More bokeh and Light

The daily shoot today is: The Daily shoot
#ds395 Yellow is great at grabbing attention. Make a photograph today where the primary subject is yellow in color



I'm still feeling under the weather but I was not happy with my first set of shots, or maybe it's because the subject is just blah . . .
So I pulled out the flash and shot through the umbrella - The bouquet of flowers I got last week is well past it's prime. Time to get rid of.

D-308 & D-309 The world is your stage . .

go ahead and perform! LOL

The daily shoot challenge:
Today, make a photo that emphasizes or even exaggerates brightness in a scene.

Three shots for today showing 3 different lighting techniques.
Off camera flash to camera right. Candles used as background and bokeh.
Stage fright

Orange and red are very difficult to convert to black and white and not have it look muddy.
Candle light only - went for a more of a silhouette version


Light to camera right shot through an umbrella.


and for yesterday just another edited one

D-301 Fall Arraignment

Just a little corner of my house. The witch my mother in law made for me the rest of the arraignment I made.
I wanted to practice the Off camera flash so it was a "reach" but I made it work.
Used the Nikon SB-800 off camera, shot through an umbrella.

The daily shoot #ds346 Reaching up, reaching for, reaching out, or reaching in. Show the action of reaching in a photograph today.
So it's a "reach" but I did have to reach to light the candles.




Very little editing done on this. Basic sharpening for web, slight levels adjustment and vignette.

Reading Cheryl Jacobs Nicolai's blog

D-281 & 282 Dinner is served

Yesterday's daily shoot was "The warmth of wood takes on many shapes and forms. Make a photograph of something made of wood today. #ds325"
her is my response to that challenge.

It's a large piece of driftwood David found and turned into a nice candle holder. It's really cool looking.
Off camera flash shot through an umbrella, blue gel pointed at the Christmas lights in the background they are in glasses.

Since the lights were already set up I thought I'd try my rose again.

Basically the same set up except I added a red gel.

and finally
another Weight Watchers recipes
Cajun Shrimp and pasta. This was easy and quick to prepare and has the perfect amount of spice to it.

Again, I'm not a food photographer but I wanted to share. It was delicious.
I'm not on the WW program I just love the variety of healthy and low fat recipes.

All of today's pictures were taken on my dinning room table-no studio shots.



Flickr: Mikel Alba

D-274 Fading Beauty

Macro shot of the white rose that was rescued from my yard last week. The beauty in it is quickly fading


Off camera flash to the left of the flower bounced off of the ceiling.

Nikon D-300 User's Manual 169
Images Viewed: Whitebox blog
Still reading Photography Foundations for Design and Art

On a personal note: I had a portrait session cancel today and it was such a beautiful day I wanted to take advantage of that hour after work so I put on my running shoes and I ran 3 miles. 3 MILES! It's the first run I've done since my knee surgery in April. I'm not feeling any pain and it was such a powerful time. I was able to clear my mind and focus. I'm hoping to be able to keep up this activity that brings me so much joy.

D-272 Brown Challenge

The Daily shoot: Make a photograph today dominated by browns or other earthtones. Explore how the color influences your subject choice.

Made by a local artisian it's my favorite pitcher - even had to order a matching bowl.


couldn't decide on which one I liked best so #2


again viewed images by Nikhil Ramkarran His images are so colorful and clear and thought provoking.

D-260 Shadows

I always work hard at avoiding shadows in my images - but guess what? Shadows add contrast to images, they add dimension and interest.
Today's Daily Shoot Challenge is: Hard shadows can emphasize texture and edges. Find a scene lit with hard shadows today and make a photo.

I didn't "Find" a scene I had to create one. Here's my entry:
Hard Shadows - little elephants




Read: Proper Use of Shadows in Picture Correct

Imogen Cunningham

Another Amazing Session D-223

I've been busy with sessions the last two weeks and I am loving every single minute of it! This is what I want to do all the time.
Last week I took Kristen (Senior Class of 2011) out to the park but we ran out of day light. So I offered her a mini session and today was it. The mini session consisted of a "trash the dress" session. If you are interested in learning more about TTS look here
If you are interested in a TTD session drop me a line.
see more of this session click on an image and it will take you to my flicker account.
Nikon D-700, 70-200mm, off camera flash.




and funny when I looked up we had about 10-12 spectators and they were even taking pictures of us on their cell phones. Once I pointed the camera at them, they scattered. LOL

Tasra Mar's Twitter Tuesday

Viewed images by Kevin Jairaj
Read: Nikon D-700 Users Manual pages 92-94
Reading: VisionMongers

D-195 Viking!

The daily shoot: "Ads promote removing wrinkles, but they often add character. Make a photo of something wrinkled, crinkled, or folded."
This is my second subject - our Viking doesn't need skin smoothing cream, he's happy just the way he is.



this was the first image I took but I thought the Viking would be more interesting


Images viewed: Jerry Ghionis

My reading corner: Read Nikon Manual 293-296
Rangefinder July 2010
Vision Mongers" by David duChemin

Lesson learned: When shooting night photography u need a good tri-pod
Shoot through umbrellas can make for great looking light.

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

D-173 Picture perfect

Sunday's Challenge at the Daily Shoot: Make a photograph with a photograph. Find a cherished print and compose it in a larger scene.

I did off camera flash again. Like Greygirl25 said yesterday, the learning curve is tough. I agree with her but I am determined to learn off camera flash. Flash shot through umbrella to camera right.

I added my favorite Christmas lights to the background and a slave with a blue gel on it, across the scene behind the picture.

Picture perfect

Picture perfect, originally uploaded by Sandra Marek.

this is just a small corner of this frame/image but I was trying to be creative.

Images viewed: Joe Buissink
The last day for sure. I just finished looking at his last portfolio folder.

