My Adventure in Photography

A day late but not a baby Jude Short.... Newborn pictures.

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 01:46:00 +0000

WANT ME TO TAKE YOUR PICTURE more info here ----> http://myadventureinphotography.shutterfly.com/ <--------

I already became a liar for 2012, for I said I would have more pictures tomorrow (1/2/12). No studio needed here folks, just a green blanket and a cute baby. I am not even sure how old Jude is here, maybe a week? I treasure these pictures for he stayed this size for maybe two minutes!! ENJOY!!!

I have been gone but did not FORGET!!! The Birth of Baby Jude!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 02:33:00 +0000

As I look at my last post and I realize I stopped as Adam and I began to look for a house. The good news we are all moved in and the house is pretty much put together! Pictures, I promise are to come!!

So one of the most amazing things happen at the end of April!! Baby Jude was born!! During one of our visits at the hospital, Adam was asked by new daddy Justin to be the godfather of Jude. How precious!! Here are few pictures recounting Baby Jude's first couple days in the world!

Surprise 60th Birthday!

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Sat, 21 May 2011 01:50:00 +0000

For Adam's Uncle's 60th Birthday his family decided to make it grand!
Surprise your 60!!

The Count Down is On........

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 03:26:00 +0000

Well folks, as nature planned, Jessica has gotten bigger and I can't wait to meet the munchkin!!! Jessica is a beautiful person, literally and figuritevly. These pictures not only potray the amazing magic and beauty of pregnancy but the beautiful person Jess and of course Justin are. =)

It is never to LATE!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 21:40:00 +0000

So these pictures are about to be a year old. Yes sir, these pictures were taken July 4th, 2010. As you scroll to the bottom you will find there is a visible light pole that is an eye soar to me. It is not easy to remove this light pole because of the illuminating light thus creating a none solid object (no exact stopping point). So after much denial, I have come to accept Mr. Light Pole and decided to share my FIREWORKS. The catch with fireworks is they are not easy to capture, you really need a stand......I forgot my stand..... I became very creative and got my own stand....me! Hehe Enjoy!

Who needs skills when it's a butterflly?

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 01:05:00 +0000

I just loved so many of these pictures, I couldn't help but post this many. Enjoy!

Jessica: 22 weeks

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 01:36:00 +0000

It all started when my husband and I met up with Jess and her husband for Jess's birthday. The waitress comes to take our drink order. Jess had refused to get an adult beverage. I started to give her a hard time, because this was unlike her and it was her birthday. Jess proceeds to tell me she can't drink because she is expecting. I literally jumped up and hugged both her and husband. I am so insanely excited for the both of them and I can't wait to babysit!!! Well, we all not what pregnancy means.......pregnancy pictures!!!!!!!!!! So I couldn't wait and I started at 22 weeks. I will be sure to take more has she gets much more plump!! Enjoy. PS... (If anyone is wanting or considering pictures here is some information.)

The changing of Seasons!!

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 22:39:00 +0000

So here is a collection of photos I took as the seasons changed. Nothing major just few snapshots. I will be back with more soon with many more photos that are in the editing process.

PS. GO RAVENS!!!!! 1 down 3 more to go!!!!

I am sorry.......

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 01:03:00 +0000

So after two long months I am back, if anyone is or was ever reading/looking at my pictures. So I have so many pictures to edit, that I would like to share with everyone. The good news is my pops got me a device that allows you to make sure all the colors on your monitor are set correctly thus editing the pictures more efficiently. So these pictures I have chosen to post today, have been edited and completed for sometime. These pictures were taken at my, girlfriend's Leigh's Bachelorette party. For her party we stayed at a cabin in the middle of nowhere!!! It was lots of fun!!! Enjoy!

On to the use of Photoshop.

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 22:17:00 +0000

So none of these pictures are fairly new as in recently taken but rather they have been neglected for show-n-tell. At the end of the entry is my first picture successfully using photoshop. Take your time and scroll through my neglected photos.

The first set of pictures are significant to me because I had to leave the shutter open allowing me to capture the fire in the way it appears in the photo. Keeping the shutter open leaves room for much blur/error. So for these pictures I had to set the camera on the tripod, set the self timer (just pushing the button causes a blur in the picture) and hope the cat did not move.

Well this picture is just plain cute, brother and sister or a.k.a Ozzy and Sharon.

This picture has been cross-processed. I obsessed with this affect, and will be probably overuse it. I also added a slight fading black frame around it.

FINALLY, I successfully used photoshop. When I had this desire to do photography, it was because I would see things, and wish I could capture it in way that I thought was beautiful or eye catching. After receiving my DSLR as a gift I had no idea that this picture taking was a two-fold skill. Not only do I have to have the ability to capture the picture correctly but I have to know how to edit. I found this WEBSITE and I am starting to learn step-by-step on how to edit pictures while navigating around photoshop. With this picture I outlined the frog, enhanced its features, than inverted the picture allowing me to edit everything but the frog, thus making a black and white background to the frog. Feel free to click on the picture of the frog to make it larger and see in greater detail the editing that was done.

