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. 

Orange was all Over New Black

NEW Black / Orange Skirt!

First day at my new job,  very excited.

A wee casual job just a couple if days a week. 

Got up early and got dressed in my new black skirt and white top (as requested). I was ready for to start my day and make a great impression on my first day. Note pad in hand and off I set. 

I knew I was going to be really but rather early than late. I decided to take a couple of paracetamol as I had a wee bit of a headache and I thought that would not be good on my first day. So there I was sitting in my lovely car (Love my car) taking a drink to wash down the drugs, when they got stuck in my throat.

The next thing I new there was  projectile vomit all over me and my car, throwing open my door what was left in my stomach landed on the road in front of me. 

It was bright orange and thick like jelly. See Orange is the new Black - well I hope it is because that is what I was covered in.

 As I stood in the middle of the road trying my hardest to not cry I felt the sudden urge to laugh as another car pulled up and asked if I was leaving the car spot I was in. I answered politely "Sorry No" as vomit dripped down my legs.

• I had 30 minutes to get cleaned up, get new clothes and get my now smelly ass to work.
• I pulled myself together and with help from my partner and some friends I made it to work on time.
• Although I did spend most of the day thinking 'can I smell vomit' and 'I want my be'.
• Also must book car in to be cleaned - I do like my car - I am not normally a car person but this one is super cute.

Cute Vomit Car!

My first day at work was one I think I will never forget and two people said to me - these things happen.... Really.... 

Follow-Up: No chocolate - not really feeling like it at the moment - must be a good thing. People on the course think I am someone I am not - because of the pictures I have taken. I feel like a fraud. I do have more work to do for the course but I think I will pass tonight. 

Every Colour of the Rainbow

Colour!

Colour can make a picture dramatic but then so can lack of colour (black and white). I find it hard to decide when to use colour and when to use B&W - the reason being I love B&W.

I have pick a couple of pictures out that if you made the picture B&W it would loose so much depth to the image.

Image 1: The Spice of Life!

This was taken at a market stall and it was the colours that caught my eye. To emphasis the depth of field of this image and the colour I dropped done to be level with the spices. I reduced my F-stop giving a small depth of field - this is shown b the red spice being in focus and the foreground and the background being out of focus. I wanted to draw the attention to the bright red spice. 

The Spice of Life

Image 2: Pretty in Pink!

This picture as you can imagine is a wash with colour. I wanted to make the image more striking by removing most of the colour except the pink on the wall and on the girls hood. This I felt gave a splash rather than the over powering of the image. I also wanted to draw the comparison between the artist and her work.

Pretty in Pink!

Here is image 2 before editing:

I am working hard on the course to try and improve my photo's. I still feel that I take about 1000 pictures and I am lucky if there is one that is good.

Follow-Up:  Yesterday I had a hungry day - that is a day that no matter what or how much I eat I want more.... This was not good because all I wanted to eat were the three HUGE bars of chocolate that I have been saving since Christmas. I was super good - I had nuts instead. I still want to eat the chocolate today but I would not kill someone if they took it away, unlike the feeling I had yesterday.

Light it Up!

Light?

Light - weather natural or from flash  is very important in photos and it can give very different feel to photos.

I have to look at light in different ways -

1. Soft light
2. Hard light
3. Golden Light

Soft Light - requires a large light source - this could be a flash - but in my case it was the sun - which can also be a large light source. I have not done a lot of flash work to produce a soft light photo. I guess that is something I need to challenge myself with.

Splash of Light!

 I have used the sun as my main light source in this picture. The sun is giving a large area of light to cover the picture with few areas not in the light so the shadow areas are not harsh. I will look at doing a bit more soft light with camera and external flash.

Hard Light - is were there is a small light source there fore producing areas within the picture that are not receiving any/reduced light. This gives a strong contrast between the shadow areas and the areas of the subject that are exposed to the light. 

Weeping Angle!

As a huge Dr Who fan - I took this picture of a 'Weeping Angle' - this I change to black and white to emphasize  the contrast between the shadow areas and the light areas - I was tying to create a strong image with the picture - using both the light and the black and white.

Golden light - is were the light source produced by sunset and sunrise. This light produces great portrait pictures, given the model a specific colouring. I have chosen  a picture of the sun just about to disappear on the horizon - the colour of the sun is so striking and creates a golden light over all the hole picture. - "Golden Brown texture like sun" (The Strangles).

 "Golden Brown texture like sun"

The image "Golden Brown texture like sun" - is a good example of the golden light used, although it is also demonstrates the composition of Figure to ground. The background colour is so striking compared to the buildings and structures in the foreground making them stand out.

This image also although is in colour there is only really one colour that stands out - like a splash of colour to emphasis the picture.

