New SLR!!!

You guys... I finally got an SLR!
So there I was, Christmas morning opening up my gifts, when I open up a Nikon D7000!!! It was so unexpected that I shed a tear or two. After all, I really wasn't expecting to invest in one of these bad boys until the Spring. John really surprised me and I couldn't be more grateful. It really is a thoughtful gift more than anything especially since he spent so much time researching what would be best for me.

I got 2 lenses today too during the amazing Boxing Day deals! So right now, I have a 50mm 1.8d & a 70-300mm VR and I'm so pumped up about each of them.

John came with me today to take some photos and I am definitely still learning how to use my camera in general but we managed to get some beautiful photos. I particularly love the shot above and it's completely unedited.

I can't wait to continue using this amazing camera and seeing what types of creative projects I can come up with. Practice, Practice, Practice!

Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!!

Interesting Settings

Thanks for viewing my photos, as always. :)

Lovers

While in Nova Scotia, we were walking back to our cars from Peggy's Cove when I spotted this precious moment.
This couple was just sitting on the bench overlooking the lighthouse and ocean and my heart melted a bit. I decided to be a creeper and snap the photo because it was a memory I didn't dare to forget.

Which leads me to a new project..photographing strangers, tastefully obviously.
I'm going to try this tomorrow.

Foggy Sleeping Giant

I was a little disappointed today when I skipped the gym to take pictures only to be freezing cold and not find much inspiration. I drove out to Chippewa Park which was incredibly secluded which made just a bit nervous but I worked up the courage, hopped out of my car and snapped this beauty of a photo! The way the clouds were covering the Sleeping Giant took my breath away. There was so much beauty out at Chippewa and I would have taken more time to appreciate it had I not been all by myself in the middle of no where and if it wasn't freezing cold. I plan to go back on a warmer day to walk around and snap some photos of the docks etc that are out there. It's so pretty!

Driving back, I spotted this really creepy building in the distance that I had never seen before and was on a mission to get closer to take pictures of it. I found out I had to turn down Fort William First Nation Saw Mill Park and that seemed pretty public so I was driving & driving only to find myself feeling like I was trespassing? I honestly have no idea if I was allowed to be there or not (there weren't any signs?!) but I got nervous and drove away. I feel like I need a buddy to drive along with me to work up my courage to not be so afraid because I sometimes feel discouraged in the sense where I'm missing great photo opportunities. I need to go back to that saw mill!!

Scenic Love

Watching: Awkward. I'm so obsessed with that show.. it really bring out the 16 year old in me!! I love well written, quirky teen shows like Degrassi and Awkward is right up that same alley! I'm definitely binge watching it .. I just started the show last week and am already on season 3. I'm also loving The Goldbergs. It's soo funny and makes me howl just as much as Modern Family does! Also, is it just me but is Vampire Diaries just as good if not better than the first season right now?! I felt that it started getting stupid but this season is giving off a fresh new start and I'm loving it!

Listening to: What Now by Rihanna and Wanted by Hunter Hayes. While I do paperwork at the office, I'm listening to these songs on repeat. Both such beautiful and emotional songs and I just love them both so much!

Thinking about: Travel and buying a house. These two topics are ones that are consuming my brain right now. I want to just travel the whole world and take photos of everything I see in so many new & exciting places. This is a very real & serious goal of mine. Taking photos whether it's here in town or somewhere else pumps my blood like you wouldn't believe. I also would love to have my own backyard this summer to lay out in after work, during the day etc etc so buying a house before the summer would be divine. Not sure how realistic this is though.. lol

Loving: Reading! But I'll talk about that more in the next paragraph. lol! Something I really am loving though right now is cooking. I made a huge fail of a meal tonight though but besides that I've been getting creative with meals. I've also realized that I do not cook healthy at all (lots and lots of butter)! I made a delish porkchop dish the other day with cream of chicken soup & broccoli smothered over top.. it was so good.

Reading: A house in the Sky! It's about the Calgary Freelance Reporter who got kidnapped in Somalia. Seriously such an intense, eye-opening & tragic book that I recommend to anyone interested in travel and/or current world affairs. I normally don't care about stuff going on in the world (not because I'm not interested but because I'm afraid) but I picked this book up because it's a memoir about something tragic and those are usually my favorite types of books. I'm about half way through but I  loved the first half of the novel when she spoke of her travel excursions. It's just now starting to become dark. I also just finished "the Graveyard Book" by Neil Gaiman which was really interesting and had a very strong ending.

Making me happy: That the Holidays are right around the corner! I'm excited for Christmas for ONCE this year. I can't wait to just spend the holidays with my family and to eat good food! Super exciting. 

This post was inspired by Danielle at Sometimes Sweet.

Coloured Winter

Funny story about today's photoshoot:

For the photo of the small walking bridge, I had to go through probably about 4 feet of snow to get to that little area and my feet were soaking & freezing because snow got all down my boots & socks.
As I proceeded to take the photo, I heard a rustling and sniffing in the bushes behind me so I ran for my life back to my car getting yet ANOTHER sock full of snow. I was terrified for my life. It didn't help that there were animal tracks EVERYWHERE at this park. So yeah, it was pretty scary.

The things I do for a nice pic eh?!

Sleeping Giant Among Other Things...

I really wish it was summer so there could be pretty flowers, flowing waters, green leaves, etc. so I didn't feel so uninspired.