Speeding through the Fall

It seems I am down to blogging once a month, not sure if that is as much to do with not enough to say or just being too busy! I am leaning towards too busy, at this time of year everything seems to speed up, time flies and if you blink you miss something.

This month I took the brave step of entering my photographs in my first competition with the camera club I joined. I entered four digital photographers and three prints. The prints were the most work, didn’t realize matting took so long. It took my Dad and I about four hours to matt about nine photos. Think we need to figure out how to speed up the process or stick just submitting digital photos. This Thursday and next Thursday I will find out how my photos are received. Not so sure about being judged but I will be interested to see what comments I get.

This month also marked the first time I took entire weekend of photos in the Raw format. It got a little tricky afterwards due to a bit of a mix up on available software. For now I am using a demo of Photoshop CS4 and I hope to be able to afford Lightroom in December for a more permanent solution. As I twittered I promise to never go back to jPegs. Yes I know everyone told me about RAWs but I had to find out for myself. I love the fact I can adjust every nuance of my photos including white balance. Good thing because I haven’t quite figured out how to white balance in camera yet. One step at a time!

Some of the photos from the weekend were from when Dad invited me on a car ride through the backroads of Campbellford. Found some interesting roads including one that was a apparently a dead end but as a blast to check out. This wild road, had some of the worst hills and blind corners. Sometimes it fun just going for a relaxed drive with lots of photography stops.

If any of the photos in the competition get a mention or a good score I will post them for all to see. Till next time!

A Whirl of a September

It has been a very long time since I posted but it has been super busy!

This month joined a local camera club. Already met a few really interesting photographers. One who is named Pavel and does these incredible landscapes. Pavel is one photographer I really want to learn a few things from. The other gentleman is an incredible HDR artist. His website is at www.garyjcarr.com. At times I find it hard to distinguish his regular photography from his HDR work. I will die a happy woman if I can have just 1/16 of their talent! This Sunday will be a workshop to Dundas, ON if the weather holds out. Will post photos if any work out.

The other event of September is we took the two girls we look after occasionally to my cousin’s cottage. We try to take them at least once a year. It is one big adventure for them and very tiring for those trying to keep up with them. The youngest is two and the oldest is 5. Both girls are aware that I normally have a camera and at one point requested I take some photos. Unfortunately I struggled with lighting and taking photographs of two girls who don’t stop moving. The photos below reflect the mood of the shoot but I clearly needed a bounce flash or figured out how to get the lighting just a tad better:

The next day was a bit better since we were outside but again it was tough getting good shots of two very active girls. I got a few though that were super cute and reflected their personality:

I also had a bit of fun and followed the river for awhile. Took a few creative photos just for fun and to play with aperture and shutter speeds:

Hopefully my next post with lots of photos with be sometime next week!

Experiment with photos instead of words.

In honor of the photographers of having been absorbing ever tip and trick I can from, I am going to try to do a blog with less words and more pictures. I am hoping they make people stop and pause. I took these all on my last trip to the cottage and was trying to just experiment with shutter speed, aperture and ISO. Any feedback you wish to pass on is greatly appreciated.

I look forward to the next experiment and learning as much as I can about my new hobby. Till the next post!

Screaming Good Time!

I had always thought of myself as a pretty tough girl. I go camping at least once a year and spend quite a bit of time at my cousin’s cottage. Apparently this last trip I discovered I am still at heart a soft city girl. Never helps when three women are left to fend for themselves well stocked with wine!

First fun of the trip was Wednesday night. We decided to watch a few episodes (actually 4 of them!) of the first season of Mad Men. Did not know we were to be accompanied by the loudest cricket we have ever heard. We thought at first it was one of the fans so we turned them off. Then we though one might be near a window so we closed the window. Nope that did zilch to turn down the volume. Who knew crickets could be that loud. As we were getting ready for bed my sister quickly figured out that the offending cricket had to be in the cottage somewhere and she was right. Only one problem who would be the brave soul to capture it and take it outside apparently that volunteer was me. First few attempts failed and as soon as the thing jumped everyone screamed. After a huge fit of giggles successfully got the cricket out of the house unfortunately we quickly realized there were two. It was the invasion of the ugly black bugs that can jump! Second removal went a lot smoother.

Thursday was interesting because I found out ants can bite. I was wondering around the back yard and was pretty nonchalant about the little bugs crawling on my foot. Then much to my surprise they suddenly started biting. I have never been more shocked. My sister was laughing at my frantic attempts to get them off. Stupid ants!

