Surrounded by SNOW!
Having taken my photography classes in the desert, I was taught to overexpose 2-stops to keep from having the snow come out ‘middle gray’. So I’ve been teaching that tip for a while now. Joke’s on me! Today I am in a total whiteout (and no I am not at a Coyotes game)…snow falling, ground is covered, even the sky is white. The generic rule wasn’t exactly working and I was changing dials for each shot. My hands were frozen, but pictures were everywhere!!
At the moment I’m thawing out with space heater and blanket, and can’t wait to get back out there. Hopefully I can shoot a bit faster this time.
Here are some things I realized:
1. all rules are meant to be broken
2. bracket, bracket, bracket saves time changing settings with bare hands
3. continuous shoot mode is a good thing
4. change the camera settings before you go outside!!
And one thing I already knew: cell phone photo quality really sucks! ie, the above photo
Stay Warm!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
I suppose it’s only natural that with the name April I would feel passionate about photos of flowers. In college, taking floral photos was discouraged as being overdone and unoriginal. I refused to listen, I love flowers and worked tirelessly on finding my own way to make the beautiful objects spring forth in print.
Being Valentine’s Day, I have seen many, many postings on facebook of precious loved ones who were gifted roses among other special bouquets. Not to be too cynical here, but y’all could use a few suggestions on how to use those cell phone cameras for macro photography!!
Which brings me, lovingly, to your photo tips for today:
1. AVOID at all cost taking macro (extreme close ups) without the proper lens. Why? Because you get distortion and out of focus shots.
2. Instead, hold the camera back a bit and zoom in.
3. DO use natural lighting, meaning turn off the flippin’ flash already! All it does is blow out your subject up that close. Put the dang flower outside or in a window. Try putting some lighting behind the flower instead of always in front.
4. Be creative, imaginative! Use angles, off center, upside down, the backside…whatever, be different.
5. Take about 36 shots. You might get one worth keeping.
Ya getting the picture here? It ain’t easy!
I could go on, but I’m thinking I might be sounding like I’m lecturing, when in fact my intent was to educate. Delicate things require a delicate touch. Tedious hours of trial and error have led me to some fantabulously gorgeous canvas prints hanging all over my walls. Stop by anytime for a look see!
And if you really want to learn, I would be more than happy to provide private or group instruction…and I promise to be kinder in person 🙂
Polar Bear Plunge!
Val Vista Lakes, Gilbert AZ
Fundraiser for the elementary school was worth bundling up in the cold to watch and photograph! You’d have to ask the swimmers if the plunge was worth the prizes 🙂
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- It’s all of 34 degrees outside!
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- Schroeder Family
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- Can we go yet?
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