Derek's 5th 24th Birthday

 

My Neighborhood

I took a walk around my senior gated neighborhood with my 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 lens set on manual mode.  I need to learn how to find all my buttons and dials so as to adjust shutter speed, aperture, and ISO while looking through the viewfinder.  So I strolled about and shot photos of the interesting yard decorations and do-dads. I was on the 2nd street in my own little world when the manager drove up to me in her golf cart. She told me that the office had received 3 phone calls reporting a suspicious woman walking around the neighborhood talking pictures with a "real camera" (as opposed to a cell phone camera I suppose.) Was I looking to rob someone? Was I zooming into people's windows?

I told Kaye what I was doing and said I would share the photos with the residents somehow someway. So yesterday I made 16 X 20 posters at Costco which are now hanging proudly in the community center. Of course these 2 posters barely scratch the surface in showing off the wonderful lawn decorations and flowers blooming now. I'll have to get out and shoot some more.

And I sure do need lots more practice finding my dials and buttons and coordinating my thumb and fingers. Go ahead and laugh kids...

June 2014: Practice with Antique processing

Friday, June 27, 2014

I never tire of taking pictures of Oliver.  Today I used the 85mm lens and set the camera in B & W mode. I used Lightroom to develop the picture in sepia for an antique look. I like the way it turned out.

My rose bushes have already almost finished their second bloom so I went out yesterday and took a few (yeah, like 20 more) shots of beautiful pink roses with the 55mm lens. It was after 8pm and I needed to use a fill flash with the lens wide open at f1.8. I then worked in Lightroom and Perfect Photo to antique finish two of my favorite shots. I really am pleased with these also.

This one below is my favorite today. It looks like a watercolor to me. I love the variegated coloring in the petals and the creaminess of the background. I think it makes a very pretty card.

I have spent so many hours these past couple weeks reading blogs and lessons and manuals and tutorials about all thing photography. I am overwhelmed with the intricacies of telling a story with a camera. I'm very excited to be in this place of discovering a new passion.