Day 4 Black and White photo

I didn't expect this to happen for a few more weeks but I am actually really starting to enjoy this. I am feeling more confidant and much more optimistic about this project.

Today my 5 year old started his first day of Karate. He had the best time. In this picture he is demonstrating standing at attention.

I adjusted the picture to Black and White and was surprised that there is more to it then selecting 'black and white'. I'll have to play around with it more. I don't love how this one turned out but it works for what it was for, to give me exposure to something new. I am feeling like I am getting the hang of exposure but my composition is lacking. All in time, right?

Day 3: A bad habit

Today's picture was of a bad habit. I decided to put a positive spin on this one. My bad habit is not spending quality-individual time with my kids. Today I took my youngest to the park for some mommy time and I loved it. Back to the photo. This one I tried some tricks in photo shop and kind of liked how this one turned out. I am realizing that my subject is always centered, which I guess is a bad habit. I am going to try to apply the rule of the thirds and see how that changes my composition.

Day 2

Day 2: photo of something green.

How could I not capture the spring greenery surrounding me? Obvious? Yes. Creative? No.

Though this picture is a bit boring I am still proud of it. I am getting the hang of using Manual. Creativity and art will follow. It's so hard starting at the bottom and with the basics when my goals and desires are so high. I really am hoping that this daily challenge will help me up a few rungs in the ladder.

As I "turn-in" my best work that I am capable of at the present time I can't help but hope that in a year, or maybe even a month I will review these pictures and easily see things I could have done better to capture the picture.

I am already feeling like I am overcoming my photography fear a bit. Practice, practice they say is the only way to improve.

Day 1: Self-Portrait

I am doing it! Day 1 of my photo challenge is a Self-Portrait.

I hesitate posting this because the lighting is just awful. The composition is what I like most about this picture. It took me dozens of shots to get something I was okay with. I wish I could reach into the picture and fix my hair. Alas, this is me-and I would consider this a semi-dressed up me. The lesson to be learned here is to not to procrastinate my project. It was the end of the day and I just couldn't have the day pass by without starting my goal. The family was in bed, I pulled out my tripod, my weak-sauce lamps and posed for the camera like a fool.
I posted the picture anyway even with the lighting being bad because it's a good reminder of making sure to have the proper lighting and a note to my self: Learn about lighting. Photography is so involved and there are so many elements I am finding. Composition, Focus, LIGHTING, emotion, and all the tricks in photoshop.

I used my limited Photo Shop knowledge and cleaned this one up a bit. I like it much better now. I can't imagine how hard it must be to shoot with film and without software!

Photo a Day

I still find my self afraid to shoot and completely imitated. The desire to learn and accomplish is still there though. To help me through this I am challenging myself to a 30 day Photo Challenge
Beginning April 1st.
1. Self Portrait
2. Something Green
3. A bad habit
4. Black and White
5. Shallow depth of field
6. Shadows
7. Love
8. Happiness
9. Spring
10. Memory
11. Pavement
12. The letter 'C'
13. Faceless self portrait
14. Open door
15. Sunflare
16. Something you love
17. From a high angle
18. From a low angle
19. Hands
20. Pink
21. Eyes
22. A kiss
23. Water
24. Silhouette
25. Bokeh
26. Feet
27. Vintage
28. Motion
29. Sadness
30. Candelight


Wish me luck!

Photo 2

So this week, my focus has been on shooting in manual only. A photography friend of mine advised me that this would be the fastest way to learn the settings on my camera and the quickest way to improve. We went down to Galveston for a family outing and I was proud that all of these shots were taken in Manual. I was surprised how blue the pictures turned out. I am not sure why, I am wondering if had I used the flash if that would have done the trick. I used my limited CS5 knowledge and touched up each picture. I am happy with the outcome. This is starting to excite me instead of terrify me. And that in it's self is an improvement. (I hope it's obvious which pictures have been fixed, but if not...The second picture in each series is the doctored photo.)

The book Understanding Composure has been the most help in understanding manual.

Photos 1

These 2 pictures are the reasons why I have invested a lot of money and am committing to invest a lot of time to photography. I want to cherish and capture my children's childhood. They seem to be growing faster every year and I have a very poor memory but as I look at pictures my mind is flooded with moments I had forgotten. I have always thought photography was kind of cool but was completely overwhelmed by the thought of becoming a photographer. As I was living in Grenada I was amazed as I watched my friends learn the art and rather quickly. They have captured beautiful pictures of my family and were able to build businesses around their talent. At this point I am not looking to earn money from this but I would love to get over my fear and capture some memories that will make me smile for years to come.

So the point of this blog is to document my journey of learning photography. It's a place to see progress and to record what I learn. My hope is to study a concept through the week and then to shoot something demonstrating what I have learned and to post it here.

I don't claim these pictures to be perfect.
So far this is my best work.

I really like how this picture turned out. I haven't made up my mind about the shadows yet though. I know nothing about lighting.



I love this photo because of the emotion in the picture. I love the smile on J's face and the movement of his feet. Although ultimately I would like to figure out how to crop out the strangers in the background but at the same time I like having the lady there because she brings a spirit of relaxation that represents how I felt as I observed my toddler having a great time chasing the pigeons around the courtyard.

Although I understand the theory of shooting in manual I haven't put it into practice and so unfortunately I am shooting in Auto most of the time.