Learning To Communicate Through Photographs

Digital Photography

2009-05-02T19:21:00.002-05:00

Tonight I spent a few hours reading my text book (which did not help me whatsoever) and figuring out how to merge photographs for my assignment that is due today (I also messed with sizing and color and whatnot). I should have worked on it before today...but when moving, some things get pushed aside. I'm sure it could look a ton better, and I would have loved to have gotten pictures off my hard-drive for this assignment, but I have no idea where it is. Instead I used some of the photographs I took for one of my previous assignments (at the base parade grounds). It looks ok, but whats more important, is that I figured out how to do it! Photoshop Elements is FUN!!! I want to get the full version someday, but know that I don't have the funds or time any time soon!

Portfolio

2009-04-19T09:38:00.002-05:00

We are starting to work on our last assignments in my in-class photography class. This will be considered our portfolio. I'm still required to take additional photographs to add better quality pictures...and have had very little opportunity lately to do so. Its not so much a time issue, as I've set time aside for this class (I love this class!), its more of a weather issue. The weather has been....icky to put it nicely. Overcast and rainy does not make for nice photographs. (Although I personally love overcast and rainy!) I have a few of Ethan and Max that might work, and a couple of kids playing on the playground on the one nice day we had after school. I do have one decent one inside as well.

My teacher suggested I try to get photographs of kids other than my own. I told him that I don't know many other kids, and most parents won't appreciate me taking pictures of their kids. He laughed and agreed. (The ones on the playground have other kids, as I did ask moms that I talk to and they were all fine with it...but again, with only one opportunity and one background--the park--it's difficult.)

I have 10-15 pictures due tomorrow. This is not a lot, but they all have to "work together." I completely forgot about this until this morning, so I'm stressing a little. I have a few pictures from previous assignments that I think are pretty good and would like to use, but again, they have to be a cohesive unit. It's not even 10 am, so I suppose I have plenty of time to figure it out today...I'd just rather have it done and have a hand full of good new pictures to add to the mix.

Restore

2009-04-04T23:15:00.003-05:00

I've had several assignments, and have posted some if the pictures on REEN. But honestly, most of the pictures for my digital photography class have been quite boring. I haven't been "into" that class, and have wondered why I'm taking it at all. I though I was going to learn about Photoshop Elements, which until this week I had only learned how to resize an image and do some basic things that can be learned by clicking around for half an hour on your own. This weeks assignment was to restore and old, creased, discolored photograph. He had one that we had to download, then use the textbook and figure it out. I was not thrilled. I wanted someone to take me step-by-step and explain to me what to do! If I wanted to read a book to figure it out, why the heck am I paying to take the class?!?! Oh well, I have been trying to keep up with most of the reading, which is quite dry and hard to retain. So, last night I sat down to attempt to restore this picture:

Looks like fun doesn't it? Wish it was you, don't you?!?!

I started out by cropping the edges off as he did with his "student example."

I then started smoothing out some of the creases at the top with the "clone stamp" tool. At that point it was well after 11:30pm on a Friday night (maybe this is pathetic, but whatever), and I was exhausted. My eyes were closing as I was doing this, so I figured it would be better left for today.

When I started again today, I realized that I didn't like how it looked, wanted to read some more, and started over. I started again with the cropped image and decided to start at the bottom this time.

Almost all the creases out!
(I also used the "burn" tool to darken some of the floor areas because they seemed really light even after getting most of the crease lines out. I don't know if we were "supposed" to do this, but I like how it looks.)

Creases GONE!
I'm still amazed at this!

I then changed it back to black and white like it was supposed to be.

Then I darkened in under the brim of his had to give it a little more depth and definition as well as adjusted the lighting/contrast just slightly.

Next, I whitened some spots on his undershirt and smudged some areas on the ground.

The finished product!!!

