Lets go on a Cruise!

Posted on December 7, 2011 by jamiegall1930

You fly out to your cruise port destination, if you have time, you explore the town the port is located in, and you get excited about the days or week ahead.

On the morning of the Cruise takeoff, you stand in line to show your passport and identification, and to put your credit card on file, and then you enter the Cruise Ship.  It’s so big at first.  One of the first things they do is take a picture of you, your family, or friends.  Then they allow you to explore the territory.

You find all the options for food, you find the pool on top, you find the little shops to explore, and then you find they also have a casino.  And wow, the bars, and the fun drinks you can have.  Where do you go first?  Where do you start?  You explore your room and you find an entire list of events schedule on the cruise from entertainment shows to activities to their very own spa.  A cruise is worth every penny!

The first excursion day arrives, and you are off on your first adventure.  There are truly so many options to choose from.  You can explore ancient ruins, you can go shopping for a day.  You can swim with dolphins like the above, go snorkeling, go scuba diving, or jump on a party boat.  The options are endless, and it also depends on where you go.

When I went on my Caribean cruise, I swam with dolphins one day, and the next I visited an outdoor park called XCarat.  There, I was able to swim in an underground river.  The water was so warm, and it was awesome feeling as if I was swimming through caves.  In the future, when I take a cruise again, I will go zip lining because it is on the bucket list of things to do.

The above picture is of Xcaret Park in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

The possibilities are endless on a cruise, and the food is also endless.  From dressing up for their fancy dinners at night, to the buffets during the day.  You will not go hungry while on your trip.

Have you ever been on a cruise? Where’d you go, what did you do?  Would you recommend it? =)


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What is the point of New Year’s Resolutions?

Posted on December 6, 2011 by jamiegall1930

I use to say that all the time.  What is the point of making New Year’s Resolutions when people just break them, anyway?  So, I stopped making them.

However, this year, it’s different.  Now that I know the direction I’m headed in life, it’s like I can’t stop making New Year’s Resolutions.  I feel that’s a good thing.  For the first time in a long time, I have goals in my life, and a direction I want to head.

So, what are some of my New Year’s Resolutions?  

1) The first one is job related.  In other words, I want to find a writing job that pays.  One that fits into my schedule, and one that accepts me for who I am, and the writing ability I have.  I would prefer this position to be full time as I do have bills to pay.

2) It is time I build better relationships with my family and friends.  I will continue to reach out, and talk to those that are important in my life.

3)  I will buy myself a new Digital Camera this year.  I will not settle for anything less than a DSLR.  I have reached the limitations of my camera, and it is now time to stretch my learning onto something new.

4) I will continue to work on my social anxiety by attending new events where I have to continually socialize with new faces.  I will make more phone calls, and I will reach out to other people.  This correlates with #2, but I must reiterate this =)

5) I will write one article, blog, or post a day somewhere to continue to work on my writing skills.

6) I will learn about SEO to become more informed about internet start up companies, and what is needed to put a website ahead of everything else on various different topics.

7) I will attend a blogging conference this year.

8  I will continue to work on my cooking skills, and learn to cook and make healthier food options.  It is time to start eating healthy instead of the same old, lazy routine of out of the box food.

9) I will continue to work towards becoming debt free.

10) I will attempt to paint.  For years I have told myself I’ll do it one day.  Well, that day is this upcoming year.  I can no longer put it off.  I have the equipment.  Now, I just need to do it.

So, what do you think of my list?  I had a lot more concrete things in my head last week, but I have since forgotten what those things were.  This list is off the top of my head, but it coincides with everything I’ve been working on the last couple of months.

What are some of your New Year’s Resolutions?


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Random Monday!

Posted on December 5, 2011 by jamiegall1930

Happy Monday everyone! I hope the start of your day has been good.  Mine has =)

I’m going to share with you some of my favorite pictures I have ever taken since taking up photography.  With each picture I’ll tell you where it was taken, any stories behind it, and what I like about it.  I hope you enjoy this.

I had driven up to my favorite place in Minnesota, the winter after my divorce. I was looking to get away from all the stress of life, and to try to capture some of the beauty of the Minnesota North Shore during the winter, which I had never gone and done before.  I just love this picture because it encompasses the ice on the ground, the beautiful Minnesota pine trees, and the Sun in the background.  When I look at the picture, I think it’s the path to new tomorrows.  To this day I think of that moment when I looked up from where I was standing and saw this image.  I had to take the shot.

This was during the fall at Gooseberry Falls in North Shore, Minnesota.  It was my last few days in Minnesota, and since the North Shore was one of my favorite places to visit, I had to show my visitor the place.  This was just the beginning of the fall colors starting to sprout.  I love this picture because of the fall colors in the background, the people walking on the ed of the waterfall, and just the clearness of the water.  Yes, you can see some vivid reflections, but not too much.  It was a perfect combination for me.

This is my all time favorite picture I have ever taken.  It happened within the first two months of my being in Los Angeles.  I had no job, I was taking myself out to sunsets every other day, and finding new spots to take pictures from.  This was at the Whale Watch center in Palos Verdes.  I saw the ray of light on the water, when I looked to my right and saw the sailboat coming.  I waited a good five minutes before the sailboat was finally in the ray of light, and snapped this shot.  I knew I got the shot even before I took it.  To this day, it is my favorite, and I haven’t been able to repeat the shot YET.

I had gone to the Lantern Festival last March or April taking place near Olvera Street in Los Angeles.  I had met one of my photography groups there, and was having a great time running around taking pictures.  This little girl was running around with her daddy, and she started to pout because her daddy wanted to go, and she wanted to stay.  I zoomed in, and captured the moment.  I’m not always good with people shots, so having a few of these type of shots is always nice to have!  It reminds me that I can do people shots.

This was my first time seeing dancers live in action, in a long time.  It was with this shot, I realized I really enjoyed photographing them.  It was a lot of fun.  And just one of my favorite ArtWalk shots I have taken since attending them.  If you know of any dancers out there that wouldn’t mind being photographed in action, send them my way: jamieleaphotography@hotmail.com

Some of my first HDR shots taken.  HDR(high dynamic ranger) is when you take 3 different shots at different shutter speeds.  A high light, a low light, and a medium range light.  Through software, you then combine the three images together.  The point is to bring all the elements of a photograph together to make one bright, vibrant shot.  There are different layers and themes in each program utilized.  It’s a lot of fun to play around with.  This was captured at the Pasadena City Hall.

I live close to this huge fountain that does a water show every night.  The beautiful Vincent Thomas bridge is in the background, and it makes for a beautiful shot.  I still can’t believe it was me taking this shot.  Isn’t it lovely?

One day I made a post on facebook about what I should photograph next?  My friend, Rose Infantino said, “me.”  Next thing I know we’re doing email exchanges back and forth, and we arranged a time to a photography shoot with her.  She’d bring some different outfits.  The day came, and we ended up driving around town at different venues and taking shots of her.  It was a lot of fun.  I learned more about my photography, and she got to learn what it’s like to be a model.  It was a lot of fun, and some great shots came out of the day, including the one above.

I love taking pictures, and I love trying anything once.  My favorite kind of pictures include doing landscapes, and experience a new place for the first time, every time.  However, I’m trying to do more people photography, and learn the skills needed behind that.

Happy Monday!


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