The contest begins in 3 days on March 3, 2009.
Name Your Dream Assignment is a contest to find the most creative, inspiring photo shoot idea.
Here is the link on March 3, 2009

Please come and vote for my dream assignment to come true. Get everyone you know come vote and see what a difference it would make in my life.

Say What You Need To Say

Take all of your wasted honor
Every little past frustration
Take all your so call problems
Better put'em in quotation

Say what you need to say

Walking like a one man army
Fighting with shadows in your head
Living out the same old moment
Knowing you'd be better off instead
If you could only...

Say what you need to say.

Have no fear for giving in
Have now fear for giving over
You'd better know that in the end
It better to say to much
Then never say what you need to say again.

Even if your hands are shaking
and your faith is broken
Even as your eyes are closing
Do it with a heart wide open

Say what you need to say.

Teach Me

Teach Me, originally uploaded by pswood40.

This girl for the last 3 days has wanted her fishing pole and if you know Ryleigh..she does not give up! so her dad decided he had enough and went to the garage and pulled out the fishing pole. ie not hook or line ..she just wanted to do the motion of reeling it in..so tonight this is what we did for 2 hours!!!!!!! Wouldn't have it any other way.

I heard this song the other day and it captivated me..
Bells for her

Love Story

Love Story, originally uploaded by pswood40.

This was another of their shoot..the back ground is a picture that I had and processed to an action I have..I love this and it reminds me of something from "Love Story"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wRkoGKQ8qQ

Better Together

Better Together, originally uploaded by pswood40.

This shoot was fun..
listen to this www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPXU33iquDE

Taking Manual Control Over Your Digital Camera

When a camera is fully automated the computer is asked to control a number of extremely important tasks. It uses a combination of pre-installed data and real-time tests to generate an educated guess as how your photograph ought to be shot. For people who don’t care about learning how to use their camera, they accept these educated guesses as the best the camera can do, and if they want a better quality picture, they have to buy a better quality camera. This belief is, for the most part, untrue. While I do believe that a higher quality camera can produce higher quality results, I believe that any camera is capable of shooting a good picture as long as you can take control over how the photo is taken.
So, I’m going to make a statement that sounds simple, but really is something you need to believe if you want to improve your photographic skills:
You are smarter than your camera.
That’s it. That’s all you need to believe. Unfortunately, you’re going to need to prove it.
So what decisions should you make that your camera’s computer never should? The answer is actually quite simple. You need to control the most fundamental features that are the same now as they were fifty years ago: ISO, white balance (WB), aperture (Av), shutter speed (Tv), and focus. So I’m going to talk a bit about my thought process when setting these features manually. I don’t intend to teach you how to make the adjustments or what they are as there exists countless guides that do that already.

ISO & White Balance
These features derive from the properties of film emulsion. Every roll available has both a inherent white balance and ISO. Just be aware of how lucky you are that you can change these settings on the fly with a digital camera, and not have to buy a variety of film to accommodate every shooting scenario that may arise.



ISO : I love pure, bold color so I always aim for the lowest ISO possible. ISO is the first thing I set when entering into a shoot. I base my ISO on the shadows and dark areas of the scene, rather then the the ones that are heavily lit. All ISOs can expose well-lit subjects, but only high ISOs can expose dark areas. The second thing I look at is the speed of my lens. If I have a fast lens (i.e. f2.8) then I know I can push my ISO down a touch. I will also consider my subject. If my subject is static and I can shoot long exposures without risking motion blur then I’ll push my ISO lower, whereas fast-moving subjects require fast shutter speeds and often high ISOs.

WB : I ask myself: how many types of light are present? Which color of light is best to balance to? For instance, if I’m shooting outside then I’ll set my white balance to daylight (6000 degrees kelvin). If I’m shooting a home interior lit with daylight through open windows, and tungsten light from the interior fixtures, then I opt daylight and often use my flash to counteract the tungsten light. Sometimes I try to adjust all lighting so it’s the same color by using gels, swapping bulbs, etc. Other times it works nicely just to let all the different colors of light bee seen - like at crazy rock shows.

Aperture and Shutter
SpeedLike a fine balance, each must compliment the other. You cannot change one without affecting the other. These are the yin and the yang of photography. The symbols Av and Tv are often used which stand for Aperture Value and Time Value.

Av : I start by looking at my available light and get an idea of what aperture range I’m looking at. Lots of light means a broader range of choice. Second, I’ll think about the shot itself and what depth of field I want. If I want lots of detail at all depths, then I’ll drop it down as low as f22. If I want a soft background, with a refined range of focus, then I’ll open it up to f2.8 or larger. Sometimes you don’t have a lot of choice, so the wider (lower number) the better. That’s why lenses with apertures like a fixed f2.8 are so expensive - because they’ll benefit you in low light. It’s also important to consider your subject - fast moving subjects will require lower apertures, so you can achieve faster shutter speeds.


