getting better?

**sigh*** I just don't know! I have spent close to 8 hours on this photo- just because it is such a learning process.  On the second of this set, I opened it up in RAW and adjusted exposure and white balance.  I think that's why it looked a little darker.  At the time, it seemed the coloring was better.  I also applied a layer mask to her eyes and brightened the whites of her eyes and iris, whitened her teeth with a better technique that doesn't look so fake, and I THOUGHT-- brightened her whole face area to remove shadows.  I don't know what happened but posted on here, I'm still not happy with the face!  By the end, I was frustrated, certain things weren't working on my program- maybe operator error or maybe not- and, my laptop was dying.  I was able to just end up cropping (3rd pic) because everything I was trying to remove this spot of flare wasn't working.  I would rather have the trail in the picture, though.  In the third I got my skin touch up stuff to work and added the text box.  I am definitely gaining more understanding and trying to take notes as I go, but while something will seem so clear when I watch a tutorial, I will go to apply that technique myself and get stuck.  So, while I say I spent 8 hours or so on this photo- it isn't really the photo!! Just me!  Of these 3, not sure which one ended up best- except I know with a zoom or large print, she would be happier with the 3rd that has clearer skin and brighter eyes.

Getting Official???

I am wondering at what point I should try to or need to get official.  I have no idea how to go about this.  Is there a difference between an established business name in the city?county?state?-- or like a copyright? I have no idea where to start or what I should do at this very early stage.  I want to protect anything I have from being stolen, yet, I am not earning income or anything so maybe it's just premature.  I wonder if there is an office downtown where I start?  Maybe I just need to google it!!! :)

See? So frustrating!  At 100% magnification, this seems noisy! Why? Also, I am trying to remove that spot of solar flare and bring some brightness to her eyes and even after all those lessons I have not internalized that enough to do it without re-watching a tutorial! grrr.  Makes me so mad at myself.

time crunch

Time seems to be running short-- I have 1.5 lessons left in my photoshop book but haven't been able to get to it.  Additionally, my other responsibilities are pulling for my time as the new school year approaches.  Yet, I feel bad for my niece who is waiting for pictures!  I can't give them to her as is!  I only want to release them when I feel they are at their best.  Hopefully it won't be too much longer.  My carefree, devoted time for photography seems to be over, though. :(  I was feeling badly for my mom--with her watching the children for me on Mondays for such a long time.  This Monday my sister is also joining in.  I felt guilty for taking their day while I invest in a hobby so I told them I would come straight home after work.  It probably wouldn't change my reaction, but I realized after the fact, that the next Monday is my birthday-- so I will be coming straight home to spend some time with the kiddos, and then, school starts back up and this summer project time comes to an end.  Bummer.   What a blessing to have had any of the time, though.  Stay tuned---hopefully more pictures will be ready for sharing in the near future! :)

Editing Errors!

aaaaHH!!Blood, sweat, and tears over here!  I have been working on my photoshop lessons (almost done with the book) and also watching tutorials.  I don't regret the book- such a great starting point and I have learned a ton and got really familiar with some of the tools offered.  But, seriously, it's very basic.  There is just a whopping ton of info to learn and really an art to being good at the editing.  It is amazing how complex it can be.  You can edit things in layers and then adjust each layers opacity to allow certain things to shine through.  

Ok- so this is one I am working on right now.  I like all the editing except the TEETH!  Horrible!  I destroyed her! And I can't figure out how to undo just that part so I think I will have to start over.  I did want to brighten the teeth just a bit but I guess you have to be so exact with this particular technique.  It's funny to me- the sloppy teeth editing- that's why I am sharing it! :)

editing

I am working away at finishing this editing exercise book so I can edit this photoshoot properly and post some stuff! But, just have to say right now-- what I am learning tonight is so COOOLL!! :)

The Shoot- words only :)

I want to write down the details of the photo shoot with my niece yesterday.  For my straggler, blog-supporters---this might be boring or overly technical to follow.  Whatever, read at your own risk! :) I want to remember what I struggled with, enjoyed, learned, and someday I will probably look back and be surprised at how dumb I was! ha!

