Flooding in Northern NSW!

We spent a lovely long weekend in Coffs Harbour last weekend but we unfortunately seem to be a jinx lately with the Brisbane floods in January and now the flooding down south, friends and family should avoid inviting us anywhere as we seem to bring bad weather where ever we go!  So even though it rained all weekend it was lovely catching up with David's parents and the kids loved spending quality time with their Oma and Opa!

Most of the time was spent relaxing and we did manage to visit a couple of garage sales and fit in an hour at keggel 9-pin bowling, which is similar to ten pin but a lot more relaxed no change of shoes required, so disappointed those gorgeous bowling shoes are so attractive lol!

We travelled home on Monday hoping to get home in time for Amber's ballet lesson but unfortunately we spent two hours stuck in traffic at Corindi which is half way between Coffs Harbour and Grafton because of flooding over the highway, so even though we didn't make it back in time for ballet, we are counting our lucky stars as they closed the highway the next day, so our long weekend nearly turned into a two week holiday!  Thankfully David parents are fine a little water logged I am sure but at least they are high and dry!

Camera in the city!

Wow, we finally had our last photography lesson in the City, so we were all packed into our Teacher Andi's van and off to the bright Brisbane lights!  We had such a wonderful night and like he promised us.................we would not want to leave!  A good time was had by all and it was nice to put all the theory finally into practise!  I would highly recommend Andrew's classes either through Stafford Heights community adult education if you are lucky enough to live in Brisbane and he also runs classes from his website here at http://www.photoslamour.com they are very well priced and he really breaks things down into simple terms, so if someone like me can do it anyone can!  Plus he backs this all up with free support after you have finished the course, just brilliant!

Please don't take my amateur photos as proof though, a lot of practise is still required like anything good I suppose takes commitment and patience and a lot of practise!  But at least now I feel I have the ability and know how to begin on this amazing adventure and what a thrill that is!

Now I am busting to head back into the city to practise some more!

Same shot below taken three times but playing around with the white balance changes the accent on the colours!  I can't believe something this simple can change the look of a photo this much!

My new camera!

Well after along time drooling over slr cameras and reading other inspirational blogs filled with the most breathtaking photos, my husband has finally given me the best present I could ever ask for, my very own canon slr 600D, I will probably spend the next couple of years without any presents, but I don't care as this is the best present ever and every time I turn it on it feels like Christmas to me anyway!

So after two months and one adult education class(I kind of know my way around the camera when placed on manual), I feel I can finally unleash myself on the world, well my little pocket of the world anyway!  I am taking my teachers advice and trying to practise, practise, practise and I am trying my hardest not to use the automatic button any more!  I am sure there will be times lol!  I still have a lot to learn and I am not sure how long it takes to get to that point where you feel as one with the came but I am going to give it a good go, even if I drive my two year old crazy pointing the camera at him all the time and dragging him to every corner of the world looking for fun locations!

It is so lovely to have a passion for something again, it seems like such a long time ago that I felt this excited about something, something just for me!  Now I have to try and live up to all my hype, hopefully, and the biggest reason for wanting the camera is so I can take photos of my gorgeous children to cherish in years to come, even if they tell me to go away!!!!!