March 31 - My favorite rings

Today I complete 1/4 of the year taking pictures and sharing them everyday.
I saw my favorite rings sitting on the sill between the kitchen and the living room and I remember my step dad, who gave me the rings. I associate the color with him, and my mom, because I was wearing that turquoise shirt when I saw my mom the last time, and because my step dad bought me the rings on our way together to the grand canyon in 2008.
What does the rings have to do with today? Nothing in particular, with the exception that I am counting the days to see mom and step dad, who are coming to visit me again. I am counting the days.

ISO 3200
Shutter speed: 1/2
Aperture: f/2.8

March 30 - Window sill

Every day I think of ways to add more color to our home.
Now that I have a colorful cactus mix, I added the suculenta with no flower to its side, in the window sill, and the blue bottle makes a nice view in the morning, when the sun shines inside.

ISO 3200
Shutter speed: 1/8
Aperture: f/2

March 29 - Cactus

Yesterday in the spring cleaning I borough some color back home: cactus.

I have never been a green thumb, but I really love flowers and plants that change colors or produce flowers.

I thought that maybe once in my life I could grow cactus: I don't need to remember to water everyday and there is plenty of sunshine in Colorado.

So I got 3 different ones in 3 colors: red, pink, and yellow.

I re-planted them all together in a bigger yellow vase and I hope they last longer than any other plant that I killed before.

ISO 3200
Shutter speed: 1/80
Aperture: f/2.5

March 28 - Spring cleaning

In all seasons we have our favorite things to do and the ones we have to do.

Today, we had a spring cleaning at home.

After the family breakfast, we headed towards the studio/guest room to open the closet and get rid of the things we don't wear anymore, throw away papers that are not needed and make the soul become lighter from the things that don't belong to our lives anymore.

While it was only one small closet, it took some time.

I realized paper is a waste in every way: we kill trees, that make paper that we accumulate, and one day, all of a sudden, it is just not important anymore. Then we spend hours looking at those papers, one by one, to make sure we are not throwing away our privacy in the trash. And God knows where they will end...

Done with the room, we vacuum cleaned, stored the photo stuff properly, and it is empty and ready to become a guest room.

So the green lamp of the picture means many things:
green is the color all magazines and stores show up when spring is coming. A time for "we are all ready for warm weather and sunshine", b"ring the colors back", "the trees and flowers start to bloom", "time to renovate", and for us, "the most special time: time for guests".

In April I will turn 40, a new decade for changes, a wonderful time, for me, and my parents come to visit soon.

Green lamp is to say, YES, come visit!

And when the room is ready, I can post the before and after.

I guess springs brings the best of the colors.

The color of hope.

ISO 3200
Shutter speed: 1/80
Aperture: f/1.6

March 27 - The power of color

I wanted to add some visual interest in the entry hallway and I've decided for color.
Not wall color, but dry flowers in a wood vase.
It makes a big difference to see some color as soon as I open the door!

ISO 3200
Shutter speed: 1/125
Aperture: f/4

March 26 - Sasha is back

Every now and then she makes everybody's day by spending the day in the office.
She is calm and she never barks.
She loves watching the bunnies and the squirrels through the windows.
Today, she posed.

ISO 1600
Shutter speed: 1/100
Aperture: f/4

March 25 - Mountain again

After the snow, the cloudy day, with the wind blowing like magic.

ISO 250
Shutter speed: 1/160
Aperture: f/10

March 24 - Bambi is friendly

I had this belief that deer is friendly and nice.
But today I saw it, a foot away.
Bambi came in, looked her in the eyes and she fed him peanuts.
So many of them were together(I think I counted 12 together)and they let me take pictures, a foot away (it was hard to get them in focus because they were so close!).
First time I saw them in snow, unforgettable, friendly, beautiful, perfect friends.

ISO 400
Shutter speed: 1/160
Aperture: f/9

March 23 - Storm

WE knew it was heading this way and it pours snow out there now...
I took it around 11 in the morning or before, when I was coming back from the fitness center.

ISO 400
Shutter speed: 1/200
Aperture: f/14

March 22 - Bike time!

I joined the fitness center yesterday and did a lot of biking and did it again today!IF I go everyday like i plan to, I can be ready to do 40 miles when I turn 40!
I have a month to practice!
Today I took a picture of my view when I am biking, lots of motivation to keep going!

ISO 1250
Shutter speed: 1/80
Aperture: f/4

March 21 - Healthy lunch

With the sun out but still a little bit cold, I decided to join a fitness center and start warming up for bike season.
I went to the fitness center and did 18 miles in the bicycle.
When I came back, I cleaned the house and did a healthy meal, with salad and rice with mushroom and squash.

ISO 1250
Shutter speed: 1/80
Aperture: f/2.8

March 20 - Window silhouette

Through the window in the bedroom I see the strong light across the building coming in.
It is strong light, and I need a dark brown curtain to block the light to be able to sleep. I just liked the silhouette.

ISO 3200
Shutter speed: 1/15
Aperture: f/2

March 19 - Henry and the rug

Henry loves the new rug. He rubs his back and lays flat and it is funny.
Today he was playing with the rug and running fast and coming back.
As a fun kitty.

ISO 3200
Shutter speed: 1/80
Aperture: f/2

March 18 - New products

New things make me happy. First time user, my new Mary Kay products arrived today and make my skin feel good and moisturized.
I love it!

