D-337 Abandoned

City Methodist Church was shut down in the 70's due to a lack of attendance. There have been several fires in this structure but the building still stands. This structure stands 9 stories tall, The Church made unique use of commercial and office space, classrooms, meeting rooms, an auditorium and a large sanctuary. Storefronts were incorporated into the building. The main goal of this church was to help people in the community.

The church was built at a cost of more than $1 million by the Rev. William G. Seaman in 1926, built in English Gothic Style.
This information came from this site: Historic Buildings of Northwest Indiana

I will be uploading more images from this outing tomorrow.

This is my daughters best friend Alexis, she's an aspiring photographer/graphic designer. She is currently in college in Ohio. She has a great eye, I would say she's already a very good photographer. She's visiting for the holiday and we took her with us.

Yes it is snowing and yes it did get cold

there are more on my Flickr

Thanks to everyone who has shared their thoughts on the 365 Day project. I appreciate your comments.

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-289 - 291 Pumpkins and goblins

Facebook Friday Challenge: Labor
Dave spent 2+ hours on the phone with a Zune representative who managed to mess up Dave's computer but eventually they fixed everything.

A self portrait - went to a Halloween Costume

We won first place for the costume

Finding the perfect pumpkin



Her first carved pumpkin (with a tiny help from her mom)

Now I am more than caught up. LOL
Images Viewed: Work of the Heart Skye Images

D-208 End of the weekenditis

Remember my first $2.00 portrait? See here Well, I got approached again and he asked for some spare change. I offered him $2.00 if he allowed me to take his picture. Here's Kenny, a very polite man who has obviously been down on his luck. He has what he calls "metal" in his mouth and it is very painful to eat he says. I imagine they were braces holding healthy teeth at one point. None the less, he says he can only have liquids, as in soup. I stepped backed ISO at 4000 with my 70-200 mm lens (Pam's challenge to me) and my new baby Nikon D-700.


Did I tell you that I love this camera? Add that lens to the package and It's just pure love.

The Daily Shoot
Go anti-bokeh today. Use a large depth of field (higher aperture numbers) today to tell a story on multiple layers
The story? It's been a long road here (almost 20 years) protecting this city. The city continues to be in disarray. This is just one of MANY abandoned and decaying building in the city. It's almost time to hit the road and move on.
I really wanted to shoot at 2.8!


and this one is just for fun
FLY AWAY

D-207 Be still my heart . . .

For the past two years I've been planning this purchase. We've talked about it, we've researched it and the day finally arrived. Today I brought home my new
"Baby"
here's her portrait, be still my heart


and with that I took my first portrait. These images satisfy my friend, Pams, challenge to me (to use the 70-200 mm for 1 week) and the Daily shoot. I used that lens for both images.
The Daily Shoot: Make a portrait of somebody today. It can be somebody you know or a stranger. Maybe even yourself.


My brand new Nikon d-700, S1/50), f/2.8, 200 mm, ISO 4000 No Flash only ambient light and his lap top. This was the first image taken at ISO 4000! Almost no noise! My heart skipped a beat!

So what's your next camera equipment purchase? What have you been dreaming of? What's on your wish list?




My Reading corner:
Read the new manual Nikon D700 User's Manual Pages 1-13

Images Viewed: Aleksandras Babicius

D-182 the challenge is blue

"Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." Aristotle (384 BC - 322 BC)

What "habits" have become your life, your every day reaction, your routine?
I'll have to re-examine my habits so that I can guarantee that they will lead to excellence.

Don't forget its Twitter Tuesday over at Tasra Mar. Drop by and visit her site.

The daily shoot:
"Today's theme is the color blue. Blue sky. Blue plate. Blue M&Ms. Make a photo of something blue and post it today."

My honey's blue eye . . .
The triangle in his eye was a white envelop I used as a reflector.




Images viewed: Mike Colon - I will be viewing his images as long as I am captivated by them. His work is stunning.

My reading corner:
Nikon Manual 225-247
A Short Course in Photography

D-181 David versus the Mosquito

Today was an Off Camera Flash kind of evening. Most of my models have grown up and are not as cooperative as they used to be. So I asked poor David to help me out again. He's such a sweet heart. Don't let that mean demeanor fool you. He never refuses to help me even if it means yet another series of pictures.

This first image is funny because there I had another willing model and didn't even realize it. The mosquito to Davids left. LOL They were so bad outside this evening we couldn't stay out there for very long. I also love the bokeh in this one.



Not much bokeh in this one but I like the pose and the color of this one.



Images viewed: Mike Colon
Also viewed the interview of Mike Colon at F-Stop Beyond

. . . and I'm back Days 104 thru Days 112

My surgery went well - I'm still in pain so I can't tell if it was worth it or not yet. Today was my first day of physical therapy. Yeah I'm sore again.

First of all I want to thank you all for your cards, flowers, food and wishes of a quick recovery. Your thoughts mean a lot to me and thank you {hugs}
My friend Elli sent me the most Beautiful bouquet of flowers with a balloon. What a nice surprise and my Friend Flora brought over the most colorful bouquet of flowers I've ever seen and my Mother in law made me the best batch of Perogies ever along with a home made upside down cake plus I got cards and calls too many to mention. Thank you thank you thank you!

The first 2 days I was so out of it I was lucky to take a picture
so I give you Textures: (one of which I already used)
D-104
removed for space reasons
D-105
removed
The bouquet that Elli sent me. Natural light
D-106


D-107
From Elli's bouquet with texture added, natural light

D-108
Flowers from Flora :)

Love this one

D-109


D-110
I used the texture from the first day on this one.

