From Olives and Grapes

I could easily spend a day in this tiny shop tasting all of its spectacular balsamic vinaigrette and olive oils. They have a ton of fun infusions that would delight the most discerning of foodies across the globe. My most recent favorite is pairing the rich dark chocolate balsamic with their blood orange olive oil. Seriously, yummy on salads and seafood! This place is a quaint little delight that I'm happy to have here in Florida but feel it is such a shame not to share it with the culinary artists of the world - so here it is folks. From Olives and Grapes - phenomenal and tasty - go check 'em out!

Random fun

I spent the day playing around with my camera and Lightroom. I have to say that thus far I am pleased with my new 50mm lens and my camera rocks! The lighting was not ideal, and boy was it HOT out but I was determined to get some fun pictures, just me, my camera, and a monopod! Lol. I really like the way the fountain came out despite it all.

I had a blast shooting this pepper too! It must have been quite a sight with me balancing my camera on a monopod in front of the sink, and trying to aim the water at the pepper while snapping the picture...

I created a make shift diffuser for my on camera flash, and I'm not a real fan of using anything other than natural light - those are the pictures that I think turn out the best. However I'm also a realist and I know that if you are going to become a great photographer you have to learn how to work with lighting of all kinds. Natural light will always be my favorite - but the fact that I can play with flash and get these kind of results is what makes photography fun.

The same goes for playing around with Lightroom like I did for this picture where I added vignetting.

 Happy shooting!

Roscoe

My husband and I rescued Roscoe a couple of years ago. He was at the local rescue agency and we went just to look and see what they had. We were thinking something like a Shetland at the time. As we passed the various dogs they barked and jumped and tried to get our attention in every way possible. I passed by an area that didn’t look like it had any dog in it at all. Thinking this was a little odd as they said they were full, I investigated further to find a sad looking pup, snuggled up against the solid wall of the front part of the cage where you couldn’t see him in passing. He had his head resting on his paws and he wasn’t trying to get anyone’s attention. I truly think he didn’t expect anyone to want him so why should he bother to bark and frolic about like the others. It tugged at my heart but I kept moving.

As we had seen all the dogs, we were going to leave when we were intercepted by an employee who asked us what we were looking for. We told him, and though they didn’t have the breed we wanted, he told us a story about a dog that was very friendly, and needed a good home. “His nose is crooked, and he has a sneer that I think makes him look like Elvis.”The employee described in a forewarning tone. “But I think it just adds character.” Come to find out it was the very dog I’d passed by earlier, and he had a lot of character.

As his door opened he perked up and became excited to see someone paying him some attention. He also seemed weary, like he didn’t want to get his hopes up. We took him outside and spent some time with him, talking with the employee. As we left I felt as though we were leaving our dog behind. Come to find out my husband felt the same way. We went back a couple times and as we were not yet married the agency was not sure about adopting out the dog to us because they didn’t want the dog to come back to them as he’d done a few times before.

I don’t know why his previous owners took him back. He is the most adorable, kind, loving dog. He’s 8 years old and is a true puppy at heart. He doesn’t like thunderstorms, and he loves to chew apart rope toys like nothing I’ve ever seen. In fact you can’t give him anything else because he’s chewed through it in seconds. He doesn’t wreck our furniture or try and chew on things he shouldn’t… He doesn’t always listen, and we can’t let him off leash, but he knows exactly what you are asking of him, and he’ll meet you at the door without fail when you come home. All he gives and wants in return is love.

I have a secret – I’m not a huge dog person. In fact, I’m a cat person all the way… But my husband doesn’t mix well with cats, and sadly, I’m actually allergic (I know, the irony). I love all animals, so I thought I can give being a dog person a shot. I grew up with dogs. It wasn’t anything totally foreign to me. I have to say, Roscoe has found his home for good. Any maybe one day he’ll get a little furry brother for a companion, but the verdict is out if it’ll be another dog or something more of the feline persuasion.

Fancy camera? Nah...

I've said before that I have always been a shutterbug. It used to be all film. For me it started with a little 110, you know the kind with the funky film cartridges and the flash panels that snapped in the top and you flipped over as you used it up...

