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Week #99 – Summer

14 Sunday Jul 2013

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How can summer be half over already?! I find myself trying to capture every color, breeze, smell, taste and memory in hopes of preserving it. I’m stockpiling them, like jars of strawberry jam and ripe red tomatoes, to be reopened and remembered during the fall days that are already lurking in the shadows of the shortening days and cooler nights.

Posted by | Filed under Life, My View, Photography

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Week #91: I See

07 Sunday Apr 2013

Posted by in Our View, Photography, Photography How-to

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I see a tree, looking at me!

Earlier this week, I met two friends for lunch that I haven’t seen in way too long. Afterwards, I had about 20 minutes before my next appointment, so I wandered around the grounds, played with my camera and discovered this tree (and many other things).

Prior to “A Month of Sundays” and my weekly camera lessons, I wouldn’t have had my camera with me. And I wouldn’t have thought 20 minutes could possibly be enough time to use my camera. But it was. Working on my photography regularly has changed me in many (wonderful!) ways. One of the changes is that now I see pictures everywhere, every day — little defining moments and quirky people and weird signs and trees that look at me. Every time it happens, I instinctively reach for my camera – but it often isn’t there.

And that is my next challenge – figuring out how to keep my camera with me all the time, in a way that doesn’t scream “CAMERA BAG – STEAL ME!” “WARNING! PHOTOGRAPHER ON THE LOOSE – HIDE WHILE YOU CAN!” I want something unnoticeable, that also has room for my every day stuff so I’m not hauling multiple bags like a pack mule. (Because pack mules are noticeable.)

So I’m wondering what solutions you guys recommend? What do you do to keep your camera gear with you?

Week #90: Spring Changes

31 Sunday Mar 2013

Posted by in Photography, Photography How-to

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Happy Easter! Happy Spring!

Spring is the season of change – and it’s (finally) come to my attention that I need to make a few. Aside from the usual ones (anyone else dusting off their New Year’s resolutions?), I’ve realized that field trips, house calls from the flu-fairy, uncooperative weather, family and school commitments (in other words, my life in general) is not conducive to doing a chapter a week in my photo book. So, I’m changing – getting smart for a change, actually. Instead of rushing to get a chapter done every week (and stressing and cramming and beating myself up), I’ve decided to give myself at least two weeks per assignment so I can really learn the material. Because learning the material and improving my photography skills, not finishing a chapter a week, is the real point of having the assignments in the first place.

Yes, sometimes those simple solutions really are the best. And that simple act of giving myself permission is a huge change for me.

I’ll still continue to post on AMOS weekly – because I don’t want to lose the habit of taking photos every week. That’s had a huge positive impact on my photography (and my sanity!). The time between assignment posts will just be longer.

Speaking of assignments, here’s Chapter 7 – Landscapes:

But first – check out this neato site with flash cards for photography terms! http://quizlet.com/11357559/basic-photo-definitions-flash-cards/

  • Aperture and focal length: Take a photo with your longest focal length (ie, telephoto) and smallest aperture (ie, f22). Then keep the aperture the same and use your shortest focal length. Compare the depth of field in the photos.
  • Rule of Thirds: The rule of thirds is a compositional tool. Imagine your viewfinder divided into thirds horizontally and vertically (like a tic-tac-toe grid). The most interesting place to put your subject is anywhere those lines intersect. (Some cameras have a grid overlay feature that you can turn on. Check your manual! It’s a very handy feature; I keep mine on all the time.) Pick a scene and experiment with placing the subject on different intersection points.
  • Horizons: Select a scene with a horizon line. Experiment with putting the horizon on the top, middle and bottom third of the frame.

Have fun and feel free to share your photos, comments or questions. Or just share what changes this spring is bringing you.

See you next week!