Here is an example of how crouching just a little lower can get rid of some unwanted clutter in your photo.

I was going to recommend lying down on your belly, but in interest of full disclosure, depending on the weather or ground conditions (muddy, sandy, snowy…), I think I actually crouched with one knee and one elbow/forearm on the ground, with bum and other knee pointing straight up.  If I could think of a good name for it, I think it could be a new yoga pose.

*side note, I’m not sure I like the lower perspective in this particular photo because I do kind of like the traffic, but it still works as a good illustration for how getting lower can change the photo.

Lumber purchased early Spring: $200

Measuring, cutting, and assembling throughout the Summer : 20+ hours of labor

Finishing the Vegetable Garden Beds (even though it took until early Fall): Priceless

Here are a few photos from the project

It was the coolest day of the week, so we headed out to the zoo.  I hadn’t planned on taking a ton of pictures this trip, but was glad I brought my camera when we saw these lions getting fed.

And then this peacock was very interested in our picnic lunch (but surprisingly not bothered by our hyperactive children).  It was during this encounter that our kids decided on a new baby sign language sign for peacock.  It looked very similar to Jazz hands, but with fingers starting pointing in, and then rotating up and then out.

My fellow shutterbug found a tiny little bug helping compose her photo.

We spent a little time with the gorillas.  Unfortunately, I just missed one of the larger gorillas (shown below munching on some flowers) actually charging the glass.

Finally, here are some fun flowers I ran across at the zoo.

We had a great day out shooting Kenzie’s senior pictures.  We headed out to a beautiful field of yellow and green on a hill in Green Mountain.  If it weren’t for the harsh mid-day sunlight, I think there would be a few more keepers.  There are two that I am quite fond of despite the harsh lighting.

We headed out again later that day for our second photo shoot in downtown Denver.   Here are a few more from that shoot.  We found a couple of very neat walls, graffitied by artists. Behind those buildings were other walls and caged areas.  Very worth the trip downtown!  Great idea Kenz!!!

Something’s slightly different, can you tell what?

There are a handful of things I like to do every year. New Year’s day ice skating (and sometimes sledding) at our friends flooded meadow is one I look forward to all year.

Heading inside for a little warmth

For more photos, head over to my flickr set

You’ll probably be seeing quite a few photos from costume parties throughout the year (no, we don’t believe in waiting for Halloween to dress-up around here).

Here are some decorations from my niece’s Alice in Wonderland birthday party.

Here are a few of the guests

And some of the most cool cake decorations EVER (made by my sister).

More photos over at flickr

I’ve always appreciated nice handwriting… but this is just AMAZING

And I really liked the look of the burned edge of this one

And this last one is a view of the ceiling (I used the timer on my camera for this one, set it on the floor pointing straight up)

If you want to see more images from this trip,  head over to my flickr set

I finished processing the photos from a trip to DC last summer. It started raining shortly after I arrived, so I grabbed my umbrella and camera bag and headed out. I ended up pinching the umbrella handle between my shoulder and neck. One of these days I’m hoping to find one of those ridiculous umbrella hats, one on steroids that is big enough to cover me, my camera and my camera bag. I’m not sure which will look sillier, but at least my neck will be happier (I hope).

Here’s a shot of the clouds from the airplane window on the way in

I really like how lights reflect off wet pavement

And here are a few things within walking distance from the white house

If you want to see more images from this trip,  head over to my flickr set