D-146 It's raining again

These were taken from the back door.



Read this Article on Photo Focus

Breathe taking images Viewed: Paul Caponigro

My Reading corner:
Nikon D-300 User's Manual Pages 127
Getting Things Done by David Allen Pages 182

D-145 Pool weather . . .

This child spent most of the day at the beach with her mom and she got home and saw that Papa Dave and Nani bought her a pool. She was so happy - she jumped right in and stayed in there until the sun was almost gone.

Sun Salutations (it's a Yoga Pose)


This was shot with the Nikon D-300
Nikon 70-200mm 2.4

I haven't gotten a lot of use out of this lens because I have a hard time holding the camera steady with it. It must be on a tripod or I have to be sitting down to use it. Like in this image. I love the bokeh it creates at the right distance.

My Reading corner:
Nikon D-300 User's Manual Pages 126
Getting Things Done by David Allen Pages 178-180

Looked at Low Key Images on Google.

Read this on low key: Low Key
Here is another article on low key lighting: Google article

On a different note: I've gotten several inquires as to my set up for the Low Key
(like yesterdays image) I'm no expert but I promise I will share my set up either tomorrow or Tuesday.

D-144 Abstract

Going out of town so I had to do a quick shot today
This one might make a nice canvas. What do you think?



Have a great weekend.

No reading yet
Rangerfinder Magazine May 2010
Practical Photography read on "Creative nature"

D-143 Peony in full bloom

TGIF!
Low key - lit with only a snoot.
Peony is the Indiana State flower! The glass jar is an antique that I found burried in the garden.



My Reading corner:
Nikon D-300 User's Manual Pages 122
Getting Things Done by David Allen Pages 179

Images viewed: The book Gold Book Photography

D-142 Diversity

Today's Tasra Mar's Thursday Theme is Diversity.
Diversity stems from the word diverse. Diverse differing from one another: unlike 2: composed of distinct or unlike elements of qualities syn different

Meet Don,
He let me take his portrait for a fee of $2.00. I got the idea from the $2.00 portraits.


This was a huge milestone for me. I was really nerveous approaching him. This is something I've wanted to do for some time. After the portrait was taken and the money was paid - I was very proud of myself. Lucky for me I carry my camera with me and I happened to have my 50mm 1.4 lens. Yes!


My Reading corner:
Nikon D-300 User's Manual Pages 120-121
Getting Things Done by David Allen Pages 167-178

Today I read Digital Photography Visual Quick Tips by Gregory Georges. This is a good book for beginers. It has great tips.
Images viewed:
The Art of digital Photography by Hohn Hedgecoe. Another great book. For beginers and intermediate photographers. I really liked this one.

D-141 Square . . .

"Accept the challenges so that you may feel the exhilaration of victory."


Daily shoot challenge:
#ds192 Lose the rectangle today. Make a photograph with a square (1:1) aspect ratio and post it. Crop if needed.


I'm sorry I keep forgetting to explain how I got the shot or what equipment I used.
Nikon D-300, 70-200mm@200,f/2.8, 1/80s, ISO 200, natural light.
Tweaked the image in p.s. with saturation and contrast.


Images viewed: Busath Studio & Gardens Jaw dropping beauty on this site.

My Reading corner:
Nikon D-300 User's Manual Pages 118-120
Getting Things Done by David Allen Pages 155-167
Professional Photographer Magazine May 2010

D-140 Inspiration . . .

Where does your inspiration come from?
I've always been told to study images that you really like. To pay attention to the details. I look at the lighting, the composition, the color. I find what it is that attracts me to the image and I study what "it" is.
However, on Scott Bourne Photofocus Blog there is an article byTamara Lackey, she says "In my experience, though, I actually find that doing the opposite actually helps me to better crystallize what, exactly, I am drawn to, simply by better honing in on what is not of interest to me."

Interesting concept, I'll have to try and study the images I don't like. How about you where does your inspiration come from?

