Anyone can do it...

I've been on Instagram for quite some time, but have only just started re-using it, particularly as my first choice social-media-instant-photosharing option.

I love the way anyone can be a fantabulous photographer by using apps like Instagram. They are so great at transforming an ordinary moment into something quite extraordinary, and I intend to make the most of the Instagram filters in particular when I being the 100 Days project next month for that very purpose.

Here are this weekend's pickings - so far :)

Kiddliwinks

Photo opportunities today to capture some of my regular 'child models'. I met Joshua and his Mum at the Botanic Gardens (sans dogs - funny being there without them!).

Isabella (fresh from Rainbow Day at Preschool) and Jaime enjoyed their "bestie's" time while we grown-ups (workmates) had an after school catch up.

Little China Girl

Viki's photo

The annual Auckland Lantern Festival occurs this long weekend at Albert Park in Auckland City. I went for the first time last year, trying to figure out how to take good photos of the lanterns, and at night. (I did not do especially well that night, and I still not have mastered this).
This year I was delighted to be asked to go with one of my rent-a-families, the Holleys. The timing was not good for night photography (being that we had a 4 year old to consider) but it was great for eating! Ate far too much but not enough, as there were so many things to sample. I did not have the best Pad Thai in the world, but I loved the Toffee Strawberries and shared some great rice paper spring rolls with Viki.
But attending before night fell did not mean no photos; I has my angelic little model to snap away at. I love the photos of her here amidst the flowers (though almost prefer the wide view Viki's iPhone pic captured; I did not have the right lens on for this view).

Isabella was enamoured with all the Chinese bits and bobs that were bought for her - I think her favourite was the pink umbrella.

One of my Favourite Subjects

And I am not talking school in this context!

Miss Isabella enjoyed telling me about her garden today.

Including pointing out what a Silly Billy I was to mistake the cucumber plant for a pumpkin.

I think this is a super photo of her, though I am picking her Mum would prefer she was wearing a different headband...

THE Gingerbread House.

I am sure my friend Viki will be blogging about this too, and I will attach the link to her blog when she does.
(Here 'tis)
I am picking she will let her readers know of the challenges and anguish that went in to building this creation - an amazing Gingerbread House for her daughter Isabella's 4th birthday party.
We, and all the children, saw only what she had ultimately intended - an intricate, child-appealing house of delight.

My only regret is that I did not stay to taste it! Knowing Viki it would have tasted equally as good as it looked.
The cake pops (aka trees) in themselves were pretty amazing.

That's MY Cake!

And a very nice cake, too.
Miss Jaime, although not officially 5 until January, celebrated this upcoming milestone today in a perfect setting - a Gym hall with a kitchen upstairs. There was various equipment for the kids to play on, ranging from a trampoline to a rope swing, plus a badminton court and basketball hoops fort the grown-ups who were so inclined. Chuck a bouncy castle in the corner and everyone was happy. Especially when it was time for cake.














PS A little movie also, of firm friends Jaime and Isabella warming up for a game of Freeze:

Rent-A-Kid

At our photography course yesterday, we were asked what kinds of things we liked to photograph. A common theme amongst group members was children.
I do love taking child portraits, preferably candid, and I having no children of my own, am always grateful to friends who let me loose on their kids with my camera.
Today again, it's Isabella. She's such a charming subject, who could resist?

I Got You, Babe!

The soft toy dogs in this picture reside in my office at work. They are there to distract or engage little people as necessary when they come to visit me. Their ability to do so comes by way of the song and dance they perform when activated. The song - "I Got You Babe" -is an apt title in that it certainly 'gets' them. As is the case with my before school visitor Isabella, who requested their 'performance' this morning...

Officially biased

We were invited across to celebrate the official opening of the Early Childhood Centre next door to our school today. My two colleagues' daughters attend the centre. 'Someone' tried to talk me up as the 'official photographer'...
Why is it then that when I review my photos, there are so many of Isabella and Jaime?
Really it was because they were selected to be the 'leaders' of the little musical numbers the centre children performed, so were right in the front. (A shame that their attention was focussed away from my camera...)
Nothing to do with bias at all. Not. At. All.

