Manda's Photographic Ventures

Dex

2010-10-07T16:07:00.000-05:00

Dexter, the newest member of the family. (And my cats, who are not pleased with the new addition.)

Fireworks!!

2010-07-04T08:19:00.001-05:00

I got another shot at fireworks pics last night - this time with the D90. I had tons of great shots - really, this is just a sample! I couldn't believe how well they came out. We had a perfect location, with no power lines, people, or lights in the way. The D90 lets me use a lower ISO than the 40, so I really nailed some of the shots. **happy dance**

Spazz & Fritz

2010-06-03T14:59:00.001-05:00

Cute, aren't they? The solid gray is Garry Wayne Fritz (aka, Fritz), and the striped is Robert D Spazz (aka, Spazz). They're about 4 months old now. Fritz is constantly by my side, and usually in my arms. He's rather like a spoiled baby who thinks it must always be held. They are quite entertaining little creatures. :)

Santa, Part Deux

2009-12-30T13:21:00.003-06:00

My house, decorated :)

2009-12-07T11:18:00.002-06:00

I can't tell you how much I've had decorating our new house this year. Sadly, it will probably be our only Christmas here - the owners want to sell. :( But I shall enjoy it while I can!

Santa Came!

2009-12-07T11:13:00.004-06:00

I went out on a limb, borrowed some equipment, and tried my hand at studio lighting for a Santa shoot with the kids at church. . .

It was a BLAST!!! Okay, so the backdrop fell less than an hour before showtime and I had to run home to get a shower curtain rod to hang it by, and the tree looked like it belonged to Charlie Brown, but it was so much fun! I loved working with the kids, and it was a great learning experience to work with studio lighting. It's something I'd love to do - assuming, of course, that I actually had a studio! lol

More pics to come. These are the first batch:

Sweet Little Lady

2009-11-03T20:36:00.002-06:00

I've been busy! I had another session this afternoon, and couldn't stand it... I had to process a few. :) Of course, I should be studying! Anyway, here are a few of the first ones.

Wedding, Part Deux

2009-11-03T11:41:00.004-06:00

More pictures from the wedding...

My Family

2009-10-29T11:01:00.006-05:00

This weekend I did another family session... this time, it was my family. Saturday was a little too overcast to get good exposure, so we waited until Sunday - naturally, the sun came out in full force and gave me fits with shadows. Interestingly, Dad tried to convince me to drop out of nursing school and pursue a photography career. I don't quite think I'm ready for that plunge yet, although I'm getting my feet wet in the photography biz. Saturday will be my first paying job. :)

Anyhoo, there wasn't much processing to do with these, so I ran a few through Photoshop. More to come later.

2009-10-19T00:02:00.002-05:00

These are from our friend's wedding. Lots more to come. :)

The happy couple.

The bride's cousin & her family.

The adorable flower girl & her grandpa.

And then a few of my boys. :)

One last pic of the bride's cousin & her daughter.

2009-10-18T23:57:00.003-05:00

These are from a session in September with my friend's family. Took me a while to get them posted. (Bad Amanda!)

Kevin & Ami, Part 2

2009-09-13T12:50:00.001-05:00

Kevin & Ami

2009-09-12T22:29:00.002-05:00

Got the D90, had my first session today. Kevin is my husband's best friend, and Ami is one of our "kids" from church. Here's the first batch of pics. I have more coming, and most were done in black & white and color - some also got a sepia treatment. I'd love CC!

More...

2009-09-11T23:51:00.003-05:00

The fair was pathetic. The rides weren't any good, and were hardly lit up at all. No cool shots this year, I'm afraid. Just this one of the slide that was at least usable. Oh, and some crayons. I'll take a picture of anything!

