Day 7- Light Scoop

Another foggy day, alas!  I’ve been out all day and got home to find that the Light Scoop I ordered had arrived in the mail!  I don’t have an external flash, and, although I don’t use flash much, I have used the built-in flash inside at night with not very good results.  I don’t know too much about flash yet, but have often wished I could bounce or diffuse my flash to avoid the harsh light and shadows often produced.  Since speedlights are very expensive, I am postponing purchasing one for now (and maybe forever…). I read about the Light Scoop on Clickin Moms and elsewhere, and decided that for $30.00 I couldn’t go wrong!  It fits over the built-in flash and slides into the hotshoe.  It has a mirror that bounces the light from the flash onto the ceiling when the camera is held horizontally or from a wall if the camera is held vertically. They recommend a setting of ISO 800, a flash exposure compensation of +1, and a wide aperture.  I had little time to play with it today, so took two photos of my very patient husband, one with regular flash, f 1.8, 1/125 at ISO 800.  The second had the same settings, except I added the Light Scoop and adjusted the flash exposure to +1.  I am sure I need to experiment a lot more in actual shooting situations, but I think the results are interesting.

BTW, he is wearing sunglasses and not looking into the camera, because he had an eye procedure done today (told you he was patient!).

Left photo is regular flash; right photo is with the Light Scoop.  Both photos are SOOC.

Regular Flash Light Scoop

Melinda4 Comments

Day 6- Fog

It is so (insert your own expletive…) cold and foggy here today! After going to the gym, I drove down to the water hoping to catch a view of the bridge shrouded mysteriously in fog- you couldn’t even SEE the bridge! When I got home, I opened the fridge to get milk for my cereal and discovered the milk’s date had passed- YUCK! So I went to the grocery store and drove BACK down to the water just on the off chance a great photo op was waiting for me.  Well, there were seagulls, so I got some pretty ordinary seagull shots. I have been experimenting with back button focus (at least I THINK that’s what I’m doing…), so I took a few shots of the railing near the water.  I like this one.

I had no coat, and it was freezing- my hands were shaking and contributing to my focusing problems.  So I got in the car and made the loop to turn around when I saw a tugboat! That means a ship- another photo opportunity!  So, shivering,  I got out and snapped a few of the ship through the fog.  Interesting results- all shots today are straight out of camera.

 

BONUS PHOTO:

The clickin’ moms Project 52 theme for the week is NEW- which I interpreted as BEGINNINGS.  Here is how my husband likes to begin his day!

Melinda5 Comments

Day 5- Snowy Branches

I barely had to venture out the door of the hotel this morning to find these snowy branches- Tahoe is a winter wonderland right now!  And 5 degrees- BRRRRR!

They are both at 300mm- my zoom lens- at f5.6, ISO 250. The top one had a shutter speed of 1/250, the bottom one at 1/400.

Melinda11 Comments

Day 4 Part Deux- Tahoe

We arrived here at sunset,  and I was able to get a few photos before dark.  I hope to get a few more snowy photos tomorrow.

My husband agreed to stop so I could get a shot of the snowy rocks in the river.

I was fascinated by the ENORMOUS icicles hanging from the building next to the hotel.  They didn’t make a great shot by themselves- much better when combined with TREE BARK!  This shot doesn’t really show how huge they are- but I like it.

Melinda5 Comments

Day 4- Moleskine

Today we are driving to Tahoe! My intention was to take photos later today and tomorrow for Days 4 and 5, but…..I realized this morning that we may not be there until after dark- which puts a little pressure on me to get a decent photo taken.  So, the good girl in me wants to get homework done before I leave!

In addition to doing this Project 365, I am also in a Clickin Moms Project 52 (posting photos once a week- a much more realistic goal for me).  Our theme for this week is “New,”- so here is my new Moleskine!

Since childhood, I have loved journals and notebooks of all kinds.  A few years ago I discovered Moleskines.  They are absolutely the best- google them and see for yourself!  They have a ribbon bookmark, an expandable pocket in the back, a band to keep it all closed, and paper that is wonderful to write on.  I have used one for organizing myself- then went back to electronic- and one for my book club. A year or so ago I started using one to record notes from the various spiritual classes I take at church.  I numbered all the pages in advance and then take notes as I go.  Then I keep a running index in the back so I can find entries easily- it works great for me.

My new Moleskine is for- PHOTOGRAPHY!  I have been collecting a zillion online articles electronically in Evernote- another fantastic organizational tool. But- for those gems I really want to remember and refer to constantly- I am going to use the Moleskine and keep it in my camera bag.

Melinda2 Comments

Day 3- Mossy Trees

Well, people… it’s trees again!  I decided to stop by the park on my way to the grocery store today to see what I could find to photograph.  And – the park had, um- TREES!  I took some other photos that I liked too- but the ones I liked best showed the tree bark.  I also was able to get some shots of a squirrel- challenging, because he moved so fast!

This was using my 70-300mm lens at 300mm, ISO 1000, f 7.1, 1/200.

Melinda5 Comments

Day 2- Peeling Bark

I love birch trees.  I had no idea what I was going to take a picture of today- and thought I’d take my camera with me when I went out.  But then, as I was pouring my coffee on this rainy day, I looked out the window at the birches.  There are only two now- we originally had three planted when we moved here in 1987- but the bark has evolved into this wonderful, twisted, peeling entity!  Yes, I love birches.

I first used my little 35mm lens, but then couldn’t resist a close-up of the bark, which is what I love. So, I switched to my 70-300 mm zoom.  I shot it with a high ISO- 1000 (it is a dreary day), f16, 1/160.

I think I could do a whole photo ESSAY on these trees- but for now- just one.

Melinda3 Comments

Day 1- Happy New Year!

This was taken a little after midnight- in the foreground is our champagne lit only by candlelight. Focus isn’t great (blame the champagne…), but it’ll do for Day 1.  I took more photos this morning, but I  like this one better, even if it isn’t as good technically.  Only 364 days to go- I’m on a roll!

Oh- it’s my 35 mm 1.8 lens at 2.0, 1/200, ISO 1000.

Melinda2 Comments

What was I thinking?

I have decided to try something new- I am going to actually try to stick to something for a whole year!  I retired from teaching in June, and one of my retirement goals was to learn how to take better pictures- especially of my grandchildren.  In July, I got a new camera (a Nikon D5000- a fantastic entry level DSLR), and since then have been working on learning how to use it.  I have recently heard of Project 365- improving your photography skills by taking a new photo every single day- YIKES!  So….here I am, ready to go in 2011!

Here is my commitment:

1.  I will attempt to take at least one photo every single day, working on improving the quality as I go.

2. I will post the pictures here as often as I can (probably not every day).

3. If I get off track (I know myself all too well- routine and discipline are not my strong points!), I will get back ON track and not give up!

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Teaser….

Just so you know… on the days that I don’t go anywhere, have no grandchildren to photograph… this is just about as exciting as my photos will get.  That will be part of the challenge- finding SOMETHING in the house to shoot, so to speak. These are heirloom snowmen salt and pepper shakers, mind you- they were in my house as a little girl, and I can’t remember a Christmas without them.

Camera settings: I used my 35mm 1.8 lens at 1.8, shutter speed 1/500, ISO 1000.

Melinda3 Comments