Mama Sparrow Photography

Monday, July 15, 2013

Letters To Our Daughters - July

Each month I join up with a sweet and talented group of ladies, as we share a letter to our daughters. This month I'm linking to the wonderful Kelly Smith of Real Life Photography in Tampa, make sure you check her out as well.

"Dearest One,

You are becoming such a lovely young woman, and I'm enjoying observing your metamorphisis, yet at the same time I want to stop time and keep you young forever. I know my job as your mother is to raise you up and set you free to go out into this world and transform it with your grace and beauty.

You've had some struggles lately as you realize how much drama is associated with growing up, but I treasure the opportunities they have given us to talk through things and grow closer as friends. You've gathered a few jewels as friends along the way and I pray you will continue to nurture those friendships and bask in the warm, fertile soil they provide to grow and be you.

I know as a family we are faced with some upcoming changes that you are not happy about. None of us are. I appreciate you trying to be strong and face them with resilience. I've told you many times over the past few days to embrace the change and the new opportunities it afford. I am praying for all of us to adjust quickly and for God to fill each and every need in a very specific manner. I know how hard it is to trust that He knows best, but time and again He has proved His faithfulness to us and I have no doubt that He will do it once again.

Through all the changes of growing up and moving cross country I am here for you. Your mother who loves you dearly and fiercely. I will do what I can to keep you from pain and soften the blow as much as possible.

I love you dearest one and treasure you and every moment I have with you."

Love,

Mama

Friday, July 5, 2013

Little Things - Finding The Joy in The Rain.

It's been a rather, gloomy, dreary, rainy holiday week, which means no fireworks to capture, but plenty of low light, rain drops, puddle jumping, and umbrella carrying kiddos who find joy no matter the weather. Hope you all find joy this weekend as we celebrate the freedom we enjoy!

Linking up this week with my good friend Kim over at

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

July - Depth of Field

Time for our July blog circle, with a great group of photography friends. This month we are sharing on Depth of Field. Depth of field is controlled by the aperture of your lens and allows you to isolate your subject in a plane of focus. That sound's a bit technical but this is one of my favorite photography techniques! The aperture ring controls how much light is allowed in your camera. By opening it up you get more light and also a shallow depth of field, which means only a sliver of focus. By closing the aperture down you get less light but a larger area of focus and can also create some great starbursts when photographing the sun! Without further mumble jumble on the subject, here are my favorite photos from June, that show a very shallow depth of field.

1. Do you see the sliver of focus on the nose and finger and car? Here I drew attention to that part of the story by intentionally using a very shallow depth of field, allowing only those things to be in focus.

ISO 500 50mm f1.6 1/320s

2. In this image I kept it soft and peaceful, as well as drew attention to his sweet features by keeping the focus plane shallow and only focusing on the plane which has the light falling across it, thus using light and focus to draw attention to his features. ISO 6400 85mm f2.0 1/100s

3. Here I wanted to draw attention to his profile and gaze, so I kept my field shallow, effectively making him stand out against the blurry background. ISO 6400 50mm f2.0 1/40s

4. The next few photos is a series of progression. My focus plane was the basket on the table. You can see the ball move into the focus plane through the progression. Settings: ISO 400 50 mm f 2.0 1/320s

5. This photo is an example of shallow depth of field not working! I love everything about this photo except that his hand is not in focus. I was focusing on his eyes, with a shallow depth of field when he pointed, thus his hand is blurry. Had I closed my aperture down a bit, I would have enlarged my area of focus and gotten his hand in focus as well. ISO100 50mm f2.0 1/1250s

6. Lastly is this example of the fun you can have by closing your aperture all the way down, thus getting a wide range of focus and creating some fun starbursts while you are at it. ISO800 28mm f16 1/400s

I hope you've enjoyed this little mini tutorial on Depth of Field and are expired to grab you camera and experiment! You can see more examples of this technique by continuing through our circle. Next up is Kristen , go check out what she is sharing today!!!

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Letters To Our Sons - June

Each month I join up with a talented to group of ladies as we share a letter to our sons. Follow the link at the end to read what Julie has written to her boys.

"Dear Boys,

You are all growing up so quickly. How I wish I could freeze time, right now at this moment, with all of you here. As the 17 years have flown by since I became a mother, I know the time will pass all too quickly and in the very near future you will one by one leave the nest and venture out into this big world and the life God has for you.