My image today is in response to The Daily shoot "#ds191 Focus the viewer's attention. Make a photo of a single subject with as plain a background as you can."


Don't forget it's Twitter Tuesday over at Tasra Mar's
My Reading corner:
Nikon D-300 User's Manual Pages 118-155
Getting Things Done by David Allen Pages - 129-155

Images viewed: Douglas Dubler

D-139 To step out of the comfort zone. . .

"The creative is the place where no one else has ever been. You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you'll discover will be wonderful. What you'll discover is yourself."
— Alan Alda

Images and article read today comes from Rangerfinder May 2010 Issue

There is a wonderfully inspirational article by CharMaine Beleele
"...We are so determined to stick to our comfort zones that we learn to live with disappointment, as long as it's familiar and safe . . . our fears hold us back, make us fall short of our goals. Only by taking risks can we hope to accomplish the extraordinary." page 80

If you have access to this magazine it is really worth a look at it.

Are you stuck in your comfort zone? Are you safe in the known? Are you living with disappointment because you won't take the risks?

The daily shoot #190 today was asking for the color purple. Nothing exciting just working on perfecting the high key lighting - next time I'll step outside the comfort zone and get creative.



My Reading corner:
Nikon D-300 User's Manual Pages 93-105
Getting Things Done by David Allen Pages - 118-129
Rangefinder
Digital Photography 2nd Edition TomAng

D-138 Landscape

Today's Daily Shoot challenge:
Sunday challenge time: Make a landscape photo (natural or urban). Create something that you'd want to put on your wall.


“Landscape photography is the supreme test of the photographer - and often the supreme disappointment.” Ansel Adams




"You don't take a photograph, you make it." Ansel Admas


Well it is landscape and I would love to print it, frame it and put it on my wall!

My Reading corner:
Nikon D-300 User's Manual Pages 91-93
Getting Things Done by David Allen Pages - didn't get to this one yet
Practical Photography Spring 2010

D-137 Feed the artist in you. . . .

"We do not stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing."
George Bernard Shaw

Take a creative break. Do something fun. With all of the everyday "business" sometimes we forget to take care of the artist in us.
David & I went to the camp ground last night. We opened it, aired it out and cleaned it up.

Today we just took our time and we ended up driving to a field of wild flowers and just took our time.

A special thanks to the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) for planting and maintaing this field of wild flowers.





This evening I had a three year old cuddled in my arms as we watched the Princess and the Frog, until I heard soft snores. What a way to end a day!

My Reading corner:
Nikon D-300 User's Manual Pages 86-91
Getting Things Done by David Allen Pages 117-121
Practical Photography Spring 2010 (Excellent!)




Images viewed: Flickr

D-136 Friday Challenge is Bokeh

... a photographers dream isn't?

According to Wikipedia:
"In photography, bokeh is the blur,[1][2] or the aesthetic quality of the blur,[3][4][5] in out-of-focus areas of an image, or "the way the lens renders out-of-focus points of light."[6] Differences in lens aberrations and aperture shape cause some lens designs to blur the image in a way that is pleasing to the eye, while others produce blurring that is unpleasant or distracting— "good" or "bad" bokeh, respectively.[1] Bokeh occurs for parts of the scene that lie outside the depth of field. Photographers sometimes deliberately use a shallow focus technique to create images with prominent out-of-focus regions.

Bokeh is often most visible around small background highlights, such as specular reflections and light sources, which is why it is often associated with such areas.[1] However, bokeh is not limited to highlights, as blur occurs in all out-of-focus regions of the image."

Yeah, that nice smooth blur of color or texture, sometimes makes for perfect portraits.

Lately I've been dressing up my bokeh with color or lights. Today's image was shot at the office. Low lighting so D-80 ISO500 and kit lens again.
I just put a bunch of colorful things on the cabinet and placed the Willow Tree Angel about a foot in front of the "stuff."



