D-356 & D357 Merry Christmas Eve

I took this picture yesterday for the Daily Shoot Challenge:
The daily shoot
Make a photograph of something metal or metallic today with an emphasis on how light interacts with the surface.

These are my Christmas Stocking holders, they sit on the mantel and they are made of metal.


I am such a mean mom. I made my family take a group picture. LOL
They actually co-operated because I told them to wear what they wanted. Color did not matter because I was converting to black and white anyway.

There they are. My beautiful immediate family. I think their personalities really show. I just let everyone stand/sit where they wanted. I would have preferred to move Isabella to someones lap and maybe change a pose or two, but everyone was happy and I didn't want to mess with that. I mean look at Isabella's face, she's actually smiling! Two shots and I was done,
but here are two out takes while I tested the lights
I think they are funny

Isabella claimed her spot and did not want to move.

D-353 Dark and Moody lighting

Today I read a blog entry titled "Dark & Moody" (are you begining to see a pattern here?) by Glyn Dewis
I attempted to do some moody self portaits but alas, David had to come help. I set up the light, the reflector and the pose David took the image.



I'm not thrilled with the results. Not thrilled with the image but I'm tired and it's late so there is day 353.
This one I took myself. Regular lighting with umbrella

Images viewed: Glyn Dewis

D-335 A selfie but it's really about the hands

The daily shoot: The daily shoot #ds382 Make a photo today that features a hand in a creative way.

Here they are my hands holding a Spider mum. I have a couple more on flickr if you are interested in looking at them.




the watch is compliments of Miss Isabella. We had dinner at Mc D's and that was her free gift. She got an extra one so she gave it to me. I think I'll wear it to work tomorrow.
Viewed part of Creative live tonight. Great class, too bad I wasn't home for the beginning of it.
Viewed images David duChemin

D-322 TGIF - low key image

The daily shoot and project 365 facebook challenge today are "curves" and low key.
Yesterdays image would have been perfect for today's challenge but oh well . . .

Wikipedia: Low-key lighting (or ambient lighting) is a style of lighting for photography, film or television. It attempts to create a chiaroscuro effect. In traditional photographic lighting, three-point lighting uses a key light, a fill light, and a back light for even illumination. Low-key lighting requires only one key light, optionally controlled with a fill light or a simple reflector.

Low key light accentuates the contours of an object by throwing areas into shade while a fill light or reflector may illuminate the shadow areas to control contrast. The relative strength of key-to-fill, known as the lighting ratio, can be measured using a light meter. Low key lighting has a higher lighting ratio, e.g. 8:1, than high key lighting, which can approach 1:1.

So although most images low key are black and white - they don't have to be.



I got these in the mail today, a gift from Alexis, thank you so much!

That little dino came with it too.
and I used it too

the Nikon is mine.
I was doing the laundry from vacation and Twix wanted to make sure we didn't leave her again - so she jumped in the suit case. This is where I found her this morning.



I'm trying to catch up and go over to my friends blogs. I'll get these soon.
Still reading my camera manual

Have a great weekend.

Viewed images on google low key

D-306 Create Balance

The daily shoot #351
The word balance has many meanings, literal and abstract. Pick one and make a photograph today.
■“Difficulties are opportunities to better things; they are stepping-stones to greater experience… When one door closes, another one always opens; as a natural law it has to, to balance.”

~ Brian Adams Quotes



I was trying to bring the feel of the ocean inside.

With winter rolling in our daylight hours are shorter and shorter. Pretty soon it will be dark by the time I get home from work so I'll have to get more creative with indoor images.
Read Professional photographer June 2010 Issue on "light it up."

D-305 The daily shoot

The daily shoot and more lighting glass . . .
The color of the day is orange. Make a photograph that is full of orange today.
ds#350

I read an artcle on lighting liquids here


and while I was at it I thought I'd try the black and white backgrounds again. This time the light came through the glass. Yesterdays I only had light in the background.

D-304 Black rim lighting

A totally uninspired, photographically speaking, day. Just couldn't come up with any ideas for a photo today so I tried Rim lighting on a reflective subject. "law of angle of indicence equals angle of reflection" . . . I kind of get the concept but am having problems executing it. I think I might be missing a light, which I refuse to buy.

D-302 Bald & Beautiful

My friend Flora and I got to hang out after work today. I've missed her alot and we had fun.
For those of you who don't know she's been battling breast cancer for several months now. She has one more Chemo treatment left to go and then radiation.
She looks great in spite of everything she's been through. Keep fighting girl!




and then some fun ones . . .

D 297 - 299 It's another catch up day

My back pain had me laying down for almost 3 days. It's still sore but much much better. I'm moving around a lot better too. The things we take for granted - like standing upright without pain. I'm doing so much better though. Thanks for your thoughts.

Took a quick picture of David as he cleaned the gutters this weekend. Yes, I managed to go outside for a quick shot.


Moody Pumpkin
The weather has been unseasonable warm around here. The carved pumpkins didn't last too long but this one seems to have more personality. LOL
I used CoffeeShop Moody Pop. I think it's appropriate.



Today’s Daily Shoot assignment is:
Make a high-contrast photograph today. Keep in mind that color contrast can be as effective as black and white.
Get out there, take a photograph, upload it, and tweet a link to @dailyshoot with the hashtag: #ds344


These are sitting on the window sill for halloween. I needed a quick shot.
I used CoffeeShop moody pop - I think it worked well.
Still reading Cheryl Jacobs Nicolai

D-296 Tic Toc . . .

