Digital Photo -- Assn 2 Cont

I had to take advantage of the beautiful day we had Tuesday. Especially because the Weather Channel said clouds and snow for the next ten days! After not having much luck with the antique stores...and not loving the pictures I got at the book store, I went on flickr to try and get ideas. I did see a picture of the bike tower that I posted yesterday (we had seen it last summer as its next to the RV park Roby's sisters stayed at while they visited), but I was still at a loss. I don't remember why I thought of it, but I figured there had to be something interesting at the base parade grounds. As soon as the kids were at school, Roby was home and heading to bed, I headed out to take pics!

I absolutely love this one! The sun flare is just really cool!!!
(It was my #1 on the assignment.)

Birdie on gazebo.

Shooting the sun.

This was a close contender for top my top three.

Phew, done with that! ;-)

Digital Photo -- Assn 2 Cont

This set was actually the last of the three stops I made in my two day photo journey, but I like more of the pictures that I'm going to post tomorrow...so that's why I'm posting these first.

Bicycle tower.

I love how it says "ride" while being partially in the ground.

This was one of my favorites from this spot, I like seeing all the pedals s ticking out.

Banana seat!

This was my #3. I just like how rustic it looks...I dunno why.

I'm sure I'm boring anyone that sees this to tears, but I'm having fun learning what my camera can do and trying to be creative in a new way!!! Last one for this assignment tomorrow!

Digital Photo -- Assn 2

Still very little Photoshop in my Digital Photography class...oh well, I guess we're only a few weeks in. This assignment isn't due until Saturday, but I'm trying to get a much of stuff done by Friday so I can clean a lot this weekend for Ethan's party and get my photographer research done.

We had to turn in 40 pictures (color or black and white--I also did sepia a few times...who knows if this is ok or not!!! lol) and choose our "best" three. They are "still life" I suppose. At least my teachers definition of it. He said to take pictures of things that are arranged and outside. Hmmmm He gave an example of taking pictures of an antique store storefront (interesting compositions, reflections, etc)...but the antique stores I tried were not very interesting. I drove around a bit and discovered a cute book store that I attempted this with.

I really like this egg one! It was my #2.

ME!
I like how you can see the chair, the books in the window as well as on the shelves.

More tomorrow. I'm showing a lot of these pictures, not all of them, but a lot. I actually like quite a few of them. I spent hours taking pictures! Which was fabulous!!! And spent almost as much time going through them all! Not as fabulous. :-)

Assignment Three

For my third assignment, I had to be conscious of how light sources effected my subjects. I think more than anything, these assignments are making me think about the pictures I take instead of just taking tons of pictures of the kids. I showed my "top five" in class yesterday. It went better than the first time. I'm "progressing." His big issue with my photographs is that I "zoom" in too much. I don't capture what's around my subjects, so its not as interesting. I didn't fully get it, but I came home and looked at a bunch of the pictures from an outsiders point of view (as much as I could), and I can see what he's talking about. I guess I've been wanting to capture moments in my kids' lives, and doing it up close is the best way in my opinion! I also took some pictures of Roby working on his motorcycle in the garage that evening because the kids were watching him. I tried various things with getting closer in, getting more of the background, etc. And honestly, although I wouldn't be proud of showing the entire class the mess that is our garage, they are "better" photographs. I'll try to post a few of them here or on REEN sometime soon...too much going on right now though. So...here are the five I showed in class:

I took this one a while ago, but it fit the assignment, and I couldn't make it back to the zoo to try to duplicate it or get a better shot.

This isn't the best composition, but I liked how the light was shining on the controller and he is in shadows...making the controller the most "important" thing in the photo. (I tried to go back and get his whole hands a pic, but by then the sun had shifted enough that it wouldn't work.)

I like how she's all in shadows which matches her glum posture and expression. He did like that too, but said it was composed awkwardly. That it seemed forced and needed more of the playground and background in it.

This was one of my favorite pictures. I loved the shadows and how the girls' hands are overlapping on the dogs back. I also like how Natalie and the dog are looking up at the man that you can't see all of. But again, it is too zoomed in, and getting this moment with more surrounding "stuff" would make it a better photograph.

When I came home I found this (and a few more) that I think he would have liked more. I suppose it is more interesting...I still like the first one more... ;-)

He did like this one!!! Woo Hoo!!! I love how soft it is, and its not too close!!! (Good thing I didn't choose the one that was closer!)

My next assignment is a Power Point presentation on a photographer. That should be interesting. Just minutes ago I turned in my second assignment in digital photography. I'll post about those later. I'm trying to get as much done this week (in all my classes) as possible as we have a lot going on next week with Ethan's birthday!!!

