POTD - Hot

Here are a few more from our "pretend" engagement shoot. The more the sun dropped the more I had trouble with blowouts. I tried not to get frustrated but concentrate more on what I read from my class. Like anything else practice, practice and trial and error :) I think this is where I really need to learn how to mask. . .right? I keep reading about it but it still has not sunk in. Now if and when I learn how to do this, can't a mask prevent spots from blowing out worse even though you're correcting other parts of the photo? (if that makes sense).

I got this gauze dress on clearance at Old Navy for $12! It was totally mucked up from the slimy rocks. I washed it as soon as I got home and it's like brand new again. I ran a summer action on this one, sorry I can't remember whose action it is I want to say, Sara?

This is the first one I worked on with DSD sitting and I pretty much goofed these all up. I was getting a lot of blowouts so I kept upping the shutter speed to prevent it and now they are really underexposed. I'm just looking for a happy medium here LOL!

Please feel free to give any CC you can or are willing to give! I want to learn and get better at this!

For those that asked I'm taking Wendy Schultz's class. I signed up in like February I believe for the July class. We got a late start due to some very unfortunate circumstances with Wendy but I'm very very happy with the first assignment, etc. I'm only really into an actual week of her class and am so totally impressed!!!! If you get a chance, TAKE HER CLASS! You will not be disappointed!

POTD - Hot

I would say this first one keeps me on theme. This is my DSD and her boyfriend. This is the second time they've "modeled" for me so I can practice. They love to do it, he more than her believe it or not LOL! I just started my class with Wendy Schultz and I'm practicing some of my assignment. I haven't gotten through even half of these but I decided to throw a few on here for any cc you can give me.I think I like the b&w better here?

I took some of these like this and then I stepped back quite a bit and got full shots but I haven't gotten to those yet. I was using my 85mm so I had to step back quite a bit. Would you crop this? I mean is it pointless to have half of the legs on here? I'm still trying to figure out composition as well. Oh, many things I need to learn!
I'm sure I did not do this correctly because his eyes are dark.

This is a warm tone action. Do you like or no?

I was tagged by JoAnn and I plan on doing it but I need a few days. I am getting a little overwhelmed now. Cheerleading has begun and I'm stuck at practice 3 nights a week for 2 hours. I really want to put a lot of time into this awesome class, not to mention I'm on board with a few challenges I need to complete so I'm hoping to still post periodically for POTD and deal with everyday life :)

Oh and for anyone that asked or wanted to know the SplashFX Water tag was like $15.00 for the set at Toys R' Us. Yes, my DD and nieces have an awesome Aunt don't they!!!! I think I might run and get a set for when DD has a friend over.

POTD - HOT

What do you do when you're HOT? Play SplashFX Water Tag! My sister is 30 and bought these at Toys R' Us because she thought they looked like fun. She knocks on our door and say's. . .can "S" come out and play LOL! The vests have some device in them when hit in the right spot they sound off with an alarm so you know your target has been hit. It was getting pretty dark and I had a hard time with exposure. . . there's something new! Anyhoo sis is really really fair skinned and she's looking pretty funky in these, I think. I laughed a lot too so I had quite a few blurry ones that I had to dump. DD had a blast!!!

I believe this is some sort of Charlies Angels pose. Sis' idea again. The sly sneaky look before the attack LOL!
Oops she's been sneak attacked instead.

Oh, it's on!

They had so much fun with these that sis is going to go get another set so all 4 of her nieces can all enjoy at the same time.

POTD - Generations

Here are a few of our future generation softball players. These are some kids
of softball players from various games. I have gotten into the habit of photographing any of them have yankee clothes on. I'm a die hard Yankee
fan and these kids are being raised right!!!!

This one was tough because the sun was right on her and you can barely tell her hat says Yankees. She had the whole outfit on but you can't tell because for one she had already stained the shirt. You also can't see the yankee shorts because she could not get out of her stroller because she's a wild one and takes off :0)

POTD - Favorite Jewelry

Of course this is my favorite jewelry! I tried this 2 days in a row and got better results the second day. Man this was tough. I'm not use to using my macro lens and I had to break out my monopod. I still think they are blurry but it was the best out of the 2 days. DH picked out my engagement ring all by himself, without any clues from me about what I would want. I was not expecting a proposal at all! I think he did very well, I LOVE my diamonds!

