What We Did

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Kim Halloran-Fry

Some random domestic updates from the past few weeks….

What We Ate:

Leftover lunches. In an attempt to bring more produce to the lunch table – and less grains for me once again – we have had veggies pureed into soup with milk and a bit of butter, veggie frittatas, and veggies and cheese wrapped in tortillas.

I think my favorite request this month however was from Abbie who asked us to make her Girl Cheese sandwiches. Who'd say no to that? ; )

What We Did Around the House:

Sorted. Lots. I have been gathering like things together and lumping them into small, medium or large bags. Sometimes putting the bags into boxes like my sewing box or my knitting box. (this is the desk drawer) This way I can use them easily now and I know all those things will end up together when we move.

What We Read:

Lots of picture books histories. Two favorites were…

Farmer George Plants a Nation

Always Remember Me

A new Grace Livingston Hill for me.

Surfing some parenting articles from this site with which I find myself nodding quite often.

What the Weather Was Like:

Let's put it this way. These two outfits happened in the same week.

What's Happening at School:

The big kids are working to finish their quarter tests and reports. There is regular journaling happening again, from all of us, hence this update.

Jewish Quarter – Prague

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Kim Halloran-Fry

Are you tired of Prague yet? Probably. You have no idea how many pictures I took. I used to think I would pursue portraiture once I had a clue how to use my camera, but I have become captivated by street photography both taking it and viewing others' work.

This is a walk through the Jewish Quarter one afternoon. If you make it to the end there are some of my favorite images (and a short video) of an old gentleman who was performing in the square. These old European cities have awesome street performers.

drink in the sunshine

Posted on May 13, 2012 by Kim Halloran-Fry

"Whenever you go out of doors, draw the chin in, carry the crown of the head high, and fill the lungs to the utmost; drink in the sunshine…" – Elbert Hubbard

Yes, do.

After dreary spring weather I was so afraid there would be no brilliant blue skies this rapeseed season but the clouds have parted and soon as they did we brought the little girls to the fields, where they gathered armfuls of bright yellow blossoms.

Drink it all in.

It doesn't last forever.

Weekend photography tips: processing pitfalls

Posted on May 12, 2012 by Kim Halloran-Fry

All the major online and private purchase photo editing programs (and smart phones) come with options for special effects such as selective colorization, cross processing, color filter layers, and borders. There is great debate about whether these effects add to or detract from images. Generally speaking, it seems that hobbyists love them and pro's can't stand them. There are exceptions to that generalization of course.

If you are working on a retro-themed blog then a polaroid or 70's effect can really come off well. As a rule, it is ill-advised to edit the majority of your personal pictures with heavy hand though, that locks them permanently into a particular style. (remember: always edit copies!) Thick vignettes (that dark shadow frame) and orange or green color filters can lend an artsy feel but also leave your skin tones funky and tend to scream "Picnik!" to the rest of the world.

If your project does benefit from a special effect or filter, then try to edit all the images for that project in a similar vein for consistency. For instance, if you are making a photo book of your iphonography then using the same finish and filter for all the images will make the final album cohesive. A good example of a photographer who rarely uses special effects but chose one style for a particular wall art project here.

We have all played with special effects and I tend to be draw to interpretive photography vs literal myself. Just passing along that if you google 'over-processed photography' you get an earful of opinions that may make you pause before you process. As Levar Burton used to say, don't take my word for it.

iStock is a leading stock photography company. You can check out their thoughts about filters and special effects here and here and here. Selective color example here. Common processing errors here. Comparisons here.

The standard processing 'error' list:

oversaturation (or under)

excessive color filtering

oversharpening (especially of eyes)

selective color

heavy grit

fake lens flare

extreme angles/tilt of camera

As always, the best remedy is starting with good exposure. The best exposure is usually nailed by manual settings. Highly recommended that you work on that first if you have a dslr. Then edit with a light hand.

boule

Posted on May 11, 2012 by Kim Halloran-Fry

As the sun was setting in front of the Imperial Palace in Trier we stumbled upon this group. They were kind enough to explain the game to Stephen, who was kind enough to go ask the questions we were posing to each other.

boule

spring on the farm

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Kim Halloran-Fry

Rarely do I have the forethought to bring my camera along when I run the girls back and forth to their friends. This day it was in the car though, providing me incentive to launch another Moira and Mom adventure, whereby I slow down just long enough so as not to attract the neighbors' attention and she hangs out the window just far enough to get the shot without dropping the camera or herself.

