Project 52 {Week 9}–Leap

I could take photos of flowers all day long.

{Grape Hyacinths on March 1st??!!  This Winter is crazy!!!}

They just stand there with their sweet little faces and smile pretty.  They are so patient and agreeable and do not mind one bit while I fiddle with my camera settings.  Because of their congenial nature I have learned that, on my camera in the Manual setting, two steps to the right of middle (slightly overexposed according to my camera’s meter) is actually perfectly exposed when I look at it Photoshop Elements.

My action photography on the other hand…well, it could use some improvement. LOL And since I’m not chasing little kids around anymore, I have to practice my action skills on Daisy.

Daisy Duke loves to fetch.  Wait, let me rephrase that – Daisy Duke LIVES to fetch. 

My hubby was out of town most of the week so a couple of nights ago I attempted to throw the ball and take pictures at the same time hoping to get a good photo of Daisy jumping up to the catch the ball.

The first thing I did was to set my aperture to f/2.5 and increase my ISO to 1600 so that I could get the fastest possible shutter speed. 

The problem was that I can’t throw worth a damn with my right hand much less with my left, and then trying to focus and and keep her in frame…well needless to say it didn’t work out too great.

So last night with my sweet husband finally home, I had a chance to practice a little more.  Tripp bounced the ball around and I got a few shots that were decent.  But then we devised an awesome game that would hopefully help me get a good shot of a mid-air leap. 

So here’s how it went down.  While Tripp stood on the raised flower bed with the ball…

…Daisy sat patiently anxiously in the yard.  “Daisy.  Waaaiiiitttt…Siiitttt…Waaaaiiiittt.  She was practically humming with potential energy.  (Yes I know – I’m a total science nerd. LOL)

Then Tripp says the magic words, “Come on, Daisy.  Come get it!” and Daisy makes her move.  Here’s the build up….

…and here’s the Leap!

A perfect landing!!

Good Job Daisy Duke!

Finally, success! 

I think this is what I love most about this P52 project – it challenges me to get out of my comfort zone and experiment.  And what better way to learn than to spend some time outside on a beautiful evening with my wonderful husband and loveable pets.

That’s my kind of classroom! 

Peace, Kelly