February 28 - The laundry cat

Have you ever paid attention to the fact that all cats always want to be the center of attention?
If I am cooking, he is laying around the kitchen or meowing; if I am cleaning, he has to be leaning on the dustpan, or trying to smell what is in the trash bag, and if I a am doing laundry...oh, well, he has to lay on the clothes that just came out of the dryer.

I have to give him the exception for the vacuum cleaner...he hates it and vanishes while it is on, but as soon as the laundry is out, he has to go try it.

ISO 1600
Shutter speed: 1/60
Aperture: f/2.8

Feb 27 - Another view

Yesterday I spent about an hour and a half talking to Carmela, catching up on life, photography, and other things.
It made me feel very happy to hear about her life and her great view of life.
I also had the first video conference with father, now with internet at home in his laptop. At 65, he is learning how to go online and make a video conference with me, all by himself.
So today I went out to an Asian market for the first time, and when I was leaving, I thought of Carmela, and my father, and my wonderful boyfriend, and how grateful I am for all the good things in my life. And just when I was singing Jason Mraz's "I am going to be happy with all that I am, I am gonna be happy with all that I stand for", I see a different view of Pikes Peak, from a more south end of town, and I felt happier than ever.

ISO 100
Shutter speed: 1/200
Aperture: f/10

February 26 - My daily view

In the last week we had more cloudy and snowy days than I remember in all my winters in America all together.
I don't complain. We are lucky to live in a place with 300 days of sun and blue skies in each year, but it makes me appreciate even more the beautiful sunny days when I go to work and see the mountains covered in snow.
Not all days the mountains I see every day have snow (although we definitely have some snow from October to April), but when I go uphill in the early mornings and on the top of the hill I see Pikes Peak I do say "Thank you Lord for such honor".
Today was one of those days.
Seeing Pikes Peak with that much snow and a cloud just barely there on the top, I just felt so blessed.
Feel lucky for being happy today. I am going to be happy with all that I am :)

ISO 200
Shutter speed: 1/200
Aperture: f/10
Taken with my new and super AWESOME Canon EF 85mm 1.8 fixed lens

February 25 - Wine

For a wonderful home made soup, a good wine to go with it.

ISO 640
Shutter speed: 1/60
Aperture: f/2

February 24 - Motion

I walked through the creek by a golf course to take some pictures.
Through the yellowish grass,I decided the theme of the day was going to be motion.
I moved the camera while taking the picture and I like it :)

ISO 100
Shutter speed: 1/13
Aperture f/22

February 23 - Pikes Peak

After days and days of clouds in the sky, we finally had visions of a blue sky...only I wanted to photograph in BW.
My beautiful Pikes Peak covered in snow.

ISO 200
Shutter speed: 1/400
Aperture: f/10
With my 50mm fixed lens

February 22 - Henry again: my camera is back!

Today my camera came back. After 2 weeks without it, it feels like i have a brand new one.
I took a picture of Henry when he was getting ready to sleep. BW in camera, cropped square and vignetted.

ISO 3200
Shutter speed: 1/30
Aperture: f/1.4

February 21 - Model

My model was assume today, playing with different outfits and fun colors.
This was my favorite of the day.
Studio light, the fun stuff :)

ISO 100
Shutter speed: 1/125
Aperture: f/4
Made with Canon EF 100mm USM f/2.8 fixed macro lens

February 20 - An icy snow day

Today was one of those days that happen maybe twice a year in the winter. The "frost" and icicles of the snow stayed all day over the trees and the houses in town. Also, the fog added a very winter feeling to the beauty of this white day.
We went out for breakfast and then to Garden of the Gods and Palmer Park to take pictures.
This was my favorite of the day.

ISO 400
Shutter speed: 1/250
Aperture: f/8
Made with the Tokina 12-24 @ 12mm

Feb 19 - A Photo friend

I see him every day with his friends at the coffee shop, but today he was all excited he bought a new camera. Caught him kind of off guard, with a shy smile.
Next week, he steps in the SLR digital world, and a new one expects him.
He loves to photograph action and he will probably join the camera club.

ISO 400
Shutter speed: 1/125
Aperture: f/1.4

February 18 - Flower saying goodbye

In the early morning, before going to work, I saw my flowers, in the soft window light, saying goodbye.

ISO 400
Shutter speed: 1/200
Aperture: f/1.6

February 17 - The book king

The book king lives in the shelf, guarding the books.
Taken in Large JPG in black and white, with crop to square format, that's it.
Nothing else done to it.
ISO 200
Shutter speed: 1/30
Aperture: f/1.6
With my fixed 50mm lens

February 16 - My true vision

Since I have been using my sweetheart's camera, I am getting used to the different settings.
I switched to black and white in large JPG format in camera this morning, and I visited a friend who has 3 cats.
I took an old camera to her home and I photographed the cats.
Among the 50 images or so I took this morning, all black and white, I found my vision. I know, I know, I always loved black and white, but it felt so good to know I was seeing it again, the way I see, in black and white.
Nothing done to this image, with exception of crop square (why can't Canon make a 10 megapixel square camera that only shoots black and white? - sigh - one can dream...)
My true vision. I just love this picture.