Thursday was also the night of the big storm. In Campbell ford we got a sheet lighting , heavy rain and wind. We were enjoying a quiet dinner in the sunroom with just candles so we could enjoy the storm. I quickly discovered I have not just a flight response but a flight and fright response. After one particularly spectacular lighting flash, the biggest crack I have ever heard occurred (a maple tree nearby was split in half). My first instinct was too scream then dash to the livingroom. My sister thought I saw something (watches way too many horror films) and quickly followed my lead. Mom was right behind her. Poor Harry (my Mom’s cat) ended up in the livingroom flattened to the floor, poor guy!  Tempete slept through the entire storm and screams, lucky cat is pretty deaf. After much laughter and more wine we settled in to watch more Mad Men. Slightly more difficult than it sounds since we had a couple of power outages while watching and the PS2 does not have scene selection.

It was a really fun five days at the cottage with lots of adventures. On Saturday evening we lost power for several hours, which meant dinner and socializing by candlelight. Only twist is that with no electricity the water pump doesn’t work. No water means no working toilet!  I also had a great time experimenting and learning my camera. I had three of Scott Kelby’s digital photography books with me and learned some great tips from them. I will post photos in my next blog post. I haven’t had a moment to process them although I do not touch my photos up that much. I am still learning how to use various programs like Photoshop and Lightroom.

Post again soon!

Moments In Time

After a very busy few months shooting everything that I can and being volunteered for a few events like a charity boat cruise and my cousins wedding have begun to realize my best photography occurs when I do candid type shots.

My personality is best described by a friend, as an introverted, geeky but cool girl. Still not sure if that is a compliment. I am just not comfortable with attempting to get people to pose and corral people for group shots. I prefer to blend in and make myself as unobtrusive as possible. I am still a long way from mastering the technical aspects of a camera but I am getting comfortable in capturing that one moment in time that are fleeting and sometimes hard to capture unless you have some patience. A strange concept for me, I never normally have a lot of patience but put a camera in my hand and suddenly I can sit still for an eternity trying to get just that right shot. Only problem with my style of photography I take a lot of photos.  Poor Dad, who assembles the photos with his video for the events we have attended, has to sort through hundreds of photos. For the wedding I even was using his camera since it had a flash and added a few more on his camera!

These are some of my favourite photos taken this summer from the various places and events I have been to:

This was a great moment with the entertainer on the charity cruise (a female impersonator who is wicked good). Little boy was in a lot of my shots he had quite the personality. Also loved the blue in this dress.

My first attempt at a classic wedding shot. I was parked at the end of the aisle and was just trying to catch the couple walking through the bubbles. Capturing bubbles on camera in bright light is a challenge. This is where I needed knee pads.

This is my favorite photograph of the wedding weekend and the favorite of my family. This happened after several attempts since Craig never sits still. At this moment he was trying to get over a door mantle and he happen to look up just as I said his name. This spot also had that perfect amount of natural light.

The next big decisions I need to make it what I want to buy next. I have not been able to decide if a lens or flash is more important to my needs. I have an event coming in October that will be indoors but I can use my Dads camera if necessary since he has some pretty nice flashes and lenses. His camera is not my favourite in the world it can pretty heavy fully loaded. Decisions, decisions!

I am also looking forward to the fact Dad and I join a local camera club in September. This will be very interesting since the club appears to have a lot more advanced photographers then novices (ok advanced novice) like me. I suspect I will be listening to a lot of people speak Greek when it comes to the technical terms.  I love to learn so this will be a great new adventure for me, I love a challenge.

Thank god it’s Friday! Everyone enjoy the weekend.

Three Furry Friends

In honor of all the cat lovers out there thought I would post a few photos of my favorite furry friends. We have three cats on our house who all have very distinct personalities. It can be a very crazy house some days, like having three 2 year olds running around. But they are still super lovable well okay maybe two of them.

Cleo is my cat and I have had her since she was a kitten. I did not know at the time she was from a group of feral barn cats. Cleo has some behavioral issues and I am the only one allowed to hold her or touch her. Everyone else has to steer clear! She can be super loving with me and a times can be an over the top crazy nut. Cleo is now nine and is officially a senior, you wouldn’t know it though she still has the energy and agility of a kitten.

Rajah is one my sisters cats and was introduced second to the house. Introductions did not go well with Cleo and to this day they tolerate each other but that is about it. Rajah was nine months old when we adopted him and was trouble from day one. Rajah is super intelligent for a cat and never misses a thing. Rajah had socialization issues in the beginning but is now a big marshmellow. Loves his belly rubs and will chatter for hours. Being part Siamese he has an incredible vocal range. Rajah can also chew a toilet roll in under 20 seconds, paper towel takes a little longer but not by much. Rajah can chew like a dog and can chew wood if it is available.

Mickey is my sisters second cat and is the diva of the household. Unlike Rajah, Mickey had been around Mom to long and instantly bonded to my sister. Mickey we think was nine months old when we got her but there was confusion on her age since she was a really tiny cat. Mickey loves to cuddle and is none too pleased when my sister is ignoring her. Mickey has learned from Rajah to torment poor Cleo. Cleo just doesn’t get a break. Mickey also loves anything soft, at the moment she has melted into her fleece pillow on the chair. Yes Mickey is also super spoiled.

