It actually feels like spring now, with flowers, frolicking lambs and considerably happier people around the place.  My baby lettuces are cheerfully growing in the garden - and daylight savings starts this weekend.  HORRAY!

Everyday has been full of photography assignments, and there seems to be a bit of a race between Paul and I as to who gets the editing computer. 

Without a doubt, the shot for today goes to Paul for this little beauty!

In other news:

Our tadpoles are depressed.  They're simply not themselves lately, refusing to eat or swim about with their usual glee.  They've clammed up too, they just don't want to talk about it.  Yesterday my good friend's tadpoles died, and it's put everyone on edge.  Maybe it's something in the air?  I doubt that, seeings they don't breathe yet. 

Canon have announced their new camera, the 5D Mark II.  21 beautiful megapixels, up to 25600 ISO, it even records video!   They haven't released it yet, but it should be out before Christmas.  This baby has so much going for it - I find myself thinking about it as I wake up in the morning - how sad is that?  Somewhere along the line I have become a bonefide geek!  That may be the case, but at least I'll be a geek with a niiiiiice new camera!

Jimmy is tall, dark and very handsome - but Jimmy needs a new home, so I shot him.  Sounds like a terrible opening line for a book, doesn't it?  Anyway, Jimmy is absolutely beautiful and full of spunk, here are a couple of my favourites from yesterday's shoot.

Amanda, you rode him beautifully, looking fantastic as ever.

In other news:

My photo of our elderly neighbour Ben and his wife Joan have made it to the cover of 'Family Care' magazine.  It looks so gorgeous, he's kissing her on the cheek, and she's looking rather pleased about it.  Sadly Joan passed away before she ever got to see herself as a 'cover girl'.  Ben says she would have been thrilled about it.  I'd take a photo of it, but Paul is out on a job with the cameras right now.

There are a ton of property photos that I need to get on and blog, Paul has been a busy beaver now that the weather is nice - and spring is finally upon us!  HORRAY!

My tadpoles have itty bitty back legs now, you can only just see them.  Watching these little creatures develop has been absolutely amazing, how masterfully they have been designed!  Very cool.

Today brought the opportunity to shoot another one of my sister's beautiful children.  Anneke has been really special to me since she was a little baby... boy I could tell you some stories about this cute little ragamuffin.  But here she is, all grown up into a stunning young woman. 

This was Jason's first experience with the 'crazy aunty' - but he seemed to cope quite well!

Naturally, we had to do the blue wall again!  This wall is right in town, and I had to giggle as I was across the street with my camera shouting orders at them, as people walked passed - looking a little bewildered.

Hanging out by the murals.  There are so many cute pictures in this series!

The fish does NOT look impressed.

Tessa - Aunty's coming for you next!

Well it seems that winter finally got to me, and I've become a little bit of a 'blogging hermit' - if there even is such a thing.  It's really not ok!  So to try and catch up I've rummaged through some of the recent work, and pulled a couple of bits and pieces out.

Here's a twist on the ordinary isolated wine bottle.  I love the way the light falls, and the barrels through the glass. 

Here's another beautiful place out at Rarangi.

Gosh, I love this shot.  You know all that it really needs?  A bride with a big white dress running along, veil flying.  Wedding season is just around the corner, bringing me more brides and veils to have fun with!  Bring it on!

In other news:

My tadpoles are getting oh-so-fat.  No back legs yet, but it can't be long now?  There's still about 50 of them, so I think we're going to have to take some back to the river - lest we end up with a plague of Egypt in our living room!

It's still raining.  Usually Blenheim has lovely, clear and sunny winters.  This winter is making me want to move to Queensland.

The children did a 'Kids for Kids' concert with Suzanne Prentice, and my Georgia got picked to sing a solo!

She did amazingly well, for a little girl singing in front of 400+ people!

We've made a new border for the photos, giving it a whirl.  Feel free to drop us an email to let us know what you think, is it a keeper?

Our photos have appeared in the latest issues of Unlimited and Homestyle magazines.  Very cool.

I think that's it for today!

A lazy Sunday afternoon, I have a bunch of new ideas and locations swimming around my head.  So I take my enthusiastic and not-too-bad-looking friends out for a play.

See?  I said enthusiastic!

And a bit of bright orange for good measure...

Then we went off to a little park and just hung out a bit.

Thanks guys, you were hot as usual - that was fun :) 

I don't know how they managed to do it so many times, but my siblings produce some magnificent looking children.  Anneliese is the sister of Daniel whose wedding I'm thrilled to be shooting later in the year.

Anyway, I was able to grab a few quick shots of her before she headed off to her school formal.

Her good friend Chloe was patient enough to play along with the crazy aunty.

In other news:

Great excitement in our home!  My tadpoles have emerged from their slimy sacs, and are swimming free - tomorrow they move into a bigger bowl and more room to explore away from their 60 brothers and sisters. 

I'm enjoying watching the Olympics, particularly the gymnasts.  It's a fantastic demonstration of what the human body can achieve.  I sit there thinking quietly "I bet I could do that..."  as they flip about from bar to bar, tumbling and twirling.  Then it takes me 17.25 minutes to pull myself off the couch.  Oh well.

I've got to get myself into gear and get the blog updated with our latest photographic adventures, so stay tuned for that.

So - we've been given 60 or so pet tadpoles!  They started as little black dots, inside some nasty slimy stuff, and now they're starting to wriggle about in it a bit.  They don't seem to mind being locked inside this giant mass of jelly, but I expect one day it will get old for them and they'll swim right out.  I find myself staring at them for ages, watching them grow is absolutely amazing.  They have been designed so perfectly - I'm pretty sure I'm enjoying them more than the kids! 

So they're going to hang out at our place for a month or so, then when they're actually frogs they'll be sent back to the river.  Because, honestly, who needs 60 frogs hopping around the place?