Monday, December 2, 2013

Shelby Class of 2014

So I did several senior sessions this fall...I just didn't post any yet!
Time to change that!  (I realize its now December, but better late than never!)

I enjoyed taking Shelby's pictures quite a bit! Her lovely mother came along to be my assistant, and we had several fun filled hours of shooting with gorgeous late afternoon light!




Sunday, September 1, 2013

Summer blackberries

So my mom planted a lot of blackberry plants...and now they are bearing lots of fruit! So, inspired by pinterest, I decided to pick some berries, and do a photoshoot!



Sunday, August 25, 2013

Sometimes...

Yesterday I was over at my best friend's house.  She has five adorable small kittens.  Today she was feeling tired and overwhelmed so I made her this photo to cheer her up. :)

I did some family pictures for some good friends of mine from camp.  We didn't spend a long time on it, but got a few fun/good shots.  This is the second family I have done 'family photos' for so that's fun.  I enjoyed it! 






Monday, August 19, 2013

Katey Class of 2014

So this summer I was very blessed to take Katey's senior pictures!  (This was my first time ever doing senior pics)
Katey is such a fun girl. We are good friends, and I enjoy her company quite a lot.  So this project was great fun!
I learned some posing techniques, some ways to get people to look natural, and it also gave me some practice editing.











Saturday, August 17, 2013

Finally a wide angle...

After months of consideration, looking, comparing, and more considering...I finally purchased a wide angle lens.  I am very excited! :D  Last night I ordered the Tokina 11-16mm lens from Amazon.  It should arrive sometime next week.  I'm practicing lots of patience, and my excitement is building as I wait.
Since I bought my first ever true wide angle lens I thought I'd do some reading on taking wide angle shots. I already know that it does have some distortion, it (obviously) can capture much more of a scene in one shot, and it can create some very dramatic photos.

In the first article I read I learned a little more about DOF.  A wide angle lens seems to produce a photo where everything is more sharp, more in-focus than a zoom lens.  Apparently this is just an illusion due to the fact the DoF more gradually fades behind the focal plane than in front of it.  To me, this seems to be the opposite of most photos, or at least most macro photos.  This is probably part what gives some wide angle photos such a dramatic effect.

The second article wasn't really an article but rather a collection of 17 beautiful wide angle shots.  I gathered from studying these photos a few things...
-If you are level, straight on with your subject/scene, your shot will appear very natural.  If you are tilted a small amount the distortion is very obvious.
-Horizontal shots seem to be easier/more likely
-It would be super fun to take a close ish wide angle shot of a kitten! :D

The third article told me that wide angle lenses tend to exaggerate DOoF, where as zoom lenses usually flatten it.  So therefore one will be stepping right into the scene to take the photo, as opposed to a zoom lens, where you would be backing up to take the photo.
It also explained a little more of what I learned in the first article.  About tilted lenses...if you tilt it horizontally, the verticals in the photo will converge, or come together.
And...they also recommend manual focusing since the camera might be more likely to 'guess' on a focus point.  And, of course, they recommend using a tripod.  And a few other things...this is basically a really good article so if you want to read it here it is. http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-get-the-best-results-from-ultra-wide-lenses

The fourth article pretty much demands you get close to your subject, less you have only lame photos.  It states that wide angle lenses are for 'getting it all in'. Then at the end it again asks that you get close-closer than you probably normally would.  It also tells me to pay close attention to details at the sides of the frame, a harder job with a wide angle lens.  It says to 'forget tripods'  [hmmm ok that's good because I rarely use a tripod]  It also reccomends when you are composing, you look away and compose out of the corner of your eye.  Interesting thought, they explain that it helps by pulling you away from reality to the basic structural composition so you can make it a strong one.  The article also points out that leading lines are especially important now that one is shooting with a wide angle lens.  This article also states the reason 'we' use wide angle lenses is for the exaggeration not 'get it all in'.

The fifth article is ten tips on using a wide angle lens. Some that stood out to me are pay attention to leading lines, get close, don't put people in the corners because they become very distorted [and turn out wide and short ;], watch out for things at the bottom of the shot (basically down by your feet!), get low, and don't be afraid of the dark.

So, that's the overview of the reading I did today...I cannot wait to get my hands on that little lens, snap it on my camera, and start shooting!


Sunday, July 7, 2013

Happy Independence Day America!


4th of July. Independence Day for the United States of America.  I have been at camp during this holiday for the past 6 years.  And, of course I was there again this year!
I enjoyed being festive this time around...we don't always have much spare time for decorating, but I squeezed some in this year.... :D

Also, fireworks, we get to have our own display at camp, right in our sports field.  All the family campers, staff, and some friends, and neighbors gather and watch the beautiful display reminding us of our freedom.
Quickly had fun making a flag fruit pizza!
Swirl cupcake project!









Sunday, June 23, 2013

Warm days, cool treats...

Well, I really don't have much photography time now, since I'm up at camp for the summer.  I felt like blogging, and thought you'd all like to see something-anything, so I decided to use an old picture. I took this picture back in February, using the fake sunlight method. :)

So, this isn't really ice cream...just so ya know. ;)  Its actually frozen greek yogurt.  I took plain greek yogurt and added sweetner, vanilla, and crushed up strawberries.  Froze it for a few hours, mixed it for several minutes, and yummmm what a delicious, healthy treat!

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Justin and Beka

Well May 28th was their big day...I spent most of the day taking photos at a wedding, Beka's wedding. I've known Beka since well, since before I can remember, back when we were both little girls. :)  I was excited to be taking pictures for her big day.  And I enjoyed every minute of the day!

Justin and Beka decided to do a 'First Look'.  That was a beautiful and happy moment!  I think it was such a grand idea!

Here's some of the shots from their big day...
















Thursday, May 23, 2013

April showers bring May flowers...




I love May flowers...beauty, softness, colors, light...ahh May, what a wonderful month! (Its also my birthday month which just makes me like it all the more!)

I've been super busy lately, not many pictures at all :(
But I just NEEDED to take some photos...something calm and beautiful a midst the chaos of my life.  So I spent a while doing just that before supper, then a bit after supper editing them...here we go!