Cool Light Painting Tutorial

DIY Photography is one of my favorite sites for finding out how to do cool stuff for cheap! I've been interested in light painting for a few years, but I've never even thought of doing "light stencils." I think I'm going to give it a shot, and I'll post any pictures that turn out.

Light Painting Tutorial on DIY Photography.net

Goals

Maybe if I actually write them out I'll be more likely to accomplish them. I've always enjoyed a good list--crossing things off is so satisfying! I learned in my teaching classes that it's best to make measurable goals, so I'm trying to make these as specific as possible. Here are my photography-related goals (for now):

1. Get 20 critique-style comments.
2. Post at least 4 photos a month.
3. Create a once-a-month "brag post" with accompanying link (no, not bragging about myself---about my amazing students of course!)
4. Create a once-a-month "what inspires me" post
5. At the three month mark have at least 51% of my photo posts be something other than photographs of my twins. (at that point I'll re-assess and see if I can set a higher percentage.)
6. Get at least 10 of my students blogging (and following and commenting-on my stuff, on each others, etc.)
7. To learn how to create an HDR (Ruben? Joey? The tables have turned--teach me.)
8. Take and post a picture of myself that I'm really proud of.
9. Update the family photos in my living room. (They're still the boys' newborn portraits!)
10. Shoot portraits of someone other than my immediate family.
11. Capture a portrait of someone with freckles (I love how freckles look in black and white!)

There! 11 Goals for 2011! Wish me luck, and be sure to let me know if there's something on here you can help me cross off : )

I've Never Eaten a Pomegranate Before...

...but I've always thought it was such an interesting fruit. All full of seeds, and a cool, kind of rough, exterior. Grocery shopping the other day I decided "I need to photograph a pomegranate" so I bought one. I was feeling really inspired, but when I started shooting I was completely disapointed. The idea in my head was not at all what I was capturing. Maybe I should have used a macro lens instead, maybe different lighting, who knows. The pictures were terrible, and I almost deleted them in frustration, but I didn't. Then just yesterday I plugged the SD card into my computer to see if I had any new pictures to post. All I found were the stupid pomegranite failure pictures! I decided to give one a try in Photoshop just for fun. I'm listing my steps, because as it turns out I was able to whittle away at a picture I hated and turn it into something I really actually like! I'm a little conflicted about the amount of photoshopping that was needed to turn around this image, but I think I'm ok with it. Without further ado, I give you The Pomegranate:

-Black and white gradient map set to soft light (not meant to look like selective color... it just brought out the textures)

-Curves adjustment layer set to hard light with plate and fruit masked (to darken up the background)

-Duplicate background layer set to hard light at 33% with pavement masked (to deepen shadows around the seeds and bump the color a bit.)

Excuses, excuses...

I have been insanely busy, so I haven't had time to take any new pictures. So, I decided to dig up some old stuff. I shot this in a salvage yard a few years ago. It was a really interesting place to shoot, because I love old stuff. It was fun to wander around in search old cars, rust, and junk. This is one of my favorites from the day. At the time I only had limited knowledge of Photoshop Elements, so it's a little desaturated and I did a levels adjustment. Now I look at it and think of all the things I could do with CS3! But alas, I don't have the time right now! So, feel free to download and edit as you see fit--I'd love to see what somebody else would do with it :) Then post a comment and share your version.

Here I Go Again...

... another picture of my boys. But hey, I'm doing pretty good. Most of my posts aren't pictures of them. I just loved this one too much to not post it here. I can't take all the credit, though. My husband, Dustin, suggested the crop, and I think it made all the difference.

Mt. Rubidoux Bokeh

Went to try and find the trail up Mount Rubidoux to see the Peace Tower and Friendship Bridge. Got lost, but still enjoyed a nice walk on a beautiful sunny morning. We'll have to see the tower and bridge another day...

Rocio Fresco

Just outside my front door one morning over winter break...