In a world of so many great photographers and writers, I am venturing into some unknown territories, leaving comfort zones, finally very willing to practice the art of seeing. By maintaining the practice of posting daily photos, I hope to continue learning about the possibilities that I trust are out there for the taking.
To all the father’s, Happy Father’s Day today. I’ve wished my husband a very happy Father’s Day and look forward to sharing the day with him.
I quietly send my father loving thoughts and reflect today and everyday on loving memories. If not for my Dad, I wouldn’t have the incredible life I have. My gratitude is a daily thought, always.
Happy Father’s day to my brother, who even though he isn’t a “father” has been one to me.
And to my best friend LR, who is a father and also has been a father to me, Happy Father’s Day.
I hear it's Father's Day.
Ray played some holes. I shot for blog photos.
Enjoyed a more relaxed, viewing of Zach Arias’ One Light DVD today. I was relaxed because happily I’ve learned enough to be able to make sense of what Zach is teaching on the DVD. I’d bought this One Light DVD last year and remember having felt quite overwhelmed with all the new terminology and techniques, even on the second viewing of the DVD months later. I’m making headway, little by little.
Practiced a bit with flash outside shooting some flowers today.
I sure wish I had some models though. Hint, hint. And a studio. Oh, and a 60″ umbrella, a 28″ Softbox, Pocket Wizards and another 580EX Speedlite too.
I could always buy a mannequin to shoot. This is probably a better idea than having a live model as I’d drive a “live” model crazy while trying to figure out lighting. Much like I’m probably driving Ray crazy, shooting him on the couch while we’re in the TV room, supposedly watching TV. “Smile Ray.” “Look this way Ray.” “Open your eyes more Ray.” Ray is good for about 10 shots before he says, “That’s enough.” Followed by, “You’re not going to put these shots on the internet, right?”
Morning pages (2, not 3 pages) got written before Margaret came over at 8:30am. No more intentions to write the morning pages. I’m back on the page.
One hour watching a webinar on monitor calibration from 12 – 1pm.
Brought in Carol’s photography travel suitcase I am considering buying and tried to figure out whether I will use this to store lighting equipment.
Stole a few minutes to shoot some high sync off camera flash with my 85mm f1.2mm L lens.
5d Mark ii camera settings: Manual, ISO 200, shutter 1/180 sec, f13. Circular Polarizer (did nothing as I wasn’t at a 90 degree angle to sun.)
580 EX II flash – Manual, 1/2 power, zoom 14mm.
Photo was shot at about 2pm where everything looked very washed out. To be able to shoot in full midday light using high speed flash is exciting.
So many things to remember to check. Now I need to nail down better focus. I had spot focusing on the tallest flowers but see I didn’t succeed. I’ve been using the 85mm lens just so I can get use to it. I find this lens difficult to focus. I really didn’t think I’d have trouble focusing with a f13 stop. Guess I need to figure out how much depth of field this 85 mm lens has at differing apertures.
I’m enjoying the process involving off camera high sync flash and happy I’m willing to learn from trial and error. Before I never would have posted a photo like the one below for others to see.
1pm off camera high sync flash practice outside the back door.
When one idea takes precedent over all other ideas.
We went to the movies to eat popcorn, but were rewarded with an exceptional movie. I cried and cried and cried.
Not great light to shoot bunny in, but maybe the heavy cropping and vignetting will hopefully keep you from staining to locate bunny in the photo.
Bunny is back and drinking the water in the turtle pond.
I want free days. I live for free, unstructured days. When I get one, like today, I find myself STILL in my pjs, in front of my computer, living everyone else’s life online, feeling guilty and uninspired to get up and take the shower, I know will give me the motivation I don’t have now to get into MY day, back into MY life. 11:20am.
Ok, who knows who this is? Hint, tomorrow she leaves for Colorado for 3 months. Boo hoo.
Yup, you guessed right. It's Stacy. Maybe my posting this photo of her will convince her to be obedient in front of the lens for me. NOT.
Vicki and her gals, Kim and Roberta.
Doesn’t Ray look handsome!
My somewhat willing subject, poor Ray.
I was thrilled to go outside and try equipment that I’m not very familiar with. I’m not good at trying things when no one is around to help me when I get confused. I definitely want to learn flash and I’m not going to learn it sitting inside watching studio lighting workshops like I did all weekend (after morning hikes). Zach said that if we learned a lot about lighting we better go out and start shooting with our equipment or we will forget everything.
I haven’t been as happy and interested doing something in a long time as I was learning all I did during the online lighting workshop.
Thanks Ray for coming outside and battling the bugs while I was trying to figure out my gear for your shot.
I spent over 10 hours today watching the 2nd day of a 3 day FREE Live Zach Arias Photography Studio Lighting Workshop. This three day workshop features studio lighting using white seamless backdrops, stages, models, and bands with Q&A and critique rounds to fill it all out. Today’s day long session was information, so much so that it took the mystery out of flash photography. I am so glad I watched it. (6/15/10 – Added the photo taken on last day.)
Chase Jarvis and Zach Arias.
Tomorrow’s session will be a little faster paced where he’ll be shooting and letting us know what’s going on in his head but his focus will be on the “models (ie clients) and not on us like it was today. There were 17,000 people online all over the world watching this broadcast. Everyone was chatting and tweeting online raving about how grateful they were for all they were learning from this free broadcast. I definitely felt as excited and grateful as they did.
After the end of the workshop, Zach is making the 3 sessions available but for a charge. He offered the sessions as a download for a lower cost if pre-ordered before the end of tomorrow. I pre-order so I can go back and watch it.
I did walk outside around 430pm for about 10 minutes to give myself a break from watching the workshop since 10am this morning. I was in a hurry to get back inside so shot off a couple of shots using the 70-200mm lens. These bird shots are cropped a lot as the egrets don’t let me get too close to them before they fly away.
This guy had about had it with me approaching and fly off 2 seconds after this shot.
I invaded his personal space and comfort level.
We don't normally have clouds that look like this. It was a very humid day today.
While scheduling a calendar date with Patricia, we spotted this relatively new baby bunny visitor just outside my office window. He’s adorable and I love that this is about the 3rd day I’ve seen the bunny.
Shot from inside with a Canon 5D Mark II fitted with the 70-200mm lens.
A recent new visitor just outside my office window. Love little bunny.