Photography Tips

You Tube Tuesday - People are awesome...

2011-12-27T12:21:00.000-08:00

YOU-TUBE TUESDAY

Originating at It’s Tiger Time, You Tube Tuesday is a day set aside for sharing your favorite video. Feel free to join in and let's have fun seeing how creative we bloggers can be! Each month a selected video will be presented the "You Tube Tuesday" Award. If you participate, please remember to leave your link in the Linky Tool that is available at It's Tiger Time.

Share your favorite Video Every Tuesday. Be creative, have fun. The video can be about anything. Also leave your link here in your comment box so we can drop by and see your choice.

Enjoy.

You Tube Tuesday: Celtic Women singing Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring

2011-12-20T11:41:00.000-08:00

Happy holidays to all, whatever your beliefs. This Bach cantata is beautiful and inspiring, especially when performed by The Celtic Women.

Best viewed large on YouTube. Enjoy.

Lyric's as sung by The Celtic Women:

Jesu, joy of man's desiring

Holy wisdom, love most bright
Drawn by Thee, our souls aspiring

Soar to uncreated light

Word of God, our flesh that fashioned

With the fire of life impassioned

Striving still to truth unknown

Soaring, dying round Thy throne.

Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach (Germany, 1685-1750)
Written: First draft Dec 1716, first performance 2 Jul 1723
Title: Cantata No. 147 (BWV 147), "Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben", No. 10: "Jesu bleibet meine Freunde"

There are several versions of the lyrics of this beautiful cantata which is one of my favorite musical pieces.

This Moment - A Friday Ritual - The Bored Border

2011-12-16T12:36:00.000-08:00

This Moment –

A Friday ritual. Photos capturing moments from the week. Simple, special, moments. Moments you want to pause, savor and remember. “This Moment” is a ritual found on SouleMama’s blog which then traveled to Wee Man, Almost There by Sarah-Jane and Raising Amelie by Alejandro. Join the fun.

My rainy day bored Border Collie

Be sure and leave a link to your post in a comment box below so we can all share your Friday Moment.

Photography Tips will be back after the first of the year. :))

YouTube Tuesday - The Sloths Are Coming

2011-12-12T23:11:00.000-08:00

YOU-TUBE TUESDAY

Best watched large on YouTube:

I'll be posting Photography Tips after the first of the year - stay tuned.

This Moment - A Friday Ritual - Take A Hike

2011-12-09T08:00:00.000-08:00

This Moment –

A Friday ritual. Photos – no words. Simple, special, extraordinary moments. Moments you want to pause, savor and remember. “This Moment” is a ritual found on SouleMama’s blog which then traveled to Wee Man, Almost There by Sarah-Jane and Raising Amelie by Alejandro. Join the fun.

I'll be back in January with Photography Tips...I'm looking forward to it!

Be sure and leave a link to your post in your comment so we can all visit.

YouTube Tuesday - Marcel the Shell With Shoes On #2 - Unbelievably Cute!

2011-12-05T21:57:00.000-08:00

YOU-TUBE TUESDAY

My first YouTube Tuesday post showing Marcel the Shell was a big hit. This second one is just as adorable. Enjoy!

Best watched large on YouTube...

Be sure and leave a link to your YouTube post in the comments section here so we can come visit your post.

This Moment - A Friday Ritual

2011-12-02T15:18:00.000-08:00

This moment – A Friday ritual. A photo capturing a moment from the week. Simple, special, extraordinary moments. Moments you want to pause, savour and remember. “This Moment” is a ritual found on SouleMama’s blog then borrowed by the Wee Man, Almost There by Sarah-Jane and Alejandro at Raising Amelie. Thank you all for passing this idea on.

Newly Weds - My son and new daughter-in-law

Photography Tip: edit special images with a nice dreamy blur for a soft romantic feel.

Please leave a link to your Friday post below so I can come visit and comment.

Photographing Family and Friends During The Holidays

2011-11-22T23:31:00.000-08:00

During our holiday gatherings we want to capture great photographs of family and friends. We want our photos to be special remembrances of happy occasions. What’s the best way to make this happen?

Start by taking lots of practice portrait photos before your get together. Ask a few willing family members to pose. Practice both candid and posed shots. Read your camera’s manual. Know your camera’s settings.

krwhome

Take your camera out of automatic mode. If you’re fairly new to photography set your camera on portrait mode. Portrait mode is typically located on a dial at the top of a camera and is represented by the symbol of the little lady in the jaunty hat. This mode will help adjust for lighting and background.

