Christmas Already?

So while you may be recovering from some combination of Thanksgiving food coma, Black Friday and being patted down by the TSA, we're doing our best to get into the Christmas spirit. So which of the following does that mean?

• Bringing down the Christmas tree?
• Making the most complicated Christmas photo ever?
• Getting ready for the ultimate love story?

Since we had four days together as a family, all of the above.

Bringing down the Christmas Tree. Every year we cut down a tree at Santa's Tree Farm in Half Moon Bay. If you ever go that route, I highly recommend bringing your own saw and if you want to be very manly, bring an electric chain saw as part of a shock and awe campaign. Anyway, I thought it'd be fun to photograph Aidan jokingly pulling our tree down. He's a sweet boy, but he's got a bit of fire (or Spirit) and so it's not too far off from reality.

Making the most complicated Christmas photo ever. Three flashes, four separate photos composited together and five hours later (though only five minutes of photography) we have all the makings of this year's Christmas card photo. I really wanted something that captured the year. Zoe has been every part the lion (her costume) figuratively and literally this year. My lovely wife is always running around carrying at least one of the kids (figuratively and literally) and today did a magnificent job rallying the troops for the photos. ... as for me, the tree is falling on me... need I say more?

Getting ready for the ultimate love story. At the end of the day though, it's all about the most amazing love story ever. We received The Jesus Storybook Bible as a gift and have to say it's absolutely fabulous in its story telling - captivating for children but sophisticated beyond the dumb down Biblical stories so frequently available. I found myself viewing scripture in a whole new light and love how this Bible underscores in every chapter, that despite being 66 books with slightly fewer authors, the Bible is a singular love story. And so every night, we read a bit and with any luck, we'll get to Jesus birth in a bit under a month. Merry Christmas!

Technical Photography Tips: I've found some wonderful new uses for Photoshop which will be showcased in my new Phat Baby Photography themes next year. The Christmas photo is a sneak peek at Animaniacs, a favorite cartoon of mine. Like the cartoon, it's a bit punchy on the contrast with lots of smooth tones (ever see a cartoon with wrinkles) and selective desaturation. Enjoy.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PhatPhotographer/~3/rfl-taMSx3A/christmas-already.html

Zoe Elizabeth Scarlett Georgia May Karis Jade