought my camera I spent all my time searching prices and reviews on cameras, lenses, and camera bags. Now that I have the basic items in my grubby paws, I find I'm reading up on photography styles, techniques and of course looking at other people's gorgeous pictures whenever I have the opportunity! Between I Heart Faces, Two Peas in a Bucket, and other great photography sites the photography bug is getting a firmer and firmer hold on me! I have to remind myself though that I don't need every new toy, program or accessory that I see! I'm sure I will continue to invest in this addictive, but rewarding, hobby, but for now I'm just hoping to expand my skills and snap away!

A fun shot of Nik I snapped with my telephoto this weekend.

I Heart Faces - Slice of Life

Alexa and her great-Opa -- a slice of Sunday supper life!

I Heart Faces - People's Choice February

This is the first time I've entered a photo submission for I Heart Faces, but far from the first time I've thought about it! Now that I have my Canon Rebel T1i maybe I'll have the guts to enter again! This is a photo of my nephew - 3 years old with more personality than anyone knows what to do with. This photo show how in-your-face he can be, but I think there's also a level of his sweetness that comes through. I also love how you can see the crazy colours in his eyes.

Camera Envy

Alrighty, so I know I said in an earlier post that I've been trying to focus on what I have in my life, as opposed to being envious of what everyone else has, but it's been tough. Back in the beginning of January I started a photography course to increase my knowledge for my growing love and fascination with photography. The course "strongly recommends" having an SLR or DSLR camera to take the course with, but never one to role with the trends I decided that my trusty PowerShot would do the trick. That was a bit of mistake. My PowerShot, while being a fabulous camera for it's price, and doing a heckuva lot more than your average point-and-shoot, is still no DSLR. I've learned the hard way that ignorance is bliss. I used to be well aware that my camera did not always take the nicest pictures, but in my ignorant state of mind I could blissfully blame the lousy pictures on my lack of knowledge on the intricacies of my camera. Unfortunately now that my knowledge of the workings of my camera have much improved, I have learned the limits of my camera and have begun drooling over the DSLRs.

In theory this shouldn't be a problem. As a single girl who makes a decent living I have a relatively disposable income and could probably afford many of the cameras out there. Of course being of a Dutch/Ukrainian/Winnipeg/insert any other applicable stereotype here background, it's not nearly as simple as that. I have to compare all the options, features, gizmos and doodads and figure out which I want, need and are willing to pay for. That inevitably leads me to the cheapest option, and while that appeals to my cheap side, I also have a warring "love for expensive things" side which makes me long for cameras much more expensive then anything I need. But you know, I'm a girl. If Canon sold a Rebel that was pink and completely encased in diamonds, I would want that. I would hate myself for wanting it, but I would still want it. I've already decided that I'm going to buy a DSLR, but only time will tell which one will make it into my grubby little hands. In the mean time I can only continue taking pictures!