So we have been getting quite a bit of snow here over the past week and a half. It is really pretty and I enjoy it, at least until Christmas. The thing I don’t like is when we are still getting snow in April, but that comes with the territory when you live in upstate NY. I have been busy with projects around the house for past week or so. I finished our holiday card and ordered it through WHCC. We received them yesterday. The quality is really good and I love that they do free 2 day UPS shipping. The only change I will probably make next time is to just run a minimal warming filter over the photo since Sofia looks a little washed out due to some other post processing that I did in Photoshop. Although I am happy with it overall.
Speaking of post processing, I just started shooting in RAW and I really love it! I am also importing my RAW images into my Lightroom 2 program and I can process a complete batch of photos. When I shoot in RAW instead of JPEG, the RAW file allows me to easily change the White Balance, Tone and Exposure in Lightroom and then if I need to do anything else to the photos I can just export them over to Photoshop and finish them there. It is saving a ton of time when I process photos.
So do you have fun Thanksgiving plans? We are headed to Long Island tomorrow to visit Jack and Mea (John’s stepmom and dad) and can’t wait to see them. Thanksgiving is always so much fun at their house. John’s brother and his family are coming too, so it should be fun. Sofia just adores her cousin Nicholas “Nicky”.
Here are a couple of photos from the past few days and our Christmas Card. Sofia helped me take out the Christmas lights and put them on the tree. I wanted to get a head start so we don’t have so much to do when we get back from Thanksgiving. Some of the photos of the lights are blurry. Sofia started playing with the lights all of a sudden and I grabbed my camera. I changed the lighting several times, so some images are darker than others. I was also playing around with the aperture. I used my 50mm lens for the Christmas lights photos since it has a 1.8 aperture that can allow a lot of light without having to use a flash. It is my favorite lens. For some funny reason, Sofia decided that she wanted to stick the Christmas lights in her eyes (lol). Who can figure out 2 year olds???
Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Front of Christmas Card
Back of Christmas Card
Colleen - LOVE your card and LOVE the photos of Sofia with the lights! You are quite the amazing photographer!!!!
I just know your enjoying this wonderful time of year !!!
bbmomof2boys - Did the snow freeze your camera?
~Carla
Shelle - Love your blog- amazing photos!
I was “blog hopping” tonight and your avatar photo caught my eye so I clicked- so glad I did!
We adopted our daughter from Hunan in August 2007.
Michelle
Killlashandra - I can’t believe all the snow you have! Wow. NM just got some in the mountains which is good as people have been complaining about the lack of snow for skiing so far this year.
Wonderful pictures with christmas lights too. Hope you had a great THanksgiving.
Beverly - she is adorable. love the christmas card.
Liene - Jonni, I just love, love, love your photos. You are getting so good and making me jealous of how well yours turn out. I’m especially loving the photos of the snow. Lane lived in upstate NY for about 5 yrs as a child and misses the snow. I miss the snow too since we can get a decent amount in the Midwest. I’m hoping I will see a white Christmas in Indiana this year.
Keep those pictures coming!!!
Carol - Ok that is IT! You are coming to MD and taking Em’s photos!
She is in desperate need of some GOOD photos!!!
I suck……I kneel at your greatness……….
Dannye - wow, what amazing photos (but then again you always take amazing photos!)…and here we thought it was cold here in Fla. when it got in the 30′s overnight….don’t envy you guys in the bit…brrr…hope you enjoy your thanksgiving!!!
*Overflowing* - Oh my…she looks soooo grown up in those last pictures!!! Tell her to stop that
Kristy - I know I sound like a broken record but you take incredible pictures, I love the Christmas card and I don’t think the baby looks washed out at all, but the Christmas light pictures are just priceless, I love them!!!
Happy Thanksgiving.
Love and blessings, Kristy
Janet - Great post!!!!!!!!!! I always love to see pictures of your sweetheart!
I’m so jealous that you already did your letter. I’m seriously doubting that ours will be sent out at all this year. I just don’t think I’m up for it yet….;-)
And as for shooting in the raw…….wow. You’re brave. I bet you skinny dip too….LOL!
My Heart Beats In China - Hi Jonni,
Happy Holidays to you and your family!
Love the new photos and beautiful Christmas Card.
The snow looks so prestine, refreshing and hey bring it to NJ already!
Wonderful photos. Enjoy Thanksgiving!
Ivy, Dani and Kira
Cheri H - Oh, that is a great Christmas card photo!
redmaryjanes - I truly love your Christmas card photo, it is lovely!
Happy Thanksgiving to you.
bbmomof2boys - Nice pics girl!! Umm…if Big T sees that Syracuse sweatshirt he’s gonna have a FIT!!
Hugs,
Carla
MotherMotherOcean - The card looks great. Want to come take a picture over here? We are having issues, to say the least.
laura - dolcepics - I love your Christmas card! Very nicely done and those photos are fabulous. I love her winter jacket! Are those mittens attached?
Great to hear you are shooting in RAW. I just wrote an article about that recently… RAW is GOOD.
http://www.dolcepics.com/articles/raw-vs-jpg/
Michelle - Beautiful pictures as usual. We are still having weather in the 80′s here. I am wishing for something a little cooler for the holidays.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Jennifer - I love the pictures with the lights and your Christmas card!!! You and Debbie with your lightroom and batches and shooting in RAW-ya’ll are so smart. I am lucky I can get my camera on
Denise Olson - oh love ‘em all!!! Your card is gorgeous!!! Sofia is going to have sooo much this Christmas!! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving…lots of hugs and kisses!!
-denise:)
HuluMama - Gorgeous pictures!!!!
Happy Thanksgiving to you too!
The Gang's All Here! - #1 Welcome back. Missed reading you. Got a little thrill when I saw your name in my reader.
I’m sick, I know.
#2 Love LOVE LUH-UHVE the Syracuse sweatshirt. I want one for me. I miss my college team sweatshirts. I miss my college sweatshirt body. Sigh.
#3 This post and all its gorgeous, white snowy pictures are why I am sooooo happy not to live in Upstate NY anymore. One or two flurries and I’m done. I am no longer a NY tough gal. I’m a winter wimp. Complete with whining when the snow turns to slush.
#4 I obviously have some serious avoidance issues. My to do list is like a mile long and here I sit, typing a numerated comment list to you. (shaking head and sighing)