Tv : The length of the exposure has huge bearing on the outcome of a shot. I start by looking at my subject and whether or not I want them sharp or blurred. Some subjects like city traffic benefit from long exposures, while others suffer. I try to stay at 1/60 of a second or faster when I’m shooting handheld, and use a tripod for slower exposures. Stillness varies from person to person, and image stabilizers will help. Fast subjects require fast shutter speeds.

Manual Focus
Auto focus is very fast and often quite reliable. That being said, sometimes you just have to take matters into your own hands. Be prepared to make adjustments at a moment notice.

MF : If my lens is struggling to find contrast in a shot, or focuses on the wrong thing, then it goes straight to manual. Most digital SLRs will even give you a audible or visual cue when you’re manually focused correctly. I try to avoid focusing on my subject center frame, and often try to manually keep my focus while reframing in accordance with the rule of thirds. Trusting my auto focus has ruined more shots than I can count. If you eyesight is a tad out, then make sure to set your diopter accordingly. Learn to trust your eyes.

Nice read from here.

Playful

Playful, originally uploaded by pswood40.

Justin and Ashley

Love

Love, originally uploaded by pswood40.

My nephew and his wife a couple of chrismas's back.

You talk'n to me?

You talk'n to me?, originally uploaded by pswood40.

Had my grandson for a couple days and I just fall in love all over with him when I see him..he is the sweetest baby..

From Ms Regenia...Thank You

Lighting is always an issue. Try to remember that side lighting gives you texture and detail, front lighting tends to make flat images, and backlighting creates silouettes. The best time to photograph outdoors is early morning or just before sunset. Just set you up some lights and a subject and practice taking different shots to see the effects. My favorite lighting is natural lighting. I hope this helps some. A great book to read is John Hedgecoe's The new manual of photography.

Simple Pleasures

Simple Pleasures, originally uploaded by pswood40.

So I finally did a tagg and here is what my results were! check it out.

"I was not looking for my dreams to interpret my life, but rather for my life to interpret my dreams~Susan Sontaq
Ok, so I joined the group I've been tagged and this was from Snapshot Flash
so here is mine from her game and also the rules and I 've got to tag 10 people.

1. Put your iTunes/ ipod on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!
4. Tag 10 or more friends who might enjoy doing this as well as the person you got it from.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
Better to Have Loved ~Idina Menzel

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
Your Still the One~ Leanne McBride

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
You Hide Redneck~Tracy Lawrence

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
He Still Thinks I Care~Deana Carter

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
Amazing~Josh Kelly

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Careless Whisper~George Micheal

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT OFTEN?
Make You Feel My Love~Bob Dylan

WHAT IS 2+2?
I Miss You~Klymarxx

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
I Will Remember You~Sarah McLachlan

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
They Long to Be Close to You~Carpenters

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Life in the Fast Lane~Eagles

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Proud Mary~Tina Turner

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Please Forgive me~Brian Adams

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Vision of Love~Mariah Carey

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Love Won't Let Me Wait~Major Harris

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Beautiful in My Eyes~Joshua Kadison

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
I'm Movin' On~Rascal Flatts

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Can't Get Enough~Tamia

WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
Someone Somewhere Tonight (letting go of the hand that they trust)~Kenny Rogers

HOW WILL YOU DIE?
Scenes from an Italian Restaurant~Billy Joel

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
Better in Time~Leona Lewis

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
Vogue~Madonna

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
If I Ain't Got You (Acoustic Exclusive)~Alicia Keys

WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
Made Me Whole~Amel Lamieux

WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
You've Got a Friend~Carole King

DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
Voice of Truth~Casting Crowns

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
No Secrets~Chandra Currelley

WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
Everybody Loves~Constantine

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
Inside Outside~Delirious?

Thru the Years

First, let me just say these are poor quality, I took them off an email I gotten and tried to get them to look better but!!! I can't believe these pictures, the first one is of me at Christmas back in the 90's I believe..the second is right after Ken and Tami moved down from michigan the first time and that was in 83, Wow look at that hair YIKES! and then the last is my senior picture back in 79-80..such a long time ago.







Here are a few more that I was able to get up too..our family picture taken at Karen's graduation in 1969 and then Nancy,Tami,Mom and me then Butch in the back that was sometime in the 90's and then the top one is of Tami's graduation in 1981 pretty bad quality but I thought I'd put it up.

My Sister

My Sister, originally uploaded by pswood40.

My sister and I share a love for photography so when we get the chance to go out and shoot we have the best time, plus I get to spend quality time with my little sister..

Drama Bling!

Drama Bling!, originally uploaded by pswood40.