New Camera, OLD Prop

2009-09-11T12:33:00.003-05:00

Woo-hooo!!!! I finally have a new camera, and I am in love! Unfortunately, there is little for me to practice with right now, so I dragged out my old clarinet and a purple satin shirt. I rather like what I'm getting. :)

Sizz

2009-03-02T08:08:00.003-06:00

I'm still trying to convince Jeff that Sizzle needs to be an inside cat, but for now he just has inside privileges. At any rate, he is happily curled up on the desk beside me, and I decided to take a minute and experiment with close-up manual focus. These are all SOOC (not counting the B&W, of course), except for a basic unsharp mask. I just wish I could photograph all the twitching he's doing. :)

Foliage

2008-11-09T22:25:00.003-06:00

Although it hasn't been up to par with some of the gorgeous Indiana autumns I've seen, this has been by far the best year for leaves in Tennessee since I've lived here. Friday was dreary, but it made the colors seem so intense. I actually pulled off to the side of the road to take this shot (in the rain). I know people thought I was nuts, but I guess it's a sign you have photographer in your blood when you just don't care what people think!

Fall Photos

2008-11-04T19:02:00.005-06:00

It's been too long... I'd forgotten how much I love to be behind the lens of a camera. I'm experimenting with vignettes, in case you couldn't tell. :) I think I like the finished look it gives, although I really don't want it to look overdone. Opinions are welcome!

The focus isn't perfect, but I had used my zoom lens instead of the portrait lens so I wouldn't have to manually focus, and in the waning light, it wasn't focusing on exactly what I wanted it to every time. Still, I'm happy with the results. I just wish I had a more cooperative subject! LOL

2008-10-30T22:33:00.004-05:00

Some things are just funny - like my tall-for-his-age boy furiously riding a tricycle around the front yard with his knees slamming into the handlebars with every push of the pedals.

And then there are things that are just plain cool - like this wicked pumpkin Braeden picked out at the pumpkin patch. Seriously, could he have picked a cooler pumpkin? It's all warty and lumpy, and has so much character.

Here he is, proudly holding the aforementioned pumpkin.

Speaking of pumpkins, check out this bad boy - I said I was going to do a Transformers pumpkin, and while I need to refine my technique a bit, I still think I carved out a way cool Autobot-o-lantern. I should win an award for Cool Mommy or something.

Another shot of my Halloween masterpiece.

And totally unrelated, here is one of the best pictures I've ever gotten of my sweet dog - we've only had him for ten years!!!

Pumpkin Patch

2008-10-29T16:09:00.003-05:00

Yes, folks, I have finally taken some pictures! Unfortunately, I have a bad sensor in my camera, so anything take in low light will have this icky red laser line right down the center of the photo. Totally too expensive to fix. Totally unfair.

Anyway, here are pictures from our Pumpkin Patch trip this afternoon. I didn't take as many, since there were hundred of kindergarteners running around, but I did get two that I especially liked. Enjoy!

Halloween, 1980

2008-10-20T07:59:00.003-05:00

Nope, I didn't take it. But I needed to post something, and this seemed rather amusing and appropriate for the season. It's me and my cousin Shawn. I'm the one in the Bugs Bunny outfit. Remember those gosh-awful plastic costumes from the 80s? They didn't even look like a costume - just a plastic suit with a logo and cheap plastic mask with elastic bands that hurt like heck when someone snapped them against your cheek.

Ah, yes. Those were the days!

Pictures?

2008-08-29T09:19:00.001-05:00

No, not today. I have been sorely remiss in keeping up with my photography, and even though my online classes are going to require the use of my skills, I'm pretty sure you are not going to be excited about photos of a dissected sheep brain.

BUT - I am seeing the niece & nephews this weekend, and Mom has planned a photo shoot for them. So sometime next week, I'll have some new material to post.

And it will be considerably less disgusting than dissected organs!

Beautiful Visitors

2008-08-01T12:01:00.001-05:00

This has been an unusual year. We've had so many beautiful butterflies around our house. I've been trying for days to photograph them, but they tend not to light in any one place for long. There are also lovely black butterflies, with wings tipped in the deepest teal - but they were nowhere to be seen today.