Whenever possible turn off your flash and use available light. You’ll be shooting at close range in small spaces so your flash may be too harsh on your subject.

Window light and no flash makes for the best indoor photos. If you do need to use your flash, turn on as many room lights as possible to reduce the flash power that’s needed to expose your image.

krwhome

Check through your viewfinder for harsh shadows on your subject and either move them to a location with better lighting, or position lamps to eliminate the shadows.

I have a couple of tall floor lamps with bendable arms that I take with me whenever possible. They’re great for adjusting lighting and I use bulbs with a soft glow which keeps my subjects from looking harsh.

Remember to turn on your camera’s red eye reduction feature.

Tripods are handy in low light so there’s no blurring in your photos.

Keep composition in mind. Don’t cut arms, legs, hands or other body parts off in awkward places.

Make sure your subject doesn’t have any odd items “growing” out of the top or side of their head.

It’s best to leave plenty of room around your subject and crop the image later to a pleasing composition.

Use gaily colored fabric, a family heirloom quilt, or holiday items to make a backdrop for posed photos. Get creative and you’ll create really special images.

krwhome

Be prepared for spontaneous moments.

krwhome

Have fun and don’t forget to capture those candid shots of whacky family members. There's at least one in every family!

krwhome

Thank you Keith at krwhome for allowing me to use your wonderful photos. You know how much I enjoy your images. Please be sure and follow the link to his flickr site and leave a comment or two.

After the first of the new year I'm dedicating a post to all my followers. I'll share a post on which you can link to your blog or Facebook and share some of your holiday or party photos with us. Fun!

I will be mostly off until after the new year. So stay tuned for some great new years tips and ideas for your photography.

Varina Patel, an amazing and mesmerizing photographer

2011-11-15T11:43:00.000-08:00

Varina Patel is an amazing and mesmerizing wilderness and landscape photographer. She's in my photography circle on G+ and shares a great photography tip with us.

I received a message from Varina on G+ with a description of how she photographed one of her images. I'm sharing the message with you as you'll find the photography tip as informative as I do. This is definitely something I'm going to try.

Below is a copy of her message. You'll find her image with the original message on G+ at Varina Patel. Once on her G+ scroll down a bit to find #PhotographyTips and her image and message.

Varina's message:

"#PhotographyTips
So, here's something a little bit out of the ordinary from my collection. I took this shot on a beach in Florida a few years ago. It's nothing more than a bit of a branch that I found in the sand, but I loved it's smooth form and the cracked patterns that covered it. I wanted a clean and simple portrait.

I took the stick and pushed one end into a little hole in a log nearby and set up my camera so that I could shoot the sticks straight on. I used a 180mm macro lens to get nice and close, so I could bring attention to the interesting cracks and details. And I chose a shutter speed carefully - making sure that the background was completely blown out and that the stick was exposed correctly. I wanted it to look as though I had placed the stick in front of a white background... but of course, I didn't have one out there on the beach... so I just set the stick in front of the bright sky. It's a really simple technique, and the finished image looks as though it was photographed in studio.

Obviously, this look won't work for every photo - but in this case, I like it. :) The stick seems to be reaching for something just out of the frame. I wonder what it is reaching for!"

Be sure and follow the above link to her on G+. Take a look at her wonderful image and leave comments.

When you leave your comments on G+ please let her know you found her through #PhotographyTips Blog. You'll love her photography so take a look around while you're there. You'll find lots of inspiration in her work.

Do you have a blown out or the opposite, a silhouette photo to share? If so, be sure and leave it in your comments box so we can all share and enjoy. Or post it on your blog and leave a link.

I don't have a blown out photo to share so I've shared one of my silhouette photos, textured and layered.

A client's engagement photo - they were thrilled with the results.

If you're on G+ and would like to connect let me know. If you'd like suggestions of other photographers on G+ I'll be happy to provide some. Leave me a comment.

As always, happy clicking.

Changing What's Real Monthly Event By "The Other Side of Anna"

2011-11-11T17:39:00.000-08:00

At the beginning of each month The Other Side of Anna will be showcasing a photo gallery of her work displaying an original photo and the subsequent photo edits and editions that she has done to it. There will be a linky tool on her blog available for anyone who would like to join in the fun. The event will begin the first day of each month and continue until the last day of the month. There are a lot of creative photographers out there and we'd all love to see your work.

