Guess

I just got back from vacation. Any guesses on what this photo is, where it was taken, and how?

I know, I know!

You're probably tired of

all of my photos of wild flowers

that aren't really wild

because we planted them,

but I promise

that I'll post about something else soon!

But for now, they are so pretty!

And I Quote...

"I’ve discovered Christ in a deeper way through suffering than I ever did through blessing.” 
- Britt Merrick

 

Up Close and Personal

Here's a picture

of a daisy type flower

in my garden

up close and personal.

"The grass withers and the flower fades, but the Word of our God stands forever." Isaiah 40:8

If

"If I am inconsiderate about the comfort of others,

or their feelings,

or even their little weaknesses;

if I am careless about their little hurts and miss opportunities to smooth their way;
if I make the sweet running of household wheels more difficult to accomplish,
then I know nothing of Calvary love."

-Amy Carmichael

You Capture: Black and White

There's something so dramatic about black and white photography. The contrast, the clarity, have a chance to stand out in the absence of color. A black and white shot needs to be composed in such a way as to catch your eye, because our eyes are naturally drawn to color.  Sometimes I'll remove color just to tell if it's a good shot or not. I like black and white photography for its ability to strip a photo down to the basics.

With out an interesting focal point, the right exposure, composition, contrast and clarity, black and white images can look like cloudy, indistinguishable gray masses.

I like to think of my life as a black and white picture that is supposed to model Jesus. At the beginning, the picture of Jesus clear and sharp, but as time goes on, things about the picture start to change.

It's not as crisp anymore, because I'm not living by His standards quite as closely as I was. It loses contrast and clarity as I choose to sin, and choose to continue in sin. As I live for myself instead of Him, the picture of Jesus my life once was fades into obscurity. You can't see Jesus anymore. You just see a selfish, sinful, miserable person.

How does this happen? Slowly. It starts by neglecting His Word, the Bible. It starts when I compromise in small things. At first it doesn't seem like a big deal, but each compromise takes me further and further away, until all that's left of the portrait of Jesus in the picture frame is a blank gray rectangle.

There is a solution though. Jesus is the master at Photoshop. There are some pictures that are beyond repair for me, but never for Him. He can save any image and give it the clarity and light it needs. We just have to admit our need and ask Him.

"Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent." Revelation 2:4,5a

Check out this video about the same topic.

You Capture: Black and White

Garden Dream

I was playing with the light this morning in my garden. The sun comes up right behind my wildflower bed. I wonder if they're still wildflowers if you plant them intentionally?

Usually I hate our chain link fence, but in this picture I love it.

The specks of light created by the dew in the upper right corner look like fairies to me.

I really like the water color look of this one. I didn't use any post processing to get the effect either, it's just how it came out of the camera. I love that about the Lensbaby.

Actually, none of these have much processing, just a little saturation increase, a maybe a bit of contrast and white balance adjustment. I love that I can get these dreamy images without using any special effects.

You Capture: Vehicles

You might not think that some of these pictures are of vehicles, but I assure you that every single one is.

There are a number of old cars, trucks, and a school bus at an outdoor gift shop near my home. It's unusual, but pretty cool, given my penchant for the old and rusted. 

These old vehicles were once painted interesting colors, but now are rusted, cracked, chipped, peeling, and fading.

I happen to find them beautiful. Especially this one. It's the old school bus.

It's an unrealistic dream of mine to take an old school bus and give it a new life. I would fix it up the interior, have climate control installed, and turn it into an outdoor studio for myself. Oh, and I want to put a ditsy floral print on the outside of it.

Like I said, unrealistic. At least it is given my budget and tendency toward practicality.

It makes me think of what God does for people. He's in the business of taking broken down, rusted out, messed up lives and making them beautiful.

As I see potential in old, tattered school buses, He sees potential in tattered people.

And as I love the old, rusted school bus as it is, God loves us as we are. He doesn't stop with just loving us as we are though, He loves us too much to let us sit unused and falling apart as a piece of junk in someones parking lot. He desires to give us a second life. He restores, He refurbishes, and He uses pieces that have seen better days to make something beautiful. He uses people who have messed up and made mistakes, to live beautiful lives.

The Lord says that He will, "Give give them beauty for ashes...that they may be called trees of righteousness...they shall rebuild the old ruins, They shall raise up the former desolations, And they shall repair the ruined...Instead of your shame you shall have double honor..." Excepts from Isaiah 63:4. 17

You Capture: Vehicles

Up Close

Some recent macro photograghy:

A seed pod from a tree.

The eye of a needle.

Flower center.

Elements of My Day

Today I had a rare summer afternoon to myself. Errands are much more pleasant, not to mention faster and easier, when I do them alone, so I went to Fresh 'n' Easy and picked up some fresh produce.

I went to my favorite thrift store looking for fabric. I didn't see any I liked, but I did find an old globe for two dollars. I've been wanting one for a while, so it came home with me.

I also found a couple of books, the autobiography of Helen Keller, and an old hardback book (I love old books) the Anthology of Children's Literature.

I watched, well, mostly listened to Napoleon Dynamite while embroidering some heart shaped sunglasses on fabric for a tote bag.

I made my tote bag. I'm getting faster and more confident on my new sewing machine.

Then my sun kissed girl came back from her afternoon of swimming at a friend's house. Freshly showered, she modeled the bag I finished. You can't tell from the picture, but the top fabric of the bag has a pattern of white sunglasses on it, hence the embroidered sunglasses.

All in all, a very nice day.

You Capture: America

On Independence Day we did the traditional: Gemma wore patriotic clothing, we barbecued with family, had ice cream cones and apple pie, met up with friends and family at the local fireworks show.

It was fun, but I have to admit, and I hope this doesn't bring me hate mail, but I'm not the most patriotic person. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful for the freedom and prosperity that America offers. I'm thankful for the people who serve and have served in the military to protect our freedom.

I'm not angry or upset about the war, or the president, or policies. I'm not a liberal, but I'm not a conservative either. I'm not indifferent, but I don't get riled about politics. I have opinions, but I prefer to keep them to myself. I'm not looking for an argument or to persuade anyone to my point of view.

The truth is, my allegiance is not with the United States of America, or with any other man made institution. My allegiance is placed only with Jesus Christ, because He has given me freedom.

I'm not intending to make light of the sacrifices others (including many of my family members) have made to maintain the freedom we enjoy here, but the freedom that Jesus has given me is what has won my allegiance to Him alone.

He has delivered me from my sin. He has delivered me from hell. He has given me life everlasting.

I have freedom in Christ to live for Him, and if I wasn't so fortunate to live in a country that allows me to worship freely, die for Him as well.

There is nothing like the freedom that Jesus Christ offers, and in my mind, that is something to celebrate!

"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, because the LORD has appointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to announce that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the LORD's favor has come...to all who mourn... He will give beauty for ashes, joy instead of mourning, praise instead of despair. For the LORD has planted them like strong and graceful oaks for his own glory... Instead of shame and dishonor, you will inherit a double portion of prosperity and everlasting joy... I am overwhelmed with joy in the LORD my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness..." Isaiah 61:1-3,7,10

You Capture: America