Ready, Set, SPARKLERS!

Playing with camera settings last month for a sparkler heart long exposure shot that I really like! :)

Keep Smilin, Keep Shinin - A Photo Idea in Nashville - Perfect Place for Pictures

KEEP SMILIN', KEEP SHININ'

There's a building in Nashville I've been wanting to use as a photo background for a while. You can't miss it when you jump on 40 from Briley Parkway. I have no idea who painted this building, but I give he/she/they props for the hippie-artistry that beautifies my drive from Nashville to Murfreesboro. Not too long ago, the hubster and I stopped for a quick photo session near what I call the "Love" shack building. (see above n' keep scrollin'...)

The photo above is as good as it got, as far as our photo attempts went that day. Only equipped with my iPad, the morning sun's glare made it difficult to capture the idea I'd been envisioning for a specifically planned capture. 

Ever tried to take a picture of yourself with an iPad? Next time you do it, add major sunshine and another person to really complicate your selfie mission. 

The idea I wanted was center the "Love" lettering in the photo, with Josh on one side and me on the other. In my 'imagine-if-we-dream', we would lean in for a kiss and the "Love" letters would be perfectly placed below the smooch. 

Riiiiiight....

Obviously, I was a bit too ambitious for the equipment I'd brought with me that day. 

My Nikon and a tripod (see Christmas wish list) may have produced something better than the iPad snapshots we took as we tried to accomplish the photo goal I wanted, but- 

I like the candidness of what we did manage to shoot that day...

First, I'll need to take a couple test shots. Wow, that's bright. I can't even see the screen, Josh. Hmmm... Here I am, taking this idea very seriously as I try to figure out where we needed to stand for this little photo session. Not angry, just focused... and beginning to realize that this idea would be harder to execute than expected. 

Again, we were using an iPad. We couldn't see what we were actually getting on the camera since the sun was so bright. If we could've, we would have realized we needed longer arms to get more than 1/2 faces in our pose!

Yeah, that's not gonna work either. Stepping back only increased the sun's pic-ruining power. See the building, though? One of my favorite little murals in Nashville. I wish I knew more about it! (Will research later...)Anyway, I started to lose hope that we'd get a decent couple pic at this point during our iPad photo-journey. 

Still, we tried different things to make it happen. Josh is taller, so we reasoned that he should hold the iPad up to get a better picture. Still, no dice. Longer arms don't mean better pics, apparently. Better cameras do. :)

 Too bright, too dark, to sun-beamy, too... one-person-not-in-the-picture-y...

If only I were looking at the camera. Alas, my mission seemed doomed to fail. Until...

Not exactly what I had in mind, but a decent attempt at my overall concept. The 'Love' part is in the shot and so are our faces... all of our whole faces, this time. A semi-success, if I do say so myself. 

Next time, I'm taking the Nikon. 'Til, then... why don't you and your fancy cameras get out there and give this one a try? It's easy to park near this Nashville-based photo background, which is right off Charlotte Avenue. You've seen it. If you haven't thought about taking pics in front of this building, you have now. :) You're welcome, friends. 

Keep Smilin, Keep Shinin. Keep finding photo ideas near you that are perfect for pictures. Just keep in mind that whether or not your pictures are perfect will depend on your idea...and your camera. :)

For more thoughts on this Nashville mural, click below...

A before mural from another blogger

Another photo idea for this mural

* I'D LOVE TO KNOW WHO PAINTED THIS! * :)

September #Sunset in Nashville - Plato Inspired Allegory of the Cave Photo Shoot

A sunset is one of the most beautiful things.

Watching the sun go down fills me with happiness. 

It always has. 

The amber glow and silvery beams of light that shine down through trees are things for which I am truly grateful.

 It's the simple things like these, that are easy to take for granted.

 When life gets busy- when you have a million things you've got to do and you feel completely overwhelmed...

go outside. 

Watch the sun set and take a look around you. 

The warmth of those rays reassure you that it's all going to be okay. Free self-therapy for the stressed-out, broken-hearted, and lonely...whatever the feelings, 

a sunset is a cure-all! 

My husband took this picture of me, outside in our backyard. It's obviously one of my favorites! 

Photo by Joshua Hodge, who has a knack for taking great pictures in difficult lighting! #Sunsets and my husband...two of the best things I have in life. Here I am, standing in the sunset's rays this week. Glad Josh caught this with my #Nikon ! 

Goodnight, sun. I'll see you tomorrow. Sweet dreams! Josh snapped this shot at the last light of day. It may look a bit strange at first, but I really like this picture. Makes me look like I'm telling the sun goodnight...at least, that's what I think when I look at this one. Love it! 

A slightly creepy/mysterious shot, taken by my husband. I like it. I had read so much Philosophy on this day and so maybe that's why I think of Plato's Allegory of the Cave when I look at this photo!
For those of you who aren't spending your days reading about ancient philosophers and pondering the purpose of life-
First of all, I envy you.
Secondly, you should familiarize yourself with Plato's cave story.
It's a good one, to say the least.

For a quick summary that'll help you understand my perception of this photo, as well as one of the most influential writings in all history, visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allegory_of_the_Cave