I think the colorful "stuff" adds interest to an otherwise white wall.

I've included a picture of the stuff


Nikon D-300 User's Manual Pages 81-86
Getting Things Done by David Allen Pages 112 -117

D-135 Take Flight

Tasra Mars Thursday Theme Challenge is "Take Flight"

The air up there in the clouds is very pure and fine, bracing and delicious. And why shouldn't it be? —it is the same the angels breathe
Mark Twain

Where are your dreams taking you? What "flight" do they want to take?



I couldn't decide which one I liked better so I posted two.




Again used my Nikon D-80 and kit lens
ISO 200, F5.6, 1/50s, 55m

Nikon D-300 User's Manual Pages 76-81
Getting Things Done by David Allen Pages 106 - 112

D-134 Just keep pushing forward

It doesn't matter how fast one advances or learns, what matters is that one is still moving forward. Changing, learning and growing.

This image was taken with the Nikon D-80 and a kit lens that I haven't touched in years. Definitely not my good glass and I can tell the difference, but I wanted to carry my camera with me and I find it more comfortable with the D-80 and smaller lens.
Ambient light mixed with my garden lights.


Are you still pushing forward? If you are then it's time to celebrate. If you are not, why not? Pick up where you left off. What are you concentrating your efforts on learning?

Nikon D-300 User's Manual Pages 62-76
Getting Things Done by David Allen Pages 103-106

D-133 Self-assessment

The Daily Shoot on Twitter
Challenged me today. Here is the challenge: Self-assessment is vital to artistic growth. Look thru the photos you've posted so far. Remake one you'd like to improve.


Self-Assessment is taking a good look at your self, at a task and examining how you can improve on it. What's good about it, what do you love about it and why. What don't you like and why, how can you change it?

Here is my challenge to you. Take the same self assessment challenge I did. Share your results.
Here is my improvement:


Here is the original


I added an umbrella and I changed the numbers on the flash and camera.

D-132 Celebrate Success

"The successful always has a number of projects planned, to which he looks forward. Anyone of them could change the course of his life overnight.”
–Mark Caine


"The person who gets the farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare. The sure-thing boat never gets far from shore."
–Dale Carnegie

We had so much fun with this photo shoot! Miss Todd has the most amazing smile. Congratulations on earning your MSW! There are to many images to share all but you can see a few of my favorites on my Flickr


How are you celebrating your success?

Nikon D-300 User's Manual Pages 47-61
Getting Things Done by David Allen Pages 91-103
The Nikon Creative Lighting System by Mike Hagen Pages (none)

Images viewed: Rangefinder Magazine

D-131 Friendship

Friends are the siblings, God never gave us.
Unknown



This is for my friend Flora who is having surgery Monday, May 17, 2010, bright and early. I love you! My thoughts and prayers are with you and don't forget . . .
"Fight Like A Girl!"




I have been blessed in my life with so many wonderful friends. I even have a few cyber friends that I consider true, good friends.
Flora has become more like the sister I never had. In as much as we are the same we are very different. She is my kindred soul. I want her to know how much I admire and respect her. She is one of the most courageous woman I know.

Please keep her in your prayers as today is a big step in her fight with Breast Cancer.

Images viewed: Leah Macdonald

D-129 & D-130 Fear . . .

The greatest barrier to success is the fear of failure.”
Sven Goran Eriksson

I let a great opportunity slip by me because of fear. It would have been an awesome boost for my business, but fear paralyzed me. So from here on, I promise myself, not to let fear stand in my way.

How do you deal with your "fears?"
Yesterday after work we took Isabella to the beach. We had a great time.


We took her to Navy Pier in Chicago today. We had a great time! The USO put on a great program for the Families of Military Personnel.