Always expect the unexpected

It was one of those rare days where I did absolutely nothing to enhance my appearance. I continue to fight off a holiday cold coupled with a bad case of can't-be-bothered-itis. Add to that a lack of motivation to fight the dog hair with the vacuum cleaner, and it makes for a day you'd rather not have visitors.

Which is why it's the day you get them.

Lovely Lisa dropped me off a voucher to assist with my shoe fetish. I see another visit to Mi Piaci fast approaching. Sadly she was in a hurry and could not come in...

Then later in the day Viki arrived with Bella and her cousin.
Thankfully I had managed to mow the lawns yesterday so could usher everyone outside away from the mess for a bit of running!

Always more fun when you win the race, aye Bella?

Taking the Lead

The planets aligned to allow my friend Viki and I to meet for a coffee this morning. I'll admit it was my suggestion, and one made to take a break from assignment writing.
Following my newly formed intention to take one dog with me when I could, I chose Stirling to accompany me. He has the perfect nature to allow independent youngsters like Isabella here, to literally take the lead.
The background of this photo is severely blown out, but I think they it's cute anyway. Two very beautiful subjects :)

A Bright Spot in an otherwise bland weekend

It has not been a bad weekend at all but it was nice to be invited to breakfast with the Holley family this morning.
I am only now getting hungry after my big feed of mushrooms and bacon.
This little lady didn't make much of a dent in her pancakes, despite buying in to the idea that a little round fitting on the ceiling was watching her...
But she is eternally entertaining!

A Moment

The more photos I take, the more I like the ones I don't think about, as opposed to the ones I overthink. I would rather be there in the moment and take it, rather than having to make the shot. I know instantly if I have 'got it' or not. I like this moment mostly for the hands. Wish I could see a little more of Bella's eyes. Oh, and don't you just love the Trelise Cooper Chicken Coat? :)

There's a first time for everything

Today's first: Sending back a meal.

My friend Viki and I wanted somewhere kid friendly to have a celebratory lunch. We were recommended a cafe in Onehunga where we had both been before for coffee.

The Cajun Pan Fried Snapper on the blackboard menu appealed to us both, so we ordered one each.

When it arrived at the table it looked like mush. No fillets of any resemblance. Was it advertised as a stew, we thought? We then tasted it - shite. So I found a waitress and politely asked if this was what it normally looked like. 

After some kitchen consultation it transpired that no, it was apparently not as it was meant to be - it had been cooked by 'the trainee chef' and we were getting another one cooked by the 'head' chef.

After a long wait fish resembling fillets turned up, but this too was far from ideal. Too much flour in the coating making for a soggy outer layer, lacking salt and an imbalance of spices. If the fish had been excellent we could have forgiven the drenched green salad accompaniment, which I suspect had come readymade from a plastic bag. 

If it weren't for the fact that Isabella clearly enjoyed her Rocky Road, I would be doing some naming and shaming.

Something New

I have been meaning for some time now to indulge myself in a Yum Char lunch, so today went with one of my rent-a-families, the Holleys, to do exactly that @ Pearl Garden in Newmarket.

Isabella sure knows what to do in front of a camera (and what to do with the actual iPhone itself), though this pose is not perhaps presenting herself in her best light. I do love the pinky though! And she is chowing down on what was my favourite dish of the day - the squid. Nom, nom, nom.

Celestial Intervention?

Through not fault of my own, I will not have a blog post dated May 13. Friday May 13. Also the day that 4 planets aligned. Could this be why Blogger had a worldwide fit? Celestial and superstitious intervention?

Facebook followers will have seen however, that I did take a photo with good intent, and posted it on my page instead. I am reposting here where it was meant to be.

A lovely mother/daughter moment between Viki and Isabella. In my opinion, just gorgeous.

PS also happy to see that the previous post "Clear as Mud" has reappeared. It was M.I.A for a while there!

Gummi Bears and Jalebis

So today I was invited to a birthday party - not just any old birthday party, but that of a pink Teddy named Lily.

Teddy/Lily had her own cake, generously decorated with gummi bears by her friend/mother/owner Isabella, and whilst this guest brought a present, others made jalebis - an intriguing and quite delicious Indian sweet treat. You can find out how to make them here, though I think Minakshi's looked much more professional!