Follow-up: I have had an iced coffee with wiped cream and ice cream - not good since I was suppose to be quieting sugar. I have also had some issues of going to try and clothes - that have fitted me before and the can not even do up - this happened with two dresses that I have worn to wedding and I was going to choose one to wear to a wedding I have a a few weeks - well they are no good. Shopping I must go to find a dress that will my boobs will fit into... 

Photography Composition - Point and Click Click Click

Composition - If at First You Don't Succeed Try Try and Try Again!


Compositions:

1. Triangles - I have covered - well maybe not... I will keep it in mind when taking street pictures - rule of three...
2. Figure to the Ground
3. Framing
4. Perspective

The next three I think I have been able to do better. 

Figure to the Ground- or in my case Standing in the Louvre!

Standing in the Louvre Taking in the View!

Figure-to-ground needs to demonstrate a strong contrast between the subject and the background. This is a picture were the subject is in dark clothes but the contrast of the cream background makes the subject stand out and even though not in the foreground of the picture the we know what the main subject is. 

***

Framing - I have a few pictures that I have taken but this is one of my favourites. Framing is one of the first things I learnt and even when  I do not have my camera in front of me I frame pictures and it is also a great thing to play with. Framing can tell a different story and you can frame a photo to suit the project. 

 

Bike up Front!

The image of the Bike and the building in the back ground is framed by both the trees pulling 

your eyes towards the building and the grass. The trees at the end could be seen as a 'frame 

within a frame' framing the building.

***

Perspective - This is a  low-angle shot were I got closed to the subject, fill the frame, and giving  “superman effect.”

About to Run!

 Although there is no super man in the shot, the shoes belonged to one. The 'Superman' that filled these shoes went running along the beach ten minutes after I took this shot. I did not I stayed and took more photos. 

Follow-up: The course has got really busy and I am falling behind but on the up side I have been swimming every morning this week (trying to loose some weight since I could no fit into any of my dresses). I have also not had any chocolate - WHAT - I here you scream... I know I have not been able to "Quite Sugar" which is the huge thing at the moment but I am trying to reduce.... everything in moderation.

Photography Composition... Not Just Point and Click

Composition - It is Hard!

Working on the course and I have to examine mine (or someone else's) photos and detail composition strategies that have been used. Well if I can not figure out the composition in some of my own photo's I have been doing it wrong.

1. Triangles
2. Figure to the Front
3. Framing
4. Perspective

Number 1 -Triangles 

I am not good at this one - I was trolling through loads of pictures to try and find one that I had taken that looked like there three points of interest that pulled the picture together.... it was not pretty. I either did not understand or I have just never taking a picture that uses three points.

Theory behind the triangles compositional techniques is to add three things to your photography:

1. Fill your frame
2. Balance
3. Movement 

Have I done this with any of my photos - I have really struggled to find one - just one...

Just One Butterfly

1. Fill your frame: this image of the butterfly fills the frame with the lines of the leaf drawing your eye through the picture.
2. Balance: The balance is not quite there - although the eyes are drawn by the lines I can  not figure what brings your eye back to the photo - other than the large butterfly.
3. Movement: there is a bit of movement with the lines on the leaves and this is in the same direction that the lines on the butterfly's wings are going.

The  triangle composition needs a bit more one work.  - Need to take more pictures.


Follow-Up: I still have the other three compositions techniques to explore, hope they are not all as hard as this one. Had chocolate today but I did go for a swim.... need to do better. I also need to tell you about how I nearly missed seeing in the New Year.... I will leave that for another day.

Rules for Photography

Rules to be Broken! Rules to be Followed!

This is my challenge for tomorrow - is to using at least two of these rules or strategies to improve my composition and design.

1. Pattern and repetition                        
2. Framing                                                
3. Point of interest                                    
4. Leading lines                                         
5. Symmetry
6. Filling the frame
7. Unusual points of view   
8. Negative space
9. Rule of thirds

Were do I even begin?   

I was driving the other day towards a storm in the car. Taking a picture of the approaching storm. It reminded me of the first terminator at the end when the guy at the gas station tells Sarah Connor 'there is a storm coming.' 

So this is my Terminator picture. 

Leading Lines:
I have used the lines of the road to lead the eye into the picture and to look at the main event - The Terminator Storm!

"Looks Like a Storm is Coming"

Pattern and Repetition:

This is a photo from inside the Sydney Opera House. This was the first time I had been in it and inside is just as amazing as the outside. In this photograph I have taken the pattern created by the lights above to give the photo a sense of distance. - Opera Pattern!

Opera in the House! 

Follow - Up: Christmas is well over and I am not fitting into many of my clothes - no more chocolate (very very sad face). I wore my French style Knickers - I loved them. I did go out to take some pictures of the Aurora the other night - did not see a thing but managed to have some fun playing around with my camera.