Clearing My Phone

Cleaning Phone!

It was time to clear up my phone - I was running out of space and I had over 1,000 pictures on it.

This is not fun - these are the boring things we need to do these days - I remember when we had a 24 or a 36 picture spool and when it was full you got it developed.

Now we have over 1,000's of pictures and we get very few of them developed - if any at all... I do love taking pictures and I use them as a sort of diary of what I am up to.

Silly photos I have:

Massive Light Bulb! 

Two Empty deck chairs!!!!

Old Pinball Machine!

Broken Radio


All I can say in my defense is I am just practicing taking pictures.

Follow-Up: Not danced in two weeks really missing it and about to head away so not going to be going to class for a long time. I am quite sad about that. Hot chocolate - just the one. I actually had it today - it was windy and cold and I needed something to warm me from the inside.

From Paris to Berlin....

Song Stuck in My Head!

For the week I have had the song "From Paris to Berlin" by Infernal stuck in my head and it is driving me mad.

I have even made it stick in a few other peoples heads as I have been signing it without even knowing I was doing it.

The reason it is stuck in my head is I have been booking my trip to Europe that includes Paris but unfortunately not Berlin. I have been organizing all of my trip and getting excited.

However, I am nerves about a few things... no surprise there.

Things I worry about when I travel:

1. Plane flight - I do not like flying much but I seem to find my self on a lot of planes.
2. Getting sick - especially after a long plane flight. I have been known to wear a face mask on a journey. (not being paranoid I am a transplant patient and have no - very little immune system)
3. Not finding a toilet - this one is a real concern. I have been known to have bum issues and it is not pleasant when you do not know were the nearest toilet is. Even on the plane if you go to the toilet and there is a queue.... damn I end up dancing in the aisle. 
4. Doing something that is culturally unacceptable in another country - I have never done anything to offend people and i do not want to start. 
5. Getting robbed - this is big thing for me... I was one of those people that used to wear a money belt around my waist when I traveled on my own. - Yes I did wear it on the plane and did not take it off until I knew I was safe i.e. home or hotel.

As you can see I worry a lot. I do sometimes think it is my job to worry and that it will keep me safe.... but I am sure it does not work like that. 

So these are some of the things I have sorted out all ready:

1.  So I have packed alcohol wipes - to try and prevent illness by wiping down seats and things on plane.
2. Face masks - to wear if I end up close to some sick - coughing person
3. Lots of anti-antibiotics encase one of those bugs did mange to make it through my barrier
4. I am looking for an app to down load that tells you were the nearest toilets are or just make sure google maps is up to date. (yeah google maps)
5. Down sizing my wallet and also making sure that when me and my husband are out together we only have one card -so that we have the others as back up.
6. I have purchased 4 Hijabs - as we are stopping in Abu Dhabi for two nights and I want to be prepared.

PARIS TO BERLIN OR NOT!

I am going to do a travel blog so that you can read is my plans work to keep me safe and well. Not sure what I will call it..... Maybe from Paris to Berlin .. that damn song.

Follow-Up: Was doing well with chocolate until today - had a chocolate deluxe donuts that oozed chocolate. But I did not have a whole one just a half, in my head that makes it better. Also with the trip planning I have fallen way behind on my writing course - I am going to have to start again when get back from vacation.

Love my Dogs!

Dogs!

I have always been a dog person, having a dog while I was growing up and now have two.

They are so great they love you no matter how you look, smell, ill, grumpy or even to busy.

I was holding a wee 7 day old puppy the other day, actually I held three of them, but I was so in love with them that I did not want to let them go. I have never had children but I am sure that is the feeling you get when you hold your children... Ok maybe a lot stronger.
When I hold babies that are days old, all that runs through my head is ....'oh no I'm going to break it...do not break it'

With puppies I do not have that fear, I just think I want to hug them and squeeze them...

So I know I am more a dog person than a people person. If I meet someone with a dog, I will remember the dogs name but struggle to remember their name.

I guess I have to come to terms of the fact that I am crazy dog lady!

Puppy Hugs!

Follow-Up: I am broken - since seeing the dietitian I have had - 2 Chai Lattes, 1 hot chocolate (large), one very decadent chocolate croissant and one rich chocolate browny... What is wrong with me... she says do not eat ... I go what the hell. But I have been eating smaller portions (do not think that makes a big difference)

Appointment with the Dietician

The Dietitian!

