Assignment #1 - Learning shallow DOF, broad DOF, how to stop action, and how to blur action

Only a few weeks in and we were ripped away from using auto which means learning ISO, Shutter Speed, Aperture, and metering all at once and how the combination gets a great picture! Here are samples of our first assignment...

Caught a fish jumping in mid air! I'd call that stop action! 

It's been a year!

Hard to believe, but yesterday, it was a year since Ryan and I said our "I dos"! He is my best friend and I love him more everyday! Best day of my life and I wouldn't change anything about it!!! We celebrated by heading to Snug Harbor in Grand Haven. We enjoyed the sun, boats, and some really yummy seafood nachos! I think we also came to the conclusion that we want to be boat people... but one thing at a time... the basement has been waiting 2 years to be complete. Which also brings me to the 2 year anniversary of us owning our home! :) Hopefully the basement is on track for this coming spring... but we have made some small improvement this year including landscaping and new outdoor lighting. Last but not least... today was my 6 year anniversary of working at Foremost/Farmers! The time, just like the other anniversary's, has gone by so fast. Only 4 more years to another week of PTO! You would of thought though with it being my 6th year, that my fellow Excitement Committee members would of got my name right... I'm haven't been "Julie Weaver" for a year now... and am going to be Julie Fiebig forever and ever!! :D

Here are a few pics from our anniversary...

 What a beautiful day a year later...

Year old Cherry Chip Cupcakes! They weren't too bad at all! :) Thank you again, Robyn, for making them for the wedding! I have 2 more that I'm going to see if can make 2 years in the freezer! ;)

By the way... here are the photos from that wonderful day a year ago on fabulous Ashley Folkema's blog...
http://www.ashleyfolkemaphotography.com/blog/?p=5946

Forrest is 6 Months Old!

The plan was to get his pictures taken when we were up in Leland and his Great Grandparents house but due to weather, we waited until this weekend and headed to Kirk Park in West Olive, MI.

Who knew...

... that the most popular post from my blog has been my Table Decoration Ideas post about decorations at our wedding!  Hard to believe that almost a year has passed since that wonderful day! I miss planning something... last year included helping plan weddings and baby showers! I need something to plan again... so many ideas and nowhere to go with them! Hmmm....

Camping 2011 in the books!

I believe a tradition has been started! Ryan and I went camping with a group of friends a few weekends ago that made my summer! It was a great way to spend a vacation. With a great group of people you can go anywhere and have a great time! We found a great swimming hole that got us out of the humidity and bugs of our campsite... found a great bridge that provided some awesome pictures... canoed and kayaked a tricky stretch of the Pine river with everyone staying married to their spouse at the end of the trip... visited, a couple times, the home of tasty Dublin jerky... and spend quality time laughing and hanging out as friends! I'm already looking forward to next years trip!

This is how Ryan and I started the trip... due to the fact our tent poles disappeared out of tent bag! :(

Strawberry Point

Malachi's first camping trip!

The whole group heading to Dublin!

First shot at a group picture at Strawberry Point!

Out goofy last day group shot!

Tricia and Matthew's Wedding

Ryan and I, last Saturday, attended Tricia and Matthew's wedding ceremony and reception. Tricia and I have been good friends since probably one of her first days she moved to Middleville back in middle school. We shared a locker together in high school, visited colleges together (which still surprises me that I went to Western after our horrible experience on our visit), had a CRAZY time in Chicago that I'll never forget, and went an a fabulous and fun cruise to the caribbean!!! Even though we may not see each other as much as we like to, she is one of my closest friends. Because of this, I was so excited and happy for her wedding day! Here are a few photos I took while we celebrated....

Congrats Tricia and Matthew!

Exciting things to come in 2011

As the summer comes creeping to an end, it seems as thinks won't be settling down!

Hard to believe that at the end of 2010, I said I wanted to run a 5K. As of August 13, I will have ran 3 5K's and counting this past year. This time I also have a partner in crime, Jenni, who will be doing her first 5K! You are going to do awesome, Jenni! You'll see all that hard work pay off... and feel so great after! I also have a feeling you'll want to try for another this fall! ;)

Also on the 13th, is a big day for one of my really good friends, Tricia! She is getting MARRIED! We had an opportunity to meet Matthew last year at our wedding. They are an adorable couple and seem so happy. I look forward to getting to share in there special day and to celebrate all night long!

One wedding weekend followed up by another wedding weekend... this one though I do not know the couple but will be there with my mom taking wedding pictures... yes, I said it, wedding pictures! My mom got a call to take some senior pictures, her specialty, but it turned in to senior and wedding pictures... by the way it's not the senior getting married! Its going to be a small ceremony at a park in Caledonia and we only need to be there a few hours but this will be my first opportunity to 2nd for another photographer. It still seems surreal since I'm just a hobby photographer but that is why mom is the main, she is the pro! :)

September 2nd, I will be starting my photography class at GRCC! I made the final payment last weekend, so I'm locked it. I'm excited and nervous... excited to learn how to take awesome pictures and nervous that I could be the OLDEST in the class! None the less, I look forward to taking a class in something I enjoy... econ and financing, wasn't a fan!

To mix some non-photography in to my Fall, we got tickets to see the Chicago CUBS in September! I'm so looking forward to this since we are going with my sista, Steph, and bo, Josh! We haven't had much of an opportunity to see them this summer since we all have been busy! Little drinking... game... little more drinking... and hopefully some shopping mixed in! CAN'T WAIT!

I'm also excited to get to use my skills I"ll be learning at class during the Scott Kelby's  4th Annual World Wide Photo Walk in Grand Haven, MI. My supervisor turned me on to this and I've been sharing it with all the photographers I know... with a few already signed up! It's a 3 hour walk around the city of Grand Haven capturing its beauty! At the end, we all get together at Kirby Grill to share our photos.

Heeewww... that's just all we have planned so FAR... cause you know stuff always comes up! I love Fall and love it more with all the great things to look forward to!