3 Smart Saying

3 Smart Saying, originally uploaded by pswood40.

This was fun I rearrange there cups for them that had some cool saying.."Miss Prissy", "Smarty Pants", and "Whatever"
I love it!

Whatever..

Whatever.., originally uploaded by pswood40.

This was my favorite cup..I need to go back and get this cup. It's so me!

Hello MICKEY

Hello MICKEY, originally uploaded by pswood40.

I've always loved mickey but thru the years just thought it was to youngster for me but as I get older I just love him..
And I'm not afraid to say it anymore!

Little Vera Wang

Little Vera Wang, originally uploaded by pswood40.

This was a loveseat that was done in Vera Wang material and YES I love it and I want it!!!!

Mr. Frog

Mr. Frog, originally uploaded by pswood40.

Something that caught my eye..the little guy about to be eaten..haha

Charm braclet

Charm braclet, originally uploaded by pswood40.

Flash Back

Flash Back, originally uploaded by pswood40.

Longing

Longing, originally uploaded by pswood40.

Sisters

Sisters, originally uploaded by pswood40.

Work out with the camera timer! ha!

Window Box

Window Box, originally uploaded by pswood40.

This I thought was very creative window box..pretty cool uhh?

Pink Ice Cream Shop

Pink Ice Cream Shop, originally uploaded by pswood40.

Pink Ice Cream Shop

Pink Ice Cream Shop, originally uploaded by pswood40.

Outside looking in!

Bling

Bling, originally uploaded by pswood40.

Lot of Bling Bling there and it was such a cool place to see..

Victoria Village

Victoria Village, originally uploaded by pswood40.

Well I finally got to Victoria Village and what I seen I loved it!

From My Heart

Well, it's been awhile since I've really have sat down and wrote from my heart. I thought maybe I'd do that tonight.

I'm finding myself in such a fantastic state of mind these days. I feel like I'm being the person I need to be again and loving life as I need to love life. I feel like this cloud that's been over me has lifted and I can see the sunshine and it's making me very happy.

There have been people that have come into my life for a reason, and they come and go. The ones that are still around me are the friends that will always hold a special place in my heart and in my life.

There is so many things that I've learned this past year that has made me the woman that I am today. There are so many things that I won't take for granted or will let them hurt me or take away anything from my soul ever again.

It's funny how life is full of ups and downs..
More than once have I asked God to get me thru my low spots. Not really realizing that with my life altering experience I was being shaped into the woman that I am today. Without those trials and tribulations I'd be just an ordinary and plain person and not looking for the good in life.

As I sit here today..I like myself so much better today for having had to endure the pain. I can't help to think how high I am today without the perspective of how low I was.

The key is to face the challenges head on with grace, style and conviction. Not once stopping and looking back and move on to the good in life and share with your family and friends the real you.

I am..
A daughter
A sister
A mother
A wife
A friend
A person who contributes the most important part of me...ME!

I love life again and nothing or noone will ever take that away from me again I won't allow it..I will speak up when I think things are wrong..I will remind you of the most smallest things but give you the biggest praise in any accomplishment that you deserve.

I'll be honest, trustworthy and the one that will give it to you straight up weather you want to hear it or not because if we tip toe around it, you go nowhere fast!

So, I'll sit back and enjoy the ride and thank God everyday for the blessings that he has given me.

God Bless everyone

Ryleigh Weekend

Ryleigh Weekend, originally uploaded by pswood40.

Just a few from this weekend

Giggles from Ryleigh

Giggles from Ryleigh, originally uploaded by pswood40.

Just a few shots from this weekend..

Today With Joel and Victoria

You Have the Advantage

Today's Scripture
"…His favor is for a lifetime…" (Psalm 30:5, AMP).

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria

One definition of the word "favor" is an advantage for success. When you put God first, when you obey His commands, you open the door for His favor–you have the advantage for success! Even if someone may have wronged you and it looks like they have the upper hand, even if it looks like things are never going to change, you need to keep reminding yourself, "I have an advantage. God is in control of my destiny. He’s fighting my battles for me. He is my Vindicator. And it's just a matter of time before things change in my favor."I love the Scripture in Hebrews that says, "Don't cast away your confidence." One translation says, "…for payday is coming." In the difficult times, you have to remind yourself that payday is on its way! God is a faithful God. If you'll keep doing the right thing, honoring Him, expecting His favor, God has promised He will pay you back. He will restore everything in your life that the enemy has stolen so you can live the abundant life He has promised to you.

A Prayer for Today

Father in heaven, thank You for Your grace, mercy, and everlasting favor. I open my heart and mind to You and receive everything You have for me. Thank You for restoring and healing every area of my life. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Why the darkness?

