Photo Challenge | Beautiful Eyes

This week's photo challenge from I Heart Faces is Beautiful Eyes.  Well, I feel quite lucky that I happened to do a family photoshoot this weekend with an amazing family.

The "W" family wanted photos for their soon-to-be 4 year old's birthday.  I figured kids that age would be energetic and rambunctious but this boy is athletic beyond belief, running at lightning speeds.  He is such a cutie - check out his beautiful eyes and adorable smile!  And those eyelashes!  

His birthday party will be Batman, and both Batman & Robin joined us for the photoshoot.  He refused to give mommy any kisses for awhile (because girls have cooties) but we got him to do that later.  He then refused to give daddy any kisses but instead socked him in the jaw a few times (his dad is a boxer).  Dad later showed a sad face which of course the boy thought was hilarious.  

Two days later and my legs are heavy as lead, sore as they could be.  Four year old - 1,  Maki - 0.  

Boats and Kayaks [travel photography]

My husband recently bought me Lightroom 3 (yay!) and I can see that it'll be an awesome organizational and editing tool - once I learn it :)   The one right below was taken from our cruise boat in Halong Bay.

We had returned from visiting a local, floating community and they are bringing us back to our cruise boat. I was lucky enough to be one of the first ones back to capture this scene.  I love the colors and the contrast between the two types of boats!

Longtail boats

These longtail boats have become somewhat of a trademark for the islands around Thailand.  This was taken in Ko Phi Phi on our way up to "the Viewpoint."  Well, we did get lost because while it's a must-see, no one seemed to know where it was exactly!

Photo challenge: Water

I heart faces (iheartfaces.com) is a great website for photography tutorials and challenges.  I've been checking out their website for some time and thought, well, I should enter some photos in their challenges to see what happens. If anything it's a great learning process.

This photo was taken in Halong Bay, Vietnam.  We visited a floating community (with a mayor and everything!) and while we were on these rowboats, this boy came out on his makeshift raft.  I met several other spritely kids in Asia, but this one was clearly suspicious of us foreigners.  

Beautiful Sky

Austin, TX has been over 100°F and of course no rain.  But everyday the sky is absolutely beautiful here.  These clouds were so fluffy and storybook -like that I couldn't resist.

Now, if only it would rain!

Lake Travis Sunset

Our friends invited us to have dinner at Soleil, a restaurant next to the famed Oasis, with breathtaking views of Lake Travis.  I was blown away by how huge this entire complex of restaurants, complete with a golf cart shuttle to take guests from the parking lot to the restaurant and back.

Sunset over Lake Travis

Apparently, a horde of people arrive just in time to see the sunset, and you can climb up some stairs onto a deck to get an expansive view of Lake Travis.  Thanks to our friends for dinner and a wonderful time!