Uploads from jeanmariehoward

Juror

nobody@flickr.com (jeanmariehoward) — Thu, 09 May 2013 08:05:32 -0700

Was selected for jury duty. I know that it's my civil duty and blah blah, but man. No fun!

I'm going to be back on Flickr soon! Promise!

365 - 365 - One Year

nobody@flickr.com (jeanmariehoward) — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 19:35:37 -0700

jeanmariehoward posted a photo:

We made it! Today is our anniversary, and we have officially survived the first year of marriage! We just had a delicious meal at one of our favorite spots in Houston, and now I'm trying to post this quick so I'm not missing out on precious time with Cutter.

I set some goals for this project. Now it's time to see how I did!

1) Document our first year of marriage - CHECK!

2) Learn new photography techniques - CHECK!

3) Specifically focus on improving with my external flash - CHECK!
4) Convince my husband (a Nikon user) to join me at Camp Canon.- Oops- went the opposite way!!

I've learned a lot this year. I've learned how to be a better wife (not finished learning there!). I've learned how to serve and love my husband to my very best ability. I've learned that often my very best ability is still not enough, and I need the Lord's help to make me a better partner. I've learned to listen more carefully, to speak more slowly and to (try to) be less sensitive. I've learned how to live with a guy. I've learned how to cook and clean better. I learned a lot of patience in my job hunt. I've learned (and will definitely continue to learn) how to manage expectations of a very busy, and very hard working husband. I've learned a lot.

I also learned some great lessons in photography. Took on manual mode for a while (blah. didn't like it). Really worked with my external flash. I learned an entirely new system when I made the switch from Canon to Nikon. I've continued to learn not to expect perfection.

There's a lot left to learn, and don't worry, I'll be around on Flickr. I just might take a few days off! Thank you to everyone who has viewed and commented on my photos. I love the sense of community that Flickr provides. Thanks for joining me in this fun and exciting journey! And to my sweet husband, thank you for being my model, encourager, and favorite person every throughout this project and this year. You're just amazing! One year down, and many many more to go!

200mm – f/5.0 - 1/160s – ISO 200

365 - 364 - Cheers!

nobody@flickr.com (jeanmariehoward) — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 19:35:36 -0700

jeanmariehoward posted a photo:

At Tess and Doug's wedding, they were serving some signature cocktails - including mint juleps. Yes, please!

Julep cups are gorgeous! The wedding was gorgeous! Tess was gorgeous! Everything was just lovely. And it was so fun to be at a wedding on our anniversary eve. We remembered how we were feeling one year ago, and we smiled sweetly at each other. And then we tore it up on the dance floor - Tess and Doug had the same band we had! So awesome!

Shot this with my point-and-shoot. Loved how I could still get a nice bokeh and depth of field going though!

5mm – f/3.0 - 1/50s – ISO 800

365 - 363 - Happy

nobody@flickr.com (jeanmariehoward) — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 19:35:36 -0700

jeanmariehoward posted a photo:

On Friday we were so happy to get to attend Tess and Doug's pre-wedding festivities. Tess and I have known each other since birth, and she is such a sweet and wonderful friend. Her parents hosted a great party at their vacation home in Hunt, Texas on Friday. I got to photograph the event, which was a ton of fun.

I picked this image for the day because this is exactly the faces that every bride and every groom should be making the night before they get married.

Take notes, all!

92mm – f/4.0 - 1/80s – ISO 200

365 - 362 - Flying

nobody@flickr.com (jeanmariehoward) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 21:58:01 -0700

jeanmariehoward posted a photo:

For his birthday, Cutter got a remote-controlled helicopter from my parents that is controlled through an app on the iPhone. Well, a few fatal crashes caused that helicopter to have some serious flight issues, so he (naturally) bought himself a second one. This one isn't controlled by the iPhone, but it is still pretty cool. And he enjoys flying it around our apartment and terrorizing Webley with it.

Tonight when he started flying, I went upstairs with my camera and shot this over our 1/2 wall. I think it turned out pretty cool! I would've liked to not have had to crop it in so tight, but our coffee table, which is just to the left, is REALLY messy!

After a whirlwind evening, we're home safely, and Webley is safe and sound in Tomball with her grandparents for the weekend. Tomorrow we're off to Kerrville / Hunt for the wedding of a dear friend! So I will be back with the final 3 images from this project on our FIRST anniversary, SUNDAY!

27mm – f/4.0 - 1/60s – ISO 280

365 - 361 - Suiting Up

nobody@flickr.com (jeanmariehoward) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 20:31:22 -0700

jeanmariehoward posted a photo:

Today we went to pick up a new summer suit for Cutter. We have a wedding this weekend, and several coming up that will be perfect for this light tan suit!

