Monday, January 27, 2014

Grow Your Blog!!!



Hi everyone!  My name is Elaine and my brilliant blogging friend Vicki is the brains behind “Grow Your Blog!!!” so I decided to take the plunge this year as Vicki has the BEST ideas.

So, here’s the story behind me and my photography blog. 

There are, and have been, a number of artists in my family but my artistic eye doesn't extend down my arm to my hand to wield a brush or pencil.  I’m probably too impatient to draw or paint but love the instant possibilities of photography, particularly since the advent of digital photography. 

I think I was about 8 years old when I first took notice of a camera. My Dad inherited a 35mm camera from my uncle and it was the first time I’d seen such a complex looking camera and such crisp photos. I was totally intrigued. I didn't get to use it but it put the idea of having a camera of my own became a goal. 

I switched to digital in 2005 and these days I primarily use a Canon SX500is.   It’s a very portable point and shoot.  I leave the bigger, heavier equipment to my husband, Geoff, who used a Canon Rebel.

My greatest inspiration, more often than not, is light - plain and simple.  I could have the most interesting subject in the world in front of me but if I’m not inspired by the light I might pass on the shot. Not always a good decision.

I live in a rural area of Ontario, Canada so I’m surrounded by farms, barns, crops and animals but I’m originally from Newfoundland on Canada’s Atlantic coast and I still visit there often.  Both provinces provide me with lots of good photo ops and I'm out there shooting regardless of the weather, as you can tell from the rain, drizzle and fog selfie I took (below) in Newfoundland a couple of years ago.  



I’ve been blogging since July 2007 when one of my cousins let me know she’d started a blog and this inspired me to start mine.  The first big decision was what to call it - I wanted to share a variety of my photos with my family and friends and thought that A Scattering summed it up nicely.

My blog has really become an outlet for me to share my photos with Followers, as well as my friends and family. Often other photographers will provide useful feedback and that’s something I really appreciate.

I hope my photos will inspire people to travel to the locations I’ve shot or to open their eyes to the beauty in their own surroundings. 

If you would like to take a quick virtual trip to Newfoundland with me click here.  

Giveaway:

If you take a quick moment to leave a Comment and your email address you will be entered in a draw for an 8x10 unframed copy of my photo Swans in Southside Park - I'll announce the winner here on my blog on February 15th.





Now, I’m off to pay virtual visits to some Grow Your Blog participants!

41 comments:

  1. Hi Elaine the piccie of you with your hood up made me smile. Your weather is so much more severe than ours here in the UK but it is the differences in the seasons I love, they give such contrasting photo opportunity. I am awake early today and reading this on my kindle in bed, been awake hours so surfing the net waiting for Heather to wake up and sort me out I can't get out of bed without assistance any longer and I have the bruises to prove it. I hope you have a good week. X Don.

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    1. Hi Don! Speaking of weather, it's -7C with blowing snow here this morning. In fact, I'm just about to head outside to do some much needed shoveling. Yuck! Take care and have a good week. Elaine

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  2. It was nice to learn a bit more about you Elaine. I've been enjoying your photos for quite some time now.

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    1. Hi Delores, isn't this a heck of a wintry day?! Hope all is well with you.

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  3. It's so very nice to meet you Elaine. I love photography as well and I'm continually inspired by people who have a great eye. I adore your banner and the photo of the swans at the park is just beautiful. I love swans. Thank you so much for visiting my blog. I look forward to getting to know you better. X, Bird hedgewitchbird@gmail.com
    http://birdsearthyspirit.blogspot.com/

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  4. Oh, my, such beautiful photographs! I come by way of Grow you Blog and am happy to have found you.

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  5. Hi Elaine, Welcome to the blog party. I am a volunteer helping Vicki this morning. I really like your photos and I will be stopping by as I have become one of your new followers. It is my way of traveling.We were warmer when I got up this morning and I am watching the temperature drop. Have fun at the party Shirley@shirleystithces

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  6. Hi Elaine,

    I'm visiting from the Grow Your Blog party. It is so nice to meet you. Your photos are stunning - you are very talented! I plan to look around a bit more and then be on my way to visit the others. I do hope you will stop by for a visit and enter my giveaway. Have a wonderful weekend! Hugs – Donna

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  7. Hi Elaine .... I am also visiting from the blog party. Gotta say I love your swan photo ... stunning!!! I am your newest follower!

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  8. Hi Elaine.. I am visiting via the blog party. What beautiful pics... I am following along with your "scattering" of beautiful things.. I am excited to see you life through the lense....I am always excited to meet new folks.. Have a great weekend...I am your newest follower...come on by and visit! Blessings!

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  9. So nice to meet a fellow photographer and I agree that you do, indeed, use light well in your pictures ... though I think you sell yourself short when you say you pass on a good shot because you have many good shots where the light is secondary. Your photography clearly comes from your heart.

    I don't pretend to be anything other than an amateur. I have many blogging friends who choose to take their photography to another level and they do beautiful work ... but to me it then becomes work. I love the joy of seeing and capturing what I see ... I look for the story behind it and probably, as a result, don't concern myself with perfection. I welcome you to my blog anytime because I will surely be back to visit yours. I do love that your friend Vicki had this wonderful idea ... so much fun!

