shannonblue photography

i've moved!

2010-11-10T16:31:00.000-08:00

Please update your bookmarks and readers: my blog has now moved to http://www.shannonblue.com. This is the last entry I will be posting here. Hope to see you over at the new site!

announcing...shannonblue.com

2010-11-05T09:43:00.001-07:00

I am very excited to share my new website with you! Please stop by shannonblue.com. I'm still doing some tinkering here and there, but I'd love to know what you think.

My new blog is located at my new website. Please update your bookmarks or RSS reader as soon I will no longer be updating this blog.

Also, to celebrate, I'm having a half-off sale in my Etsy shop. All single prints up to 11x14 or 12x12 are HALF PRICE! Tell all your friends, and hurry, because this won't last long.

flower power

2010-11-04T17:20:00.000-07:00

I love my macro lens.

I love the details it captures.

The things you might normally miss.

Plus I love Photoshop, for its ability to transform bright, gaudy colors into something more lucious.

photo safari

2010-10-24T01:23:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity recently to take part in the "photo safari" held by our local Mike's Camera at the Denver Zoo. They brought a bazillion different cameras, lenses, tripods - anything you could possibly imagine. And it was all free to try out. I was like a kid in a candy shop.

I got to try the 24-70mm lens that I've been coveting. Now I want it even more.

I also was able to test-drive a couple of full-frame cameras. It's probably not something I need, but it was fun to try.

But the big thrill was the enormous lenses that had stationed all over the zoo. I was able to just walk up, attach my camera, and click away.

With that 600mm lens I was able to get closer than I ever imagined.

My husband even played photographer and tried out some new equipment as well, while our kids indulged me and let me take lots of pics of them in addition to the animals. All in all it was a fun day. I look forward to the next photo safari in the spring!

happy weekend!

2010-10-15T16:30:00.000-07:00

I've so been enjoying this fall weather we've been having lately. Still warm during the day, but cool at night. And no real cold snaps yet so the leaves are hanging on...

Unlike last year at this time:

2011 calendar is here!

2010-10-11T12:39:00.000-07:00

My 2011 desk calendar is now available in my shop! This year I've included a handmade wooden base, perfect for displaying the unbound pages.

Each page is printed on cardstock, not photo paper, to ensure they won't curl throughout the year. And once the month is over, you can trim the bottom away for a perfect little square print to display however you like.

Find them here.

fall in bloom

2010-10-06T19:57:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite places to take photographs is the Botanic Gardens in Denver. Every season there is something fabulous to see, and this time of year is no exception.

air show

2010-09-28T23:13:00.000-07:00

My husband was very excited to go to the local air show this year to see all the airplanes up close. I was happy to have something different to photograph. Plus seeing my kids' smiling faces hanging out the cockpit of an enormous Air Force plane was priceless.

estes park

2010-09-27T16:08:00.000-07:00

These are just a few of the sights to be found in Estes Park, Colorado. I can never go home without buying some fudge at one of the family-run candy shops along Elkhorn Avenue.

jack

2010-09-18T13:31:00.000-07:00

Is it too early for him? This little cutie makes me smile.

starting them early

2010-09-15T10:38:00.000-07:00

I love that whenever my daughter sees a pretty flower, or in this case, a colorful moth, that she gets excited and asks me to take a picture. I can't wait until my kids are old enough for real cameras, so that I can see the world through their eyes.

happy weekend!

2010-09-10T14:45:00.001-07:00

My photography has been neglected these last few weeks. Hoping to change that soon. Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

day eighteen

2010-08-31T13:28:00.001-07:00

day seventeen

2010-08-29T07:32:00.001-07:00

day sixteen

2010-08-26T22:41:00.001-07:00

day fifteen

2010-08-25T21:08:00.001-07:00

day fourteen

2010-08-24T15:36:00.001-07:00

day thirteen

2010-08-23T14:58:00.001-07:00

day twelve

2010-08-19T20:25:00.001-07:00

day eleven

2010-08-18T16:07:00.000-07:00

day ten

2010-08-17T16:43:00.000-07:00

day nine

2010-08-16T15:34:00.000-07:00

every day no. 52

2010-08-16T08:47:00.001-07:00

left - Cassia Beck

right - shannonblue

Follow our blog here.

day eight

2010-08-13T16:04:00.001-07:00

day seven

2010-08-11T15:40:00.000-07:00

every day no. 51

2010-08-10T19:27:00.000-07:00

left - shannonblue

right - Cassia Beck

Follow our blog here.