In high school I used disposable cameras, and the same with most of my years in college... I was hopeless when it came to getting a 35mm camera to work, I couldn't get the film to advance right half the time... I know had I kept at it, I could have gotten it down to a science, but why bother? Well for many reasons but hey, I didn't know any better and I was having fun - isn't that the point of photography? Yes, and it STILL is!

When I bought my first digital point and shoot camera I was more than enamored with it. To be honest, I still use it because I love it so much! But I have upgraded and yes, I actually set the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO on my own... What can I say, I don't have to load a film cartridge!

But even with my new camera, which I'm still learning how to maneuver properly, I just had to share one last post with some of my favorite point and shoot pictures I've taken over the last couple years.

Did I mention I even did some "self portraits?"

I HEART Washington

Pikes Place Market  in Seattle is one of the most sensory experiences a market can offer. It isn't all about the mongers throwing fish either! Although they have excellent fish there to be sure and I always ship some back with me because there is nothing like it. What I can't take with me though is what I miss the most...

The produce is phenomenal - yes I said it... Phenomenal. Seriously. I miss it every single day I'm away. I miss weaving in and out of the crowds, the artists on the sidewalk... Musicians playing, florists setting up buckets of the most colorful array of flowers, magicians showing off on the street corners, the smell of bakeries, and the sea... I miss tasting local honey, fresh made cheese curds, and the amazing middle eastern eatery tucked away down a back hallway of vendors that had the best falafel. I'm not even going to get into the fresh roasted nut stand, the mini donuts, or the spice shop, let alone the coffee... Did I mention I was a bit of a foodie?

But even with all of those wonderful things - I miss my family and friends the most.

SCA? What is that?!

                           Ada steals a moment with her hubby                                         Sa'ada dancing her heart out 


These are two of my favorite pictures of friends of mine that are also fellow SCAdian's. I took them back in 2006, again with my point and shoot camera before I ever dreamed of being a photographer. What is a SCAdian?! Well - It means that I'm a part of a world wide organization called the SCA or more formally - The Society for Creative Anachronism. What is that? If you go to our website, the quote at the bottom of the page describes it fairly well, so for that reason, here it is:

"The SCA is an international organization dedicated to researching and re-creating the arts and skills of pre-17th-century Europe. Our 'Known World' consists of 19 kingdoms, with over 30,000 members residing in countries around the world. Members, dressed in clothing of the Middle Ages and Renaissance, attend events which feature tournaments, royal courts, feasts, dancing, various classes & workshops, and more."

That stated - it covers more than just Europe. Most of my close SCA friends and I all take on Turkish or Persian "persona's." And it's WAY more fun than they make it sound. Personally I'm into archery, culinary arts, dancing, and have a great respect for our heavy fighters that put on full armor and beat one another with sticks, HARD! And nothing is theatrical or choreographed, it's all as real as can be. I once wanted to be a heavy fighter myself - but just can't seem to get the time to go to any events these days. 


A few pictures of me that my friends managed to take, there aren't many as I tend to be the one behind the camera:

Memories

It seems fitting that my first post reflect where I am coming from... Above is a picture I took with what is commonly referred to as a "point and shoot" camera. It is before I learned anything about the more technical aspect of photography, or used a "fancy" camera. But this picture is so much more than that... 

It is the first thing I ever drove. I was 3 years old and sitting on my Grandpa's lap as though I was a princess on a throne! You see, my Grandfather helped raise me, and as I'm sure you've heard of the term "Daddy's girl," well I am "Grandpa's girl" through and through. It's true. I played with my imagination, not computers. I drank root beer out of mason jars and ate watermelon on the porch in the summer. My Grandpa and I would eat rhubarb out of Grandma's garden and we'd be scolded because we didn't leave her enough for pies and jam. I'd drink water out of the garden hose and help my Grandmother hang the laundry out on the clothes line. 

This was just a sliver out of my childhood however and I am more than that little girl that lived in the country with her Grandparents. What this picture does is capture the essence of those days and bring back all of those memories. That is why I became the shutterbug I am today! It is my passion to capture moments that bring back the emotions, the memories, the love in one's life. I am Jenna Danelle Williams, and I am a photographer!