Photo Tip Friday: Move to get a Better Shot

by Mary Denman                   Twitter: @MaryDenman                 Instagram: @MaryFDenman

Often, when we're taking pictures, we simple take photos from where we stand. While this can yield some good photos, here are some tips to help you think more about how to get good shots. 

The overall tips? Move to get a better shot. And, learn to brace your camera to get a better shot.

Here are some poses and ideas you can use. 

Let's get started.

Wordless Wednesday: Abyssinian Cats

by Mary Denman                Twitter: @MaryDenman            Instagram: @MaryFDenman

Welcome to Wordless Wednesday! 

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Recently, I saw my sister and her cool cats! 

They're Abyssinian and very interesting.

Monday's Musings: Seeing the Big Picture in Life

by Mary Denman   @MaryDenman 

There are times when we can't see the big picture in life. 

We can only see what's right in front of us. If we feel like we've made a mistake, we may have guilt or regret over the decisions that got us there.

I know. I've been there.

But recently, I had my eyes opened to see that God is working things out when I think I screwed up.

Monday's Musings: Powerful Christmas Quote by Winston Churchill

by Mary Denman  @MaryDenman

Christmas is a season not only of rejoicing but of reflection. ~Winston Churchill

These are powerful words spoken by a powerful man. 

Words that hold much truth. 

Christmas is a season of rejoicing, of celebrating Christ's birth, of sharing family time, of giving gifts of love. 

Christmas is also a season of reflection. Not the "have I been naughty or nice" kind of reflection. But the kind of reflection that goes deeper. The kind that makes you think about your family, loved ones, and about the past year. 

Wordless Wednesday: Cute Cats

by Mary Denman   @MaryDenman

Welcome to Wordless Wednesday! 

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Last Friday's photo tip was: Shooting Family Gatherings in Low Light (click here)

This Friday's tip will be: Tips for Active Pet Photography

Here are my four cats...Each has a distinct personality.
Enjoy! 

Lady looking intently at a raccoon hat.

Monday's Musings: Ann Voskamp Quote on Always Being Thankful

by Mary Denman @MaryDenman

With Thanksgiving coming up here in the United States, our thoughts turn to being thankful. 

While it's easiest to be thankful for the good things in life, as Ann Voskamp says, "There is always, always, always something to be thankful for."

In the face of challenges, whether they be relational, health issues, or the loss of loved one, there is always something to be thankful for. We may have to look for it, but it's there to be found. 

And that's the key. 

We need to look. 

Monday's Musings: Can One Person Make a Difference?

by Mary Denman  @MaryDenman

Recently, I thought about the question, "Can one person really make a difference in this world?" 

Or, more personally, "Can I make a difference in this world?"

Not long ago, I found myself in the small town of Bishopville, SC. We had dropped our son off at a Math and Science Camp and were headed out when my husband and I noticed topiaries down the median of the main street in town. Interesting, we thought. A bit unusual. But interesting.

Then, I saw a name on a sign as we drove out of the town. Pearl. 

I couldn't believe it. We had just driven by the road where Pearl Fryar lives. 

We turned around. 

Monday's Musings: When Life is Out of Control

by Mary Denman  @MaryDenman

There are very definitely times when life is out of control. 

Times when we can't muscle through. Try harder. Work smarter. 

I know. I live that life at times. 

You see, I have migraines. 

They aren't all exactly alike. 

There are the ones where I  have to shut down and move to a dark, cool room to try and reduce the stimuli. For hours. Even walking hurts my head. 

Or, I may have a simmering migraine that won't go away for days. 

Then there are the ones that simmer for days and then flares. 

I've had to of the the Emergency Room because of them. I've actually been hospitalized to try and stop them. 

They are hard to live with. 

Yet, I do. 

I do live with them. 

Monday's Musings: 5 Life Lessons I Learned from my Cats

by Mary Denman      @MaryDenman

Recently, I realized that I've learned several life lessons from my cats. Especially our most recent additions. They were rescue kittens and I'm so blessed to have them. 

What could a couple of furry felines teach me? 

Let me count the ways and share how they apply to my life. 

I've learned:

1) That it feels great to have someone greet me at the door. Seriously, they come running when I get home. They are just so happy I'm back and want to see me. 

Monday's Musings: New Year's Resolution Check-up

by Mary Denman

Resilient flowers by Mary Denman Photography

So it's the middle of 2015, give or take a few days. How are your New Year's Resolutions going? Do you even remember what they are? 

Maybe you went the one word route. Instead of a lot of resolutions, you picked one word of focus for the year. 

This is what I did. 

My word? Overcome. 

But it hit me recently that I had almost forgotten my one word. That meant it was time for a mental check-up.

Monday's Musings: John Wooden Inspirational Quote

by Mary Denman

Mary Denman Photography

I love this John Wooden quote. 

Why? 

Because it challenges my thinking. 

I'm way too quick to do something part way, without planning or evaluating, and then say, "I can fix this later." 

Not a good plan. 

It creates more problems that way. I know. 

From personal experience.

Although at times, we think we're doing something right and it still gets away from us without realizing it.

Until life gets hard.

In either situation, there comes a time when we have to make the decision to get back on track. To do it over. 

Monday's Musings: When Grief Hits out of the Blue

by Mary Denman

A beautiful day at the beach....Mary Denman

You know what's hard about grief? Well, one of the many tough aspects anyway? 

