CircleCount helps you better understand Google+

2013-05-23 04:31:52 (14 comments, 0 reshares, 22 +1s)

Working on a new logo for my site. What do you think of this? (This is my current landing page... (I'm about to make more changes to my menus, but I have to have a logo first). 

2013-05-21 20:22:01 (8 comments, 2 reshares, 53 +1s)

Went for a walk today with a friend at the Torrey Pines State Park, here in San Diego. I've never been on the bluffs above. It was a blast. Looking forward to many more exciting days shooting up there! 

2013-05-21 20:20:21 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 11 +1s)

Went for a hike at Torrey Pines today. The clouds were agreeable. 

2013-05-15 15:57:10 (4 comments, 3 reshares, 46 +1s)

Canon CPS sent me a 14mm lens to play with. It was fun, but the beach wasn't spectacular... Maybe tonight will be better... Regardless, my kids had fun playing with the waves.... Will I buy the 14mm? Not right away. I thought I'd want it, but naw... the 17mm is almost wide enough. I might upgrade to the 16-35 from the 17-40

2013-05-12 21:54:09 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 16 +1s)

My favorite photo with the 8-15mm fisheye so far. That lens sure does take some work to use well. :) 

2013-05-12 19:34:00 (7 comments, 0 reshares, 7 +1s)

Found my ATM card and Driver's Licence (in the bottom of the dryer vent. Now, the question is... How do I get it out, and when will I find my cell phone?

2013-05-11 01:12:36 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 15 +1s)

My borrowed 14mm 2.8. I am IN LOVE... and reading a good book... 

2013-05-09 19:26:17 (7 comments, 0 reshares, 28 +1s)

San Diego Fair
Just spent the morning re-editing photos for the San Diego Fair. This one I submitted in the category, "Game On".. No child was exposed to smoke in the making of this image... But, it was fun. Hopefully, the judges get my sense of humor. #blog

2013-05-09 00:56:09 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 7 +1s)

+LensRentals.com just posted a great article about the color runs and their lenses... http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2013/05/how-to-ruin-your-gear-in-5-minutes-without-water/comment-page-1#comment-38132  I totally get why they won't insure this use anymore... But, when I went out, I couldn't help but use my DSLR. Of course, I shot with my Ewa Marine underwater bag... Yet, I still have dust on that bag! 

2013-05-08 22:28:55 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 18 +1s)

+Gene Bowker, if you didn't already know, it is your birthday. Yes, somehow, when I woke up this morning, I saw so many trains in my feed... I'm so glad to be able to say my nephew is following in your footsteps with a love for trains. I thought of this image as soon as I saw today was the day to post a train pic. Hope all your meetings went smoothly, and I hope you have a fantastic evening knowing you are loved and appreciated! #happybdaygene 

2013-05-08 16:49:26 (8 comments, 0 reshares, 24 +1s)

Canon is sending me some lenses today though CPS. (I love Canon Professional Services...) I wonder if they really know the kind of stress I put their lenses under???? Just teasing... But I'm super excited to be borrowing the 14mm 2.8 and the 8-15mm fisheye... I wonder what sort of photos I'll be posting to my stream over the next few weeks... Hopefully not one like the image below!!! 

2013-05-07 20:01:49 (9 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Quick question for those familiar with wordpress...

I've got the border around my images... I'd like to remove it... :) 

Does anyone know how?

http://www.erikathornes.com/blog/

Thank you! 

2013-05-07 05:13:01 (9 comments, 1 reshares, 43 +1s)

already squirming from kisses...

Didn't know it started this early. 

2013-05-07 03:53:54 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 26 +1s)

#herestothemoms is a fun theme? Awesome! I never seem to take photos of my mom. She hides from the camera. I yelled, "Hey Mom!", and got her to turn a bit towards me yesterday. Mom, I love you. Thank you for visiting this past month. It has been a blast... +Brian Matiash LOVE the theme. 

2013-05-07 01:13:29 (6 comments, 1 reshares, 30 +1s)

I bet you know where this is..... 

2013-05-06 20:34:37 (18 comments, 6 reshares, 55 +1s)

Sometimes, when you're having a hard day, all you need is a hug. 

2013-05-06 18:14:42 (15 comments, 2 reshares, 21 +1s)

If I had to live in L.A, I'd want to live on the Venice Canals. However, I think the rent would kill me... Looks like it is 5k-8k a month... just a wee bit out of my range. :)

2013-05-06 17:04:18 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 24 +1s)

I was up in Venice yesterday... Yes, the skyline is small, but the light became really lovely. 

2013-05-06 16:14:30 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 11 +1s)

Went on a tour of Venice, CA yesterday. This caught my eye. 

2013-05-06 05:26:51 (0 comments, 2 reshares, 25 +1s)

Erika Thornes was tagged in Erika Thornes's album.

2013-05-06 05:26:08 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 12 +1s)

Added photos to The Selfy Sunday Project.

