AMUUSEing

June Photography in Animoto

2010-06-30T18:50:00.000-07:00

Enjoy some of the photos taken at June camp this year.

June 2010 Digital Photography and Hikiing

2010-06-28T05:44:00.001-07:00

Perspective and Viewpoint

2010-03-14T12:07:00.000-07:00

This is an image that makes me wonder, "What if..........?" Did someone take their shoes off to walk on the beach in the winter time? It was really cool when I visited this location in early March. It was a weekend retreat that brought me here.
This morning it was 19 degrees and I was in a hurry to get to a warm place when I set foot outside my cabin. The air was very crispy. Had I been driving the car, I am sure that the sound of crunching would have been heard all around the campground. It was a ear-crushing sound the night before. So, maybe someone forgot their shoes on the decking? Maybe someone had been down there in crocks? OR, Were they flung off during the summer and washed back to the bank during the freezing winter? No, probably not. The snow tells me that not many people have been combing the beach yet. It is still pretty cool down here even in the afternoon sun. It has been an interesting day so far. My teeth were shattering when I got up and ran to the restroom. I couldn't wait to get more suitable clothing on when I was dressing. Yes, I had on an undershirt, long underwear, turtle neck, heavy sweatshirt, and jeans under my down-filled coat. Oh, don't forget the heavy gloves, wool socks, hiking boots, fleece hat, and jacket hood. Yes, it was cold.
That roaring fire at the dining hall was a blessing. I really enjoyed warming myself by that rustic fireplace. I even helped carry in wood for the fire. No one wanted the fire to die down!
So, where did those shoes come from? Who will be back to get them? What is the story here? I am still wondering "What if.............?"

AMUUSE Winter Retreat

2010-03-11T13:29:00.000-08:00

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

Winter Retreat at Saugatuck

2010-03-06T18:03:00.001-08:00

I am very excited to find out that I could contribute to our AMUUSE newsletter. I wanted to share my experience with you through images and words.

I had a fantastic opportunity to share in the beautiful winter wonderland on Lake Michigan at Saugatuck in early March. It was my first time here in the winter time. The wooded area looks very different in the winter. Imagine being in front of a roaring fire in the stone fireplace in the rustic dining hall. I was transformed "back in time" and breathing in the natural setting. A wood burning fire in the fireplace, plenty of hugs, great single adults, and cabin accommodations set the environment for frolic and merriment. Laughter, dancing, and hiking provided plenty of photo opps. If you would like to see the photos, click on the link provided here.

I hope you enjoy some of the moments I captured.

Summer Fun

2009-07-09T06:08:00.000-07:00

The digital photography group was great fun!

Beach Walk and Creatures in the Forest

2009-06-18T09:16:00.000-07:00

Findings from all worlds on the beach.

Pictures of Douglas, MI in June

2009-06-18T08:22:00.000-07:00

Wednesday of June Camp in Saugatuck

2009-06-17T12:12:00.000-07:00

Day three of the June Camp began with a gentle rain. After the clearing, you can see the trees glistened with rain drops.

Stairway to Paradise

2009-06-17T09:03:00.001-07:00

Stairway to the beach

Jack's Pix 2009

2009-06-17T08:55:00.000-07:00

A.M Group Pictures

2009-06-17T08:09:00.000-07:00

This are miscellaneous pictures of Saugatuck and Lake Geneva.

People in the Forest

2009-06-17T08:03:00.000-07:00

In addition to creatures in the forest, people also appear.

Creatures in the Forest

2009-06-17T07:53:00.001-07:00

Look for the hidden shapes of animals and people in the trees of the forest.

Shapes and Colors

2009-06-17T07:39:00.000-07:00

My first digital photos!

New among the old

2009-06-16T09:11:00.000-07:00

New growth in the forest depends on the death of the old growth, which nurtures the new life.

What Happens When you Water a Bush

2009-06-16T08:42:00.001-07:00

This was taken on a trail in Saugatuck, MI.

pix hadda take!