I use Photo Shop Elements for my digital art but there are lots of programs available like Picnik, Gimp, Picasa, and of course Photo Shop. Prices vary from free to expensive.

I love creating digital art and spend a lot of time at it. For me it's a relaxing artistic endeavor. I'm excited Anna has started this project and I can't wait to see what everyone posts.

Here's mine for November:

This is my original photo taken of a Peony in my garden. Notice the ants crawling around, I've pointed them out with blue arrows. They are small but definitely spoil the photo! I removed them with the cloning tool in Photo Shop Elements (PSE).

This is the same photo with the ants removed. Now I can sell this image on my RedBubble photo sales site as greeting cards, prints etc.

Then I started playing around adding various textured layers in PSE:

Pink textured layer with grainy film look

Gold textured layer with grainy film look

The last two are similar to each other but I used PSE with Topaz Labs Filters rather than textured layers.

I edited the first one to a soft lavender painterly look with a soft grainy feel....dreamy!

I edited this one to a soft white and grey painterly look with a soft grainy feel....more dreaminess!

All of these from just one photograph!

ALL images are copyright protected and the property of Mari Sterling Wilbur Photographs. Thank you. If you wish to use any of my photographs please contact me at mariwilbur@gmail.com.

Which do you like best? Leave a comment below with a link to your site. As always, feel free to leave a photo. We all love to share your work.

Be sure and visit Anna's blog and leave your post on the Linky Tool and also comments.

Happy clicking!

How To Photograph Fast Moving Subjects Using Panning

2011-11-10T12:42:00.000-08:00

Panning implies speed and motion without blurring your subject.

In the images below notice how the race cars are clear and crisp but the rest of the image is blurred to show the motion of the race cars. This effect was accomplished by panning. Panning can be used with any fast moving object.

Mercedes by Paulo Santa Rosa

In order to pan successfully set your camera on a slow shutter speed and follow your subject’s movement and match it’s speed and direction as perfectly as possible. The faster your subject is moving the more difficult it is to pan. Panning requires lots of practice.

MAZDA By e_walk

Tips for Successful Panning:

Panning requires a steady hand and a fairly slow shutter speed.

The actual shutter speed depends on the speed of the subject but usually it will be 1/200th or slower. 1/200th if your subject is really zipping along, like these speeding cars, and perhaps as slow as 1/40th of a second if your subject is a runner on a track.

ACURA by e_walk

When you’re first learning how to pan, don’t slow your shutter down too much. Just keep it slow enough to begin to show some motion. As your confidence increases and your images start to look good, go ahead and slow your shutter more and more to show even greater motion. This will separate your speeding subject from the background.

PATRON by e_walk

Make sure your subject remains in the same portion of the frame during the entire exposure. This will guarantee a crisp, sharp subject.

It’s difficult to keep your subject in the same portion of the frame if it’s moving faster than you are. Start with something fairly slow and advance from there. Again – lots of practice.

When I first tried my hand at panning, I went to a park that had a beautiful old merry-go-‘round. I practiced photographing the horses as they made their stately and gracefully circles. They were moving at just the right speed for a beginner.

Most importantly - have fun learning this new skill. You will succeed!

Check out my prior post on photographing fast moving subjects and how to keep the entire scene in sharp focus.

All photos above are distributed under the Creative Commons License. Thank you to the photographers for allowing their images to be used by others.

We'd love to see your photos showing panning or sharp focus photography. Post them in your comments section. Open a comments box, click on the + symbol in the left corner and follow directions.

Happy clicking!

YouTube Tuesday - Marcel the Shell With Shoes On - Soooo Cute!

2011-11-07T00:00:00.000-08:00

YOU-TUBE TUESDAY

Adorable video, the kids will love it too. Best watched large on YouTube:

Enjoy!

Magnificent Monday: Transport!

2011-11-06T21:52:00.000-08:00

Welcome everyone to another Magnificent Monday!

This weeks topic is “Transport”.

Let's have a lively week linking our articles on how we like to get around town.

Be sure and leave your comments here and a link to your blog so I can come visit and comment.

Also add your blog post to the Mr. Linky at Holes In My Soles along with a comment.

Transportation where I live:

Transportation here on The Puget Sound outside of Seattle, Washington in the USA's Pacific Northwest involves boats of all types - and lots of them. Boats of all sizes from large and small ferries run by the State of Washington Transit System to tiny sailboats and kayaks.

