Super Moon

I drove towards the North Skunk River last night, hoping to find a landscape that would be nice for moon rise images, and chose a level C road south of Lynnville, IA. I expected the moon to rise straight East, and was somewhat disappointed when it was too cloudy to see its first peak over the horizon, when it is the biggest and brightest. Instead, there was a break in the sky where it appeared underneath a cloud, and much further southeast.

I have trouble with my camera in low light.  I'm wondering if it is because it is a mid-level DSLR, and produces quite a bit of noise in dark areas of images (the pixel-y dark areas. I find myself wondering if I'm demanding more than it can handle.  Even with nice lenses.  A full frame sensor would have been clearer, I think.  Jumping from a mid-level to a professional-level camera would require more cash then I'm ready to spend right now.  I need to be sure I'm pushing the equipment I have as far as it will go to earn that.

Sometimes I wonder if I'm trying to do the job of a 2500 truck with a Chevy Luv.

It would be fun to put my lenses on a full frame camera to see what results I get. 

Tulip Time 2012

 {Above image taken of the square in Pella during April, when the tulips were in bloom}

This time of year I start getting hungry for Tulip Time food - funnel cake, spiced beef on a stick, ribeye sandwhich, and the Asian food booth on the west side of the square in Pella.  The first year back in Iowa it was fun to introduce Brian to Tulip Time food, since he claims Orange City Tulip Time isn't anything like Pella's, and it wasn't really a part of the tradition each year like it was for me.  We look forward each year taking our family, enjoying the festival, and being a part of the community.

He does claim that he went on a date with someone who was the Tulip Queen in Orange City.  Funny thing is, every time I ask him what his memories are of Orange City Tulip Time, that is the only thing he can come up with.  It could be that it is the only thing I remember him saying too.  That is probably the case.

We are looking forward to watching the Tulip Time parade tonight in Pella, IA.  They usually start right before dark, so our kids will be in "crazy because its past bed time" mode.  They will love the bands, lighted floats, candy being thrown, and of course ask lots and lots of questions about everything.

After walking a bit from food stand to food stand, maybe meeting old friends who are also usually in the throws of keeping track of their kids, we'll grab coffee and find a spot to sit that gives us good access to the street to grab candy, and gracious neighbors who don't mind rowdy boys.  Neither of us grew up dressing up in dutch costumes, so we haven't really gotten into that tradition with our kids, though it would be very cute to get pictures of them dressed up in the future.  Probably should work on that before they get too old and protest.

And just in case they go on a date with a Tulip Queen in the future. 

I'll point out the "Future Queens" float to Ezra tonight and see what he says. 

Like me, he's probably more worried about eating good food.

Contentment

Learn to like what doesn’t cost much.

Learn to like reading, conversation, music.

Learn to like plain food, plain service, plain cooking.

Learn to like fields, trees, woods, brooks,fishing, hiking and exploring.

Learn to like life for its own sake.

Learn to like work and enjoy the satisfaction of doing your job as well as it can be done.

Learn to like the song of birds, the companionship of dogs, and laughter and gaiety of children.

Learn to like gardening, carpentering,  puttering around the house and lawn, and being creative.

Learn to like the sunrise and sunset, the sound of the rain on the roof and wind and the gentle fall of snow on a winter day.

Learn to keep your wants simple. 

Refuse to be owned and anchored by things and opinions of others.

Lean above all, to make God the most important part of your life.


About a year ago I found this poem at my Aunt Julie's house, hanging by her kitchen sink.  I copied it and took it home, and hung it near my kitchen sink for a few months, then on my bathroom mirror, and then I brought it to my desk to do something more with it, to give it a little more life, and maybe make it easier to remember. 

{Click on to enlarge}


I could not find the original author, only that it was on the back of an obituary many years ago, though Aunt Julie's mom, who owns Camp Creation near Leighton, IA, changed some phrases in it.

I posted this poem on my blog about a year ago, and got responses from friends who really appreciated it.  So I thought some might enjoy reading it again.

I've been collecting things I find on contentment over the past year, but was impacted by one line in worship last week Sunday.  During the responsive reading of The Law, the congregation spoke, "We will be content through any circumstance, because of the strength of Christ with in us."

As a response to the tenth commandment, "Thou Shall Not Covet," we committed to being content.  And then I thought of this poem again, and pulled it out of the folder I had filed it in.

We're Back

I have taken a break from my blog. A nearly three month break, and I'm back.  I took some extra time to invest in other areas like photography, reading, and organizing my home for a once-every-five-years type of garage sale that was successful. 

Here are a few images that capture just a handful of moments during the past three months.

Unseasonable warm weather during March was a gift for our family of need-to-go-outside-all-the-time boys (and mom).  We went fishing.

 

I went on a Spring Break trip to serve in DesMoines with our youth group. Brian stayed home with the kids.

 

I photographed a very precious girl turning one.

 

We picked wild daffodils with cousins on an abandoned farm in the woods.

 

We helped organize the seed shed with Grandpa in the warm March weather, and asked a thousand times when it would be warm enough to swim in the farm pond.

 

I photographed a little man who had stunning red hair under this pilot hat.

 

Took pictures on Easter morning on the church lawn.

I purchased a new lens for Real Estate photography, and practiced on one of my favorite worship spaces in Pella.  I hope to photograph worship spaces more, and create a collection of images of church architecture over the next years.  The course I most enjoyed in seminary was called, Music and the Arts in Christian Worship, where we studied how space speaks our theology, and understanding of God.

Then photographed the Holiday Inn Express and Suites in Sioux City, IA for my first professional Real Estate photography session.  This hotel is beautiful. For more images of this hotel, see the "IOWA REAL ESTATE" section of my website at www.beckyochsnerphotography.com 

Real Estate photography is especially useful when space needs to sell, for hospitality venues, selling homes, and commercial properties as well.  I've always enjoyed architecture, and have done a lot of reading and research about photographing space.

We did some off-roading.

Photographed my niece, who was three months old. 

 Ended a lot of church programming, like coffee break, 412 youth group, and home builders, opening up a little more free family time.  This is our end of the year party with homebuilders. 

 Took pictures of the tulips in Pella while they were nice.  Zach is checking out the Molengraght.

And we survived my husband's back going out a few weeks ago.  I didn't take any pictures of it.  But you can imagine it wasn't fun at all.  We were glad to see the wheel chair go.  Though I think the boys would have enjoyed it becoming a ride on toy for the church drive way.  We gave it back.

And so, just a handful of things that have been happening.  I did turn 29 years old a few weeks ago.  And Elliot reminded me that even though it was my birthday, HIS birthday was next! 

Field Work

The sunshine has been good for getting outside with our family.  The winter has been so mild.  Ezra is certain summer is just around the corner because, "the snow is melting." 

We rode with Unlce BJ and Mike yesterday in the dozers.  It was very muddy, perfect for little boys and big boys.  My camera filter was spotted with mud, which was giving a texture to the images I didn't like while taking the pictures, but while processing them, I noticed it added a "dirty" effect, so I left them.  You can see the mud spots in the sky of the images.

Snow on Cedars

Nothing says southern Iowa road ditch like a Cedar tree. 

The further south you drive, the more numerous they become.  As we drove to Northwest Iowa last weekend, I observed the plants that grow in the road ditches along the farms.  Bushy-odd-poor-dirt-loving trees like Cedars are less abundant there.  This red-ish bush tree is the first invader of open land like pasture and road ditches.

Last December I watch two guys with chain saws jump out of a truck and head for the ditch.  They don't just use them for Christmas trees in Missouri and Arkansas.  

 They make a beautiful sight when they are full of fresh snow. 

The Cedars pictured here are growing along the Skunk River bottom between Oskaloosa, New Sharon, and Peoria.

Color Palettes,

I spelled Gleaner wrong above... This image would look sharp with a the dark slate color painted wall.

