D-330 Point of View

The daily shoot:
#ds377 Go for an unusual point of view and make a photograph that can only be made from that viewpoint.
It really does matter where you are looking from. Sometimes you just have to change your point of view.



Not an unusual POV but her mom is on leave because of the holiday and we celebrated her 4th birthday party today - the look on Isabella's face says it all. She's happy to have her mom home reading her bedtime story.
Had I not changed my POV I would have missed this expression.

D-326 Studio on a budget and Happy B-D Miss Isabella

First and foremost, I want to wish Miss Isabella a very happy 4th birthday. Four years ago, on a Thanksgiving day, you came into our lives and our world will never be the same. You've brought so much joy and sunshine into our lives. I love you so much. Thanks for spending the night we had so much fun.
Having breakfast before school today.
Window light

Just a few extras
Talking to her mom on the phone - lamp light

and I played with textures

this texture belongs to Photozoo on flicker (TTV)

Took advantage of the daily shoot today: White on White challenge.
I've had several friends talk about needing better equipment and being intimidated by lighting. Here I set up a budget studio, made of a clamp light (any hardware store carries these for under $4.00) 3 Whiteboards/poster boards I got at the dollar store and I used a reflector that I have.
Here's a picture of the set up:

This is the final image

taking away one board (the boards serve as a fill light)

taking away 2 boards

and finally taking away all of the boards and reflector.

I think any of these images would work it's just a matter of preference.
Yesterday I used a flash light today I used a clamp light. What are you using that budget conscious? Share

D-312 Out of focus and Alex's birthday

The daily shoot today Sometimes what’s out of focus can make the shot. Create a photograph today where some/all of your subject isn't in focus. #ds357

The only thing that is really in focus are her eyes.

High ISO2500 just available light.

Conversation with Isabella
Me: What's your mom's name?
I: Sandra Gnalez (Gonzalez)
Me: don't open that in the car
I: I not open the barilla (umbrella) in the car I just holding it
Me: So Isabella, Halloween is over what's next?
I: Thans-iving, then my birthday party then Christmas.
LOL

Today we celebrated Alexandria's 18th birthday. 18! Man, time has gotten by us really fast. Happy Birthday Alexandria. We are so proud of you.


Read several articles and looked at pictures on google.

D-307 Letting go of perfectionism

Striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection is demoralizing. ~Harriet Braiker

Nikhil suggested I read Cheryl Jacob Nicolai's blog, and although the readers of this blog are probably tired of me mentioning Cheryl Jacobs Nicolai, she has brought a breathe of fresh air into my creative photographic life. If my sole purpose was to read her blog and get it out of the way and look at her pictures I could have had that done in 2 days. I have taken the activity of reading her blog like an assignment. I want to read and reread them until I not only understand them in my head but also with my heart.

The messages are not earth shattering or "breaking the atom" in photographic terms. The messages are good old fashioned, down to earth basics, we, as creatives tend to forget about while learning all the technical stuff and the rules of photography. I mean messages like "In your quest to create the best images you can, don't forget that sometimes it's the snapshots that mean the most" and one of my favorites "Don't worry that you aren't creative enough. Express yourself deeply and allow your work to be what it is."

There are so many many more . . .

She made me step back and consider why I started this photographic journey. Remember why you started?
I started because I wanted to take better pictures of my family and for my family - better pictures for my scrapbooks. That's all I wanted. I wanted to capture my family, interacting, loving, playing and living our not so perfect life.

So, what happens now? I take pictures of my family and if they are not "technically correct" I discard them. I dare not share them with anyone.

Cheryl Jacobs Nicolai made me remember a photo shoot I did of my oldest daughter with her daughter Isabella in September 9, 2010. After the photo shoot I picked my 4 favorite images and I was done with the rest of the images. I was actually disappointed that Isabella was not cooperating with us and I decided not to edit these images. Last night I wanted to revisit that set of images and behold - the magic of what is the relationship that my daughter has with her child. (for those of you who do not know, my daughter is in the army and was activated several states away - these visits are precious). I stayed up until 3 AM playing with these pictures and time just stood still.