day six

2010-08-10T17:23:00.001-07:00

day five

2010-08-09T16:32:00.000-07:00

day four

2010-08-06T16:37:00.000-07:00

My weekends have been crammed with fun stuff before the summer ends. I'll be back on Monday with day five of my August Break. Have a wonderful weekend, wherever you are!

day three

2010-08-05T16:56:00.000-07:00

day two

2010-08-04T14:39:00.000-07:00

day one, august break

2010-08-03T16:30:00.000-07:00

Today is the third day of August, but my first day of participating in the August Break. I simply want to upload a picture a day for the month of August - nothing too special or too fussy, no hard-set rules, not necessarily taken on that day. Just a day from the month. Probably not even every single day. Hopefully I'll be able to look back and remember how I spent the last days of this beautiful summer.

Check out some of the other August breakers here.

every day no. 50

2010-08-02T07:49:00.001-07:00

left - Cassia Beck

right - shannonblue

Follow our blog here.

sunshine-y

2010-07-30T13:22:00.000-07:00

After burning through my first pack of film, and half-way through my second, this is my first Polaroid shot that I truly love.

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

my neighbors' flowers

2010-07-30T12:51:00.000-07:00

Some of my favorite photos have been shots taken of my neighbors' small flower gardens. They probably think I'm crazy out there laying flat-out on the sidewalk taking close up shots of what looks like dead flowers. But sometimes they result in shots like this (one of my favorites):

I took a few more this week, I'll share a couple:

I have a small patch of flowers myself, and I've taken lots of pictures of them as well, but I love having a bit more variety just steps away from my own front door.

every day no. 49

2010-07-26T07:45:00.000-07:00

left - shannonblue

right - Cassia Beck

Follow our blog here.

happy weekend!

2010-07-23T16:25:00.000-07:00

I came across this on a walk recently. Apparently the cows in this field (who weren't there when we visited) have all been trained to eat weeds rather than grass. They're more nutritious for the cows and the native grasses are given a better opportunity to grow, increasing the biodiversity of plants, insects, birds, and other wildlife, as well as improvements in the soil. Who knew you could train a cow?

Have a great weekend!

open

2010-07-23T13:33:00.000-07:00

blowin' in the wind

2010-07-22T20:23:00.000-07:00

every day no. 48

2010-07-19T08:41:00.000-07:00

left - Cassia Beck

right - shannonblue

Follow our blog here.

happy weekend!

2010-07-16T21:29:00.000-07:00

I found these little chamomile flowers in a garden planted by students at our local school. Each class had their own section in the garden. I think these belonged to the 3rd graders.

Have a wonderful weekend!

sunny side up

2010-07-15T16:58:00.000-07:00

I can't tell you how much I love my macro lens. Shooting macro opens up a whole new world of subjects and textures. I love how I can break something down into it's most basic elements and reveal the details you may have missed otherwise, like these little yellow flowers within the flower. I'm a sucker for a good macro shot. Are you?

every day no. 47

2010-07-12T08:06:00.000-07:00

left - shannonblue

right - Cassia Beck

Follow our blog here.

happy weekend!

2010-07-09T15:43:00.000-07:00

I need to spend this weekend clearing out my hard drive so that I can fit more photos! I think I'll manage some fun time in there too. Have a great weekend, everyone!

every day no. 46

2010-07-05T08:31:00.001-07:00

left - Cassia Beck

right - shannonblue

Follow our blog here.

abstract

2010-07-05T08:30:00.000-07:00

every day no. 45

2010-06-28T09:32:00.000-07:00

left - shannonblue

right - Cassia Beck

Follow our blog here.

hello, summer

2010-06-22T09:57:00.000-07:00

To celebrate the start of summer, I'm having a sale.

Buy any print in my shop and receive any print of equal/lesser value absolutely free. Now through Sunday, June 27.

I hope you are enjoying your summer so far!

every day no. 44

2010-06-21T07:40:00.000-07:00

left - Cassia Beck

right - shannonblue

Follow our blog here.

balloons

2010-06-16T18:27:00.000-07:00

I have so many images from the hot air balloon festival that I attended recently that I want to share. It was such a glorious day. We got there just after sunrise when many of the teams were already laying out their balloons and starting to fill them.

The first time I went, I imagined a roped off area where they would prepare while we watched from a distance. Nope! Everyone is right in the middle of everything. It offered some great views as the balloons took off to the west toward the Rockies.

I'm offering several images as a series in my Etsy shop. I think they look great grouped together.

