Great Expectations (and fog!)
Hi guys! It's been a while. Things are going well here, school is busy but ok and the centipede population in my apartment has greatly decreased. I find that I'm just not getting my camera out as much as I used to day-to-day, but I'm hoping that over the next couple of months I'll get better at that again. I'm loving being here though. I've been thinking about things that have happened here that I wasn't expecting, there are quite a few. I guess expectations are really just fears, so it's cool when you don't have to be afraid of things anymore..
- I wasn't expecting everyone here to be so nice: Ok, I'll admit that sometimes it's a little weird. I know more store clerks' life stories than I ever have before. But it's also very nice! I know I can't go anywhere without people smiling and saying hello. And people in stores are starting to remember me, which has never happened to me before. The only bad part is that I feel even more guilty if I leave home without washing my hair.
- I wasn't expecting to make friends that I hope I'll know for life. At least not so quickly... I tend to take a while to get close to people, but I already have a few friends here who I know I will be friends with for a long time. And who will tell me if I have something stuck in my teeth.
- I wasn't expecting to feel so comfortable here. I walk down the street and feel totally normal and relaxed. And sometimes when I pay for something at a store, I get surprised that I'm using American money.. I must really feel at home!

I have my first American Thanksgiving with a friend's family tomorrow, so excited! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

I went out with my camera when it was just getting dark last night. It was so so foggy out there... These are different for me and definitely not perfect, but I've never really tried taking photos in the dark before, so I'll cut myself some slack. I followed the girl with the umbrella for two blocks, I hope she didn't see me!

At the construction site across from my house:

85mm, f.2.0, 1/160, ISO 1600

85mm, f.2.0, 1/160, ISO 800

85mm, f/2.2, 1/100, ISO 1600

85mm, f/2.2, 1/100, ISO 800

85mm, f/2.0, 1/125, ISO 1600

85mm, f/2.0, 1/80, ISO 1600

A real subject!
Woohoo! I actually had a real person agree to some pictures today. It was like Christmas morning! Lol. We only spent about 5 minutes since we were on our way out, but still. It's something. As soon as Nikki showed up at my house with this blue sweater on, I knew some photos were in order. Aren't her eyes beautiful? They look so awesome with the sweater and her hair.. So gorgeous!

I was definitely a little rusty with these.. I've hardly shot adults period, and none at all for a few months. So I had a hard time telling her how to stand. I also had some trouble focusing, not sure why.. The full-body shots were way soft, and the ones I tried up against the brick were messed up as well. But I got a few that I like, and it felt really good to be processing photos of a person! Yesterday I was considering posting a blog retirement announcement, but I think I'll keep it going for now. I'm sorry I can't visit your blogs as much as I'd like to.. Grad school is crazy! But if any of you with kids ever have any questions about speech/language development, please feel free to ask me :)

Thanks for looking! CC is welcome. I posted some of these on ILP but haven't gotten any responses, so if you have any thoughts please let me know!

All with my 85mm 1.8 at f/2.2, ISO 100 and shutters around 1/125 - 1/200.



(Super soft!)



And one of me, courtesy of Nikki! I got the shot set up for her then we switched spots!