I haven’t been updating my blog much, and I’ll tell you why not: I’ve been too busy! I hate that excuse, but it’s so true!
day camps
soccer practices
baseball practices
kung fu classes
sleepovers
senior photos
piano lessons
soccer tournaments
baseball tournaments
vacation bible school
two birthday parties
photography workshop
Okay, let’s just pause a second on that last one: photography workshop! That one was for ME! I had a day to myself –well almost, because the morning hours were spent at a soccer game- and I drove down to Balboa Park in San Diego to meet with a blogger/photographer friend of mine – I can officially call her a friend now that we’ve met face to face – Mckmama whose blogging and photography skills I’ve always admired. She spent four hours with me and just two other women showing us how to shoot with our cameras out of the “auto” mode, and teaching us various tips on how to take the best photos. I had an amazing time!
At first we spent a lot of time taking pictures of each other as we learned the various settings on our cameras…
my friend Kristy
my friend Heidi
And then once we were ready, we ventured out into the park and stopped at the carousel, and Mckmama gave us certain assignments to work on.
Like stopping motion.
This was a hard one for me, and my photos kept coming out like this:
But then I readjusted the shutter speed and ISO…
Still blurry, but improved. By the way, this carousel was really moving fast! I have never seen one like it.
Finally, after some more adjustments to the settings, I got this shot:
Seems like it was standing still, doesn’t it? It wasn’t! Yay me!
Next we worked on stopping water in motion.
None of the photos that I’m posting from this day have been edited, by the way. I suppose I could have added some pretty cool effects with editing, but I’m just not going to take the time to do that. I just want to get a post out — I’ve got a bit of blog-guilt!
Then the hardest assignment (in my opinion) was where we had to shoot two objects, one in front of the other, but in one photo make the farthest object blurry while the closest one is sharp, and then in the next photo make them both in focus — without moving the objects. It was up to us to change the settings on our cameras to change the effect. Here’s how mine came out:
photo #1 — close object in focus while the other object is blurred
photo#2 – both objects in focus
Of course, just as I was shooting this assignment a car pulled up and took the parking space right behind it. Notice that car wasn’t there in the first photograph. BUT the two bags are both in focus! I believe if we were getting graded on these assignments, I would have gotten an A on this one, right?
I shot all of my photos with my new 50mm 1.4 lens, which is a prime lens (means that it does not zoom in or out) <—– I just learned that! I had no idea the lens didn’t zoom in or out, and believe me, that takes some getting used to, because if you want to get a close-up of your subject, you actually have to MOVE to get closer up! It’s a very in-your-face type of lens!
Since I’ve had my new 50mm lens, I’ve been practicing on the kids. Mostly Aria. She is my favorite subject right now because she’s the youngest! and you know, just so darn cute. And she is my most willing model. The others get tired of me in their face all the time!
with this photo I added a texture in editing ~ a pretty neat effect!
in the next two photos, all I did was add a bit of a boost to the color, aka vibrance
and here is Andrew, helping me with my “stopping motion” skills
And that’s just about it for now.
Happy Wednesday 
I was about to ask which pictures because I didn’t see any besides your own. I don’t know, maybe is just me but there is so many people with cameras out there, specially if we take a trip to DC that if I end up in the shot of one of their photos I don’t think I would care, but that is just me.
I made your blog!!!!
And I don’t care that you put up my picture or that MckMama did the same on hers, either. I had so much fun learning with you ladies on Saturday and I’m going to email you some of the photos that I took and then spruced up when I went to the Sunday class.
Also, thanks for calling me ‘friend’… I really felt like we all were by the end of the day.
I came across your blog by reading Mckmama’s (I was actually looking for someone who went to her workshop this past weekend since I”m attending the one in Houston in a few weeks)
Great Pictures! I’m glad you showed the progress of how you took the carousel shots until you got what you wanted..gives me hope that I will come away from her workshop with lots of new info!
Lizzie
I did not learn anything but how to use my camera from Mckmama. I didn’t learn blogging tips. My publishing faux pas are solely my own 😉
You know, I never even thought of that! good point, Kate. Thank you. I’ll take those off.
Thank you for the compliments on the photos. It’s been fun learning new settings and all of the ways that my camera works. There’s a lot to learn! I’m glad I have all these kids to practice on, but I must admit that Aria is my best and most willing model
I was going to ask the same question as Kate. Did you ask those people could you use their image on your blog?
If not then you have learned well from MckMama, who posts photos of random people who can not and have not given permission.
Lizzie
Your photos are lovely – nice job!
I wonder though, is it fair to post pictures of random people on your blog without their permission? (you could very well have gotten their permission, and if so please excuse me for my error). I would hate to think that someone took a picture of me as I went about my life and put it on their blog.
Just something to think about… But I do love the shots you took.
Blessings,
Kate
great pics! glad you got a day to yourself to learn new things about your camera!
Nice photos! I couldn’t find your Blogtastic Extravaganza 2.0 giveaway post.
I love MckMamas photos. You did a great job with yours. I can’t wait to take one of her workshops! I hope she offers another one in mpls.