Cute Overload

These Lalaloopsy dolls are about the cutest thing that's come out for kids in a while.

It's a welcome relief from all those horrible Moxie dolls (I can not tell you how pissed I am that those little slut dolls are named Moxie!) Sure, there is definitely some subtle sexual appeal to these dolls. The one my boyfriend bought for me is a school girl made from a patch of a school girl's uniform and all the dolls have a slight Lolita aesthetic about them. (oddly enough that's who I'm going as for Halloween; Ms. Dolores Haze). Anyways, I am in love with Lalaloopsy.

The idea behind the dolls is this: Each one is a ragdoll that has come to life. They were all made from a scrap of some kind of clothing; like the school girl's uniform and they each have their own personality and an animal companion. The doll I have is Bea Spells'alot and she is some what a smartypants her companion is obviously an owl.

These dolls feel super sturdy almost indestructible. Which gives it a nice heft and weight to it. The doll's heads are top heavy which is an absolute most for a doll to be achieve that ridiculously cute level. And, hello, button for eyes!!

I love this doll is really the bottom line. I'm planning on doing a week long photo project featuring Miss Bea Spells'alot.

Shoot for the Moon!!

Those oh so elusive and awesome moon shot! I was once so mystified by shots of the moon since my little ole point and shoot couldn't come close to capturing it. Well, lucky for me, I got an awesome man who got me an awesome camera.

Coming home I saw the largest moon ever! But as is always the case; the moon had risen quickly. But it was still large enough to get some awesome shots.

Heading outside with my tripod in hand, I thought I would need a long shutter speed something in the range of  3 to 10 seconds but this only made the moon blurry and far too bright.

A shutter speed to quick and the moon looked too dark.

But I think the most important thing to remember about moon shots is the use of negative spaces.

Stray Cat Diary

Leroy here, is one from a litter of about four that was born in my boyfriend's van. There are only two from that litter left; Leroy and his sister Serengeti.

His mother, Minsky has been coming around since she was a kitten but she disapeared several months ago and we presume her to be dead. But good old Leroy is still about. Serengeti and Momo (which is actually the mother to the kitten my boyfriend and I took in) show up few times out of the day to eat and get some water but Leroy doesn't follow them off on any of their cat adventures.

Leroy is the grey ball o' fuzz pictured above. This was taken when we still had the van and the kittens used it as a shelter. The other little kitten is Dash Rendar who got ran over on the street couple months ago.

It has only been recently that Leroy has gotten brave enough to seek attention from us in the household. It's difficult to pet him though since he just wants to play and swat at hands. But he rubs against legs and will follow me to and from the dumpster.

And he loves this stick. He's a sweet cat with a nice attitude. I figured he pretty much adopted us. He is part of a legacy of cats that my boyfriend's mom has fed. I believe it can be traced back to Minsky's mother; Leroy's grandmother. We even suspect who the father might be; Tiger, a large orange Tom that appears a few times out of each month followed by someone getting pregnant.

Leroy doesn't seem to be old enough just yet to strike off and find that special lady cat. He's too interested in what's going on around the apartment.

And too curious about the thing that I keep shoving in his face to do anything like that.

Ferns and Tree

Them Apples

Taken inside the homemade lightbox:

Homemade Lightbox

Yesterday morning I woke up with a goal in mind; make a lightbox I had been wanting to do this for some time but only found the gumption to do it yesterday. I took an old box and cut out the sides and the flaps of leaving the bottom of the box intact. I used the width of the ruler to determine the spacing between the hole and the edge of the box. The holes I covered with cardstock but I would imagine most any type of paper would work as long as your lightsource can penetrate it.

My lightsources included a table lamp on it's side and a flashlight, seen in the picture. I had no way to provide a lightsource at top but this didn't really matter. Later should I want to eliminate any shadows I will find a way to light the box from the top.

Mushrooms (1)

The whole point of making the lightbox was to photograph these little mushrooms I found. I think the lighbox worked great and I was soon sticking anything and everything I could find inside.

'Bells'

'Buddha Earrings'

'Octopus Earrings'

The only problem I have with the lightbox is the cat. I used his box to make it and I think he wants it back. No matter, I'm looking to making a more permenant and sound structure. Next time I delve into the lightbox I'm going to work with more complex lighting and even colors and shades.

You Know What I'm Sick of Seeing in Photography?

Pretty girls laying in fields while the soft sunlight gently caresses them with a slightly blurred foreground. I am sick of seeing this. I would like to get some actual women out in those fields and take pictures of them in the same manner or potbelly pigs or something more out of the "norm" just to break this awful, awful habit of photographers shooting pretty girls in glowing meadows.

That is what I'm sick of seeing in photography.

Smoking or Non-Smoking?

Cigarette butts make for some good photos. That's my official take.

Around Winter Haven

Here's a collection of pictures one might see on any given day in the downtown area of Winter Haven.

Queen of the Dragonflies

Against the Wall

'Three'

'Snail'

When the World Comes to an End II

'Blue Sky'

Years ago there was a building here but it burned to the ground and the city has not really done anything with the lot. 

 'Debris Garden'

 'Rubble'

 'Bricks, Pipe, Vines'

 'Weeds'

 'Water Source'

 'White Pipes and Green Vines'

'The Asphalt Pipe'

I know want to go back and find a unifying style for these pictures to tie them all together and make the series more cohesive. 

When the World Comes to an End

First in a body of work. I'm trying to decide if I want to process all the photos in the same way with the same settings and ragged edges. I'm leaning towards that decision but not sure.

In Need of a Lens

I'm hoping to get the AF-S Nikkor 35mm f1/8G lens. Pretty affordable at around $200.

Some reviews:
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/35mm-f18.htm

http://www.digital-photography-school.com/nikkor-af-s-dx-35mm-f18g

All That Hard Work and Studying Has Paid Off

This is Mister Santiago de la Montoya. My boyfriend and I have had this cat since he was very very young and very very sick. Although you wouldn't be able to tell that at one time this feisty little trouble maker was near Death's Door.