Had an appointment with a dietitian the two days ago. I knew I had to be completely honest or I would just be lying to myself  and that would not help me.

Things I like to eat / drink:

Mixed unsalted nuts

Chai latte 

Bread & Cheese

Hot chocolates (I can tell you are suprised at this one!)

Chocolate

Things I have to stop:

Chai latte - it is full of sugar 

Hot chocolates - can have sometimes 

Chocolate

Bread and cheese - have salad on it as well

Mixed nuts - are good for me but maybe not in the quantities I have been consuming them in.

Things I have eaten since seeing the dietitian:

Hot Chocolate

Chocolate

Chai Latte

I have cut down on my nut intake and I am trying to have smaller portions. I think I need to work harder.  

Empty Chai Latte!

Follow-Up: Must try harder with chocolate as not fitting into some of my clothes (not fun). I have finished my dancing for a semester but luckily it starts back soon. 

13 Things to do Before Your 30.....

13 Things to do before your 30..... But I am 40!

I found this list on -
www.bustle.com/articles/120386-13-things-every-woman-should-do-before-she-turns-30

I felt a bit over whelmed when I first read it then I started to think about what I had done to date.

Decided to fill in the blanks:
1. Live Abroad - well I am doing that one - I picked the furthers away from Scotland that I could pick - sometimes I think I would be closer if I had went to the moon. 

2. Forgive Your Parents - never blamed them for anything - I blame me - maybe I should forgive me....

3. Read Classic Novels About Women, By Women - I read fifty shades - that will do.

4. Learn A New Language - Nope - never going to happen. I have tried and I just do not have that skill. No really I suck at it!

5. Ask For A Raise - Not really done that - well kinda asked if they would consider evaluating my pay in three months, but did not chase it. Yes, as you can see blame myself for everything!

6. Learn More About Your Vagina - Why - I have a great Dr who does that as a job and she told me it is all good down there. So I am happy. (So British I know).

7. Learn How To Budget & Start Getting Out Of Debt - I have never been in debt, also been so tight  with money. It scares me to be in dept so staying within my budget is also been a huge deal to me. I have done without a lot of things that I would class as luxuries in my day but I have also found amazing bargains. 

8. Learn To Trust Your Intuition - Oh no!... I second guess my self all the time.... the vioce that tells me I suck in my head always makes me think twice... 

9. Create Something - I wrote a book once. It was not great but it was good fun to write (never sent to be published). Just sits in a dropbox in a cloud some were gathering dust.

10. Try To Stop Criticizing Your Body - Why - that sucker is constantly changing on me. One day you think you know what it does and then BOOM! it does something out of the blue. Also it is always embarrassing me.

11. Find An OBGYN You Trust - Found her and she rocks - I do not think that is a do before your 30. It is do as soon as possible. 

12. Volunteer For A Cause You Believe In - This is a hard one - but yes I do it and have done it for a number of years. However, I do not really see it as volunteering as I enjoy it so much it is just something I do.

13. Befriend An Older Woman - I am the older women....

So here I am in my forties I think I have done quite well. I still feel as if I am in the spring time of my life. 

Spring-time of my life!

Follow-up: To much chocolate - it has to stop! Went to social for salsa it was good fun but I did get tired quickly need to do more, so I can dance for longer. Love to dance!

Autumn is Coming

Not Winter - just Autumn:

It is my favorite time of year 'Autumn'. I love the time of year because of the beautiful colours.

• The sky at sun set 
• The stormy clouds during the day
• The changing of the leaves on the tree
• The morning sun as it peaks through the clouds

Autumn Night!

Storm on Autumn Day!

I thought I would post just a couple of pictures with some great colours.


Follow-up: Doing well with not having to much chocolate - yeah me. Also Salsa is coming to an end for a bit. We have social dancing this week - got to love to dance.

When Do We Grow Up?

Becoming an Adult!

The other day I was driving along and noticed at the a wee boy running down the street with his dad. He was about 2 or 3 years old with a really cute wee rucksack on his back obviously coming back from playgroup. They both stopped at the side of the road waiting for me to pass.

As I drove pass his dad lead him across the road and he started to run again. As I watched for a second in my rear view mirror as this young boy ran with his arms flaying around in the air.

A huge smile broke across my face and I thought:

• Why do I not run like that anymore? 

• Why does everyone not run like that anymore?

My achievement for the today was to change my notification sound on my phone (still had my Christmas one on). I decide "not to adult" and but a minions one on.

