"Clandestine Hip Shot..." Candids from Road Trip

So I said in my last post that I had learned a new technique for taking photos. I stumbled across this blog post, from a safari photographer, Roger Moore (his work is beautiful!)... He calls it the "Clandestine Hip Shot"...

I've always wondered how to get really great people shots of strangers, without being obnoxious and intrusive, or how to not spoil the moment with kids by pulling my camera to my face... this is the answer and I LOVE the look of them (I realize that may be personal preference), but they have movement and interest, more photojournalistic in their look... And it gives you a whole different perspective...

I also ordered his camera strap and made an adjustment to it, so it would feel more secure, if you're interested, just leave me a comment and I'll tell you what I did... But it will be the all-time strap for my camera... Much more flexibility and so much easier to use and carry my camera...

So here are the candids that I got using the "Clandestine Hip Shot"... I then had a lot of fun post-processing them in Lightroom 2... What an AWESOME program, I'm totally HOOKED!! I need to practice some more, some of them aren't focused like I'd like... I shot in aperture priority, so I think I need to increase my aperture setting so more of the picture is sharper...











For these next two, I reached my camera across the fence... It's amazing what you can get when you learn to see what the camera sees... (I have a lot to learn!!)





Back to the hip shots...

















I'm sorry this one didn't turn out better, but I love the feel of it... It would have been my favorite if it had been sharper... Oh well, still learning...



A few more...







This last photo was from a baseball game when Abby was hot and tired and did not want me taking her photo...



So you can crop these in...leave them at the wide angle, you could even them straighten them out, but I really love this new technique... I think it will be great for Africa...

Our Super Fun Girls Road Trip!!

Ok, I think I'm a country girl at heart... I could move to R's neck of the woods on a moment's notice! It's ideal and beautiful!! Corn and wheat fields...rivers...local fairs...cotton candy...truck pulls (yep, you read that right)...a mule to ride...great cities not too far away...and AWESOME thunderstorms...I could go on and on...

We left last Wednesday to visit Abby's older foster sister from China... It was the first time the girls had seen each other in a year and we were so excited. Abby was a little unsure of what to do at first, but it didn't take too long for them to slip back into their sweet relationship! Penny has 3 other sisters, adopted from China also, and all the girls got along so great!

The photos really tell the story, but there are so many of them... I'm working with Alexis on a new blog and photo blog (thanks to some wonderful suggestions by some of you), so in the next week or so, we'll have that up and running and I'll post more of the photos...but until them, I'll overwhelm you with some of my favorites from each of our outings...

I'll start with a photo of Penny and Abby, from our trip to the river front...



Sad faces from a bowling trip that didn't work out...both bowling alleys were closed!





A stop at R's sister who has goats... I love this photo, it's going to eventually get a post all to itself...you'll just have to wonder and wait!



The girls putting their hands in the cows mouth! YUK...ok, the city girl in me screamed..."No Way!"



A detour by the windfarm... How cool is this?!



Then a trip IN the mule (I thought R. wanted me to ride ON a mule) to see the landscape... Just Stunning!

Their red barn...



A beautiful field...



Sunsets that will take your breath away...





A sweet moment with mommy and her precious little one...



Isn't she beautiful?!



A trip to the river...



K....just too hot...seeking shade!



Next was the carnival...







Sticky fingers from cotton candy!!



We did get to bowl...cosmic bowling...we had a blast...



And we made chinese pork dumplings in the midst of a crazy storm...



I have so many photos that I'd love to share, but this post is getting WAY too long... I'll do another post on some candids that I took...I tried a new technique that I love! I've also got some more posed photos of the girls that I'll save for another day...

But for now, I'll post some of my favorites that really grabbed my heart! (A...was earlier with her mom and Abby was just not cooperating in the photo department!)

A baby robin on the clothes line...



Beautiful...sweet K...



And V...





And Penny...





And Mackenzie...





Here's one of all the girls...



And here's my favorite of Abby and Penny... I love those candid moments!!



Thanks for hanging in there with me! It was such a great time...Thank you R & C for your incredible generosity! It was such a blessing to spend time with you at your beautiful home in your amazing state!