Invitation

Canon 5D Mark ll, 16-35 2.8L, 3.5 aperture, 1/500 shutter, 100 ISO

And when I can bear it no more, the rushing, the deadlines, the pressures of pleasing and making perfect, I come. I come and He is waiting. Why do I wait so long? It is an ongoing invitation. Come and rest. I lay myself down and He shines His brilliance into my weary heart. He warms and comforts. He surrounds me in light and vivid color. My heart expands, finding life again. I breathe in and then exhale. ” Yah-weh”. My spirit knows it is home. I surrender. Again. With every tear that rolls down, the burden lightens, and He captures them in bottles as treasure. I marvel at His beauty, His tangible love. Why do I wait for this?

Peaceful Place

Matthew 11:29 ~”Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Psalm 56:8 ~ “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.” (NLV)

Always Present

I hope to come sooner next time.

Cherry Tree Sunshine

Canon 5D Mark ll, 70-200L, 2.8 aperture, 1/500 shutter, 200 ISO

I absolutely love sun flare in photography. While some photographers shy away from it, and even view it as poor technique, I cannot stop loving it and seeking it out. I remember the first time I accidentally caught a sun flare on a photograph I took of a rose. I thought it was magic. In those days, I was shooting film and had no idea what I was getting while I was shooting.  When I got it back form the printer, I swooned. I named it “Sun Rose” and hung it in my bathroom. I still love that photo.

A photographer that I truly admire and hope to finally meet someday is Jenny Sun. (So aptly named.) You should check out her work, which is mostly done in Australia. She has mastered the use of the sun flare better than anyone else I have seen. I would love to spend an afternoon with her, just asking her questions and watching her work. Something tells me that not all of it can be taught. Jenny has a God-given gift. I love that. I think that God gave her that name and that gift and then He blew her a kiss that enabled her to create such magic. In fact, every time I see one of her rainbow flares around her clients, I think He is just telling her much He loves her again, and How beautiful He is. Often she will get a double or triple flare perfectly aligned around her clients.

He is like those flares, except so much more radiant and colorful than we could ever imagine. I know that when I am seeking those colorful orbs of light that stream down from the sun, I am really seeking Him. There is so much there that is Him. Warmth, brilliance, illumination, glory, fire.  I can’t help but laugh and even cry when I see these things through my lens. And yes, I feel His love for me too.

Here are a few more images from my time in the gorgeous afternoon light. I could melt in it’s dreaminess. I love the light because He is light.

Hebrews 1:3 ~”The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”

See the Light

Afternoon Light Glory

Drawn to the Flare

A Place to Dream

The Thaw

Canon 5D Mark 2, 50 1.2L, 1.6 aperture, 1/100 shutter, 100 ISO

Today marked the beginning of the thaw from a long week of snow and ice and being homebound. I love this image, because it  shows the warm rays of the sun penetrating the cold bluish snow below.

Everything comes alive and is beautiful in the light. I think we all could use a little more of that.

Psalm 4:6 ~”Let the light of your face shine on us.”

Inner Beauty

Canon 5D Mark 2 50mm 1.2 L,  2.2 aperture, 1/2000 shutter speed, 125 ISO

Captured this of my Katie as the sun silhouetted her on our walk tonight and appeared to be reflecting right out of her heart. If you know Katie, this suits her so well. She brings light and warmth to all who know her. Seemed perfect for the image of the day.

This project is stretching me a lot more than I dreamed it would. I don’t know if I will be able to keep it up, but I have already discovered some things in this past week. Although it feels like I have to force the process, it is so much better if I let the image come to me by just being aware of my environment and what moves me internally. If you are a photographer, or even if you are not, you know that feeling you get when you see something wonderful. It happens all the time. I am not saying that the images just fall into my lap. I still have to compose them and discern how I want to portray what I am feeling or seeing, but the moment I try to force it, it all dries up. You artists know what I mean. I am learning to breathe under pressure.  At least today. Day 6 done.

I am in love with bokeh. For non photogs, that is the beautiful blur of colors and circles you get in the background when you shoot with a shallow depth of field. It makes me feel giddy when I see it in my own work, and somewhat jealous when I see it in other people’s work. Like all beautiful bokeh should somehow be mine. Yes, give me a serving of colorful bokeh and a dash of sun flare in my photos and I am happy girl. Recently, I took the plunge and purchased the incredible Canon 50mm 1.2. L lens. The very day I got it I had a senior photo shoot. I was so excited to take it along to see what magic we would find. Not halfway through my shoot,  I reached for it from my sweet assistant ( Johnny) and somehow it tumbled onto the rocks. Busted. My heart stopped. Well, what do you do in those situations? I reached for my other lens, and put that one back in my bag. We ended up having a great shoot, but in the back of my mind I knew I had to get that lens repaired and wondered what that would entail.

Well, it’s home now, and is snuggling up nicely with my new Canon 5D mark ll. I couldn’t be happier. I have been dreaming of this set up for about a year now, stalking blog’s like Jenny Sun’s who always shoots wide open and gets more lovely bokeh and warm sun flare than I could ever imagine getting! Of course, it takes more than the right gear to get these desired effects. Jenny is extremely gifted and generous with her talent. You should check her out!

Getting this set up reminds me of a story from my childhood though. When I was about five, I remembering trying and trying to learn to ride my siblings hand-me-down bike.  It was old and wobbly. I just couldn’t get it! When I my parents finally purchased a new one, it felt like I was born to ride a bike as I soared down the street with no problems. Sometimes you just need the right equipment. Not always, but sometimes. I am so happy with my new lends and camera. Here are a few pics I have taken in the past couple days since I got it home from Canon. Yay, just yay!