Reverie Christmas Giveaway!

Reverie is having a huge Christmas Giveaway at the Reverie Blog for Photographers: http://www.reveriemine.com Don't forget to enter!

Resizing for Print?

So, I hear so many different things concerning pixels....

~Right Click Image and Open In New Tab or Window for larger view~

This is how I resize for print with out changing the Pixel size of my image. You just change the dimension of the image and the distance between the pixels. For example, if your images load to you PC at 48"x72" and 72ppi, then you have a 18mp image (or very close to). Printing an image at this size could turn out grainy and unpleasant. You can change that, by Image>Resize>Image Size and un-check Resample Image In Photoshop and PS Elements. Now Here is where people get confused, How do you change the PPI with out adding or removing pixels?? The answer is both confusing and simple. We will take the simple route. You have a set number of pixels and the only thing you want to change is how close together they are, this also changes the dimensions of your image, but does not change your total number of pixels. Imagine you have an even # of M&M's, and you need to lay them out in a rectangle or square. The bigger your rectangle or square, the further away the m&m's are from each other. This will cause a grainy appearance, or what is called Noise. So we want to arrange these M&M's so that they are in closer relation to each other, the dimensions of the shape will change (so instead of an 8x10 rectangle, you may end up with a 5x7[just and example, most cameras today will make images capable of much bigger prints, so don't let this fool you]) but your M&M's are much closer together, giving you a smooth and beautiful print. You have not added or taken away from your original number, just placed them closer together. I hope this makes sense, and can help clear up some confusion. 

So Long Thanksgiving!

And hello Christmas=) I was just too excited about doing Christmas photos for my girls to put it off any longer. And after seeing Propinsanity's post on how to do a festive backdrop, I ran with it. So here is my version. Of course I don't own a backdrop stand, or backdrops and my living room is tiny, so I just worked with what I have, which is an off white sheet and a wall to tack it up on, colored lights and a down comforter for the floor. Oh, and lets not forget, my very first piece of lighting equipment! A Soft box with 1000 watt 5 bulb continuous light=)

Not only did this little photo shoot get me great images for my Christmas cards this year, but I also learned a little more about Bokeh. Bokeh is something that I struggled with in the beginning, but after getting my 50mm 1.8 canon lens, it was easy as pie. The Key is to have your subject closer to you than they are to the background and have your aperture wide open, as much as possible. It takes a few test shots to get it just right, but the results are so great. bokeh makes me happy, like big bubbles of joy; I can not get enough. I shot these at 50mm f/2 shutter speed varied, I also had a continuous light.

Oh Fall, How I love you.

Halloween 'Ghost' Photography

I wanted to do a spooky Halloween shoot this year and this is what I came up with. I found a weird cement planter in our backyard when we moved in and that is what I used for these images. The costumes are just old white sheets I had hanging around the house, Its amazing what you can do without all the props.

Creating a transparent image in Photoshop Elements

I threw this together pretty quickly, I hope it is understandable for everyone. If you cant see what is going on, right click on the image and open in a new window or tab, It will show up larger and easier to read. I know when I was just starting on in editing software tutorials like this were a huge help. Please do not forget to save your Transparent Image File as .png in a folder you can locate later. Every time you need to place your watermark, open up your .png and drag the image unto your photo and adjust to your liking.

P.S. This is how I created my simple logo you see at the top of this blog=)

Reverie Blog Giveaway!

Reverie is having an amazing giveaway with 25+ vendors, Check it out and enter to have a chance to win some great photography props, workbooks, frames and other prizes. Reverie is a full of inspiration, so dont wait! http://www.reveriemine.com

Loving me some Actions!

I love editing my photo's, it is almost as fun as going out and taking them... Almost. I just really enjoy letting the creativity flow, seeing what works and experimenting with new stuff. So, when I found Oh So Posh Photography on FB I was pretty happy, especially when I saw that their free action is the exact effect I was looking for at the moment. That golden hour feeling that is so elusive for me. Here is an example of this action, I did  turn down opacity and used Bring on the eyes from Pioneer Womans Actions.

Now, my monitor is not calibrated, so the color may be off, although t looks good to me I have been told there is a greenish tint. 

I was so proud of myself

I finally got my new sewing machine out with the determination to learn how to at least thread it. A couple hours later when I walked away I had made a hair band for my daughter (didn't want to waste the fabric). So what its not perfect, I had to get a photo of it, it is the first thing I have ever sewn after all.

Yes, I know her face is dirty, very impromptu photo, right after lunch=)

My attempt at completing NYIP Unit One

 A couple weeks ago, on our way out of town, I decided to take advantage of the trip and shoot some Great Depth Of Field images to fulfill my Unit One assignment. Unfortunately it was raining, common occurrence in the Willamette Valley, and a bit windy. But we stopped at one of the filbert orchards anyway in hopes of getting something. I am disappointed in the results, and hope to go back in spring for another go.

