I have sat down three times today to write a blog post.  Every time I start to write - I write 3 sentences and then draw a blank about my thoughts or feelings about the subject I just wrote about...  So maybe today it will come together and I'll have a meaningful post?  Maybe?

Exposure is all about light.  It can make or break your photo. 

The quality of light produced by a light source, the amount reflected towards the camera, the light passed by the lens, the amount of time the shutter is open, sensitivity of the sensor all work together to produce an exposure.

Metering 

(Comparing to Nikon D90)
Matrix - Slices the frame into 420 different zones - in 10 rows of 42 colums.  Matrix is used for general subjects. 
Center - Weighted Metering - The exposure meter reads a zone around 8 mm in diameter in the center of the frame to calculate exposure.  "The main subject will be located in the center."  It is best used for portraits, architectural, backlit with bright backgrounds (snow or sand).  Also, close-ups of flowers and subjects.
Spot - 3.5 percent of image.  To base on a small area in the frame.

Correct exposure is one of the foundations of good photography, along with accurate focus and sharpness, appropriate color balance, freedom from unwanted noise and excessive contrast, as well as a pleasing composition.

These next couple of days and this next week is really really sad and depressing to me.  September 23, 1993 my grandfather (A)  passed away.  I was very very close to him.  I was only 13 and was devastated.   September the 25 would have been my grandmother's birthday.  A very special lady - a very special grandma.  She passed away two years ago two days before Thanksgiving.  September 30 would have been my cousin's 35 birthday she passed away two years ago on October 6.  October 11 would have been my other grandfather's (B)  birthday who also passed away 6 years ago.  It's a very sad time around this time.  People who I have loved dearly is gone. 

My grandmother would always make breakfast when I come over to spend the night.  She would let me sit on her counter and eat flour straight from the tin.  She was the best grandmother in the world because mom would never let me do that!  Every time I would visit she would always give me a dollar before I would leave and I always thought I was rich every time I would leave her house.  I can remember her sweet smell of perfume, the pink lipstick she wore and the way her soft fluffy curled hair felt.  The way she kinda humped over when she walked.  The way she said my dad's name and pronounced perm "permanent."  I miss you mamaw R.

Grandfather A - I used to love taking trips in your truck.  I barely remember the time before you became paralyzed.  I was so young when it happened.  I do remember the day you fell off that barn and how I thought you shouldn't have been working that day.  I remember your hats.  You never went with out a hat.  I remember your thin button up shirts and the way the buttons felt and how they looked.  I remember you bought me that horse and then mamaw was afraid we would get hurt so you sold it.  I remember your hugs and your cologne.  It was always so strong but I didn't care.  I remember your smile - it would light up a room from a mile away.  I miss you pap.

Grandfather B - I remember your singing, your tapping, your jollyness.  You could meet a friend any where you went.  There was never a stranger.  The way you said hola doll every time I would see you.  The way you would lick your lips when they would get dry.  The westerns you always watched.  The way you would hold your hands and the way your wedding ring looked on your finger.  The funny jokes that I never got or that were really not that funny but you would laugh and laugh and laugh.  I miss you Papaw R.

Amy - There is not a day that goes by I don't think of you in some way or some form.  It was to early for you to go.  It was never expected.  You were suppose to get better.  All the times I wish I had of spent more time with you.  All the times you wanted me to come over but I didn't.  You were just starting your life.  I remember I looked up to you.  You were beautiful.  You were sweet and kind.  I remember the time when you first got your car and I sneaked a ride with you in your convertible.  We played the music really really loud, we sung to the top of our lungs and we went cruising.  If mom only had known I would have been in big trouble.  When I was down you would always know how to make me feel better.  The way you laughed, the way you sung, the way your eyes looked.  I can still here your voice as if your right beside me.  I miss you Amy.

We are only here for a little while...

Yesterday I went out with my mom to the doctor's office.  I had been with her before and I loved the scenery.  It was absolutely amazing to be a hospital.  I took along my camera hoping we would stop at various places along the way or on the way back home.  I didn't think once about taking it to the hospital that was never my intent.  But when we got there I started having uneasy feelings about leaving my camera in the car - in the trunk or not.  As we sat in the office I kept squirming in my seat knowing that my camera was out in the car so finally I went out to go get it.  I came back in and moments later mom went back to go see the doctor.  I picked up my things and went out on a search to maybe photograph something interesting.  I went out to the little garden they had in the middle of the hospital - I fell in love with the fountain.  Here are some of the photos I took of the garden.

The flower was so sparkly!!

