Holiday Portraits

Well, we have finally made it to the start of Holiday Portraits. We officially start shooting tomorrow (11/12/09). I think we will have a good turn out. We have been handing out flyers all around the community, as well as word of mouth. The set is very colorful, and a little bit different from the traditional red and green Christmas. Our waiting area is set up and ready to go as well. We have paper on the wall where the kids can color on it if they wish. Damian had a great idea about bringing in the fireplace prop and placing the TV in the opening. We also have a Christmas tree in there as well. However, by adding the fireplace prop, it really added that "homey" feel.

Santa Chair Search Continues

I thought I had found a great chair; however, when I spoke with George Mosca, president of Mosca Designs, I was sadly disappointed. The chair is too expensive, but it would have looked great on our Holiday Portraits set. So I won't be taking that whirlwind trip to Raleigh, NC.

Inspiration Needed

As I prepare for one of my next assignments, I am feeling a little low on the "creative juices". Must be because of the rain! I was reading some information about Ansel Adams. He was such an amazing photographer. I was reading some of his quotes and came across this one, "Photography, as a powerful medium of expression and communications, offers an infinite variety of perception, interpretation and execution." I repeated this to myself several times, and I have a more positive attitude about completing the assignment. I found this video of an interview of Ansel, and I hope you enjoy as much as I did.

Update on Santa Chair

Well, keep fingers crossed. I may have found a Santa chair for our Holiday Portraits set. It is available in other colors as well, but I think the green works best. If everything works out, such as the right price, I'll be making a whirlwind trip to Raleigh, NC to pick it up. I found a commercial holiday decorations website that has some really gorgeous stuff. They work on a large scale by decorating for malls. They have mall size Santa sets. They have a large variety, so hopefully everything will work out! I'll keep looking just in case this falls through.

Photojournalism - Fill Light Assignment

Our next assignment for Photojournalism is fill light. I need to improve in this area. I end up over-exposing more images than ones that turn out normal. As I prepare, I was researching on the internet and came up with this demo. I also found this site as well. Hopefully, it will be helpful too.

Holiday Set 95% Finished

We have worked diligently on our Holiday Portraits set, and it has paid off. We are very close to having the set completely finished. We are currently working on getting the lights right. I am still searching for a Santa chair. If you have any ideas or suggestions, please let me know.

I'm Moving...Maybe

Our Multi-media instructor is having the class set up blogs on Wordpress. I have gotten my feet wet, but I have not made a decision as to which blog site I like best. However, for future class assignments, I will be using Wordpress. I will also be blogging on this site as well.

Amazing Article

I've just finished an article about Scott Bourne in the current issue of Professional Photographer. It is titled, "Internet Famous: How Scott Bourne harnessed the power of the World Wide Web." Please take a few minutes and read this article. If nothing else, take a look at his images. They are amazing as well. Also, he will be presenting, "Social Media Will Expand Your Business" at Imaging USA 2010 in Nashville, Tenn. This is definitely someone I want to put on my list to meet as well as see what kind of tips he can drop my way!

Scooter

This was my buddy, Scooter. He was a Miniature Schnauzer weighting about 12 pounds, and he was the best dog I ever had. I had him trained to hand signals. He was a very smart dog. I wish I had taken more pictures of him. He was a wonderful companion. As I was going through our pictures, I realized that I have just a few pictures of him, and none of those do him justice. He had silky hair and not the wiry hair like most Schnauzer's have. He was completely black when he was a puppy and turned to a beautiful silvery gray. I found two sites about pet photography and I wanted to share it with you.
One is by Digital Photography School and the other is Best Friend Photography. Also, there is an article in the September issue of Professional Photographer titled, "Animal Instincts." It is written by three pet photographers, Bev Hollis, Teresa Berg, and Barbara Breitsameter. They have formed Unleashed Workshops for other pet photographers. I wish I had read this information before we had to shoot our pet portraits. Nonetheless, life goes on and we now have another dog, a Chihuahua, but Scooter has a place in my heart that no other dog can fill.

Nikon External Battery Pack

I have the Nikon SB-800 on camera flash, and I have had issues with the recharge time. I was shooting a graduation and unfortunately it wasn't recycling quickly enough. I purchased the Nikon SD-8A external battery pack, and I have not had any problems with the flash recharging time. The following video demonstrates the external battery pack.