The ones that almost got away - I am absolutely in love with these pictures now
I converted to black and white and added some noise to a few of them.

These almost got deleted







You can visit my Flickr account for the whole set

So no new pictures taken today just edited today.
Thank you all for visiting and commenting on my blog, I look forward to your comments, suggestions and friendship.

D 294 Another play date

The daily shoot today: ds#339 Double your art today. Make a photo of something you've created or crafted

It's a project I made for my youngest daughter years ago. She requested those colors.It's framed. Every single seed bead is hand sewn.


My blog friend Shirley shared yesterday about Through the lens (TTL) texture she used on some of her photos which really made the images stand out. I tried it today using TTL texture by Breanna on Flickr
I really like the results


Today was our dinner/play date and of coarse it involved bubbles. The best activity ever, according to Miss Isabella.



I want to thank Nikhil for sending me this inspiration:Cheryl Jacobs Nicolai's

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-285 A day with Miss Isabella

and off of work!
The weekend went by so fast and I was glad to have today off too.
What a beautiful fall day - unseasonably warm.




The smirks from her are because she put a spell on me and turned me into a frog. Rebbit, rebbit.


Then she turned me into a princess. Hopefully she'll leave me as that.


there's a few more on my flickr page.

I've fallen behind on my reading but since I'm almost all caught up on editing I should be able to get back to reading.



Images viewed: Alexsandras Babicius

D-268 The ds challenge & Miss Isabella by the window

dailyshoot Daily Shoot:
Symmetry can be calm and soothing. Make a photo today featuring symmetry, either in subject or composition.
An old high tension power line - had to lay on the ground of this one.


I spent a little time with Isabella today
I must say, I'm completely smitten by her.
She was laying on my new bench by the window and I was able to capture her with available light and ISO 800




Entered this one into the "Love that shot" contest.
50mm, Nikon D-700, window light.



Images viewed: The Michael Lam Collection

D-264

Articles Read:Ronan Palliser's Photoblog
Also looked at but have not read all: 100 Helpful Photography Tutorials
Inspiration: Jinky Art Blog

D-254 On weighing things out . . .

I missed yesterdays post. Not sure what happened. I had training all day, then I came home to take care of home responsibilities, David is really sick, he has pneumonia and some other complications. Time sort of slipped by me and today while checking my blog, I was surprised I didn't post yesterday - LOL. Today has been sort of a blurr too but I had Isabella for a couple of hours and I managed to capture this.



She's really not angry, she was just concentrating on making this necklace and I called her, so she looked up really quickly. I am amazed at how much her look has changed in the past couple of months. She's looking older. I could have taken more images but I decided to spend some time with her. I mean really spend time with her.
and so weighing things out, yesterday I had to take care of David and myself, today I had to spend time with her.
Sometimes I just have to give up on the reading and the browsing. I'll get back to it soon, but weighing things out, my health is more important.

Window light

Images viewed: Thayer Hearts Weddings

D-251 & D-252 Wedding and My girls

My daughter is so beautiful

She came home for the weekend (she's in the Army on active Duty in Kentucky) and today we did a photoshoot with her and Isabella.

I love this image
The daily shoot "Welcome the new week (and holiday in the US) by making a bright cheery photo outdoors and posting it today."



Yesterday I second shot a wedding for my friend Shawn. The bride and groom wanted to go to Chicago for some Urban type shots. We had so much fun.


and the last one of the day is another Doxie I met in the park.

This is Audrey. This little one is pretty sick with a rare genetic disease that kills her skin. She's also a friendly little one.

Viewed images: Ed Pierce's Photo Vision.
Range Finder
Frank Frost

D-245 Vintage Dress

This dress belonged to her grandmother (me) and her mom and aunt also wore it. It was originally a gift from my Godmother right after my baptism. My mom has saved it for many years.



I didn't take my time setting my camera up because photo shoots with this little one go really fast. Unfortunately my settings were ISO 1250 f22. Not ideal settings for studio work.