"BOTTOM..... HA HA HA HA HA" 

Every time I get a message, email, etc... This makes me laugh and reminds me that we do not need to be adults all the time.

Sometimes we can be the small child inside that laughs at the word BOTTOM!

Easter Egg Throwing!

Oh and Happy Easter - this is not being an adult and having fun! I think we should do it more often.

Follow-Up: Well I do not think I need to go into detail about the chocolate I have eaten because it is Easter after all...... I will say one thing...BOTTOM....HA HA HA HA.

Losing Things

When You Lose Something!

This morning I spent 45 minutes tearing my house apart:

• Emptying drawers out all over the floor

• Pulling things out of wardrobes that have not moved in over 6 months

• Dragging random things from random cupboards in the Kitchen, bedrooms and the hallway

• Going through old handbags stuffed under the bed

• Rummaging through old note books

• Even dived around my wee car 

Diving into My Wee Car - Love My Car

All just trying to find a form that I knew I had at one point and could not find. I looked in all the usual places, multiple times. (I know you have done the same thing!)

I eventually found out that the form I was looking for, it was already used and with the correct people....


The brain is an amazing thing, I kept going back to the same spot were I knew it should be....

It also took my two hours to clean up the mess I had made....

After destroying the house and before cleaning everything up, decided I needed a rest.

Follow-Up: Well what can I say - chocolate is everywhere at the moment - it is Easter after all. Lets just say I am back to my normal self. 

Dreams - So real!

Dreams Are Weird!

Over the last few days I have had some really weird dreams - ok I have weird dreams all the time. However, these ones have actually felt quite real.

First dream was one of those ones were you have just fallen asleep and then you wake up within a short time later about 30 minutes.

• Dream 1 - I had hurt my ankle and I was trying to walk and it was so painful that I did not want to put weight on it. I got a Dr to look at it and they removed a small piece of my ankle bone that had been chipped off.

• Awake - when I woke up I felt that my ankle was sore and I did not want to put weight on it but when I touched it, it was fine. No pain, but I could feel this unusual feeling around the ankle.

Second Dream was more of a nightmare - I call them my anxiety dreams. It is were I wake up feeling like I have lived through something terrible.

• Dream 2 - I was at my old work (in real life I was bullied) and I was asking someone to do something - instead of doing it they punched me in the face. I went to my boss and we talked. She pointed out to me that there was a common factor in all the things that had happened and that was ME. 

• Awake - I woke up thinking everything that had gone wrong in that work place was my fault and it was good that I had left because then it should be better now. This plagued me all day - but I knew deep down that it was not my fault but the felling never left me. 

I ate chocolate...... What can I say it helped....

The Key to My Dreams!

I have opened up about what goes on in my mind - awake and dreaming... It can be quite scary.... and like in Harry Potter - eat chocolate it makes the feelings from the dementors fade away.


Follow-up: Back to Yoga this week - due to the amount of chocolate that was consumed. Yoga went well... just wish I did not have to look at my big ass in the mirrors when doing downward-dog.... Also passed my photography course. YEAH!

Why so Tired!

Soooooo Tired!!!!

I have slept on and off for two days now. I am physically and mentally exhausted. This is all because I was the bridesmaid at a friends wedding. 

The reason my body is so sore and tired:

1. I wore shoes that made me look amazing - but they were stilettos and I could not walk in them - however, they did give my calf's a hell of a work out.
2. I helped set up the venue - this included putting chair covers and bows on over 80 chairs - that was a three hour work out.
3. I was up late the night before the wedding as the bridal party including the grooms men were sorting out table setting and printing them off... We did have loads of plans for a relaxing night.
4. Up early the morning of the wedding to go and get makeup and hair done - this was not to stressful but the nerves energy that I had was amazing - could not sit still for longer than two minutes. I had ants in my pants...
5. The wedding was wonderful and then we had the speeches. The new trend is to have the Maid of Honor do a speech as well.... lets just say the nerves energy went through the roof...  But I did make it through without to many mistakes.
6. There was a lot of dancing and because the bride and groom were swing dancers, that meant most of the dancing was swing.... I was exhausted but it was great fun. (I think I might have to do swing as well).
7. Lastly we dropped the bride and groom at their hotel and by the time we got home it was after 1:00am. We were then all up at 8:00am so that we could meet and have breakfast.