I went outside to untangle the dog's chain, and I saw this first little beauty. I ran inside for the camera and luckily, he was still there when I returned.

Does it get any prettier than this?

Just as I was about to quit snapping, a second one joined the first!

Then the real shocker - a third joined his comrades! I actually snapped a shot as he was landing, but all you can see are a bunch of squiggly legs.

I wish they'd been on the grass instead of the dirt, because it would have contrasted so nicely. Even so, I'm thrilled that I was able to get this much!

Fireworks!

2008-07-04T22:37:00.003-05:00

I admit it - I took a risk this year. I decided to try the display at South Pittsburg (on a whim, as most things I do). I thought I had a good spot nagged, but there were either power lines, buildings, or bridges in the way for the majority of the shots. In Tennessee, it's just tough to get a clear view of the sky. The thing about photographing fireworks is that it takes great patience. Of the 200 shots I took, only 2-3 dozen were in focus, and of those, here are the "good" ones. I was pleased that my color was better this year. My last attempt left me with washed-out photos.

It's a tricky thing, because no two situations are alike, so what works one year probably won't work the next. I literally had my hand on the camera the entire time - as soon as one photo would load, I was pressing the shutter for the next. At any rate, here are my favorites. You be the judge - was it worth the effort?

Care Bears & Kids

2008-05-13T10:33:00.004-05:00

Just a few quick shots from the weekend. Katie took front and center because she was the only one who actually wanted to cooperate for the camera. :)

Our Day out with Thomas

2008-04-29T08:11:00.005-05:00

Some of the yummier photos from our outing Friday. :)

Birthday Boy

2008-03-28T12:03:00.008-05:00

Yesterday was Bebo's birthday, and even though we won't be celebrating until next weekend, I felt a keen obligation to take pictures of him - especially since he was in a somewhat cooperative mood. :)

P.S. About that shirt - it was a present from his great-grandmother. Don't be hatin' on me because it's not Vols orange, okay?

Spring Is Here!

2008-03-20T12:58:00.003-05:00

Yay! I'm so excited to finally see flowers again!

I know I posted Bradford Pears last year, but they are the first plants to really get going here, so you're getting at least one more picture of them.

*sigh* It makes me happy. :)

My Prince Has Come

2008-02-14T16:24:00.004-06:00

I haven't posted in ages, so I thought I'd "share" my V-day present with you.

Ignore this!

2008-01-12T16:47:00.000-06:00

I need a place to host my avatar for another website! :)

For Your Viewing Pleasure

2008-01-08T09:58:00.000-06:00

Pictures from the Chattanooga Riverfront:

Carousel at Coolidge Park

2008-01-07T23:54:00.001-06:00

I love the carousel at Coolidge Park! I got to snap some pics today near sunset, when the light coming in the windows was at its warmest. These are some of my favorites. You can read more about the carousel here.

More of the kids.

2008-01-07T07:00:00.000-06:00

Hope you're not getting tired of seeing the same kids here all the time. I really need more models! Here's Bebo after he crashed and burned (twice) on the staircase in the basement:

A sweet one of Katie I took on the porch. (I'm playing around with blending modes to get different effects with my B&W photos.)

Here's Gabe actually cooperating for a picture. And no, that's not ketchup on his bottom lip. He has actually chewed on it until it's just that chapped.

And finally, a hysterical pic of Katie, who also felt like cooperating for the camera. Did they have fevers?

Christmas at Mom's

2008-01-05T13:40:00.000-06:00

More of the kids at Christmas. Obviously, Katie wasn't into cooperating that day. I am not crazy about the one of Braeden - it's really difficult to get the color right in Mom's basement, and I wound up doing some funky effects to get it looking a little better than the original. More to come...

