black and white – Page 10 – melinda anderson photography

Seeing Stars

My husband and I took a walk at Willow Lake yesterday and discovered that our favorite trail was now surrounded by beautiful golden weeds, waving and billowing in the breeze. I took a couple iPhone shots and brought home a handful to photograph with my macro lens. One of my current Flickr challenges is STARS, which I’m seeing everywhere in nature this week. The iPhone photo below was edited in Snapseed and PixlrExpress.

This might be my favorite star photo of the day, edited in Snapseed only.

At home, I noticed stars within stars within stars in this flower (Queen Anne’s lace?) that I’ve been using in still life compositions (you’ll see them later this week). I took the photos below with my macro lens on my Nikon.

Linking up with App Happy Wednesday!

June 25, 2014June 24, 2014

Melinda7 Comments

Vertical

I seldom used portrait orientation when taking photos until a couple of months ago. Now I seem to be doing it regularly! I may have started turning my camera in my bathroom “studio” to avoid getting towels and bathroom fixtures in the shot, but then I continue to use it- especially when I want a shallow depth of field in front of, as well as behind, my subject. My 50mm lens does this beautifully, as well as my 85mm macro lens. I would love to own a LensBaby some day to play with moving the focus around! I did order one for my iPhone (coming in August through the kickstarter deal), which will partially satisfy my desire for this cool lens.

Here are two shots with a vertical (portrait) orientation. The first was taken with the macro lens. I took the photo with both orientations, and liked the vertical one best (those blurry berries in the background and a small unfocused slice in the front). There is some texture added to this image (a bluish one from Kim Klassen- teal?).

The one below was taken with my 50mm at 1.4 to give a very narrow field of focus- with lots of blur in the front. It was actually taken for a Be Still 52 lesson on side lighting. The cup was placed on the floor by the open front door (on the left for light)- with a piece of white foam board for a background. There is also a bit of lighting coming from the patio door farther away on the right. I used my Warm Black and White preset (some split toning) for the black and white conversion.

June 23, 2014June 22, 2014

Melinda2 Comments

Hot, Dry, and Windy

Yes, I’m talking about the weather here in Prescott!

Dozens of these (very photogenic) little things blow up to my front door every day.

And now we seem to have a mini- tumbleweed on the front porch settee.

Bring on the monsoon- we need rain!

June 19, 2014June 18, 2014

Melinda3 Comments

Room to Breathe

My latest still life assignments for Be Still 52 are below. We were challenged to give the subject of our still life “room to breathe.” The first image shows my usual style- off center, close up, shallow depth of field- and part of the subject not in the frame. The second image adds some space surrounding the subject. It was interesting to me how difficult it was to be this far away from what I was photographing- I kept wanting to step closer. A good exercise!

Both photos are textured with Kim Klassen’s waterfront 1.

June 12, 2014June 11, 2014

Melinda2 Comments

Yellowstone Epic Horse Drive

Last weekend as part of the Memorial Day festivities, a large group of horses were run through the town of Gardiner (bordering Yellowstone) and up to new pastures in Jardine (in the hills). We joined the throng lining the streets waiting for the Yellowstone Epic Horse Drive. It was all over in a flash, and my photos are mostly of the, um, back ends of the horses and clouds of dust. However, the 2 or 3 minutes that it lasted were pretty thrilling. The next day was the rodeo- probably the most fun event I’ve ever photographed. Look for those photos soon!

May 29, 2014

Melinda5 Comments

Virtual Blog Tour

Today I am participating in something called a Virtual Blog Tour. It has been going on every Monday for a few weeks at least; I was invited to be part of it by Terri Porter of Photographically Speaking and Focusing on Life. I actually had the pleasure to have met Terri in person last month- you can read about it here. Terri is a super photographer and such an involved and connected blogger- I was flattered to be included!

The way the Virtual Blog Tour works is that everyone answers the same set of questions and then links to another blog or two or three, who will post the next week. Be sure to check out Terri’s blog to see how she answered the same questions I’m answering!

