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! ;-)

Valentine's Day Pictures

Here are some of the pics from the brunch on Saturday.













































Love one another,
Darina

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

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

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

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