Low Key

and so I'm back, unable to change my hosting domain or blog accounts yet. Hmmm, grrr
today's challenge is Low Key


I was enjoying the sunshine today so I took a walk in my yard.

and the sun does shine in N.W. Indiana, sometimes

Thorns


Reaching

D-361 Just keep shooting

When the world says, "Give up,"
Hope whispers, "Try it one more time."
~Author Unknown


Yesterday's post were not exactly up to par so today, still working on something different, I have a winter path.

#ds408 Illustrate coldness in a photograph today

D-352 Falls of Ohio (Kentucky) State Park

Yes it's called Falls of Ohio State Park and it's located in the Indiana/Kentucky borders. I don't know why, just is. LOL
We stopped there, even in the frigid cold, to see the falls.



We had a nice relaxing weekend with my daughters (yes 2 of them) and granddaughter. Now we are back in the comfort of our home.

Images viewed: Craig Wetherby

D-342 & 343 Moody light

I have to agree with Nikhil's comments yesterday on my "Good enough" post
he said: "The whole point of this project (at least to me) is to challenge yourself. If you are just doing what you always do well, you are not really improving, just staying where you are." That is where I've been the last couple of days. That being said, let me now say that I've been really thinking long and hard about lighting. Not natural light, but dramatic lighting, and after that, Off cameral flash. That has been and continues to be struggle.

So I've learned that hard lights hit the subject hard and then fall off the subject pretty fast then the area surrounding the subject goes into darkness. I experimented with a flash light again. Here's my example:


and a different angle

I've adjusted levels in Photoshop and desaturated the image to add to the mood.

P.S. The pictures are strickly for art and not an endorsement of any religeous belief.

I'm also gonna start playing with that harsh light on subjects as soon as I get willing models.

So today at lunch time I wanted to experiment and see If I can get the same effect controling the aperature and the shutter speed. Yes, in a bright white snowy cementery you can still get dark and moody scenes.

VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS . . .

When the dark wood fell before me
And all the paths were overgrown
When the priests of pride say there is no other way
I tilled the sorrows of stone

I did not believe because I could not see
Though you came to me in the night
When the dawn seemed forever lost
You showed me your love in the light of the stars

Cast your eyes on the ocean
Cast your soul to the sea
When the dark night seems endless
Please remember me
Loreena McKennet - Dante's Prayer


again I just desaturated and bumped levels just a tad.

D-331 Meet Capone

My oldest son who served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 4 years after high school then moved to California for a couple of years, has recently moved back to the area. With him he brought his small pony, I mean large Dog. LOL

Meet Capone . . . what a sweet dog!





because of his brindle markings/color he blended in with the fallen leaves and fall ground, it was a little difficult at first. He's a pit mix with boxer, we believe. He was adopted from the humane society. My son loves him so much and the feeling is mutual.

Images viewed: Should have read this before the shoot Weekly Photography Tips

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-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-267 Harvest Moon

The first image is for the Daily shoot: Communicate chaos, disorganization or messiness in a photograph. Find some beauty in it. (@divadeb88)

Disorganized Beauty


Super Harvest Moon
It comes but once every 20 years, a spectacular coincidence of summer verging into fall, as a rising harvest moon lights the evening sky just as the last sunset of summer glimmers out.

Called a "super harvest moon" for its spectacular apparent size and shimmering light, the moonrise at about 6:28 p.m. Wednesday rings in fall as the season turns.



To learn about this moon read here: Super Harvest Moon

and about 20 minutes later


Images Viewed: Bert Hardy


Read Nikon D700 User's Manual pg 167-168

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-228 Izzy's Senior Shoot

Typical of a photographers kids, Izzy, my youngest starts college next week but we are just now getting around to his senior shoot. He graduated Calumet High School May 2010. He finally made the time for ol'e mom. No cap and gown and no change of outfits. O.K. O.K. I guess I'll take what I can get.
THE DAILY SHOOT: Today's number is 5. Make a photo that illustrates the number in some way, either literally or abstractly.
5TH MONTH
This one was taken at his old high school. I really like this one.


I was going for a more urban look so we went to a small city right before dark and got some nice ones. This one even included the moon!


Read the Nikon D-700 Users Manual pages 128-131

Images viewed(revisted a couple of my favs): Martin Schembri
Brian Palmer

D-221 How do you discover your style?

Had another great session today. This time it was sisters, 9 year old and 2 year old. I've forgotten how much and how fast a 2 year old runs. LOL
We had fun. It was really hot and really sunny but we made due.

I introduce to you Miss T and Miss J




In trying to find my way, what my passion is, I seem to be leaning towards portrait photography. Although I enjoy photographing anything I enjoy people the most. The eye contact, the emotion. I really enjoy the connection with people, sharing stories and having "bonding" moments that are usually the result of taking pictures of their children or of themselves. Hopefully someday I will develop my style. Until then I will continue shooting everything and anything I can.


Viewed the blog of Busath Photography.
Pages read in Nikon D-700 Users Manual 90-91

D-220 Motion blur

Got the chance to go to the county fair tonight for a little bit. It was so much fun.
The Daily Shoot challenge today "D-272 challenge:
Make a photograph with motion blur today. Use a fast moving subject or a slow shutter speed can do the trick."