The Puget Sound is a system of interconnected waterways which connect to the Pacific Ocean and Canada with at least 16 islands within its boundary..

Car Ferry - this one's quite rusty - it's been around a long time.

Walk-on foot ferry for island hopping.

There are 100s of marinas.

Adorable sailboats of all types.

And adorable sea life.

Be sure and link up to the Mr. Linky at Holes in My Soles and also leave a link to your post in the comments below. I'm looking forward to seeing your photographs and reading your post.

Happy clicking!

How To Photograph Fast Moving Subjects

2011-11-04T10:42:00.000-07:00

How to photograph fast moving subjects:

Your biggest challenge in sports and action photography is making sure that the main subject in your image stays in focus. Because your subject is moving your focus is constantly changing. There are several options for keeping moving subjects in focus.

Manual Focus:

Keep your subject in focus by tracking in manual focus mode. This takes practice and is increasingly difficult the faster your subject moves.

Automatic Tracking:

Another option is to use the automatic tracking/focusing mode. This keeps a moving subject in focus if you hold down the shutter release button half way before firing off your shot. Most DSLRs have this option and quite a few Point & Shoot cameras do too.

Pre-focusing:

This is an option I personally like and use frequently depending on what I’m shooting. Pre-focus on a spot where your subject will pass in front of your camera. This takes practice but is really useful if your subject is moving on a predictable path like a race course.

If your subject is unpredictable, like a foot player who changes direction often, you might like to try one of the other focusing methods above.

In theory pre-focusing is quite easy. Simply switch to manual focusing, choose a point where your subject will pass and focus on that point. Just before your subject hits that point you hit the shutter button and you should capture the shot. This may take time to perfect so you’ll want to practice on various moving subjects to perfect your technique.

With a fast moving subject set your camera at a fast shutter speed. You might also consider shooting in continuous shooting mode. In this case, start firing off shots a second before your subject arrives or starts moving. You’ll take a number of shots around your focusing point and should get at least one or two great images.

When you first try pre-focusing go to a dog park, the beach etc. and position yourself where you can see people, animals or even cars moving towards or around you. Switch to manual focusing, choose a spot and get your camera focused upon it. Wait for the action to hit that spot then click the shutter. But remember to shoot just before your subject arrives at your chosen spot. Word of caution: don’t stand in front of the action!

It will take a few outings to get your timing down but you’ll get there with practice. Give it a try this week!

Let's see your action shots!

Leave a photo in your comment box for all of us to share and enjoy. If you have trouble leaving a photo, give us a link back to your blog and leave your photo there :)

Happy clicking!

You Tube Tuesday - Magical...

2011-10-31T22:57:00.000-07:00

Viewed best large on YouTube -

Enjoy!

And, as always, please leave a photo in your comment box for all of us to share and enjoy. Click open your comment box, click on the + sign in the lower left corner and follow the directions. Click the uploaded thumbnail to view large.

Happy clicking!

Rock Out!! - Happy Halloween Birthday from Paul McCartney and Me

2011-10-31T10:33:00.000-07:00

Happy birthday fellow Halloween babies!

Best viewed large and LouD on YouTube:

Video:
Sir Paul McCartney
With:
Rusty Anderson - Lead Guitar
Abe Laboriel Jr. - Drums
Paul "Wix" Wickens - Key board
Brian Ray - Rhythm guitar/bass

Red square, Moscow

I'm heading off for a flying great Halloween Birthday!

How to Use the Psychology of Color in Your Photography

2011-10-26T18:27:00.000-07:00

To understand how colors affect the mood of your images and your viewer’s experience with your photography it’s important to understand the psychology of color. Colors often have different meanings in different cultures so I’m somewhat generalizing in this post.

Colors also may have very different meanings depending on the context used. For example, black can be evil or sexy. By using color psychology, you can send a positive or negative message in your image. Here are some basics.

ORANGE:
Orange is the color associated with fun, flamboyance, happy days and warmth. Like red, there is nothing calm associated with this color.

RED:

Red is the real attention getter. It is often where the eye looks first. It's associated with movement and excitement - think fast cars and motorcycles. If your subject is wearing red clothes they will appear a bit heavier so be careful! It is the color of romance – think red roses and Valentine’s Day.

Scanned film photo of my son

YELLOW:

Yellow is a cheerful attention getter. It is considered an optimistic color associated with laughter and happiness.

