2011

was a tough year for many people around the world including my husband and family. We spent the last 11 out of 14 months apart, we are glad we could offer this time and support to my mother in law who passed away on November 15th 2011 after a long battle with cancer.

We have learnt a lot about ourselves in the last year, we are strong, we always new we had a great relationship and it has become stronger during this last year. For this we are grateful.

Losing Marie-Paule has been difficult, she was an immensely strong lady who had the luck of traveling many places in the world, she even had some planning input into the trip my husband and I will take in February.

So as we move into 2012, there are parts of 2011 that we will leave behind, but there are all the memories and sadness that will stay with us. Those we will work through together and know that we have the support of my family and friends all over the world.

To those of you I know, and to those that I have not met yet, I sincerely wish you all the best for 2012, I hope we see continued strength and though pain and sadness may happen that we can overcome these painful times. So best wishes for a safe and happy entry into the next year.

In loving memory.

Its in the eyes

Recently I saw this fabulous article on eye photography, and the detail that is in the eyes. I wanted to take this a step further and see what reflections you could naturally get within the eye itself. I am currently using a 60mm lens though my 105mm when it comes back from being cleaned would be a better choice. I am also shooting my own eye on a tripod, why? Blue eyes have much more detail than my husbands green eyes.

I still have a long way to go to get the shots I am needing, but here some of my first.

© Karen Stone 2011

© Karen Stone 2011

Black and White

Have transformed one of my colour whale pictures from 2011 into a black and white through aperture. I like the details in black and white, any thoughts out there?

© Karen Stone 2011

First D7000 pics

Just recently I purchased a D7000, and today finally I got to have a little play around my garden. There are some very noticeable differences from the D200, firstly is how impressive the viewfinder is.

Here are a few shots I took today, got to change some settings and make it more mine, but so far this camera is turning out to be a top purchase. I had my old 60mm F2.8 lens on, which is one of my favourite lenses to shoot with bar the 105mm which is hopefully being cleaned at Nikon as we speak.

Luckily for me I have some great subjects on my doorstep.

Loredo © Karen Stone

Frangipani © Karen Stone

Ocean Conservancy Photo Competition

It has been a while since I had the time to do things with my photos, now I am back to making time for them and again rekindling one of my greatest passions. So I figured why not enter a competition! I have never entered a photo competition before, I have read many on line forums that moan and belittle some competitions and it has always kept me away from them, but as I am sitting here on my deck reading Ocean Conservancy, I thought why not? What do I have to lose by entering. So this is the photo that I have entered from this years whale season.

© Karen Stone 2011

We will see how it does, the competition has just started and entries are being uploaded now.... if you want to enter go here.

Think Tank Bag Competition

A sure way to get photographers juices flowing by Think Tank Photo, a giveaway of one of their greatest bags full of photography goodies.

All you have to do is click to enter every day till the 20th December and then they will announce the winner. Not only can this bag carry many photography items, it fits in most overhead luggage compartments (some small planes have not been tested yet).

Do I want to win this? Doesn't everyone, so fingers crossed my internet keeps me logging in every day and I will try my best.

Good luck to everyone and thanks so much Think Tank Photo for the great competition.......