From a Week in a Texas Autumn

There are times in your life when something's gotta give.

Unfortunately, 

that something for me recently

has been

my morning walk.

But this week, hallelujah, I slipped back into the old routine.

I love and need these morning walks.

It's been a week of beautiful skies, frisky dogs, frosty mornings, glorious light, hunting dogs, spring-like mornings, confused plants, creepy-crawlies, and splashes of autumn leaves.

I kinda went crazy with my camera.

I'll be nice and only share a few of my favorites...

Hope you had a great week! 

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

Linking up with

and the very last

Goodnight Moon.

you whisper through the window.

i step outside

pull my robe close against the chill

and whisper back,

happy I listened to my alarm clock.

Getting Older

 Memories appear 

out of the mist 

then fade 

obscured by time

places, things, words, faces you knew so well

take flight 

scenery and side roads 

invite you to slow down

but late,

you plunge on into the unknown and unseen

trusting

and hoping

the sun breaks through soon.

Thanksgiving morning,  Tom drove, the kids read and slept, and I shot this misty, foggy world through my window. 

Later that afternoon, safe at my parents', we heard of the huge 140 car accident on the other side of Houston, caused by the fog and the rising sun.  I said a prayer for those involved and gave thanks the fog just made me pensive and melodramatic.

On Thanksgiving Eve Morning...

...I took a walk through the Hollow,

with Tom 

and goofy puppies.

(Daisy added for privacy!)

Old wooden steps led up, up, up to the frame of an abandoned deer blind.

Walking where others haven't in a long while...

...but discovering some who call it home. 

Beauty has many seasons.

A party of palms on the edge of a dry pond.

Spring and summer blooms are hanging on, grateful for the mild temperatures.

The colors of autumn, taking over.

An old dreamcatcher, perhaps?

Sunlight playing with the leaves.

  

We saw the web before we felt it, thank goodness!

While I focused on these leaves...

...Max decided to rest. 

He knows when I start snapping it could be awhile before we move on.

More pretty leaves.

...and steadfast blooms. 

 And then on toward home.

Hope you enjoyed the walk!

And I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

The unthankful heart discovers no mercies;

but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and,

as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour,

some heavenly blessings!

~ Henry Ward Beecher

Linking up with Lissa at

Thanks for the Post of the Week, Hilary!!

Red Truck Therapy

Red trucks, blue skies, my camera and a few free minutes. 

Sometimes it doesn't take much to make me happy. 

I spotted these beauties along Highway 71 on my way back to Austin from Houston this week.

I made a U-turn in LaGrange so I could go back and admire them up close.

As much as I love them in color, 

old trucks and cars just lend themselves to variations of black and white.

I had to share this one in color, too. 

Minty delicious!!

On Composition

A successful photo is one that evokes interest and compels the eye to linger awhile. It tells a story.

However, what we see with our eyes and what we capture with our camera are often two separate things. The problem is, our eyes see the world around us in 3-D. But photographs are two-dimensional - just one reason why they often fall short of the image we hoped to capture and share.

Photographer Edward Weston once said, "Consulting the rules of composition before taking a photograph is like consulting the laws of gravity before going for a walk." But with all due respect to Mr. Weston, if you take a few seconds to compose your shot before clicking, you'll have a better chance that others will see what caught your eye in the first place. And you'll save time in post-processing.

Composition is simply how your subject and other elements within the image frame are arranged and relate to each other. Learning how to compose a photo will not only help you tell the story, but will make it unique.  

In any good story, written or photographic, you need focus, tension, interest, depth, contrast. Elements that distract should be removed. Here are just a few ways to achieve those elements in your photograph, whether you shoot in automatic mode or manual...just remember there are always exceptions to any rule!

Focus 

What is drawing your eye to the scene? What is it you want to capture? That's what you focus on (your focal point) and if it's a person, specifically focus on the eyes.  If it's a group of people, focus on the one nearest to you. 

The Rule of Thirds

The Rule of Thirds is probably the most common composition tool used. Imagine a Tic-Tac-Toe board placed on top of your image, dividing it into 9 equal sections. Now align the main elements of your photo along those lines, especially where they intersect, and poof! your photo is already more interesting because, according to scientists, the human eye is naturally drawn to a point 2/3 up a page.

This is very useful in landscapes or seascapes. Adjust the horizon, depending on whether the sky is more important or the land/sea.

Fill the Frame 

Try not to leave a lot of empty space. Your goal is to emphasize the subject and empty space is usually not empty, but full of distractions. (But if the setting is important, include enough to give a sense of place, proportion, or perspective.)

Subject Moves into the Frame

Make sure your subject is moving into or looking across the photo, not on the edge moving or looking out. You want to draw the eye into the photo, not away.

Perspective 

Try different angles. Walk around. Get down low or up high for interest and surprises. For pets or babies on the floor, try getting down on their level. Remember that your camera can take photos even if you're not looking through the viewfinder, so drop it down way low and snap a few. 

Check the Background

 Make sure there aren't branches or poles coming out of someone's head. Keep it simple - remove what doesn't add to or support the main subject. You can usually do this by changing angles.

Framing and Lines

Windows, doors, even leaves or tree branches will lead a viewer's eye to the subject, as will lines you find in roads and fences... or lifeguard shacks.

Depth

Because photographs are two-dimensional, it's up to us to convey the depth in a photo. You can do this by including objects in the foreground and background.

But...

Be ready to toss the rules, though, because they aren't really rules, just suggestions. Every photo tells its own story.

Art is about creativity, and with digital cameras, it's so easy to try something new. If it doesn't work, hit delete and try again. 

To learn more about composition, look at examples of photography you like.  Examine them and figure out what appeals to you.

But most of all, grab your camera and start clicking!

This post is part of BlogHer's Pro Photo Tips editorial series, made possible by Panasonic.