Team-Up Thursday~ Bokeh

When Berta suggested "BOKEH" for this week's theme, I did a little dance. I just knew I could get a GREAT shot for the theme. While I admit I didn't KNOW KNOW exactly what bokeh was, I definitely had heard it referred to a lot, and I knew exactly what I was looking for.

Then.....my week happened. It was a CRAZY busy week, with NO daycare, Tons of meetings and stuff at work, Dance Recital, and rain, rain rain.......sigh.

So while Berta got the shot I was hoping for....I did not.

So What EXACTLY is this crazy thing called BOKEH? After spending a bit of quality time googling, I found this definition to be most common:

A Japanese term for the subjective aesthetic quality of out-of-focus areas of a photographic image. To be pronounced "bo" as in bone, and "ke" as in Kenneth.

So not only is it referring to the out of focus portion of a photography, it is also referring to the QUALITY of that blurry portion. This is where it all goes confusing. The BEST quality of bokeh is a very disputed thing around the photography world. It is subjective. Good bokeh is pleasing to the eye. It does not distract from the subject of the photo.

It seems to me that there is two kinds of bokeh, then. The "hollywood style", and the "cream cheese style". Berta's shot is the hollywood style. It is flashy bokeh. The beautiful circles of light. This type of bokeh is just as much the subject of the shot as the flower in focus. It is a stunner.

My photo is more the "cream cheese style". The background is completely blurred in a smooth gradient. The purpose of the bokeh is to keep your eye on the subject in focus. It does not distract at all.

All in all, I walked away from this week just a tad more confused about what BOKEH really, truly is....but for a better appreciate for all sort of blur. It all serves a purpose, and makes photography such an interesting hobby.

Be sure to sign up, if you are a Team-up Thursday participant. I want to stop by your place, and see what you have been up to this week.

Wordless Wednesday~ They are taking her places

For more Wordless Wednesday, go HERE and HERE.

What's that in the sky?

It's my little Flying Saucer....and all her friends.

I had the opportunity to capture some shots of Sugar Bear's dress rehearsal the other day. What fun! I only got teary a FEW times....okay...a lot, but I'm a sappy mama like that. I just couldn't take the feeling of pride that was trying to bust right out of my chest. ♥ I think Sugar was feeling it too.....look at that smile!

You might remember that a week or so back, I posted a bit about Sugar's HULA obsession.

Well, now you know why.

It all began in dance class, and I have to admit I never thought she'd master the hula hoop at this young age, but she proved me wrong.

This little honey took her performance seriously. She LOVED being a flying saucer. And why not? .....she could SOAR!

And TWIRL...

And GLIDE!

But I have to say it is my favorite when she walks like a dancer at demi-point. I just love her little tippy toes. ♥

The face of concentration........it makes me giggle.

The look of enjoyment......it gives me ease. You see, about half way through the year, Sugar was ready to quit. She just felt done, and we had weeks and weeks of my gently guiding her to continue what she started. It was hard, but I wanted her to follow through with her commitment. Seeing her little face all lit up on stage....it was my payoff.

And it was Priceless!

Who would have thought a flying saucer would make me cry?

Take a little bit of THIS:

Add one of THESE:

And some of THIS:

And this mama is a big ol' pile of heart bursting, nose running, tears whelling up goodness. Yup, it's a proven fact.....I'm a sucker for flying saucers.

Especially ones that are THIS darn cute. Look at this sass-a-tude!

My girl is just plain beautiful from the inside out. I couldn't be more proud of her, if she were the first female to walk on the moon.

Some of you might know that Sugar Bear has been painfully shy since she was a baby. She is a go getting when it comes to nearly anything.....except people. It takes her a long time to warm up to new people, and she even gets shy around people she has known for awhile. Thus.....I wasn't really sure how this whole "dance recital" thing was going to go.

I shouldn't have been worried. She flew right out there on stage, and did her thang! It made my heart melt into a messy little puddle. I am so happy for her accomplishment.

She deserved all the LOUD applause.....the beautiful rose....and the purple hippo in a pink tutu!

It is quite possible that I am the most amazingly BLESSED mama in the whole wide UNIVERSE!

Yeah......I think that is certain!