D, you at this moment struggle with becoming a man, yearning for freedom and responsibility, while at the same time realizing that life is not as easy and carefree as it once was. It is hard for me to step back and let you make bad choices, but I know that is how you learn, so slowly I'm letting go and trusting you more, and releasing you to be who you were created to be. Just next week you are venturing out on a trip that without God's goodness, protection and grace would leave me quivering with anxiety. I know that it is in His purpose and plan for you at this moment, a step towards manhood, and so it's even harder for me to let you take that step...but I am. I am looking forward to seeing how it changes you, for I know you will come back changed, wiser, more mature and more sure of the direction you should go. Still I will treasure the last year or two I have with you here at home, under my care and I will savor each moment and pour myself into you, to nurture you and prepare you all I can in the time that remains. I will always be here to cheer you on, encourage you forward and offer a hug and forgiveness. You are fast becoming a man, and you make me proud.

J, you too are battling the changes that are quickly turning you into a man. I know these changes are hard. Be encouraged to meet the challenges with grace. Failure is ok, is part of learning and growing. You will always find grace here at home, from your family and from God. You take responsibility seriously, but remember not to take on issues that are not your responsibility, for they are burdens that weigh you down and hinder you from living the joyful life God has called you to. You have the gift of a leadership and organization and I pray these gifts serve you well. I have no doubt that you will succeed in whatever you set your mind to, for your resourcefulness amazes me. Stay focused on God and let His way light your path. Cling to Him, now and stay true to Him as you grow. Continue to serve Him with your time and you will be blessed. Know always that I love you and you are so very special!

N, I can't believe you are now 10! Where did the time go. It seems like only yesterday you were a tiny babe and then a mischievous toddler, always in my fridge, running and hiding with the milk. Your little brother reminds me so much of how you were at his age, and makes it even harder to believe how the time has flown. Now you are precariously balanced as the center child. Somedays you want the responsibility of your older siblings and other times you run and hide from the work and responsibility, hoping no one will miss you and call you back to your responsibilities. Unfortunately it works too often and I find you slipping by with bad habits. No worries, I'm determined to continue to train and nurture you, and pray you too will become a fine young man. Your sharpness amazes me and you too are resourceful. You love to research and report, but are easily distracted by video games. There is not much that fazes you and you accomplish all you put your mind to. If only I could convince you to put your mind to your chores and schoolwork with that same resolve that you've tackled diving, skate boarding, flying, etc. As with your brother's I am encouraged, for you all have trusted in Jesus as your Savior and have hearts that desire to please Him. I know without a doubt that He has great plans and purposes for you. I pray that I can continue to direct you and nurture you in His ways, and that you will always remain sensitive to His word.

Little J, you are my baby, but are growing too fast. It has been hard watching you grow and try and keep up with you older siblings. I know too well that you most likely are my last baby, and because of that I want to treasure every single moment with you even more than ever before. It's why you still sleep in bed with us, and I let you get away with more mischief, because I want to keep you little longer. I love when you cuddle in my lap and fall asleep. I could sit there and watch your peaceful face forever. You are determined to grow up...you worked and worked for two days straight learning to peddle a bike. You try and help me with all the chores. You follow your big brothers around, doing all they day, and most times succeeding. You are also fearless, which tends to make me fearful. I thank God, unceasingly for His intervention and protection over you. It's just another lesson for me as Mama, in trusting and letting go...a lesson that is never ending in this parenting process, but evolves as you grow and stretches me in my faith.

In ending boys, you are each and everyone a treasure and I am so thankful for the privilege of being your Mama, of raising you up and training you. Most days I feel as if I'm failing miserably at this Mama job, but I know God is there filling in for all my failure and weakness and you boys are forever forgiving and full of grace and together we are traveling this messy road of life, learning and growing and becoming all He has created us to be and fulfilling His purpose and shining His light and that is what family is all about. I love you all, dearly!

Love,

Mama"

Now stop by and visit my friend Julie at Julie Harding Photography and read the letter to her son.

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Letters to Our Daughters - June

I am so thankful for the monthly blog circles I participate in, that help keep me blogging and documenting my life. The Letters To Our Daughters group is one I look forward to each month. It keeps me accountable to journal my thoughts to my daughters and it's a lovely group of talented women that also join up to share. Today I'm joining up with them again as we share. I hope you can take the time to follow through our little circle.

"Dear Miss M.,

You're growing up so fast. Since I wrote your last letter you have turned 5, but you wish you were 13. Slow down my little one and savor each moment...I know I want to.

I love your big dreams. The other day you informed me that you wanted your hair to get longer and longer, like Rapunzel's so that you could be a princess.

Little one, know that you are a princess of the Most High. He created you for His glory and desires to bless you, keep you, and lavish His love upon you.

I am so thankful for the blessing you are to our family. You bring joy and sunshine to all of us each and every day.

I love you,
Momma

Now hop on over and visit Anne Canon | Kansas City Photographer and enjoy her letter.