Project 52: Open Your Heart

Before/After Scouts

I need to get over it :) but still mad that these don't look awesome.  I feel like I should log it here on the blog though-- since it's all part of this learning process and photography journey.

Before: Darker skin tones make it harder expose properly with the light background.  I also had to clone out that crack in the background..not so good at that yet!

After:-- you can totally see the cloning.  But, I am printing at Costco in 5x7 vertical so the sides will come in much tighter.  That will be good..to give the photo more vertical shaping-- I couldn't shoot vertically because my flash doesn't rotate(need a ball joint head thing) and then horizontal lines on background make it more heavy that way, too.
I am happy that I got a little catch light in the eyes even with the indoor setting and hat.

Still working on the scout photos. They are only going to be so good..I really can't find any help to make them much better-- I guess non directional light w high ceilings and fluorescent lights just won't be magical no matter how you cut it. So now I'm just trying to make little touch ups and crop to finish up. I haven't had much time for photography though, trying to be balanced with work at home. In my convictions to be "heavenly minded"-- I made it a goal to try to seize opportunities to serve better through hospitality and relationships as God seems to put them in my path. We have had a stretch of health with the kids making it a good time to invite people into our home- so effort has been spent on reaching out. It's always that struggle of doing what is right versus just serving self but once I do, I am reminded of the blessings of serving others, using time and resources to reach out and strengthen others-- it is good and right. :) All that to explain my slow progress! I am hoping to get more time for photography this week, though....anxious to move on with Project 52.

Boys Scout SOOC

Alrighty folks-- here it is, straight out of camera! This is my friend Claudia's son.

Shot with 35mm at f4, dragged shutter speed to 1/15, used Speedlight lowered by 2 stops to match ambient lighting, bounced at 45 degrees off white card.

So- This is with no edits.  I am trying to get some advice on how to amp this up.  I want to clone out the gap on the floor and the boom.  I like that I got a little teeny catch light in the eyes and although I could not get any directional light-- at least I didn't lose detail in the face by washing it out with overpowered flash.

Boy Scouts

I am not looking forward to taking pictures of the Boy Scouts tonight. I have been reading about using my flash unit and I practiced last night. I discovered my camera doesn't have the wireless sensor to enable an off camera trigger of my flash, and the ceilings will be too high for me to bounce light off the ceilings. I want it to NOT look like a regular washed out flash picture but I can't figure out a way to get directional lighting with my equipment rather than straight on. I had a final thought if trying to bounce flash off a side wall and onto subject and wanted to practice.. But, being in s public place I apparently embarrassed my hubby and he thought I was being ridiculous. **sigh* I wasn't wanting to be an embarrassment, just desperate to get it figured out. It's not seething I can practice during daylight. So-- discouraged because I don't think I will do a good job and on top of that I created marital strife in the process. Sails are a little deflated friends..

The big news of this week is that a Facebook friend(our sons used to play baseball together) was asking for a photographer to donate time and prints of their boys scout troop receiving awards. Nobody volunteered. So I did. I'm so ill-equipped though. I need to study up on indoor flash. I hope I can get something decent for them. Not sure if I will have time or even motivation for Project 52 this week.. Theme is "Open Your Heart." Kind of a cheesy theme and?? I don't know. Just not feelin it yet. Hopefully inspiration will come.

Project 52: "Words"

I had several ideas for this theme of "Words"...but as I thought and thought about words, where they come from, what they mean, etc- I realized I am surrounded by them at this phase of life and most of them from one source: KATE! :) A light-hearted approach to this week's theme seemed fitting and this angle also supported my desire to practice more on some human subjects.  Here it is:

"Words"

mcp contest

I originally thought marshmallows with conversation heart letters.  It looks awful..hold on, I'll show you.  So, I tried it in a shallow, white dish.. but then I can see the edges.  I edited, trying to dodge (lighten) the shadow portions.....meh..I don't love it. AT ALL.  Now, I'm just mad at the whole contest!! ;) Dumb contest. Dumb picture.

If I had to choose out of the dumbness, I would probably choose number 3.

I am working on my next challenge and also a photo contest to win a free product. I'm looking forward to that this week. Next theme is "words".

Project 52: "Muse"

The Red Umbrella

It implicitly heard,

Perceived the dream,

Gently gathered me up under its protective expanse,

Pushing me down the pathway

I was daunted to pursue.

It steadily provided,

Gave graciously of its boldness,

Lending its valiant voice,

To the staccato whisper of my reverie.

The red umbrella,

 Is my muse you see,

 It shared its song,

---- with me.

Still working

I am still working on my muse picture. I am not loving my edit but don't know why. I hope to redo it and finish today.

Quote

I came across this quote and loved it:


When words become unclear,
I shall focus with photographs.
When images become inadequate,
I shall be content with silence.

Ansel Adams

I'm not sure when I will get to edit again, but I'm excited for it! I was hoping for a shoot in the rain last week and didn't get it..but I ended up with an image I really like from what I can tell on my LCD screen. I was trying for the next project 52 theme: "muse". Things turned out differently than I had originally wanted-- I had envisioned a willow tree but they are all dead right now! Then had plans for the rain and I got sun instead! :) but, I think I like what I eventually got after about 30-40 shots. It is even inciting a little poetry! We will see if I am brave enough to share it. :) I am really enjoying these challenges and the spark of creativity and motivation it is giving me..a blessing. Can't wait to share, but bills and work and 100 other things have to come first:) That is ok though. I knew when I was shooting on thurs that I would need to slow down and put photography on the back burner for a bit to get caught up with the rest of life.

Other notes.. Got my cards and I like them.
Also, tonight I  saw those first family pics I took over a year ago w no editing.. I hate them! :) it is embarrassing how much better they should look! Haha!