This weeks challenge was another Landscape shot. The terms were Black & White so I shot something quick while I was in Portola. I loved the rays of sunshine brightening up the young tree in the bottom right corner of the shot. I wanted to try something new with this landscape shot as well so instead of trying to capture EVERYTHING possible, attempting to fit all the beauty into one shot, I tried to focus on something a bit smaller. I'm not sure if it really counts as "landscape photography" but I enjoyed it and I enjoy this shot. Also, you may notice a hint of green. I didn't listen to the rules. I muted it a ton but I still like that small taste of green in the trees. 

Thanks for reading/looking! 

I've had a pretty hectic couple of months. I've recently picked up a couple more jobs and a new trade. As much as I'm enjoying my time out and about, being productive and what not, I definitely miss my down time. I miss hanging out at coffee shops working on my blog, I miss being able to spend lazy afternoons sunbathing with my dog, I miss doing absolutely nothing and having no where to be. I am grateful, however, for the extra cash in my pocket and for my new teacher taking the time to pass on his dying art. I haven't stopped shooting though! I just haven't had the time to get on my computer to edit photos and write. What I have been doing is working constantly. I spent a weekend watching some dogs and a house in Portola, I've been working a lot more, training dogs, exercising, fostering a dog, and best of all... shooting. I promise, I haven't stopped my Weekly Photo Challenges. I've been doing my best to keep up with the weekly shots, I just haven't had the time to post them. One day there will be a surplus of posts with all the photos I've been getting. In the mean time, check out this adorable house I got to spend a weekend in Portola, happy and alone. 

Guess who is already behind?? ME. haha Of course.
I took the photos during the weeks I was supposed to but I've been unbelievably unmotivated to be on the computer which is...very odd for me. So I chose to embrace that! But a couple weeks ago my photo challenge or "inspiration" for the week was the color red. I had a couple ideas to do some interior design type shots but I ended up in the redwoods one afternoon and couldn't resist. There is no better "red" inspiration than redwood trees. As Ender sniffed and trotted ahead of me, I photographed everything in sight. Again, stepping out of my comfort zone, I tried to do some nature shots. This fallen tree was so glorious and the red on the inside is so rich. Tell me what you think. I really need some pointers! 

I also got a couple shots of Ender. (Duh) Others are on Instagram but I really liked these as well. 

Another post will be coming shortly. Again, I'm sorry about the lack of consistency, I'll try to get better. I'm realizing that I'm a medium-low energy person and training dogs for 5 hours a day really takes it out of me. So much so that I can't even get on the computer to write!? Thats pretty ridiculous. I was lucky to adopt a dog who has the same energy level as me. I'm reminded how lucky I am every day when he doesn't pester me or destroy things from lack of energy exertion. 

Thank you everyone who continues to check in on my life happenings. I really appreciate you all!
      All our love,
                  Hannah&Ender xx

My wonderful friend Kristina, invited me to stay with her, her brothers and their significant others at their cabin in Arnold for the long weekend. Unfortunately, dogs don't know who Martin Luther King Jr. is or why we celebrate his birthday, so I still had to go to work and train them on Monday. I told her, "If you decide to come back Sunday, I'd love to go with you."  A week passed and she decided she'd come back Sunday. I packed my bag, loaded the dogs in the car, and we drove east to Arnold.

We got there in the evening and spent the rest of our night enjoying a few beers and games with the whole gang while Ender, Pippin, and Scotty ran their little hearts out around the house. After a hilarious evening spent by the fire, we slowly fell into a deep and well deserved slumber while watching a movie. The next morning/afternoon was spent drinking hot beverages and playing in the snow and it was AMAZING! Being the sun worshipper Ender is, I was sure he was going to hate the snow. I was wrong. He absolutely loved it! He was prancing around and sprinting through it! I had "proud dog mama" written all over my face. The three boys all reacted very differently to the snow, Ender loved it, Pippin was indifferent, and Scotty wanted to be held most of the time. Either way, we had a great time and I hope we can go again! I can't wait for Ender to be 100% reliable off leash so he can explore a bit more and go be a real dog! Until then we'll enjoy our half on leash, half off leash time together. 

This weeks Challenge was "Landscape." As much as I admire landscape photography... I cannot, for the life of me, shoot a good landscape shot. I never feel as though I can properly capture the beauty of the earth and I just get down on myself. But I tried this week. I knew I'd being going out to Arnold for the long weekend so I decided to take shots in the snow. Everything about these photos is "out of my comfort zone," but I tried and I don't think I completely failed. I got cute shots of the dogs and okay shots of the Earth. But I'd LOVE feedback and tips on how to do good Landscape photography, I'm truly at a loss. 

A post will come soon about the night and day spent in Arnold with the pups :) Thanks for reading and commenting! You guys are awesome! :) 

The first challenge for the new year was to take a "selfie" or a self portrait. I've actually taken quite a few self portraits and usually use them to get rid of some anger or sadness. I thought that this challenge would be easy so I didn't think about the photo or plan anything out. I quickly shot a couple photos this morning and of course, they didn't end up how I wanted them to. Way to start off this challenge, lazily and wishing I did more! haha. But the idea behind these photos is that I'm trying to make myself more vulnerable/more comfortable with vulnerability. I live a pretty guarded life, just because it tends to be easier that way, but I'm hoping as I get older I can grow into a more open and expressive person. I've also been feeling a tad low this week, which is probably why my face looks the way it does. I very unsatisfied with these photos and am a little embarrassed this is how I am starting off my challenge. But it's a good kick in the pants and I'm definitely going to try harder next week.

Also, sorry if this is too exposed for some of the people I know looking at this. Haha. Thanks for reading!! 
                         Hannah & Ender xx 

It's New Year's Eve and I cannot help but look forward to 2016. I'm ready to move on, try new things, and push my boundaries. Every year, I try to create resolutions for myself, hoping I will be a better me if I succeed. But like most people, I NEVER actually (accomplish)?? succeed. I keep up whatever said resolution was for a couple months max and forget about them by March. Well this year I'd like to do something different. This year I'd like to work on broad ideas instead of making a check list of resolutions. Some things I'd like to do/practice this year are:

• Patience: This is a very big goal for me. I struggle with is patience in every single aspect of my life. I get impatient with the dogs I train, with friends that I have, and even simple conversations with my family. I'd really love to be able to step back, breathe, and take the time to see it from the others perspective.  
• Positivity: Naturally I'm a pretty negative/cynical person. Its a lot easier for me to see the bad or expect the worst out of situations. I'm going to try and work at seeing the positive points in the events life throws at me. 
• Ender & I: Ender and I have a pretty strong relationship as is BUT training and growing is continuous. I never plan on stopping. So this year I'd like to work on our off leash walking/recall and I want to go backpacking with him!
• 52 Week Photo Challenge: Every year I say I'm going to complete a 365 project. EVERY YEAR. And I've never done it. So I'm going to do this challenge. I hope with some guidelines I'll actually get it done.  

These are my, kind of not really, broad goals! I'm sure I'll think of more as the year goes on. Now, look at some adorable freaking photos of Ender and I! Thank you Nico, my best internet friend, for having lovely conversations with me and making Ender and I look oh so dang hip. 

I wish you all a Happy New Year! Cheers to a year of loving ourselves and being unbelievably happy in our own skin!  
                  All of our love,
                               Hannah and Ender xx