photographic reprieve

i miss summer! scratch that, i'd take any weather warmer than +10!! here are a couple of photos that reminded me of how nice it is to be outside and not get icicles up your nose...

This One's For Amanda O

Yesterday something tremendously funny happened. A somewhat ridiculously tragic occurence that instantaneously changed my life, followed by a perplexing series of choices, evolving from the point where funny and logical meet, to disturbingly frantic phobic mania.

After eating lunch (approximately 12:42), I dove head first into analogue fun. Typically when I do this, I block out the world and become completely absorbed with my subject, which yesterday, was the door to my unheated sunroom on the second floor of my house. After taking three frames of my door (all magical, evocative masterpieces btw), I decided to try shooting my elusive subject from the other side...

This is where some contextual groundwork is important:
Age of House: 100 years
Average heating cost in winter (keeping house at 20 degrees C): $600
Degree Celsius we actually keep our house at in an attempt to save money: 15 (during the day, 12 at night)
Degree of Obsessiveness Craig and I maintain to conserve heat: very high
The nature of my temperament: excessively optimistic, albeit VERY impatient

Keeping the context I have given you in the forefront of your mind, let me move on through the events of the afternoon. Intending to scout my location before shooting, and attempting to conserve heat in the main part of the house, I entered the sunroom and shut the door behind me. Afer deciding that I could shoot the handle and the hallway very nicely from this vantage point, I turned the handle to reenter the "warm" part of the house...

This is where my day falls apart.

As I turned the handle, I made the horrific discovery that this particular 100 year old door handle only works from the INSIDE of the house. Great. I chuckled. I thought it was hilarious. Here I am stuck inside a room of my house that is about -10 degrees, I'm wearing regular clothing and a pair of slippers.

Choice No. 1: Attitude
At this point I decided I was not going to get impatient, as that could only make the situation worse. I was determined to stay positive and to maintain a very calm presence of mind.

To be continued...
(photos to follow in the new year)

IS3 - Internet Research

One genre of photography that I'd like to explore more is candid photography of children. I'd like to be able to get a lot better at that, and maybe someday focus on that professionally.
Candid photography is really about spontaneity, and letting the camera be immersed in an event or situation, rather than staging and planning each shot. Most of the websites I found really emphasized the need for being patient, being quick and letting the kids just be kids. Most sites recommended letting kids explore the surroundings rather than making them sit still and pose. The most helpful site I found was http://staticphotography.com/node/100

This photo is great because the little girl is just being who she is. They've let her wear whatever she wants and the results are hilarious.
http://www.bellabambinophotography.com/index2.php?v=v2

I think this photo is fantastic. The espression on her face is lovely.
http://www.erinbellphotography.com/ (far right)

I chose this photo because it captures the interaction and the relationship between the kids.
http://www.gingersnapsdesign.com/

Interesting Photo-Related Site

A good site I've found is www.studiolighting.net
A guy named Mark Wallace does these video tutorials for digital photography and some fo them are really helpful. There are also some good links and equipment suggestions.

Family Photo Shoot

From Steve, Leanne & Tressey

From Steve, Leanne & Tressey

Taken at Assiniboine Park

Best of...So far

Lines Assignment

I thought this assignment was really fun. It would have been great to have had more time and get really creative. It was pretty easy to find things to shoot since there are lines everywhere.

Slideshow

Let me tell you a secret...

...I find writing prescribed blogs REALLY difficult, which is why I have been sitting at my computer, without coming up with anything, for a span of time so ridiculously long that I am too embarassed to share with you.

I first became interested in photography, (as everyone has already heard me say MULTIPLE times) when my dad gave me his Minolta XD-11 (which I still shoot with) to play around with. I messed up settings and didn't balance the meter and shot roll after roll of film, with remarkably little turning out properly, or even being focused, for that matter. It fascinated me that I could manipulate the camera that way and actually be in control, even if the results weren't great. From there, everything snowballed and here I am :)

Over the next 10 months, I really want to learn the techniques to refine my images and get consistent results. I also want to concentrate on expression through photography and explore the creative side a lot more. Oh yeah, and all the business stuff. And blogging...I hope I get a LOT faster at blogging...

First Post

Hi everyone! Classes have started and I'm excited to settle into life as a photography student! I love portrait photography and photojournalism and I hope to get a lot of experience in these areas over the next ten months, as well as get a lot of exposure in other areas of the field as well. It will be fun to explore new things and to get to know everyone better!






Photo by Duncan McNairnay