When we turn assignments in, we can also see what other people have turned in. As I have opened and viewed others work, I am shocked and amazed...but not really...that so many of them have the exact same markings as the "student example." (At least four when I looked a few hours ago.) If you are actually doing your own work, using the "clone stamp" tool to get the creases out, there is no way that your hand is going to move the same way as anyone elses to get the same lines in the same places. I think they tried to cover it up by changing the contrast or lighting levels, but its quite obvious to me. I can only hope that my teacher looks at it for longer than two seconds and realizes what they are doing. I don't want to be whinny or anything, but if I can spend three/four hours figuring this out when I have a lot going on...so can any of them!

Studio Lighting -- Part Seven -- My Favorites

2009-03-21T07:00:00.004-05:00

I've already written about these...and wrote about them again in the same post over on REEN. Just my favorites today with no more words!!! :-)

Studio Lighting -- Part Six -- Used For Assn

2009-03-20T07:00:00.004-05:00

Away from main light.

Toward main light.

Unusual lighting 1.

Unusual lighting 2.

Unusual lighting 3.

He must have liked them, 'cause I got 30/30 and most of the people in my class didn't do that well!!! ;-)

Studio Lighting -- Part Five -- Serious 2

2009-03-19T07:00:00.006-05:00

I was having fun with the lights, and the colored lighting. I think it would have been a lot easier if I would have done it upstairs (with finished ceelings)...but I didn't want to deal with the dogs!

Seeming a little bored... :-)

Something about the weird lighting makes her hair look cool. Maybe its how the individual strands stand out or something...I'm not sure.

My SIX year old daughter and her poses...ugh...she's not allowed to grow up!!!

Seriously...not allowed to grow up!

At the end, and read to be done.

Studio Lighting -- Part Five -- Serious 1

2009-03-18T07:00:00.006-05:00

After some cheek rubbing...I encouraged her to NOT smile! For the most part, I'd rather get a serious face than a cheesy grin! Most of my favorite pictures fall into the "serious" category. Ready...here we go with MORE!

This expression is priceless.

I showed her this picture not long after I took it and told her that I really liked it. She said, "But mom, I was just itching my neck!" Me: "Exactly!"

The next two are a little dark, I was still having issues with lighting. But in a way, I like how they give a somewhat somber look.

I lightened the previous a bit in Photoshop...I still don't know which one I like more! (That and I'm not a photoshop whiz...I'm sure someone else could do a much better job!)

More of those big eyes!
(I put a red and blue color filter on the main light, and it made most of the background white instead of the odd cream color. Either that, or my settings made it seem more blow out than it should be. I don't know, but it was fairly consistent and I liked the effect!)

More tomorrow!

Studio Lighting -- Part Four -- Cute 2

2009-03-17T07:00:00.002-05:00

I would have liked this one a lot more if it wasn't a little blurry...

She asked if she could take some pictures standing up.

I forgot to crop out the metal pole sticking up in the front corner...I'm not going back and doing that now though.

Would have been better if she wasn't giving me a "I'm sooooo tired of smiling, one more smile and I'm going to go postal" look! ;-)

So cute!

Big eyes!

I love this. Her eyes were hurting from the flashing lights. Poor thing! She was being soooo good!!!

More of the, "Are we done yet???"

More tomorrow!

Studio Lighting -- Part Four -- Cute 1

2009-03-16T08:00:00.002-05:00

I know my categories for these posts are kind of odd or random...but I'm odd and random! I had so many pictures, and so many that I liked. I wanted a way to post them, but couldn't figure out how. Grouping them seemed to be the best way for me! So, now we move on to "cute."

There is no way that this pic isn't cute! ;-)

So innocent!

Big eyes! I think she was looking up at one of the lights or something...

I love the hair everywhere!

A bit too dark...

This, almost grin, cracks me up!

More tomorrow!
(Seriously, I took a LOT of pictures! No comments necessary, and scrolling quickly is perfectly fine!!!)

