Scrappy Kea

Yay, I am going to a portrait workshop with Rachael Kelly.  Something for me.  Something I've always wanted to explore further! I read on Facebook that she had a couple of spaces left.... Just Saying:-)

We went into the Nevis this weekend.  A bit of a family history trip really.  My Great Grandad was raised in there.  His adoptive mum and dad ran the Nevis Boarding House.  We found out where it once stood - after we had passed the site, but we know for next time!  Mum & Dad came up from the farm for the weekend and we enjoyed their company - even if they didn't like the pull out sofa much.  We borrowed a 4WD from a friend of Jases and made our way in to Glenorchy (stopping at the cafe for a coffee) and then traveling through the Nevis.  Jase drove us well - even though mum was worried we'd get stuck in there and she had her sleeping bag with her!  Jase had even made our lunch and afternoon tea - Deluxe Bacon & Egg Pie and some Vanilla Custard Squares with lemon & coconut icing.  Yum.  There was lots to see and I wish I had my DSLR camera already to try to do justice to what we could see.  We exited near Garston and mad...

It's been a week of celebrations and busy afternoons. It started with Mothers day. Next was my Father in laws birthday, parents in laws wedding anniversary, parents wedding anniversary and today it's my sisters birthday. On Wednesday it was a colleagues birthday too. She had asked about buying a candle after I had made her a little one as a gift... so I made her a big one, refilling a glasshouse container I had. Made one for me too and some smaller ones. We did breakfast at the Hilton, nice relaxed morning before school started. Next weekend looks busy too but without the celebrations.

As I get closer to my goal weight, the DSLR camera gets closer too. On Monday night I joined the Queenstown Photography Club .  I went with a friend.  My desire for a DSLR has increased, this group is an opportunity to get support to use the DSLR.  I don't want to be stuck in auto mode, I want to explore the camera and what it can do.  I want to make images. I have been researching what will work for me...it came down to a more entry level DSLR in both Canon & Nikon  - the 600D & the D5100 and then a more 'enthusiast' model in Canon (60D) & Nikon (D90).  I was gearing towards the Canon 60D...and a posed Facebook question came up with a similar result.  Right at this very moment this is the camera I am aiming for!  But then I have the problem of what lens to get.  The common thought is that the kit lenses aren't very good...I checked out some lenses and wonder about going for a standard 'prime' lens e.g. EF 50mm F1.8 and then s...

I used to use Picnik for editing some of my photos - loved that it co-ordinated with Picasa.  Picasa now has many of the Picnik features added into it but I have been exploring a few of the other editing options online... www.ipiccy.com - looks a lot like Picnik www.picmonkey.com - created by two of the former Picnik designers, they think it's even better - I got this info from Interface Magazine, Term 2 May 2012 issue, page 47 - Article by Greg Adams.