Nikon D-300 pages 188-189

D-172 Yellow

This is the 172nd day for my 2010 Project 365, but the second time around for my 365 photography project. It's amazing how much you can learn by doing such a project.
This year (Thanks to Tasra Mar and Scott Bourne), I've been reading my camera manual, viewing other professional photographers work every day and of coarse taking a picture a day. I've also been taking on the Daily Shoot Challenge and reading other photography related books. I'm learning a lot about photography.
Are you working on improving your art? What are you doing?

Daily Shoot: "Today's color is Yellow. Find something that is yellow in color and make a photograph of it."



I wanted to play with some off camera flash (OCF) so I set this up outside after it got dark. Flash is to camera right, shot through a white umbrella.


For a bigger picture see:Flickr

My reading corner:
Nikon d300 user's Manual 185-187

Viewed images by Joe Buissink (last day)
Wanted to mention that my dads surgery was postponed until Tuesday.

D-168

This is today's image:
Bastet the Egyptian Cat


f/6.3 1/125s, ISO 500 (forgot to check the ISO) 50mm, Nikon D-300
Flash to camera right facing the cat - do not remember settings
Slave light with a blue gel on it, Christmas lights in the background.


This one is in response to the Daily shoot challenge:
Daily shoot
"#ds219 Look for abstract shapes and designs today. Make a photo of a subject everyone has seen that's not easily recognizable."

:)


and finally Elli wanted to know how I focused yesterdays self portrait. This is how I set it up:
It's a glove with a ring on it. I just put my hand at that exact spot.

Don't forget it Twitter Tuesday at Tasra Mars Check out other 365rs

Here's a quick tip I found on reducing noise in photoshop. You know for those days you forget to check your ISO or those very low light conditions.
Best Design Options

other interesting read: The SMART method
Images viewed: Joe Buissink

My reading corner:
Nikon D-300 User's Manual Pages 177-179

ON A VERY PERSONAL NOTE:
I've been at the hospital with my dad since 5:30 AM until 8:00 PM
what started out as a simple procedure has turned into a full blown medical crisis for him. He's having open heart surgery, triple bypass, on Thursday. Please keep him in your prayers. Thank you

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-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-100! Do What you Love . . .

WoooHoo! Day 100 and still going strong.
Some treat my honey bought me. Yum.

Here is another attempt at OCF strobist style. Like I said before my inspiration is Dustin Diaz - I have a long way to go learning this strobist stuff.
Nikon D-300, 50mm, F5, 1/125s, ISO 200, flash to camera left and a slave 6 feet away facing background with green gel.

"If you do what you love - you'll never work a day in your life"
That's what photography has become to me. There is a hunger to learn more, a desire to perfect this art. There is alot of work involved but I love every moment of this art.

I came across this website today - Tasra Mar profiled it on her blog a couple of months ago, I just saw it today. He's so down to earth and real. I loved his interview. You can see it here:
Other inspiration: Joe Wigfall's interview on F-Stop beyond

Images viewed: Joe Wigfall

Reading Pages (none, did not make the time to sit and read today)

D-97 Ever Feel like giving up?

On people, careers, on your dreams?
I come to this fork in the road many times a month. When I get there I usually just need a break. The I keep on keeping on. Sometimes battered but a lot of times victorious.
What do you do when you get to the crossroads and you feel like giving up?

“Lots of people limit their possibilities by giving up easily. Never tell yourself this is too much for me. It's no use. I can't go on. If you do you're licked, and by your own thinking too. Keep believing and keep on keeping on.” Norman Vincent Peale

My new learning curve is OCF (off camera flash) and as I continue to learn and experiment I will continue to chart my progress on this blog. Thank you to those of you who come and peak into my world - and a bigger thanks to those of you who leave me some blog love - that is very encouraging.

This first set up is as follows:
Nikon D-300
50MM flash
ISO200 F2.2 1/100s
Flash to camera left



This set up:
Nikon D-300
50MM flash
ISO200 F3.5 1/100s
Flash to camera left, slave to camera 2o'clock with blue gel





Inspiration: Professional Photographer April 2010 Issue and Flickr
Pages Read in "The Hot Shoe Diaries" by Joe McNally 218-250

D-93 Another play at Off Camera Flash

First of all I want to say a big Thank You to my daughter Khalila for that great blog header. I really think she did a great job.

I love my vintage, 1950's Red Juice-O-Matic, counter tops juicer, our brother-in-law gave to us. Dave was making Lemonaide and as he says, "everything in our house turns into a photoshoot." Here I played with some OCF and tried to Bokeh the chili pepper lights I have on my windows. Still playing around with the flash trying to find a perfect balance with ambient light and flash.
I thought it would be fun to angle the camera for these images.






Images viewed: Audrey Woulard
Pages Read in The Hot Shoe Diaries; 161 - 169

D-80 Isabella Dress up

Isabella and I played all day today. She's fighting off a cold or something but was in good spirits after a couple hour nap.
Then she played dress up all day. I think I counted a total of 5 outfit changes. I played with my flash. I'm still trying to learn all of the different programs and numbers in it. Since she was moving all around the house I didn't want to put an umbrella or diffuser on it. I'm hoping that reading the book listed below helps me understand these "hot shoe flashes" better.
This first one is my favorite





Images viewed: Chrismphillips' Flickr
Other inspiration:
Pages read in the The Hot Shoe Diaries: Big Light from Small Flashes by Joe McNally 28-31

Friday's post is about Love - Puppy Love

Don't tell me my dogs aren't vicious looking, even ferocious.
Off camera flash that didn't go as planned.


This is Reesee, she's going to be 7 years old in April.


This is Twix, she's gonna be 5 years old in March. This is Miss Personality and the loud mouth.


I couldn't help posting another one of Reesee