(No photos for Day Five through Day Seven)
While I was out with my husband, in search of a cafe to hang out in, we pass by a bus shelter with the usual poster ad on the side. Only this one had an interesting addition to it.
I was without my camera, since I was carrying my laptop and made the decision not to carry my camera along with the laptop while traipsing across the park in search of the mythical cafe. And of course, I see this poster and want a photo of it.
But, in a way, thank gods for technology, and that Marty had his phone along or I would be really lacking. So, I took this photo with Marty's cell phone camera. The quality isn't horrible for these little phone cameras but they don't give you a lot of latitude with framing and settings. I tried to get just the poster in the frame but ended up with two strips of "outside world" on the sides. At first I was going to crop them out but then decided that I liked them there; they give an interesting framing, almost a relief from the start greys of the poster.
I think the added sticker really plays off the depressive quality of the colors of the poster and the fact that, to me and my husband, the woman does not appear very happy (neither does he, although you can only see his non-smiling mouth). Maybe these are sad jeans. In any case, quite an interesting addition.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Day Four - Peacock Feathers
My kingdom for a macro lens. I can't get very close with my current (and only) lens without parts getting blurry or out of focus. I like shooting up close so a macro lens would be very helpful in this. Like in those nature shots where the flower is right up in your face and crystal clear.
I took some shots of some of the other things on my mantle but I've noticed the thing about "things" is often they look much better in black and white. But I didn't think of it in the moment so I chose the close up shot of the peacock feathers that was mostly in focus.
The lighting is not my favorite and I really wish the outer feathers were in focus but I would have had to pull back to get them to focus (lens issue) and I liked the framing, so that wasn't really an option. But it was the "best" out of the bunch so here it is.
I took some shots of some of the other things on my mantle but I've noticed the thing about "things" is often they look much better in black and white. But I didn't think of it in the moment so I chose the close up shot of the peacock feathers that was mostly in focus.
The lighting is not my favorite and I really wish the outer feathers were in focus but I would have had to pull back to get them to focus (lens issue) and I liked the framing, so that wasn't really an option. But it was the "best" out of the bunch so here it is.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Day Three - Alejandra
I originally had the idea of taking a shot of my chiropractor from the vantage point of me lying on the table with her about to adjust me. I was torturing the poor receptionist, a very sweet woman by the name of Alejandra, by straight out announcing she would be current victim and she took it all in stride.
She did a fairly good job at ignoring me with a camera all up in her space, laughing self-consciously a couple of times, but for the most part went about her work. I think she is used to my husband and I and our antics, so maybe a camera in my particular hands wasn't all that odd to her. Alejandra graciously gave me permission to post this shot.
This photo is actually underexposed (meaning not enough light, too dark), I think I bracketed too far down from the "proper" exposure, but it was my favorite of the group. I chose not to use Photoshop to lighten the shot because I like the photo as is, not as a photo that was "oh no, that's a great shot, but it's too dark!!"
I love how, even in the "darkness" of the shot, her face is accentuated by some light highlights and how visible it is by the framing of her dark hair. The red of her shirt is toned down by the underexposure, as it was quite blinding red in the other more "proper" exposure" shots. The white line of the tops of her glasses gives an interesting compositional line. I also like how the low light gives her face an extra softness, something slightly mysterious.
This photo is better viewed at a larger size, so the link will take you to the "Extra Large" setting size, so you may have to scroll a little bit. If you want to view a smaller size, click the "L" up at the top where is says "Sizes", or choose whatever size you prefer. Most of my photos, I will link you to the "L" size, unless otherwise noted.
She did a fairly good job at ignoring me with a camera all up in her space, laughing self-consciously a couple of times, but for the most part went about her work. I think she is used to my husband and I and our antics, so maybe a camera in my particular hands wasn't all that odd to her. Alejandra graciously gave me permission to post this shot.
This photo is actually underexposed (meaning not enough light, too dark), I think I bracketed too far down from the "proper" exposure, but it was my favorite of the group. I chose not to use Photoshop to lighten the shot because I like the photo as is, not as a photo that was "oh no, that's a great shot, but it's too dark!!"
I love how, even in the "darkness" of the shot, her face is accentuated by some light highlights and how visible it is by the framing of her dark hair. The red of her shirt is toned down by the underexposure, as it was quite blinding red in the other more "proper" exposure" shots. The white line of the tops of her glasses gives an interesting compositional line. I also like how the low light gives her face an extra softness, something slightly mysterious.
