I took some pictures of the Christmas decorations here in Little Italy.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Yet another wedding
Hello, all!
Wedding season is coming to a close here in what's soon to be snow land. I got to attend a very beautiful wedding a couple of weeks ago. The bride and the groom have asked the choir to sing. We were more than happy to oblige. It was a Russian/American wedding. It was great to see Russian traditions merge with the traditional wedding style. Charochka is a tradition where the groom/bride are presented with 2 shots of vodka (or what will be H2O in my case) accompanied with a chorus. Not sure where this tradition originated, but I personally really like it. Especially the singing part!!!
Here are some pictures from the wedding.
First Dance
Mother of the Bride
Wedding season is coming to a close here in what's soon to be snow land. I got to attend a very beautiful wedding a couple of weeks ago. The bride and the groom have asked the choir to sing. We were more than happy to oblige. It was a Russian/American wedding. It was great to see Russian traditions merge with the traditional wedding style. Charochka is a tradition where the groom/bride are presented with 2 shots of vodka (or what will be H2O in my case) accompanied with a chorus. Not sure where this tradition originated, but I personally really like it. Especially the singing part!!!
Here are some pictures from the wedding.
First Dance
Mother of the Bride
Sunday, October 18, 2009
I love autumn
Yes, let's be clear. I love AUTUMN, not fall...
I never understood why it is common for Americans to use this term for this most beautiful time of the year. Because leaves are falling? I don't know. Anyone, please shed a light on this situation.
Today was gorgeous. When I moved to Cleveland I was aware of the weather issue, however I didn't think it was going to be that bad. Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not complaining, I'm just noting the obvious fact. Sometimes this area does get gorgeous weather, like today and hopefully tomorrow. That's why I always enjoy the sun peaking out of the clouds. Chilly, not rainy weather! Just enough for your fingers to be cool when taking them out of pockets, but not cold enough to put them back in! Corn maizes, pumpkins, smell of apple cider. America really has this one down well.
My friend Yuliya and I took a couple of wonderful girls with us to go explore the farm nearby. Turned out to be a great time.. I only wish more youth came out from church. Oh well, there is always next time!
Monday, September 28, 2009
New website
Hold on to your seats, ladies and gentlemen!
I'll be releasing my new website, sometime really soon. Maybe even at the end of THIS week. I decided to have that as to begin advertise for my new business, which I plan on doing part time.
Here is a beautiful picture of Laura, as she and I traveled to Paris this summer.
Darina
I'll be releasing my new website, sometime really soon. Maybe even at the end of THIS week. I decided to have that as to begin advertise for my new business, which I plan on doing part time.
Here is a beautiful picture of Laura, as she and I traveled to Paris this summer.Darina
Monday, September 7, 2009
Wedding!
Hello!
I know I've been MIA for a while. I took lots of photos in the meantime, and wanted to share one I really liked. It looks professional... I'm trying to figure out what exactly makes it look so good.
I know I've been MIA for a while. I took lots of photos in the meantime, and wanted to share one I really liked. It looks professional... I'm trying to figure out what exactly makes it look so good.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Couldn't resist
I love BOKEH!
I really do. Here are a couple of my favorite examples from today. We were planting trees around the church property and I found a new friend. :-)
I really do. Here are a couple of my favorite examples from today. We were planting trees around the church property and I found a new friend. :-)
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Updates
Well,
I've been slacking off posting. It's not that I've been busy, I haven't. It's more of spending my time glorifying God with all my actions. And there haven't been much of that.
Today I had the opportunity to take pictures of the kids, who had their Easter (Pascha) celebration at St. Vladimir's. It was a bit crazy, but the kids seemed to love it. ;-) Here are some of my
few favorites.
I've been slacking off posting. It's not that I've been busy, I haven't. It's more of spending my time glorifying God with all my actions. And there haven't been much of that.
Today I had the opportunity to take pictures of the kids, who had their Easter (Pascha) celebration at St. Vladimir's. It was a bit crazy, but the kids seemed to love it. ;-) Here are some of my
few favorites.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Palm Sunday
Hello!
I haven't gone out to take loads of pictures because the outside weather is horrible. I think it snowed today and has been raining. The spring is slooooooowly coming.
I did take some pictures of Palm Sunday preparations, and would like to share some with you. :-) I'm excited to take pictures of Holy Week and Pascha, so expect those coming along the way this week!
Love one another!
I haven't gone out to take loads of pictures because the outside weather is horrible. I think it snowed today and has been raining. The spring is slooooooowly coming.
