Here are some photos I took today of my good friend Joan, who has been one of my closest friends since we were brand new, single, twenty-three year old teachers at Kawana School. Now we are both RETIRED teachers with empty nests- and we still have a lot of fun when we get together (which is not nearly often enough)!
I was hoping to find birds on the rooftops in our neighborhood as I went out on a mission to shoot a photo for today’s challenge- rooftops. I ended up liking the views of bare birches against the winter sky. . .
. . . and mossy branches against our neighbors’ garage. Maybe tomorrow I’ll find some interesting rooftop views.
It’s a cold, low energy kind of day around here. Looking up, I saw a nice composition in nature, snapped it, and textured it for today’s photo of the day. It doesn’t match a theme for any group, and it’s not a macro shot for Macro Monday- but that’s okay.
I’m off to a day long workshop at my church, so it is fitting that today’s topic is words of wisdom. Here is how I start my day- a cup of coffee and the Daily Word, which is full of wisdom and inspiration.
Last night Lonnie and I went out for our traditional cold cure, hot and sour soup, at our local Chinese restaurant. This morning I saw that the Flickr group daily challenge topic is Oriental. I didn’t have to think too hard for this one- and, by the way, I don’t have a cold!
f/2, 1/400, ISO 640, 35mm
This photo was edited with Lightroom 4 Beta, which I downloaded as a comparison to Aperture 3. I edited this photo in both programs as a comparison- and the two versions came out about the same. I am somewhat familiar with the interface, because it is so similar to Camera Raw in Photoshop, and I find it somewhat clunky for me to work with at this point. The sliders seem less sensitive somehow, and I haven’t figured out how to click off adjustments like in Aperture and Photoshop- or to be able to see the master image for that matter. I am impressed with the sharpening and watermarking capabilities- and like the adjustment brush and presets too. I am interested in Lightroom mainly for its touted noise reduction- and plan on using it with some of my noisier images. The beta version is active until March 31, so I have until then to decide if I want to make the switch someday.
I’m taking Emergen-C, my favourite cold-fighter today- with Vitamin C and Zinc and thinking positive thoughts that I don’t have a cold, I don’t have a cold, I DON’T have a cold!
P.S. The topic for my daily challenge group is “a FAVOURITE thing”- not a favorite (boring American spelling) thing- love it!
This morning I took this photo of a quilt as it sat on my lap- thinking it an okay choice for the topic of intersection, the topic of my daily challenge Flickr group.
But I was really counting on getting some good architectural photos for my other Flickr group when I went to Petaluma today. After having lunch with my friends, I wandered downtown for awhile. Petaluma is full of beautiful old buildings, and I allowed myself twenty minutes in the freezing cold- at an INTERSECTION- to take some photos.
I found myself second-guessing every shot, knowing that it would be critiqued. Until I joined this group, I was taking photos because I wanted to- not to measure up to a certain standard. I haven’t taken photography classes (except one in college), and I find myself a little sensitive to constructive criticism (even of others!). No one has been unkind; most of the criticism is in my own head. Guess I need to grow up!
So, here is the quilt. . .
And here are some shots of Petaluma. . .
Rooftop of the old Masonic Hall- notice the eye in the triangle!
Detail of the windows of the IOOF building across the street and down (taken from the same vantage point- just facing right, instead of left).
And finally- closer to the waterfront- the restaurant where I had lunch with Joan a few months ago. I love the contrast of the bright paint against the gray sky, but this was the shot that I had concerns about submitting to my Flickr group. I personally don’t mind the distortion of perspective here, but know that it is an issue that has been mentioned in critiques. I actually have taken many architectural shots previously at wide angle, looking up- to emphasize the distortion. I like that look in photography. But I also understand that there are techniques to remedy the distortion- if that’s not the look you want. I did use a wide angle in order to get the entire building in view.
f/9, 1/500, ISO 800 18mm
Oh, happy day! My friend, Kathryn got her braces off yesterday! Now that she is rid of the braces, she no longer looks thirteen- maybe twenty-five. Looking good, Kathryn! Bring on the caramels, popcorn, and gum!
Props is the topic for today’s challenge. I decided to keep it simple and look around for everyday props, so here they are! What could be more simple than kitchen props, used so often they are always in plain sight?
Shot at 1.8 with my 35mm
The theme for today’s photo is GRAY! I could have taken a photo of our gray cloudy sky or my husband’s gray hair, but I chose to photograph Luna, my friend Barbara’s young, but gray whiskered shepherd mix.
Isn’t she sweet?
Our Heart Math group has some amazing people in it! Today Vicki asked me to take a photo of her with our leader, Toni, and her good friends, Janet and Carolyn. All of these wonderful women are inspirations to me- I learn so much just being in their presence.
Vicki had no idea who she was dealing with when she asked me to snap a photo with her little point and shoot (which takes wonderful photos). I pulled out my big camera and started talking about settings and finding the light- she might think twice next time!
Group shots- yikes! I should have used a smaller aperture (I used f/4)- didn’t I say that with Grady’s photo???? This is why I need to practice!
I like the first photo best- spontaneous and heart-filled, just like these beautiful women! The second is a more formal portrait, and I like that one too.
A quick trip to the garden to find FOUR of something to satisfy today’s challenge yielded this sprig of rosemary with four blossoms. I took a few shots outside, but the cold wind (yes, there is a tiny bit of actual weather here this morning!) made it difficult to achieve focus. I broke off a little bit and took a couple photos inside using my tripod.
I’ve redeemed myself today by asking Grady, who has colored my hair for more than ten years, if I could take his picture. I hadn’t planned on this, but my intention to photograph PEOPLE plus the opportunity to do so collided at the hair salon- so I took the chance.
He is kind of a hottie!
Here is a serious pose.
And here is my favorite shot- Grady being Grady! I love candid images- I want to do more of this type of shot.
All were taken with my 35mm 1.8- f/2, 1/160, ISO 2000- no flash (didn’t bring it). I think a slightly smaller aperture would have helped my focus.
Spending half the day in a vineyard in St. Helena accompanying my husband on a fire claim gave me a wealth of photo opportunities. I justified my presence by helping him photograph the remains from the fire. And then I wandered around the property with my camera- fun! Next time, I would like him to schedule “our” appointments during the golden hour, please! The midday sun was a challenge.
Coincidentally, the topic of the day is “environmental portrait”, a portrait of someone in an environment that tells you something about the person. I didn’t have the courage to ask one of the workers to pose, but (sneakily!) took this quick photo of a fire investigator through a burned out building.
Of course this blog post would not be complete without a shot of my husband doing what he seems to do most- talking on the phone while walking around the site.
melinda anderson photography 