This photo is better viewed at a larger size, so the link will take you to the "Extra Large" setting size, so you may have to scroll a little bit. If you want to view a smaller size, click the "L" up at the top where is says "Sizes", or choose whatever size you prefer. Most of my photos, I will link you to the "L" size, unless otherwise noted.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Day Two - Flowers
So, I dragged my camera to work with me today which is a bit inconvenient, not only because I'm on my scooter and it has its own bag, I can't take photos at my work due to confidentiality issues. Plus I tend to get so busy, I can't really think of doing photography.
But the last bit of light was draining way and I told my co-worker I had to run out before it completely fled.
I only took about 15 shots o so and also could not travel far from my work because the light really was waning rapidly.
There's a park across from the house and I did some quick shots of flowers there.
I chose this photo because I liked how it showed the waning light and also the middle ground focus (neither the front nor rear flowers are in focus). I also liked how the middle in focus flowers seem to form fingers reaching upwards as if grasping for something.
But the last bit of light was draining way and I told my co-worker I had to run out before it completely fled.
I only took about 15 shots o so and also could not travel far from my work because the light really was waning rapidly.
There's a park across from the house and I did some quick shots of flowers there.
I chose this photo because I liked how it showed the waning light and also the middle ground focus (neither the front nor rear flowers are in focus). I also liked how the middle in focus flowers seem to form fingers reaching upwards as if grasping for something.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Day One - Bird of the Chi
So, new blog for my new idea to take a photo every day of the month of March. Photos will be linked to my photography site due to their size so just click on the link at the bottom of each post to view the photo.
I figure it will be good practice and plus, I want to get into the habit of carrying my camera around with me everywhere I go. I can't tell you how many times I've been riding along on my scooter and seen a great shot and lo, no camera. So not only do I want to get used to having my camera with me, I want to get used to using it as well.
Practice makes better.
So, today I took photos of my Meyers parrot, Chidiya, otherwise known as ChiBird, and of my husband. I didn't like any of the photos of my husband right off the bat, so ChiBird's photos got the "lookover", what I call when I pull up photos that I have already glanced at generally and decided if I want to look further. Then I sink into each one to decide if I think it's a good photo or not. This doesn't necessarily mean technically, it could be a bad photo technically but if it conveys something or I find unique, I'll choose it.
ChiBird actually doesn't like me all that much. She prefers my husband even though at one point, she was my bird and liked me just fine. Parrots are fickle creatures. Despite this, she seemed a willing model and appeared fascinated by the camera, stretching her neck out and sticking her beak into the lens (fortunately covered by a UV filter). It was fairly low light and I was shooting without a flash (always my preference if possible), so of course, when she moved, the shots were all blurry. Although at least one of these had some interesting qualities but not enough to choose as my Day One photo.
I ended up choosing this photo over a couple that showed off her lovely green feathers because of the unique framing of her face and eye.
I figure it will be good practice and plus, I want to get into the habit of carrying my camera around with me everywhere I go. I can't tell you how many times I've been riding along on my scooter and seen a great shot and lo, no camera. So not only do I want to get used to having my camera with me, I want to get used to using it as well.
Practice makes better.
So, today I took photos of my Meyers parrot, Chidiya, otherwise known as ChiBird, and of my husband. I didn't like any of the photos of my husband right off the bat, so ChiBird's photos got the "lookover", what I call when I pull up photos that I have already glanced at generally and decided if I want to look further. Then I sink into each one to decide if I think it's a good photo or not. This doesn't necessarily mean technically, it could be a bad photo technically but if it conveys something or I find unique, I'll choose it.
ChiBird actually doesn't like me all that much. She prefers my husband even though at one point, she was my bird and liked me just fine. Parrots are fickle creatures. Despite this, she seemed a willing model and appeared fascinated by the camera, stretching her neck out and sticking her beak into the lens (fortunately covered by a UV filter). It was fairly low light and I was shooting without a flash (always my preference if possible), so of course, when she moved, the shots were all blurry. Although at least one of these had some interesting qualities but not enough to choose as my Day One photo.
I ended up choosing this photo over a couple that showed off her lovely green feathers because of the unique framing of her face and eye.
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