More in my flickr account.

D-216 Keeping the Vision clear

I've been reading Vision Mongers by David DuChemin and it's been very inspirational.
He's constantly reminding me to never lose sight of my dream. Sometimes the busyness of life clutters my sight.

I love girly girls and this one is definitely a girly girl!
She loves tea party's and dressing up. We had another Tea Party.



Don't forget it's Twitter Tuesday at Tasra Mar
Read: Nikon D-700 Users Manual pgs 53-74
Also half way through my Rangefinder magazine. Talk about inspiration!
Images viewed: I've been studying posing from advertisements.

D-212 Challenges

Spent a little time with Miss Isabella, we gave her a little craft set and here she was painting. Day 5 of the 70-200 mm challenge. Pam, thanks for the challenge. I do love this lens. I played with my 50 mm and I thought I need the big one! LOL

This 365 Project has had it's ups and downs for me, but mostly it has recorded my photographec journey for 1.5 years (to date). I look back at some of my begining images and I am amazed at how far my photography has come.
I also accept other challenges along the way, Like Tasra Mar's, The Daily Shoot, friends challenges etc. Challenges make me think outside of my comfort level, they push me. Challenges make me grow as an artist and an individual.
What challenges are you taking on?



Read: Nikone D-700 Users Manual pgs47-53

D-205 Tea Time . . .

It's been 2 weeks since we've had Isabella here. Our schedules just haven't worked out, but we had her tonight and she's spending the night so we had time to visit sick friends, a great-grandpa who's on the mend (still in the hospital) plus we had time for a nice tea party. We enjoyed Tea by candle light with a special princess. She just warms my heart.

The Daily Shoot: "Turn the tables and make a photograph of a light source today. Light bulb, window, or even the sun (be careful!)."
Well obviously I didn't make it in time for the sun so candle light worked out just fine.




and she made all kinds of wishes before blowing out the each candle. I know she wished something about her mom but I didn't have the heart to ask her to repeat it.

and now she's sound asleep, probably dreaming about her "perfect little tea set" as she says it.
S1/60, Aperture f/1.4, Focal Length 50 mm, ISO Speed 800
Exposure Bias -2/3 EV (talk about not checking the settings -it should have been at 0.00 or a +1)
No Flash
My reading corner
Nikon D300 owners manual 322-324
Read a few pages in VisionMongers
and read some articles from Flicker on my I-Pod

Images viewed: 25 Great Shots and
Light Stalking

D-184 Theme Thursday

Today is "Theme Thursday at Tasra Mar"
the theme is Heat/Energy.
I don't think this is what she had in mind but I took a picture of Isabella today to represent my family. It's what gives me the energy to continue doing what I need to day. Especially on weeks like this one - which seem like I'm running on fumes only. All of todays images were taken at the hospital where my father is currently at.



The Daily Shoot:
"Make a photo with the number 4 in it one way or another. Maybe 4 items. Maybe a written number. Maybe more abstract."



This is a catch up from a "Daily Shoot" challenge.
"Find a sign in front of a vista that tells a story. (Don't walk on the grass.) Make a photograph and post it"

I found this set of signs, from a distance, confusing.



Read: Marketing Essentials by Digital ProTalk and Marekting Essentials
Nikon Manual 248-249
A Short Course in Photography

D-179 & D-180 4th of July weekend

D-179
My daughter was on leave this weekend so we took Isabella to the campground and she went swiming while down there. I added a warming filter because it was so bright out.
ISO200, 50mm, F/16, S1/40s, Nikon D-300


D-180
The daily shoot:
"It's Independence Day in the U.S (fireworks!). Make a photo with celebration as the theme, wherever you are."

F2.8, 1/80s, ISO 500, 70-200mm at 98 mm, Nikon D-300
.
I should have reseached taking photos of fireworks before I left for the campground but it was hit or miss.

Viewed: F-Stop Beyond -

Images Viewed: Mike Colon

My reading corner:
Nikon Manual 212-225
A Short Course in Photography