In-Laws

2008-01-03T09:03:00.000-06:00

Here's nieces & nephews & my mom-in-law. She's so pretty!

Are you ready?

2008-01-02T15:28:00.000-06:00

I'm going to hit you with a long string of Christmas pics. I took nearly 700 shots in the last two weeks. :)

This is my newest nephew, Jonathan. Ain't he cute?

Round One

2007-12-21T02:03:00.000-06:00

I couldn't resist posting a couple from the morning's festivities. Keep in mind that my living room is the world's worst place to take a picture, so these aren't going to win any awards. I do like them, especially the one of Braeden ripping the paper from his very first model train set. To me, it just packs all the emotion of the morning into one picture.

Doot, doot, doo...

2007-12-18T15:02:00.000-06:00

.... lookin' out my backdoor...

Christmas Bows

2007-12-17T08:05:00.001-06:00

I was so proud of these that I had to post them asap. If you're feeling Martha Stewart-y, here are the directions: Jo's Blog, Just scroll down a bit - and thank her for the lovely idea!

Please forgive the wonky color on the pics. My camera can't figure out how to handle these compact flourescent bulbs.

Christmas Parade

2007-12-14T21:48:00.001-06:00

South Pittsburg's football team - #1 in the state! Go Pirates!

An American icon - only smaller and on wheels!

I love that the fire departments around here keep these wonderful classic fire trucks!

I really got a kick out of Bebo staring at the huge trucks.

My personal favorite part of the parade is the Shriners in their silly little vehicles.

And before the parade . . . this is the death look I got from Braeden for taking his picture when he didn't want me to!

Our Car (post-tornado)

2007-12-13T13:34:00.000-06:00

I've been meaning to post a pic of this for weeks and just now remembered to actually take the picture! This is our Lumina after a tree branch clobbered it last month (gives it character, don't you think?):

A Sampling from My Tree

2007-12-13T10:26:00.001-06:00

Some of my favorite ornaments - and the crocheted snowflake is my most treasured. It's one Nanny made years ago. I always think of her each year when I hang it.

My Town at Christmas

2007-12-07T09:59:00.000-06:00

Okay, so technically this is South Pittsburg and I live in Kimball. Same-same. They're close enough together that it counts. Anyway, I love the back-to-the-fifties look of South Pitt. The day of the Christmas parade was absolutely gorgeous. It's just the kind of day my camera loves. It never meters so well as it does on a clear sunny day like this was. These pictures are more of the town. I'll post some of the parade itself soon.

Magic of Christmas

2007-11-26T09:55:00.000-06:00

My sweet niece Katie was in my lap as we drove through the Bristol Motor Speedway's Christmas light exhibit. It's blurry and grainy, but I don't know that I've ever taken a picture I loved more.

Tornado Aftermath

2007-11-16T10:56:00.000-06:00

Wednesday night we had a tornado. I'll talk more about the details on my other blog. Anyway, here are pictures of the damage:

Kimball Baptist Church, about 3 hours after the storm died down. This is just across the street from my house:

These are classrooms on the front of the building.

The wind pulled down power lines, yanking our meter box from the back of the house:

Here they are working on the house:

This is the traffic mess going through Kimball. Only 1300-ish people live here, and the traffic was a nightmare.

This house is directly behind mine. The roof was lifted up and dropped about a foot to the side.

Bebo's Halloween Costume

2007-10-31T13:43:00.000-05:00

This year I got smart and took Halloween pictures early in the day. It gave us a trial run for the costume, which we only bought today. There were a lot of pieces to tape and adjust to make it work. Braeden really thinks he's hot stuff in this getup!

My Boy!

2007-10-28T22:39:00.001-05:00

So cute... we went to the pumpkin patch Saturday, and he wasn't feeling especially cooperative for the camera. I had to beg and plead to coax even one pose out of him. I'll post the pumpkin-y pictures later, but for now I have a sweet one that will definitely have a place in on a non-pumpkin patch scrapbook page.