So here goes:

1. What am I working on?

Well, I’m always working on becoming a better photographer- which is why I do this blog. I started with a Project 365 in 2011, right after I retired, and published a photo a day for two years, with the goal of learning to use my camera. My partner in crime was my college roommate, Carol, who got her camera the same week I got mine and started her 365 when I started mine (check out her blog, In Focus Daily for some beautiful photography). I now post 5 times a week, most weeks, and try to publish my *best* work of the week. Currently, I’m involved in two of Kim Klassen’s classes- Start to Finish 2 and Be Still 52. Both concentrate on still life, an area where I would like to improve my skills. I’m also involved in two photography groups in my town, the first time I’ve had my photos *judged*- a scary prospect for me! All my learning has been online, and that is my comfort zone.

2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?

Hmmmm- a tricky question! I’m not sure what my genre is! I would like it to be fine art photography, which is what I’m drawn to, but I am more of a generalist, I think. And as for my “style”- I have no idea! I do a lot of closeups and macros of flowers, and, of course, hundreds of photos of my grandchildren. I love the dreaminess of photos with a shallow depth of field and the drama and emotional qualities of black and white photography. I am comfortable with the journey I’m on and with not knowing where it will lead.

3. Why do I write/create what I do?

Like most people, I have always taken photographs to record events. I originally got my DSLR to take photos of my grandchildren, but found myself falling in love with my camera and Photoshop as a means of creative expression. One of my grandsons once said intensely as he ran into his lego filled room, “I HAVE to build!” That’s the way I feel about my photography- I HAVE to photograph this! I HAVE to edit! It’s a passion for self expression that has been dormant since adolescence, when painting and drawing were a big part of my life.

4. How does your writing/creating process work?

I have found that my creative spark appears first thing in the morning. It is not uncommon to see me setting up a still life with morning coffee in hand or running outside while still in my bathrobe to catch the best light. I would like to say that I have a disciplined routine for my photography, but I tend to fly by the seat of my pants- and that’s fine with me! After all, photography isn’t my job, it’s fun, it’s creative, it’s what I love to do! I also must say that I am so inspired by the online communities I’m a part of- Flickr and the Kim Klassen community. There are so many talented artists out there creating beautiful images!

And next Monday, I hope you continue the blog tour by visiting the blog of a wonderful Canadian photographer, Gracie Binoya, whom I’ve been following for several years. Gracie started started shooting a few years ago, mainly focusing on nature, and then moved on to portraiture, which is her current focus. As an amateur photographer, photography is something that she does on the side. She works as a second shooter for a wedding photographer friend and is also currently enrolled in a commercial photography program, hoping to learn more and enhance the skills that she’s acquired over the years. You will enjoy seeing her work!

May 26, 2014May 25, 2014

Melinda8 Comments

Yellow Tulip

I haven’t totally abandoned old books as props; here’s a “basic reader” from 1931 with a tulip from my Mother’s Day bouquet (thank you, Matt!) as bookmark. As a former first grade teacher, I have a small collection of old primers and readers that I bought at garage sales or somehow acquired over the years. The theme for this week’s Texture Tuesday is yellow, so I added the yellow tulip. This image is textured with teatime by Kim Klassen. I’m also including another shot in black and white.

May 13, 2014May 11, 2014

Melinda12 Comments

Create

Simple is this week’s Texture Tuesday theme. I tried not to overthink it, so decided on a simple composition, a few textures, and a black and white conversion.

textures: bamboo, sophia, and canvasback by Kim Klasse

April 22, 2014April 21, 2014

Melinda7 Comments

Photobooth Boys

One of my goals for this week was to start getting caught up on my Beyond Beyond (2B) lessons. I’m working backwards and doing whatever strikes my fancy. This one (Lesson 51) was so much fun- I downloaded a photobooth storyboard action that Kim linked for us and put in some of my shots of the grandboys from when they were here! Easy and very entertaining!

April 16, 2014April 15, 2014

Melinda6 Comments

Escape Route

Last week’s meet-up with my photo group yielded some shots that go along with the shadow theme for this month’s meeting of my photo club. We were walking behind Whiskey Row and came upon this wonderful fire escape on the back of one of the buildings. Looks at the crazy pattern of steps, landings, and shadows!

April 14, 2014

Melinda5 Comments

Desert Black and White

I convert at least half my photos to black and white- I just can’t help myself. I love the emphasis on shape and form, as well as the drama and simplicity of the monochrome. Not that I don’t love color- just not all the time.

Both of these are macros (yes, I tried macro at the botanical garden with no tripod. . .). The first, I call Prickly.