OH I did forget then we went back to the venue and took down all the decorations including the 80 chair covers. 

It was an amazing weekend but I do not think I will recover for another week. I am to old... my body is in a huff with me and it hurt in places that I did not know could hurt.

Weddings are amazing things they bring families together, strangers dance, people that have never met laugh and joke. I love a good wedding. And this one was a great one. Did I mention the 20 piece swing band. It rocked the whole place 1940's style.

Weddings Got to Love Them!

Follow-up: I have had chocolate hot cross buns... I LOVE THEM.... I think I have recovered and I am back to the chocoholic that I am....

I have started a new online course on Entrepreneurship.... (that is a nightmare to spell). It is going well , I think... oh there is that wee voice in my head telling me I am not good.... oh well she does shout really loudly some times. Still no results from other course - due this week. You will be the first to know how I did.... 

I Got Married!

Wedding Day!!!!!!!

I bet you thought that I was not going to fill you in on all the detail... Well you are partially right, I will tell you some of the details.

• Eloping was involved
• Kilt and fluffy wedding dress 
• Swimming pool - before and after it was 30oC (to hot for me)
• Lots of laughing 
• A wee Elvis song and
• And a Marilyn Manson song.

With all this in mind - I look back on the day with great memories of a very relaxing time. I even got the stage were I was getting squished into the big fluffy dress when I figured out that I had forgot to put any deodorant on, never mind have a perfume for the my special day pick out.

I think sometimes there is just to much stress for young brides to have the perfect day.... and they forget to have the perfect day with the person they love.

My Flowers!

P.S. - put my own flowers together and it cost me $30 for all the flowers... ok I am a bit of a tight ass.

Follow-up: I have been not been enjoying chocolate much since I got an infection in my large intestines... I think it may have killed of my chocolate craving bugs or at least knocked them around a bit. I have had hot chocolate but only drank half of it and did not drink the rest.... I think I a broken. I am also back to Salsa - which I love more than ever.

Time Away - Start New Travel Journal!

Travel Journal - Fail

I worked on my paper journal while I was away on holiday. First day was great filled in were we had been and what we had been up to.
According to my journal I am still in Melbourne about to head home.

Since them I have:

1. Went to Byron Bay
2. Stayed at the Hintered Lands
3. Visited local markets
4. Got married - eloped!
5. Went to the most easterly part of Australia
6. Had a great time

Yes - as you can image none of this has made it in to my travel journal. the pages are blank and need filled in.

Do I back date it and go over everything I can remember - or do I give in.... all those blank pages. I love the idea of having a journal but I suck at filling it in.

Most Easterly Point Australia

Follow-up: Have not had much chocolate - well I did have profiteroles for a wedding dessert.  I have also eaten lots of ice cream... it was really hot. I have finished my course - no results yet. 

Travel Journal?

Write a Travel Journal!

While I have been working on my travel posters, I have been looking at all the places that I have visited and decided that I am going to do a travel journal. I am doing it old school to start with.

I do love to write and take pictures while I am away. I also like to keep wee keep sacks of my travels - tickets, flyers, etc...
So I bought a new travel journal and tomorrow will be my first time writing in it.

Things I love about writing in a paper journal -

• Get to go over stuff slower and in more detail.
• Can write with different colour pens
• and my book is a lot lighter than my laptop

Things I love about writing in a digital journal -

• It corrects my spelling - which is great 
• I can add pictures -without using sticky tap or glue
• I am also quite a fast at typing - but when I write fast even I can not read my writing some times....

oh well - I will start my hand written one and see how I go.  I decided to attach a picture of one of favourite places - Edinburgh... Let the travel journal begin...

Edinburgh - Fun in the City

Follow-up: I had a chocolate milkshake from the Lindt cafe - it was great.... but I felt the fat just stick to my but. I have been struggling with my course - I want to do well but I keep comparing my work to everyone elses and thinking it is not great. Well I have today and tomorrow to post my course work. Wish me luck.

Motivation Lost!

Motivation Were Have You Gone?

I have lost me motivation over the last few days. I seem to have lost my mojo....

I have been working on the poster project and every time I do some work and then go back to it I do not like what I see.....

I want something unique but also some thing that shows me as a photographer. The posters are also getting weirder - and more abscure.

These are the three Edinburgh ones that I have done so far:

Poster 1: 

This is has a small image of added and the writing takes up more of the poster - this emphasises the writing rather than focusing on the picture. I do like the orange writing with the black and white picture.