The Fountains at Coolidge Park

2007-10-19T21:37:00.000-05:00

On a whim, Jeff & I played hooky from work this afternoon. We wound up at Coolidge Park at dusk. If I'd had the tripod, these would have been better. I will definitely be making a trip again with more equipment. As it was, I only brought the camera to Chattanooga as an afterthought, anyway. I was very pleased, considering these were all handheld or propped on my knee. I simply love the way the light plays from the reflections of the water.

Another Self-Portrait

2007-10-18T07:28:00.001-05:00

These are tough, especially when your arm is too short to get the camera far enough away to autofocus! Since they were already fuzzy, I played around in Photoshop to give them an artsy feel. The occasion? New glasses that I think totally rock!

First Family Session

2007-10-09T12:09:00.001-05:00

My friend let me take some pics of her family this weekend. Despite the awful sun, I managed to get a few shots I really liked. Sheesh - it's been too long!

At the Opryland Hotel

2007-08-30T10:34:00.001-05:00

I have no idea what kind of flower this is. When I walked up to it and saw the light coming through the petals, I nearly had a cow. This pic is SOOC (straight out of camera). I am absolutely thrilled with it.

Katie-bug

2007-08-28T15:36:00.000-05:00

These are pics of my cute little niece, Katie. She reminds me so much of myself sometimes!

Wow!

2007-08-26T21:51:00.001-05:00

Just got back from CKU. Becky Higgins said she loved my photographs!

Wow!!!

For those of you who aren't into scrapping, Becky Higgins is the scrapbook celebrity. Virtually everyone who scraps knows who she is. And she liked my stuff!!!

The Blue Bridge

2007-08-21T23:01:00.000-05:00

This is an old one, but one of my favorite compositions. I love the lines of the old bridge.

BTW - I took this while driving across the bridge. I literally hung the camera out the window and snapped away, praying that: 1) I'd get a good shot, and 2) I wouldn't wreck the car in the process!

Gonna Hafta Sign a Waiver

2007-08-21T22:52:00.000-05:00

Apparently the staff at Wal-Mart is getting tired of asking me if I've stolen someone else's images! I had Jeff pick up a batch tonight, and they told him the next time I come in I'll have to sign a waiver that they'll keep on file.

Imagine! A waiver!!!

And I promise - as soon as CKU is over, I will be posting again. Promise!

Sunset on the Nickajack

2007-08-10T22:38:00.000-05:00

I got lucky one Sunday evening as I was returning from Mom's. The sun was just setting, and I literally pulled off the side of the road, racing to get to the camera before the sun disappeared behind the mountains. It's amazing how quickly the sun can hide, especially when you want a picture of it.

I mistakenly metered this right on the sun. I should have metered to the side and then swung back around. Even so, I thought it was still a lovely picture. Maybe someday I'll get to try again.

Grandma Gates

2007-07-25T09:04:00.001-05:00

So these aren't the best pictures in the world, but I love my grandmother's smile, and I love the silly grin Katie has. The first is pretty much SOOC, and obviously I had fun playing with the second one.

First Teenager!

2007-05-21T10:28:00.001-05:00

I begged a friend to let me take pics of her 14-year-old daughter. It finally gave me a chance to use that 50mm lens, which was wonderful. (She can hold still enough for me to focus!) Anyway, here's some that I've already run through Photoshop. I'll probably post more later. I was thrilled with the way these turned out.

Oh-my-stinkin'-goodness!

2007-05-15T22:07:00.000-05:00

WOOT!

I went to Wal-Mart today to pick up some pics I'd uploaded from the internet. Get this:

They asked me if my pictures were copyrighted!!!

My pics were good enough that they had to ask if I'd copied them from a professional photographer!

WOOT!

Self-Portrait

2007-05-15T08:14:00.000-05:00

There's a reason I'm always behind the camera. I hate the way I look, and if I'm behind it, I can't be in front of it at the same time.