Studio Lighting -- Part Three -- Silly 2

2009-03-15T08:00:00.002-05:00

Such big eyes!

She makes the funnies faces!

Me messing with color filters and her posing!

Her expressions were cracking me up!

I think she was trying to keep her eyes open through all the flashes! Poor thing! I'm surprised she's not blind!

AAAAhhhhhhhH!!!!!!

No more pictures!!!

So cute!

Mom...are we done yet?!

This was one of the last ones of the day...not the last one I'm posting though!

More tomorrow!

Studio Lighting -- Part Three -- Silly 1

2009-03-14T10:00:00.004-05:00

Throughout, Natalie was a fabulous subject! She sat patiently while I was trying to get the lights working, she turned how I asked, smile or kept a straight face when I asked, etc. But, she is a six year old girl! She was silly the whole time too! I got some great shots of her being silly! Many of the pictures in today's and tomorrows posts were lightened through Photoshop...so are all pixely...but I liked her expression or something! ;-)

At the beginning...bored already!

Flying!

Her cheeks hurt from smiling so much! :-P

This was right after the previous pic...BIG smile!

More flying while I was trying to mess with the lights.

BIG yawn!

Still...more flying!

Ooooo

Another yawn!

Waaaahhhhhh!

So sweet!
(Its an act I tell you! hehe)

She's such a goober!

About ready to do the hand flip!

Fanning herself. Such drama!

Silly faces!

More tomorrow!

Studio Lighting -- Part Two -- Portraits

2009-03-13T10:02:00.001-05:00

I was thinking that I'd say which pictures I used to turn in, but I'll wait until the end and do that in a separate post. I may as well. There are only eight weeks left of class...and I'm not sure what I'll do with this blog after that! ;-) Here are some/most of the pictures I took for the "portrait" pictures. I probably should have thought more about the backdrop...maybe even ironed it...but I still had a fever over 101 so wasn't thinking things through.

Wondering what I wanted from her! ;-)

Turned away from main light.

Toward main light.

I think I moved the light lower at this point or something...

This one was taken later with the lighting completely different, but it seems to fit with the portrait pictures in a way.

More to come!

Studio Lighting -- Part One

2009-03-12T22:40:00.000-05:00

I've done at least four assignments since the last time I posted. One of my in-class assignments was a report on a photographer, so that doesn't count. One of my digital photography assignments was taking 40 pictures of one person using "window light." Let me tell you, those were not interesting pictures! It had to be one person, one sitting, one composition. I did get some great photographs, and a good grade, but I wont bother posting them. That leaves me with two assignments to post about. I'll start with the "oldest" first. The week that Roby and I were sick, my in-class photography class was learning about studio lighting. I wasn't able to "learn" about it, but he did post links to some of the information. And because I'm a big spaz, I have two studio lights and a backdrop...that I had never used. I figured it would be a good time to use them! Either that or get a zero on the assignment! He just today posted grades, and I got 30/30 which rocks. Especially 'cause we only had to turn in five. I took TONS of pictures. I'm talking over 300. I was having a really hard time getting the lights to work correctly throughout. Natalie was my subject, and she was awesome about it all! I'm going to post a ton of them, 'cause I can! ;-) The assignment was to take two portrait type pictures. One with the subject facing the main light, and one away. The next two photographs were using light in a different way to get more emotion or express the subject differently or something. And the last was to use light in a completely unusual way. How it was all worded was odd, and I still never know if I'm doing "what he wants" for the assignments. It was fun using the lights, and I'm hoping to someday get a trigger for my camera as well as a gray backdrop. I think I can take some much better portraits that way!!! So here it goes...I'm going to post some of the not so great quality pics first. These ones I kinda like despite not having great quality of light. Most of these I photo-shopped a bit or they just didn't fit into one of the other categories that I divided pictures up into for later posting. Now that I'm looking at them, they aren't horrid....Natalie's so photogenic!!!

She was asking me a question about the lights.