I would recommend this to all. I have been very pleased.

Making My Christmas Wish List

I shoot with a Nikon D100 right now, but I just got the D700. I have several lenses including the Nikon AF Nikkor 24-120mm (3.5-5.6), Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm (4-32), Nikon AF Micro Nikkor 105mm (2.8-32), and a Tamron 200-400mm (5.6-32). However, I am taking photojournalism this quarter, and I have had some assignments that needed a zoom lens with a 2.8 aperture. The lens that will fit for me is the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8.

My Camera Bag is Getting Heavier and Heavier

I have a Lowepro SlingShot 220 AW camera bag. I chose this bag because I thought it would fit all my camera bag requirements; however, it is heavy. I came across this article in the Travel Photographers Network about heavy camera bags. I found it to be interesting reading. Even the digital age can't improve all areas of photography.

In addition, there is another article in the Travel Photographers Network about Shooting Dramatic Fireworks. For those like me who don't quite get the best shot, this article may come in handy at the next fireworks display!

Flip Video Camera

I have been using the Flip Ultra HD video camera for a short period of time now. I have not had a lot of "play" time, but it seems to be simple to operate. I like the simplicity of the controls, and the easy way to charge. Simply plug it into the USB port on your desktop or laptop. I was in Barnes and Noble bookstore and found a Flip Pocket Guide, so I picked one up.

Photographing Children

I have 6 nieces and nephews all under the age of 7. I love taking photos of all of them. However, I do have difficulty catching those great expressions. I found an article on BetterPhoto.com with helpful tips about photographing children. I found it very helpful.

Business in the Boondocks, Thriving as a rural photographer

I was reading the August edition of Professional Photographer, and came across an article titled Business in the Boondocks. We live in Grayson, a suburb of Atlanta, and the photo business is very competitive, but also offers more opportunities. My husband is not too far from retirement, and we will probably retire to Hiawassee in the North Georgia Mountains. I still have both of my childhood homes, and the location is ideal. It's inside the city limits just off Main St., and offers an excellent location for a business. I would like to convert the smaller house into a studio and renovate the other house to live in. I have concerns that I would not have enough business to make a go of it. However, after reading this article, it has helped to lessen some of those concerns.

The article is about Megan Franks and Four Seasons Photography, based in Leedey, Oklahoma.

High Megapixels Magic Trick

I came across this video by Nikon concerning megapixels. I found it interesting. I use Nikon products, and I'm always looking for any information that will help improve my techniques, and give helpful tips.



I hope it helpful to any of my fellow classmates who shoot with Nikon.

A Beautiful Moon

I know the Harvest Moon is the September Full Moon, but it is huge tonight. I attempted to get some of those images that the masters capture, but I was just a little off. My images don't even compare. However, it was fun trying. I was surfing the web about photographing the moon and came across these two helpful videos by Nikon.

Santa's Chair

As we get ready for our Holiday Portraits, I am in need of a Santa chair. I don't have time to make one, and don't want to spend a chunk of money for one either. I am open to suggestions.

Oh, Do I Feel Foolish!

One of the first things that a photographer should do....IS CHECK THE BATTERIES. I have the rechargeable batteries, and they hold a charge for a long time. I shot over the weekend, and just neglected to check the level. We were working on the Holiday Portraits set, and I was going to take some shots. Well, I get my camera out, focus, and get ready to snap the shot and nothing. So I have learned a very valuable lesson.

Halloween Fun

I had a special Halloween this year. I had my sweet little niece, Taylor, and nephew, Zachary, with me for part of the weekend including most of the day on Halloween. We left Friday night to go to Blairsville to visit my daughter. She doesn't get to see them as much since she has been away at College (Young Harris College). We had big plans for Saturday. We were going to go to Southern Tree Plantation. They have a petting zoo, hay rides, pony rides, mashmallow roasting, and a kids train ride. Unfortunately, for the kids the farm was closed because of rain, so we went to Walmart, purchased 2 pumpkins and a carving tool kit. We took the pumpkins back to Katie's house. Taylor carved a Mummy, and Zachary carved Hothead. We had a bad start to the day, but it ended up well. Hope all had a Happy Halloween, we did.

