The simple things

Sometimes I forget (or feel like I don't have the time) to take notice of the simple, beautiful, and sometimes ordinary things that life has to offer.

I get so caught up planning and working and studying and worrying and socialising that sometimes the pretty, nice moments just pass me by.

This past weekend was a HUGE one. I was so overtired on Sunday night after many km's travelled and late nights had that I was delirious and all over the place.

Come Monday, despite still be ridiculously tired and a little sluggish, I wanted to make sure I made the most of my long weekend and tried to get outside, do some jobs and enjoy what the gorgeous sunny day had to offer.

I took my camera along with me because I've been lacking photography inspiration lately and just shot pictures of ordinary things around my house and our yard. It surprised me how simple things can make the most beautiful things and can make me smile.

What pretty things are you missing out on during your busy day?

Mac vs PC ???

This week I almost had a melt down.

I was rushing last week to get one of my photography assignments completed by Friday before I had to be in Sydney over the weekend for little Sisters birthday (see previous blog post for details!).

Thanks to the crazy nature of the flood evacuations and being unable to return to my house until wednesday last week, my "actual picture taking" stages of my assignment were completely thrown out and I found myself to be all over the shop and unorganised.

Friday night I had everything uploaded onto my PC and ready to go for me to just re size and save as jpegs on Monday morning for my assignment presentation this Monday afternoon. Much to my distress when I got to uni half an hour before class was to begin, I had done something wrong on my PC and putting the PC jpegs onto the Mac computer just didn't work! I was in such a fluster, sweaty and hot, holding back the tears as I frantically re-did all of my photoshop work quickly and managed to get the pics onto the Mac computer just in time. I nearly cried my eyes off feeling so embarrassed that I had even had this problem as it is common knowledge here on campus that "computer problems will not be an acceptable excuse for late submission of assignments".

It got me thinking right away, maybe I need to give up my long love affair with PC computers and invest in an Apple Mac? Practically everyone in the Graphic Design industry uses the Mac's and most of the software that I am aware of is made initially for Mac's then introduced on the PC.

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I just don't think I can give up my PC! I love the PC. I know how to navigate everything, it all looks familiar, everything is set out right... it just works!

When I use Mac's I know the basics but for some reason everything feels a bit backwards to me. Maybe this is the lack of practice in using these systems, I don't know but my little "almost meltdown" earlier this week has definitely got me thinking.

Do you have a Mac or a PC? Which do you think is better? Which do you prefer? Are Mac's easy to get used to?

Just like my IPhone post back here, I'd love if you could all give me some of your feedback and thoughts! If you're a Mac user let me know what you love about it! Maybe I could love a Mac just as much as I love my PC too?!

Bright and happy snaps!

I was cruising the halls of my uni the other day in the Creative Industries department where I take my Graphic Design classes and I noticed something.

I'm studying a Bachelor of Graphic Design and minoring in photography, along the walls of the halls at uni are big prints of (I am assuming) ex-students photography work. They are all really good and interesting but they all have one thing in common.... they look "dark".
When I say dark I don't mean the contrast or shadows or that its hard to see whats in the pictures, I mean the whole feel of the pictures are dark and a little depressive.

I am by no means trying to be nasty or criticize any ones photography work because these pictures are really very good but to me I get a little gloomy when I see these types of photos.

When I think of photography I want to be able to take pictures that give off an emotion of course, but I am thinking more along the lines of bright, happy, beautiful emotions. I think if I do end up pursuing a career down the line that dabbles in photography this will be much more my style.

I get inspired by good pictures, and one photographer that I often follow is a lady by the name of Heidi Rookyard. She is awesome! She does weddings, family photos, portraits, engagement shoots... capturing all of the beautiful things in life! I found her on Facebook through some local people around my home town. She is based in the Central Western NSW area and creates some gorgeous pictures!

You can find her page of FB here.

Heidi's photography is definitely more my "style".



I have my first technical photography assignment due in about 2 weeks so I am going to start brainstorming some bright ideas for my subject!

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(If only it would stop raining here so I can get outside and explore for my assignment! It has been non-stop this week and I can hear more coming down on the roof right now, it sounds wild out there! I guess my backyard will be flooded again - which means that my laundry is cut-off, dang it! The washing will have to wait!!!)

How is the weather at your place today? I hear most of NSW is getting down-pour?!

#febphotoaday challenge - Days 6, 7 & 8!

More pics from Fat Mum Slim's Feb photo-a-day challenge!

Day 6. Dinner

I can take no credit for this yummy dish! It was thoughtfully prepared by my local Thai takeaway restaurant! lol Yummy Beef panang

Day 7. "Button"

This is a pretty bow button from a gorgeous (and my favourite!!) blouse that I bought from Top Shop in London!

 Day 8. "Sun"

This was my wake-up view this morning! Sunlight streaming through my blinds! Good morning world!

You can follow along with Feb photo-a-day on Instagram (Follow me!! I have a new tab on my sidebar, check it out!)

Soooo many people all over the world are following and participating!

Join us!

#febphotoaday challenge, Days 3, 4 & 5!

Playing catchup here on my blog as I haven't been posting my daily photo-a-day challenges on here! (I do however, post them daily on Instagram and you can find me under @elliemaree12)

Here are days 3, 4 & 5!

Day 3. "Hands"

Day 4. "A Stranger"
(this guy was at a BBQ that I went to on the weekend)

Day 5. "10am"
I took a shot of my Dad's busy work diary, he has 10am free for a change!

Today is day six! The challenge is to take a photo of dinner.

What are you having?

#febphotoaday challenge, day 2!

Feb photo-a-day challenge, Day 2. "Words"

Yummy words in Donna Hay's magazine this month! Mmm, lets get cooking!

I have been sooo slack in the kitchen department lately, hoping this months mag will give me a bit of inspiration!

Follow along with #febphotoaday on Instagram thanks to @fatmumslim !

#febphotoaday challenge!

So this month I am attempting to follow along with this lovely Bloggers "February photo-a-day" challenge!

Its going to be a tough-y since I don't always get some spare time to be creative but I'm determined to give it a crack! I was all geared up to do it last month but got too busy and sadly missed out!

Anyhow, here's how you can join in too!

Head over to Fat Mum Slim's blog and read this post with the details on what the daily photo challenges will be and just share your piccies!

I'll be posting mine on my Instagram feed (you can follow me using my name elliemaree12, or search this #febphotoaday tag to see every ones daily contributions)

I'll also be trying to post via my blog as well just in case some of you aren't up with Instagram yet (if you aren't, I totally recommend it!! Its an awesome little free iPhone app! Check it out!)

So here is my Day 1 posting. "My View"

I didn't see a great deal today. I'm still recovering from my wisdom teeth operation from last week (boo), I'll most likely be back at work tomorrow. So today my view was me curled up in bed watching OTH re-runs!

Until tomorrow, take care

Photography fun...

Before I was working as a Property Manager and an Equine Science student I was studying photography... Sometimes when I play around with my camera I wish I had finished my degree in stead of changing my mind (as I constantly do over and over!)

I don't really think its a regret for not sticking with it because I don't like to think that I have any real regrets because things so far have worked out the way I think they were suppose to, but every now and then I like to prance around my house pretending that I learnt something from my short time studying photography and I take piccies of anything I think may be interesting or pretty... Some times the pictures turn out nicely, other times they turn out blurry or looking silly but I enjoy it none the less.

Tonight I thought I'd have a play around with my trusty camera and made a few edits that I thought I'd share....