D-111
David set up a hair light for my low light shoots. It gives a nice separation from background when I want it.

and last but not Least:
D-112

I love this one because I was sitting in a lawn chair pretty far from her I used the 70-200mm and I love the bokeh!

D-86 Congratulations to David

David completed his first 10K! Way to go baby, I'm so proud of you!
Job well done!





Images viewed: Andrea Joki

Pages read in the The Hot Shoe Diaries: Big Light from Small Flashes by Joe McNally 79

D-79 David's portraits

David after work yesterday.
Processed today. Mmm mmm - Looking good!


In full sunlight (late afternoon) used flash fill to combat the brightness of the sun.
Pages Read in The Hot Shoe Diaries - big light from small flashes, Joe McNally :23-27
Inspiration: Tasra Mar & coffee shop

D-73 Isabella

We had a fun and exhausting day at the Childrens Museum today.


Papa Dave lets Isabella get him wet - she had so much fun!


Have you had a chance to go to Tasra Mar's blog yet? She's very inspirational and gives lots of great advice. I even watched a series on video about getting organized in her site. Lots of stuff to look at and read. Take a look. It's worth the time.

Pages Read in the Nikon D300 Digital Field guide: 155 - 185 Real World Applications.

Pictures looked at: Marcin on Flicr

D-72 Following the smoke trail & Portraits by request

Smoke project
The smoke is from an incense the color is from a gel that I put on a speed light, which is the only lighting used in these images.





Dave sees the figure of a woman with a hat on this one. Do you see it?

Light to the camera left with a red gel.
Nikon D-300, 50MM lens, ISO 500, 1/100S @ F/5.6

Just learning this was my first attempt.
Dave saw how the images were turning out and he's always wanted a portrait with that type of lighting so we experimented some more
and he really loves these. Jan, the first one's for you



Lighting for these is
Nikon D300, F/14, 1/80s, ISO 500, 50MM


Pages Read in the Nikon Digital field guide: 147-154 Lights and light modifiers.

Images viewed: http: Poopoorama's PhotosOther inspiration:

D66- Learning how to balance ambient light

I think I'm officially stalking Dustin Diaz' Flickr photostream.
I am learning to embrace all of the night lights.
David is a patient man - really I don't know anyone who would do the things he does for me and for my photography. Here it is late Sunday night and we are practicing night photography. Thanks Baby.

I did not take my speed light so I had to use the on camera flash. Since I've been reading my field guide I've learned how to control that flash. I toned it down a bit. I wanted to capture and bokeh the street and car lights in the distance and still keep the subject in balance. There was also a neon light throwing a red glow our way. I don't have it yet but I'm getting there.



in black & white

and this was just for fun. I took a lot of these in different colors.


PG 76-77 Focus points and Metering
Looked at images in Gold Book Photography and Dustin Diaz

D-57 Fun Friday Photo Challenge

David has been a Police Officer his whole adult life. He was shocked the other day when we counted how many actual years he's been a police officer - 19 Years.

When I started dating David he was a Corporal. I've seen him go through 3 ranks. He is currently a Lieutenant. I am very proud of all of his accomplishments.

The challenge today was to take a Portrait with out the person actually being in the picture. Every time I see his uniform laid out or hung up I think of him.

Technically this image is not correct because of the light flair but when I looked at it in the camera, I thought that it looked like it represented the guardian angels
that have protected David his whole career.



The number he's had all 19 years, "1211"


Photographer: Zack Arias that's his 365 Site
this is his other photography site I'd love to take one of his classes.
Read: 47-58 AF area Modes, ISO, Picture control

D47 Architectural Tuesdays

I took the day off of work today, after working out this morning David and I went to the Chicago Car show. Very interesting. We picked some of favs and pretended on which ones we'd be taking home.
Then we went to the Casino and had some awesome sea food. While we were there we played on the slot machines (the penny slots) and I won $15.00! Woohoo what a way to end the day.
David taking in the Sky Line


David's Dream Car, Chevy Transformer Camaro


A girl can dream . . .


but this is what's in our budget - LOL


These are not product images - the reason I only took the front of the cars is because it reminded me of the commercial with all the "faces"

41 - 42 - 43/365 Update

Yes I have been taking pictures I just hadn't had a chance to post them but here they are:
Wednesday is my Winter Star. Another boring white/grey winter image so again I added some of my favorite textures. I like it.


Thursday I went to a basketball game. I stayed until half time trying to capture a good image of this kid but the lighting was bad and I have not practiced sports photography enough. His mom told me that right after I left he got elbowed in the face and he blacked out with his mouth pouring out blood! They also thought that he fractured his hands from the fall. The good news is that even though he had a huge gaping hole inside of his mouth they were able to stitch him up and his hand were just badly bruised. Back to school the next day.


and Friday's Fun Photo Challenge is "A loved One" even though I have many loved ones in my life - who else would I put here but David.
I mean he drove us to downtown Gary and even took off his jacket in 20 degree weather so that I could complete my challenge. Thanks Babe. He could tell you stories of the places we go and the things that we do just so I can take a picture.
He supports my passion whole hearted.


Rumor has it that this used to be a park with a huge circular fountain. I Have yet to find actual documentation of this place in the archives but it looks like it could have been a great place once upon a time.