Jess and Justin's Renewal of Vows

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 02:02:00 +0000

I feel so uncommitted to my photography so it is time to be honest. I FINALLY....did you read that correctly? FINALLY, finished with dotting my "i's" and crossing my "t's" for my big girl career. Now I put fancy letters behind my name that I am sure only few know what they stand for. So with this my friends "my adventure in photography," will move forward at more increasing and interesting rate. Also I still struggle with my editing. I now have adobe photoshop, so do I want to abandon GIMP and start a new relationship with photoshop? The reason I say, "yes" is because there are a lot more tutorials, and presets for photoshop. Like they say if you can't beat'em, join'em.

So to the meat of this post. I got to photograph a renewal of vows of a couple that are close friends with my husband and I. My anxiety level was through the roof, running rapid with thoughts and ideas for shots. I will say this, is this experience helped me ten-fold in understanding settings, flash and lighting when taking pictures. Overall Jess made a beautiful bride to photograph and oh yah that one guy, Justin looked like her perfect prince. Enjoy my loves!

Click here to view these pictures larger

Jessica's Bridal Shower

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:48:00 +0000

So where did I go? I have been here all along. So here is the game plan folks, and I hope you are willing to stay along for the ride. I have now been asked to do pictures for various people. What does this mean? I am looking to see if I can use my hobby as a little side job, and with this I must have my photos available for access to the general public. Well, it does not take a rocket scientist but Blogger is not the place for this. So, now I am going between Shutterfly and Blogger and will be linking the two sites together. Allowing you to see my massive amount of pictures for others and also the ones from my personal shooting, that I can still blog about. Make sense? I hope so! So here is my first set of pictures for a friend, at her bridal shower. Well the first few pictures are just preview, at the bottom it will take you to the entire selection of pictures.

Click here to view these pictures larger

Ocean City

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 22:12:00 +0000

I wanted to at least make a post once a month while in school but as you can see I missed that by a day. The good news.......I am done!!!! **HaPpY DaNcE* I have finished my my Masters in Social Work. I truly forgot about the joy of having the choice of how you spend your time when not working. My time was so wrapped up in the next deadline for a paper or exam that even for those moments I was not doing school work, in class or working that I did not truly enjoy those simple moments. So here I am loving the joys of life again, I just hope I don't forget the preciousness of it.
So on to the topic of "My Adventure in Photography." The Thursday before Memorial day weekend (for some Thursday is the start of that weekend) I get a text from my friend Leigh, asking if my husband and I would like to join them on a trip down to Ocean City. As you can see we made that trip. Those pictured below are Leigh and her soon to be hubby, Dave.
One more thing, I am realizing, that I sometimes over-edit my pictures causing the colors to be too bright. I thought about re-editing them and re-posting some of those pictures. Then I thought, this would not be a blog about my progress in photography, so I will embrace my flaws! My father has talked to me about some tools I can get to make sure my colors our adjusted correctly on the computer screen, I just have yet to invest. Yes, I am blaming my flaws on the computer. As humans we must rationalize! ;)

+Epiphany+

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 21:58:00 +0000

When I am learning something new (that I am interested in), I incur much anxiety to know all about this "something new." I must know all possibilities and options this something new has to offer me. After this is done I want know how to use is it to its optimal performance. I guess this is what you call perfectionism. This quality I dispose has been a double edge sword for me. While this quality has served positive purposes, aka, furthering my education and now my photography, it makes me high-strung while mastering my new skills. If my husband is reading this he is probably shaking his head. I will admit I was becoming a little pessimistic about my ability to grasp these intertwining concepts to produce a picture that is held in my imagination.While I have received many compliments, I had yet to really, I mean really wow myself.

So my husband and I ventured to Rock State Park and hiked up to this waterfall. First barrier, was I going to take the chance to walk on the few SLIPPERY rocks available to get the angle needed, with my equipment. Well, I made it across the rocks. So I am setting up for my shoot. During this time there had been a family to my right playing in the water. Soon as I get everything set up the family decides to play in the waterfall. Really? Well I will just take odd angled pictures that will not include the family. As I was taking my initial pictures I kept overexposing (too much light). So I am trying to remember my "exposure triangle" and thinking what needed to be adjusted. I did move to one more place for another angel. After sometime I was starting to become frustrated. Oh wait, the family is leaving. This was my last shot I took before I left (the first one).

Anywho, I wowed myself!!! This was a much needed picture for me. The rest of the pictures are of my husband and his other wife. Enjoy!!! (See perfectionism pays off!)

BlOoMiNg...

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Wed, 12 May 2010 01:44:00 +0000

This is one of my favorite times of year, when all the different flowers are blooming. I sometimes think I am going to cause a car accident from starring. While I am not suggesting you cause a car accident I am suggesting to not let the beauty pass you by. I also don't just mean don't let beauty pass you by but to truly take in the entity of the flower. This quote explains what I am trying to say the best...

If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change. - Buddha

Some Sun light and Buddha is always good for the soul!

