Self Portrait

A couple of photo groups that I am in on facebook posted a self portrait challenge.  I have tried this before and it was pretty tough.  I have since learned that back button focusing is my friend and makes self portraits way easier or you can just manually focus.  I used a stuffed animal where my head would be and then took a few photos of myself.  There never seems to be a good time to do this.  Even though I woke up early and threw on some clothes and makeup without showering or brushing my hair, I picked today to do my challenge.  I also had cried moments before watching a sad movie.  Despite my lack of effort I thought my photos turned out pretty decent.  I used window light and a reflector. 

Have you tried to do a self portrait?  Did you think it was tough?  If you don’t own a reflector then it should be your next purchase.  They are really cheap and can help you put light on a person or a project and really help you get a better photo.  I used a big one that is really inexpensive from Amazon.  I don’t care for the silver or gold side.  I just use the white. 

Go here to check it out. 

Izzy Poses for a Valentine’s Portrait

I am taking some Valentine photos next week and worked on a prop that I had in mind.  I had Izzy pose while I did a test shot.  I had to share the cuteness. 

New Bar Stools

Last May I painted my bar and it never looked just right.  One reader commented that my bar stools needed to be replaced.  She was right.  I really wanted to get industrial ones.  I even bought a set of 3, but my son really disliked sitting on them because they were uncomfortable.  He spends most of the time sitting on them so I decided to take them back and bought some he wouldn’t’ mind sitting in and I wouldn’t mind looking at.  The seat is a little bigger than I like, but they do look better than the ones that came with the house and have been here since the 70s. 

Here’s the new ones.

I am thinking of painting the dining chairs black (NOT the new bar stools) to break up all the oak chairs. 

Here is a shot of the old bar stools.

What do you think?  Much better?  Should I paint the dining chairs black.

Using the Kelvin Chart for White Balance

Yesterday I kept happening upon information about using the Kelvin setting for white balance while taking photos.  This might be my aha moment.  I am going to try using this method and see if it works as well for me as it seems to for so many other photographers.  Some of the entry level DSLRs will not have this option.  It will look like this under your white balance settings.

Kelvin is the choice on the far right “K”.

After you choose kelvin then you choose your setting by using your scroll wheel.

I did a little experiment using my window as the light source. 

These shots are straight out of camera.  The only change I made was decreasing the temperature of the Kelvin.  I have read that photos can look over or underexposed simply because the white balance is incorrect.  I think the photo that is labeled 3500 looks more underexposed the the rest.  Do you?   The Kelvin chart above was found on pinterest and created by Girl Hearts Camera.  I liked her chart the best. 

If you do not have the choice of Kelvin on your camera and you want some other options let me know and I will make a post about it. 

Happy shooting.

Photo Glass Plate Negatives Added to My Vintage Photography Collection

When my father in law asked if I would like some glass plate negatives he had from his grandma I said heck ya as fast as possible.  My father in law is 82 so these are pretty old.  I photographed all 3 of them, but I am only displaying one in my photo cubby shelf.  I think it makes a nice addition. 

I will always cherish these.  Photography has come a long way! 

The Christmas Tree That Didn’t Last

Yesterday morning I took my real tree down.  Yep I did.  It was stinky for a long time.  We think it was the water so we quit watering it.  It was drying out anyway.  It seemed to continue to dry out super fast and as is it dried it drooped.  It was time for it to go away.  As I pulled off the ornaments the needles and branches flew off the tree like rockets.  My husband was at work so I drug it outside by myself.  I cleaned up the needle mess and put up a tiny little tree in it’s place.  I will definitely use my faux tree with the pre-lit white lights next year and the year after that and the year after that……….

Just Sharing A Few Photos and Thoughts

Lately I find myself drawn to blog posts about life more than the ones that have to do with crafts or decorating.  I am not sure why those things that I use to enjoy have taken such a back seat and have become less important in my life.  I keep getting big reminders how precious life is all the time.  Friday’s tragedy at Sandy Hook certainly got my attention and taking photos for an old high school classmate who wanted family photos for the last time because her husband is terminally ill.  I have been trying to pay attention this week and capture moments in life that I want to remember forever. 

My favorite one  I took on Friday night.  I felt so lucky to have my family safe, at home and loving each other.

Then on Sunday my son was watching football with Izzy at his feet. 

I use to would worry and think that I couldn’t possibly post a pic with a cup in it.  Now I just think, well that is part of life. 

Last night I caught another photo of my son and our dog.  Yes he wore the same shirt 2 days in a row.  Less laundry. 

I learned I had to manually focus to get this dark shot. I like how it turned out.  I love that Izzy is looking out the window. 

Don’t forget to capture family moments.  Leave your camera out.  Don’t just take it out to take a pic of a project and then put it away when you are done.  They say the best photos is the one you took.