The story of Mickey and Rajah is pretty incredible. We got Mickey so that Rajah could have some company, since Cleo was just not warming up to having another cat in the house. Mickey hissed at Rajah once then the next thing we knew they were sound asleep together on the couch. So much for doing the slow introduction, it was love at first sight. Mickey and Rajah are best buddies although Mickey is boss. Rajah on the occasion gets a little aggressive on his cleaning of her and Mickey will just whack him in the head to stop. Rajah and Mickey also can be trouble times two, one day Rajah had shredded several toilet rolls, Mickey then proceeded to spread the shreddings down the hallway to our bedrooms and into the livingroom. That was a really big mess to clean up, they were very proud of themselves though.

Campers went a little looney in the rain and cold!

So I originally planned to write this grandiose blog post about my camping trip but then decided I would tell the story with more pictures less words. Plus this post was delayed by the fact I was not that careful with the water and ended up pretty sick. New rules for the next camping trip when it comes to the water situation.  The other interesting part of our trip was the warning about bears being in the camp. I know I said I say hi but I didn’t mean it literally.

Day 1

Trip started with a stop at Hunts Falls just outside of Bracebridge for lunch and some photography. Funny story of the day was the attempt to cross a log to get to a nearby waterfall. Dad managed it pretty quick while I had to crawl. My sister thought she could walk but half way across quickly realized she was going to have to crawl too. First photo lesson of the day from Dad was how to make water do that cool angel hair effect using the speed setting.

Second photography moment was capturing the lake at sunset.  We were not quite in the right position but still got some great shots.

Day 2

Thursday was basically a wash out. It rained and rained and rained some more. We all gave up at one point and retired to the tents to get warm and have a nap. After the nap we wandered to the Portage Store and then to the Art Gallery. We did stop at a beach and got a few shots but it started to rain pretty hard again.

Day 3

Friday started off pretty good, rain was just a mist more than droplets.  After a quick breakfast, we  decided to go for a canoe ride. It actually stopped raining part way through the ride and warmed up a bit. We eventually saw our first loon. Dad got the better shot since I was attempting to steady the canoe.

Next stop was the art museum again. Dad originally wanted to see the paintings on display again but instead ended up trying his hand at painting on a canoe. You buy a puzzle piece and they provide the paints and brushes. Dad had a blast.

After mastering the art of cooking Filet Mignon over an open fire, Dad and I headed out for another canoe ride to try and capture the sunset. We did not get that great of a sunset due to the clouds but it was still a beautiful night. I also got to hear the loon and other calls of the night. I think I even heard a wolf howl. This is where I did the big duh of the night, I brought the solar lights to mark the end of the canoe trail but forgot a flashlight to get us back to camp. It was a bit nerve wracking getting back but not too bad.

Day 4

Saturday was our super busy day. Poor sister she just wanted to relax and read instead she ends up walking through a logging museum and then hiking up a mountain.

After a quick snack break back at the camp we decided to go for one last canoe ride, a good idea on my sister’s part. As we were paddling toward a marsh area, my sister spotted what looked like two black spots floating on the water. As we got closer we realized there were baby loons and then the two adults popped up. Dad and I had a blast taking photos, although Dad again had the better shots since he had the telephoto and did not have to get as close as I did. Still it was one of those rare and beautiful moments that made the whole trip worthwhile.

The evening was pretty good until the temperature dropped and it rained again. We did try to stay by the fire in our rain gear but we got wet butts when the water ran into our chairs. My sister decided the rain was not stopping her from cooking the gourmet smores. We spent the night bundled up huddled around our lantern for heat.

Day 5

Was mostly a busy day of packing the car and then proceeding home. On this trip we drove through a wicked storm just outside of Gravenhurst. The rain was pounding and the lighting was fierce. It was impressive display of nature’s fury. We did make it home safe and sound.

More Photos from Washington, DC

After getting positive comments about my photos from Washington, DC thought I would post a few more. Especially since Facebook where I normally post most of my photos changes my vertical shots sideways. Not sure that is a great way to present a photo and not fun for people to have to turn there heads or turn there computers sideways!

A really cool looking station but had no AC.

This was a shot off of the roof of a parking garage.

Thought this was an interesting shot with the fountain balancing out the flag.

Thought this was a great way to frame a memorial photographed thousands of times.

Interesting storm clouds just not sure of the post hard to change angles when in a car though.

Hope everyone enjoys the additional photos. I am very much enjoying my new hobby. I am absolutely delighted with my camera and my chance to express myself through the lens. I always love a challenge and will continue having fun for a long time to come. Next up though is the purchase of a flash and better macro lens. Hope to have those by the end of the summer or at least the flash in time for my cousins wedding the first week of August.

