(Almost) Wordless Wednesday

Happy Autumn, everyone!

(Note: I'm going to try to do some Wordless Wednesdays for y'all so that I can get regular updates; I have a bunch of half finished posts but I also have an incredible number of papers to write for school. I'll probably also refer to my Wordless Wednesday pictures in future tips posts.)

Photography Tips (FaMH) #3

This entry is for improving your artistic eye. Setting up a shot is half the battle and being able to objectively picture what would make a good photograph is a super important skill. (It's nice to be able to subjectively imagine what would make a good photograph, but I'm going for universal appeal for now.) It's also useful when you're picking out what photographs to display--you want people to see your best work!

My biggest tip for learning how to set up and judge shots: look at other people's work. As in, a lot. Go to photography exhibits. Get out the National Geographic or coffee table books (or whatever prints photographs of the genre you most enjoy) and page through it. You don't want to copy or steal from them, but it will help you decide what you like and don't like. Next, figure out why you like what you do like and why you don't like what you don't like. Is it the angles? The subjects?  Look at your own pictures as well. Make a list of things you like, things you dislike, things you did right, and things you did wrong (drawing from both your own work and the work of others). And then set out to work on each skill. Practice each thing individually. You discovered that you like 3/4 view portraits? Okay, go take a TON of 3/4 view portraits (and then re-examine them when you're done to keep tweaking). You also like shots where the person is only half smiling? Okay, on a different occasion, hone that skill. You can put them together afterward, but work individually first.

Judging your own photographs after you've taken them is hard. Having a personal investment can really mess with your objectivity. This goes double if the pictures are of people/places/things that you love. You have to decide whether that photo is wonderful because it's well set up and artistic or if it's because you love the people in it and the memories that go with it. It helps to have other people judge your work on occasions like these but if you can learn to do so it will be invaluable. I suggest picking about ten pictures that you like and then have other people look through them and choose what they like and why (a good way to do this is through facebook). Seeing what they like in your photography is a good way to know what you've gotten right and this is a nice way, as well, to see if your opinions overlap with those of the general public.

Most of all, just practice and look. Go through your pictures after you've taken them. Practice things you like and don't like. And most of all, enjoy yourself.

Photography Tips (from a Mediocre Hobbyist) #2

I'm back and I have more advice! This isn't so much a photography tip as a life tip but it involves cameras and can improve your skills, so bear with me. It's one I've adhered to for years now and my friends and family know it:

Always carry a camera with you. Any camera. I tend to compromise a bit with this by always having my point and shoot with me (rather than my DSLR; if my camera phone were better, I could live with just that) but I don't want to miss a moment. It might be something aesthetically beautiful (a rose just starting to bloom, for example), it might be a set-up to a shot you want to get later (but that you want to stake out now), or it might be your friends or family having a special time that you want to be able to have later on.

Years ago, before I followed this, I was driving somewhere and there was a fawn about two feet from the edge of the road. I stopped to see it, of course, but I would have loved to have captured that moment. I was incredibly disappointed. That was when I started sticking to this.

Since then, I've been grateful for it many times (and so have others). I've captured smiles of family and friends so I could remember and share moments. I've gotten award winning shots on a walk to the store. I've taken pictures of signs with websites to remember. I've taken pictures a friend or family member wanted. I've even taken pictures for strangers that I subsequently emailed to them so they could remember a fun time they had had.

Just think about it and try it for a week. You might find yourself grabbing moments you'll be glad to remember later. And you'll probably take more pictures, which is a great way to improve your skills in general.

Photography Tips (from a Mediocre Hobbyist) #1

I have a DSLR and I enjoy it. I (mostly) know how to work it and I love taking pictures. Some of them are pretty good, most are just kind of okay. I'm learning, though, about the photography and about the life that goes with it. The tips I'll share with you are probably things you already know but that may not have occurred to you. My target audience is anyone who takes pictures, be it with a fancy camera or just with your camera phone.

So here's tip number one: angles.

For me, this translate to lying on the ground but it may be different for you. Pictures from head on tend to be less exciting and there's a good chance that many others have taken what amounts to basically the exact same photo. If you look at the subject from a different angle, however, this makes it intriguing and gives the viewer more to look at. It makes your photographs (and you) stand out.

With people, pictures taken from the side or above are often much more flattering. I avoid photos from below with people, though, as it's generally an awkward view of nostrils and unattractive chins.

So that's my wisdom (??) for now. Stay tuned for more and feel free to ask questions or suggest things (like your favourite angle or your best tip) in the comments!

Wildlife

...I've been running into an awful lot of wildlife this summer.

There was a mess of baby foxes...

Fawns...

Teeny tiny toads...

These freaks... (<3)

(Including the lovely author of This is Summer)

And our new beautiful puppy! This is Zoey!

Summer So Far

Working. Second shift. So tired. And physically demanding. There's something satisfying (post facto) in doing physical labour, though, and I work with Janelle, so that's fabulous!
Also doggie! We have a new pup at our house! She likes digging and walks and chewing on things and being silly and we love her. Most of my pictures of her are blurry; she loves moving and, as soon as I get my camera out, she has to come investigate. After I get more pictures, there will be some on here because she is just so precious!
So, yes! Doggie and work. That's life so far, for the most part. They're taking all of my time.

I'm Baaaaaack!

I can not yet promise that I'll be perfectly regular in my posting, but thanks to my sister blog, This Is Summer, I am back in the game!

I had a great end to the semester (with a few notable exceptions that may come up later) and now I'm ready to relax and play and have fun with my family and friends and those I love!

I'm looking forward to being back on track. I have so many things planned: Psych marathons, attempting to exercise, photography, connecting with friends and family, a job (I hope!), and more. And you poor creatures are stuck hearing about them! So wait and see, because things will sure be getting...interesting around here!