****THE GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED*****
Congrats to Wileenie, our new winnner!!
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Mamas, despite the fact that we do have a fancy DSLR camera....this is how I typically take photos:
"Wait! What? Where? Hang on...getting my phone....RAINES! Wait! Hold it! No! Come back! COME BACK! C'mon you stupid iPhon--- no honey, I wasn't talking to you. I called the iPhone stupid. Yes, you are right, stupid is not a kind word. No! Don't run away again! AUGHHHH!"
Thankfully, I have Mike. Who can wield a DSLR with precision, speed, and deadly- nevermind. That line didn't work. But the point is this: he takes good pics.
The problem, however, is that I'm the one home with the kiddos. I'm the one seeing Raines' crazy-haired, sleepy-eyed, post-nap self when he pads down the hall in his super-hero tighty-whities. I'm the one chasing Pax's chubby little bum around for our ritual change-and-escape every morning before breakfast. I'm the one who sees most of their episodes of brotherly love and the rare moments of quiet contemplation during the day.
I don't want to miss these moments. I want to eat these moments up! I want to revel in them. I want them never to end. And when they do? I want to remember.
So I signed up for Ashley Ann's online Snapshop course (it was one of our gift recommendations, if you recall). I had very low expectations. While I really, really want to take good pics....I just don't have an eye for it. Mike does. My mom does. Many of my friends do. I? Do not.
So I signed up primarily to learn, in some small way, how to wield a DSLR camera. I had been using our camera, but either on automatic settings or, when in manual, much like a monkey would. Mike pointed out which buttons needed pressing ("blah blah blah closed aperture...blah blah ISO-blah"), and I would, monkey-like, jab these buttons randomly until a shot came out reasonably well. Sometimes I got lucky. Mostly I did not.
So imagine my surprise! Delight! Overwhelming feelings of gratitude! when Ashley Ann's course worked. Worked in a way where, almost immediately, I was taking some decent shots. Where suddenly the "blah blah blah" part of Mike's instructions came into sharp focus, and I'm now able to contribute opinions about ISO, and aperture, and shutter speeds. But even more shocking? Her class gave me an eye.
Now, let's not get crazy. I'll never be an Ashley Ann-caliber photographer. But I'm...not bad. Good enough for the kind of shots I want to get, good enough, certainly, to capture the little everyday moments with my boys in a heartfelt way. Good enough to capture shots that transport me back to the moment they happened. To remember.
Ashley Ann's class was nothing short of a gift. A gift we'd like to share with you, dear readers. Ashley Ann was kind enough to offer one of you a spot in her upcoming Snapshop courses (DSLR camera required). The next courses will be offered from Jan. 15 - Feb. 5th or from Feb. 26th - March 18th. To enter, leave us a comment telling us the moment that you'd most like to capture. The winner will be picked at random on Thursday, Jan 12th.
And be sure to head on over to Ashley Ann's blog. Her gorgeous pictures and down-to-earth words will both inspire and encourage. (And it doesn't hurt that she is delightfully nerdy and funny.)
xo,
S
ps. A pic from one of my "homework" assignments. So braggy, I know....but I was just SO proud of myself:
