Pretty Pout & The Purrfect Pet~ by Mel

Children's Entry


This week's i heart faces contest is all about the pout and the pets! For my children's entry of pout I have a picture of the adorable Ashlyn. This was a picture that I snapped at the end of our photo session. She was just looking out the window in this cute way and I had to snap this pic. I like this pout because it is one that is different than what you might think of in terms of what the word means. Lots of times when kids are pouting they are looking a bit upset or cranky. But, Miss Ashlyn's pout is just more on the thoughtful and contemplative side. She is such a cutie!

For my pet picture I have entered one of my cat Lucky. My hubby and I have two dogs as well but I had to enter this photo that I took way back in August of our precious "princess". (as we call her) She has a great look in her eye. You know the look that cats give...the "I own you" one? I have to say despite that look she is a wonderful cat. She listens and is very loving. She hides a lot when people come around and she tends to be the less noticed of our three pets as our two dogs are attention seekers at all times. This week is Lucky's time to shine as my pet entry. I think she looks purrrrfect. Don't you agree? (okay excuse the complete cheesiness!)

Pet Entry


Head over to i heart faces and see this week's entries or join in on the fun yourself!

Au Naturale~by Mel

Kid's Entry

After a week off from the i heart faces contest I am back at it again! (Our internet went out last Tuesday night when I was going to enter for the green theme so I was not so lucky on St. Patrick's Day.) This week's i heart faces contest has but one requirement...NO FLASH. I selected these two from a recent session I did a few weeks back. (which I will be blogging more about later) :) I have found that I prefer not to use a flash at all. (unless I am in a dark reception hall or something similar) I think natural light is much more flattering and it brings out delicious colors like nothing else can! I crave the challenge of figuring out what ISO, aperture, shutter speed and lighting setting will work with each particular situation. It is almost a bit of a science to find out what settings will be the right formula for the yummiest capture.

Adult's Entry

Head over to i heart faces and check out the beauty of natural light!

Going Home~ by Mel

Today we celebrated the life of an incredible person. Chad's beloved Grandma Germaine Perry passed away this past Thursday March 12th. At the time of her death Grandma was surrounded by her family and I would have to say it was one of the most amazing moments I have experienced. It was certainly sad and hard however it also turned out to be a moment of peace in knowing that God was calling home one of the greatest persons most of us will ever know. It would be hard for me to describe in words how I felt that evening but there was something in the air and you knew that Grandma was surrounded not only by her family but by the angels. The house swelled with people and with the love we all shared for her beautiful soul.

At the time of her death Grandma Perry was held up in prayer by so many who she had once prayed for herself. She was dedicated to our Lady and saying the Rosary. I remembered back to when Chad and I were first dating and the first time I was invited to attend a Rosary recitation in the Beckley basement. I was in awe of this Grandmother who led her family in prayer and I knew at that moment that I had been brought into a special family. I will always remember the feeling I had that day and the faith that I experienced in each person. Grandma Perry had everything to do with the values instilled in her children and the faith that now I see in my husband. There is something so unique about the bond that the Perry's share and so much of that has to do with the lessons, guidance and life that Grandma Perry imparted to her sons and daughters by being an example of Christ on a daily basis.

Today we attended her funeral and said goodbye for one last time. Germaine was an extraordinary person whose faith permeated everything she did. She had 14 children and raised them all to be outstanding individuals. Her sense of humor was also a gift in our lives and she could make anyone smile with her frankness and witty ways. I remember visiting her in the hospital several times and she still always had a way of making all of us smile even through her hardships. Grandma Perry will be missed and I wanted to take this moment out to honor such a wonderful life. We know that she is in a much better place. And as we gaze through our tears and turn our hearts to God in prayer we are assured that she most certainly has gone home.

Grandma Perry may you rest in peace. Thank you for the gift of your life, your service to others, your faith-filled example, your humor in hard times, and your constant pursuit of Heaven. You have been a good an faithful servant...the reward is now yours.

Cream of the Crop~ by Mel

Children's Entry

This week's i heart faces contest is all about the creative crop. There were two definitions of cropping. One was cropping a photo you already had taken and making it into something new. The other definition was a cropped look that came when you took the photo. With both of my photos I chose the latter in terms of my cropping. To be honest I rarely ever crop items after the photo is taken. I try to hit the shot straight out of the camera if I can. I had a few photos (in my large photo library) that I had cropped after the pic was taken that I considered using this week's contest but ultimately these two photos won out. There is no before picture of either image as they are in the original from. (except for some post-processing for color and borders that were added)--My children's entry is a picture of one of my Kindergarten students. (Along with my passion for photography comes my passion for teaching) I caught him hard at work and I had to capture him. My adult's entry is my husband intensely looking down the field ready to make a big play at the annual family "Turkey Bowl." I snapped this image of him and really liked it. I realize there is another person faintly showing in the background but I left him in as I thought it added to the image. To me this looks like an old newspaper photo or something. And aren't men all legends in their own minds? :) Both of my images this week are straight out of the camera crops that have caught life in the moment...that is what I LOVE about taking photos. Real, true, and honest moments are what it is all about!

Adult's Entry

Head over to i heart faces and see many other images that are the cream of the crop!

Have Your Cake...And Eat It? ~by Mel

Children's Entry
This week's i heart faces contest is all about messy.  This children's entry is not a photo I took in anticipation of this contest, in fact it is really one of the only messy photos I had in my collection.  My niece Rylan recently celebrated her first birthday and much to all of our surprise she was eating quite gingerly with a spoon.  She was not even really eating much cake at all.  We all sat and watched her as if she was some magic act about to reveal her trick.  I think she must have been pondering why we were all staring and she must have believed we are all crazy adults to watch her so closely with our wide opened eyes. So after all of this intense gazing people started to clear out. I of course braced with my camera still sat there snapping away...I mean you can never have too many pictures of a one year old not eating cake right? Anyway finally when the spoon was out of site and someone guided the cake into Ry's hand she began to eat it and she put on quite the cute little show. She was making fun faces and really enjoying this little slice of Heaven. This was towards the end of the cake eating and her expression is just priceless. It is almost like she is saying..."Okay cuckoo people...show is over!"
 


Adult's Entry
My adult entry is a happy newly married couple. At first I didn't think I had any messy adult photos to enter but upon reviewing my images I found this one that I think works for the theme. There is nothing like that first bite of wedding cake. Although, when I got married we had a very strict "no messy face" clause. Anyway I thought this was such a real and cute moment and we can't fault the groom too much here as he has not done the complete smash. And hey...cake is making a second appearance. I would say that cake is coming full circle here. From a first birthday to a wedding day. Who knew?

Head over to i heart faces and see what kind of mess you can get into!