Somewhere in the darkness there is a tiny shimmer of light. This light holds nothing but hope for those that find it, for hope is all that it will favour. The light shares no heat and its shadow is small but it will attract because it is light. Hidden just outside of the light’s reach, hidden in the shadow lurk those that we can’t imagine, even when we think of our deepest fears and nightmares, they transcend our imagination because our imagination and nature in general will never be as horrific as those that stay just beyond the light. One day I will find hope and step beyond the shadow and find what my mind is too primitive to comprehend and with hope discover that it is not something to fear but something to embrace.
Amen

Author: Nocturnus

Found this on twitter, I know I'm alittle late but man these people are very blessed to be safe and home now..Captain did an amazing job landing that aircraft..

Got me a wishlist going..somethings I just like but there something I reallllly want!! so here goes


I've seen this hat in alot of movies that I've been seeing lately and I think it's kinda cool!



I guess I'm just into the hat deal right now cause this is a rock'n hat too! would like to put it into a collection ;-)



Now who wouldn't want the Mac Pro laptop with 17 in screen!!! someday!




Love the brown sweater and how the cuffs go over the hand and then a pair of brown heals!!




Anybody that knows me knows that I love purses!! This is just one of them that I really like..I would like it in more of a carmel color but the inside...isn't that cool... the detail are awesome!


This just looks so fun ;-) This is a tote and it comes with a "Juicy" beach towel also..I love it!

Learning about Exposure - The Exposure Triangle

In Bryan Peterson'sillustrates the three main elements that need to be considered when playing around with exposure by calling them ‘the exposure triangle’.

Each of the three aspects of the triangle relate to light and how it enters and interacts with the camera.




The three elements are:
ISO - the measure of a digital camera sensor’s sensitivity to light
Aperture - the size of the opening in the lens when a picture is taken
Shutter Speed - the amount of time that the shutter is open
Is is at the intersection of these three elements that an image’s exposure is worked out.

Most importantly - a change in one of the elements will impact the others. This means that you can never really isolate just one of the elements alone but always need to have the others in the back of your mind.

Some metaphors for understanding the digital photography exposure triangle:

Many people describe the relationship between ISO, Aperture and Shutter Speed using different metaphors to help us get our heads around it. Let me share a couple. A quick word of warning first though - like most metaphors - these are far from perfect and are just for illustrative purposes:



The Window

Imagine your camera is like a window with shutters that open and close.

Aperture is the size of the window. If it’s bigger more light gets through and the room is brighter.

Shutter Speed is the amount of time that the shutters of the window are open. The longer you leave them open the more that comes in.

Now imagine that you’re inside the room and are wearing sunglasses (hopefully this isn’t too much of a stretch). Your eyes become desensitized to the light that comes in (it’s like a low ISO).

There are a number of ways of increasing the amount of light in the room (or at least how much it seems that there is. You could increase the time that the shutters are open (decrease shutter speed), you could increase the size of the window (increase aperture) or you could take off your sunglasses (make the ISO larger).

Ok - it’s not the perfect illustration - but you get the idea.




Sunbaking

Another way that a friend recently shared with me is to think about digital camera exposure as being like getting a sun tan.

Now getting a suntan is something I always wanted growing up - but unfortunately being very fair skinned it was something that I never really achieved. All I did was get burnt when I went out into the sun. In a sense your skin type is like an ISO rating. Some people are more sensitive to the sun than others.

Shutter speed in this metaphor is like the length of time you spend out in the sun. The longer you spend in the sun the increased chances of you getting a tan (of course spending too long in the sun can mean being over exposed).

Aperture is like sunscreen which you apply to your skin. Sunscreen blocks the sun at different rates depending upon it’s strength. Apply a high strength sunscreen and you decrease the amount of sunlight that gets through - and as a result even a person with highly sensitive skin can spend more time in the sun (ie decrease the Aperture and you can slow down shutter speed and/or decrease ISO).

As I’ve said - neither metaphor is perfect but both illustrate the interconnectedness of shutter speed, aperture and ISO on your digital camera.

NB: A third metaphor that I’ve heard used is the Garden Hose (the width of the hose is aperture, the length that the hose is left on is shutter speed and the pressure of the water (the speed it gets through) is ISO.

Bringing It All Together
Mastering the art of exposure is something that takes a lot of practice. In many ways it’s a juggling act and even the most experienced photographers experiment and tweak their settings as they go. Keep in mind that changing each element not only impacts the exposure of the image but each one also has an impact upon other aspects of it (ie changing aperture changes depth of field, changing ISO changes the graininess of a shot and changing shutter speed impacts how motion is captured).

The great thing about digital cameras is that they are the ideal testing bed for learning about exposure. You can take as many shots as you like at no cost and they not only allow you to shoot in Auto mode and Manual mode - but also generally have semi-automatic modes like aperture priority and shutter priority modes which allow you to make decisions about one or two elements of the triangle and let the camera handle the other elements.