Featured Photographer, Alynn!

Hello friends! My name is Alynn (it's pronounced "uh"-lynn like "duh-lynn" : } Silly, I know, but it makes me laugh, and now you'll always remember)! I'm so happy to be a part of this blog (thanks so much Rachel)! Before M24, I had no (as in ZERO) experience at photography, and I have completely fallen in love with my new little hobby! Thanks so much for your tips and guidance, and plain 'ole good examples! I'm having so much fun!

What camera do you use?

I’m still working off of a point-and-shoot, but I have to admit that I’m in love with my Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S780!

What is your favorite photography subject? (or, what do you like to take pictures of the best?)

Is there any doubt? My kids, my family!

What camera equipment is on your wish list?

I wish for… camera equipment!!! : ) I’m just starting to do some research for a nice, simple camera to get that makes me look like a pro, any suggestions (I have noticed a lot of you use Nicon D80/90's)? And then I’ll definitely need a flash like April F’s to go with it! FABULOUS!

What are your hobbies outside of photography?

I’m up for just about anything! My husband and I were avid scuba divers before we moved back to Idaho from Washington and became landlocked… *sigh.* I would love to give underwater photography a shot someday! We also have a motorcycle, three-wheeler, we are always off camping or fishing (we’re all about cheap, family fun entertainment here!), I also love to blog, play the piano (I've played for 21 years and taught off and on for about 5), I dabble at quilting, and I love to bake, read, but mostly just play!

Tell us about your family! (married? Kids?)

My lovey-hubby Todd and I just had our 10 year anniversary (still so in love with that wonderful man)! There are also three little monkeys running amuck around this place, Elizabeth is 8 (so smart, responsible, and sensitive), Caroline is 5 (so silly, playful, and social), and Louis is two (very boy, very two).

Where do you live? (you don’t have to be specific if you don’t feel comfortable).

Somehow Rexburg, ID pulled me back in… how does it do that? I've also lived in Utah and Puerto Rico, but our years in Washington were my favorite.

Do you have a blog you would like to share? (family blog or photography blog?)

You can visit my family blog called In Our Padded Room, you'll make my day if you leave a comment!

What is the best photography advice you have ever received?

TAKE A MILLION PICTURES, if that’s what it takes. One of them is bound to be good! : ) I also have loved the tips I’ve gotten from all of you! Get down, watch your lighting, and fill the frame of your photograph!

What (if any) editing program do you use?

I was a happy girl when my hubby surprised me with PhotoShop Elements 7. That was a good day!

Can you share your favorite 3 pictures with us??

Now this is hard. This was the first shot that I got that made me think, "Wow, I think I'm gonna have to do a whole lot more of this..." My girls aren't posed, just out there playin' in the rain.

My little fisherman. I loved the colors in this, besides, it's SOOC!

These last two only count as 1/2 a photo each since I can't decide. Do I bore you with another shot of my family, or throw in an amazing sunset to show my versatility? Dilemmas, dilemmas....

Who am I?

This one really got me thinking. Who am I? A wife, a mother, a daughter, sister, friend? But I'm more than that. Since this challenge was given I have been a cleaning lady, a chef (OK maybe a cook would be a better word, but dinner was really great!), a nurse, a quilter, a gardener, a teacher, a personal shopper, a comforter... the list could go on and on. These things combined make me who I am, and I do them all with my hands. What my hands do each day defines who I am. Me.

Taken with the timer on my camera next to a window for natural lighting. Cropped and a vignette was added.

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One less...

...kiddo at home to play Candy Land with me. Yesterday was the first day of school and I miss this sweet little face (and her sister's too!) so much! Aren't kindergartners the cutest little things ever?!?

My settings were off on my camera, and it's just so grainy, but I didn't get anything better today and I really wanted to submit!

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Colors of the Rainbow

I just love lazy summer afternoons playing outside with my kids. *sigh*

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Livin' on the Edge

So close, but so far away... this is actually really really happened to me.

**growl**

Why, oh why?

Can you tell I picked words I thought would work great for my first golfing trip in 5 years? : ) It was so great to get out and take pictures of something fresh and new! I also wanted it to have a different look and feel to it than my other submitted photo, so I'm really diggin' the black and white!

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Under Pressure

Just one straight line divides victory from defeat...

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Cure for the Summertime Blues

Today was one of those days where my kids have just been off... every one's on edge, nothing seems to make them happy. After much trial and error, I finally found the cure! Beautiful, cool, clear blue water!

