Days 25 and 26

I didn't put up a picture yesterday, so today I found two to post. They are both heavily processed using Photoshop CS3. I am learning everyday more and more and today I was trying to play with HDR, but it didn't tun out too well, so be expecting another go at it soon.

Day 24

I had to work most of today, so I brought my camera in with me so that I could try to get a shot while I was there. You would  think that at a restaurant I would get a picture of food, or some cooking but, no. I took a picture of my newest favorite antique from the store, amongst others. Maybe i will get the chance to take some more food themed pictures again, but this was definitely worth missing out on that tonight.

Day 23

Took this on my way home from town today. Figured I should get it in before work tonight. It is my very first edit on CS3. I have a lot to learn....

Day 22

I walk outside to go for a walk with my camera and it is raining. My camera does not like the rain. So, I looked around and there all of my dogs were. So, i started snapping pictures of them. This is my favorite of our littlest, Isabelle. She is really fat so we like to call her "Belly" 

Day 21

One of my favorite things to do is paint with light. It is so much fun and there are so many possibilities- and I control them all! My subject for painting tonight is three dried roses from my wedding bouquet in an old medicine bottle I found in the barn. I have cropped it to a square shape rather than a traditional 4x6 or 8x10.

Day 20 (Late due to technical difficulties)

Day 20 is coming a little late. I took this picture last night as I was cleaning and organizing my office/art studio/guest bedroom/husband's writing room. However, the internet decided it would not work. So, I am here, at 8:32 posting yesterday's picture. i will still have one today though, so look out for Day 21! 

Day 19

More playing with Dutch angles and heavy processing. I call this one "Brooding"

Day 18

So, I promised two pictures today, and I have them. The first is just a profile of a black eyed susan.

This next is heavily processed. This week in a forum I participate it the challenge was "Dutch Angles" which means tilting your camera so that the horizon is at a tilt to give a sense of uneasiness. This was my attempt.

Day 17

Day 17. This is the day that I don't have a picture. It's been a really rough past couple of days. Today, my camera kept mal-functioning and not working right, and fogging up in the summer heat. My internet has been touchy all night, as well as my computer. And I have to admit I was a little disappointed by lack of response to my blog yesterday. So, tonight this is all there is. Tomorrow I will take two different, unique, seperate pictures. But tonight, there is nothing.

Day 16

OK, so I have a weird fascination with photographing ceiling fans. They are not particularly pretty, but there is something special and interesting about them. So, here is another ceiling fan photo where my tiny fan light is trying desperately to light the far reaches of a dark room. Note the solitary-ness.
OK, project. If you read this, give me one word on how this photo makes you feel. (Interested to see what words come to mind, and to see who actually looks at this!)

Day 15

It's been VBS week at church and we made necklaces today. When i saw the cross which we used as the pendant I knew what my picture was. 

Day 14

It feels so early to be posting my picture! But I actually took it at around 5:00 today! Yay! Now if I can remember this early on in the day EVERYDAY it would be great. Lol. I've actually been walking out of the church office looking at this shot for several days now, but just took the picture today. 

Day 13

My favorite subject - the love of my life.

Day 12

Day twelve. I noticed the lights in our ceiling fan were rather perfectly split, two out and two on. I loved the duality of the picture. The almost ying yang feel. Dark and light. It represents a lot of my day today. 

BTW. Check out my website. Cool, huh?

Day 11

I was trying to re create an image I saw. This is the ceiling in my bedroom. I am very pleased with the way it came out. In fact, it will be the new background for my website!

Day 10

Day 10. I don't have much to say. Hope you enjoy the pic. I am going to bed now.

Day 9

Day 9 has been a hard one for me. All day I couldn't think of anything I wanted to shoot. I just kept putting it off and putting it off. And the more I put it off the worse I felt. "I don't WANT to take a picture? But i LOVE taking pictures. It's what i do." Paul-Andrew came home and instructed me to take my picture (he is very encouraging with this whole process) and i was laying on my bed thinking "But I just want to sleep" Lo, and behold that is where I found my picture. In the photography class we were told to look for and at reflections. And i found one. This is the reflection of our ceiling fan in a giant glass window frame waiting to be made into a picture frame on top of our mantel. the way the reflected lines played with the lines on the wall, and the clarity of the reflection made me smile. So, here we are.

