midnight in the garden of broadway alley :: night photography

drive in :: night photography

don't you think the drive-in is dreamy?  even with two boys arguing and popcorn spilled in every crack of the car, i enjoy it.  maybe it's the butter & salt on the popcorn that makes me delusionally happy.

xoxo

a ride to the lake :: midwest photography

we are back from the lake and life is busy again.  i am slowly easing myself into it all, as i reflect on our evening bike rides to the water.

xoxo

night swim :: night photography

shall we go for a night swim? the water is always the warmest then...

independence day :: summer photography

may your independence day be anything but independent...  here's to family, friends and celebration...

xoxo

hunting for lightening bugs :: night photography

one of my favorite summer traditions is catching lightening bugs.  we fill up the bug jar at dusk, then fall asleep with them as our night light.  it's one of those magical moments of childhood...

lensbaby at dusk :: nature photography

do you prefer morning or evening?!   there are two 'golden hours' each day - right as the sun comes up, and then again before sun goes down.  both of these are a favorable times for photographs because harsh shadows can be eliminated and things tend to glow.

i flip-flop on my preference, but generally tend to photograph at night because i'm busy in the mornings.

plus, i'm in love with a lovely sky.... one full of clouds and color.  chances are, at least here in the midwest, you'll get a more beautiful sky at dusk than at sunrise.

xoxo friends.

spring snow at night :: night photography :: winter photography

the night of our 'spring blizzard' last weekend, hubby and i helped family and friends out by snow-blowing their driveways.  i was reluctant to get out at first, but after he got me in the truck, i really enjoyed myself.  as we drove around town, the view was lonely and beautiful.  the snow was peaceful.  and it's too rare that we spend time together just the two of us.

xoxo

the open road :: night photography

my husband has a job in a small town about 45 minutes away.  because of union rules, we rent a little house over there and he has to stay a few nights a week.  most of the time, the boys and i stay on the farm, but occasionally, when we're not busy with basketball, guitar or other activities, we'll hop on the road and have a little family slumber party.

at first, this was a pain.  i don't love that we go days without seeing my husband.  but, i've begun to love some things about this arrangement too.  first of all, due to the fact that we have no tv and very little furniture in our rented house, when the boys and i visit, we spend our time playing games together and then all pile into one big king bed for an adventurous night of sleep.  and i love the drive over at dusk... and then the returning drive at sunrise (we return early so 'the monster' can get to school on time).  

there's something else too.  there's a beauty in our family strength.  i feel blessed that we are given a rough road at times and that we are brave enough to drive on this path.  i know our tribulations will make us closer in the end.  i feel safe and strong.  and loved.

i see the everyday beauty.  which is really, the true gift.

night drive :: night photography

a little peak into my routine...

and yes, i do drive by a ferris wheel on the way home each night.  pretty amazing right?

at home :: night photography

when i was in high school, a couple hours after dinner each night, i went for a run.  we lived in a neighborhood growing up.  there was many many wonderful things about this in the summer (fireflies over the field, children playing, the smell of a grill), but really my favorite time of year for a late evening run was autumn.  and right after the time changed.

i loved the dark.  i still do.  i love it because after sunset, homes glow.  they glow... and make me glow.  as i ran past each home with the lights lit up bright i could see families inside sitting down for dinner, or playing a game, or watching tv or doing whatever families do... well, it made/makes me warm and happy.

the other evening i was sitting out on our deck and my husband had built a fire.  the memory of these neighborhood runs came flooding back and i snuck to get my camera.  the boys had already gone to bed so the house was inactive, but it still made me glow a bit just knowing that this is my beautiful home that our family occupies.