2009-06-15T08:55:00.000-07:00

Fun at Saug

2009-06-15T08:23:00.000-07:00

I love it here!

OZ

2009-06-15T08:18:00.000-07:00

It is a beautiful morning on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan. There is a slight breeze and plenty of warm sunshine to awaken our hearts to the greetings of nature.

First full day of camp

2009-06-15T08:11:00.001-07:00

Learning and loving it.

Monday morning in camp

2009-06-15T07:47:00.001-07:00

Sunday morning in the Woods

2009-06-14T13:40:00.001-07:00

Yellow Springs Retreat

2009-05-31T07:55:00.000-07:00

Yellow Brick Road

2009-05-29T21:01:00.000-07:00

Photo Scavenger Hunt

2009-05-29T20:40:00.000-07:00

On your hike, pay attention to images that depict some of the following ideas.  Be creative with your composition.  Collect as images as you can to share with the group.

wind
time
gravity
fire
friendship
love
serenity
motion
unity
water
humility
loneliness
old
new
borrowed
blue
speed
stability
foundation
kindness
joy
open-minded
timid

Group Photos

2009-05-29T20:22:00.000-07:00

From AMUUSEing

We all gave a helping hand to get started taking photos on our first day. We bond our connection with several photographic images like this one.

From AMUUSEing

Cameras in hand, we took off on an adventure in the beautiful surroundings of beach, woods, and camp buildings. It was the beginning of great fun!

ASSIGNMENT: Picture members of the group without identifying them specifically. A few examples could be one of the following:

bare feet in the sand
shoes and toes
cameras in hand in a line
the tip end of the kayaks in a line
hands of the members
legs from the knees down in a line

We all needed to relax after the full morning of using technology tools.

From AMUUSEing

Gifts

2009-05-27T19:43:00.000-07:00

The Gift I SEE in YOU.................

A group becomes a team when each member is sure enough of himself and his contribution to praise the skill of the others.
- Norman S Hidle

We will be looking for "gifts" (special traits) specific to each individual in the morning group as we all contribute to this process so that on Thursday morning we can complete this statement of connection for every person in our group.

Camp Stories

2009-05-27T19:28:00.000-07:00

Begin a story about camp with 10 words on a sheet of paper. Hand your story starter to the person on your right. Now add 15 words to the story in your hand, then pass the story to the person on your right. Next add 20 words to the story you just received, then pass it on to the person on your right. Continue passing the stories to the person on the right after you have added your portion of the story. After each member has contributed to the each of the story starters, return the story to its original owner. Use this story to create a composition for a series of 4 to 5 photographs. Remember, that you can use artistic freedom with the senario.

Picasa Photo Sharing Tips

2009-05-25T13:45:00.001-07:00

Thematic List

2009-05-25T12:12:00.000-07:00

What story do you want to tell?
This is a short list of possibilities to consider as we move through this online photo gallery exercise.

plants, flowers, and trees
beach and water
favorite foods
architecture new and old
commonly used tools
see the forest before the trees
wildlife habitat
Wicked
flying monkeys
Munchkin Land (thinking short)
Emerald City (Going GREEN)
Yellow Brick Road (paved with good intentions)
Lions, Tigers, and Bears, NO, deer!
There is no place like home!!!!
a horse of a different color
Canoes, kayaks, life preservers, Oh, MY!
Seeing it my way.

June Camp

2009-05-24T16:56:00.000-07:00

I am excited about leading a morning group at June camp where we will be going on a "point and click" adventure in the natural surroundings of beautiful Lake Michigan near Saugatuck, MI. If the weather is unforgiving, we will use our creativity and photograph tools commonly used by "man or beast." The next few postings will be our online photo gallery of the adventure and antics of those campers interested in learning how to use digital images to tell a story. I hope you enjoy our journey of self discovery and illumination as we find the beauty of comfort and relaxation.