lauren hurst's TOP Google+ Photos for Feb 1 - Feb 15

Meet Macksi :)
She is my 2 year old hermann's tortoise.. and I just love her and her little squishy pink tongue to pieces.. As you can see she loves to eat :P

#cute #pets #animals #reptiles #sprymedia #macro #wildlife

No Action = No Experience
If you refuse change, the barbs only get deeper and more difficult to remove. Life is much too short for that..

#blackandwhite #monochrome #sprymedia #gritty #metal #barbedwire

Here's a much different life for your average tree. #treetuesday

Sometimes, someone can help you become who you really are, you just need to let them.
I remember the first time I met +Ryan L. Smith about 5 years ago, like it was yesterday. It was 2007 and we both had the most boring Art History class together. I was the quiet one but somehow he and I quickly clicked and it was like talking to someone I had known for years. I soon found out he was going to complete his Graphic Design degree, as was I. During class his addictive personality, flashy aviators and handsome demeanor caught me off guard. It made our boring Art History class not so boring. I remember thinking he was such a dork for trying to be funny all the time. But I always laughed & shrugged. I thought it was just another guy in school trying to flirt and pass the time. At that point, I was already in a long distance 2 year relationship and I was so blind at who and what was sitting two seats beside me.

Long story short, through out the remaining two years we always competed with each other in our design classes. It was usually always him or I who received highest recognition from our instructors. In some sick way I think it bothered us each when the other received more. But somehow I think it bonded us. It made us better, we grew up artistically together and were both on a different level than the rest.

After graduation, that was it. I had to make a decision.. go pursue a life in Iowa, and be someplace with someone who really didn't understand me? Or make the hardest decision of my life at that point and risk it all for someone who quickly moved into my heart? Obviously, you can see which path I chose... :)

He once told me, that before his life with me he never really wanted to travel, or take photos. I'm super glad I opened his hands and eyes to the world and a camera. I've never had someone more willing to learn, and soon he surpassed my short knowledge and nowadays he's teaching me new things. I am probably the luckiest girl to have taken a risk back when I didn't understand anything really. Anyways, sorry for my rambling of my love. :) He deserves it and he deserves the world.

Here is a photo I snagged of him capturing one of his better shots in the Keys of Florida.
You can see his resulting image here:
https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/101932080441690768772/albums/5630690042705207553/5699395727963523154

Not Quite Full-Frame
I first got into photography using a small point-and-shoot camera made by Sony. Model: DSC-W200. I believe it was 8mp or something like that. I loved that little thing. I took it EVERYWHERE, if it was still working I'd probably still love it. Pretty sure the creek I always use to walk in behind my house took it's sweet little life from me. :(

Anyways, I was looking through my old archives yesterday and found this image, brought it into SilverFx and voila.. I rescued an image taken 4 years ago. This was taken on a backroad in Kentucky, something I still have yet to witness since then. I guess you could say this shot only fueled my passion even more.

#monochrome #blackandwhite #trees #sunlight #sunrise #backroad #kentucky

YAY
Since Macksi was so super adorable the other day, we are honored to announce her spotlight on #PhotoPlusExtract :) I just had to give her a yummy treat tonight for the good news. I think she's going to go far in her modeling career... :)

You can view her photo here!! http://www.photoextract.com/plus-extract/2012/2/2

#sprymedia #macro #pets #portraits #cute #funny #famous #modeling

32/365 - Lost
So tonight I was surfing the net just clicking on link after link... and somehow I got lost and ended my internet journey on "Geek Pick-up Lines" .... Don't ask me how I got there, I couldn't tell ya. Anyways lol... here was one that struck me as hilarious for some reason:

"I was hoping you wouldn't block my pop-up."

Have any ladies fell victim to terrible pickup lines like this one?

Tags: #365focus #plant #blackandwhite #monochrome #sprymedia

Lamp-Lit
One of my favorite trees lit by a solo street lamp. I pass this tree everyday and finally decided to stop and capture it's aging beauty.

#trees #nature #life #beauty #sprymedia #SOOC

Importance
I've been trying to focus on what's really important these days, instead of getting wrapped up in nonsense. So here's a quote for your day:

Focus on: Quality rather than Appearance...Ethics rather than Rules...Integrity rather than Domination...Knowledge rather than Achievement...Serenity rather than Acquisitions. -Wayne Dyer

Happy Thursday G+ :) hugs

#sprymedia #floralfriday #droplets #macrophotography

Miracle
"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a MIRACLE. The other is as though everything is a MIRACLE." -Albert Einstein

Even a broken stick can have it's very own story.

#bokehwednesday #sprymedia #vibrantwednesday #colors

Not quite the Canadian Goose V-Formation
...but still beautiful none-the-less. :)

I sure miss my Florida pelly-cans.
Maybe +Mark Rodriguez can catch one and send it to Kentucky for me....


#blackandwhite #monochrome #fullframe #pelican #birds #sprymedia