This one I think is really special

I watched this couple holding each other as they watched some of the people on the ride. They Stayed there for awhile. I really like how they almost look overwhelemed by all of the activity in this image.

D 217-219 "vision, passion and a broad perspective"

That quote come directly from David duChemin's book "Vision Mongers" which is the book I am currently reading.
According to David duChemin, vision, passion, and a broad perspective is the foundation of photography/photography business, and that you cannot learn in school.

I have neglected my blog for the past couple of days but I have not neglected my art. I have continued to take pictures every day, I continue to read my D-700 users manual (have you met anyone who enjoys reading the users manual? I do!) and I continue to study the work of other photographers. Time is such a precious commodity. It's really hard to come by. It seems like I'm burning the candle at both ends and sometimes something has to give and the last couple of days it's been the posting on this blog. I've also missed checking my friends blogs and commenting on theirs. I will catch up soon.

This is Baby Chloe. We did a studio session last night(D219). She is 3 weeks old and such a delight. I kept it nice and warm in the studio and she slept for 2 hours! This baby was a delight.
To see more from this session click on the picture it will take you to my flickr. There are several more there.
My favorite lens to use for this shoot was the 50mm, Nikon D-700 of coarse. 2 studio lights and one reflector

D-218, Kristen is from a Senior Shoot we did on Thursday. We had a blast and she was so much fun to photograph.
(I love the bokeh on this one and she looks great!) More on my flickr
My favorite lens to use for this session was the 70-200 mm Nikon D-700 of coarse, flash at -1 1/3

D-217 Scoping out locations for senior shoot. What do you think about his place?
Stay tuned . . .


I think that brings me up to date on the images. Now I'll try to catch up with your blogs.

I've read the current issue of RangeFinder for inspitation
and I've also read the current issue of PROFESSIONAL photographer from cover to cover.
Nikon D-700 Users Manual pages 53-74

D 213-215 . . .and the beat goes on

We took off Friday to Illinois with the sole purpose of doing a Senior shoot for 2 young ladies.
I must say it was worth the trip. We had a great time and got some amazing images. They'll have great senior image for their open house.

I used a new technique learned on Ed Pierce's Photovision of shooting in sunlight using the speedlight on -1 1/3 EV, aperature mode. I think it really worked. Up until this point, flash has not been my friend.

Alexandria


Sarah


and one of my favorites of the day:


They are cousins and my daughter and niece. I cannot believe they are Seniors! Thanks girls we had a great time and captures some AMAZING images.

and finally . . .
#ds266 Challenge: Sympathy can be difficult to express in words. Make an image suitable for the cover of a condolence card
The Daily Shoot
and I almost forgot to add this one:

We've turned my craft room into an "office" for my photography business. This is the bench David & his father built. David and I upholstered the lid yesterday. It serves as a seat and storage space. Love the new color of my office.

D-211 Summer Weather

The daily shoot challenge:
Weather affects us all. Make a photo of weather or something affected by weather today.

The weather forecast for the past couple of weeks: Chance of sun, chance of rain.


More clouds


Just cause I think he's funny

I used the 70-200 mm in each of these images. I really like this lens!

How does the weather affect your hobbies/work?

Images viewed: Doug Gordon

Read Nikon D-700 Users Manual pages 45-47

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-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-171 Summer whimsy

Our facebook group Project 365 has a challenge today it's "Summer" and the daily shoots challenge is "Weekend whimsy. Make a photograph of something that tickles your funny bone. Caption it accordingly." I was glad to be able to combine both today.

Isabella's toys in the yard makes me happy in a whimsical kind of way, the rays of sunshine make me happy and remind me that it is Summer and that string of lights that I put up on the grapevines, that have given me hours of entertainment learning how to take different boked images, all "tickle my funny bone."

To my fellow photographer friends - let me recommend that you participate in challenges. They will push you to think out side of your normal routine.

Posting from Flickr is giving me the blues today. I think it's time to change from blogger. Any suggestions?

For larger image see here >>>

http://www.flickr.com/photos/16119903@N07/4734893422/in/pool-1251121@N24/

My reading corner

Nikon D-300 Users manual 182 - 185

Wedding Photography by Rick Ferro

D-162 Mushroom Day 2

. . .and letter challenge from Daily Shoot.
"Find the shape of a letter in something around you-- architecture, nature, or anything not in print--and make a photo."



and yesterday I posted a picture of a mushroom, today I was surprised by the amount of growth.


Nikon D-300, 50 mm, f/5.7. Much better detail.

My reading corner:
Read an article by Dane Sandres "Mapping your pDNA.
Nikon D-300 User's Manual Pages 166
Now reading:
A Short Course in Photography by London & Stone pages 48-49

D 161 schroom . . .

Somtimes it's just easier to just hang up your gloves and take a rest.
What you do in those times really test your character. What do you do?
Here is my unispired image.
I learned that shooting wide open is not always a good idea. That having great details might be better than having all bokeh. In this image I could have slowed the shutter speed a tad and closed up my aperature. You live and learn (I hope).
Nikon D-300, F/1.6, SS1600, ISO 200

It is what it is. Running out of day light and a gloomy rainy evening.


Twitter Tuesday at Tasra Mar

My reading corner:
Nikon D-300 User's Manual Pages 163-165
Now reading:
A Short Course in Photography by London & Stone pages 45-47
Studied ads in Family Circle and Vogue Magazine