I did take some pictures of Palm Sunday preparations, and would like to share some with you. :-) I'm excited to take pictures of Holy Week and Pascha, so expect those coming along the way this week!
Love one another!
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Brad's Surprise Bday party
Holla!
So, today my good friend Heather and others organized Brad's Surprise Birthday party (His birthday was actually the 22nd of February and he turned 22). It was a good excuse to get together and meet new people. The cake idea kind of fell through (it took forever for it to be cooked and the candles melted into the cake). But I definitely got my share of laughs today. I think no one can top Kathryn's ability to make cakes. I hear the one last year was in shape of a treble clef. This year, it was not made from scratch and there was more wax on the cake than the cake itself. We still ate it anyways, and it was good. I didn't take a picture of it, because I don't want anyone blackmailing me for it later in life.
Brad was indeed surprised. And the color of the walls in the lounge gave my pictures a nice kick. ;-)
Enjoy!
First reaction to the crowd!
Brad talking to Kathryn from France, on Skype.
So, today my good friend Heather and others organized Brad's Surprise Birthday party (His birthday was actually the 22nd of February and he turned 22). It was a good excuse to get together and meet new people. The cake idea kind of fell through (it took forever for it to be cooked and the candles melted into the cake). But I definitely got my share of laughs today. I think no one can top Kathryn's ability to make cakes. I hear the one last year was in shape of a treble clef. This year, it was not made from scratch and there was more wax on the cake than the cake itself. We still ate it anyways, and it was good. I didn't take a picture of it, because I don't want anyone blackmailing me for it later in life.
Brad was indeed surprised. And the color of the walls in the lounge gave my pictures a nice kick. ;-)
Enjoy!
First reaction to the crowd!
Brad talking to Kathryn from France, on Skype.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Maslenitsa 2009
Hello, everyone!
Last Friday I drove out to Cleveland for their celebration of Maslenitsa before Great Lent. It was incredibly dark in the restaurant, my ISO was set at 1600, so some of the pictures turned a bit grainy. I did use the tripod, for the first time, but the people there moved incredibly fast, so some photos looks very smudged. Here are the couple of my favorites.
Love and forgive one another!
Darina
Last Friday I drove out to Cleveland for their celebration of Maslenitsa before Great Lent. It was incredibly dark in the restaurant, my ISO was set at 1600, so some of the pictures turned a bit grainy. I did use the tripod, for the first time, but the people there moved incredibly fast, so some photos looks very smudged. Here are the couple of my favorites.
Love and forgive one another!
Darina
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Blini dinner
Yes, it's that time of the year! BLINI! It's kind of like French crepes, but better, dare I say. Thin pancakes served with everything ranging from salmon to peanut butter. Sounds awesome? Well, it is.
Here is a photo of blini, that Zhenya made for us. Just a preview of an explosion of blini that we are going to get tomorrow in church. So excited! ;-)
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Valentine's Day Pictures
Here are some of the pics from the brunch on Saturday.
Love one another,
Darina
Love one another,
Darina
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Valentine's Day extravaganza
Here is the sneak peek into the pictures I took today at UCO Valentine's Day Breakfast.
Love one another!
Darina
Friday, February 13, 2009
Engagement pictures
Well, hello there!
This year a couple of my good friends have gotten engaged. I've had the honor of taking their pictures. One couple is already married, but I made them pose in front of my camera anyway.
Tomorrow is Valentine's day, and even though I'm not celebrating it, I'm going to go to this breakfast that University Christian Outreach puts on on this pink day. I'll take heart pictures, I promise and I'll post them. Also, tomorrow night I'm going out!!!! I'm excited. I don't think I went out Saturday night in the past couple of months. My friends and I are going to a dance performance. Then probably out to Ann Arbor, but not for too long! Will take lots of pictures because the gray weather outside is not very inviting to my Canon.
Enjoy the pictures!
Love one another!
Darina
This year a couple of my good friends have gotten engaged. I've had the honor of taking their pictures. One couple is already married, but I made them pose in front of my camera anyway.
Tomorrow is Valentine's day, and even though I'm not celebrating it, I'm going to go to this breakfast that University Christian Outreach puts on on this pink day. I'll take heart pictures, I promise and I'll post them. Also, tomorrow night I'm going out!!!! I'm excited. I don't think I went out Saturday night in the past couple of months. My friends and I are going to a dance performance. Then probably out to Ann Arbor, but not for too long! Will take lots of pictures because the gray weather outside is not very inviting to my Canon.
Enjoy the pictures!
Love one another!
Darina
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Next level goals
So,
I've been looking at how to customize my blog template and make it my own. I've been diving into Photoshop experience. It is so fascinating, I think. There is this unexplored territory which I was always not approaching before.