The daily shoot

#ds341 Illustrate the idea of time in a photograph today. Be as literal or abstract as you want to be with your interpretation.



I'm nursing a bad back. Good meds - It's gonna be an early night for me. I'll catch up on blogs tomorrow.
Nighty night.

D-295 Fight lik a Girl in Pink

The daily shoot: #ds340 October is breast cancer awareness month. Make a photo of something pink to support the cause.

Here's to my best friend Flora - Fight like a Girl!
Hope you are feeling better after your chemo treatment. Love ya!


This started out as a selfie, but I was trying some jumping shots and just couldn't get the focus spot on (my studio lights only allow SS125 the highest) So David came to help and then I decided on this image.
The editing credit goes to the ever talented Khalila. My youngest daughter has so much talent she doesn't even realize. So thanks to all parities involved for you assistance tonight.
Images viewed: Cheryl Jacobs Nicolai's
I will be spending a couple of days on her site trying to read all her post.

D-280 Dinner anyone?

Obviously I still have a lot to learn about food photography. Maybe I can get some tips from Elli or Sasi
I loosely followed a weight watchers recipe for crab cakes but put my own twist on it, salmon croquettes and the Hot peppered sour cream sauce was the perfect touch.
Delicious.


and my friend Elli asked about my lighting on yesterdays images. I thought it would be easier to take a picture of the set up instead of trying to explain.



Aticles read: Understanding Exposure Value in photography by Picture Correct
Read and trying to understand this (Wikipedia-Exposure Value Chart) made me feel like I was in a math class.
Images Viewed: Jeanetteleblanc

D-276 & 277

The daily shoot: #320 Simplicity is economy. Make the simplest photograph you can today. Take things out until you can't remove anything else.




and today's


Hope everyone is having a great weekend.

Images Viewed: Google Flower Search

D-273 Just plugging away . . .

The Daily Shoot #317 Power plugs are ubiquitous. Can you make a creative photo of such a common thing? Try it today!
Not sure how to make a power plug interesting and creative so I played with lights.





Reading "Photography foundations for art & design" by Mark Galer

Nikhil asked about the lights in yesterdays post . . .they are a string of "Christmas lights." They are bokehed in the background. Aperature today is F/4.5 yesterday F/1.8

D-270 & D-271 lots & lots of editing . . .

First let me say that Saturday I had a photo shoot with this lovely young lady. Miss H - she's gonna be 8 in a couple of days.


and yesterdays Daily Shoot was: The Daily Shoot #314: Make a photograph that shows an interpretation of your favorite indulgence or guilty pleasure.
Here is definitely my guilty please, sigh, don't know why I cannot just walk away from them.


and today's challenge: Fences and walls can divide or demarcate. Make a creative photo of a fence or wall today.
A fence to separate


Read Portraits and Vision Mongers and viewed some Flickr images
Sammy Collazo's Flicker
Loren Zemlicka's Flicker

Hope Everyone has had a great weekend.

D-269 Friday Challenges

The daily shoot challenge #ds313 Make a photo of an interesting stack of books or magazines. Consider how you handle repeating lines in your composition. Also, Project 365 Face Book's challenges: Lines

These are my Rangefinder Magazines



Read: Seven Elements that Help Make a great Black & White Photo by Scott Bourne

Images viewed: Tru Shots

D-263 You have to have a plan

Today I walked a 5K with and for my friend Flora, against breast cancer. I am really proud of this strong warrior.

I also had a 2 year old in the studio today. Look at this sweet child! The eyes, the hair, the cheeks! She looks like her mom - just gorgeous.

I normally over shot. I challenged my self to cut down on all of the shooting. There are times when it is neccessary, but not always. It's become a cruch for. To make sure I "got the shot." I'm not talking about practicing everyday. I'm talking about snapping the shutter 20 times to make sure you get the right one. Well, not this time. I had planned in my mind what kinds of shots I was gonna try to get. We got what I wanted in about 40 shots, less than 40 minutes. I'll offer the family about 20. Easy for the family and easier on me. That was a tip from the Professional photographer magazine.






I used my Nikon 50mm 1.4
what a sweet lens!

Nikon D-700 Users Manual read section on custom white balance.

Images viewed: Jose Villa Blog

D-262 Photographic Journey

I have the honor/privilege of being featured in Tasra Mars blog.
I can honestly say that my photography has improved immensely after joining Tasra's Challenge. Read about my journey here

Friday's challenge for Facebook project 365 is "Fall Colors"

This is from the sassafras tree in out yard. In about a week or two it will be completely red and just beautiful.



Inspiration Images: Professional Photographer Magazine September 2010 read cover to cover.
Also viewed Jasmine Star's blog.
Picked up the Nikon D-700 Users Manual again.

D-261 Sunflower

Bought myself a treat

I love sunflowers. They remind me of sunshine.

I've also been inspired by Imogen Cunningham. Her eye for detail is simply exquisite and I wonder how she captured details like she did in 1901, without all of the technology.

I've been reading "Portraits" by Terry Hope

With those 2 inspirations, I'm feeling motivated to do some black and whites.

Who inspires you?

D246 - D248 Do the lines seem a bit blurry sometimes?

Do the "lines" sometimes seem a bit blurry?
I think it's time to revamp my goals and business plan.
Technically this image is totally incorrect, but I did it intentionally.






I've been doing lots and lots of editing and shooting. I will catch up with my blog and blogging friends as soon as I can catch my breath. Thanks for stopping by.

Interesting learning how to light glass.