One of the many pictures taken while I was trying to get the strobe lights two work correctly.

I used some color gels for a few pictures that I'll post later...this was the result at first. Not very nice.

She was so patient!!!

Even though I told her the lights weren't working with my camera yet, she was still posing and smiling nice a lot of the time!

I just love her big eyes!

This one was toward the end...she was getting tired!

So sweet! This one would have been better if she was facing the other way and I got all of her foot in it...

Many more pics to come...and some really good ones, I promise!!!

Digital Photo -- Assn 2 Cont

2009-02-13T07:00:00.001-06:00

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

2009-02-12T07:00:00.004-06:00

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

2009-02-11T07:00:00.001-06:00

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

2009-02-10T22:39:00.004-06:00

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

2009-02-07T17:42:00.002-06:00

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

2009-02-05T13:56:00.002-06:00

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

2009-02-03T07:46:00.004-06:00

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.

#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

2009-02-02T11:10:00.003-06:00

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!!!

Digital Photo -- Assn 1

2009-01-29T09:13:00.004-06:00

My first assignment in digital photography is due on Saturday. All it is, is a Power Point presentation with at least 36 pictures. Then take the three best, not necessarily your favorites, and put them as duplicates at the end. These pictures need to be of our "world" but not to include ourselves. We were supposed to explore our everyday environment by looking closer at it through the lens. Again, thinking abstractly about it, etc. He did say to include the good and bad, and things that you like, dislike, or feel neutral about. Rather vague again!

All in all, these are more or less our introduction to each other. The pictures will tell our classmates about us as well as give the teacher an idea of where we are photographically. I turned it in a few minutes ago. Lets hope the response is better than the one I got yesterday! ;-)

I'm not sure if it will work, but here is a link to it (I really doubt it will work, but I'm not going to load a bunch of pictures right now...I'm really not that interesting!).

Assignment Two

2009-01-28T14:13:00.002-06:00

So, I showed my pictures today. I don't know how it went really. I wish he would post grades right after we turned the pics in! Oh well.

I did end up showing the first picture, I don't know why, I couldn't decide, so just used it. He was more than not impressed. One person didn't like this picture because it was too dark on the main subject, that the light on the right side overtook the picture too much. The teacher and two people commented in a good way on this picture, so it was a good choice.

All I know is that I seem to be the exception in the class. Everyone seems to be taking random, artsy pictures. I want to improve my portrait/people picture skills. If no one else shows pictures of people on Friday, I think I'm going to ask if it would be better for me to take those artsy pictures as well and learn to take better pictures of what I enjoy another time.

I know I have a lot to learn, but I think it was just a let down. I was trying really hard and I thought they were at the very least ok. Not just snapshots of my kids where they are in the center of every pic, etc.

Assignment Two -- Deciding

2009-01-25T18:22:00.004-06:00

My pictures aren't due until Wednesday, but I'm probably going to turn them in tomorrow just so I won't have to go in super early or wait in line for 30 minutes to use one of the four computers everyone will be trying to use right before class. I have narrowed my massive amounts of pics down to 45, and from that have 10 that I'm debating on which ones to share. Its hard to look at these pictures abstractly, especially because I love the expressions and whatnot my kids make. I pretty much know three of the five I'll be sharing, but the other two...well...I guess I have this evening and tomorrow morning to figure that out! Remember, I'm still learning to take more than snapshots...so...they aren't brilliant photographs!

I like this as I love her expression. Her body weighs down the right side of the picture, adding some contrast to the white and brown...but I doubt I'll use it.

I like the movement of this one, the eyes and bodies all go to the right. The door either gives it interest or makes it not work...I don't know which. Probably won't use this either.

I like the movement and the shadow in this, but most likely wont use it either.

Here is where it gets a little harder for me to decide.

I really like this one. But if I would have stood up, I think the composition would have been better. There is too much empty space at the bottom of the picture. Damn, would have been perfect to show if I would have just taken it from a foot or two higher.