2013-05-04 05:00:12 (3 comments, 1 reshares, 25 +1s)

© 2013
➤ Airborek Jetty

2013-05-04 02:44:41 (10 comments, 1 reshares, 42 +1s)

housing

2013-05-03 14:49:51 (1 comments, 2 reshares, 14 +1s)

My new favorite photo of the day... I just ADORE it. Sometimes we just have a favorite image, and for today, this is IT. :) I love stairs, and I love kids playing. 

2013-05-03 02:53:21 (7 comments, 1 reshares, 62 +1s)

Feeling Exposed

I truly wish that I didn't have photographer's anxiety. From what I know, it seems a lot of us suffer from it. At least with golf, your bad shots fade into the memory, and aren't recorded with exif data forever... Thankfully, there is a delete key, but turning over every shot, every bad shot unedited is like standing in front of a mirror naked and sweaty from a day's work. I'd rather stand naked, it is less painful.

(Self portrait from 2 years ago). First experiments with underwater photography.

2013-05-08 22:35:04 (19 comments, 12 reshares, 136 +1s)

Sunset.... #blog

2013-05-08 22:34:49 (8 comments, 2 reshares, 24 +1s)

Tips for me to Remember when Meeting up with Other Photographers... 

1. Arrive early (of course!)
2. Offer to buy the coffee...
3. Ask about their personal projects, and be genuinely engaged...
4. Follow up with a thank you text/e-mail note about the conversation.

(those are all obvious no brainers.) but the biggest one that I, personally must remember... 
The most important one:
5. Order Half Caff! I'm still bouncing off the walls 4 hours later. :)

But it was a great meeting, and I'm jazzed about some projects I will be working on. Looking forward to building a new professional relationship and working my tail off!  

What are your best tips for creating great relationships with other professionals in your local community? #blog  

2013-04-26 19:42:26 (9 comments, 1 reshares, 58 +1s)

Fine Art Session

A while back, I advertised a special on my Facebook Business Page. I was itching to go out and shoot more of the images I love. The type that can go on your wall forever. The type that as your family age become even more special, and don't feel dated. The type of image that I hope will be hanging up years down the road as a tribute to the past. The session was for a piece of art. A simple session designed to create a personal piece of beautiful art for your home. No digital files to worry about where to print, or what to do, not 600 photos to weed through to find the best, just beautiful art ready to hang. The client leaves the session knowing that they will have a few hand selected thoughtfully curated images to pick from, and a ready to hang beautiful professional canvas arriving at their door ready to hang. It makes for a fantastic gift.

Last night, I did... more »

2013-04-26 19:46:03 (18 comments, 1 reshares, 34 +1s)

What do you feel?

I'm going through my images today, looking for pictures that give a certain emotion. Please tell me what you feel when you see this. If you have seen it before, and know the back story, don't tell me. I just want to know what you feel when you see it. (Thank you) #Blog  

2013-04-25 21:57:24 (3 comments, 1 reshares, 27 +1s)

This morning, I was going through my digital files looking for photos that I am going to enter into a Fine Art Competition here in San Diego. It was fun looking through my past work, to find images that I felt were more "fine art" (this didn't make the cut). I always loved this portrait of my daughter. It was taken over two years ago. I would do things differently now, but it was a great experience for me to try new types of framing. It was daring for me then. Looking forward to summer and more days on the beach. 

2013-04-25 13:52:58 (7 comments, 1 reshares, 1 +1s)

What do you think of this? I don't understand why the government is pursuing this. I would love to know what you think.

2013-04-25 06:48:53 (5 comments, 1 reshares, 2 +1s)

I should be sleeping....

2013-04-25 01:08:34 (42 comments, 1 reshares, 70 +1s)

Sometimes you just need a new profile shot... 

2013-04-26 19:47:18 (13 comments, 1 reshares, 64 +1s)

Bubble Eating Should Be More Popular

Thanks guys for humoring my fun! I haven't been shooting as much as I should be, so she's a great excuse to play. My shoot tonight looks like it is going to be canceled again, and it is just the fault of the weather. Nothing else, so playing in the sink is providing me with a much needed creative outlet! #blog

2013-04-24 18:58:34 (10 comments, 2 reshares, 50 +1s)

I can't help sharing pictures of my day. This is my niece. She's loving to eat everything with her hands, including purees... Means... after each meal, she needs a bath. :) What a joy for me! 

2013-04-24 18:38:02 (2 comments, 1 reshares, 30 +1s)

Had my niece over for a visit today. She sure is growing up. 

2013-04-23 02:12:16 (2 comments, 1 reshares, 34 +1s)

A friend asked me to help carry her bags at a wedding she was shooting. (While very pregnant). We had a few moment,s so I worked on grabbing one of my silhouette shots for the couple. This is the first time I've worked on a boat for a silhouette. It sure is a different environment, but fun to shoot in. I'd love to go back and play when I had more time. It felt good to get out and shoot. I haven't been creating enough lately. 