This picture is one of the only professional pictures I remember getting taken when we were young, outside of the ones for the church directory.  I remember it being in what is now that hotel across from Wiggs in Osky.  Pastels is funny for a family with lots of boys, but I think they were sort of in style, maybe?  I especially like Mike in pink.  I do definitely remember some arguments about who had the better colors - Mark was content, I don't think Mike and BJ were.

It is interesting that none of use have kids with as dark of hair, yet anyways.  My hair here is in the middle of turning from blond, on the ends, to the dark brown of my brothers.  I was blond before this - I would have been in first grade, and Mark, Mike and BJ would have been in fourth, fifth, and seventh grade?  Kurt and Karl would be about five months old? - so fall of 1989.  I think the Christmas Eve after this was when our barn burned down?

Buffalo Chicken Chili and Blue Cheese Corn Muffin Pancakes

The following soup recipe is usually made at our house around the time of the SuperBowl.  I recieved the recipe from D. Brandes, who won the Brookside Christian Reformed Church Chili cook off with it in 2007 or 2008.  I made it this weekend for a party, and was asked for the recipe.  Here you go!


BUFFALO CHICKEN CHILI
1 T extra-virgin olive oil
2 T butter
2 pounds chicken
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
1 carrot, finely chopped
2 jalapeno, seeded and finely chopped
salt and pepper
1 1/2 t ground cumin
1 tsp ground coriander
12 ounces beer (your favorite brew)
1/4 cup cayenne pepper hot sauce (optional)
One 15 ounce can tomato sauce
Mild Buffalo sauce from Buffalo Wild Wings (I use Cookies Hot Wing sauce - made in Iowa) to taste. 3/4 bottle
1 can northern beans

BLUE CHEESE CORN MUFFIN PANCAKES
One 8.5 ounce Jiffy brand muffin mix
1/3 C milk
1 large egg
2 scallions, finely chopped
3/4 C crumbled blue cheese (4 ounces)


Directions:
1.  Heat a medium dutch oven or large skillet over HIGH heat.  Add olive oil, and butter.  Add the chicken and cook, breaking up the meat.  Add garlic, celery, onion, carrot and jalapeno.  Season with salt, pepper, cumin and coriander.  Add the beer and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.  Concentrate the flavor of the beer by reducing the mixture over medium heat, 8 minutes or so.  Stir in the hot sauce, tomato sauce, northern beans and buffalo wings sauce.  Reduce heat to LOW and simmer the chilli for 15 minutes.

2. Prepare the corn muffin mix with the milk and egg according to directions for corn pancakes.  Stir in the scallions and blue cheese.  Heat a nonstick griddle or large skillet over MEDIUM heat.  Nest a small piece of butter in a paper towel and rub over pan.  Drop rounded Tablespoons of batter into the pan.  Cook the pancakes until bubbles from at the edges, then flip them and cook until golden all over, about 2 min per side.  You will have enough for 20 pancakes.  Serve 2 pancakes with each mug of chili.

Learning New Things

There is no end to learning new things in the photography field. I heard a quote somewhere that creativity is only limited by knowledge.  So in other words, creativity requires learning new things.  I've been learning about Real Estate Photography the past few weeks, and enjoying pressing my learning curve.  It isn't simple, and is actually quite complex to explain, so I won't try to describe it.

Basically it creates dynamic images, bringing out the details of the subject.  I've been using it some for my farm photography.

I was first introduced to it when we needed to sell our house in Grand Rapids.  We had one of the best, smartest, real estate agents ever, who also happened to help us find and purchase our house in 2006, and went to our church.  He photographed our house, and we sold our house in just a few months in the WORST real estate market - Michigan in 2009/10.  I know God had something to do with it too.

I used my parents cabin for my first attempt.  What do you think? 

Color Palettes, Day 6

Color Palettes, Day 5

Color Palettes, Day 4

And a picture of my brother Mark's equipment under the overcast sky.