As you can see, the tailor hemmed the pants a little short, so now we must go back tomorrow. Oops!

When I got home and started looking at my photos, I realized that I missed out on an awesome photo opportunity. So I re-created the idea I had in my head using an image I already had. But it would've been way more awesome in the store, with the same exposure and lighting. Man or mannequin? Who's to say?

50mm – f/1.4 - 1/125s – ISO 560

MANnequin

nobody@flickr.com (jeanmariehoward) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 20:31:21 -0700

jeanmariehoward posted a photo:

When I got home and started looking at my photos, I realized that I missed out on an awesome photo opportunity. So I re-created the idea I had in my head using an image I already had. But it would've been way more awesome in the store, with the same exposure and lighting. Man or mannequin? Who's to say?

365 - 360 - Bike Riding

nobody@flickr.com (jeanmariehoward) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 20:32:35 -0700

jeanmariehoward posted a photo:

I am getting spoiled. My husband usually works 70+ hours / week, and I rarely see him while the sun is still out. For the last several days, his work load has been substantially different, and I've gotten to see him as soon as I get home at 4:30 or so! I'm soaking it up, because I know eventually the 70 hour weeks will return. But for now, we're loving the extra time we have together!

Today we pulled our old bikes out of our little storage closet and took them on a six mile ride. Nothing too challenging or tricky, but a great ride to get used to riding again, after a 2.5 year hiatus. Cutter is trying to convince me to ride in the MS150 (a 200ish mile ride from Houston to Austin) next year. I really want to ride it, but I'm also scared that I will break my leg or die in a freak bicycling accident. Luckily, Cutter has 12 months to convince me that I probably won't die or break my leg. I'll keep you posted!

After we rode home, I started making dinner. Then I realized that we didn't have a can of diced tomatoes - a key ingredient! So we grabbed Webley and walked to Walgreens (did you know they have diced tomatoes?) to do some shopping. Dinner was good and now the nightly bass concert is starting! What a life :)

365 - 359 - At the Ballpark

nobody@flickr.com (jeanmariehoward) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 12:15:53 -0700

jeanmariehoward posted a photo:

Last night, we were invited to go to the Astros game with our good friends, John and Lauren. Little did we know that we would be sitting in the Diamond Club, which is the fancy-pants section right behind home plate. Little did we know that we'd be on the second row! I was in heaven! We had a great (free!) dinner and watched the game. The ONLY thing that would've made it better is if the Stros had done a lot more of this (getting hits) and a lot less of what's in the comments (striking out). We ended up losing to the Seattle Mariners, and, I told Cutter it was his fault because he didn't turn his cap inside out to make it a rally-cap. Maybe I should not have put all of the blame on him....

120mm - f/4.0 - 1/1250s - ISO 1100

365 - 358 - Sunday Burgers

nobody@flickr.com (jeanmariehoward) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 19:37:59 -0700

jeanmariehoward posted a photo:

On Sunday nights, when the weather is right, we really enjoy grilling out and / or eating outside. Tonight we did both, with homemade burgers, some oven roasted potatoes and oven roasted okra. We brought Webley's dog food outside, so she got to dine al fresco as well, and she loved it. It was so good. And it was a GREAT way to kick off our last week of our first year of marriage!

Can't believe this project is over in a week! Hoping to really make the most of it :) Ah! The bass concert is beginning!

50mm - f/4.0 - 1/125s - ISO 3200

365 - 357 - Petting Zoo

nobody@flickr.com (jeanmariehoward) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 14:31:07 -0700

jeanmariehoward posted a photo:

Yesterday the school where I work had our Faculty and Staff Family Picnic at the Oil Ranch. There were a ton of activities, but one of my favorites was the petting zoo. I got to get up close and personal with lots of animals, particularly the goat and sheep. This girl's(?) smile made me laugh!

Really fun day with perfect weather! Cutter and I had a blast!

110mm – f/4.0 - 1/500s – ISO 2200

365 - 356 - #astrosSMN

nobody@flickr.com (jeanmariehoward) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 21:32:44 -0700

jeanmariehoward posted a photo:

Man. Today was interesting. I watched way too much of the news, which I shouldn't have done, but I just couldn't stop. But ultimately, praise God that the suspect has been caught, and that justice will be served!