PINK:

Pink, like red, is also considered the color of romance. Pink is the color of love and gentle feelings and is the most calming of all colors.

BLUE:

Blue is one of the most popular colors. It is peaceful and tranquil. Maybe it’s because we see so much blue in our world with our blue skies and oceans.

GREEN:

Green represents nature and is the gentlest color on the eye. It’s a calming, refreshing color.

PURPLE:

Purple is feminine, romantic and mysterious. Use purple to lend an air of femininity, romance and mystery to your images.

BLACK:

Black is the color of power and sophistication. It can represent sexiness or evil. Depending on its use it can be a somber color that can easily overwhelm people emotionally. Black clothes make people appear thinner in photographs.

But sometimes black can be just darn cute:

Spontaneous smooching for my camera - Harley Davidson owners

Please leave comments regarding your ideas on the use of color. What colors are you drawn to?

And, as always, please leave a photo in your comment box for all of us to share and enjoy. Click open your comment box, click on the + sign in the lower left corner and follow the directions. Click the uploaded thumbnail to view large.

Happy clicking!

You Tube Tuesday - What's A Girl To Do?

2011-10-24T22:14:00.000-07:00

Think I'll dress as the giant rabbit for trick or treating. :)

Please Welcome My Guest Photographer: Sarah-Jane Klemis

2011-10-21T17:46:00.000-07:00

Sarah-Jane's photographs caught my eye a while back. Her work has a unique style - and that style is engaging, enticing and full of joy. Her images make me smile and brighten my day. Be sure and follow the links at the bottom of this post to her photography sites and leave comments letting her know how much you enjoyed her guest post.

Now I'll turn it over to Sarah-Jane:

When Mari asked me if I’d like to guest photog on her blog I had a 101 thoughts and emotions that went through me.

Can I do that? WOW she’s asking me! OMG! Panic!

You see I’ve only recently started a photography diploma so my confidence in my ability is still a bit shaky. I’ve always loved snapping away and I see things that I think would make a great picture but I was never really any good, I tend to cut off people’s heads or focus on the wrong thing. Nowadays I do cut off their heads but it’s more structured and seems to work better. I had a point and shoot camera and after a little mishap with a bathtub if was never quite the same.

At Christmas, Michael (my lovely patient partner) bought me a DSLR, it was the ideal present and one that I had absolutely no idea how to use it. As soon as I opened it I was photographing everything from buttons to random passers by and I was in heaven but I wanted to be able to do more.

I had no idea about focus or aperture and shutter speed to me was how fast I could pull my curtains. People like Mari inspire me - I see what she creates and I really want to be able to do that myself. There was one snag to that theory - Mari is amazingly talented and I didn’t have a clue what I was doing (I may have a little bit of a better clue but I still have a long way to go.)

I love to be creative with my photographs and you could say I’m still finding my style but I see something and I want to capture it. I have a moment, a memory and I’m aware that age isn’t being favourable to me so I want to have something that really signifies that moment, something I can keep.

Portraiture is supposed to be posed but to me when I’m taking photo’s it’s a mixture of candid moments, you could call mine candid portraits (I’ve probably just made a 1000 photographers want to gun me down, or I’ve just guessed at something that is an actual style of photography - who knows but realistically if it’s candid (naturally/unposed) or its portraiture (framed/posed) classically, I think it probably has to be one or the other).

This one here looks like a candid photo but Samuel (my son) was well aware I was taking it and just refused to look at the camera because he was enjoying his ice cream too much:

My favourite subject is Samuel, children have such a way of not letting the camera affect them, whereas adults tend to either over play or become overly conscious as soon as a camera points in their direction.

This was on the way to the park, we must of passed this wall a hundred times without so much of a second glance but once I had camera fever it became the backdrop of a 5 minute photo shoot. I love how the surroundings we pass by everyday can create something so fun or even magical:

For my friends they have to put up with it, if they are anywhere in the vicinity, my camera will soon be there in their face. As annoying as I am they love me really! (I love how Vickie was trying to whip off the hat before I snapped her but she wasn’t quite quick enough):

Sometimes I find I have two photo’s (without realising it) that compliment each other, so I’ll combine them into a template. I love this one of Samuel and his Dad, although you can’t see Samuel in the left one properly, you can see him in his Dad’s sunglasses and I love the way they are looking at each other. This isn’t just for me, they only see each other every other weekend so this is also for them:

A few months ago I never thought I would be able to produce anything I was proud of. I’m only a quarter of the way through the course and I’m looking forward to the next year when I (fingers crossed) complete it. Samuel is nearly a teenager now and I really wish I had done this course a lot sooner.