Unexpected

I just logged into my Digital Photography class and saw that I got two more critiques. Considering that everyone has to critique at least two people, it seems that we should all get at least two. These new critiques were much less specific and much nicer!!! One person mentioned that more up close shots as well as black and white would have improved some of the photographs. The other...well...she seemed to love all of them! lol Seriously, they aren't that great, but I'll take the compliments! ;-)

I took another 250 pictures today, and have a few ideas of pictures that I need to take tomorrow to complete my third assignment for my regular photography class. I'm going to try to start going through them tonight or tomorrow morning to see what I have. Being conscious of light source is much more difficult than I thought! Sounds like how I thought being mindful of my frame was doesn't it?!?!

Digital Photo -- Assn 1 Critique

I got a critique yesterday. It was from one of the people that I critiqued. I said about 80% nice things about his pictures...which was kind of hard.

He preceded to go through my pictures one at at time and tell me what was bad about them. Awesome. If he did like a picture he would say, "Good perspective" or "Good use of light" and that was all. I'm not hurt by this, and I really don't care what some random person things. I just thought it was odd. Especially considering he literally numbered my pictures and in his other critique he did it in paragraph form like the rest of us are doing. This is not a, "I'm going to get back at them for saying something negative about mine" type of thing...and I don't know if that's how he was feeling...it was just a little more harsh than I expected. Oh well. I'm going to come up with some kind of response then I'll be done with that for this assignment.

I have lots of pictures to take this weekend for my regular photography class, and have absolutely no idea how I'm going to take them all concerning "light sources." I feel like I need some kind of difference in scenery/background when it comes to these photographs...and I don't know how to go about it. I guess I have to get creative, and maybe drive somewhere with the kids in tow...poor kids! ;-)

Digital Photo -- Assn 1 Grade

I think my Digital Photography teacher is a bit of a spaz. And I desperately want to get a hold of his class pages and edit them for spelling/grammar errors. I suck when it comes to English, but that's why there is spell check and you proof read! Anyway. I got my feedback for my first Power Point assignment. More feedback than I thought considering its online, so that's cool. Here it goes:

5 On time [5pts.]
5 Meeting assignment requirements [5pts.]
5 Use of camera tools technical requirements [5pts.]
5 Presentational Gestalt – what did you bring to image [5pts.]
20 Total [20pts.]

(Woooo Hoooo!!!)

Excellent job. My only complaint is that you stopped shooting on subjects so quickly without exploring further for stronger images or great moments or alternatives. #2 fill flash or a bounce card would add light to face. Nice framing and timing. #3 good inter action, by why not a dozen more images as the relationship develops or dissipates. #6 good full frame, #7 move slightly to right to cut dominance of light arm on left and possibly a little more eye contact; #16 “heh you!” doesn’t usually work, but it does here; #21 explore further; and #24 intense frame again do more.

#2

#3

#6

#7

#16

#21

#24

I'm pleased with that! I did do my "more than one" critique yesterday. Now I have to wait and see if someone else critiques mine. I hate waiting for other people to decide to get their work done. Oh well, I have plenty of studying to do for Medical Terminology...

Just Relax Already

I just got home from class. Its surprising me how much each assignment seems so difficult to me. I guess there is a lot more thought that needs to go into taking photographs than I thought. Assn 3 isn't due until next Monday, so I have another week to take tons of pictures...we'll see what I come up with. I don't remember if I mention that it has to do with light. Not taking pictures of the sun/sky, lamps, etc...but how light sources affect your subject. Harsh/soft, reflective/absorbing, etc etc.

I am pleased to say that I just opened my grade for Assn #2 and got 30/30! Better than my first assignment! Maybe I need to stop being so hard on myself, stop worrying what other people think so much and enjoy what I'm doing. Figure out how to do the same thing I've been doing for so long, yet in the guidelines of the assignments. I have some ideas for this assignment...but I still have one sick kid, two other classes...and less than favorable weather conditions...maybe I can steal a few pictures I took previously (I have a few in mind that fit the assignment perfectly!).

As for my digital photography class...I now have to critique at least two other peoples pictures, then respond to at least one other persons critique (if someone critiques mine, I have to respond to that). I guess this gets us thinking about photographs and filling the frame and all that...but honestly, most of the pictures people posted SUCK!!! Not just snapshot bad. Or not that great like mine bad. But B. A. D. bad! UGH I guess I should do that right now and try to get someone with decent pics before someone else does to make it easier and so I won't sound too harsh!!!