I plan on adding more to Etsy this week. Hot air balloon overload. You can also see more on my flickr stream.

every day no. 43

2010-06-14T17:08:00.000-07:00

left - Cassia Beck

right - shannonblue

Follow our blog here.

take only pictures...

2010-06-10T22:10:00.000-07:00

Take only pictures. Leave nothing but footprints. Kill nothing but time.
~Motto of the Baltimore Grotto

With the exception of 2 1/2 years in Rhode Island, I spent my childhood living all along the Gulf coast. You see, my dad worked on the oil rigs. I was born in southwest Louisiana (practically Texas). We moved to Rhode Island, Florida, back to Rhode Island, back to southwest Louisiana, then Texas. When I was 13 we moved to a tiny town in southeast Louisiana named Cut Off. Bayou Lafourche runs through the small string of towns that make up Lafourche parish.

I remember my first night when we moved there. I couldn't sleep. I could hear the tug boats blowing their fog horns signalling to the pontoon bridge operator to open the bridge over the bayou so the boat could pass. It was bizarre. This was not like any place I had lived before. Everyone had crazy Cajun accents and names I couldn't pronounce. They ate weird food and everyone was related to everyone else. I was a complete outsider.

After living there for 5 years (longest ever in one place for me at the time!) I decided it was the most backwards place I'd ever lived, but it I was proud to call it home. These were the most kind and welcoming people I'd ever met. To this day when people ask me where I'm from, I tell them I'm from a little bayou town south of New Orleans...

So you probably see where I'm going with this. My heart aches for the people down there. Their livelihoods depend on the Gulf. This oil spill is devastating. It's horrible to see what's happening with the wildlife, but the ramifications reach much farther.

I wasn't sure what I could do to help, little old me with my camera out here in Colorado. But some wonderful people have put together a shop on Etsy where all proceeds will be donated to charities to help in the recovery. Independent Etsy sellers from all over, including myself, have donated a variety of items for the collective shop. If you would like to donate to a great cause and get a little something for yourself in the process, please be sure to check out HelpTheGulfCoast on Etsy. My print can be found here, but there are a lot of great items to choose from with several more being posted as fast as they can post them.

every day no. 42

2010-06-08T10:27:00.000-07:00

left - Cassia Beck

right - shannonblue

Follow our blog here.

have a great weekend!

2010-06-04T20:56:00.000-07:00

We've got some family fun planned for this weekend. Plus I want to get caught up on some photo processing - good things to come! What do you have planned?

what's new

2010-06-04T20:53:00.000-07:00

I'm now offering photo greeting cards, available with your choice of photo.

The card will also fit a 5x7 frame, for a pre-matted mini-print. See my shop listing for more details.

recent and random

2010-06-02T22:30:00.000-07:00

I've been really backed up on processing photos. I have this OCD need to do them in the order they were taken. I made a bit of progress over the last week. Here are some of my most recent random images:

every day no. 41

2010-06-01T09:46:00.001-07:00

left - shannonblue

right - Cassia Beck

Follow our blog here.

have a wonderful long weekend!

2010-05-28T17:12:00.000-07:00

I plan to spend lots of time outside having fun. Hope you are too!

wait

2010-05-26T21:45:00.000-07:00

"this is the center of the universe at this moment unless you're looking in another direction, or are thinking about something from a long time ago, in which case it will wait quietly right here until you return"

~StoryPeople

high school :: miss match week 8

2010-05-25T07:49:00.000-07:00

top - Mandy Bryant

bottom - shannonblue

every day no. 40

2010-05-24T07:05:00.001-07:00

left - shannonblue

right - Cassia Beck

Follow our blog here.

happy weekend!

2010-05-21T21:11:00.000-07:00

I'll leave you with this image from a recent outing to the local botanic gardens. Hoping for some more bea-u-tiful weather again this weekend!

inspired by sharon montrose

2010-05-20T16:19:00.000-07:00

This video has been around for a while, but I wanted to share for those of you who haven't seen it. I love animals, I love photography - this is my dream job. Unfortunately I have a hard time taking a picture of my own dog who loves and adores me, so I'll leave it to Sharon Montrose.

I love hearing how she came to be where she is today: "from a series of complete and total failures." We can all relate. She tried other more traditional photography routes but finally found what she truly enjoyed when she began photographing dogs. Now she's shooting high profile ad campaigns for companies like Friskies and Target as well as her own personal animal series.