All day I wondered about the weather with so many clouds in the sky.  Here I was planning a sunset shoot with light playing off a pond and oats and hay-- and here were a plethora of grey clouds!  I prayed a lot--I was asking God to give me insight for this shoot, and I also prayed to adjust my attitude.   I had my hopes and my goals and visions-yet, things were unfolding differently and rather than being sad or disappointed (even for things like photography) I need to rest in His plan for me....His plan for my day, my hour, my minutes.  

So, I was reconciling my attitude to the will of the Lord and waiting on Wellsford for my niece.  The clouds broke apart with some really pretty light coming through.  My niece arrived, and we headed in.

As I evaluate the shoot, I realize now the challenge in having a large geographical location for the shooting area.  We lost time in traipsing around different potential sights.   A smaller amount of choices would be beneficial for timing with limited light.  Another thing: experience is not just helpful to know the mechanics of the photography, but experienced photographers are often familiar with the site.  They know what the light will do on each part,what poses work well in each location because they have done it over and over.  That experience would free me up to be more creative, more playful, more observant of other details on the subject.

My biggest goal of the day was to try to get that awesome light in the eyes.  It's called a "catch light." The picture I posted of my children by the pond did not have a catch light in the eyes.  The picture is still nice in many ways, but when you see a photograph with that life in the eyes- it grabs you.  Those are the ones that make your heart catch. ( or at least that's what happens to me ;))  The thing is, you cannot get that light in the eyes without light being on the face.  I have learned to wear a white top while shooting to help reflect light back onto the subject.  I love these backlit photos with a field lit up or light coming in through the trees in the background, etc.  However, that means the subject has their back to the light.  I was so bent on trying to get some light onto her face by repositioning her, by using my reflector for the first time, and also trying to use a fill flash.  Uggh! It's so hard! :)  I have no assistant which will be pretty typical for me, I think.  I don't have a reflector stand that can hold it in place for me, and under a thick cover of trees, it was an extra challenge to find a ray of light to reflect!  Another challenge was me not getting so distracted and involved in the shoot that I would fall into the pond! :) At one point I used  a fill flash to try to give light to the face.  It was overly harsh.  It's been a while since I studied my camera itself, so for a bit and with everything else going on, I couldn't remember how to turn down the level of output coming off the flash.  I finally got it and it helped but still lots of good shots that were't quite right.  I WISH I knew if it's because I need different equipment (like the nice, removable flash with the diffuser) or if it can be overcome without fancy equipment by good technique.

It was pretty humid out and all of our trekking around plus the sun, was causing my model to heat up.  That's something else to consider in an outside shoot and we had not planned a place or time to freshen up.

I had planned out poses with location and printed some pose ideas.  Seriously, it's so hard to think about all that and move around a huge location while thinking about all the mechanics of this stuff!  There were several things I had planned to do and before I knew it, it was dark!  What will it feel like to have the logistics down and be so skilled at some point that all I have to do is play and engage the subject!  I don't know the tricks to making those legs look thinner, tummy flatter, etc.  I know a few and tried to help arrange the poses to be flattering...it would have been a wild ride, I think, to be inside my brain for those 2 hours!  This way, that way, upside down!!!

