Keep on Keepin' on

I read this quote the other day on the blog The Maternal Lens.The quote is by Ira Glass and I just love it...because I feel just like this! I have all these images and ideas in my head of what I want my artwork to look like and I so often feel like I can't emulate that in the outcome. This inspired me. Keep taking pictures. Keep trying.

"Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste.

But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase, they quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this.

We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know its normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work.

Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one story. It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I've ever met. It’s gonna take awhile. It’s normal to take awhile. You've just gotta fight your way through."

"Back to the Future"

My husband showed me these pictures the other day. This photographer asked people to reenact a photo from their childhood or earlier in their life...and she did a pretty good job of recreating the pictures...like almost perfectly, really...the lighting, background, outfits, posing, etc. You should check it out.

WARNING: The girl with the accordion did not have a top on when she was little soooooooo...likewise, she is not wearing a top in the 2010 version either. Just FYI. She has a party top hat and bow tie if to give you heads up in case you feel like closing your eyes and scrolling :)

http://irinawerning.com/back-to-the-fut/back-to-the-future/

Nobody's Perfect

I need to be a better blogger. It's true. Would you come more if I blogged more? Probably, huh! What if it was just me rambling? Would you still come and visit? I hope so. Today, that is what you get. Sorry...but I figure maybe I should let you get to know me sometimes...and let you know that there are other photographers out there who may have the same doubts, problems, worries, etc. that you might have!

Often I look at other photographers blogs and dream of my pictures looking like that. Do you ever do that too? We need to stop...not stop looking for inspiration but stop comparing...I do anyway. That is one thing I want to do this year. Focus on being a better photographer, creating better images...but not comparing my work to others. I don't think any of us will ever stop learning...even the best of the best.

There.

It is written.

No more comparing myself.

Am I the only one who does this?

I was just wondering.

I think it's ok to admit it.

Now let's admit a few more things while we're at it.

Not all our pictures come out of the camera lovely and perfect.

So...I will expose myself...or overexpose..ha....ha.......................ha

and show you some of my terrible photos.

NOT terrible subjects...let's get that straight (this couple was probably one of my all time favorite sessions!) Just my mistakes. Because when you see only the pictures that are posted on a photographers blog don't you feel that ALL their photos must be absolutely stunning out of the camera?

I know that doesn't logically make sense...but I subconsciously think that.

SO here is me showing you, I am not perfect. Because I know you really thought I was...uhhh...right. Ha. Ha.

You get some like this:

Underexposed and look at that white balance, BLAH...

A little overexposed, and again, white balance...

And then there are some that really are just lovely...

I feel like I have come a long way in my picture taking abilities over the past few years. Starting out I would have NEVER shown anyone my pictures in camera or unedited. I would look at them on the viewfinder and think of how I could fix whatever was going on later, in Photoshop.

Bad idea.

"I can fix later" means "I can (and usually will) spend a LOT of time in Photoshop fixing this."

It's okay if EVERY picture doesn't come out perfect. It really is.

P.S. I started shooting manually this past year and I think that has REEEEEEALLY helped with getting the correct exposure! Obviously, from the above photographs, not every click comes out but still. Change settings. Try again.

P.P.S. If any of my photo friends who are learning right along with me (or want to learn) want to go out and practice sometime LET"S DO IT!

AAAAAAnd...here's a couple fun pictures from my last senior portrait session. She's so darling.

Best of 2010 - I Heart Faces

I wanted to enter a face for the I Heart Faces photo contest for the best face of 2010. As I was browsing through other entries I noticed a lot of photographers entered their own kids' photos. I think as parents we are all a little bias... I am, definitely :) For some reason I love this picture. She isn't smiling or anything but I just love her face! Maybe I just love it because she's mine. Probably :)

I like Free things.

What do you think about starting the new year with something free?!

Who doesn't like free things?

I will be giving away a FREE session!

What is included in this free session you might ask?