I love this one. How her body takes up the upper part, the shadow takes up the middle, and the white snow at the bottom. I also like the curves and movement of it as a whole.

I love this one also. I like the bland colors and lines of the trees, with the bird houses giving it a little bit of interest. I like the curve of the path, and the movements of the two girls feet as well as Ethan standing in the opposite direction. Oh, and the shadows are kinda cool too.

I really love this picture, but I don't think it truly fits the assignment. If I would have gotten the paper in it too, not been quite so close, I think it would have been better.

I am going to use this one.
I like the curve of the hat, his mouth, and the book. The horizontal lines of the window, book, and arm. The darkness of him stands out against the light from the window.

I am using this one as well.
I like the curve the three buckets make. It seems to draw they eye around the picture well. And the bucket at the upper left corner gives it a little balance I think.

For some reason this last one is still my favorite, so I'll be showing it for sure.

In ways, I wish the assignments were in black and white, but I'll get to that someday I'm sure. I'm taking lots of pictures. Most suck...but I guess thats the point of taking a class! Learning what works and what doesnt!

Assignment Two

2009-01-24T13:00:00.003-06:00

Yesterday I started taking pictures of my kids doing various things. After school I let them play on the snow piles much longer than I normally would, so I could get pictures. I took pictures of Ethan doing homework. I even took pictures while they were watching a movie before bed. Although its only 5 degrees out, I took them and Natalie's friend to the park this morning to take more. It was supposed to be cloudy all weekend, and when I saw the sun out I figured we should take advantage of it. This assignment is a lot harder than I thought it would be. I've taken well over 350 pictures, and I honestly don't know if I have more than a handful that will "fulfill" the assignment requirements. Thank god for digital cameras! lol I'm trying to look at the pictures as abstractly as possible, and to think about the frame while I'm taking each picture. This can be quite difficult with moving subjects!!! ;-) Not to mention I'm trying really hard to manually focus...and well, I'm not doing so hot with that either. So far, I've narrowed it down to 78 pictures, and I plan on taking more. I'll go back and look at these and see if I feel like any of them will actually work.

For now, here is one of the pictures I will most likely turn in. I really like the lines of the trees and the shadow that is parallel with the sidewalk. I dunno, I think it looks nice! :-)

Assignment Two

2009-01-23T13:44:00.002-06:00

Today we got our second assignment. He actually posted it online too! Here it is:

ABSTRACT COMPOSITION

In this assignment the goal is to explore composition and design elements of photography, through abstracted images. The main “subject” of your photographs for this assignment should be shape, line, rythym, light, dark, positive and negative space.

The “object” of your photographs for this assignment is less important than the compostition and design elements you are exploring.

An abstract image, by its definition, is not an actual (recognizable) representation of a subject. Since there is no one point of interest (a recognizable subject) to save it, a precise sense of design is necessary to make a good photograph. Form is primary; content is irrelevant. For the photographer, this offers an other way of seeing the world with a camera. There can be a conflict inherent in this type of work because of the nature of the medium. Usually a camera records life in realistic form. However, the nature of the medium requires that you translate a three-dimensional subject onto a two dimensional plane. A photograph is always a translation of reality, and it is only representational. For the viewer, the first question may be, "What is this? No, don't tell me." After trying to identify the subject of the photograph, they may say "What is it?" The search to define something in terms of what is familiar is a natural function of how the mind organizes information. For those who can go beyond defining the image in terms of the original subject, it can be enticing, and another element to add interest. Since the viewer's perception is personal, the responsibility of the photographer is to facilitate visual motion within the frame and communicate in a coherent way, no matter what the subject of the photograph may be.

Key elements

-Use photographic elements such as light and focus to manipulate how we see your subject matter

- Pay attention to the edges and corners of the frame.

- Pay attention to elements of line and how it affects the movement of your eye.

- Pay attention to light and shadow and how it accentuates certain elements of the photograph.