 Poster 2:

Is a poster were I actually changed the tint of the photograph adding a more red - giving it a sepia look. With the red writing standing out well but not taking up most of the poster. Therefore, the image is still the central part of the poster.

Poster 3: 

Is along the original theme of the retro travel posters from the 1920's to 1940's. This is a black and white image with the white writing - the font of the writing is Artdeco so sets the era but I think it lacks punch.

The motivation and mojo are lost - I am losing the artist love for the pictures and I keep looking at them wondering how I can make them into the theme that I want.

If you find my Mojo please return undamaged and maybe a bit better inspiration. Thanks in Advance.

Follow-Up: Think I eat half a kilo of ice cream yesterday... double chocolate with crunchie. I am not losing weight soon. On a positive not I am going to pamper myself this week - going to get my first ever set of gel nails for fingers and toes.... exciting - I will post pictures. 

Why Photography!

The Passion of Photography!

It is a great thing to have the passion of photography but even greater is to be good at it. I have the passion, the talent less so.

However, in my quest for knowledge and inspiration - I stumbled across a documentary

"Finding Vivian Maier" http://www.findingvivianmaier.com/ 

This is such a intriguing and tragic story of a woman with a great passion and talent but not able to show her work to the world.

We are only now seeing it through someone else publishing and displaying her work.

To view her work http://www.vivianmaier.com/

www.vivianmaier.com

She is able to stop that moment in time with her pictures and capture the exact emotions. She did not have digital camera like me to pick and choose she just seemed to know when to press the button.

I have found this story quite emotional for some reason - I think that she did have some issues but if she was alive in this day in age with the talent that she had - she would have been posting all her work on the web - probably anomalously - but still it would have been out there and she would have saw how much joy her pictures would have brought to other people.

I know that my photos will never ever be that good but I am glad that I have seen Vivian's work to inspire me.

The photographs of street photography make me want to expand my skill base - it was obvious that she was not pushing her self on people to take pictures - as most of them are candid and you can feel the emotion in them.

As I looked through my small amount of photos I noticed a quite disturbing thing, I have managed to make it look most places that I have taken pictures that there is no one there - the people are missing.

If they are there then they are more than likely people that I know - I for some reason to not take pictures of strangers. Maybe I feel as if I am violating their privacy. What ever it is in my mind, I have found it quite disturbing.

I have found some with people: (I have posted one - if you look closely you can see people walking away in the distance.) No were near the talent of Vivian. Thank you for the inspiration.

Paris Street at Christmas

Follow-Up: Had lots of things to do today - did not do much was detracted by the documentary. Need to re-write list of things to do for tomorrow.  oh well - what I can not do today I will try and do tomorrow or not. 

Retro Posters Part 2

Inspiration Retro Travel Posters!

I am running with the theme of the 1920's Travel Posters. I have always loved the 1920's, the fashion, the style, architecture and the flamboyancy.

The issue I have is that I did a few posters - that looked good but when I did a few more they just started to look repetitive and they did not really stand out.

I liked some of them in Black & White - but I think they are just looking to boring - especially compared with the wonderful works of art that were used for the original travel posters.

  

  


The Originals:

LONDON. Art print Travel/Railway Poster of London Southbank

Paris: original vintage 1930s art deco travel poster
 by Robert Falcucci, 1930s

  

Edinburgh Mons Meg. LNER Vintage Travel Poster art print by Frank Newbould c1935

As you can see I need to do some work.... I think the font on the posters to start with needs to be different and then I might do some colour and some black and white. But sticking to the same theme.

This has been a challenge but at least it is a good challenge.

I also do love vintage art work and the idea of being able to make my photos into vintage style travel posters is quite exiting.

Follow-up: I think I am getting fat on Chia Latti - so making my own Chia tea and having with dash of milk there days. I did eat a bar of Galaxy chocolate from the UK the other day... at the time it tasted good but after - sore tummy set in. I also went to get a dress taken in and tried on the shoes I am wearing with it.... Lets just say I am not sure how I am going to walk in them - I have to practice while I am doing house work. 

Travel Retro Posters!

Travel Idea - A bit weird!


So I have been working on the Project 2 for my course and I was really struggling with a theme - as discussed.

I was talking it over with some friends at dinner and they were coming up with some really wacky ideas.

