{The} Beach

So I love the beach. Like really, really love the beach. I love to soak up those warm sun rays. Dip my feet in the cool ocean water. And just plain RELAX. Last month was "vacation" month (aka a normal 8-5 with weekends off month). It was so nice to be a regular family. You know, the kind where the dad is always home for dinner and has ample time to spend with his family. We only get these kinds of months a couple times a year so we pack in a LOT of fun. This time around we spent four days at the beach. Every morning we'd wake up, eat breakfast, go to the beach. go to the pool, shower, eat dinner. That is the life I tell you! Living in swimsuits, no make up, never cooking. Man I could get used to that! But I think there is a very good reason vacations have to come to an end. I don't think I would appreciate the beach as much as I do if it was always accessible. I might take it for granted and not visit it everyday. Okay who am I kidding, I don't think I could ever get sick of the beach. But back to my point. Vacations have to end. Vacation months can't last forever (at least for us Dr. Families). But I am so grateful that these wonderful things come around so I can remember all I love about them. I love the beach, but honestly I love my family more. If I could spend everyday at the beach, but have to be by myself; honestly, I don't think it would be that great. We could have gone anywhere and it would have been the perfect vacation for us, because we were together.

This is my favorite "moody" sunset picture.



So the point to this whole post? I guess appreciate what you have in those everyday moments. Those "perfect" vacation months come around only every so often; and if you are always waiting around to be happy I don't think you ever truly will be. So be happy. Don't wait. Look for the the good and fun in everyday. And then when those great perfect moments do come, they will be even better.

How do you make everyday a good day?



Kelsey B

Sun Flare {How To}

Step one: Look directly at that beautiful setting sun. Bright right?! Are you squinting? Probably, huh? Well squint even more, you see how the rays of the sun get longer? Your camera lens works the same way. The more it "squints" the longer the rays will be.

Step 2: Move that dial over to M if you haven't already. Bump up the ISO to whatever you and your camera are comfortable with; maybe ISO 800. Its okay to have a little noise :)

Step 3: Make your camera squint. Close that aperture; maybe f/22.

Step 4: Aim your camera down so no sun or sky is showing in your view finder. (Like at the grass or trees just below the skyline). Set your exposure.

Step 4: Raise your camera. Compose your shot so the full sun is exposed. (Your camera is going to tell you your shot is WAY over exposed. Ignore it!)

Step 5: Click away!


Extra Tip: I have found my zoom lenses (18-55 and 18-140) make capturing sun flare so much easier. I don't know why, but it is just something I have noticed.





Did it work? Let me know! I want to see your beautiful sun flares.


Do you have any tips for me? How do YOU best capture sun flare?




ISO 800          18mm          f/22          1/20sec























Shot is SOOC (Straight Out Of Camera) + Watermark.





Kelsey B

{Arizona}

I've been going through and organizing my pictures this week. I've noticed a few things; one, my skill has definitely improved, two, I have about a million (not even exaggerating) photos of little A, and three, I'm a little homesick. Homesick for Arizona. I know, call me crazy! Don't I know it's like 120 degrees there right now?! Yes, I know. But Arizona is where it all started. It's my little family's first home. It's where Alex was born. I made some awesome friends. And I learned so much while I was there. I learned how to be a wife, a mother, a friend. I discovered my skill and love for photography. As for the heat, I really didn't hate it. I loved that I could go swimming in December. Shop for Christmas presents in shorts and sandals. Be tan ALL YEAR ROUND. When we first moved to Arizona, I really didn't love the landscape. Cacti are kind of boring. Everything is brown. Mountains? They call those tiny bumps in the sand mountains? But the longer I lived there, the more I noticed the little things.

 How everything blooms every few months. 

 Seriously this tree looked different every other week.

I could find even the smallest things beautiful. Here in Texas I would not find this beautiful, I would spray it with the strongest ant killer I could find! Texas ants are NOT nice..

 The lightning always seemed to be perfect.

Seriously, perfect.

And the sunsets? To die for! Every. Single. Night.

Seriously there was no editing done to this photo. Except my logo, obviously.



I haven't had the chance to explore a ton in Texas yet. But when I do, I hope I will love it as much as I learned to love Arizona.

Kelsey B