Description: All of my children have had (or still have) curly hair, I cannot count the number of knots I've unknotted... Mila's are especially bad as she winds her curls around her fingers until they're completely entangled, sometimes trapping her fingers in the process. I love the quietness on her face in this portrait, and her eye lashes against her cheeks.
Description: This is Hudson (4) and Belle (who is not so tiny any more.) Hudson keeps doing these little doodles and drawings and bringing them to me and asking me to "put them in the computer". While I love him to bits and think his creativity is great, I do kind of get tired of scanning endless abstract squiggles. So I thought I'd combine one of his artworks with one of mine, to make it more interesting for me... ( : So this is a portrait of the artist and his art.
Description: ....is so darn difficult to shoot - she won't keep still for a SECOND. However, I did my best and here she is. She delights me daily with her antics and her magical character entrances all who come into contact with her. My daughter, Grace (6), dressed in the beautiful bougainvillea that flourishes outside my bedroom window, which continually calls me to take photographs of it. Having said that, how many bougainvillea pics can you possibly take before everybody is bored silly? (and I've done quite a few...) So I thought I'd do a different take on bougainvillea, although I'm not great with photoshop.
Description: Yesterday we went fishing, all eleven of us and some friends. At one stage I asked Johnny (11) to carry Reilly (10 months) back to where we were picnicing. This is so typical of how Johnny carries Reilly most of the time, and Reilly just loves it. Can't think why. ( : Anyway, I'm just glad to have captured this moment, their relationship continuously delights me. Featured in The World As We See It Featured in South Africa - Rainbow Nation Featured in Images and Ideas --- October 2009 --- thank you!!! Featured in Family Unlimited Featured in the Good News Group --- November 2009 --- thank you to the hosts of those groups!! ( :
Description: These are my littlest darlings...(from left to right) Mila (2), Grace (6), Hudson (4), Reilly (10 months) and Tane (8). The older four kids were out, so what's a mom to do but indulge herself and take yet some more photos of her kids while we all play in the garden... This IS my job, and I LOVE it. Featured in Children - the Power of Raw Emotion Featured in The World As We See It --- October 09 --- thank you!!
Description: Another of my mom's marvellous roses - her whole garden was just so beautiful after the rain that I couldn't stop taking photographs, everything was so magically enhanced by the strings and strings of water drop beads. “Life is like a rose….More exquisite and precious when shared with others.” Jane Oechsle Lauer
Description: From left to right: Mila (2) Tane (8) Perrin (13) and Grace (6). I've been trying some new processing techniques, still have a way to go, I think. Growing up I had two brothers and no sisters. Now I have these four amazing girls who feel like sisters to me. What blessings! Camera Model Canon EOS 500D
Description: Mila (2) looking angelic although it was short lived. After I took these shots of her today, she changed immediately out of her 'angel dress' and into shorts and a t-shirt, only to play in the mud, change again, fall in a puddle, change again, have a fight with her four year old brother, get pushed over on the wet trampoline, change again.... ah, the life and laundry of lovely little Mila...
Description: Walks on the beach, time with my husband, playing with my kids in the sand.... December was GREAT. This is my husband, Greg, walking down to the water with Mila (2). In the distance are Perrin, Tane, Grace and Hudson, enjoying the water. Taken near Mossel Bay, South Africa. processed using photoshop CS2, texture my own
Description: I like this image of Mila, mostly because it reminds me of this image of me as a little girl, taken sometime in the late seventies on my Dad's farm in the Karoo, in South Africa. I overlayed my own hand-drawn doodles and played for ages with this image until my son, Josh, said, "I think it's done now, Mom." So here it is. Colour work in photoshop, Topaz DeNoise and Topaz Clean also used.
Description: More from our holiday, where I never got much beyond snapshot mode, being too busy building sand castles and the like. Hudson (4) and Mila (2) walking together as they often do; no doubt Hudson is telling Mila deep and mysterious insights into the nature of the universe, love, life and how to get Mom to buy ice creams... Taken at Strand, Somerset West, South Africa
Description: Mila got some make-up for Christmas, and loves smearing it all over her face. This is actually quite a toned down version of her favourite look. I think she looks quite odd, in this picture, but there is something about it that I like. Shot in natural light, processed using photoshop CS2 and Topaz DeNoise, also used some free actions from Apples and Sisters.
Description: The third and final one in the series. I balanced on a kitchen stool standing above her and nearly fell on top of her - I must have been a funny sight, enough to make her laugh, anyway. I loved the co-incidence that her shoes actually have the word Lollipop printed in them, although it may be too small to see clearly. Mila (2 and a half) shot in natural light, processed using photoshop cs2 and Topaz deNoise Camera Model Canon EOS 500D
Description: My little poser and I had a whale of a time the other day with a lollipop as a prop and a duvet cover as a backdrop. This is the first in a series of three. Mila (2 and a half) shot in natural light, processed using photoshop cs2 and Topaz deNoise Camera Model Canon EOS 500D Shooting Date/Time 2010/01/27 11:21:33 AM Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/50 Av( Aperture Value ) 5.0 ISO Speed 100
Description: A close up portrait of Tane (nearly 9) shot in natural light with my Canon EOS 500D. I just loved the pearly light and her delicious colouring. Canon EOS 500D Shooting Date/Time 2010/01/15 05:04:48 PM Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/60 Av( Aperture Value ) 3.2 ISO Speed 100
Peach T-Shirt
$24
Description: Tane (9) holding an image of Tane (9) holding an image of Tane (9)... you get the idea. ( : I tried something similar once before (see below) but thought it was an idea worth exploring further. I might try a series because the more I think about it the more ideas I get. But for the moment, this was Tane's birthday portrait and I like how it turned out. Processed using Topaz Adjust, Topaz DeNoise, Photoshop CS2
Description: Another portrait of George, looking innocent as only a white Cat kitten can. He is about three months old. Taken with my Canon 500D Post processing done in Photoshop CS2, Topaz Adjust, Topaz DeNoise also used. Featured in Cats and Dogs Featured in Domestic and Pedigree Cats Featured in High Key Featured in Paws and Claws Featured in All Pets Great and Small
Description: This gorgeous little man was my birthday present from my lovely and generous husband. He is absolutely adorable, friendly, calm and sweet natured PLUS he sleeps at night (which is a major bonus to a mom of many kids!!) The name his breeder gave him is 'Man About Town' but we just call him George. He is much loved and will probably feature here quite often, as I find him at least as photogenic as Mila. About the hat, I had some fun in Photoshop CS2. Topaz DeNoise also used.
