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Ni Hao Y'all

when east meets south

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Sunday Snapshot: {a fresh start}

*update: the original code for the new button wasn’t quite right – thanks for pointing that out, y’all – but is now fixed. when you try something new, at least one thing has to go wrong, right?*

The day went by way too quickly.

Seems my husband is nesting, too. He and the kiddos spent almost the entire day cleaning and organizing their rooms. Which left me the duty of going through spring clothes and packing up winter clothes. All. day. long.

By the time I choked some dinner down and hustled outside for some pictures with Vivienne in tow – my go-to girl when I’m on a photography bent – it was almost 8 PM.

So I had to crank up my ISO, and pray for steady hands.



I only managed to take 27 pictures before the sun was completely gone.

Which makes finding one you really like sort of tough.



I was trying to use the dogwoods to sort of frame my girl, but the vision in my mind isn’t quite what played out.

But this gives me a place to start. There is much work to be done.



For post-processing, I used Lightroom. I cropped these and boosted the exposure in a big way. Then I used a Sarah Ji preset, Meadow, edited a bit to make it more to my liking for these pictures.

My camera is a Nikon D90 and my lone lens is a 50mm 1.4. My settings were: ISO 1250, aperture f/3.2 and shutter speed 1/80 second. And I dream of one day having another (non-prime) lens.


Ni Hao Yall


So here are all the new Sunday Snapshot rules – in a nutshell.

1. Sunday Snapshot will begin with my Snapshot post each Sunday (or Saturday night) and will close Tuesday AM.
2. It is open to anyone who wants to become a better photographer and have fun in the process.
3. Snapshot posts should have the photo to be considered AT THE TOP of the Sunday Snapshot post, and should include the Sunday Snapshot button as well as a link back here to encourage others to play along.
4. Share any photography tips and/or settings on your posts for others (like me!) who are learning – this is encouraged but definitely not required.
5. Each Snapshot entry will be considered by moi. I will review all the linked posts, then select a favorite photo to be announced on Wednesday.
6. The winning Snapshot will be selected based on composition, color, emotion, creativity and post-processing.
7. Weekly winners will be featured in a monthly Sunday Snapshot post which will be judged by y’all, the readers.
8. The winner of the monthly Sunday Snapshot will receive a photography related goodie donated by the Sunday Snapshot monthly sponsor. April’s sponsor is One Willow Presets.
9. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.
9. Rules subject to change, as necessary, to keep this fun and fruitful for everyone.

Happy Sunday, y’all.


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03.31.12 · photography, Sunday Snapshot, Vivienne 26

Comments

  1. Sharon Ankerich says

    March 31, 2012 at 9:16 PM

    Precious Viv!!! You did a great job shooting and post processing!!! I can’t imagine changing out clothes for your crew~ it wore me out to change out 3. ๐Ÿ™‚ XO

    Reply
    • martha says

      March 31, 2012 at 9:43 PM

      Sweet Pictures of Viv. We are having Spring Break in the homeschool co-ops that we attend so, I think we’ll do a little Spring cleaning and organizing of the clothes too…and a few project/assignments for school too. Have a great China trip next week, and say hey to Wuhan and the yellow crane tower for my sweet Jolie girl.

      Reply
  2. Carla says

    March 31, 2012 at 9:41 PM

    I’ve been working on my print competition images, and your first image beautifully illustrates something that was being taught to me. ๐Ÿ˜‰ We read Left to Right, so our photos should read Left to Right…and your eyes should go all the way across the frame in it. So, sweet Vivi here is on the right 1/3 with space behind her…she’s also looking OUT of the photo. If you could “flip” the image and have her on the left 1/3 with all the space in front of her, and her looking INTO that space…PERFECT composition! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Same with the 3rd image, just flip it horizontally in photoshop and see the difference. The leading lines of the fence lead your eyes straight to her…as it is, you hit her on the right 1/3, and the fence lines lead your eyes OUT of the photo.

    Want to know why I know so well? ALL my images for print comp had to be flipped horizontally because I shot photos this way too. Not BAD composition, just not strong artistically for things like print competitions. :o) You did a GREAT job with following the rule of thirds and getting leading lines in the image.

    Hope to add my own here soon…

    Reply
    • NiHaoYall says

      March 31, 2012 at 9:48 PM

      Wow, thanks Carla! Lots of great stuff to think about… will definitely work on this!

      Reply
      • Carla says

        April 1, 2012 at 2:18 PM

        Obviously I have issues with Left and Right…swap those in the first photo. LOL

        Reply
  3. Life with Kaishon says

    March 31, 2012 at 9:59 PM

    She is such a little beauty! I am glad you got to play! I hate when it is getting dark and the day is slipping away and I really want to shoot. I am so excited you get to be with your daughter soon. I have been praying for you every day! Wishing you all the best with your new idea : ) Love, Becky

    Reply
  4. Life with Kaishon says

    March 31, 2012 at 10:00 PM

    It keeps saying I already said my comment but I never posted. Weird : )

    Reply
  5. Joanne says

    March 31, 2012 at 10:53 PM

    Sweet pics! I cannot get the linkup to work : ( I’ll keep trying but any ideas why?

