I am still feeling grateful! Here we go!
(I am sorry that there aren't pictures. Blogger keeps telling me NO!)
14th November: I am thankful for an unexpected free evening and time with my sister.
15th November: I am thankful for walks with with friends, even at unlikely times.
16th November: I am thankful for fireworks and cupcakes!
17th November: I am thankful for perspective and advice that I gain from those around me.
18th November: I am thankful for holiday spirit and cheer (and decorations)!
19th November: I am thankful for the many forms that music takes in my life.
20th November: I am thankful that I am able to make a difference in the lives of others.
Happy Thanksgiving to all those who celebrate it, and have a beautiful week to everyone!
20 November 2012
13 November 2012
Thankful Tuesdays!
Here we go again!
7th November: I am thankful that people didn't seem to get too nasty over the election results (here, at least) and that some even maintained a sense of humour.
8th November: I am thankful for the colours of sunshine, blue skies, and autumn leaves (what few remain, at least).
9th November: I am thankful for all of the cultural opportunities available to me.
10th November: I am thankful for bagpipes! In general, I am thankful that many traditions are being revived and revitalised so they can continue to survive.
11th November: I am thankful for those who have served their country to protect those whom and that which they love.
12th November: I am thankful for beautiful weather and lovely places to walk.
13th November: I am thankful for dogs. They love unconditionally and can brighten your day so quickly.
7th November: I am thankful that people didn't seem to get too nasty over the election results (here, at least) and that some even maintained a sense of humour.
8th November: I am thankful for the colours of sunshine, blue skies, and autumn leaves (what few remain, at least).
9th November: I am thankful for all of the cultural opportunities available to me.
The NY Metro Pipe Band!
10th November: I am thankful for bagpipes! In general, I am thankful that many traditions are being revived and revitalised so they can continue to survive.
11th November: I am thankful for those who have served their country to protect those whom and that which they love.
Even the crocuses like this weather!
12th November: I am thankful for beautiful weather and lovely places to walk.
13th November: I am thankful for dogs. They love unconditionally and can brighten your day so quickly.
06 November 2012
Thankful Tuesdays
It's November, the month of Thanksgiving! Because of this, and because I think that everyone needs to count their blessings, I am instituting Thankful Tuesdays.
So, today's the 6th, so here's a thing for each day so far this month; they're related to my activities of that day.
1st November: I am thankful for the opportunity to get an incredible education, even if it feels miserable and stressful sometimes.
2nd November: I am thankful for tea. During Sandy's reign of damp and cold, I was averaging 1.75 pots of tea a day.
3rd November: I am thankful for a wonderful family. We enjoy being around each other, we do things for each other, and everyone's loving and supportive. I'm so grateful for that.
4th November: I am thankful for living in a city with opportunities to experience other cultures.
5th November: I am thankful for chocolate. When it has been a stock example of "one of those days," chocolate's a great help.
6th November: I am thankful for the ability to express my political opinion without fear of retribution. I voted, did you?
What has made you feel thankful today?
(Okay, Thankful Thursdays would sound better but I actually have time on Tuesdays.)
So, today's the 6th, so here's a thing for each day so far this month; they're related to my activities of that day.
(I watched bad movies a few days this month already and couldn't decide where to put it. Since there are WAY more than enough things for other days, I'll just say it: I am thankful for hilariously awful movies! This is from Shark Attack 3: Megalodon)
1st November: I am thankful for the opportunity to get an incredible education, even if it feels miserable and stressful sometimes.
2nd November: I am thankful for tea. During Sandy's reign of damp and cold, I was averaging 1.75 pots of tea a day.
3rd November: I am thankful for a wonderful family. We enjoy being around each other, we do things for each other, and everyone's loving and supportive. I'm so grateful for that.
4th November: I am thankful for living in a city with opportunities to experience other cultures.
5th November: I am thankful for chocolate. When it has been a stock example of "one of those days," chocolate's a great help.
6th November: I am thankful for the ability to express my political opinion without fear of retribution. I voted, did you?
What has made you feel thankful today?
26 October 2012
17 October 2012
(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.)
18 September 2012
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.
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.
13 September 2012
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.
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.
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