A Short Update

Hello!
I have not had time to post much lately.
And, at this point I don't have the time to post much now.
But, I thought I would just show you what I got last week.

See it?
(I know....my thumb looks like it is broken.
It's not.) 

For those of you who don't know what Lightroom is (don't feel bad....I had no idea what it was until a little bit ago), it is a photo editing program made by the same people who make Photoshop. 

But how is it different from Photoshop? 

Pretty much, Lightroom is more geared towards photographers who don't want to make too many drastic changes to their  photos. 

It is more about making color changes rather than total cutting, trimming, taking out and putting in.

Hey, you pros out there, please correct me if I am wrong.  

I am very excited about this program and have been doing a lot of "test editing" the last few days. 

God has really blessed me because I did not have to actually buy this, it was given to me as a gift.
I am very thankful for this blessing because I know I would have never have bought it myself......I am stingy (or, as some of my friends would say....frugal).

Well folks, that is all for now!
I have lots to do and not enough time to do it in.
Have a great weekend.
~Mackenzie Hope~

P.S I am so sorry I have not posted the family shoot I did a while back, I just finished editing all of them, and will post them ASAP.

Something Sweet

Okay, are you ready to see something really cool? 

The answer to this question? 

Nope. 

You aren't.

So I will just console you by informing you: neither was I.
I was not ready.
I don't think you are either.

What, you ask, am I not ready for?

Okay, You see this camera? 

And this one?

Have you looked closely?

Are you ready? 

No, you are not-......okay, I won't go through that again.

Drum-role please......

That my friends is (well.....it was) my birthday cake. 

SEE?? I told you that you weren't ready!

Is this not the coolest cake on earth? 

Not only is it the coolest it is also the following:

1.Homemade by my sister-in-law.

2.A lot bigger than it looks

3.The most amazing tasting cake I have had since......well....I don't know when. 

4.The exact dimensions (blown up to twice its size ) of a Canon T2i. 

5.A photographer's dream cake. 

It even had a little dial on the top!

I did not get to take a picture of the other side (everyone wanted to eat it...man...people...don't they get that this is a work of art?), but there was a little viewfinder hole in the back too!

I was so not expecting this kind of birthday cake! 

A camera?  

Wow. 

You should have seen the look on my face. 

The first words out of my mouth were: "Ummmmm....can someone get my camera out?"

I would not let anyone touch it until I had at least one picture of it.  

Then I ate it.

It was good.
The end. 

Have a great week!!
-Mackenzie Hope 

More Delightful

Hello all, 

Isn't spring wonderful? 

I took this picture on the first day of spring. 

At the time, I had no plans for this bee show up in the picture. But, when it did the results were delightful. 

God does that to me all the time. 

When I have no extra plans for something , and I think everything set up just right, He sends something to make life more delightful. 

Sometimes He sends a ray of sunshine. 

Or a whiff of sweet air.

Or a phone call from a friend.

Or a good hair day (girls?...).

A especially lovely sunrise. 

A tune. 

A flower blooming.

He might send a wonderful letter from your sister (I just got one yesterday, it made my day wonderful).

None of things may be needed, but they sure make everything sweeter and more beautiful.

I hope you are having a great weekend. 

~Mackenzie Hope 

11 Random Things

1. I am 6.1" ( and 1/4)

2. My all time favorite song is You Are My All In All ( I have no idea who it is originally by) . This song has been my favorite since I was able to start talking. It still is. 

4. I do not play sports well. 

Mackenzie + sports = tentative disaster 

I do love trying to play sports every once-in-a-while (like soccer), but none of the pro stuff for me.
One of the main reasons for this is that I always trip over myself. (see #1)

5. Sunsets are amazing. 
End of story.

6. Spring is amazing.
End of story.

7. I love answering the phone.

Everyone thinks I am my mom when I answer it. 

 Me: "Hello"

Person: "Hi A, I was calling to ask you what I should bring for that party."
Me:"What party?"
Person:"The surprise party for Mackenzie!"

Me: "Um, Ohhhh.....yeah. She would love a Canon 5D with a nice big external flash and while you are at it why don't you get her a 30mm 1.4 len-......"

Person (very confused at what a 5D even was): "Ummmm... I meant food"

Me (disappointed I am not going to get a 5D): "Oh, yeah. Food. Ummmm.....I guess you can bring some salad.

Here let me let you talk to mom.

MOM!"  

Person (feeling like they should have hung up when she said 5D): "Oh"

8. My favorite drink all -year-round is London Fog Bubble Tea.
It's the best stuff EVER.
No question about it. 

9. Our dog (Linda) has 10 million names.

For example: Boo, Loo, Shtoo, Shtoo-boo, Linda-loo, Loo-boo, Lind, Lindy-loo-boo.
And The Shtoobinator.
Yeah. 

10. The other night at the dinner table our family was talking about caucuses and primaries (yeah, we are just geeks like that). Someone asked my Grandma (who has stage 3 Alzheimer's and lives with us) what party she would vote for, she did not answer at the time. Soon the conversation turned to whether we should get livestock to put in our now empty horse pasture.
 I know politics and livestock they have such a connection.
I was begging and pleading that we get a horse that I could ride. Mom wanted sheep, and my older sister wanted a pony.
My little brother wanted nothing.
My dad wanted what my mom wanted (everyone say "Awwwww")
So my dad turned to my grandma and said "What would vote for: Sheep, Goats, or a Pony?" (apparently my horse had been voted out)
Grandma proudly replied, "I would vote republican"

11. Time flies. I mean, I can't believe it is March already! It seems like it was November just a few minutes ago!
And it seems like this morning was a few hours ago.
Wait, it was.

