Assignment number 2...

 So, once again, I find myself struggling to choose 3 pictures that are best suited for today's assignment.  The theme is inside/outside photos.  That means pictures taken with either a very dark, or very light background.  It's all about getting the exposure right - whether you want a silhouette, or whether you want your sky totally washed out and your subject nice and bright.  I do find this quite difficult and I've been a lazy "auto" photographer for so long, that it's quite a big mind adjustment to take pictures manually.

Anyway, here's a whole bunch of photos that fit the needs for this specific assignment.  Truthfully, the orchid photo was taken for last week's assignment, but suits today's one better. 

I took Jake down to Intaka Island, thinking we could find lots of shady spots beneath the trees and perhaps a bird hide or two.  Despite looking very grumpy in this picture, Jake's been a very patient model for me the entire weekend...

 A fairly unexciting photograph, but I do love this boy's eyes...

 Enjoying the view...

 In a hide.  Jake has hands JUST like his father.  Feet too, but more about that later...

 We were there during the middle of the day, so there wasn't too much to see - just a few ducks and pigeons really...

 This is a bit over-exposed, but I like the idea of Jake taking photos of me, while I take photos of him...

 I absolutely love this picture of Jake's eyes and this is probably one that I'm considering printing most.  He's just doing something funky with his mouth and nose, like he's smelled poo...but those eyes...

 Despite all his good intentions, he wasn't all that happy about looking straight into the sun...

 I like this photo very much too.  I was inside the hide and Jake was playing in a tree trunk.  He discovered a gecko's nest of tiny eggs and was desperately hoping that one would hatch while he was watching...

 And this serious shot...

 Something different - the wooden structure of the hide...

 Taking a break from all the photos...

 I also really like this shot...

 I'm not sure about this picture, it doesn't look like it's in focus, because it's sandblasted onto their front door.  It's the logo for Intaka...

 There are some awesome, old trains painted brightly and parked outside Intaka.  This is taken, looking back at the entrance to Intaka Island, through one of the windows on the engine...

 My sweet boy, looking back in at me...

 I also like this shot, but I'm not sure about the exposure.  It almost looks black and white...

 I couldn't sleep last night, so I got my tripod out and messed around until nearly midnight.  Jake slept through the whole thing...

For something different, I took a photo of Mario watching the fish tank.  The bedroom was dark, besides the glow of the fish tank.  Just something silly, maybe a little out the box...

 I also love this picture of the bedside lamp.  Although I did notice that it really needs a good dusting.  I'm not sure about the top of the lamp though, I almost feel like I would like the picture cropped a bit..

 A brighter version of the above - nice to be able to see that there's someone sleeping in the background, but I think the light's a bit over-exposed...

 Back to Jake.  Those toes are JUST like his dad's.  I wish he'd scrubbed and trimmed his nails for this shoot, but he really didn't have time...

 Soft and sweet.  I wanted to kiss those little toes, but was scared I'd wake Jake up...

 I don't know why these pictures ended up at the bottom of the pile, but these were amongst the first I took of Jake.  Totally outside in bright, glaring sunshine up against a white wall...

 Hi my honey pie sugar plum chocolate dumpling...

 That wink totally melts my heart...

So what do you think?? Which is your favourite?  Let me know before 1; I need to send them in for printing.

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

Love Sue XXX