The whole world would be a happier place if it were always lightning bug season.
My mom bought them bug nets then it rained for four days. Four long days of no lightning bug sightings. Yesterday there was no rain and so we caught lightning bugs.
My boys are crazy awesome at catching lightning bugs in nets. I had no idea. It might be their secret superpower, that's how good they were at catching them. After some time in the front yard, we went in the backyard and let them catch lightning bugs until well past their bedtime. They loved it. We loved it. It was the next best thing to being a kid again.
I am sure none of you will be surprised by this picture of Alex. The only surprising part was there was no injury requiring band-aids.
This transition into full manual on my camera is a maddening process. The shot of Nate above? Exactly as I envisioned it in my head. I feel like the switch to manual is helping me create the shots I want to create but there are so many factors, so many dials to change, so much happening so fast!
What drives me crazy when I read other blogs is people show only awesome pictures and they talk about duds but never show duds. I am guilty of it too. I will take 100 pictures then show you one and you think I take good pictures. So time to be honest... here is an underexposed dud.
But I'm not just screwing them up that way! Here is an overexposed dud. Nate is practically glowing.
In general, switching to manual is improving my pictures significantly. I have DrewB's UNManual to thank for the awesome pointers that are making this transition much easier. If you are interested in photography, I would highly recommend checking out Momtog. Love this free resource!
(DrewB recently shot a wedding at the Athenaeum, the faculty club where I worked as a waitress at Caltech. If you want a glimpse into what my college campus looked like, check it out! I worked so many weddings there; it's simply gorgeous. And the pictures where the bridge and groom are kissing near a lamp post... that is in front of Page House, my fraternity.)
Back to the mommy blog... the pictures, they are improving. The life, it is still good. This kid, he cracks me up even when he exhausts me.
Don't leave any comments calling them fireflies or you are dead to me.
18 comments:
Well now you have to explain the difference between fireflies and lightning bugs. Nevermind, I'll just go Google it. And since I'm at work, I can't see the pictures. But I can't wait to look when I get home. :-)
Dude--they're the same thing! Why can't I call them fireflies?
There is no difference. But it's like calling soda "soda" or "pop". The correct terminology is soda. According to me.
Your boys' bug adventure sounds simply dreamy. Have they seen The Princess and the Frog? It features a whole swarm of lightning bugs (I do call 'em fireflies, but I understand your feelings on the matter) and one of the protagonists is a lightning bug.
I am really hoping for lots of lightning bugs at our weekend destination! We always had tons of them on my dad's land growing up, but not so much in the city. JTC will go crazy!
I was pretty much that excited to play with doodle bugs/Roly Polies last week, too.
I grew up with "soda" and "lightening bugs" too. Both other terms grate on me but particularly "pop". I don't know why that is - the weight that words carry. Some very common words such as "tasty",(almost couldn't write it),I find offensive to the ear.
Oh my gosh I have the same picture of Gavin with the net on his head! I guess it's just too tempting for a kid!
I'm so unhip I don't even know what a lightening bug looks like. And I wouldn't DARE call them fireflies. Hahahah.
Your photos are looking great. The great thing about over exposing a bit is you can fix it easy peesy in PS without unwanted noise like you get from underexposed ones.
I have never seen a lightning bug in my life. :(
We're heading up north this weekend, definitely going to keep my eyes open for lightning bugs! My girls saw two bunnies yesterday and you would have thought someone gave them a lifetime supply of M&M's they were so excited. Lightning bugs might put them over the edge.
Lightning bugs were one of my favorite things as a kid. Just depended on where we lived if they were there or not. So fun and what an awesome super power for the boys to have. Neighborhood heros in training. :)
Lightning bugs are one of the few things I miss about the midwest. We don't have them here and my girls don't understand why I thought it was fun to catch them when I was little. Guess what we'll be doing the next time we visit grandma and grandpa?
I don't think I've ever seen a lightning bug (or the other one) and I grew up calling it coke instead of soda or pop. My girls have fun with the lady bugs though!
I have been having exposure problems...since forever. Its nice to see that a pro like you has to try and try again too:)
I can't imagine life without FIREFLIES! They are such a part of my childhood and my girls adore them. I am so glad your boys got to enjoy them too! Love the pics! And thanks for the b-day wishes for Gracie. You are so sweet!
i have only ever seen them in upstate NY with tim and at first e thought we were hulicinating then we realized they were ligntning bugs (a lovely name, i should say). it would be my greatest joy to introduce the boys to the phenomenon. someday.
Uh-oh. I call them fireflies AND I am a pop person. But then again, I grew up in Buffalo NY and well we say funny things there.
How cute are they. Cam just discovered the joy of chasing and catching lightning bugs this weekend.
Not sure if you've picked yourself up one or not, but the book "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson is the best book out there when it comes to learning exposure and going manual. It's a best seller. There's even online courses based on the book. If you don't already have a copy, I highly recommend it. It's recommended by many pros as well.
By the way, here in Michigan, they're fireflies. And I swear as I type this now, my boys are watching Max & Ruby and Max is catching and calling them fireflies as well. LOL
You're boys are adorable. Looks like they had fun.
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