Project 52: Week 3 - Reflection
Boy, this week was a tough one! Am I the only one who's super busy trying to fit a bunch of summering in before school starts back up? Please tell me I'm not! Add in all the smoke in the air from the west coast wildfires and my photography project was tough to get to this week. If you've been trying to photograph anything only to get tons of haze, I feel your pain. (Also, if you use Lightroom, check out the dehaze slider. It'll be your best friend.)
I still managed to do something, in two parts. #1 I went for the literal reflection shot and played with using unexpected surfaces to get the photograph. That wasn't my favorite version, so I shifted my perspective a little. #2 I decided to think of reflection in terms of pausing and reviewing. In this case, it was the relationship between my kiddos. We've been super intentional about creating a close knit family and I'm so glad that the kids (even as teenagers) get along so very well. So here are my kiddos, who've grown up with baseball, enjoying each other's company.
Project 52: Week 2 Summertime
Before I really get going on this post, I have a confession to make. Every single time I hear, read, say or type the word summertime I start hearing The Fresh Prince "Summertime" in my head. I can't help it, and I will be singing it to myself while I write this. Any songs that you pop up when you hear the word? I can't ask my darling hubby, who has a whole mix that he made featuring the word summertime, because I'm invested in my sanity!
Having said all of that, for this week I photographed a family water balloon fight because what says summer more than water? As a little bonus, I've got a few summer photo tips for you. So here goes...
1. The harsh light of summer can be a challenge for any level of photographer. But don't just run for shade (unless it's Africa hot and then TOTALLY go for some shade). Get the light behind your subject. With the exception of the summer solstice, odds that you can get the sun behind your subject even at noon.
2. Expose FOR your subject. That's how you avoid dark, underexposed photos. If you're using a DSLR, make sure that your exposure meter is set to spot metering and get that 0 to +1 going so that your subject isn't dark in the backlight. If you're using a phone, apps like Camera + use a pinch and separate method to separate exposure from focal point and you can dial in your exposure that way. If you're using the Lightroom app, you can set your exposure manually and make sure your subject looks exactly the way you want it to.
3. Embrace that summer looks different. Get creative with those hard shadows, because they usually come with some amazing skies, blissful expressions on your kiddos faces and loads of fun moments. Dramatic shadows can be amazing storytelling elements, so go with it.
The Cure for Hot Summer Days
Miss Ivy is as aware of our dwindling number of summer days as I am. She recently looked up when their first day of school is (August 16th is the day I have TWO high schoolers) and was none too happy. Her solution was to make a "Summer Jar of Fun". Each of us got to write 5 different activities to do and we draw one each morning.
Each of us wrote several that included ice cream! Ha, looks like ice cream is the key to summer happiness for the Tomczaks. One of my faves are these brownie ice cream bars. Bake up your favorite brownie recipe in a sheet pan, let it cool completely. I froze no churn ice cream (look it up on Pinterest, it's the best thing EVER!) in a 9x13 pan for a couple of hours at least. Smoosh the two together and trim the brownies to the size of the ice cream. You can add peanut butter, caramel, or some fun topping to the ice cream and freeze it again. Next up, cut into bars, coat with home made magic shell and leftover brownie crumbs. 100 degree days...meet ice cream bars!
New Photography Project
Can I be painfully honest for a second? I've actually had a harder time being inspired and motivated in 2021 than I was in 2020. Why? Probably because I'm a natural homebody and staying home and social distancing is something I like. I know, a lot of people struggled with a feeling of isolation, and I don't want to take anything away from that. I just wasn't one of them.
Along comes 2021 and the whole family is vaccinated. Now, we get invites that I've got no excuse to say no to or Zander has 812 baseball games that have us socializing again, I've found myself stressed out and exhausted. For those of you who don't know, introversion isn't shyness and the inability to handle social situations. Instead, introversion is a personality trait that recharges their batteries when they're alone and social situations are draining. So all this "getting back to normal" is wearing on a girl.
From a photography standpoint, it's created one heck of a creative slump. I can't even tell you how often I've had to make myself pick up the camera. So, it's time for some slump busting. I'm starting a new Project 52. One theme a week to work those creative muscles and find my groove again. This week's theme is Day in the Life. What could be more perfect for me to kick things off, right?
So enjoy a day with the Tomczak Adventure Team!
Night Night.
What Can You Do This Weekend?
Is it just me, or is there a severe lack of time in summertime? Once I'm on the back end of July, I start freaking out that we haven't done enough summering and school is starting back up in no time.
If you're feeling the same way, I've got a suggestion that will help you get your maximum summer on. If you're a Colorado resident, chances are you've heard of or been to Water World. I honestly thought everyone had been there (my hubby has been going since he was 15 years old) but I recently met a bunch of people who haven't been. Waaaah? I'm gonna be honest, that seems impossible.
To be completely transparent, I've been photographing Water World professionally for 3 years and it is absolutely one of my favorite jobs. And since I've been EVERYWHERE in that place, I can whole heartedly. If you've got littles, Wally World and the brand new Minnow Creek are going to be your favorites. Bigger kiddos? Mine gave the two new rides in Alpine Springs a 10-10. Thunder bay is a can't miss and if you're old like me, the lazy river is the perfect way to beat the heat. Seriously, I know I sound like a commercial, but it really is a great way to spend the summer day. It's one of those things you need to do at least once a summer.
So if you're looking for a good way to spend your summer weekend, go check out Water World. It's a Colorado institution for a reason!