1. Recreate famous classical paintings - yes this is a thing - Google it - some are really funny
2. Macro shots of peoples eye's - I found this one a bit creepy
3. Food - that I have eaten - this is what my partner does - when we are away any were he takes pictures of food. 

After all this brain storming that did not seem to get me any were - I thought I would love to do something different. I was already thinking about the story of travel.

I had edited a few of my travel pictures in Lightroom - cropping them so they were landscape and also black and white - this did require some editing with shadows and highlights.

BUT - this has been done so many times before and how could I make it my story and make it different. I had noticed in FOTOR that there was a section for design that I had seen when I was looking at trying to making invitations for a party (another story).

There was a sections for posters and I love the retro travel posters that are back in fashion at the moment.

I found my theme and my story - My Travels Around the World Set to Posters:

Edinburgh - History 

Paris - Love

Tasmania - Wilderness

I still have to make sure all the fonts match and the wording might change - oh and I have to do another seven posters.

That will keep me busy.

Follow-Up: I have not put any more weight on (go me) - As you may of gathered I have been busy with the course. It is keeping my brain busy. Dancing starts back next week and I have figured out that I am going to miss the first three weeks - I am sad.... Need a solution.

Tell me a Story!

Story, Story, Morning Glory!

So I have to not only have a theme but tell a story. I am better at telling stories than I am making my brain decide on a theme....

What is the story that I am trying to tell with my photo's.  Maybe I should look at things that I like and things I like to take pictures off.

Things I love:

• Shoes - they are great - they can make or break an outfit.
• Oh -  fashion - clothes
• Window displays
• Wedding dresses
• Weddings - in general

(seeing a theme here - very girlie)

I love to take pictures of:

• Building with character - old buildings - that have their own story to tell
• Unusual sky's with different and vivid colours
• People that are candid and not posing for a photo - as if in deep thought - a penny for them - I try and imagine what is going through their mind.

When I take pictures the most - when I am on holiday and travelling Australia and the world. So maybe that is my Story - "Travel with Me"

I have only done three pictures because I am still not sure this is what I want my story to be....

The three photos were taken on my DSLR and was taken in raw so that I was able to work on it in Lightroom. -

Edinburgh: I love this city (nearly as much as Glasgow) it has character round every corner - weather it is the architect or the people.

Old Streets of Edinburgh

I have made black and white to match the old buildings. The black and white I choose has very dark shadows and  the blacks more prominent.  I have also increased the highlights slightly making the whites in the picture stronger.


Paris: The iconic Paris picture. This was taken on a cloudy winters day from the top of the Arc de Triomphe. I think giving a stunning view of the Eiffel Tower.

Paris in Winter

 I have stuck to the black and white them as the original picture was very grey with vurtuallay no colour due to the low clouds that surrounded Paris that day. Although they did clear for me to get a few pictures of the full Eiffel Tower. I have darkened the blacks on this picture but not as much as the one above so there is a lot more grey present. I did this as I wanted to show the moody of the sky.



Paris: Another iconic Paris picture with a difference. This was taken on a winters night. Although you know that is the pyrimid of the Louvre  - I wanted to show the amazing buildings that are the Louvre and surround the iconic pyramid.

Modern and Old Louvre 

Again sticking to the black and white them I have made the blacks and shadows darker. In doing this the sky is quite granny - this was due to the high ISO that was use so that I was able to take the picture in the dark with no tripod.


Follow-Up: One piece of chocolate - It was British chocolate - I think that makes it ok since I do not get chocolate from home much and I did not eat the whole bar (it was a massive family block). I have managed to go swimming this week - it has been great. Missing my dancing - I found myself dancing in my car on the way home tonight and I was actually trying to do the salsa moves. I think that might be a bit dangerous - time for classes to start back I think.

Second Project Started!

Damn! How Did I miss That.

So last Friday was the hand in date for Project 1, luckily it can be handed in at the same time as Project 2.

1. I missed a week some were - my brain has been such a scrabble lately and life has been a bit busy. 
2. New job is good and busy - luckily I am only there 2 / 3 days.
3. Gone away for a few days holiday - 
• Girls trip including spa. 
• Beach escape with partner.

These were great breaks but you find when you get back that everything has piled up and also there is washing to do from when you are away.


Also I was trying to think of a theme for my Project 2 for my course - I think it is a bit like this blog. I go over the place and do not seem to stick to or have a theme. Other than me..... and my life.

