What's up

Not Me!

In case you hadn't heard, I had ankle surgery 2 weeks ago. I have not been able to put any weight on my right foot at all since then. It appears I have at least another 2 weeks to go before I can walk. But the silver lining is...Wednesday, I can shower (don,t worry I have been bathing, just with my right leg tightly taped and hanging out of the tub)

I am hoping in two weeks I can get rid of the walker and upgrade to a cane....yipee!!

Christmas

Can anyone guess the noise this fancy item makes when you pull it's finger???

Click here for Christmas (and walker) Pictures

Here's some pictures from Christmas. I threw in some pictures of myself with my walker as promised to the sick ladies that I work with!

Big Day

It's Christmas Eve!! My present to myself arrived in the mail today.....Business Cards!!!..ohhh, ahhh..I know.

I am still a student, and a long way from being a highly paid, top shelf, famous photographer....but it is one more step on the ladder...besides, I have recently had a few people ask for business cards, so...there ya have it.

Final Project

Link to slideshow on Youtube

End of the semester, End of the year

So, here we are at the end of the semester. I can't believe it has gone so quickly. I am so glad that I signed up for this class, I feel like I have a much better understanding of how my camera functions. I am a little sad that we didn't work more with understanding composition, what makes a good shot etc. But I suppose that will come with experience.

I would also like to say (in case anyone at Meramac is reading) I would have quickly signed up for a Digital Photography 2 class if one had been offered. I will not sign up for film classes, so until more digital is offered, I suppose I am finished with photography classes at STLCC. That being said, I am looking forward to my Photoshop class.

At the beginning of 2009 I vowed to make some changes, I am happy to report, I followed through! I quit smoking February 16th, I lost a little weight, and I went back to school and found my 'calling'...not a bad year all in all. I no longer need to joke about what I am going to do when I grow up, I have found it.

Light Painting

Link to Light Painting

Welcome Ava Mae

Where did this month go?

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, I can't believe we have entered the holiday season. Class is almost over, just a few more weeks. I have found the past few weeks to be a bit.....monotonous, going over movie software over and over, none of which I own or use. I found I hadn't been using my camera.....so this past week I dusted it off and got shooting, and I am sooo glad that I did!!!



First, an extremely photogenic co-worker asked if I would take some pictures that she could use for holiday cards etc, I hope she likes the images I took.

Second, my best friend became a grandma this week!!!!!! She has a beautiful granddaughter named Ava Mae, and I have close to 500 shots to edit through. Kirstan was really sweet to let me be a part of her special moments, and I hope she will enjoy the pictures as much as I enjoyed taking them. I do believe Ava Mae's arrival is what I will use for my final project for photography class. Congrats to Kirstan, Tim and Dana!!

Busy Weekend

I had a couple of photo opportunities this past weekend. The first (my Father's 60th birthday party) I didn't get my camera out of the bag. I suppose I was just too busy.

The second, my nieces baby shower, I felt a little strange taking pictures, but once the camera came out and I started, I was a shooting fool. Anyhow, here is a link to the photo album, and a video I made.

Can't wait to take pictures of the baby when she comes, I am sure she will be a lil cutie!!

LINK TO BABY SHOWER PICTURES

LINK TO SLIDE SHOW

Converting Photos to Black and White

In the past I have not been a big fan of photo editing. I have pretty strongly felt that you should get the shot right in the camera. With this assignment and some tweaking I have been doing the past few weeks, my feelings are changing a bit.

I have Photoshop Elements at home and have had for about 6 months, but I have only really used it the past few weeks...using this to convert images to black and white was fun, I really saw the most difference in the close-up pic of my dog, which previously I was unhappy with the color of his eye, now I love the shot and I am inspired to see what other images I have on my computer that I can improve.

LINK TO BLACK AND WHITE ALBUM

Macro Assignment

I really enjoyed this assignment. One thing I love about photography is that I notice more of my surroundings and see the beauty in ordinary things, with macro, that just intensifies this. Now all I need to do is learn how to capture that beauty in an interesting way and perhaps I can make money to support my habit!