ISO 200
Shutter speed: 1/125
Aperture: f/2.8
Using my 50mm fixed lens (the lens that opens up all the way to f/1.4)

February 15 - Tulip again

My tulips were so beautiful by the window light today!
I just loved the abstract art with the pink color!

ISO 400
Shutter speed:1/125
Aperture: f/2.8

February 14 - Henry models

The cat cooperated today in the 4 lighting set up.
He stayed in the green sit and posed :)

ISO 100
Shutter speed: 1/125
Aperture: f/5.6

February 13 - Carnivale

Today is Carnaval, or Mardi Gras, as some people mention in USA.
We went to Manitou Springs to watch the parade and dance. No baby sitting camera today. I took my point and shoot and used for a few images.
Here is my image of the day. The dog looked funny but he didn't seem to have fun, poor thing.

ISO 100
Shutter speed:1/200
Aperture: f/3.6

February 12 - Tulips!

I arrived home today and had a surprise from my sweetheart: pink tulips! My favorite flower, and my favorite color!And I was wearing pink.
I put them in the vase to decorate the table for dinner and I just felt so happy!
Sometimes, on a Friday night, all you need is love and pink :)

ISO 1600
Shutter speed: 1/60
Aperture: f/2.8

February 11 - A Sunny Day

After a few days of overcast and snow, all is melted, with exceptions of the mountain tops.
With the back up camera, today I used the 200mm lens, and isolated a tree against the blue mountains.
And i used the car window as a tripod :)
A beautiful view.

ISO 100
Shutter speed: 1/400
Aperture: f/8

February 10 - Wine label

My computed didn't cooperate to post Feb 10 image on Feb 10, so I am posting it now, but took it yesterday.
Said that my camera is not here, I had to use a point and shoot that I don't like.

ISO 100
Shutter speed:1/4
Aperture:f/4.7

February 9 - Snow in sunshine

I came back to the same place today to take another picture with the sunshine and blue sky. Good think I like the picture because my camera died today and it is going to make a trip to Canon in California, in the repair center.
I hope it does not take too long, since I will use a back up camera while mine is traveling.

ISO 100
Shutter speed: 1/80
Aperture: f/10

February 8 - Snow in the morning

I pass this view every morning before I go to work, but only in magical white mornings like this the trees seem to call my name...
I had to park for a few moments and get snow on the shoes to take a couple of images.
There was this beautiful silence and I could hear the snow flakes falling.
No footprints, no noise, just beautiful, white magic.

ISO 200
Shutter speed: 1/160
Aperture: f/9

February 7 - Superbowl shoes

Today we joined some friends to watch the superbowl game.
I was cheering for the Saints and I was happy they won.
The image that represented good people together was welcoming us all at the door...all the shoes together in the entry hallway.

ISO 3200
Shutter speed: 1/50
Aperture: f/2.2

February 6- A clean desk!

Today is Saturday, a day to run errands around the house, do some grocery shopping, and sleep in. Well, I did all that and also went with my sweetheart for a drive in Palmer Park and got a new frame to hang on the wall.

I finally finished my lesson 2 of mentoring program and posted to the group and emailed them.

I took a picture of my clean desk to celebrate another lesson finished. All the papers in the paper file on the left are part of the lesson that I needed to retype due to computer issues. It was all worth it :)

ISO 3200
Shutter speed: 1/80
Aperture: f/4.5

February 5 - An old train

Tonight we went out to check this beautiful exhibition of photographs from Glaciers that are melting.
After the breathtaking images we've seen, we were heading out for dinner when I saw the old train "parked" just outside the art gallery.
The Antlers Hotel is just outside and I liked the contrast of the modern neon lights shining in the dark with the old, rusty train.

ISO 3200
Shutter speed: 1/3
Aperture: f/6.3

February 4 - A changing weather

Close to work there is this big cliff with dry rocks and pine trees. When I parked today, the sky was getting darker and I thought it was going to snow. An hour later and we had a beautiful blue sky.

ISO 250
Shutter speed: 1/200
Aperture: f/11

February 3 - Picture of a picture

I was waiting to go to work in my car and a catalog was by my side.Wondering if a picture of a picture would look real or not, I took a few and I think they look quite real.

ISO 400
Shutter speed: 1/160
Aperture: f/7.1

February 2 - A note

ISO 3200
Shutter speed: 1/40
Aperture: 2.2

February 1 - The two of us

After dinner, a picture that looks like a typical snapshot, but I like it. Just a normal night at home.
Anthony Bourdain is on and I have to finish to type lesson 2 for my photogrpahy mentoring group! So I am listening to the tv(which is on the living room) while I type the end of the lesson about composition.
Just wanted to share my picture of the day :)

ISO:3200
Shutter speed: 1/5
Aperture:f/8