The End.

~Mackenzie Hope 

In Which I say a Sorrowful Goodbye

Dear Winter, 

                         

Where did you go? Did you ever even really come? 

I have to say that I really missed you this year. 

I missed the snow that you usually bring along with you 

I missed sledding in it.

Making snowmen of it.

Making snow forts under it.

Making snowballs of it and throwing them at my brother (even though I always miss).

And I missed skating on the ice that you freeze. 

I missed the comforting feeling of being inside the cozy warm house with snow softly falling outside.

I missed you on Christmas day when, even though Bing Crosby was singing "I'm Dreaming Of A White Christmas", you were nowhere to be found, with the exception of in Bing Crosby's dreams.

I love you Winter, always have.

I miss you Winter, and I will bid you farewell until next December, when I look with anticipation for your coming.

Good bye winter. 

Until December 21st

Yours Truly,

~Mackenzie Hope

A moment of silence please........

HELLO SPRING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy last day of winter everyone!!!

To the reader: I do love winter, but I love every season as it comes. God always has a way of bringing on the new season when we need it most.

I look forward to the fresh joys of Spring, I just thought I would properly say goodbye to Winter before Spring comes.

Family Shoot (to come)

This weekend I did a shoot with a family of 13 (including a sister-in-law and grandchild). 

I will post more ASAP. 

Happy Monday! 

-Mackenzie Hope 

Sisters, Vintage and Sunshine

So, as I said in my last short post, my sister and I did an impromptu photo-shoot yesterday. 

I had just stepped out on my sunny front porch after a long day of tedious school. I heaved a sigh of relief that I could take a break. 

Sunshine makes everything better.

When I saw the sunset's golden light I promptly ran upstairs hoping that just maybe I could convince my sister to model in pictures for me.

"Hey, do you happen to be in to mood to model for me?" I asked.

"Why?" She replied. 

"Because the sun is shining, it is warm and I need portrait practice"  

She was convinced. 

Easy as pie. 

I just have this way with my sister. 

She informed me that she is really a fairy of the woods.

(I don't believe her) 

Then I climbed a tree. 

With my camera. 

My camera is fine. 

So am I. 

Thank you.

See the really cute flower in her hair? 

She made it.

This was my favorite part. The clouds were billowing over us and the sun was shining in front of us. 

And of course we had to get out the vintage bike for at least one shot. 

So, all-in-all it was a good day. 

I loved the light, clouds, my 50mm and my sister's modeling skills. 

I love my sister too. 

Just so you know. 

The end.

Happy Friday. 

Have a great weekend! 

~Mackenzie Hope 

P.S Almost all the pictures in this post were SOOCs (Straight Out Of Camara) 

Soon to come.....

Today I did a impromptu shoot with my sister.

It was fun. 

It was wonderful weather. 

My sister is lovely. 

I am very excited about these pictures, but alas, I don't have time I wish I had to blog them all right now. 

I will share the rest of them ASAP. 

Until later, 

Mackenzie Hope 

Good Morning World! (random post)

The sunrise this morning was a golden beauty.  

And I made a new friend today! He (okay, so maybe is is a she) liked the sunrise as well. 

I think I shall call him "Robin" (original, I know) 

Just thought I would stop by and share those pictures with you all. 

Have a great spring-ish day!

~Mackenzie Hope 

Soft Wind and Warm Sun

This morning was lovely. 

I would love to start this post by saying "The first thing I did this morning was to open my window, stick head out and sing a song in perfect key. Through the window sunshine poured all over my perfect looking room. I, with my perfect looking hair, smiled and just spent a full five minutes singing and getting dressed. " Nope, I could never say that. That is only what they do in the movies. 

Not at my house. 

The first thing I did this morning was to hit the snooze button on my timer. 

They do that in movies too. 

But, it is a lot less pretty when I do it. 

My poor timer. 

I did not open the window and let the light in. 

It was still dark. 

And my room is never perfect. 

I got up, with not so pretty hair and a smile on my face, and went downstairs. I said good morning to my mom and dad in a very hoarse voice (none of that perfect key singing in the morning at my house) and slowly wandered trough the house trying to wake up.

Well, to get to the point. This morning was lovely. 

 My window faces east, and as we all know, the sun rises in the east. 

At least I think it does. 

Yeah, it does. 

At about 9:00am I entered my room after having my morning tea, eating, getting dressed, reading my Bible etc. 

The sun was just flowing through my window, the light was splendid. 

That was when I threw open the window and stuck my head out. 

No singing though. 

Soon, I was out on the front porch doing school and drinking in every small and large ray of sunlight. 

Eventually I got warm enough to have a cup of iced tea. I was very excited about this. I love iced tea, and I usually start drinking it as soon as it gets warm 

So I made myself a nice, cold, fresh cup of tea. 

Ahhhhh *happy sigh*

And look! The flowers are growing in number! 

Of course, I had to ride my bike just a little bit.

Look, the trees are budding too! 

Ho-boy, I am excited!

I hope you are enjoying your day. 

~Mackenzie Hope