These are wild flowers out in the side of our yard. The first day I took these I had no issues. Today, well . . . my wedding band fell out of the flower and down into the bushes. My first thought was DH is going to KILL me! My second thought was there is no way in hell I'm going to find this ring. Well within a few minutes, I found it and it had fallen completely through all the shrubs and greenery and was in the dirt. I came out of the bushes soaked in sweat LOL! That was a close one! A little overkill here. I don't know what I'm doing when it comes to shooting flowers.

I also took these shots 2 days in a row and got a halfway decent focused bee. Man they are busy little buggers. Kudos to Lauren (Michy) because she rocks at this stuff!

Any CC you want to give, please feel free!

POTD - Favorite Jewelry

I love this theme because I have lots of "favorite jewelry". When DH and I first got together every holiday, birthday, just because I love you days, I got jewelry. He did well up until this story. He ran out of ideas and the guy at the jewelry store recommended an opal. . .now opal is not my thing at all. It's not even my birthstone. The only gemstone I like is emerald and that's only because it's green. I did not have the heart to tell him so I wore it anyway. It wasn't a matter of a week and the opal fell out. I had a feeling it might because of the setting and I had a problem with an emerald falling out of another ring from the same store. So I took it back to the jewelers and told them I did not want it fixed, I would just get something else.

This is what I got and I love it!!! I cannot for the life of me tell you the type of ring it is right now. These photos don't do justice for it at all. It's very sparkly and I get so many compliments on it. It's diamond cut all over and has lots of little diamond chips in it. The funny thing about the whole story is my DH hates it LOL! He didn't mind at all that I traded the opal for something else but he could not believe this is what I picked LOL!

I used an invitation I had sitting on my counter just because I loved the green ribbon and tried to make it a little nicer photo.

POTD - 7/16/07

Hopefully I'll be on theme tomorrow. I definitely have a lot of favorite jewelry but haven't had a chance to shoot any of it.

On our way to my nephew's graduation party, down a back country road we came upon all these geese in the road. I slowed to a stop and grabbed my camera. They started walking back to the river, but not before I got a few shots off. I always have issues with composition but especially when I'm shooting a full scene/landscape. I'm looking for cc here with composition and if you see anything else, let me know. Thanks!
I never know when angles work or not or if I do too much of an angle. What do you think?
I tried one with a little less of an angle here.

Back to my element. . .

well sort of, I was at a softball game. This is "A", my girlfriend's son. I did his photos at 6 months and haven't seen him since. They live about an hour away so we only can get together during softball season. Our DH's play together, his daddy is the sponsor for our team. I was suppose to be shooting the game but could not resist taking some of him. He has the biggest brown eyes! Here he is as the "future player". His daddy already has him a Yankee fan too!

I love everything about this one! I just can't decide if I like it in color or B&W. What do you think?
Another of my favorites. Do you like the vignette or not?

Just a few more of those huge brown eyes! I can't wait to shoot him again. Mom & I are going to hook up and do his 1 year photos.

Please any CC you want to give go right ahead!

More Wedding Practice

I took a lot of photos of the flower girl. She's the bride and groom's daughter. I tried to stay out of the photographer's way and not get involved at all (I tend to do that). So this lil' girl was keeping my attention with all her busy-ness!She was so quiet and content just blowing bubbles.

I tried a few different B&W actions on these.
Yes, this is where she tried to eat the bubbles! Don't they all LOL!

Please any CC give it to me!

POTD - Shoes and then some. . .

My friend's daughter got married on Saturday. They asked me to photograph the wedding but I declined. I don't have the necessary equipment nor do I feel ready to shoot a wedding yet with my new camera. I did however bring my camera along to practice. Can someone explain how you shoot a wedding in almost no light without a flash? No flash was allowed in the church during the ceremony. I never use a flash but don't have a clue how to shoot with such bad lighting without one. I shot more of the details & tried some artsy stuff more than anything.

So here's my theme POTD.I was behind the recession line shooting the back of her dress. I need to figure out how not to blow out white!

The reception area was very low light and I had to use my flash and still did not like the results. I definitely need to shoot RAW but I don't have any program that opens up RAW yet.
This is my friend's granddaughter. She was really enjoying blowing the bubbles and it was keeping her quiet :)

When she saw mom's dress dragging across the floor during the father/daugther dance she decided to jump on for the ride. It was pretty funny.

Would love any cc you want to give me, I'm putting my hard hat on now.