Link to Macro Pics

Link to Portraits from the Past Week

Lit Portraits

The challenges to this assignment were many!! I had only one area suitable...and even that area wasn't that great. Anyhow, my 10 year old was more than happy to sit there and let me snap away, as long as I gave her a turn snapping pics. (I think she will surpass me in skills soon!!) We tried a few different shoots, each looked better than the last. I still think my people skills are lacking a bit...but my kids are used to that. There are a couple of pictures that I am truly happy with, so I guess that's something.

LINK TO PORTRAITS

Architecture

For our architecture assignment I went downtown to the Cathedral Basilica, wow, what a beautiful place. Now if we could get them to work on their lighting...it would be perfect. As previously mentioned in class, I brought my tripod......however it is a monster, and I hesitated to use it because it was such a pain.

I really was in awe of the beauty of this location, I found myself wishing I had 2 more lenses, a good telephoto, and a good wide, but alas, I had to make do with the kit lens. I played with white balance a few times, and found tungsten was the best for shooting inside this location. Outside, I found I had a really hard time capturing the green of the dome and the blue in the sky in the same shot. I didn't get a chance to go to any other locations as I had hoped, but I think I will give this a try again, I like the challenge.

Link to more photos

Link to HDR

Landscapes and other dangers

So I tried a few locations this past weekend for landscape shots.

Lets just say that mating season at Lone Elk Park is not as peaceful as it looks
Umm, yeah....that guy there chased me...what upset me the most is that I didn't get the shot in focus!!

I also went out to New Haven this past Saturday, and while there was no balloon race, there was a nice small town parade, and beautiful post storm clouds and gorgeous country!

Link to Assignment

Motion

I had a really hard time with this assignment. I never really felt like I was doing what I was supposed to be. That isn't to say I didn't have fun with it, I am just not sure this is what Mr. Carosella was going for. Regardless, I got out there and used my camera, planned shots and had a great time with the help of family and friends...so in that regard I would have to call it a success.

Link to assignment

Link to distractions

Anxious Anticipation

Here is my story. Let me just say I work with some amazing and fun people!

Let me also say, we were on break and since I planned the shots it took all of about 10 minutes to shoot this.

Pictures are up

click Here

Portrait Assignment Part III

I first want to say, that I tried to condense the three parts into one, but I am not electronically sophisticated enough to pull it off, so sorry, but there are three parts to this assignment.

Second, I know we weren't supposed to do portraits of animals, but this pretty girl was just begging to have her picture taken!

Third... (I see a theme with three parts developing)...I took more photos today and really tried to pay attention to changing the ISO, and I feel better about the portraits taken today.

Again, another link to the same stupid album

Portrait Assignment Part II

Today's weather wasn't much better, but at least there was some dry time. I found an extremely willing subject in Hannah, my 10 year old daughter. We went to Minnie Ha Ha State park after a quick stop at the dollar store for some bubbles. I don't know that I changed my ISO as much as I was supposed to, but I did try to keep up with my meter and get my exposure correct. I took 96 images! (we were only there for a short time!) I found I had a hard time just taking portraits, I kept getting distracted by the old overgrown bridge, and a bumblebee, and some purple berries....

Here is a link to more portraits

Here is a link to my distractions

Portrait Assignment part I

This is how most of my family felt about sitting for portraits!

I made them do it anyway!

I tried indoor portraits Saturday, as the weather was kinda icky today. I even used portraits as an excuse to go buy a reflector

(I have doubts that it helped the quality of my pictures much)

I could easily tell the difference in my photos when trying different ISO settings. I settled on liking 400, but that was with a LOT of lights directed at my subjects, along with my handy dandy new reflector!

Here is a link to more portrait attempts

Link to Picasa

Link to Picasa.

White Balance Assignment

My parents recently added a room onto their house. It is such a peaceful place to visit. I chose this location to photograph because you get a real sense of being outside, even though you are comfortably indoors.

For more photos click here.