Next photos will be from the camping trip in Algonquin and this will be a whole new challenge. I will have my Dad with me who is an excellent photographer and is fully loaded when it comes to flashes and lenses. I may have the newer camera but my Dad can take some incredible photos with an older digital SLR.

Long Journey Home

So the long journey home started on Friday morning at 10 am in Virginia. We decided that we would take our time getting home. Erica decided we should go visit the sweetest place on earth and make a stop for some chocolate restocking. After stopping for a late breakfast or early lunch we made it to Hershey, PA. It is a very pretty town and the light posts are Hershey Kisses. The tour at the factory was very interesting. It is hosted by an animated cow and features a bunch of singing cows. Apparently cows are very important to the making of chocolate. I agree but not so sure about the singing part!

After a great time at Hershey and getting our next six months supply of chocolate we started for home. My sister decided based on Nigel that we could make it home around 12:30am in the morning. She unfortunately forgot to calculate in construction and a very busy border.

It was a gorgeous drive home. We hit a few flash storms, got to watch the sunset and even got to watch some fireworks. It was a extremely long trip but it was nice to finally be able to sleep in my own bed. We also had very happy cats. We didn’t crawl into bed till about 2:30 am though so it has been a weekend of just recovering. Our family has a tendency to need vacations from our vacations.

I have learned a few important photography skills on this trip. I really need to master taking photographs in low light with no flash. I know for low-lighting I can correct some of the issues with a flash but there are going to be occasions where flashes are not permitted. I also need to figure out how to keep a camera steady when you are in a moving object. Figured out how to do it from the back of a car but very different when you are on a ride. I did realize on this trip that my purchase of what I thought was a bit of an expensive camera bag from Kata, turned into an excellent idea. The bag is not an immediately obvious camera bag and has just enough pockets that I can turn the bag into my purse too. The bag was also incredibly water proof so even in a down pour my camera stayed dry (unlike myself).

My next adventure will be taking the camera camping and on a canoe. I am just crossing my fingers that we do not have any accidents since we will have two SLR’s in the Canoe!

Endless walk around Washington, DC

I decided since I was going to be in the back of a car for awhile to write my next blog post. At the time I was writing this we were on the I80 North heading home.

Thursday was our full day in Washington, DC to be tourists and do all the things that tourists do. We started off the morning a bit slow but once moving we headed to the Smithsonian. We had a wonderful time wandering around the exhibits. We saw the First Ladies dresses, not all of them since some are not on display due to being too fragile. Some dresses have been on display since 1914. Michelle Obama’s dress had also not arrived yet.  We then wandered through several exhibits on various presidents like Lincoln and Obama. It was fascinating that this museum had the hat that Lincoln was wearing on the day he was killed. Thankfully he wasn’t wearing the hat, it was on the seat beside him. We then saw Dr. Kermit the Frog (awarded an honorary doctorate of Amphibious Letters on May 19, 1996), Oscar the Grouch and the ruby slippers.

From the Smithsonian we proceeded to the Holocaust Museum. We almost did not get in since passes were sold out. A very nice gentleman at the desk decided since we were Canadians he could sneak us three passes. It was a very interesting exhibit and we were glad to be allowed to see the moving tributes to the victims and those who helped liberate the survivors. We then made a stop for lunch then headed out to find the White House. This was a tad more difficult then it looked, there is no metro (subway) stop close to it and the blue directional signs are incorrect on directions. We stopped to ask a security guard who I think has answered the question on which way far too many times. Washington has some very interesting architecture and it is a beautiful walk on the way to the White House. The White House was a lot bigger than expected and was gorgeous. I got some great shots since we had a lot of clouds moving in which leads us to the next adventure.

After a small break we decided we would attempt to walk to the Lincoln Memorial. Only problem the maps didn’t really make it clear that it is about a 45 minute walk from the White House. There was probably some way of getting there by bus but there were no signs. For a tourist town it is not an easy place to get around. About half way to the memorial, the sky decided open up. We took cover under some trees but that quickly didn’t work. It started to pour and we were quickly soaked from head to toe! We then took shelter in the World War I memorial, not great cover but at least better than just a tree.

After it stopped we decided we would get to the memorial since we were already wet and we might as well make it worth-while. After a long trudge in damp clothes and wet shoes ( I was wearing running shoes with no socks, not good) we finally made it to the memorial which was beautiful. I got some great photographs since the sun was starting to go down and the clouds were in the background.

The worst part of the day was when we realized we were a very long distance from the Metro subway stop and the only way back was walking. We also didn’t have a great map so we had to guess which way was the right way. After a 45 minute walk and getting wet for the second time we were on the way back to the hotel. We all now had sore feet, sore legs and were exhausted. It was a fun day but wow what a lot of walking.

That was just Thursday, will post Friday’s adventure later.