My advice to anyone who thinks they can’t, you can! Sometimes you just need a little help and advice to point you in the right direction. I didn’t have a camera when he was young so my pictures are from a disposable. I guess that’s why as he’s now getting older, every chance I get I take a picture, some will be portraits:

but I’m saving up ammunition for when he really annoys me at 17+.

Sarah-Jane, thank you so much for brightening our day with your post and photography. As you've discovered, it's never to late to start photographing the things you love with style and pizzazz! Sarah-Jane's work is a real inspiration for us all.

We will be watching your blog and website for more of your images.

Here's links to Sarah-Jane, be sure and visit, comment and follow:
Samuel Michaels Photography
Samuel Michaels Photography on Facebook

Please also leave comments for her below.

YouTube Tuesday - Hair-raising BASE Jumping Extraordinaires

2011-10-18T01:37:00.000-07:00

Originating at It’s Tiger Time, You Tube Tuesday is a day set aside for sharing your favorite video. Feel free to join in and let's have fun seeing how creative we bloggers can be! Each month a selected video will be presented the "You Tube Tuesday" Award. If you participate, please remember to leave your link in the Linky Tool that is available at It's Tiger Time.

Photography Tip: Don't try this at home! Notice toward the end of the video the primary BASE jumper has a camera attached to his suit. He also has a chase cameraman BASE jumping with him.

BASE stands for jumping from Buildings, Antennas, Spans, Earth (BASE)
spans include bridges, earth includes cliffs, mountains, etc.

Boy would I Love to try this!

Leave your hair-raising images in your comment box.

Magnificent Monday: Water

2011-10-16T23:22:00.000-07:00

Hi and welcome again to Magnificent Monday and our theme this week is ''Water".

Waves, rivers, water sports, waterspouts, reflections on water, boats on water, boats underwater, body boards, surfboards, seashores, and more. Bring them all over and link them up in the Mr Linky Tool at Holes In My Soles.

Also be sure and leave a link to your post in your comment box below so we can some visit.

Hope you enjoy my digital art contribution to Magnificent Monday. Textures were layered over my original photographs to create these images.

If you'd like to leave a photo in your comment box for all of us to share, open a comment box, click the + sign in the left corner and upload your photo. We'd love to see your images.

Happy clicking!

Captured: America in Color from 1939-1943

2011-10-12T22:41:00.000-07:00

These colored slides were taken from 1939 to 1943 by photographers from the Farm Security Administration and are some of the only color photographs taken of the effects of the Depression on America’s rural populations. Over the next few months I'll show photos from the entire collection.

The photographs are great study material for today's photographers. Pay particular attention to the composition and content of each photo in this series.

There's a touch of mystery in the first photo. Why are these people crowded around the barn? What's going on? Who are they? Notice the balance in the image from right to left, it's very interesting. Two sets of "rule of thirds" on each side and a wagon in the center. But the line recedes from the couple on the right to the wagon in the middle to the people on the left. Our eye is drawn in and through the photo, up the silo and across into the crowded barn and back to the couple on the right. A complete circle.

Farm auction. Derby, Connecticut, September 1940. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Jack Delano. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress

Breaking the rules: the front line of the tent (a horizon line of sorts) is not level. The top corner of the banner is deliberately not included in the photo. However, these elements work extremely well with the ropes and poles holding the tent and the lines in the graphics and signage. Lots of action in the lines of this photo make a very interesting and lively image. The photograph was taken from a low point of view (pov) adding power.

Barker at the grounds at the state fair. Rutland, Vermont, September 1941. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Jack Delano. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress

The photographer used a magnificent play of light and shadow to grab our attention. The arcs of light draw us in to the center of the image. Notice the welder on the right side of the photo. The rule of thirds!

A welder who works in the round-house at the Chicago and Northwestern Railway Company's Proviso yard. Chicago, Illinois, December 1942. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Jack Delano. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress

Here the entire scene is well balanced from the calendar and clock on the wall, to the way the women are seated around the table to the items spread out on the table. However, the photographer has made the image look casual and candid.

Women workers employed as wipers in the roundhouse having lunch in their rest room, Chicago and Northwest Railway Company. Clinton, Iowa, April 1943. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Jack Delano. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress

The photographer gave this image a very powerful look by shooting at an upward angle giving his subject a very commanding appearance. Very commanding!

