Denver Love....in a lovely shade of green

okay, so today...yes today, my picture I entered in a Pioneer Woman photography contest, was selected as a group winner.  To say, I'm shocked and happy would be an understatement...seriously, I'm happy.  If you haven't heard of Pioneer Woman than here is a link...she does everything...cooking, photography, mommy...crazy talented woman.  Go check her out!  http://thepioneerwoman.com/photography/2010/03/your-green-photos-group-2/
And here is the photo I entered...

Dramatic B & W...

So this weeks challenge over at I Heart Faces...a dramatic black and white photo...does the picture make you stop and think, are you  drawn in to the world of the photograph, do wonder what they are thinking about in the picture, do you wonder what in the world was the photographer thinking....oh the challenge of the photographer.  To be that artist that finds that something...for me, finding that something or creating through editing...well thats all part of the fun games of photography. 
This week, I chose a moment I captured with my daughter.  A moment where she was still and playing off in a world that she had created that involved princesses, magical horses and a castle.  For me this is a dramatic picture because I remember that still moment...I remember the way she looked.  And I remember how much I loved her in that moment...so dramatic for me yes. ;p  Enjoy my sweet still moment with Mackenzie...

When you get a chance...stop over at I heart Faces and check out some more beautiful Black and White photography

Downtown and a touch of old world....

Okay, so its not really old world...but the buildings remind me of yesterday.  The horse drawn carriages, dusty roads, old fancy dresses...well, you get the idea...vintage.  Its something that as of late is found in my editing.  I love adding a little texture here, a little there...its fun and I think very timeless...Enjoy some of the things I saw today...

Baseball, summer time and a blue eyed baby boy...

The title of this post...words that describe this boy to me.  We recently took advantage of the great Colorado Spring weather...felt like summer that day!

So lets see...a little about this adorable blue eyed boy.  Hmm, he just turned one and he's fast.  I mean he can run faster than me, okay maybe not faster but it was close.  Through out this shoot we were running, throwing baseballs and he was even ready to hit the ball with his bat...at one!  Thats just crazy to me.   I was fascinated with him.  Could not believe what a little athlete he all ready is.  His parents are super, HUGE fans of the Yankees...so right away I liked them.  My husband is from New York...and is there really any other team to go for?  :) The day was beautiful and this boy could not be any sweeter...thank you so much for such a wonderful time!

Soleil

Beautiful, sweet, shy, funny and has a great sense of shoe style...who is this...this is sweet little Soleil.  What a fun day for me to spend with Soleil and her Mom.  I brought with me a fun little umbrella that I thought we would use for oh, maybe one shot...but little Miss Soleil knew it would be fun for most of them. :)  She had so much fun twirling the umbrella, hiding behind it, opening, shutting, opening and finally shutting the umbrella...it was hard not to just give it to her at the end of her photo session she enjoyed it so much!  What a fun girl!

Website! WHOOO HOOO!

Its official...after a hard week of designing, organizing...picture selecting...thoughts...sigh...the fun stuff, I have a website, Elizabethannphotography.org  But, none of this could  have been possible...maybe after a year I could have figured out most of it...but I could not have done it with out the crazy, wicked talented photography/design master mind of Kreatid.  And please note the super cool watermark that will now be featured on my blog photos.  Yeah, Kreatid designed that.  Kind of rocks huh?  ;p  So a huge fan.   She can design yours too...Check out her blog as well...Kreatid
So now my lovely friends, fams, clients...you can have your own personal online gallery for each shoot done by Elizabeth Ann Photography.  Exciting, yes, yes I think it is.   Its the little things in life that just make me smile...so go on go take a look...would love to hear back from you.  ;p 
Because a blog post of mine...just can't go without a photo...here's a shot of a birthday suprise weekend getaway in Scottsdale that the hubby gave me...and I kind of think he looks like a rockstar.  Love him. 

Sarah and Jordan...I mean Peter Pan...:)

How can I describe this woman.  Hmm, she loves hard, is genuinly kind, works hard to provide Jordan an amazing life, and did I mention that she is quite possibly one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen.  Seriously, beautiful.  It was so fun for me to watch her interact with Jordan...it was so apparent to me that they were eachothers world...their relationship....well, at one point Sarah told me she is often Wendy to Jordan's Peter Pan...love that!  What a cool mom to get caught up in her son's imaginary world.  Beautiful to watch.  And this little boy...I love him.  He's just as sweet as his mom, loves exploring and was totally at ease with me.  I felt truly blessed to have been a part of their day. 