My reading corner:
I read this book "America's Heart & Soul, based on the film from Walt Disney" by Louis Schwartzberg. Just quotes and pictures, but the pictures are stirring. Great coffee table type of book.
This quote was on there also:
"You can't think about fear. Fear causes hesitation. Hesitation makes your worst fears come true." Biker Sherlock, Street Luger
Nikon D-300 User's Manual Pages 43-47
Getting Things Done by David Allen Pages 87-91
The Nikon Creative Lighting System by Mike Hagen Pages (none)

Images Viewed: Kiss the groom

D-128 Excellence . . .

"Excellence is to do a common thing in an uncommon way"

If you haven't had a chance to visit Tasra Mar 365 blog you should do so. It's really a treat. She has a challenge for photographers (amateur and professional). Go take a look.

Are you working on Excellence? The work I'm trying to "excel" in is in my photography and photography business. That's why I'm reading, studying and practicing every single day.

Today's Theme challenge is "Worn"

My very old, very reliable Harley Davidson Riding Boots.



Images viewed: The Art of Digital Photography by John Hedgecoe I highly recommend this book. What eye candy and education to boot!
My reading corner:
Nikon D-300 User's Manual Pages 36-43
Getting Things Done by David Allen Pages 86-87
The Nikon Creative Lighting System by Mike Hagen Pages (none)

D-127 Dreams . . .

A dream is a wish your heart makes, when you're fast asleep . . . . Walt Disney

What's the burning desire inside of you. What is it that consumes your free time, that gnaws at you. What is it that comes to mind when you are deep asleep? Your dreams. Are you living your dream life? Are you at least working on your dream life? What is your burning desire and what are you doing to nourish that?



Images viewed: Digital Photography by Tom Ang

My reading corner:
Nikon D-300 User's Manual Pages 29-36
Getting Things Done by David Allen Pages 80-85
The Nikon Creative Lighting System by Mike Hagen Pages (none)

D-126 On setting goals . . .

Not Failure, but low aim, is a crime.
James Russell Lowell (1819-1891)

"Picturing is the first part of the process of bringing desired results into physical reality. You do it naturally, almost automatically, literally thousands of times each day."
R.G.Nixon

One (of the many) of my goals is to master the off camera flash/strobist technique. Here is yet another attempt.

What is ONE of your goals? Can you see it? Can you visualize it? What's the next step for you?

I needed to tone down the light on the rose. This is in my backyard at night.
Dutsin Diaz is my OCF Hero, Gawd I love his work!
Nikon D-300 50 mm, F1.8, 1/160S, ISO200
SB800 Flash off Camera




Images Viewed: ChupaLoL360's

My reading corner:
Nikon D-300 User's Manual Pages 22-29
Getting Things Done by David Allen Pages 73-81
The Nikon Creative Lighting System by Mike Hagen Pages (none I seem to have temporarily misplaced this book. Might have to put David on the case)

Don't forget to check out Tasra Mar's Tweeter Tuesday

D-125 Live life to the fullest

“Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams.” Ashley Smith

What's holding you back from living your life to the fullest? What dreams and aspirations are you hiding and holding back? Now, what's important to you?

Mine? To do what I love best and that's to create. Be it by pen and paper, crayons, fabric, glue or the camera. I love to create ART. My dream is to make a living with my art. There. I've said it.
Now, what's important? My family, my friends and my loved ones.


This is my dad, bushy eyebrows and all. He had a minor heart attack this week
and is in bad health.

Most days he's confined to the house. What brings him the most joy? His family and friends.

Images viewed: Blair Phillips
My reading corner:
Nikon D-300 User's Manual Pages 14-22
Getting Things Done by David Allen Pages 69-73
The Nikon Creative Lighting System by Mike Hagen Pages (none today)

D-124 Courage . . .

Courage is the power to let go of the familiar.
-- Raymond Lindquist


We had a going away party for my daughter today. She'll be gone for a year with the Army. Here she is with her daughter.
You can see a few more on my flicr Page: Here
Watching my daughter leave is tough enough, watching her leave her daughter is an emotion I haven't found words for yet.