Now I have to design a poster for my senior recital, and I have some ideas about what I want, but I just can't seem to find time to sit down and do it. Oh, well maybe after tomorrow's GRE. ;-)
Here are some images from the Tatiana Ball.
Irochka posing for me.
Galunda and Grisha dancing.
Love one another,
Darina
I've been looking at how to customize my blog template and make it my own. I've been diving into Photoshop experience. It is so fascinating, I think. There is this unexplored territory which I was always not approaching before.
Now I have to design a poster for my senior recital, and I have some ideas about what I want, but I just can't seem to find time to sit down and do it. Oh, well maybe after tomorrow's GRE. ;-)
Here are some images from the Tatiana Ball.
Irochka posing for me.
Galunda and Grisha dancing.Love one another,
Darina
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
A pilot
Ciao,
As many of you know, I've bought my first DSLR, Canon Rebel XTi this past January, 2009. Since then I've been trying to learn how to use it and take as many pictures as my schedule allows me. I have bought 2 lenses right away: 50 mm 1.8, and 28-105 mm 3.5-4.5 Out of those two, I love the nifty-fifty. I use the second lens for wider angle pictures. Next step is getting a nice flash to go along with that. I noticed I tend to shoot in low light environment most often and it would be very nice to have one. My tripod is waiting for me in Chicago, so I'll have it in a couple of weeks.
Right now I'm trying to set up goals for my little photography on the side. I think number one is trying to get to know my camera and its capabilities. Now, I know it's not the top of the line, but it's something to start with this whole hobby. Number 2 is to figure what it is that I like to shoot the most and how to get more experience shooting in this particular environment. Thirdly, I would like to expand the equipment that I already have, one by one.
I'd like to say a special thank you to my parents who helped me to start this whole photography thing, especially my papa. I would want to be the same kind of parent to my kid when I grow up, let them pursue what they think is their dream and support them any way I can. :-)
Because I have a busy life with schedules, classes, practice time and social life, I don't have lots of opportunities to shoot people. But every opportunity I get, I use. Here are some of the pics that I took that I really liked.
This little guys is Onyx. He's been my recent model. He used to be afraid of my camera (since it's half his size) but in this shot he got quite courageous and decided to explore.
This charming little girl is Natasha. She loves to take pics and always makes the cutest face, when prompted "Cheese!"
This photo I shot unexpectedly in my church during the Nativity Vigil. It's the choir from the back. I love the expression on the woman's face, the clarity and the colors.
In addition I had a chance of doing an engagement session, a Russian Ball and various church functions. I'll have a chance to post some of those photos later this week.
Do not judge too harshly, I'm starting out just now.
Love one another,
Darina
As many of you know, I've bought my first DSLR, Canon Rebel XTi this past January, 2009. Since then I've been trying to learn how to use it and take as many pictures as my schedule allows me. I have bought 2 lenses right away: 50 mm 1.8, and 28-105 mm 3.5-4.5 Out of those two, I love the nifty-fifty. I use the second lens for wider angle pictures. Next step is getting a nice flash to go along with that. I noticed I tend to shoot in low light environment most often and it would be very nice to have one. My tripod is waiting for me in Chicago, so I'll have it in a couple of weeks.
Right now I'm trying to set up goals for my little photography on the side. I think number one is trying to get to know my camera and its capabilities. Now, I know it's not the top of the line, but it's something to start with this whole hobby. Number 2 is to figure what it is that I like to shoot the most and how to get more experience shooting in this particular environment. Thirdly, I would like to expand the equipment that I already have, one by one.
I'd like to say a special thank you to my parents who helped me to start this whole photography thing, especially my papa. I would want to be the same kind of parent to my kid when I grow up, let them pursue what they think is their dream and support them any way I can. :-)
Because I have a busy life with schedules, classes, practice time and social life, I don't have lots of opportunities to shoot people. But every opportunity I get, I use. Here are some of the pics that I took that I really liked.
This little guys is Onyx. He's been my recent model. He used to be afraid of my camera (since it's half his size) but in this shot he got quite courageous and decided to explore.
This charming little girl is Natasha. She loves to take pics and always makes the cutest face, when prompted "Cheese!"
This photo I shot unexpectedly in my church during the Nativity Vigil. It's the choir from the back. I love the expression on the woman's face, the clarity and the colors.
In addition I had a chance of doing an engagement session, a Russian Ball and various church functions. I'll have a chance to post some of those photos later this week.
Do not judge too harshly, I'm starting out just now.
Love one another,
Darina
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