I love birthdays. Not just my own. Everyone’s! I absolutely love surprising people with presents, and get really excited planning what to get them.
I think it may actually be possible that I get more fun and enjoyment out of it than the person receiving the gifts. That’s not to say that I end up buying them things they don’t really want … just that I tend to bubble over with too much excitement!
And therein lies the problem. Because I have so much fun with the planning and the researching, the hunting, buying and wrapping … I often don’t actually make it to the person’s birthday before giving them their present.
F’s birthday is in June. I started planning her presents in December, and only made it as far as February before I exploded ribbon and perfect packaging everywhere. Usually I can make it until April or May before this happens, but this year I got her a really good, highly rated, Canon camera, and I reasoned that it was better for her to have it early so she could start using it immediately.
F and I both love photography and are currently devouring as many books and magazines for wannabe amateurs as possible. The camera I bought is a Canon Powershot SX10IS. It’s basically a hybrid between a compact and a DSLR. We also invested in a tripod, which means that we can go out at night or at other times when there’s low light, and get some pretty good shots.
Last night we headed out to Devonport for a couple of hours, and tried to put into practice some of the tips found in “The Digital Photography Book” by Scott Kelby.
We’re both still learning what all the bells and whistles do, but I think these are a pretty good start 
Hahaha, I LOVE that you get excited about present giving! That’s so brilliant
And those last two shots? Gorgeous!
That skytower is so RAINBOW!!!
Hey Heidi,
I really like what you have accomplished here – and I must say I share your interest in photography, altough fatherhood takes up too much of my time for me to be able to acquire the competance it takes to get such nice shots as you have gotten here!
I particularly liked the bottom one of SkyTower by night and wondered if it would be possible to get a high res copy from you, so that I can have it produced on a canvas and put it on my living room wall?
I really could use a nice Auckland memorandum to peek at when I feel “home sick” for my second home town
Hopefully I can come back to NZ one day and show my son how great it is!
Give me a beep on my e-mail if you can help me out.
Have a nice day,
regards from your friend
Christian in Norway!