That was a very long sentence. <g>

I thought you might enjoy springtime on the farm in Germany as much as I have. These were taken the other day just before the sky dumped buckets on us from great blue clouds.

violets are blue

Posted on May 8, 2012 by Kim Halloran-Fry

I don't wear purple. I don't decorate with anything in the purple family. It is one of those incontrovertible 'fun facts' about me. At this moment I am fairly certain there is only one purple thing in my possession – my violets.

African violets are surprisingly hard to come by it seems, for something that was such a staple of my youth. My grandmother cultivated many varieties on every north facing window in her home. She painstakingly started little leaves in tiny juice glasses. I remember watching the progression of those hair-fine roots as they first emerged and then slowly grew long enough to risk transplant.

Many of her little plant babies eventually migrated to my bedroom's bay window in town. In time a white, Victorian styled wheeled plant cart was full to overflowing with those plump fuzzy leaves. It brought great joy to see those blooms. It brought a bit of her as well. Still does.

I have a notoriously brown thumb and feared more than once that I had killed these. It turns out they have a blooming and dormant cycle. When all hope seemed lost they came back again, though they are still a little peaked looking from overwatering. They don't tolerate being waterlogged, nor do they take to watering from above, rather only from the roots below. And they abhor getting their leaves wet. It has the same effect as leaving a damp glass on the coffee table. You can find all the specifics here. I hope to begin again this summer in the new house.

pop

Posted on May 8, 2012 by Kim Halloran-Fry

“I believe the nicest and sweetest days are not those on which anything very splendid or wonderful or exciting happens, but just those that bring simple little pleasures, following one another softly, like pearls off a string.”

– Anne of Avonlea

this abides

Posted on May 6, 2012 by Kim Halloran-Fry

"I don't think I got it, Mom. The sun is right behind the nest."

One hallmark of springtime in the German countryside is the return of the storks to their wheel high on a rooftop in a nearby village. Moira, tasked as she was with snapping the mama stork as we drove 'round the corner, doubted the shot was salvageable.

"Let me look at it in editing. I might be able to save it," I told her. When I went through them later, one image just caught my breath. Most of the storks we have seen have been pristine, almost regal. Through the zoom lens, however, this mama appeared a little bedraggled. Tired, but steadfast, serene as she has been every time we have passed lately. She was plucking down from her undersides and dropping it into the nest.

I keep returning to this image. It stands in start contrast to a world that insists we mothers must reach for our own oxygen masks first. Perhaps in our quest for self-preservation and fulfillment we have missed what these creatures just know instinctively: It is in giving that we receive.

"'There were in Delft innumerable storks' nests. When the fire broke out, which was on the 3rd of May, the young storks were fledged, but could not yet fly. Seeing the fire approach, the parent storks attempted to carry their young ones out of danger, but they were too heavy; and after having tried all sorts of desperate efforts, the poor birds were forced to give it up. They might have saved themselves by abandoning the little ones to their fate. But instead, they stayed upon their nests, gathered their little ones about them, covered them with their wings as if to retard as long as possible the fatal moment, and so awaited death in that loving and noble attitude.'

Truly this was a remarkable illustration of devotion, and again demonstrates the fact that there is no greater love in the world than mother love. This holds homes together and comforts in distress. This abides when all others fail.'" – Edmondo De Amicis

Sunlight through Shadows

Posted on May 5, 2012 by Kim Halloran-Fry

Friday morning found me a little groggy and road weary. Allen was traveling and I had been glued to my mail and phone for 48 hrs so as not to miss an update. Grandpa, the only father I've known, entered hospice care and died soon after.

There would be no more news on funeral planning for several hours due to the time difference between here and there. I briefly considered crawling back into bed but the sun was beckoning and little people were getting cabin fever. Some days you just know you will be more rested when you wear them out. So we packed up the blanket, packed water bottles and sunscreen, and met our friends at the Seewoog.

Maria is one of those friends I don't see often but, when we do, words spill out easily. The time passed is quickly bridged and there is great comfort found sharing with another soldier's mom.

( I suggested sunscreen…)

(the men in this family take ball sports seriously!)

The boys ran themselves ragged playing ball in the open fields. The ant mound drew them not surprisingly, and plans were made to begin an ant farm. (and just as quickly laid aside ; )) The little girls, too, fell right back into step. With clasped hands they roamed the reed strewn banks with their brothers, bringing us lily fronds and fish eggs, daisies and dandelion. We left filled to the brim. Just what the day called for.