#FunnyFriday

First Hand Account of Sunset Photography

Disclaimer: I've attempted to photograph a sunset once - I am by no means an expert...

I am, however, very excited with my results. So, naturally, I feel I must write a blog post about it.

http://travelwithmeraki.com/easy-tips-for-sunrise-and-sunset-photography/

I didn't find too many how-to articles on photographing sunsets. I guess sunsets aren't as popular as waterfalls, dogs, babies, or insects. I find this funny because it certainly seems like pictures of sunsets populate most searches... Anyway, the article above is pretty good.

There are three things I think are necessary to capturing a good photo of a sunset:

• A low ISO. I used ISO 100, but if your camera goes lower, go for it. Since you're  photographing the sun, any "noise" will be more evident if you use a higher ISO. Of course, using a low ISO will mean you need a longer shutter speed or higher aperture.
• The Rule of Thirds. I really like it. It tends to add another level of interest to the photo.
• A tripod. You want the clearest, crispiest photo you can.

At any rate, since the area we moved to has gorgeous scenery, you can bet this will not be the last time I take photos of sunsets! Speaking of which, I need to find a good camera bag for my DSLR and gear so that it's more natural to just grab it on my way out the door.

'O Ketchup

Dear Ketchup,

You're a magical condiment, aren't you? You perfectly complement almost everything under the sun. From eggs to hot dogs, you're always a welcome addition.
I personally think it's the perfect mix of tomatoes, vinegar and sugar that makes you an all-star, but I'm sure it's that little extra something that has almost the entire world wrapped around your little finger.  
Sure, other condiments have tried to steal your thunder. They creep up onto the scene, steal your spotlight for a little minute, but they can never erase or replace you in the hearts of millions. You are truly an irreplaceable American Classic. 
Thank you.

Sincerely,
A Huge Fan

#ThrowbackThursday

#FunnyFriday

New House, New Rooms

This move, my brother and I have had a little bit of difficulty pinning down the way we want to paint each of our rooms. It's not because we aren't seeing and dreaming up ideas that we like, but it's because there are so many ideas and so little time. 

I think part of my problem also was that for the first time ever, I was designing my walls around two things... These curtains, which I can't wait to get. And my furniture. Before we knew we were moving, I redid the furniture in my bedroom. With the help of my brother, they all got lugged out to the garage. Then they got sanded, I painted them a deep purple, lightly sanded them again to make the purple paint look weathered, applied black stain on them, wiped it off, and then I applied polyurethane... THREE coats each! The end result was absolutely worth it!

So, that was what I was planning my room around. 

I think my parents can testify that I could not decide what I wanted to do. When I first began looking at paint chips, I was looking for lime green. Then I started looking at tuquoise. Then I looked at oranges, which I have a soft spot for. (My room in the old house was orange.) Then, by Mom's guidance, I started looking at light purples.

Anyways, I have a plan now. I'm 99% certain (the 1% is reserved for if the color paint chips look bad in my new room.) We are supposed to close tomorrow, so then we can come and go as we please and I can see how they look in the actual space with the actual light.

You can bet there will be a blog post about it after we do it!

P.S. My apologies for the lack of blog posts lately. Things finally started moving along with our relocation. But I'm back ;-)