Abstract Macro What is it?

Abstract Macro What is it?, originally uploaded by NedraI.

Today I listened to another Photogrpahy 101 podcast by Scott Witenberg at they gym. This podcast was on taking ordinary objects and making them look not so ordinary by using a macro lens. I found myself in a kind of blah mood this afternoon and I knew the best antidote was to pick up my camera and start shooting. Since macro is my first love this was an easy assignment to begin. I started by taking shots with my 105 macro lens. Then I started adding my extension tubes one at a time until I had all 3 added. This shot was with all 3 extention tubes. If you need another clue this is what a different side looks like: www.flickr.com/photos/nedrai/6608369349/in/photostream

Portrait Practice

xDSC_0046, originally uploaded by NedraI.

I recently rejoined the gym. The bonus to this is that I'll start listening to more podcasts as I work out. Today I watched a video on portraiture by Scott Wittenburg on Photography 101. It was a good introduction and I'll watching it again to pick up more tips. I came home and asked my daughter if she'd be a guinea pig for me in our small basement studio. My promise was that I wouldn't post anything she didn't like. Our studio is in a corner and consists of an old light blue tablecloth for a backdrop, 3 lights with stands along with a  powerbox and a flash unit. I'm sure there are more technical names but those will have to do for now. Yes, I'm a newbie to these things. I ended up taking about 200 shots. I'd say the first 30 were spent trying to get the flash unit to work and picture wise were not good at all.  I finally gave up on the flash and just used the constant lighting and played around with different angles. I tried a few with a dramatic feel and I like the way they turned out. I don't like the way her arm casts a shadow on her face in the shot above. However, I like that expression a little better than this one:

Then she changed clothes and we tried some more shots. I ended up noticing some shadows and worked to adjust lights to get rid of the unwanted shadows. This is a shot after I got rid of a shadow under her right eye. 


Then I remembered some photos I had taken of myself recently and how uncomfortable I was until I put my camera in my hands. So, I suggested she put on a hockey sweatshirt and grab her new stick. She chose a hockey shirt and jacket along with her stick and I could see a difference in her too. She was more relaxed and started playing around a little more with poses and I remembered I should be working on being bossy and telling her how to pose. All in all it was a fun experience. As she looked through the photos I posted on Facebook she said, "Hey mom, you could take senior portraits." I have a long way to go for that but I'll take the compliment. 

First Shoot

Well, I think I'm going to change the focus of this blog. Think, is the key word here. We'll see.... I've decided that I have 5 years to come up with a way to make a little extra income. In 5 years I'll be elgible to retire from teaching and I have no desire to work as a sub. So, I'm looking for a way to make some money through photography. Nature photography, especially macro, is my first love. But today I tried something new.  I did my first photo shoot and it's a good thing I decided to start early. I have LOTS of learning to do! My biggest problem today was the sun. Lots of shadows on faces and it wasn't always easy to see them in the viewfinder and that was due to the fact it was hard to see the viewfinder because it was so bright.

A few other thing I need to learn:
Be bossy-I tend to be timid
Learn to pose people
Leave more space around the outside of people-I can crop in later if needed

I would like to start using this blog as a place to learn. I'll read, watch videos and post reflections and shots I've tried based on the new learning. I want to document this new journey. This however will not begin until after the holidays!