Mike Evans, a welder, at the rip tracks at Proviso yard of the Chicago and Northwest Railway Company. Chicago, Illinois, April 1943. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Jack Delano. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress

All photos by Jack Delano

Hope you enjoy these images and photography tips!

Pinktober Post - For The Cure

2011-10-11T21:33:00.000-07:00

These photos were taken at an equestrian event, Cowgirl Ride for The Cure, which took place several years ago. Notice the pink horse tack, ribbons, saddle pads, and pink paint on some of the horses. The girls had lots of fun decorating their horses and themselves for the Event. It was a fun day that raised money and awareness for breast cancer and The Cure.

All photos were taken with my Point & Shoot Camera set to "action". I'd been out of photography for a few years and was rusty. Most of these are blurred. But you always have to start, or restart, somewhere. So get your camera out, get clicking, and post some photos in your comment box for all of us to share.

But most of all remember Pinktober and do something, anything, that will help find a cure for breast cancer.

YouTube Tuesday - The Girl Effect

2011-10-10T22:37:00.000-07:00

YOU TUBE TUESDAY

Originating at It’s Tiger Time, YouTube Tuesday is a day set aside for sharing your favorite video. Feel free to join in and let's have fun seeing how creative we bloggers can be! Each month a selected video will be presented the "You Tube Tuesday" Award. If you participate, please remember to leave your link in the Linky Tool that is available at It's Tiger Time.

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Guest Photographer Michael Long - Tips on Indoor Photography

2011-10-09T15:45:00.000-07:00

Michael, thank you for your guest appearance today. Not only do I love both your blogs, Michael's Kitchen and Photography By Michael Long, but I have learned much from each of them. Your blogs discuss two of my favorite subjects, food and photography.

First, tell us a little about yourself:

"I retired in 2002. In 1973 got my Degree in Photography, freelanced doing mostly Modeling portfolio's, Beauty Pageants, Country Western Singers, and finally worked for one of the major news agencies. Decided it was time to get into something else so I got into furniture making and did that for a number of years. until my health started down hill. Married to a wonderful lady with a lot of patience. After retiring I got into Gourmet Cooking, and from that French, Italian, and Chocolates. Oh, yes I have my time in commercial kitchens, working as a line cook. And now back into photography, doing mostly still life, photo work for my blog and several small customers, doing mostly catalog type things. And enjoying my retirement to the fullest."

Michael, you've had a very interesting and varied career and put two of your loves, photography and cooking, to excellent use. I know my followers will enjoy viewing your blogs and following you.

Here's some of Michael's photography and his description of some tricks of the trade:

Photo #1

Michael's description of Photo #1: Vanilla bean sugar cookies done for one of my blogs. The background was peel and stick lino tile, on a piece of particle board, the plate was fiesta ware, and the napkin was paper. Light was from left side window. and a white card reflector on the right. This was photographed shooting straight down. Photo editing was slight, with a darkened corners only. The camera was a point and shoot about 10 years old.

In photo #1 Michael showed us some great tips. I love his use of the peel and stick lino tile as a backdrop, his use of a while card and the point of view. Very interesting and great ideas.

Photo #2

Michael's Description of Photo #2: this was a practice photo to test for lighting, reflectors, etc. And just for fun. I know that I should have made a batch of cookies for this, but these were close by. I used defused window light, with black background for the contrast, on the right side was a gold reflector some distance away. I was just trying to get a hint of gold in the reflection fill on the shadows. The main cookie on top was hot glued. I had to do that since that puppy kept falling over. Camera angle was head on at cookie level. Camera was a Nikon D3000.

In photo 2, I love how Michael hot glued the cookie so it wouldn't fall over! Another great tip - use your imagination to solve problems.

Photo #3

Michael's description of Photo #3: This was one of the first food photo's that I had done. I mean really seriously did. Home made soup with a window light coming in from the right this time and a single card reflector overhead to get some highlights in the beans. This was also done with a point and shoot. The camera angle was about 45 degrees.

Thank you, Michael, for visiting and sharing your photo tips and photography with us.

Please visit both of Michael's blogs and leave comments. We all love those!
Michael's Kitchen for great recipes and Photography By Michael Long for more great photography and tips.

If you'd like to share a photo in your comment box here, open a comment box, click on the + sign in the lower left corner and upload a photo. Click on the thumbnail for a larger image.

Happy Clicking!