ISO 3200
Shutter speed: 1/160
Aperture: f/5.6

March 17 - Limao

Limao is the word for the green lemon or green lime? I can never know the difference.
In Portuguese we have the word "limao" and we call it by color green or yellow, but it is the same name product.
These were tiny.

ISO 3200
Shutter speed: 1/160
Aperture: f/2.8

March 16 - Henry is annoyed

Henry is cute even when he is annoyed.
He likes laying down in the new rug and Ethan plays with him.

ISO 3200
Shutter speed: 1/160
Aperture: f/2.5

March 15 - Chinese candles

I bought new candles with something written on them.
I like to think they mean "be happy". They smell good :)

ISO 3200
Shutter speed: 1/30
Aperture: f/2

March 14 - Love

I organized the studio today and I loved the LOVE word by the window.

ISO 3200
Shutter speed: 1/80
Aperture: f/2

March 13 - Party

We went to a birthday party and had a great time.
I loved the blue table where the Margaritas where.
There was a light underneath, making the colors rally stand out.

ISO 3200
Shutter speed: 1/50
Aperture: f/3.2

March 12 - Egypt

Every day, I look at this small piece of art. It is copper color, shiny and pretty.
Today I just got a little closer and I saw so many details on it. It is a storytelling piece, one that I have to learn how to "read it".
I've just finished reading the book "The lost symbol", written by the same author who wrote "The Da Vinci Code", and "Angels and Demons" (both great books as well) and when I looked to "Egypt" art today I felt like I wanted to decipher its meaning, and know the story behind it.

A beautiful end of the day light just highlighted what I see everyday, but made it more special today, because I took the time to really look at it, and I took a picture.

Taken in the end of the day, around 5 something in the afternoon, with some week rays of light coming through the front door.Transformed in bw in post processing and cropped square.

ISO 1250
Shutter speed: 1/100
Aperture: f/3.2
Lens: Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 (fixed lens)

March 11 - Maternity

The most adorable couple came to the studio.
And I just loved seeing him adoring her.
I can't wait until I see both of them adoring their little girl when she is born!

ISO 100
Shutter speed:1/125
Aperture: f/7.1

March 10 - Lunch

I had only soup and bread for lunch today. It was prettier than tasty, but it looked good.

ISO 640
Shutter speed:1/100
Aperture: f.3.5
Lens: Canon Ef 85mm f/1.8 fixed lens

March 9 - Hanging coat

I hung the coat at the chair before dinner and practice walking around the living room with the camera in my knees height to change perspective.
I cropped the image square and made it BW to fit my today's vision.
Simple things that only mean to me sometimes. They MEAN.

ISO 3200
Shutter speed: 1/40
Aperture:f/3.2

March 8 - Man in pizza dough

I was watching Anthony Bourdain show when I decided to try to take a picture of the tv.
They were talking about a guy who loves baking, and makes pizza dough with yeast only.
I found it funny when he posed with his creation around his face.

ISO 3200
Shutter speed: 1/400
Aperture: f/5.6

March 7 - Camera

I've been sick with this miserable cold, so finally with a day off, I spent the whole day in pajamas, sneezing and coughing, with a running nose and watery eyes. Tylenol sinus and cold is my friend now.
I only took one picture, to praise the old time camera.
Back to bed now.

ISO 3200
Shutter speed: 1/50
Aperture: f/2

March 6 - Bowling shoes

After a loooong week and after working today, catching the first cold since 1993 and feeling sick, we went out to relax a little (hoping not to get anybody a cold).
We went bowling.
I found the shoes very funny, in obnoxious loud colors (I wondered why) but who cares?
I took a picture of bowling shoes hanging out :)

ISO 3200
Shutter speed: 1/50
Aperture: f/4

March 5 - Old socks

I was thinking what am I going to post today, walking around the house when I started laughing at myself. My old socks on the bed, looking at me. It made me laugh because I don't remember when was the last time in my life that I had a pair of white socks. All my socks are colorful, orange, yellow, pink, red, striped, squared,all kinds of patterns.
It just made me think of the how many times I have to dig in my closet, looking for a pair that matches, when all colors are so vibrant.
It also drove me to take the picture, because doing laundry is part of life and seeing these slices of life make me happy. I just love socks!

ISO 3200
Shutter speed: 1/80
Aperture: f/3.2

March 4 - Film exposed

A couple of weeks ago, I photographed with a medium format film camera for the first time in my life.
The look down giant viewfinder was the most 3d experience ever, but handling the camera was very hard(so much more buttons than the SLR).
It took me almost a couple of weeks to figure out how to take the film off the camera without ruining the film.
Now I have to find out who still develops medium format film and check if anything turned out.
It was a fun experience. I really wished Canon would make a digital square format digital camera...

ISO 3200
Shutter speed:1/125
Aperture: f/1.8

Marh 3 - Visions of reading

I was watching tv and reading and this was what I was really seeing: my books, the colors of everything together.
It hit me that sometimes we are where we are not.
I was just thinking of how many stories behind each book, instead of really reading.
Then I just gave up and took a picture

ISO 3200
Shutter speed: 1/80
Aperture: f/1.8

March 2 - The rug

Finally, some color in the living room!
I bought a redish burgundy shag rug, and I love it!
It matches the pillows and adds color to the room!


ISO 3200
Shutter speed: 1/40
Aperture: f/2

March 1 - The candles

Candles are something most people have at home and I think they are underestimated.
Sometimes they create light. Sometimes they spread smell. Sometimes they create memories. Sometimes they remind about other memories.
And sometimes they are just art.

ISO 3200
Shutter speed: 1/320
Aperture: f/2