When I saw this baby giraffe print on 20x200 today, I just had to get it. Giraffes are the theme in my little girl's room, and this will be the perfect addition. Isn't it cute? Sharon Montrose also has a shop on Etsy featuring more of the same giraffe, pigs, lambs, a basset hound, you name it. I'm totally inspired by her work.

(All images by Sharon Montrose.)

every day no. 39

2010-05-17T08:31:00.000-07:00

left - Cassia Beck

right - shannonblue

Follow our blog here.

forsythia

2010-05-17T08:25:00.001-07:00

isolation :: miss match week 7

2010-05-15T09:51:00.000-07:00

left - me

right - The Camera's Eye/Michelle Anderson

Check out the other images this week for Miss Match, the fPOE diptych project.

happy weekend!

2010-05-14T17:18:00.001-07:00

every day no. 38

2010-05-10T08:01:00.000-07:00

left - Cassia Beck

right - shannonblue

Follow our blog here.

happy weekend!

2010-05-07T16:51:00.000-07:00

Especially all the mamas out there!!!

air :: miss match week 6

2010-05-07T10:24:00.000-07:00

left - Morgan Kendall

right - me

This was my first week participating in Miss Match, the fPOE diptych project. I look forward to playing again soon!

'roid week

2010-05-05T15:32:00.000-07:00

Polaroid week is here! It's a "bi-annual celebration of all things instant." I remember seeing all the images from last year's Polaroid week. It was then that I decided I wanted a Polaroid of my own. I got my SX-70 a little while ago, but I haven't had much of a chance to play with it. In the meantime, I'm truly enjoying seeing what everyone else is sharing. If you have some time to spend, be sure to check it out. Here's a peek:

1. ., 2. Untitled, 3. Untitled, 4. ., 5. tuesday**, 6. engage, 7. “I don't think of all the misery, but of all the beauty that still remains”, 8. Signpost., 9. Untitled

every day no. 37

2010-05-03T16:52:00.000-07:00

left - Cassia Beck

right - shannonblue

Follow our blog here.

spring sale!

2010-04-27T09:30:00.000-07:00

Just in time for Mother's Day! Now through Sunday, May 2, buy any print from my shop up to 11x14 or 12x12 and get a second print of equal/lesser value absolutely free. Just indicate in the message to seller what free print you would like and the size. Valid on prints only.

every day no. 36

2010-04-26T07:13:00.000-07:00

left - Cassia Beck

right - shannonblue

Follow our blog here.

fresh and clean

2010-04-23T16:39:00.000-07:00

You may have noticed, I've been revamping my blog. I wanted to make it a little more simple, more fresh. I've updated my etsy as well and have started adding room images to help visualize what my prints may look like on display. I only wish I could do the same to my own house.

Hope you like...

in bloom

2010-04-22T15:33:00.000-07:00

The tulips have started poking their heads out around here - one of my favorite times of year. After such a long winter, the flowering trees are a welcome sight with their fluffy white and pale pink blooms, but the bright colors of the tulips are what really make me happy.

every day no. 35

2010-04-19T08:05:00.000-07:00

left - Cassia Beck

right - shannonblue

Follow our blog here.

happy friday!

2010-04-16T13:37:00.000-07:00

This nicer weather we've been having got me thinking about all the fun things we can do this summer. This shot is from a hot air balloon festival last May that was amazing! Hoping we get good weather for it again this year.

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

peachy

2010-04-13T09:17:00.000-07:00

New prints added!

every day no. 34

2010-04-12T10:26:00.000-07:00

left - Cassia Beck

right - shannonblue

Follow our blog here.

photo blocks

2010-04-12T10:23:00.000-07:00

I'm happy to offer these new photo blocks in my etsy shop. Each block measures 5" square, 1 3/4" deep. The photo is adhered to a block of poplar that has been sanded to a smooth finish, stained a dark walnut color or a natural finish, and sealed. I'm working on offering smaller sizes as well - please contact me if you are interested in a different size.

every day no. 33

2010-04-06T16:34:00.000-07:00

left - shannonblue

right - Cassia Beck

Follow our blog here.

refrigerator art

2010-04-06T16:31:00.000-07:00

I'm now offering magnets in my Etsy shop. Aren't they cute? Each magnet measures 1 1/4" square, 3/8" deep. Select any print from my shop to be made into one of these fun little magnets.

diptych projects

2010-04-06T11:18:00.000-07:00

If you like the every day project, here are a couple other diptych projects that you may be interested in. The partnerships in both Miss Match and the Divine Diptych Project are selected at random every week, with multiple pairs participating. It's a great source of inspiration. Below is a sampling - be sure to check them out. And click on each image to find out more about the talented photographers behind them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

every day no. 32

2010-03-29T08:56:00.000-07:00

left - shannonblue

right - Cassia Beck

Follow our blog here.

every day no. 31

2010-03-22T15:04:00.000-07:00

left - shannonblue

right - Cassia Beck

Follow our blog here.

they tell me it's spring...