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Rays of Inspiration

When I read this challenge, I instantly starting thinking of what things have been inspiring my photography recently. Since it seemed impossible to take a picture of all of you, I moved on to my next big inspiration -- light. I have discovered that lighting can make or break a photo. It proved to be a bit of a challenge to find just the right subject, but I feel this is the best shot I got that the focal point really is light.

Shamefully, I photoshopped the heck out of it. : )

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Limit: One

In this limitless bed of white flowers, they have allowed limited access to one yellow bloom.

(Look everybody, I submitted a picture that doesn't have one of my kids in it! : } )

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SnoCones and Sunshine

Summer time means neighborhood block parties, face painting, snocones, and lots and lots of sunshine!

"Express-o"

I was in Island Park all day today with some family friends. Not a lot about the lifestyle up there includes "express"... except their coffee!

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An Everyday Dilemma

"Mom, can I still wear these socks?"

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Drip, drip, drop!

Ya gotta love the water cycle... but I've had enough of the rain part this week! (Is it summer yet? Idaho's not sure...) We were supposed to be on vacation, but got rained out -- several times (you can read about Part 1 here, more to come). It does make for a pretty picture, though!

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Mutual Admiration Society

There's no doubt this daddy loves to spend time with his little boy -- it's written all over his face!

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Sweet Caroline

I was truly intimidated by this challenge! I was running extremely low on willing subjects, and the last two days have been chaotic and draining, but I decided I had to at least try. I'm so glad I did! This is my sweet Caroline, full of energy and joy -- I can hear her happy laughter when I look at this picture, so I feel that I filled this challenge and "captured the essence" of her!

Edited it in Photoshop with Little Perk action which sharpens and saturates it a bit and adds a vignette (wish I knew how to make those eyes pop a little more). Thanks to Candace for the portrait Tuesday Tutorial you did -- it helped me so much!

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I want s'mores!

Like every other family in the valley, we decided to go camping for Memorial Day weekend... and it was worth all the work (and coming home early because my kiddos had the pukes!) because of this:

Perfectly toasted, golden mello perfection! My hubby is a genius when it comes to s'mores! And I want MORE s'mores!

I loved the fire in this shot! Edited in Photoshop with the Vintage action (that's right, I finally took the time to figure out actions, and I'm in L-O-V-E!)

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***Update*** I've just noticed that when you click on other people's pictures they get bigger, but mine DON'T! Any ideas why and how to fix it?!? Thanks!

Door to the Past

I wanted to do a challenge I had missed too, but when I went thought the list I'm so sad and embarrassed to admit I've failed to do more that just one or two! Oh, the guilt! I was overwhelmed with my list, but after our little M24 get together I was inspired and finally up to the challenge. Vintage stuck out to me, but I had something else in mind. But this great door knob called to me from my neighbor's shed. How had I missed this little gem all this time?

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As for the get together I mentioned earlier, I had to share a couple of picts I took there. We're such a bunch of camera geeks! : ) Katy and Rachel:

Sweet baby Grace must have felt like she was being mobbed by the Paparazzi!

I wish everyone could get together, we had so much fun in just the couple of hours we had! Thanks Rachel for organizing this, I had so much fun seeing you again and making new friends too! You're all welcome back in my home any time!

Cleaning Up the Fluids...

I woke up this morning to the sound of a toilet overflowing (True story! Sad... but true!) Later that morning, my son's diaper leaked on my lap, then he made a puddle on our carpet after his bath. I'm sad to say that I had a lot of experience with fluids this morning, just not any that I can take pictures of! : ) It got me thinking of how thankful I am for all the fluids I have around the house to clean up all our happy accidents, and keep my home clean! My dishwasher is leaking so I've been doing the dishes for our family of five by hand, and will be for another two weeks until my landlords can put in a new one! A small sacrifice, and a great photo-op!

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Change is Good

This last few weeks has been full of big changes for our family (sorry I've been MIA, I really missed you guys)! We moved into a new house, and I always worry how my kids will adjust. I guess I didn't need to, I found Elizabeth sitting in the kitchen window looking so peaceful. Then she told me, "I like our new house Mom, it's a good one."

I took this picture with my Sony Cyber-shot point and shoot. Natural lighting, I love how the back lighting gives her a bit of a silhouette. Saturated the colors just a little with Photoshop, and burned the shadows just a bit.

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Kissable

What could make a girl feel more beautiful than that perfect shade of red lipstick?

Point and shoot, no flash, natural lighting from window. In Photoshop it was cropped and lips and eyes were saturated just a little, edge was burned a little too.

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