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 00:15:00 +0000

On a day of shopping, I found this jewel for five buckeroos!! It is real ceramic as well!! So one day when I was getting ready to head out, I noticed the sun was setting and I thought Buddha, sun setting......good picture. Enjoy!

"By living deeply in the present moment we can understand the past better & prepare for a better future." -Thich Nhat Hanh

"If you can, help others; if you cannot do that, at least do not harm them."- Dalai Lama

Distric of Columbia

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 01:56:00 +0000

Ever since moving to the Baltimore area, I have taken many trips to DC. Well it was time for another trip. My sister was in town at the end of March and we got a chance to go down on a really beautiful day. Below are some pictures I captured while there.Yes, that is my sister's real hair color.

Light Blulb Has Gone Off!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 23:03:00 +0000

I have been messing around with the free photo editing program, GIMP. As I was reading and watching tutorials nothing was clicking for me. Getting colors to "pop" was going no where. Well folks I figured out some basic, fundamental editing skills out. Below are my before and afters.

Before (It may seem that this picture is fine the way it is)

After (Notice how the white is brighter and the yellow in the middle has popped)

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

Another AFTER (Depends what look you are going for)

BEFORE

AFTER

Ashes to Embers Debut

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 00:35:00 +0000

I encountered a few issues when trying to shoot my husband's band's debut show. First was trying to use the right settings. With the band in constant movement you can not have a long shutter speed or too small of an aperture. With this being said there is little light or flashing lights from the stage that allow you to capture the picture. The next option is to up your ISO which than creates a non-clear picture that can be hard to fix when editing. So, here I was with having to use a flash but that can over expose the picture. It really is all about getting that "just right setting." Next problem is I wanted to watch the band perform and cheer them on. It really is hard to enjoy the show while trying to get that "just right picture."

Photos at Random

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 02:55:00 +0000

These are a group of photos I have been meaning to post that I have taken at random. I don't think I have been doing that well on my "to do" list of the pictures I would like to capture this year. Is it ok I use school as an excuse right now? I feel guilty when spending time on my photography and not writing, reading or researching. I know, I know, I should not do that. So, here I am making a post, aka not spending time on school.

Jess in the Woods!!

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 01:50:00 +0000

One of my girlfriends, Jess was very sweet to allow me to photograph her. I wanted to take advantage of the snow still on the ground and capture some pictures in the woods. So here they are. I have started to upload pictures onto my Picasa Photo Album (right side) so you can see all of the pictures and not just the ones I post.

Ashes to Embers

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:11:00 +0000

My husband is in a band called, Ashes to Embers. Getting a chance to photograph them allowed to practice while being a service to others.

You can get info or buy tickets to their first show on 2/27/10 by clicking on this.

Listen HERE!!!

Of course this is not the entire band performing. This is an acoustic version of my favorite song by them, Southwesterly.

And they say "more snow is on its way!"

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:38:00 +0000

Unless you have been living under a rock the mid-Atlantic has been hit with in ungodly amount of snow. I think I might have jinxed us by stating in one of my early post "I would not have been able to capture these snow pictures in Maryland." The first picture I have posted is one of me while the snow is still falling. The rest are after the snow decided to stop and the sun came out to perform its daily routine of setting. So one of my goals on my "list" is to capture the country roads with all this snow. I am going to attempt to leave the residence today and find a country road to shoot. Lastly I must address the title of my blog. Yes, folks tomorrow evening (2/9/10) it is scheduled to start snowing again. I have heard many different reports but I am going with one report that is saying 6-16 inches. It also must be noted that counties north of Baltimore are suppose to see the large amount of snow fall aka where I live.

Blue Eyes

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 01:34:00 +0000

This is where I am torn when it comes to editing my photography. As I was messing around with the camera I took a close up picture of my eyes. After uploading the picture onto my computer, I was immediately taken back by my pores. After this reaction I thought I needed to touch this photo up ASAP. After processing my automatic thoughts and reactions I was in a sense disappointed with myself. Was I taken back by my pores because of the media I am exposed too, therefore I can not find the beauty for its natural state? So here I am at a crossroad. I believe I have come to the conclusion that I will enjoy editing pictures but I will not try to take away from person, place or thing's true beauty....unless I am doing it with an artistic motive and not what is "acceptable."

BEFORE EDITING

AFTER EDITING

*If you click on the images they will become larger.

The List

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 23:54:00 +0000

People/Places/Things I want to CAPTURE in 2010

Country Roads
Country Roads from the expected snow on 2/6/10
Arlington Cemetery
Young Children with a black or white backdrop
Rock State Park
Longwood Gardens
The progress of Spring Blooming
DC
The Beach
Fundraising Event
Baltimore's Poverty
Continue to Shoot events of my Hubby's band. First SHOW 2/27/10 (be there)

*This list will always be "in progress".......feel free to hold me accountable.

**Do you have ideas?? Tell Me!!! ( twitter: @mrsrocknroll08 email: sarahhardy04@gmail.com) Do you want me to take pictures of you??? Tell Me!!!**