New BLOG!

Hello followers! I have a new blog address:
http: shutterbug-mkphotography.blogspot.com

This blog will still exist, but the new blog will be up and running! I did this just to start fresh. All my older posts from 2 years ago were starting to build up. I just needed an update.
If you follow this blog, be sure to follow my new blog as well!!
-Maddy K.

Snow Shoing, Skiing- Colorado

Last week we went to Colorado to visit my brother, who is working as a ski instructor at Copper Mountain.

On Sunday we went snow shoeing. Boy, was that an adventure. If you have never done it, I recommend it. Don't let the instant failure keep you from trying. Once you get the hang of it, and learn how to balance your weight on the shoe, it can be great fun. We found a great place to snow shoe. It was actually on a golf course, but you would never know, considering the feet of snow covering the ground.
I ended up loving it, although I wasn't so sure at first. It did get a bit frustrating when you would walk a few steps and find that you had sunk in snow up to your hips. Eventually though, we got it down and ended up walking quite a distance. :)

The next day,as  if our legs weren't already sore enough, we went skiing on the mountain where my brother works. I L.O.V.E skiing. I am not fantastic at it, but I sure do enjoy it! My brother is a great teacher and gave me a bunch of tips to help me improve. That pictures (above) was taken from the top of mountain (almost the top). After a full day of skiing, we were exhausted. Except my brother who is used to skiing 6 days a week.

All in all it was a GREAT trip! We weren't there for nearly long enough, but I'm glad I got to see my brother! It is so gorgeous out there. It takes my breath away every time I visit.

*film pictures will be posted, once developed. I promise :)
            -Maddy K.

Guess What!!

Hello, All!!
Right now I am in Colorado! I'm so excited to catch up with friends and family, go skiing, snow shoeing a.n.d see my brother! I haven't seen my brother in quite sometime and anytime the family is all together great memories are made :)
Can't wait to share pics with you when I get back! I brought my film camera, so I'm looking forward to gazing at the mountains through my lens!

Until then,
Maddy K.

Shutter Control- prop: 3 flowers, bottle

Since recently working with film I have been more careful, or hesitant you could say with the shutter. Knowing that every click costs money, makes you think a little harder before pressing that button. After finishing up a role of film, I retorted back to my digital camera to practice some of the same self control with the shutter. I have been trying to work a lot more with props lately. So I told myself, when using my digital camera this time, that I would only take one picture at each location, limiting the amount of photos I took.
Doing this caused me to slow down, and think about the composition before aimlessly snapping away. I found this helped a lot, especially when it comes to choosing the pictures to post. I am more proud of these photos, having in mind that I only took one in that position. I'm going to practice this drill more often.

 

**Hopefully I will have some film shots to post soon, I need to get them developed first!

Searching

What if everyday that we lived, we searched? Searched to be closer to God, searched to bring him glory, searched for satisfaction in only Him, searched for the things that matter, searched for the things that will last forever, searched for his will. What if we gave up everything of ourselves to search. If we never stopped searching, I wonder what we would find...

Would we find His arms wrapped around us? His hand guiding us? His glory painted in the sunset? Complete satisfaction in the simplicity of life? Would we find that every task matters if we work at it with all our strength? Would our eyes only see the eternal importance? Would we learn to completely yield to His will?
If we gave of ourselves, everything- time, money, energy- to God, I can only imagine what he could do with our offerings, how he could use our lives to bring him glory.
I want to search. Search for ways to be more like him, search for ways to be closer to him, to know him more fully. I want to search and find satisfaction, knowing who I am in Christ.

 

 

It was a great day. The sun was out, the birds were chirping... i believe they were calling my name. So, to meet their anxious beckon, I put on my chacos, grabbed my book, my camera, an 'Honest Kids' organic 'berry berry good' lemonade, and headed for the front porch rocking chair. There is nothing like sitting on the front porch with a good book, drinking lemonade. I'm pretty sure there is a song about that, and if not... some country singer needs to get on that, pronto! 

 

 

 

 

It's especially nice to sit on the porch late enough in the afternoon to watch the sun go down. Which is what I did. I was out there for what seemed like a short amount of time, reading and snapping a few pics here and there, but before I knew it... I was being called in for dinner. Something about being outside in the fresh air, for even a short amount of time just puts a person in a good mood. I am loving getting fresh air in this warm weather! I Hope you enjoy the warm weather as well!!

 

 

A Heart Stuck in the Snow

I'm really liking this warmer weather... wearing Chacos, short sleeves, and Caprices is nice... but I'll admit: I'm already missing the cold. I know, I know. Crazy, right??
But I just can't help but love wearing sweatshirts, hats, gloves, sweaters, scarves, boots and all that fun stuff! I especially love the feeling after you come in from being outside for a while. Your nose and cheeks are winded and chilly, but they start to tingle as they warm back up. I love the hope for snow that the cold weather brings... and the satisfaction of drinking a cup of tea.
Even though my heart is stuck in the snow, I still enjoy the warmth. It's relaxing to sit out on the porch in a rocking chair and listen to my cat purr, begging for an ear scratch.
So, I'll enjoy this season and all the different opportunities it brings just as I enjoy the others!

Sarasota, FL

We went out for a nice dinner on Wednesday, the night of my Grammy's birthday. It was a special treat :)

We surprised Grammy by taking her on a 'Just Ducky' boat tour in. Since I was the only teenager on the boat I got to drive part of the time... it was much easier than driving a car.

It was a great, beautiful trip, and I'm so glad we got to celebrate with family on such a special occasion!

:(

I'm having some issues with my computer which makes it extremely difficult and frustrating to upload and edit pictures... hopefully they will be up soon! I am dying to post them, it has been a while!

It's Just Great

My mom and I drove down to Sarasota on Friday to join my aunts and Grandma to celebrate my Grammy's 81st birthday...

Going to the beach in February adds a whole different aspect to Florida. It's different, but in a lot of ways the same. You wake up to find the waves continually rolling in like they always have, the sun welcoming the day, the wind making the trees dance... it's all the same. The only difference is waking up and not knowing if you will wear a bathing suit or a sweatshirt down to the beach.
Now, this Georgia girl that has been stuck under a heap of clouds the past few weeks has been desperate for a peek at the sun. I lay there, basking in the sun, smothered in sunscreen, dreaming the day away, and enjoyed every second of the quiet. It's just great.

*pictures to come :)

The Glorious Joy of Being a Photographer.

Personally, I love rain. It makes me want to cuddle up and read a good book or watch a great movie. But After a few days of merciless rain I, like everyone else get a little anxious for another peek at the sun.

So instead of being stuck inside waiting for the sky to clear, I decided to get out in the gloom with my camera and see what I could find.

It's so neat to me the way things look when they are dripping wet.

To me, looking at a picture with rain drops leaves me anxious with wonder. I feel like I'm sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for the drip to fall, but it doesn't.

So this is a picture I took, freezing time and capturing the detail of a moment. A moment the can never be recreated.

That is one thing I love about photography...
As a photographer, you get the glorious joy of capturing a single moment in time, and making it last.

He Works in Mighty Ways.

"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes." -Matt. 6:34 (message)

Wow, God tells us not to worry. He will take care of it. He tells us not to even waste your time and energy worrying about what will happen tomorrow, because when the time comes He will give us the strength we need to overcome any obstacle. This gives me such peace, knowing that He has everything taken care of. Every detail of my life planned out, and He will use anything and everything in my life for my good.- to mold me into who He wants me to be.

He wants me to slow down and stop worrying, so I can watch what happens when His hand works in my life. And He works in mighty ways...