Christmas Tree Lights and Hummingbird Wings
Last week I mentioned snow, and this week it is here in abundance! I’m ready for pictures of snowmen, gift opening, and trays of treats. This week, I learned to make Christmas tree lights sparkle or blur, for photos by the tree. I can’t wait for my family to arrive – we might have enough snow for sledding! 18 inches When I began this process several weeks ago, I posted two parts (ISO and aperture) of the three-sided “exposure... Read More
Down home
Remember last week’s post about our miserable portrait studio experience? A couple days later, one of my husband’s coworkers (a photography hobbyist) said she was giving on-location family portraits as her Christmas gift! I’m so excited! A photo makes a great gift – even just a nice snapshot of a favorite person. Last week the kids and I made the ten-hour drive to “Nana and Papa’s farm.” I arrived late at... Read More
Finding Inspiration
It’s a double-post Wednesday! (White balance below…) This was the week for our family Christmas portrait sessions. I think the receptionist at the budget portrait studio swallowed her gum when I told her we’d be bringing in four children under age four. On the first try, my oldest son hid behind the props and wouldn’t come out. The only picture we have of him from that shoot was one where he was peeking out from behind the... Read More
Dreaming of a White-Balanced Christmas
Last week I experimented with bumping up the ISO in low light, instead of using on-camera flash. Jeff Cowell, photography instructor in Wichita, actually suggests using the on-camera flash, placing a white handkerchief over it to diffuse the light. Fascinating… So last week in a dimly-lit restaurant, I gave it a try. This is the “before,” with on-camera flash uncovered. The washed-out look isn’t bothering me as much as the... Read More
Aperture for Depth of Field
This week I found a gem of a quote: “When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.” – Ansel Adams Enough said! 😉 Speaking of focus… I have generally been thinking of aperture (the size of the lens opening) in terms of the amount of light that is let in when the shutter is released. However, aperture also determines how much of the picture is... Read More
Adding Texture
Another double-post Wednesday! This week I have been playing in Photoshop with the pictures from last week’s (hasty) post. Just consider those the “before” pictures! After some cropping and edits, here is my row of trees, revisited: autumn changes The primary change was adding a “texture” called the Difference Maker. Aptly named! It is a JPG image, a simple textured rectangle of graduated browns and tans. I dragged it... Read More
Silhouettes from home
I made a whirlwind trip home last week and am still recovering. The exposure triangle (ISO, aperture, shutter speed) will have to wait. Instead, here are a few shots from last week. The light there is different from the light here. The sun hits the fields and makes them look like green velvet, and the seed heads in the ditches glow like rows of sparklers. This is a shot of the TREES, which actually change color at home: changing colors f/10, shutter... Read More
Bonus post! More "flash off" mode
I’m doing double duty today, with two posts! (I’ll make up for it next week, as there won’t be a post.) I’m loving “flash off” mode. Yesterday my son made a very sharp cap for himself, using a colander and a chain of plastic rings. At first I took this shot in “auto.” so aliens can't read his thoughts I was disappointed that the flash washed out the points of light on his face from the colander holes.... Read More
ISO (I'm… So Obsessed?)
Like a techno-nerd, I’m fascinated with metadata lately. I’ve discovered that even when the camera is set on “auto,” I can go back and see what the camera chose for shutter speed, aperture, and ISO. Seeing what I should have chosen in previous situations takes away some of the intimidation factor of beginning to shoot in manual modes. In the coming weeks I plan to explore the “exposure triangle” (ISO, shutter speed,... Read More
By the Pumpkin's Soft Glow
BOOOOO… for posting late this week! YAY for discovering a new camera setting! And no, it’s not setting the aperture, as I had hoped last week. I needed a break from the intimidating process of learning which shutter speeds & apertures go with which lighting conditions. Not to worry – there are lots of easier options. I bought a new book last week: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT Guide to Digital SLR Photography by David D. Busch.... Read More
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