Preview

{There's post on portrait photography coming up soon!}

April Photo Challenge

Whenever people ask me if I have one tip or something that they can do that would help them become a better photographer, I can only think of one thing to say:

Take photos. 

Being a good photographer isn't merely about having expensive equipment or a thorough knowledge of all the composition rules. It's not about having creative 'genes' (though that helps) or even about all the photography courses you've been to (that helps, too). 

It's about experience. 

So if you were to ask me right now for my greatest 'secret to success' (not that I am a success story by any means! I seriously still have so much to learn!), I'd have to say that it's actually just getting out there and taking your camera with you. After I did a week-long photography course in 2009, for a while I took hundreds of pictures of anything and everything I could find to photograph. Believe me, my family were thoroughly bored of having to wait every five minutes each time we went for a walk so I could take a picture of that interesting little bush on the side of the road. :D

But the more photos I took, the harder I critiqued myself and the better my photos became. 

So this photo challenge is about just that - merely taking photos. You don't have to be super creative, or own a DSLR or even have been to a photography course. All you need is a willingness to take photos and a desire to improve! The challenge I'm hosting is going to be taking a photo a day for one month of a different subject and then either posting it on your own blog or alternatively sending it to me to post on this blog (and I'm even willing to critique it, too). It's going to be so exciting seeing you all become incredible photographers in just one month! :-)

And now that you've made it this far reading my long boring monologue, I'm going to reward you with a little preview of something I got up to over the long weekend...

{More on that to come!}

2012 | Another sort of Journey

I don't know about you, but I find journeys exciting. When we were younger our family used to go road tripping a lot (way back when we seemed to have so much more time on our hands) and I used to love them more than anything. We'd get up super early, while it the sky was still a deep blue and the air was cold, and rush around frantically trying to get everything in the car before finally leaving (generally about thirty mins late) for our trip.

A few weeks ago, I was blessed to be able to attend a different sort of journey - one that went straight to the  heart. On this week-long retreat out in the countryside, we studied spiritual heart conditions and gained incredible insights into His amazing, unfailing love for us along the way. It was so good, learning to love Jesus with a deep appreciation for who He is and what He's done - not just with the emotional "warm fuzzies" which I could never seem to muster.

And it was also a lot of fun! Our group of about fifteen got to know each other really well over the week, and  by the end of it we all felt like sisters. :)

{Awww, I love these girlies! Sadly, I don't have photos of all of them - but here are some!}

My prayer for you is that you'll come to know and experience Christ in new and incredible ways as He takes you on the greatest journey of all - to His heart! :)

A/N: I'm considering posting a photo challenge for the month of April - but I need to know if you guys are willing to participate first! So pretty please contribute to the poll on the side. Thanking you in advance! :)

11/11/11

Happy eleventh of the eleventh of two thousand and eleven!

{Because it's nice weather, and because today is a nice day, and because I'm a nice person (kidding on this one!) I thought I'd give you a nice happy photo of the day! :) Isn't she cute?}

(post script: aaaand yes, I'm still trying to fix those photos - thanks for bearing with me!}

WA: fun times...

{preface: this will probably be the last post in the "WA" series because I'm sure you're all getting bored of it by now!}

While in WA, we did a lot of *fun* things with our hospitable hosts, the D. family! Things like...

{...picniking in the bush}

{mini-golfing}

{and more mini-golfing!}

{sailing}

{Emmie & I}

{Walking with friends}

{...and taking lots of photos!}

{...having fun with cameras and phones}

We also did maany other things like shooting, bowling, 4WDing, horse riding - but sadly, that's all I have time for now! Overall, it was one very incredible trip!

WA: Children's Institute

{Warning: images portrayed in this post may be highly embarrassing to certain individuals, and I apologize in advance :-) Also, I didn't take all of these CI photos - credits also go to Olivia D, Emmie D, John N. and whoever else had my camera throughout the week! :P}

Introducing: a Perth CI!

{For those of you who have no idea what a CI is, here's my sketchy dictionary definition of it: a program where you teach children about life and God and why some things happen and what the Bible says about it. Throw in some stories, songs, and crafts and you have a week full of fun and learning!}

So while I've taught maaaaany of these programs before, this was to be my very first interstate one.

It was amazing.

{Welcome to the Children's Institute!}

{CI director}

{The other CI director}

For those of you who have ever thought our Melb children's programs are crazy at times, you should come do a WA one. It was insane. Here's proof:

{So. much. fun!}

It was incredible seeing God move in the lives each person as each night went past! I saw leaders being stretched and strengthened as they overcame obstacles, children opening up and being receptive to each truth that was presented to them, and parents being encouraged by the teaching.

{"Miss Eloise" telling the aforementioned story, and "Mr. John" in a skit as the wise man who built his house on the rock instead of the sand}

Teaching children doesn't come without challenges though. One evening in particular, I was completely stressing out. I had to tell a story, teach a particularily hard lesson (stronghold diagrams ring a bell with anyone?!), sightread/improvise on the piano one of the CI songs that I hadn't known we were doing and on top of it all, some of the children in my team were being really difficult and constantly acting up that night. I remember going into the bathroom and feeling completely overwhelmed. I have perfectionist tendancies, and deep down, I was scared of messing up in front of everyone. But I remembered a phrase that I'd heard at a Conference once: "If our failure will bring glory to the Lord, then we need to be willing to fail and possibly look stupid for His sake."

And guess what happened when I gave up my pride and told God that I was willing to look stupid for Him? He did faaaaaar more than I expected or hoped!!! Truly, God is great.

Over all, it was a good CI. It didn't go perfectly, and there were things that could have better (on my behalf, that is!). But the most important thing is that seeds were planted, and I'm praying that there will be a lasting impact.