Day 8

I went walking around the square with my camera tonight. It inspired me to start a project- Kosciusko by Night. The square is so quiet and beautiful at night. Kosciusko isn't like big cities where there are bright harsh lights all over and traffic at all hours. It's peaceful. So, I will be starting on that soon- be looking for updates. Until then, this is my favorite shot from tonight. 

Day Seven- It's been a week!

So, I had a pretty long day today. When I got home the last thing I was thinking about was a photo. Fast forward, I am eating cornbread dressing and watching 30 Rock and I look at the clock, thinking I still have loads of time for a picture...it's 11:00! As i panicked and ran through every item in my house in my head, I realized what I was looking for what comfort. Something to make me feel better. What  better than a nice warm blanket? (Yes, even in June Mississippi weather I love to get under a big warm blanket) So i found an old quilt of Paul-Andrew's that has an interesting design and focused on that design to bring me comfort. And it has. Please enjoy.

Day 6

This is another shot I have been wanting to do for a while. I took over 200 pictures trying to get this one. I like it much. It's a pretty common shot, but it was a lot of fun to do.

Day 5

This is a shot I've been wanting to try for a while, and I finally did! I love the way it turned out. The solitary bulb warming the darkness. What do you think? Leave a comment and let me know.

Day 4

As I was pondering on my picture of the day, a thought came to me. As the creative type I often get asked questions such as "How do you think of things like that?" "Why are you creative?" and "I guess you just think/see things differently, huh?" I decided that this would be the perfect opportunity to try to visually show you what goes on in my head at any given moment. It's messy, uncomposed, and crazy. If you take a moment and really look through this picture of my desk (which I actually added very little to for this picture, I did however tidy it up for you.) you will find all sorts of things that I love...writing, music, drafting, paint, pictures, etc. i think this photo will help show you where I get my me from.

Day 3

So, I was sitting at home this afternoon, getting ready to work on a play I am writing and thinking of my picture for the day, and I get called into work at Uncle Big Allen's. Great, right? Two hours later i realize "I have to be home before 12! i have to post my picture! I have to TAKE a picture!" So, i'm coming in right under the deadline here, but I made it. Excuse the background, I was working on a tight schedule. I hope you enjoy. 

Day 2

I was sitting on the floor methodically mixing paint to a pretty hue of slop grey for my office walls and thinking about what my picture of the day should be. Then I stood up and looked down and a I saw it.  Enjoy, and meet me here tomorrow for another.

365- Day 1

Today is the first day of my 365 project. The idea is to take and share at the very least one good picture every day.  I've decided to do this for multiple reasons. 

1. To hone my photography skills

2. To make me use my camera everyday 

3. To share how I view my world

These are the main reasons. All that being said, I've been thinking a lot about passion, and how an analogy for this is fires. I've whittled my fires down to a few that I would to keep going, and found some to put out. Photography is definitely a big fire for me, so today my picture was of just that- fire. Enjoy, and let me know what you think!

Ninth words

So, things at HillHaven are going well. I am currently enrolled in a class with my hubby at Holmes. It is helping so much. I understand why my pictures look the way they do, which means I can take less pictures and get the same amount of good ones. AND I know how I got them that way so i know how to change them in my camera instead of correcting everything on the computer. it is really pretty amazing. There are only two more classes, but they are both practicum, and there is a possibility of private lessons after this month. i am so excited. And I hope you all are too!

8th Piece of Information on Great Summer Savings

So, the photography business is going well, God is good indeed. In fact, this summer (now through August) I am holding a fantastic sale. This summer is what I am calling my portfolio building time. I am offering my services for an average of 33% off of under normal prices. This is so that I can stay busy and build my portfolio up a bit. After this my prices will go back up, so you should take advantage of this sale, it's gonna be a good one!