Grief is hard because it can sneak up on you. When you least expect it. From out of the blue. 

Or, it seems like it's from out of the blue. 

But in retrospect, it may may eventually make sense. That doesn't take the pain away. But perspective will help you not feel like you're crazy or weak emotionally. That maybe there was a real reason for the grief to hit. 

Often, people, me included, liken grief to waves. They can wash over you, making you sputter and leaving you yearning to get back on the shore and out of the ocean of grief. But in the midst of the worst of grief, that just doesn't seem possible. 

But with time, it does get better. I know. I've lived it. 

Monday's Musings: Do What You Love, Love What You Do

by Mary Denman  @MaryDenman

Do what you love by Mary Denman Photography

We frequently hear the quote, "Do what you love, love what you do", but have we taken the time to really think about it? Is it true?

I think it's very profound.

Why?

Well, let me tell you about a journey I've been on. Not a physical journey, but on a life journey.

It's about photography.

I've enjoyed photography for years and years. I had a point and shoot that I used all through high school. Then, a Minolta X-700. I have tons of printed photos from the years of my children growing up. Well, 1,378,964 shots of my first born to be exact, and then it went downhill from there for my other 4 kids. My fifth child has about 26 newborn shots. Maybe. You know, I was a little busy.

Photo Tip Friday: Using Silhouettes in Photography, Part 2

by Mary Denman   @MaryDenman

Last week, I gave tips on how to use silhouettes in your photography. There will be a link at the bottom of today's post to view Part 1. 

Today, I'm going to go back over the same photos, but this time, listing: 

Time Value (Tv) - Shutter Speed
Aperture Value (Av) - Shutter Opening Size
ISO Value - Sensitivity of the Film

Why? So you can understand how to take these shots yourself. 

Let's get started. 

Photo Tip Friday: Using Silhouettes in Photography, Part 1

by Mary Denman     @MaryDenman

PHOTO 1: A church at sunset by Mary Denman Photography

There are so many ways to express or capture a feeling in particular moment. That's why I love the creativity of photography.


Today's technique can create wonderful mood in your shots. 

I want to teach you to use backlighting to create silhouettes.

Wordless Wednesday: Pet Portraits

by Mary Denman  @MaryDenman

Welcome back for Wordless Wednesday.

Join me on Fridays for photography tips! 

Last week was on 5 Tips for Taking Better Food Photos with a Cell Phone

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These are portraits my sister Elizabeth painted. 

She took photographs I've given her and created these paintings of our cats, Duke the First and Duke the Second, after they passed away.

The ones following Duke and Duke are other pet portraits she's done.  

I think she's phenomenally talented. 

She just started a few years ago and does watercolors, pastels and oils. 

Portrait in Memorial of Duke the First

Monday's Musings: While my Soldier Serves, Prayers for Military Families and Their Soldier

Today, I have the honor of sharing with you about my close friend Edie Melson and her new book, While My Soldier Serves,  that is to be released in May. I watched her walk through her son's two deployments to Iraq and can tell you that she lived what she writes about now. If you know anyone in the military, consider sharing this with their families. 

Edie Melson by Mary Denman Photography

Sowing Faith in the Hard Times Brings a Harvest of Joy

There are times when life is lived in the dark. The days are long and hard, and the rewards nonexistent. Everywhere we turn—inside and out—the landscape is bleak and barren. It’s times like these that only faith will get us through. There’s no proof we’re on the right path, no confirmation that God is at work. Often, even God Himself seems distant and unreachable.

I’ve been through those times—and come out on the other side. My time of darkness came when our oldest son was deployed to Iraq as a frontline infantry Marine. We don’t come from a military family, so everything about his choice to enlist was an opportunity for growth. Every step in his journey was a time of stretching for our family. Oh, don’t make the mistake of thinking we were disappointed in his choice. We were button-busting proud of our son’s willingness to serve.

But as his mother, I didn’t want to face the prospect of my son going off to war.

Wordless Wednesday: Reflections of A Day

by Mary Denman     @MaryDenman

Thanks for dropping by for Wordless Wednesday!

Join me on Friday for Photography Tips!

Last week was on using strong lines in your photos. View it here.

The week before was on using water in photography. View it here.

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Today's pictures are from one day while I was in Belfort, France. 

From some sun to snow! 

It was wonderful!! 

Join LINKY below!

Reflections of a churchy Mary Denman Photography

Photo Tip Friday: How do you use Portrait Versus Landscape Orientation? Part 1

by Mary Denman @MaryDenman

Landscape by Mary Denman Photography

Today's photo tip is Part 1 in learning to understand portrait and landscape orientations and how they affect your photography. There are rarely hard and fast rules in photography so it's good to understand the strengths of using each orientation. This will help decide how you compose your shots.

As you get to know more about how to use them, then you can experiment.


The first thing to understand is that landscape is also known as horizontal orientation.

Likewise, portrait orientation is also known as a vertical shot.

Monday's Musings - An Unusual Thankfulness

by Mary Denman    @MaryDenman

As Thanksgiving here in the states draws closer, lots of people are realizing they have much to be thankful for. 

I am, too. 

However, this year, my focus is a little different. I do want to be thankful and list the blessings in my life. 

But my Thanksgiving list isn't typical. You might even say it's a little unusual.