How They Shine

Canon 5D Mark ll, 16-35 2.8L, lens set to infinity, 2.8 aperture, 15 second shutter speed, 3200 ISO, a tripod and remote were used

I have wanted to photograph the stars several times during this project. Tonight was my night to try. Although I did not photograph them as well as I wanted, I am astonished at what I found with the help of my camera. I did not see this many stars with my eyes. Stargazing always seems to help me right-size my perspective. Finding my smallness always brings me relief.  He is God and I am not. The expanse of the universe, the stars that He spoke into being now speak this truth with more eloquence than I can pretend to muster. How they must have tumbled out from His lips like jewels sparkling into the darkness. I would have loved to have seen that. Look at them. Can you believe He made those for us to walk under, to light our darkness, to show Abraham a picture of the vastness of the generations to come, or even lead wise men to a the King of all Kings?

My daughter Katie has written a beautiful song about the stars. You may listen to and download it for free here. I am so proud of her. She has a worshiping heart. I do not know what else a mother could ask for.

Happy Christmas Eve, everyone. Let us worship the One who not only threw the stars into space, but allowed His son to be born under them as a gift to the world.

Matthew 2:9-11 ~”After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.  When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.  On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.”

God's Promises for Me

Jewels in the Darkness

Home Under Heaven

Shine On

Orlando Night

Canon 5D Mark ll, 50 1.2L, 2.2 aperture, 1/200 shutter, 200 ISO

I took this from the parking deck of Universal Studios today. I love cities at night, especially when there is water to reflect the lights.

The kids rocked Island of Adventures today, while Chris and I enjoyed a movie at the house. We joined them just as the sun was setting over the city and the park. (And just as the masses of people were leaving.) Their favorite rides were The Incredible Hulk Coaster and The Forbidden Journey.  It was a great day for everyone. This has been such a nice week together. One more full day to go and then life gets really busy and challenging again. I am cherishing every moment as I lay my head down on the pillow tonight. Grateful.

Time to sleep. Goodnight Orlando.:)

City Lights

City Lights

Canon 5D mark ll, 50 1.2L, 1.2 aperture, 1/50 shutter, 1000 ISO

Saw this colorful scene as Katie and I drove into Nashville tonight. So beautiful.

This is my fourth year shooting the Nashville YEC conference. I absolutely love it. Thousands of kids come to this conference every year with their church leaders to experience God in a whole new way. They bring in speakers, musicians, comedians and artists to share the Gospel in new and creative ways. My absolute favorite part is the worship. Every year, I have to let my camera hang around my neck as I spread my hands toward heaven and worship with these kids. God meets us here, and I feel at home among them.

This is Katie’s third year assisting me at this event. She loves it too, and our  time in Nashville together. Last year, while Katie was studying abroad in Spain, Annie assisted me. She also fell in love with the event and the trip. I think they fought over it this year, but Katie essentially had “squatters rights” as she was the first to come.

I am glad to be here, and glad to see my amazing fluffy pillow now.  I hope to share more from this event tomorrow!

Night everyone.:)

Nashville at Night

Night Beauty

Canon 5D Mark ll, 70-200L 2.8, 4.0 aperture, 1/5 shutter, 250 ISO, tripod

Just when I thought the day was done, and I felt utterly and completely alone, I looked up. There, the clouds gathered into a circle around the moon, like children awaiting a story. In the clouds, different shades of color and light formed a crown for her majesty, the Moon, whose brilliance is but a reflection from our Sun.

All at once, I felt utterly and completely loved and not alone at all. The day was not done, and this moment hung so heavy with joy and conversation as I took frame after frame of the glory. I could not stop thanking my Father God for this gift. I felt it was just for me.  I had felt sadness just moments before, and now such joy. As I bent on the wet earth holding my tripod to steady my camera, my dogs gathered around happy, my excitement palpable to them. The horses clung to the edge of the fence, curious.

I chattered on to God like a child, thanking Him, and telling Him everything that came into my mind and heart. So grateful.

It was our moment.

Fresh manna for the day. I have gathered and eaten it. I look forward to tomorrow’s supply.

Mystery

Moon Glory

Winter Barn

Canon 5D Mark 2, 24-70 L, 9.0 aperture, 6 second shutter, 1600 ISO, Camera was placed on a tripod

I love my barn. It has brought me and my horses much joy and relief over the years. Our neighbors helped us build and paint it when we built our house. I have spent much time inside it, doctoring horses, shoveling stalls, or just sitting on the sweet-smelling hay, thinking and dreaming. In the summer when magic hour hits, light streams in the windows and if you are inside it when that time comes, it is sublime. In the winter… well, in the winter you get this. A place of safety and warmth for my horses when the ground is too hard for their hooves, and they can have hay and fresh water all night.

Barns have long been a place of happiness for me, because horses lived in them, and kittens and puppies were born in them. I have always been an animal-loving girl. In barns I have spent hours on my stomach trying to find where mama cat has hidden her kittens, only to giggle with delight upon hearing their little mewing from their secret sanctuary. I have chatted with horses endlessly while they munched and crunched on their hay, sighing and snorting in between bites. I love all those sounds!

The light is almost always just right in a barn, soft and hazy or angled and striking. I love the light in a barn. Dreamy.

This one is mine, on this side of heaven, and this grown-up girl is so grateful. Good night horses. I will see you in the morning light.

I have a new blog!!! I wanted larger images and a more earthy feel to my pages. If you miss my old blog you can still access it here.

First of all, I would like to say thanks to my beautiful and talented designer, Sheryl Mangold of  huiadesign.  She  is a rare gem in the industry. I met  her on the iStockphoto forums several years ago, when I was trying to  figure out my first website and business card design. She lives in New Zealand. From across the world, we have worked on projects for my business and become friends. She is so intuitive and she just gets me. Every time I ask her for a new design, she seems to know exactly what I am looking for. I highly recommend her! Love my new blog!!!

Secondly, the night sky rocked my world last night and I just had to try to capture it. With my camera on a tripod and and my wide angle lens, I got just a few of God’s magnificent sky. Then, Johnny and I had to play a bit. We had fun trying different techniques to capture flash and ambient light at the same time, and maybe getting him some slamming profile pictures at the same time.

Great night.