Seventh Update

HillHaven Studio has undergone a makeover. We have made the switch and are now hosting a new website, devoted wholly to photography. You can check it out at www.HillHavenStudio.com
This change includes more than just a website, however. Rather than running out of Kosciusko, we are now going to be based out of McAdams. Renovations are underway in creating a functioning indoor studio as well as landscaping to have several outdoor venues. Life is so exciting right now as we are moving forward.
Also, any jewelry sales have been moved online to www.hillhavenstudio.etsy.com

So, as we are growing and changing prayers and thoughts are much loved and appreciated.

Sixth Catching up

Alright, it's been a while. Life has been crazy. I'm just realizing all that has to happen to make my dream happen. It's a lot of paper work and legalities. Both are not things that I am good at. I have been getting overwhelmed a little bit. I've been pushing myself towards an arbitrary date which I don't think is a good goal for no other reason than  it is stressing me out because I haven't started on paperwork. So I've decided to start all of the right paperwork and let it all through just as fast as it needs to, pray for the opening I want, but if it doesn't happen, then God will let me open the next month. I still really hope to open sometime in May, but depending on what happens this next week it may be earl June. Pray for me.

Other than that I think God is really blessing HillHaven. I am working like crazy to make enough product to fill a store front, and trying to make enough jewelry to supply 3 or 4 jewelry parties in the next two months, and already making photography appointments. It's amazing. I am so excited to be able to do these things, and to do them for God.

Fifth Ponderence

Everything is so close. I feel like I've gotten to the point where are there is to do is work out details, but at the same time I feel like I might be missing some big things! I almost definitely have a space in Kosciusko picked out and it is PERFECT and I believe it will be perfect for many years to come. I'm so excited. I'm calculating costs, making lists, checking them twice, thrice, even four times, ordering things(or at least preparing to as soon as soon as the money comes in!), and working out paperwork which is never fun but necessary. I am hoping to open shop in May, so keep your fingers crossed and pray that it all comes together in time!

Fourth Feelings

Ever feel like you spend your whole life waiting? That's how I feel right now. I'm waiting and saving for my studio. I'm waiting to get some photo shoots. I'm waiting for an E-Mail. I'm waiting on responses from Facebook. I'm waiting for equipment. I'm even waiting for my husband to get off of work! I have to wonder why life can't happen right now. Why I can't have a studio, full of customers and equipment today. Why can't I have the money today. Why can't everything i want just be given to me? Because I wouldn't learn or appreciate those things that way. I know I have to work at this and it will take time, but sometimes that is hard. I just have to remember that God knows best and the HillHaven will blossom under His care in His time.

Third Try (First Ad)

Second Post

Life as HillHaven has been a little crazy. I am prospectively moving into a rented space soon and am quickly finding out what all in entailed in having a physical location--licenses, bills, equipment, money-- it's a lot. But I think it's worth it and I am saving hard to be able to get moved in as soon as possible. Once I'm there I plan to have a private art studio in the back, as well as a photography studio and a small lobby where some original art pieces as well and my handmade jewelry and painted bags will be sold. It's certainly an exciting time in my life, but it is also stressful, I have to raise a lot of money in hopes that by the time I have it the location I want is still available, because I do not want to spend the money and rent it out before I have the money to start investing in the building. I am trying to be a good stewart and have faith that God will provide the perfect location, even if it is not this one, but at the same time, I really want it to be this one!

First Thoughts

Someone the other day suggested that I create a blog to keep people up to date on HillHaven and it's goings ons. My first thought was "a blog? I haven't blogged since Xanga was in style, nobody had heard of Facebook or MySpace, and I was still living with my mom." However, I have been doing research, looking at other artists' sites, and noticed that blogs have indeed come back and that people do seem to respond to them. So, "What the heck?" I thought, "I'll start a blog!" So, here I am, sitting on my couch blogging when I should be cleaning...Hey, I'm starting to like this better already! I can't promise that it will be everyday, but I hope to keep it interesting, entertaining, informative, and most of all uplifting!

-Shanna Sechler
--HillHaven Studio