Fall Colors

The fall colors in the North Georgia Mountains are beautiful. Even with the rain, the colors were still gorgeous. The weekend plans started off taking my in-laws on a trip with their church group. We had a picnic at Fort Mountain State Park near Ellijay, Ga. The weather was a major factor. We were suppose to have nice weather. Instead, we had cloudy skies and mists of rain off and on. The wind was very gusty. I believe that was the shortest picnic I've ever been on. We were at the picnic tables for a total of 30 minutes max, and I believe it might have been even shorter than that. As we started back toward home, we stopped by Reece Apple House and got some fresh homemade fried apple pies. They were very good!

On Location Assignment

We have an assignment for a location shoot. My plans are to visit some relatives in the North Georgia Mountains. I have several options available, but at this time am unsure which relative I will photograph, or the props I will use, if any. I am researching information about lighting. I found another video by Tony Corbell that I have found helpful. I have found Mr. Corbell's tutorials an asset in helping me understand different aspects of lighting. I hope these videos help anyone who has issues about lighting.

The Weekend is Almost Here!

Here's wishing everyone a very relaxing, safe, and of course, fun weekend. Watch out for all those little ghosts and goblins. As for me, I will be taking my in-laws to Elijay for a picnic with their church group on Friday. On the return trip, I will be picking up my niece and nephew, and then turning around and driving back to Blairsville for Friday night football. We will get up early Saturday and drive back so Taylor and Zach can go trick or treating at home. As for me, I will be picking up candy treats for my little ghosts and goblins! Hope the weather cooperates, and I hope I can squeeze rest into the schedule, but at least I will have some good photo opportunities.

Grieving Chimps

I had my TV on as I was working around the house, and a news story about Grieving Chimps came on. I caught only part of the story, so I decided to see what I could find. I found the full story in National Geographic. It's interesting how much "human" behavior our primate friends have. After I finished that article, I was flipping through the images and found this image from Greenland of an amazing sky. I really enjoy looking at the images that make it to print. It would be a thrill of a lifetime to see one of my images printed in National Geographic...maybe someday. Check out the Photo of the Day. I will come back to this for a more indepth viewing, as well as reading about the photographers.

Fall Fun in the Mountains

For the past several weekends I have been traveling to Blairsville (in the north Georgia mountains). The colors of the fall foliage is really getting beautiful. I had several opportunities to take photos for my photojournalism assignments. My daughter volunteers as a "First Responder" with the local fire station 4. That station was having a fall festival with several activities for the kids. There was a fireman demonstrating his equipment when he would enter a burning building. They had several games including a bean bag toss, bowling, and catching the rubber duckies. They also had inflatable jumping enclosures. It was fun watching the kids enjoy themselves. I took lots of pictures of the kids with all the activities. Check out the rest of my images on Flickr.

Portraiture Lighting Tips

Mac-on-Campus will be at school tomorrow, and I am excited to see what the representative will bring with him. I purchased my Sekonic light meter and Induro monopod from them last year. As I was browsing their website, I came across a video on portraiture lighting by Tony Corbell.
His photography career started in 1979 and his bio is amazing. Be sure to check it out.

Tips for Marketing Your Photo Business

I was reading my PPA newsletter and came across an article, "Marketing: Grooming for Success." It is filled with tips about how to market your photography business. I found it to be interesting reading, hope you do too.

First Day of Set Up

We started building on the Holiday Portraits set today. It was a fun and productive. My team, the decoration team, got a really good start on getting the waiting area set up. We raided the prop room and got a lot of good decorations to use. We got one Christmas tree up and got lights on it. Once that room is complete then we can move on to getting the decorations up in the main studio where the portraits will be taken. We picked up a few new ornaments at Hobby Lobby in Snellville. Thanks to Nicole and Michele for all your help. The rest of the team will take over on Tuesday where we left off.

Sunday in Park

The weekend was good. Started off spending time with my daughter, Katie, in the north Georgia mountains, and ended up with a family get together in the park. Three of the younger kids in the family have birthdays very close together, so we celebrated their special day in the Grayson Park.

Friday Night Football and Rain, Rain, Rain....

My weekend was spent with my daughter in Blairsville, Ga. She is the Color Guard Instructor for the Union County High School Band. The Friday night football game was away in Dawson County. It was a rainy night in Georgia, so I spent the evening in a rain poncho. I need one of those 2.8 lens, because no matter how steady the monopod was, my images were still blurred.