    Andrea at from the Sol

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  10. gorgeous swans. hi there. i'm Beth from E. Lizard Breath Speaks - so nice to meet you through the Grow Your Blog get together/party. ( :

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  11. Hi Elaine! I'm in Ottawa and as soon as your blog came up on my screen I thought it looked just like home. What a stunning photo! Looking forward to seeing all your beautiful adventures

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  12. Hi Elaine, It's so nice to meet you through GYB. Love your photos! I try, but your work is just super. Look forward to following you! Warm wishes
    Jules x

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  13. -7 degrees I am a balmy +1 and rain last night we had a hail storm and were bashed about with strong winds and Heather got soaked trying to unblock a gutter. I styed inside nice and snug and warm but she put her frozen hands on me just so as I could share in the joys of the cold.

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    1. Hi Don, you know that stormy weather was pay-back for saying that our weather is more severe than yours! I hope all has settled down again. Today we're at -13C with a windchill of -23C and lots of blowing snow. Just another day in paradise!

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  14. Hello,

    Nice to meet you.:)
    I would like to participate in your giveaway.
    petitearmoire2@gmail.com

    Greetings.

    Bernadett

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  15. Hi, Elaine!
    I will be following you as you live in home province of Ontario. I now live in Montana. Thus my blog Canadian in Montana. My husband does a PAD and I believe he is starting year 5! I love to take pictures too and therefore I scrapbook. Look forward to following your adventures.

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  16. Hi Elaine, Thanks so much for popping in to visit with me. It made it very easy for me to be able to pop over here to see your blog which I love. Its nice to have been part of a blog party that takes us to so many blogs with various interests. The photo of the swans is just beautiful, and I also love the one on your blog header!
    Big Hugs Sharm ( sharmshere@yahoo.com) www.countryfragrance.blogspot.com and also
    www.the7pillarshome.blogspot.com

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  17. New Follower. I am having fun finding new bloggers to follow...love sewing and quilting. Greetings from Oklahoma, USA. crystalbluern at onlineok dot com

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  18. Hi Elaine
    Good to meet you!
    I'm visiting from a very wet England!

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  19. Came by to visit from the Grow your Blog event, and am happy to meet you. Looks as if you are a girl of my own heart in your love of photography! Will look forward to getting to know you better and hoping that you will stop in and visit me at Butterfly Tales!

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  20. Girlfriend-- you know I'm a fan!! Love every picture you take. The swans are gorgeous!!

    So happy you joined us this year-- sending hugs-- more emails to come-/
    Vicki

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  21. Dropping by on the GYB hop. BEAUTIFUL photos Elaine!! I am familiar with your area of Ont. as I have good friends near you (New Hamburg and Punkeydoodles Corner.. I'm assuming you live in Woodstock area). Hope you'll drop by my blog too...

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  22. Found you through GYB. Lve your photography. Thanks for sharing.

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  23. Oh Elaine your photography is breathtaking"
    Have your heard of the blog "Our Beautiful World" - they have a weekly prompt and I am sure you may love it.
    Enjoy your GYB party - I am so glad I called in.
    You may like to visit my mixed media blog. I use a Cannon Power Shot SX30 and I'm learning all the time.
    Wishing you lots of success,
    Suzy

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  24. HI elaine I am visiting from GYB party. I am so happy to have found your blog. I love your photography....so beautiful. The swan photo is gorgeous.....they are so regal. I am a new follower.

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  25. Hey Elaine, Your photography is wonderful and I thought your post with your four legged friend was delightful. It has been nice getting to know you.

    Hugs
    Caroline

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  26. Greetings from St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. Elaine, your photography is lovely. Thanks for sharing.

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  27. Hi visiting from GYB and I'd love to win the copy of Swans in Southside Park! Your photos are inspiring. I'm interested in getting started but just haven't made it a priority yet. Maybe your blog will give me the boost I need. Will be following you now. Hope you'll stop by and visit me too.

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  28. So nice to meet you at the party! Your photos are just lovely! Will be following... ~Terri

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  29. Hi, Elaine - slowly working my way through the Blog Party fun...happy to have landed here. I'm never without a camera in my hands, either. Will enjoy looking around here, for sure...off for more - newest Follower. Happy Tuesday - Tanya

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  30. So glad to meet you on the GYB circuit, Elaine. Wonderful blog, fantastic photography! thank you for sharing. I am your new follower and I look forward to your posts. Please visit my blog and maybe you would like to be my follower as well. I am at: http://deborahstanleyinspirations.blogspot.com/ thank you, deborah

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  31. Hello , my name is Dawn your my one stop on the blog party, Hope that I soon will be friends with all of you cyber neighbors. Can't wait to see more of your great photos . My site http://overboardcreations.blogspot.com/ and contact info is ovr_brd@yahoo.com

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  32. Your photos are truly beautiful. Thanks you so much for sharing. My visit to your blog was very enjoyable.

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  33. Hello from the Yukon! I'm still visiting GYB participants and I'm so happy I found you! I dream about trip to Newfoundland - hopefully it will come true this September.
    Love your blog.

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  34. Your swan photo is beautiful, Elaine.So nice to meet you through this fun party.

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  35. A belated thank you for visiting my blog, Elaine. Your photography is wonderful and the swan photo simply takes my breath away! Cindy from TheCranesNest.com

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  36. Enjoyed visiting your blog. Great photos; especially the kitty pictures.

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