Please turn in a folder of at least 40 images for this assignment. You will need to select 5 of your most successful images to share during class.

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He said over and over to not take "abstract" photographs, but to think about our subject abstractly. For example; "These lines complement this round object on the other side"...etc. Instead of "The trees look pretty cool over here with my dog in the other side of the picture." He also said over and over to be mindful of the whole frame. The edges too, not just whats in the center. As I like taking pictures of people, and pretty much have the weekend to take my pictures (although it isn't due until Wednesday), I'll probably have my camera in hand most of the time. I'm not sure how I'm going to go about it as the temperature is supposed to be below 25 and mostly cloudy all weekend. I guess that's where the challenge comes in!

Tomorrows Information

2009-01-22T06:44:00.002-06:00

I was looking at the class site this morning to see if he updated the syllabus (he has already changed when a couple things are going to be due). He posted, what I'm assuming to be, Power Points that he's going to go over tomorrow. It looks interesting enough. Here are the links to the two Power Points. The first one is about technical aspects. The second one is about the history of photography. (I don't know if anyone can open these, if you cant let me know and I'll see if I can figure something different out.

I haven't looked at them yet, but I will after I take my kids to school. I'll try to remember anything interesting he says tomorrow!

Class Today

2009-01-21T11:01:00.002-06:00

Not a lot going on in class today. We finished looking peoples pictures. There were a few people that took great pics, most were clearly unthoughtful snapshots. My teacher then talked a little bit about why we chose the subject we did. How for future assignments we should really go with our first instincts of what we want to take pictures of. (I was still surprised that he didn't mention the whole "inanimate" part. But whatever.) I clearly want to take pictures of people, but from my understanding that didn't fit into the first assignment.

Friday he will show us various ways people go about taking pictures of similar subject matter and how they make it interesting using different styles/techniques. I'll try to remember a lot of it, hopefully he'll post some of it in the assignments area online. The next assignment will be due on Wednesday, but I'll try to get it done this weekend so I can concentrate on my online classes during the week when kids aren't at home!

Assignment One -- The Actual Assignment

2009-01-20T11:16:00.000-06:00

I think after getting half of our pictures yesterday, my teacher decided it would be a good idea to see how we misunderstood the assignment. Then realized he didn't post it! It's posted now, so if you want to give me your feedback on if I did it right/wrong or if you want to try it yourself...her is the assignment:

EXPLORING A SINGLE SUBJECT

For this assignment you must turn in at least 30 pictures exploring a single subject larger than a bike.

Use this opportunity to explore a single subject in as many ways possible as you can imagine. Think of how you can interpret the idea of subject. Is it an object, is it a theme or idea. Take different pictures from many different angles. Explore the subject in different lighting situations and at different times of the day. Pay attention to all of the things around your “subject” and how they influence the composition.

Find something outside so the conditions are constantly changing.

Assignment One -- Turned In

2009-01-19T10:46:00.002-06:00

Today we turned in our assignment. There were some issues with the computers, and 20 people trying to use four computers all at once. Of course I'm one of the two people who don't have a file in the sever, so I wasn't even able to actually turn it in. I did, however, share my pictures.

With each assignment, we will turn them into our folders, then share them with the class. Today wasn't very thorough...more just showing that we did the work. Future assignments will have much more explanation and critique. Only about half the people showed today (its only an hour long class), and he is going to give us collective feedback on Wednesday/Friday.

I was quite surprised by what some people took pictures of. At least three people took pictures of their dogs/horses. How the F is that an inanimate object??? I dunno. There were several people who took the "subject" a little further than I did, by making it a "theme." One person did "Country Living" and took various pictures of things around her house. A couple others took pictures throughout the "Old Market" in Omaha. He didn't say much...so I don't know if I did the assignment completely wrong or what. Either that, or there are a bunch of IDIOTS in my class! Considering there are so many point-and-shoot cameras and for many of them its their first time taking digital pictures...who knows.