What else?? I will say, that at the end there it seemed like there was no hope for light.  I kept bumping up the ISO and trying to use fill flash, have her face the direction of the sun going down, etc and just couldn't get enough light.  At the last minute I changed out that new, zoom, portrait lens that I got recently and put on my 35mm/1.8 static lens.  WOW! What a difference.  I got that lens because it's rated to be quick with low light.  I guess that lower aperture capability? Or maybe something additionally in the lens design- but all of a sudden I had the most perfect light on her under the apple tree.  That was probably the only "WOW" moment I had of the evening.  Wait until you see the apple tree pics!  It's not that I think the photography is outstanding in them- there's just something that always draws me to this tree and those cute curved benches.  (I'm talking as if you, the reader, know what I mean :)--- but you will when I post the pics.) We were out of time (we thought) due to lighting and I said, "Let's just go do a few under that tree, just for fun."  I just love the drooping branches full of apples! In fact, at the beginning of the shoot we were walking by that tree and I said, "Look at that! Wanna just go under there and PLAY?!"  It looked like the perfect fort/hideaway/ tell secrets/ or read a book place!!! Anyway, the tree, the light at the end of the shoot with that little lens, apples scattered on the ground, and my sweet niece in her country attire under that tree.  I loved it.  That's when I get a little frustrated at my slow learning in this process- because there was the moment and wouldn't it be awesome if I had the skill to capture it perfectly? **sigh* Another thing to talk to the Lord about, right?  I can tell him these details of my delight and disappointment.  And, I can ask for Him to work on me through it all.  I can trust His will as it unfolds, rest in His timing, be thankful for His gifts.  

preparations

Tomorrow is the big day (at least in my mind.)  I am trying to review all portrait photography lessons I have heard/read, mentally scope out the location and plan out poses, while hopefully keeping in mind lighting and the position of the sun, etc.  I have my clothes packed to change into after work, battery charging, memory card loaded, a crockpot meal ready for the family's dinner, etc etc.  I am praying for the Lord's blessing on my work- but only if it won't puff me up.  I am praying for a sweet time of connection with my niece- it seems we have a few bonding points in recent months.  I am thankful for that.  I am praying for a clear mind and peace at home while I am away.  I wonder what tomorrow will bring.

Cutest (and most reluctant) Models Ever!

So, I got the pictures to finally upload by keeping the card in with my finger!  I am liking the test shots of the location, but as I look at these uploaded on here,I am not happy with the exposure on the face.  I need to learn how to apply some editing techniques to a portion of the frame, or how to do a better job with color balance around the face?  More learning as I am plugging along in Photoshop- but it's getting harder in each lesson and I am coming to realize how much more I will still have to learn even when I have completed all of the lessons.  I am thankful for increased understanding.  Even since Monday, I can see change---moments where things make sense and I UNDERSTAND! I hope I keep progressing as I truck along.

Savannah

Technology Torture

Grrr! I had a few sample pictures with my children posing for me, to test out possibilities for my niece's photo shoot and I wanted to upload them on here and maybe do a little playing with them on photoshop.  But my stupid computer won't take the card?? It's a new computer! I push the card in and it won't click.  Additionally, the cord to upload from the camera seems to be missing, too.  Why? Why must technology fight me so diligently? :(

Learning

Hopefully soon I will have some more exciting things to post---but for now, just want to say that I am FINALLY getting to some exciting stuff in my photoshop book.  Today I learned how to make washed out sky look more blue! I can hardly stop- I am so eager to get to this stuff.  But, this section does seem more difficult with less step by step instruction so it is taking me longer as I have to try and retry.  

I am hoping to take some fun senior pictures of my niece this week.  Next week-- I was looking forward to taking some pictures for work but now have learned that the event is indoors.  I am just not sure how well I can do with dim, ugly light.  I wish I had a flashbox and knew how to use it!

Last note on this fun subject, I was at the county fair last night and was able to soak up the photography exhibit.  It was really fun to see where I have grown and also to be inspired.  I tried to just stand back and see what grabbed me off the display, particularly in the professional section.  There were some cool portraits that stood out of older people- headshots that showed age and emotion.  I saw a really neat one of an orchard at harvest time with headlights coming through some dust from a tracor? and reflecting off some irrigation water.  There was an amateur one of 2 old trucks in a field with some kind of wood next to them with a grey, moody, sky.  So cool.    And,  my favorite was of a bride. It was just her neck, shoulders, and about half of her chest. It showcased the neckline of her dress and a piece of simple jewelry around her neck. It washed out around the edges into white- so beautiful.  She was headless, but somehow it didn't seem creepy.  :) I want to look at it again.