Even so, I occasionally get an urge to take a self-portrait (or at least attempt it). If I hate the picture, I can just delete it. It's a lot better than being handed horribly unflattering pictures someone else took of me. I took these in my living room, so lighting is awful. My skin isn't quite that orange, but I couldn't get Photoshop to make it look any better. Anyway, here ya go: A brutally honest portrait of me.

Blech.

Carnival & Thomas Redux

2007-04-29T17:23:00.000-05:00

Thought I'd add a few that I didn't include on 2peas - and a couple that I did.

Day out with Thomas

2007-04-27T22:58:00.000-05:00

Here's a few from our Big Trip. The boys had a good time, even if they refused to cooperate with picture-taking. Settings are all over the place, and I used the 18-55 lens.

Carnivale

2007-04-27T00:17:00.000-05:00

We took Bebo to the carnival tonight. The child had a blast. I'm just going to share one photo (you can see the rest in my gallery at twopeas). It's not the best of the bunch, but it is absolutely hysterical. He just had to ride the train, but it went a little faster than he was expecting - as you can see. We were such awful parents, 'cause we stood there laughing so hard we were in tears. I'm still laughing everytime I see this pic. BTW - he got over being scared pretty quickly, and thoroughly enjoyed the rest of the rides!

Sun Flares & VW Bugs

2007-04-20T22:28:00.000-05:00

Braeden wanted to play outside this afternoon, so I grabbed the camp chair and my camera in hopes that something interesting might happen. I was in luck. First, the sun broke through the clouds and created a lovely sun flare, which I actually managed to get on camera. The sun washed out the color, so I just changed it to black and white - and I love it that way!

Then a caravan of old VW bugs stopped in the church parking lot. I don't know if they realized I was taking their picture or not; I had the zoom lens on the camera when they drove up so I didn't have to move off the porch. It was too good to pass up. I decided that I really like photographing cars, and I think the next time Grandpa goes to a car show, I'm going to tag along.

The sun shots were taken with the 50mm lens at f/22, and the cars were taken with the 55-200 lens, f/11.

New Portrait Lens

2007-04-17T23:30:00.000-05:00

Okay, no more lenses for a while. I still need a good polarizing filter, and maybe I'll ask for reflectors for my birthday. But the purchases have to stop now. I'm having waaaaay too much fun.

So the newest lens is pretty cool. It's a 50mm/1.8 portrait lens. It seems to get rave reviews everywhere I look. The downside is that it won't autofocus on my camera, so I have to manually focus, and this is a problem with a perpetual motion 4-year-old. My focus keeps landing on top of his head instead of his face. With practice, I think I'm really going to like it. I'm told that there's a bit of a learning curve to this particular lens, so I'm okay with that.

Here's some of Braeden that I took with it late this afternoon. Focus and lighting aren't the best, and as usual, please ignore the snotty nose. Otherwise, I like them pretty well. Jeff is already asking for copies to put in his wallet!

Rain

2007-04-14T23:44:00.000-05:00

Here's some fun ones I took with my new lens. My dumb dog got out while it was pouring down, so he was banished to the yard for a while. Sadly, it's one of the best pictures I've ever taken of him! The second is a totally cool shot of the reflection off the ripples pooling up in front of my house. And the third is the bubbles forming on my sidewalk. All were taken with a 55-200mm lens, f/5.6 at various shutter speeds.

Barely Keeping Up

2007-04-13T00:53:00.000-05:00

Whew. I got the new lens, and I haven't had a chance to use it. We have company coming this weekend, and I've been busting tail trying to get ready for them. Maybe this weekend I'll get to take some pics - Grandpa can babysit and let me shoot, right?

Speaking of lenses, I think I have picked my next two purchases. One is a 50mm portrait lens. Everyone at 2ps keeps raving about it, and I do want to do portraits. Plus it's a fixed-focal length lens, which means one less thing for me to have to think about. Did I mention that I can buy it for about $120?