This last one was my favorite.  Beautiful...thank you so much for letting me spend this day with you!

Spring....

Spring, flowers, rain or snow in most cases here in Colorado...I love it.  Not the snow part...yuk, thats just annoying.  But this time of year, I just want to get in my garden and do what I LOVE to do...and thats to garden.  I like getting my hands dirty, surveying the perennials that are coming back and seriously when I see that they are coming back...its like a long lost friend.  Makes me smile.  Sadly, yes, this is very sad for me...getting into my garden is so not a reality...but I long for it.  Which is why this post is for me.  Makes me smile and brings on some anticipation for that time when I can dig into that ground and get dirty.  Enjoy the sweet tulips...come on spring...

Fire trucks and flowers...

Today I got to hang out with quite possibly one of the most sweet loving, talkative boys I've ever met.  All through out the shoot he was telling me about his toys, in particular firetrucks.  He also had a lot to say about his sister, his mom, his dad, the evergreens outside (yes, he said evergreens) my camera...and towards the end...he asked if I could play with him and his new fire truck that he got for his birthday.  How sweet is he?  He also, gave me some mistletoe...thats what he called a piece of wood off a tree...He wanted me to have it forever.  Love him...in case you are wondering, his name is Jack and he is four years old!  What an awesome name...in fact I would have used that name for Kenzie had she been a boy. ;p 
Sweet, sweet Nora!  She is almost a year and is very shy.  She would give secretive smiles to her mom or Jack...but towards the end I got her to open up to me.  I have to say there is something about earning that smile...when it happens...takes my breath away.  I had brought a couple of flowers for them to play with throughout the shoot...and she loved them.  Liked hitting Jack with them, waving them around in the air...such a playful girl.  I am so thankful for being able to be part of those moments today. 

Nikon....sigh...I'm in heaven...

So, move over Canon...here comes a new Nikon user.  Yes, I'm switching over to Nikon...and I love it.  My amazing photographer sister Jen and my brother Josh hooked me up with a sweet Nikon D40 and beautiful prime lense that has a 1.8 F stop!  I get chills...for all of you that are non photographers...it means AMAZING photos. This blog post today is  to #1 tell the world that I am in love with Nikon but in particular my family...its the backbone of who I am...the way I think, the way I love and the way I live.  I am blessed with a wonderful family in Arizona and Colorado.  My parents, oh my parents...they are my number one fans in life...its true.  They love me, cheer for me...dream with me, help me and sometimes when necessary tell me to snap out of it and I love them dearly for it. I also have 2 older sisters, they support me, tease me, love me and are my friends whom I have always looked up to and admired and a younger brother that I ABSOLUTELY love to pieces, in case your wondering I ABSOLUTELY love my sisters too!    When I got married in 2001, to my amazing super hot husband...he's so going to be embarressed by this, I also married into an amazing wonderful family.  Strength, character, love, determination...a few characteristics that describe Jon's parents, sister and younger brother.  Love you sooooo sooo much...
Okay, this blog is so about Nikon...and you see I get a bit sidetracked when I think of Nikon now...because everytime I shoot with a Nikon it will remind me of the love, oh the family love, that is allowing me to do what I love to do...Photography.  Its me...it brings me joy, it brings out my creative side...and I just love it.  So this blog is a tribute to you Nikon but also to my family.  I love you all...and am so thankful for all you have done for me and my fam these past few years...
Oh, and here is my first pic with a Nikon...

Charlie...

Charlie...hmm, what can I say about him? Charlie is 8 months, very close to 9 months...and he's quite the active little guy!  Always moving, exploring, busy hands and busy feet.   Oh and he laughs...not the little tiny laughs but a big bust a gut laugh.  I honestly was laughing A LOT through out this shoot...and I don't think there will be a person out there who sees these pictures that will be able to hold back a grin.   It seemed to earn his smile, all I had to do was have my lovely assistant (kenzie, my four year old daughter) smile at him.  I guess flirting starts early...and what a heart breaker he will be...love you Charlie!

and my personal fav of the shoot...