Week 2 Pictures

Today marks the end of my second week in my photography class. This week I had to post 3 pictures (above and beyond the pictures I posted for the two mini-assignments I completed last week).

This first one was to find the "sweet spot" (so they call it) for skin tone. I used Emily here who was laying on the window seat. I don't like the shadow on the side of her face, but I didn't have much light to work with (the pictures were due today and it wasn't very sunny)



Then we had to work on focusing. There is this button on the back of the camera used for BBF (back button focusing), but I haven't quite figured it out. So, I used the focus and recompose method we learned this week (as well as a custom white balance) and came up with this:



And finally, we had to take a picture with some movement in it. We decorated our tree tonight (more pictures to come later), so I took one of Hannah (well, actually, I took more than one, but this is the one I used)



At times I am very overwhelmed with the information I am learning, and sometimes, like today, I feel way out of my league. But, again, I can't say it enough: I think it's just freakin' awesome I am taking this photography class!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanksgiving day pics

Here are some pictures from Aunt Peggy's. I tried to clean them up (they are a bit gainy since I used a high ISO, but my computer WILL NOT cooperate)

Aaron playing with the toys


Mya feeding the baby


Emily playing with toys she had when she was a wee one


Patrick

Vickie and Aunt Cathy (I think Vickie was trying to stretch...)

WOW! I do exist! Me with Emily and Mya

And then with just Mya

Sue, Mya, and Jo

Brian

Do you like how I'm labeling all of these...like you don't know who is who...

Mom

Sue and Mya

It was a great Turkey Day! Now on to enjoy my weekend!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Today is Turkey Day, and I want to wish all of you (who I will see in just a few hours) a very happy Thanksgiving Day!

To start off the Thanksgiving weekend, Ray planned a surprise for Hannah and Emily. After going to karate




and then rushing home to change clothes, they found themselves at the theatre


(practicing taking pictures in horrible light with no flash...)


to watch





They were excited, and I was happy, and it turned out to be a very cute, enjoyable movie.

Father/Daughter Dance

Tonight I am home alone (for a little while at least) while Ray is living it up with the girls at their annual Father/Daughter dance. This year's theme is "A Night in Paris." We found both dresses and pairs of shoes at Marshall's.

(note: my computer is dying so none of these pictures have been edited!)





In this next picture, Emily is pinching Hannah's butt.

















Hope they all enjoy themselves...I know I'm going to!

So, I'm just finishing up my first week in this photography class and I thought I would share the pictures I took and posted for my first assignment. The main focus for the assignment was to have 4 perfectly exposed pictures. So, some of the lighting isn't hot, but that's what we were supposed to do.

This first picture was for my outdoor light. I was actually taking pictures of our swing sets, when I saw this little leaf glowing in the sun.



This next one is for window light. I took a picture of my coffee cup sitting on the kitchen table.



On Thursday, I went to Hannah's first band concert. I didn't think to take a picture of her playing (primarily because I was getting it on film for Ray who was out of town and because I couldn't really see her), but I did take this when the other band sections were playing. I used this one as my optional one. I didn't use a flash, and I was amazed at how clear it was considering how dark it is in that gym.



And this last one is for my low light situation; it's Hannah doing her homework. I wanted the focus to be on her book, like I was peeking over her shoulder. Again, no flash used. I was originally going to use one of Avery, but when I uploaded it, it wasn't focused.



I'm nervous to see what some of the instructors have to say...but it has been a good learning experience so far!

Taking a big step

I know it's been awhile since I've posted, but my computer is acting up again--darn thing--so I couldn't really post anything. Sorry.

But, as most of you know, I enrolled in an online photography workshop and......it started today!! I'm very nervous because so far it seems I am the ONLY one who doesn't know how to shoot in manual. :-(

But, I am still tremendously excited to be doing something like this for myself. I know how cliche it sounds to title this post as "taking a big step," but for me, this really is HUGE. I have to but myself out there; I have to expose myself to people who are going to critique what I do; I have to have 4 PERFECTLY EXPOSED PICTURES IN A VARIETY OF SETTINGS BY SUNDAY!!! Whew, I feel better to get that out of my system. But it's true. They have to be perfect. I have to post them online. People have to critique them. I have no idea what to shoot.

But it's all good. I mean, what if one day I can answer the question, "What do you do for a living?" by saying, "I have a photography studio that caters to children and families."

I mean, what if?! ;-)

The Aaron and Mya show

After Trick or Treating at Vickie's last Sunday, we were hanging around her living room while Hannah, Emily, and Lauren were sorting out their loot.

Aaron and Mya were hanging out on the couch.

Aaron figured out that if he hit the top of his cup, Mya would laugh and laugh.





Somehow, the TV went awry...and they waited for Patrick to fix it.



Aaron kept asking, "What wrong with it?"



He didn't really know...



Then, they thought Patrick fixed it...Mya is yelling, "Yeah!"

But it wasn't fixed, so they went back to playing their game. That's when Mya put her head on Aaron's shoulder.

Below are some of the pictures I edited and made into 5 X 7's...

What can I say except that our Heckle babies are the cutest!