Images viewed: Chris Mou's

My Reading corner:

Reading Nikon D300 Manual Pages 13

D-123 What's Your vision?

"...the focus we hold in our minds affects what we perceive and how we perform. Focus creates new ideas and thought patterns. Even your physiology will respond to an image in your head as if it were reality."
Getting Things Done, David Allen

So what's your vision? Where's your focus?
That passage reminded me that I need to re-focus and get things done.

Today's image has nothing to do with the previous passage. My daughter was packing her bags and when I saw her uniforms neatly stacked up and her worn boots, it touched me. She's been activated state side and will be leaving us and her daughter for a year.


this one shows her name and rank.


My Reading corner:

Reading Nikon D300 Manual Pages 12
The Nikon Creative Lighting System by Mike Hagen 50
Getting Things Done by David Allen 56-68

D-122 Friday's Challenge

Today's challenge is
"Mother/Mother's day/what does it mean?

The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness. ~Honoré de Balzac

This one is from my mom :)

How lucky am I to have her.



This one is from Isabella to her mommy.



Being a mom means unconditionally loving someone. It means giving of yourself to another human being, it means teaching, nurturing and disciplining. It means wanting and wishing for someone else something better than you have ever had. It means putting your child's needs before your own. It means worrying when they are sick, or when they are home late. It's about losing sleep and working hard.
It's about a moment when you see this person smile your whole world lights up. It's about a connection, a bond that surpasses time and distance. It's a piece of your heart running around somewhere else.

My Reading corner:

Reading Nikon D300 Manual Pages 11
The Nikon Creative Lighting System by Mike Hagen 49
Getting Things Done by David Allen 56

Images viewed: RangeFinder Magazine - Wedding Issue

D-121 Fight Like A Girl Campaign

Tasra Mar's Thursday Challenge is "color"
Ever think of how one color can represent so much. Definitely today's color is Pink. Not just hot pink buy any shade of pink automatically brings to mind "Breast Cancer" awareness. My color today is "PINK"

Flora needed an updated shot for the Fight Like A Girl campaign (raising funds for the cause). She got her hair cut so that she can start getting used to the idea of losing her hair. This is My girl. She's strong, she's courageous. I don't think I could handle all of what she has had to handle with the poise and grace that she has over the past month and a half. I love you Flora. We are with you all the way.

We had so much fun shooting today.

Here's a silly one of her and David



My Reading corner:

Reading Nikon D300 Manual Pages 5-10
The Nikon Creative Lighting System by Mike Hagen 47-48
Getting Things Done by David Allen 50-54

D-120 Changing the view

A flowering weed; Hearing its name, I looked anew at it.
- Teiji




Sometimes all it takes is a change in perspective to see things anew.


Images Viewed: Tara Swain


My Reading corner:

Reading Nikon D300 Manual Pages 1-5
The Nikon Creative Lighting System by Mike Hagen
Getting Things Done by David Allen

D-119 "Try something new" challenge

“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.”
Albert Einstein



I've been out of town since last Thursday, even though I did take pictures every day I was not able to upload and share because I did not have my computer. I think I need a lap top.
Instead of playing catch up I will just pick up where I left off.
Day 119.
Tasra Mar posted a challenge last Thursday and that was to "try something new" I read on a forum, "Cherie" stated that crystals would make a great bokehed background - so I tried it. I like the results.


I got to spend some nice time with my Nephew Jose - I missed you so much! It was nice spending time with you. I'm very proud of what you've accomplished.

I also got to spend some time with my brother. Hey bro nice seeing you again.

And Alinda - thank you so much for your hospitality. You are a kind hostess. That 7 pound lobster really "rocked" LOL
You are doing an awesome job with your photography - keep it up.


Pages read in "The Nikon Creative Lighting System" by Mike Hagen 36-47

Awesome Macro Images viewed: Hatch Flickr

It's Tweeter Tuesday