I did think that I could maybe do a theme on holidays... or travels.

Here are some pictures from the last trips away:

Delamere Vineyard - Loving the Rustic Settings

Jansz - Just a wee bit of fizz

Barnbougle - Let the massage begin

Bridestowe - A wee bit of Lavender - The smell was amazing

Bicheno - Loving the rocks

Faceless Selfies!

 What do you think?

This is the images I put up on my course for the Project 1 - Selfie....

Content and Context

1.    Camera Selfie:  is a photo of me taken in front of a mirror with my camera. I took this to hide behind my camera because that is how I spend a lot of my time when at parties or events. I would rather be behind the camera than in front.

2.    Tree Above: was taken with my phone – this was a picture that I wanted as I loved the trees above. I am partially in this photograph cropping my face at an angle. I like this picture although I am in it I am still hidden / cropped out.

3.    Feet with View: I do a lot of feet with views – I like to show that I am there without showing me. This was a very bright day and the light is very strong.

4.    Lights Above: This is one of my favourite pictures because of the pattern from the lights created above me in the Sydney Opera House. The only thing is I am well hidden in this selfie – I am just at the bottom of the picture.

5.    Amanda Dance: I really love pictures with dancers using their bodies to create movemnt within the photo. I took this picture with my DSLR , using the timer as I ran into postion it took 10 pictures. This produced  lot of pictured that looked alike and some that just looked terrible. I tried this (not a dancer) with focusing on my hands backlit from the street outside.

6.    Selfie City View: This is in front of the same window as Amanda Dance picture. I was trying to get a feeling in the image of loneliness in a City. I deliberately focused on the city view rather than me (image at the front) to show that the city is so big and dramatic.

7.    Reflexion of Me in You: This is a selfie with me in the glasses of my partner. I like this in colour with the green tree and blue sky in the image of the glasses.

Composition and Technique

Camera Selfie: was taken with my DSLR – in a bright sunlight room – I edited the picture in Light-room to make the picture black and white. I also darkened the shadows and blacked out the background. This gave the composition of Figure-forward with hard light.

Tree Above: was taken from my mobile phone and was edited using FOTOR. I cropped the picture to place me in the bottom corner and made it black and white given it more texture. I also focused the main area on me and the tree became out of focus given the photograph perspective.

Feet with a View: I liked the contrast between the bright blue nearly cloudless sky, the aqua blue sea and the stunning white sands. With my legs at the angle I feel that it draws you into the picture with the just off centre lines. Also the repeated horizontal lines of the sand, sea, hills and with wispy clouds give a line pattern horizontally.

Lights Above: Was taken on my phone and was taken up towards the ceiling if the Sydney Opera House. I edited the picture using FOTOR – I cropped the image to just see my head in the picture were the shape of my head mimics the lines of the lights have created on the ceiling. I did not change the colour much due to the fact that the image was taken inside and there was no flashes allowed the image was dark.

Amanda Dance: This was taken on my DSLR using timer to take multiple pictures at a time. I used the window to backlit the image to just get an outline of me dancing (or trying to). I hve used the window and the curtains to frame the me (as the subject) within the photo. Again I have made it black and white creating darker shadows. This image was edited using Light-room and was only slightly cropped

Selfie City View: This image was also taken with DSLR and edited using light room. I have framed the photo this time just using the window. The windows divided into three give separate images within the same photo. I left this image in colour – but I think it might be a bit over exposed.

Reflection of Me in You: You may have guessed that this was taken on my phone. I took this just while we were sitting in the shade hiding from the sun. I edited the image with FOTOR – cropping it slightly and focusing on me in the reflected image in the glasses – making the rest of the image, including the other reflected image in the other glass lens, out of focus.

Project 1

The faceless selfie – as I have said I like to be behind the camera not in front so all the images I have taken I have focused more on what the image is showing and I just happen to be there some were. I am not sure which images I will submit for the project. Please let me know what you think. 

• 

  Amanda Camera Selfie

  
  

  

  Amanda Dance

  
  

  

  Lights Above

  
  

  

  Reflection of me in You

  
  

  

  City View

  
  

  

  Tree Above

• Follow Up: These were critiqued by a number of students and one of the lectures:

There was a suggestion that to frame Amanda Dance the same as Camera and Lights Above to give constancy with the editing of my pictures. I will try and look at my images in pairs or threes to see what I am trying to achieve. I have to submit three images by next week with reasoning behind them.