Random Naturey Stuff

I'll be gone for about a week, so a little update before I go! These were taken all over the place.













Hopefully when I get back, I'll have some neat stuff to share!

A few more!

Two new designs...although, I have to admit, the other stuff people submitted is pretty good.

Summer Evening Luke

I like taking Luke outdoors. Especially in the grass. Yesterday I laid out a blanket and set him on it. He was a little weirded out by the grass (see the 4th photo down!), so stayed on the blanket! It's rare I can keep him in one place very long, so this was a perfect photo opportunity.

At it again...

Ok, I couldn't resist, I had to go back and make another tote design:



I want that damn $1000 gift card!

World Market Design-A-Tote Contest

My mom sent me a link to the Cost Plus World Market website, where they are having a "design our tote bag" contest. First place is a $1000 gift card to the store, and the design will be printed on the totes used at the store. So I submitted a design. It was kind of fun. I think I may submit another tomorrow (you can only submit one per day). They give you a blank template and you color it in, for lack of a better word. Unfortunately it is not the sort of thing where you vote for a winner, otherwise I'd be sending all of you over there.



I don't expect to win, but would definitely love a $1000 gift card...*fingers crossed!!!*

Hunt for an Abandoned Farm

I love photos of old and abandoned barns. I don't know why...they are slightly creepy, kind of pretty in an antique-ish way, and I like the country! So, Sunday Luke and I went for a little drive. My goal was to find an abandoned farm where I could snap a few shots of a dilapidated barn or silo or something. Ya know, this was a lot more difficult than I anticipated! Rob and I have driven up and down Rte. 47 on numerous occasions as we've traveled to and from my parents' house, and I remember seeing a lot of barns that looked like the slightest breeze could knock them over. And Sunday I did see many of these, however, the houses adjacent to them were very much occupied, and I wasn't in the mood to get busted for trespassing.

As I searched, I found a neat old fence on the side of the road. I strapped Luke to my back and took him for a little walk:





I actually gave up my search at this point, and started to head home. On my way back, though, something caught my eye on the horizon: a very, very cool looking dead tree. I headed that direction and found a small side road leading to the tree and a lone barn. There were no houses nearby, and the barn seemed to be unused. And old. Yay! I tried to be all stealth nontheless, lol. I had Luke with me and didn't want to get in trouble, obviously.













It was beginning to look like rain, and Luke was desperate to get out of his carseat, so we headed home.



So, if anyone knows of any neat, old farms or barns around here that I can take photos of, please tell me! It would be appreciated. I had a lot of fun with this, and want to try it again!

Melissa's Prairie Portraits

I don't know which I enjoy more: portrait photography or landscape/still life kind of stuff. I decided to do a little photoshoot for some practice (since I do foresee more portrait photography in my future), and Melissa was so kind as to be my model. I plan to do another shoot with her in the future, when the light is more like I desire (it was rather overcast when we did this shoot).















Thanks for being a great model, Lissa!