2013-04-17 20:37:23 (18 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

CSS folks...

Quick Question... When I updated my wordpress blog, my text is aligning left in the footer... (I used to have it centered). Any clue what is going on? THANK YOU +James Howe! We found a solution! 

www.erikathornes.com

2013-04-12 19:41:42 (4 comments, 2 reshares, 18 +1s)

Lovely morning out on the course... (Taken with my cell phone camera, and no, it isn't as good as an iPhone (Samsung), but it really was a nice morning. 

2013-05-18 17:58:04 (32 comments, 5 reshares, 66 +1s)

2013-04-08 03:11:54 (7 comments, 1 reshares, 25 +1s)

Someone posted a link on my facebook stream about making gummy earthworms that looked real. I just had to make them. They taste great! 

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150989601373401&set=a.485223578400.256680.612148400&type=1&theater

2013-04-26 19:47:48 (5 comments, 0 reshares, 38 +1s)

An Hour with Auntie

Today, I got to spend the morning with my 8 month old niece. She is into everything. I thought it would be fun to follow her around with my camera this morning, and capture her life (I'll make her a little book for when she's older). This is only about 1/3 of what she got into in the hour we spent while big brother was at preschool with mom. I adore this age, but I forget how much work it is. What a great time we had. Her favorite find was a glass cup, followed by being intrigued that when she banged two cups together one went flying off. It was a mission to retrieve it. She is just a blast, and a total sweetheart. I was tired after spending one hour with her. Moms of babies, you are superstars in my book. :) They sure are work. Great work, but work! #blog

2013-04-03 00:08:35 (19 comments, 2 reshares, 17 +1s)

Whatcha doing tomorrow at 11am Eastern time?

Starting at 11am, I have a friend who is hosting a class for PhD students in Library and Information Sciences on Social Media. She's interviewing me on my use of Google+. I would love to have a few of you in the hang out as well... 

Here are the questions! Would you like to be involved? Do you have 30-40 minutes tomorrow morning? 

- How did you get involved with Google+ and the photographer community in G+?
- What have you learned from participating in G+?
- Why use G+ instead of Facebook or LinkedIn for professional development?
- What do you recommend to up and coming social media professionals (in a variety of fields) in terms of using G+ or other social media marketing?

Please, please, pretty please? 

2013-04-26 19:48:19 (12 comments, 2 reshares, 19 +1s)

April Fools iPad Joke

My April Fools Day joke I played on my kids. :) They were good sports. #blog

2013-03-27 05:54:29 (16 comments, 1 reshares, 27 +1s)

Found this creature IN our house tonight. +Josh Thornes thought he was a rattlesnake at first, and was a bit frightened. I wonder if this creature could have been the one to eat our baby bird? I'm starting to feel guilty releasing it into the back yard. Anyway, does anyone know what it is? 

2013-03-27 02:49:13 (3 comments, 1 reshares, 10 +1s)

Is it normal for baby hummingbirds to regurgitate?

I've got a nest right outside my window, and sadly, yesterday, a leaf appeared over the nest and one of the birds was gone when I lifted the leaf. The baby was hungry. I left the leaf off, and the mother returned. (Happy baby hummer). But, we are down to one baby now. I'm wondering if it could be related that two days prior, one of the baby hummingbirds was regurgitating. I have a series of pictures I took of the baby throwing up the food. I haven't seen anywhere online that spoke of regurgitating babies. Anyone know?

2013-03-26 22:20:38 (3 comments, 3 reshares, 8 +1s)

Baby Hummingbird Feeding

I made a video today of how short the feedings are. I put part of it in slow motion so you could see the nectar flowing. It is quite interesting. (and boring at the same time). But, if you want to root this baby on, it is a cute little 2 minutes to watch. 

2013-03-26 22:14:03 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

2013-03-26 21:36:51 (28 comments, 2 reshares, 26 +1s)

We lost a baby bird
and
I adore Canon CPS program

I used the Canon CPS program to borrow the Canon 200mm 2.8 to decide if I liked it better than the 70-200. I have to say, it is a bit lighter, it doesn't have IS, it is a very sharp lens, and I just figured out how to use it to the best of its ability (it is not a good event lens for me, as you really have to move back for a great portrait with it, but perfect for a nature photographer). I'm sad it is going back to Canon, but so thankful I tried it out. It isn't the lens for me (but better than the 85 1.8 by a LONG shot in terms of CA). Here is a shot from the Hummingbird project I am working on. The bird nested outside my daughter's bedroom window. This morning we found the nest with a leaf over it, and only 1 baby, not two, and a very hungry baby bird. Momma wasn't able to feed with the leaf there, I... more »

2013-03-20 01:29:00 (10 comments, 2 reshares, 36 +1s)

Look at their spiky heads!