    Reply
  6. Joanne says

    March 31, 2012 at 11:04 PM

    Figured it out… your code is missing the ‘.com’ here <a href="http://nihaoyall&quot;

    Reply
    • NiHaoYall says

      April 1, 2012 at 6:48 AM

      Thanks for the heads up, Joanne ๐Ÿ˜‰

      Reply
  7. Sophi Belle says

    April 1, 2012 at 2:28 AM

    Hi, honey, lovely photos of your sweet little girl! <3

    About your code, you may want to fix it, the link to your website is missing the www and .com parts. ๐Ÿ˜‰

    Have a lovely lovely Sunday!!

    Reply
    • NiHaoYall says

      April 1, 2012 at 6:49 AM

      Thanks, Sophi! Got it all fixed now, but I’d have never know if y’all hadn’t pointed it out!

      Reply
  8. lisa says

    April 1, 2012 at 7:09 AM

    Oh sweet Viv!! These photos of her are so precious Stef!!

    This is going to be so much fun each Sunday!

    I am in awe that you would take on this kind of change just a week before heading to China…. you are too much girl!! You never stop~

    Happy Sunday~

    xoxo,

    Lisa

    Reply
  9. Kristy Life n Reflection says

    April 1, 2012 at 9:12 AM

    love the high contrast and your new button is beautiful!

    Reply
  10. Gone Bananas says

    April 1, 2012 at 9:41 AM

    I love your property or the area you photograph in, it’s beautiful! Always love your shots! I just got a Canon Rebel T3 and am learning all the settings! I love it!

    Reply
  11. Kim from 3 peanuts says

    April 1, 2012 at 9:43 AM

    These are precious. I am going to try to get out and get something today. Will there be specific themes or things we are supposed to do each week?

    Reply
  12. Gina says

    April 1, 2012 at 9:52 AM

    I LOVE your area- looks so calming & beautiful!!! Gorgeous images!

    Reply
  13. Pieni lintu says

    April 1, 2012 at 10:23 AM

    Lovely captures – you have such a beautiful children! <3

    Reply
  14. Tiaras & Tantrums says

    April 1, 2012 at 11:17 AM

    the setting is absolutely stunning!

    Reply
  15. Roxanne Reinhart says

    April 1, 2012 at 2:22 PM

    I love photos and I have wanted to become a better photographer for a long time. Have I done anything about it …not yet…but you have definitely inspired me…your photos are gorgeous!!!!!! Hopefully, I will learn something from this party each week. I love, love, love, love your photos and am efinitely becoming a follower

    Reply
  16. Mama Zen says

    April 1, 2012 at 5:26 PM

    Really pretty shots!

    Reply
  17. Sarah says

    April 1, 2012 at 6:14 PM

    Love these photos.

    Reply
  18. DITA says

    April 1, 2012 at 11:25 PM

    Could it be possible that THAT BIG GIRL is the same Sweet little Vivi I saw sitting like an angel in her Mama’s arms minutes after she became a US Citizen?? Not possible! She looks like such a little lady sitting there. That gorgeous face of hers has lost its “baby” look and I think I caught a glimpse of what she’ll look like as a teenager.

    Time surely does march on but I wouldn’t change a second of getting older and having this front row seat to watch our children grow.

    You crack me up…changing Snapshot Sunday up right before you travel…..you seriously never cease to amaze me! I’ll be with you as you travel…watching you with a smile on my face the whole time! Enjoy every minute and safe travels to your baby girl!

    xoxo
    Dita

    Reply
  19. Aus says

    April 2, 2012 at 7:04 AM

    Good morning y’all! Well you have a steady hand – and I think a great eye – and of course a perfect model!!

    I did get a wonderful piece of glass for Christmas – a Nikon 18 – 200 zoom lens – and it’s about the perfect ‘walk around’ lens! Maybe not a ‘crisp’ in the sense of a single length lens – but worth every penny – and covers an aweful lot of situations when you are just out and about at a park, the zoo, what ever!

    Good work here – in particular with the low light – just great!

    Now – go pack!

    hugs – aus and co.

    Reply
  20. Diana says

    April 2, 2012 at 7:18 AM

    It’s T week!!! I can’t wait for you to be safely in China week again!!!!! And, one week now you will be snuggling with your new baby girl!!!!! Now that Spring is upon us I am going to push myself to jump into your “Sunday Snapshot!”
    Love these pics!!!!

    I hope you have a great week until “Wheels UP!”

    Love,
    Di

    Reply
  21. Kelly-Marie says

    April 7, 2012 at 11:38 AM

    Such a beautiful blog you have, new follower Hey!

    Reply

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I'm Stefanie. Wife to one, mom to 13. Occasional blogger and t-shirt maker. Wannabe photographer and exerciser. Constant grace-needer and orphan advocator. more
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