Prudhoe Bay, Alaska

My brother, Terry, works at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska and sent me this image that one of his co-workers took. During some of our conversations, he has described the beauty of the landscape as well as the harsh conditions he has to deal with. With an image like this, it was difficult for me to visualize his statements. I did some research and found this YouTube video verifying his description of the area.


It is a very harsh and dangerous environment in the winter with temps reaching way down into the negative figures. However, it matches the harshness with magnificent beauty in the spring and summer months.

Early Photography

The early process of photography has really sparked an interest and an admiration for the early masters. I have had several boxes of pictures that I got when my grandmother and great aunt passed away. As I was going through some of the images I came across these two tintype images. I am sure we are related, unfortunately, no one is still living to give me an information regarding the images. However, they are still a wonderful keepsake to pass on to future generations. I searched the web to get more information regarding tintype images and found the article about "Early Photographic Processes."

Up Before The Sun

Time for school! It's really getting exciting now. It's time for Holiday Portraits set construction, and to get the plans finalized about decorations, etc. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....or it will when we get the set finished!

Some of My Ancestors

These are just a few images of some of my ancestors. Some I know and, unfortunately, some I don't. Any feedback about how to start a family tree would be appreciated.

In Loving Memory

This is my niece, Jennifer. She past away 2 yrs. ago at the age of 31. She had battled cancer for almost 3 yrs. She accomplished so much in her life time. She put herself through law school and graduated cum laude. She passed the bar exam on her first try, and had one court case which she won. She purchased her house when she was 21. She was a single mom. She continued to fight right up to the end. I encourage everyone who has (or had) someone in your family, or a friend or acquaintance who has (or is currently fighting) cancer to contribute to the American Cancer Society. Take time and participate in the Relay for Life rallies or any fund raising activity. Hopefully, a cure can be found that will eliminate this awful disease.

Going Down Memory Lane

I am searching for the 10 images for Flickr, and have come across some images that I haven't seen in a long time. It has brought back some great memories, but it has also reopened some sad memories as well. However, all the pictures I still have to go through will make the journey very interesting.

Waiting for My Turn

My nephew, Ethan, loves sports. He particularly loves baseball. He gets to the field early so he can run the bases, and he got ready to bat even though it wasn't his turn yet.

Photojournalism

Just finished assignment for Wednesday's Photojournalism class. Will try to be more diligent about getting that really good photograph.

Fall Morning in the Mountains

These images were taken at sunrise in Blairsville, Ga.

If At First You Don't Succeed.....

Well, I will not let the sports photography defeat me. I may need a little assistance, but I will prevail! I have been searching the web for tips and came across an article from photo.net that has some helpful information.

Sports Reshoot a Wash

I went out to the girls' softball tournament at Collins Hill last night to reshoot my sports assignment. Weather was a major issue...too cold, sprinkling rain, and wind. Also, I wasn't able to get in dugout, so I had to shoot through the chainlink fence. Needless to say, no images were sharp. Will check out schedule for my nephews and nieces. Surely, I will be able to get something soon (weather permitting). I take my hat off to those photographers who can get the great action images no matter what.

Shooting More Sports Images

Will be going to the second round of the State Softball Tournament today. Will be using my 200-400 mm lens. Should be able to get those close in images.

Time for School

Off to school I go to learn more photography! Love it!

Organizing

Getting images together for Multi-Media class, and then off to bed.

Blog Settings

This blog is a work in progress. It will be used to share photographs, links, and other photo related information.

Different Kind of Bulldog

The portrait of my Chihuahua is due next week and it still needs just a little more tweaking.

Sports Photo

Got the shot for photojournalism, but the image could have been better. It's not as easy as the sports photographers make it look!

Photojournalism Assignment

Just finished my sports assignment for photojournalism. Now it's time to find the shot that will best fit the assignment!

Assignment 1 - Pet Portrait

My pet portrait is still a "work in progress." I could not have gotten this facial expression without the help of Lisa and Jeremy. Thank you guys for all your help.

Children's Portraits

Child Portraits went well yesterday (after we got to school). Had to go back home and get nephew's glasses! That was the only glitch of any importance!

And a Good Night to All

I'm putting these old bones to rest for the night. For those who read this, I hope you have a restful night and a good day tomorrow.

Swimming in Uncharted Waters

Well, this is going to be interesting. I posted a second comment on my blog, but it isn't showing up. Hopefully, I am doing it right!

I'm a New Blogger

This is my 1st post!