Day 87: Snowy Spring Sunrise

When it’s springtime and there’s snow on the ground, us Midwesterners like to whine and moan about it. But how can I complain when the is one of the first sights I see in the morning?


Canon 60d
1/250 sec., f/8.0, ISO 800

Day 86: Rustic Chandelier

Yesterday Jerod and I had an actual date for the first time in a while. We went to see Just Go With It, and we had lunch at Stone Canyon Pizza. (Neither of us ordered pizza.) I thought this chandelier across the room was interesting. The “chandelier” above our table was just a single light bulb – not quite as cool.


Canon 60d
1/30 sec., f/5.6, ISO 800
18-200 mm lens (120 mm), ambient light

Day 85: To brighten your day…

I know a lot of you are bummed that KU lost in the Elite 8 today, but here’s a colorful photo to cheer you up. Yesterday some of our church friends got together to help pack much-needed school supplies for children overseas with Operation International Children, based in Kansas City. It was a well-organized, productive experience. If you’re looking for a volunteer opportunity, they need people to help on an ongoing basis.


Canon 60d
1/40 sec., f/4.0, ISO 800
18-200 mm lens (28 mm), ambient light

Day 84: A Cosmic Event

I took the day off yesterday to hang out with my 7-year-old nephew during his spring break. We had a great time goofing around at a 36-hole Cosmic Mini-Golf course. I took a lot of fun photos in the dark while experimenting with “ghosting” effects, but this one is probably my favorite.


Canon 60d
.5 sec., f/3.5, ISO 400
18-200 mm lens (18 mm), flash fired

Day 83: Bokeh

My second comparison between my old Pentax and my new Canon is bokeh, or the aesthetic blur of the background. Not only does my new camera do a much better job of blurring out distracting backgrounds, but look how much closer and bigger the fountain looks in the second image! My model Jerod (who’s a great sport) was positioned in the same spot for both photos.


Pentax K100d
1/60 sec., f/5.6, ISO 400
18-55 mm lens (38 mm), natural light


Canon 60d
1/30 sec., f/5.6, ISO 200
18-200 mm lens (200 mm), natural light

Day 82: Ready to Ride (my bicycle)

Yesterday I picked up our bikes from their annual tune-ups. I know most hardcore cyclists have already logged many miles on the road this year, but I have yet to ride. I’m getting antsy for a warm(ish) day with wind gusts below 30 mph. I know, I know … it’s a lot to ask for in the Midwest.


Canon 60d
1/320 sec., f/5.0, ISO 400
18-200 mm lens (50 mm), natural light

Day 81: Zoom, Zoom

My first comparison between my old Pentax K100d and my new Canon 60d is regarding the lens. My old camera had an 18-55 mm lens, and my new one has an 18-200 mm lens. Look how much farther I can zoom in!


Pentax K100d
1/350 sec., f/6.7, ISO 200
18-55 mm lens (55 mm), natural light


Canon 60d
1/250 sec., f/7.0, ISO 200
18-200 mm lens (200 mm), natural light

Day 80: Upgrade!

This weekend I got my new Canon EOS 60d camera, and I absolutely love it! For those of you who wonder why I needed a new camera, I’m going to take some comparison shots with both cameras later this week. (Not to mention some camera phones now have more megapixels than my old DSLR did.) Here’s my new beauty!


Shot with Pentax K100d
1/10 sec., f/4.5, ISO 400
18-55 mm lens (40 mm), ambient light

Day 79: Around the river and through the woods…

… to Grandmother’s house we go! Yesterday we spent a couple hours with Grandma, bringing her one of her favorite foods (Chicken McNuggets from McDonald’s), watching basketball, and looking through photo albums. She’s lonely without Grandpa around, but she’s a devout KU basketball fan. I hope they stay in the tournament awhile longer since watching them play brings her so much  joy!


Canon 60d
1/50 sec., f/4.5, ISO 400
18-200 mm lens (18 mm), natural light

Day 78: A Lesson in Fire Safety

We visited my parents on Saturday, and my mom showed us her new favorite dessert – indoor S’mores, with the marshmallows cooked on the gas stove. Earlier that evening she showed me her tiny, outdated fire extinguisher, noting a replacement may be a good gift idea. Now that I look back, maybe these two occurrences weren’t a coincidence.


Canon 60D
1/30 sec., f/5.0, ISO 800
18-200 mm lens (60 mm), no flash fired


1/30 sec., f/4.5, ISO 800
18-200 mm lens (40 mm), no flash fired