But then the evening came, and Cutter and I went to the Astros game. And I LOVE baseball. And heaven help me, but I love the Stros. Even though they've had some pretty terrible seasons lately. It was my first game of the season, and it was also social media night. We actually got to go in early and watch batting practice. We got social media night t-shirts and mini bats. We got to watch a Q&A session with CF Justin Maxwell and with one of the radio commentators, Steve Sparks. And then they did trivia about Justin Maxwell, using twitter. And I WON AN AUTOGRAPHED JERSEY! And then I got my picture with Orbit. And then we ran into my sister and one of her friends. And then we ate hotdogs. And then the Astros WON and then there were fireworks.

So what started off as a kind of rough day ended wonderfully :)

365 - 355 - B - I - N - G - O

nobody@flickr.com (jeanmariehoward) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 16:14:26 -0700

jeanmariehoward posted a photo:

We're about to play bingo. At a bingo parlor. This is happening RIGHT NOW!!

365 - 354 - New Face

nobody@flickr.com (jeanmariehoward) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 21:00:19 -0700

jeanmariehoward posted a photo:

Today my (early) anniversary present came in! And I'm looking so stylish in my new Warby Parker glasses.

Webley likes them. I like them too!

365 - 353 - Published!

nobody@flickr.com (jeanmariehoward) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 19:41:23 -0700

jeanmariehoward posted a photo:

So this is kind of tardy, but I just realized that with all the exciting things that I've been up to, I haven't photographed my first magazine publication!

I was contacted about a month ago from Houston Magazine about this photo. One of my friends works as an editor for Houston Magazine, but it turns out her photo editor in Chicago had seen this photo on Flickr and selected it for the issue. Go Flickr!

So I did a short interview with my friend, and a few weeks after that, it was published! Amazing!

I've got to stop throwing my arms out when I take shots like this - my hands end up looking enormous!

38mm – f/4.0 - 1/60s – ISO 400

365 - 352 - "But take heart; I have overcome the world."

nobody@flickr.com (jeanmariehoward) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 19:29:01 -0700

jeanmariehoward posted a photo:

This world is terrifying. It's dark, fallen, and full of evil. We are (unfortunately) reminded of that all too often. Today was no exception.

When tragedies like today's Boston Marathon bombing hit, it's all I can do to turn to the things that I know to be true: God is good. God is faithful. God hates evil. We were not meant to live in this evil world.

Prayers for Boston.

50mm – f/1.4 - 1/2000s – ISO 3200

365 - 351 - Blue Trees

nobody@flickr.com (jeanmariehoward) — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 20:55:02 -0700

jeanmariehoward posted a photo:

Today Cutter returned home, and we went for a nice long walk with Webley dog. I had noticed that these crepe myrtles were painted bright blue a few weeks ago, and I knew I had to photograph them.

Turns out, they're blue for an art / conservation project, called the Blue Trees Project.

From their website, The Blue Trees

Konstantin Dimopoulos’s temporary public art installation The Blue Trees comes to Houston and Galveston this March as part of the international conversation about deforestation and its global impact. You can read more at bluetreestexas.org

The overall effect is stunning!

50mm – f/11.0 - 1/160s – ISO 200

365 - 350 - UnGala

nobody@flickr.com (jeanmariehoward) — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 20:55:02 -0700

jeanmariehoward posted a photo:

Saturday was my school's UnGala. We took a different spin on having a formal Gala, and hosted a casual, fun, low-key UnGala at the school, featuring a live auction, and a silent auction.

All of the artwork that you're seeing is student work. The pieces along the bottom on the tables and easels are class projects that were cautioned off, and the "wall paper" is student work used purely for decoration. I loved being a part of the event! Working in the advancement office means that I get to support Development, which puts on this event. I had forgotten how much fun events are! It was a really successful event.

24mm – f/4.0 - 1/60s – ISO 200

365 - 349 - Sister Night

nobody@flickr.com (jeanmariehoward) — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 20:55:01 -0700

jeanmariehoward posted a photo:

Cutter was out of town this weekend, so it was a girls' weekend! On Friday, my super cool sister hosted me for dinner. We had ourselves a little mixed drink, along with gazpacho and honey beer bread (umm yes). And we dined al fresco. And we worked on a puzzle. And then we watched Les Mis. Are you jealous yet?

It was awesome. She's just wonderful! Sometimes I take her for granted, or act moody towards her, but the truth is that she's truly an amazing friend, and such a loving big sister.

50mm – f/1.8 - 1/250s – ISO 200

365 - 348 - Night Light

nobody@flickr.com (jeanmariehoward) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 21:33:12 -0700

jeanmariehoward posted a photo:

Had a fun evening, consisting of a family dinner with an old friend and then drinks with friends. This is absolutely a last minute desperation iPhone shot.