All-of-a-sudden I here beautiful music coming from inside.  I knew there was a piano in there but I went to go see just what was going on.  A older man was playing.  Ohhhh how I wanted to take his photo.  Ohhhh how I wanted to video tape him.  I went over to the furthest point and sat on a bench and watched.  I watched as his fingers moved across the keys.  As his body changed posture with every other key stroke.   His glasses and music list on top of the piano.  Everything was fascinating to me.  Ohhhh how I itched in my seat to be right over there with him taking his photo.  I know I sat over there for at least 30 minutes trying to decide if I would ask him or not.  My brain was saying, "All these people in the lobby are going to think your crazy.  Who cares if they think I'm crazy."  "What if he says no?  Well, there's also a good chance he will say yes."  What if What if What if?  Then in my head I heard, "April, your being a wuss just get up and ask him - all he could say was no...."  Ok ok alright....  So the lobby man got up to ask him a question and I saw my perfect opportunity.  I raced as fast as I could with out being noticeable over to him and tapped him on the shoulder.  Sir, would you mind if I took your photo while you play?  "Say what?"  Would you mind if I took your picture as you play?  "Well, do you have a camera?"  Yes, I do.  "Why sure!!"  Shewwwwwwwwwww  the hard part was over!!  So I got all set up and I was hovering over him like a hawk in the sky.  I must have seemed crazy to all the rest but HEY - I'm a photographer and us photographers do crazy things right?  I later found out his name is Bill Justice.  I beautiful piano player.  Here is his photos.  Didn't turn out quite like I would have wanted them to but here they are...

Trying to capture his image in the piano.

I also made a video - if your my friend on facebook you can view - I just can't upload it here with out going through youtube and I'd rather not.  Hope you enjoyed my adventure!!

Wow...  I'm just sitting here thinking about weird stuff and maybe things I shouldn't be thinking about or maybe because it's too early and I can't sleep but for what ever reason this popped in my head.  WE ALL NEED TO BE LOVED!!!!! 

When this popped in my head it made me think about a book I read in college.  "The 5 Love Languages" by:  Gary Coleman.  It got me thinking...  I can't remember what love language I was back then but here and now my love language is "words of affirmation."  My second is physical touch, third is quality time, forth is acts of service and the last is receiving gifts.  Everyone is different.  Everyone has their language.  Today I might just study the book since I haven't read it since college. 

On a funny note watch the video below - I did something similar in "college" at MCGC.

What if your love language was Words of Affirmation and your partner, your family, your friends never said I love you, your beautiful, your awesome?  What if you were Physical Touch and they  never touched you and I don't mean sexual - I meant hold hands, hug, kiss?  What if you were Quality Time and they never wanted quality time actually face to face time?  Or what if you were Acts of Service and they never helped you do anything?  Or they broke commitment time and time again?  Or if you were Receiving Gifts and you never ever once got a special gift, thank you card, your appreciated?  How would that make you feel?  Would you want to stick around?  Would you seek else where?  Just thoughts for the day.  You can take your own special love language test at the bottom of this post to see what love language you are. :)  Have a wonderful day!!

I didn't have faith in my self....  I didn't have the confidence...  But I had determination.  Determination was the key.  I knew I wanted something.  Passing over it time and time again.  I've had this picture for I know a good two years?  Maybe?  I knew it was a good photo but there was a problem.  A very big problem.  A spoon smack dab in the middle.  I know Photoshop but sometimes I find it intimidating.  5 million ways to do one single thing and it feels like your standing in the middle of a candy store and all you know is you want something sweet.  Choices, Choices...  I had a fellow photographer backing me and helping me through.  What drove me to press on was the support.  Yes April, you can do this.  I thank you for that.  So now on to the picture - it's not the best and I didn't say it would be but I know I did my best and that's what counts.

I finally put up so photos in my "April's Photos" tab!!  Check them out :)

Every one is so moody today and have their attitudes brightly shining.  I had someone earlier bite my head off just because I asked one simple question.  As I scroll through the news feeds in facebook another sign of people's moodiness.  Is it a full moon?  It's crazy. 

On another note I'm seriously itching to get out of my house and go on a photo shoot somewhere, somehow, someway....  ?? 

Sorry I have been neglecting my blog....  My web site...  things in general.  I've had lack of interest, busy, and other things on my plate.

I have woke my self up many times tonight with intense pain in my neck.  This last time I woke myself I was intense intense pain so bad I was crying out in a moan.  I can't remember a time sleeping all night with out any pain.  Or a day that has went by I don't have pain.  What is wrong with my neck?  It's all I can do to sit straight to type out this message.  I am leaning to the right in pain I can't describe.  I'm being to think I need to see a doctor but I really can't afford to.