Comes in Handy {2}

I have a good pic of my grampy but I wanted to wait to post it. So I decided to bore you all with my hands. Originally, I thought I would use this one:

But, even though I liked it, and, have you ever tried to get a good shot of your own hand using manual focus? I can attest that it is definitely not the easiest subject I have photographed. But, as I said, there was a but. I remembered the fan on my facebook page suggested, "different ages, professions, etc." So even though I mainly use my hands to type away at a keyboard or click a mouse or write with a pen at my profession, I decided to take a photograph of my hands in action, not at my profession, but, at {you guessed it} my hobby.

I had to use a mirror for this one, but I do pretty much love the results, even though it is by far not the best of my photographs.

Comes in Handy~1~Grandma's Hands

I didn't think she was going to go for it. My mother must get not liking her picture taken from my grandmother, because Grandma hates having her picture taken, as well. I couldn't say I blame her. When I look back at candid shots, I think to myself, and I thought I looked good that day?

Somehow, I overcame my usual shyness when it comes to snapping photographs in public and asked her for a photograph of her hands. She told me no at first, but after a few polite asks she acquiesced. While I was snapping (a whole two pictures) she told me about how she used to be a nurse. I was filled with a new admiration of the woman, as I always am when she reminisces about her past. It makes me smile when she smiles, since I know those are rare commodities for her these days. She has been legally blind for the past few years. I can't imagine not being able to look through my camera's lens and see the colors of the world around me, to live in the darkness. I admire her for the ways she has learned to adapt to her loss of sight. I admire those who live without sight. They have a true talent and appreciation for the things we take for granted every day.

Dragons Fly?

   I know that Friday is my day to update the blog, but tomorrow is promising to be super busy, so you get to see this post a day early! Or, you could just ignore it for today and log on tomorrow and read it, that way you don't mess up your weekly routine...because I know this blog is part of your routine {wink of sarcasm}.

   The other day I took a break from working to slip out to the garden and take some shots of the soon-to-be-gone flowers. As I was snapping away at some black-eyed susans, I saw this little guy, and he behaved so well as I shot his pictures! Who knew he would become a famous dragonfly on this blog?

New Blog Feature...

Best of Instagram

{august edition}

   So I came up with a cool {i think} idea for my blog. Every beginning of the month, my first post for the month will be my favorite and your favorite posts from my instagram page from the previous month. 

   As you may {or may not} know, I love instagram. What young lady doesn't? But I'm going to spare you the duckfaces and bathroom selfies {although once in a great while i have posted a bathroom selfie}. 

   Here's what the post will include:

~My followers top three pictures from the prior month

followed by:

~My personal top three favorite pictures

   I hope you like the results!

Your Favorite 3:

1}this one beat out the others by a landslide. it is quite possibly the biggest rice crispie treat i have ever seen:

2} lakeside.

3} day at the beach...my favorite part of this one is the seagull photobomb. good job, seagull.

My Favorite 3:

1} the rebel...

2} my little pal: 

3} signs.

When One Door Closes, I Take a Picture

Like I said the other day, I love doors {I did say that, right?}. Almost every trip I take, I always notice them. A bright colored one, a wooden one, ornately carved, in rough shape, whatever, they seem to constantly strike my crazy photo-taking fancy. And, because I happen to take a lot of pictures, and am a bit shy about it at times, I try to take them in a hurry, so no one will notice, which is something that I realized when I was going through these photographs the last few minutes. So, I've decided to put a note in my jar {yes I have a jar, it's like a journal to me} that the next time I'm taking pictures, I will be completely un-Audrey {made up word alert!} and be brave. I will take my time and not apologize for lagging behind the rest of the group. I will take a steady, crooked-free photograph that is hang-worthy. And then I shall post it, proudly, on this blog. So watch out, world, this girl's got a camera, and I'm not afraid to use it {okay, maybe I am a little afraid. But that's beside the point}.

With that extremely long paragraph, let's commence to the pictures, which is probably why you came!

There's a story behind this picture, like most photographs. Next time you see me, ask if you're curious.

England, 2012

Ireland, 2012

NYC, 2013

England, 2012

Ireland, 2012

England, 2012, cool side note, that in the background you can see the photo two photos above, and also my bro photobombed me.

England, 2012

Ireland, 2012

England, 2012

England, 2012

France, 2011

...hope you liked today's post! I have something new I'm going to try with my next post, so stay tuned! And have a great weekend! 

Bicycles

There is something amazingly whimsical to me about doorways and bicycles. I hope I'm not the only one with a slight obsession of photographing these things. There's just something about them that keeps attracting me to them, shot after shot. I especially love shooting them on vacation, as seen below....and I've even included photographic evidence that it wasn't just on my trip to the City. Today I'll show you my bicycles, later this week I shall show you my doorways (because, looking through my photos, I have a lot of those!).

Lesson 1: Bicycles

Here is my NYC bike photo:

And here's one I shot in England:

And this one I took on the islands..

Finally, this one's a bit different than the others (one of these things is not like the others), taken in France:

Hope you enjoyed today's post! Check back later this week if you'd like to open the Seven C's of doorways.

Some More Apples to Keep the Doctor Away

You might be tired of my NY trip, but I have a few more photos to share with you nonetheless. I want to go on another photo adventure, but my brain draws a blank when it comes to thinking of where and what to shoot. What do you think? I'm open to suggestions!