You would get 1 hour of shooting with me at a location within the Sacramento area (preferably in the Roseville/Folsom area) and a CD with about 15-25 edited images. The free session can be used any time in 2011.

Here is how you enter: Write a comment at the bottom of this post telling me how you'd like to better yourself in 2011.

For me, I'd like to spend less wasteful time in front of this darn computer! It's WAAAAY too easy to get on here for something then get sucked into a million different things then forget what I originally came on here for! It's terrible. So that's me. What about you?

Let's make ourselves better this year than we were the last!

And let's take some fun pictures too while we're at it :)

You have until midnight on January 1st, this Saturday, to enter.

The winner will be announced on Monday January 3rd.

Shoot Proof

I was searching for proofing websites and I stumbled upon "Shoot Proof." I thought to myself, "A free proofing website that looks decent?" (Well, the basic package is free.) So I tried it out.

Then I received this in the mail:

A handwritten note!? What online company does that these days? I've yet to receive anything like this from a company where the only contact I have had with them is me uploading photos.

I'm sold.

I've only just started using them but so far, so good. And she even told me "cute name." Definitely sold :)

www.shootproof.com

More Secrets

I've been receiving a few questions in my comment section so I figure I should probably answer some of them! I learned most everything I know about Photoshop from other people's blogs so why not share the knowledge?

Q: How did you make your header?
A: Actually, it was pretty simple...way easier than I thought!I found a tutorial from a scrapbook website. Here is the tutorial I followed. CLICK HERE.

Q: What filters do you use?
A: On my camera the only filter I use currently is a skylight filter, mainly to protect my lens. In Photoshop I use a lot of different things...each photo is so different and I end up doing several random things to get the look I want. Sometimes I know the look I want I just can't figure out how to get it and that's when Google comes in handy :) One of the most useful things I have learned is how to use layers, blending modes, and layer masks. Here is an example using gradient mapping and blending modes. (Click on pictures to enlarge)

1. Open file. Choose the gradient map button in CS4 OR choose Layers>duplicate layer and hit Okay. Then go to Image>Adjustments> Gradient Map...

2. Choose one of the preset gradients or create your own by double clicking the little house shaped arrows at the end of the colored bar (two green arrows are pointing to them...) and choose your own colors. Generally you want the darker color to be on the left. You can also click anywhere in the middle of the gradient bar and add as many other colors as you want. Your picture should change as you choose your colors. Click okay when finished.

3. Then go to the blending modes.

4. I usually use "soft light" or "overlay" but you can play around with all of them and see which one you like best. If it is too much, to the right of the blending mode menu you can change the opacity of that layer, or the fill, and it will tone it down.

And VOILA! Subtle, but big difference...to me anyway.

Was that confusing? Let me know if anyone needs clarifying. When you start learning all your options in Photoshop it seems they are endless! *This can also be done in Photoshop Elements.

Q: Where is your favorite spot to take pictures?
A: I love old Folsom. You have old buildings plus the river...beautiful bridges. It's awesome. I would also LOVE to shoot a family (like with a camera...not a gun) in down town Auburn, Empire Mine in Grass Valley, and in an orchard or vinyard (perhaps Apple Hill...) If anyone is interested and doesn't mind a teensy drive...

Q: Did you take photography classes or did you just learn it all on your own?
A: I took film photography in high school and then I took another class in college. Having a basic understanding of light, aperature, shutter speed, ISO, etc. has been VERY useful. Most of the post production work (i.e. photoshop) I learned on my own and also from a very talented photographer I know...I'm glad she's willing to share some info!!

A little secret

So, I have decided to let you in on a little secret I just discovered. There is this Japanese website that you can upload a picture and it converts it into a picture that looks 100 years old...it's pretty neat. Some pictures, however, look a little weird when converted...so it's hit or miss. but it's a lot of fun to play around with. Here's the link: http://labs.wanokoto.jp/olds