Second one is a little more expensive. Depending on whether or not I buy the Nikon or the offshoot Sigma/Tamron lens, I'm looking at $200-400 for a macro lens. I need to research that one a little further, but I really want to be able to take ultra-close-up pictures.

Then I need a polarizing filter, and a flash, and a backdrop stand. . .

My word, this hobby is going to be expensive! Good thing it seems to be paying off. I'm truly amazed at how much I am learning - and how much fun it is.

Hopefully I'll have some more pics in a day or two. Until then, adios, amigos!

Late Night & the Baptist Church

2007-04-11T23:46:00.000-05:00

I must be crazy.

11:30 pm, 40-ish degrees, and I'm standing on the absolute edge of the road with a camera pointed at the stoplight hoping to expose long enough to catch it in all three colors. Unfortunately, the light was motion-sensored, and no one came along to change it. But I did get some freaky pics of the road up behind my house and the (green) traffic light complete with fog cover.

For grins, I'll throw in one I took of the Baptist church up the road. Too bad the tree is in the way.

All were taken with my new Nikkor 55-200 lens. I have no idea if these are interesting to look at or not, but I like 'em anywho!

New lens on the way!

2007-04-08T00:48:00.000-05:00

Tee-hee. I'm getting a new lens. (Thanks, Dad!) It's supposed to be here Tuesday, and I simply cannot wait to get it.

In the meantime, thought I'd throw in a couple of pics that I've taken the last few days.

This one I attempted to fix in photoshop. My poor child's nose never quits running, and I don't always realize it until after the perfect photo op has passed.

Now how is this for crazy? Same tracks, one week earlier. We went from upper 80s to barely 50s literally overnight!

Here's a gorgeous pink dogwood that I got before it snowed last night. The background was a black-tinted glass, which explains the weird color.

Tracks & Stuff

2007-04-04T15:12:00.000-05:00

I finally took the time to clear out my memory cards so I could take more pictures. I need to figure out some sort of system for storing my photo CDs, too.

In the meantime, here's a couple pics.

Braeden on the RR tracks behind the house and a redbud behind Mom & Dad's house.

Braeden's Birthday

2007-03-28T06:42:00.000-05:00

These are a few I took yesterday as we celebrated Braeden's birthday:

My "Kids"

2007-03-26T23:27:00.001-05:00

It doesn't seem that long ago that this pretty young woman was just barely a teeny-bopper, working the guestbook at my wedding. Now she's the one getting married. She and her fiance graciously agreed to be my guinea pigs. We all had a good time, and I think they might even let me try again soon.

Here's some of the pics I took. All were f/5.6, AV mode. I played in Photoshop a little because they both wore white and it washed out the pictures a little.

Bradford Pears

2007-03-23T21:04:00.000-05:00

I had a little time after work and before I had to pick up Braeden, so I headed to the local elementary to shoot the pear trees on the playground. Got a couple that I liked.

PSE Editing

2007-03-22T09:46:00.000-05:00

I've had Photoshop Elements for at least two years, and I finally decided it was time to learn to use it.

Here is the original photo:

This is a plain black-and-white, and it doesn't do anything for me.

This one is a "chocolate" black-and-white. I worked on the eyes a little (dodging catchlights, darkening eyelash line), and I really like the way it turned out.

Here I corrected the blue tint and adjusted the eyes like I did in the chocolate B&W. I'm torn between this and the chocolate for my favorite.

The shot was taken on auto setting w/o flash. Until I get a new lens, everything is done on a Nikon D40, 28-55 lens.

Prunes!

2007-03-21T11:49:00.000-05:00

I shot a bunch of pictures yesterday in RAW format and now I can't get them to open up on my computer. Seems I am missing a crucial program. So much for an exciting start to a new blog, huh?