2010-03-20T15:50:00.000-07:00

...but I wouldn't know it by looking around here. Today we built an enormous snowman, the biggest I've ever built. And by we I mean my husband. I added the mouth, but that's about where my contribution ended. I was more busy keeping my toddlers on their feet.

Anyway, back to my original point. It's spring! To celebrate I'd like to share with you by offering a

free 5x5 or 5x7 with any print purchase

from my Etsy shop. And on top of that I just added a set of new prints that I really love. They have my favorite orangey yellows and orangey reds. Hope you like them too!

inspired by cassia

2010-03-17T08:23:00.000-07:00

Oh the colors! That's what first drew me in to Cassia's stream. Colors like candy. And the nostalgia. Cassia seems to find the most wonderful subjects for her photographs and turn them into something truly special so that they seem to come from a different era. And the shoes! She has the best shoes. :) I'm happy to be inspired by her.
CassiaBeck *Lola's Room * flickr * blog

she's a rainbow!

2010-03-15T10:07:00.000-07:00

She's a Rainbow is the first book created by members of the Female Photographers of Etsy (fPOE). Featuring the work of 58 female photographers (myself included), the book is 256 pages long and arranged by chromatically, so each color blends into the next. It's gorgeous!
Preview/purchase it here. And as a bonus, blurb is offering free shipping until March 22nd! :)
USD $ promo code: NEXTSHIP
GBP £ promo code: NEXTSHIP2
EUR € promo code: NEXTSHIP3

every day no. 30

2010-03-15T09:31:00.001-07:00

left - shannonblue

right - Cassia Beck

Follow our blog here.

every day no. 29

2010-03-08T10:12:00.000-08:00

left - Cassia Beck

right - shannonblue

Follow our blog here.
I just realized we're more than halfway through our collaboration. I will miss it when it's done, but it has been getting more difficult to come up with subject matter. I'd love to hear your suggestions for future weeks!

and the winner is...

2010-03-08T10:10:00.000-08:00

Congrats to damiec, the winner of my birthday giveaway! I'll be in touch.

happy birthday to me = giveaway for you

2010-03-04T15:43:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was my birthday. I had a great time celebrating with my family, stuffing my face with yummy cake, getting some photography goodies and other goodies, and just being happy to be around another year.

I want to celebrate with all of you by doing a giveaway! Up for grabs is an 8x8 or 8x10 print of your choice. There are a few different ways you can enter; each will give you another chance to win:

Leave me a comment here on my blog (sorry, Facebook comments will not count) telling me which is your favorite print from my shop.
Become a fan on Facebook then come back here and comment that you did.
Follow me on Twitter then come back here and comment that you did.
Tell your friends about this giveaway (Facebook, Twitter, blog, whatever floats your boat) and come back here and comment that you did.

Giveaway ends Sunday night 11:59pm MST.

And here's some of that yummy cake I told you about. If you were all closer, I'd give you each a piece. :)

every day no. 28

2010-03-01T09:12:00.001-08:00

left - Cassia Beck

right - shannonblue

Follow our blog here.

published

2010-02-27T16:38:00.000-08:00

I got these in the mail today. It's my first time seeing my work in print - a catalog for a book publisher.

Very cool feeling. :)

win a print!

2010-02-27T09:05:00.000-08:00

The Novelista Barista is hosting a giveaway of one of my prints on her blog. Be sure to check it out! All you need to do is comment on her blog with your favorite print from my Etsy shop and it could be yours.

This one was just added this morning:

sweet giveaway!

2010-02-25T08:50:00.000-08:00

For all my fellow photographers... Bloom Workshops is having a birthday. And to celebrate they are doing some amazing giveaways this week. Check it out.

every day no. 27

2010-02-23T09:06:00.000-08:00

left - Cassia Beck

right - shannonblue

Follow our blog here.

happy friday!

2010-02-19T15:30:00.000-08:00

This one is from last year. It's still snowing here now!

every day no. 26

2010-02-15T08:05:00.000-08:00

left - Cassia Beck

right - shannonblue

Follow our blog here.