I start my Digital Photography online class today. I logged in earlier, but only had a couple minutes to see if I was in the class, etc. I need to go check out my online classes now to see what I'm getting myself into! If I learn anything cool, I will definitely share!

Assignment One Cont.

2009-01-18T14:27:00.004-06:00

I got back about an hour ago from taking the rest of the pictures that are due tomorrow. I did decide to take several of the pictures I posted yesterday out of the "turn in" file, and may still take a couple of these out as I have 35 total to turn in. I think he wants to get more than 30, so I may just turn them all in even though I don't love them all. I also know that some of these are near repeats from yesterday...but 30 pictures of the same thing is surprisingly hard!

Don't love this...I could do it better...not get the black on the bottom/side...but I'm not trudging through the mud again today.

I did take one of the gas cap pics from yesterday out. I like this angle though!

Another shadow pic...which one do you think is better???

Not sure about this one either...too much brown/metal???

Assignment One

2009-01-17T21:02:00.001-06:00

I'm learning to take photographs with complete manual focusing, and honestly don't know how to take 30 pictures of one inanimate object!!! I started out taking pics of a playground. I came home and didn't like most of them. There were a few that I thought were cool, but I wasn't feeling it. I then took some pictures of a stump, the snow, footprints in the snow, and branches growing from it. I didn't love those either. I thought I'd be able to get more from the yellow tractor than either of the previous "subjects" so I'm sticking with it! I've been over there three times now, and need to go back tomorrow. I'm not sure what he's expecting, or what other people will be taking pictures of...but hopefully mine aren't the worst!!! ;-)

Here are the photographs I've taken so far. I still need ten more and I'm thinking of taking one of the "gas cap" pics out. Please don't judge too harshly! (I did resize them so they would upload quicker and not be ginormous if you click on them.)

This one took about 20 tries. Its not perfect, but I like it!!! (That and it was cold!!!)

Any thoughts, or ideas would be great! I'll post the remaining ten tomorrow after I figure out what else to take pics of!

First Week Of School

2009-01-17T20:28:00.002-06:00

I started out at IWCC on Monday. I was hoping to get into a Tue/Thur photography class (that I was in at one point...but I won't go there now), but didn't. Regardless, I am in Photography 1 three days a week and am taking Digital Photography online.

I'm extremely excited to be taking these classes! I've been wanting to take a photography class since before I started high school! (And that was a while ago!!!)

I was a bit surprised by the teacher. He has huge chops, and isn't exactly what I had in mind for a photography teacher. He seems really nice and that he loves what he does, so I'm sure I will learn a lot!

The class is a good mix of young and "nontraditional" students. I am "nontraditional" as I'm not right out of high school. There are only two other people who have "fancy" cameras (SLR), everyone else has point-and-shoot. I think I was more surprised by this than by the teacher! Oh well, I think I'll get more out of the class than they will...but it shows that you can take great pics with a point-and-shoot!

The first day was spent talking about the class and what he will expect from us. Cool, whatever. The second day was spent talking about cameras and the settings we should use (as manual as possible, with no flash). In my opinion, this should have taken all of five minutes, but apparently there are people in the class that have never touched a digital camera. Seriously. I thought that would be a prerequisite for the class!!!

Yesterday we got our first assignment. I'll paste future assignments, but he hasn't posted this one online for some reason. Anyway, if anyone reads this and wants to join in, please do!!! Feel free to share any photographs you take with me via email or any other way!!!

Here it goes:

Assignment One

Take at least 30 photographs of a single subject. Find an inanimate subject outdoors. Explore the subject in different lighting, angles, etc.

That's about it. The assignment was worded much longer, but that's what I got out of it. He wants us to explore using our cameras and what we can do with them to communicate with photographs. He's big on using pictures to communicate. I'll post what pictures I have so far in another post, and will share any feedback I get in class next week!