Although I know the focus is soft throughout the whole image, there are some things I do like, the color being one. I love the green of the moss and ferns with the red of the foliage on the ground. I see great potential in this location. On a brighter day when I wont have to use my tripod I can avoid camera shake. If we make it there on one of the rare days its not raining, I wont be rushed through the process. Come on spring!

Pioneer Women's 'Bring On The Eyes' Photoshop Action!

I am so pleased with this action, even in elements, it works like a charm. I recently discovered The Pioneer Woman blog, and am quickly becoming a big fan. Thank you PW for your amazing blog and generous offering of photoshop actions, as well as your easy to follow tutorials.

Today

Today, I will take out my camera and shoot something! I don't know what yet, but, I will find it. You see, I was supposed to do some band portraits for my husbands friend, but they have decided to have another photographer (not really a photographer, more like girl with camera, if I understand correctly) there doing a shoot at the same time I would be. That makes me uncomfortable for a couple reasons. First, I am new at this, and the stress of doing the shoot for someone, even if its practice, is immense. Even though they know I am a photography student, I imagine they have some expectations and that is fine. I need time and the ability to feel comfortable in this environment of photographer and client. Second, In my limited experience, to many photographers in the studio is a lot like too many chefs in the kitchen. Neither of us would get the clients full attention, there would be additional and unnecessary distractions, contradictory direction. Which one of us do they take that direction from? One of us would be rushed, our creativity stifled, with the sense that the other is waiting on us~watching over our shoulders. I don't know if this situation is normal? And perhaps it is something I should get accustomed to. I am conflicted, should I just make the best of it and do the session, or wait and see if they want to re-schedule for another day. Either way, I will be putting my Canon to use.

Just Because

A pic of the little monster, errr, I mean girl. Why? Well, because, its my blog and I do what I want! And, I haven't posted in a few days, (I really need to get in the habit of getting my camera out every day), and I feel like I should post something..

Flash-less Water Drop Capture: Success!

Here it it, my submission for unit one~Motion

And a Pic of the set up that made this image without a flash possible

Water Drop

I have seen peoples very cool water drop photos and wanted to give it a try. Last night I placed a hand towel in my sink and a pyrex pan on top of that. Turned the faucet on to drip and used a lamp for lighting as well as my flash. I used a zoom lens set to 200mm @ f/32 and 1/200 sec. I am not exactly happy with the outcome.

So, frustrated and concerned about my cameras ability to focus, I vowed to set up again this morning. I filled a ziplock bag half way with water, pricked one corner, tied a ribbon around the top and looped the other end around the little know on my piano. With the bag suspended I placed the pyrex pan under it, with a green piece of construction paper behind the dish, and a blue piece underneath. Set a reflector on camera right and window light camera left. I still had to use my flash, its cloudy today, and my 18-55mm lens. Here is the result. f/22 @ 1/100 sec and 55mm focal length.

The quality is greatly improved, much clearer image. I am still waiting for the sun to come out so I can avoid the flash, and capture a image I can use for my Unit One Assignment, keep your fingers crossed x

Fooling Around with Magnifying Filters

Just for fun, these are my Daughters 'Mini LaLaLoopsy' dolls, they fit in the palm of your hand. I am having a problem with focus, not sure if its my eyes or my camera, so I figured I would get in really close.

Found: Lost Pictures of New York Blizzard

Some People are pretty amazing. Its things like this that touch my heart and give me hope that this world is not doomed to a breed of jerks who don't seem to care about anyone but themselves..This effort to find the owners of the film may seem minuscule in the great scheme of things, but add all these 'small' kind acts together and see what we get.

New NYIP Student

My sister, my friend and once again, my study partner. Welcome to NYIP Robbie <3 Just think, no papers to write, no speeches to give, no math exams, no biology labs, no freezing classrooms, no falling asleep during super awesome slide shows, no trekking through three levels of outside parking up hill to the Modoc or Ochoco building with 50 lbs of text and 30 seconds till class. Yeah, it feels good to be done and moving forward.. This should be fun.

This Weeks P52 Theme

Bokeh, yeah, I had to Google it too. So, what is Bokeh? Well, according to SLR Photography Guide, Bokeh "refers to how your camera lens renders the light that is seen within the blurred parts of the image. Sometimes this can be soft or harsh circular shapes, or look like hexagons, depending on your lens design and aperture settings." But what I have learned is that you can make the shape of the reflected lights into stars, hearts, crosses and more, by creating a paper cover for your lens. More research is needed for me to figure out exactly how to achieve this. I am off and will be back with results, whether good or bad...

Already Off Track

Well, here it is, my first post and already I'm off track. No project 52 image here....yet. But it feels funny to have this blog set up and nothing on it. So my first pic will not be for P52, it will be a recent portrait I took of my daughter. Using a white reflector, a sheet, and a flash.