Photo Tip Friday #4, Try a new perspective

As a photographer, I'm always looking at the background.  Is there something distracting? Or how can I use the background to enhance a picture. One of my favorite things to do is bluer out the background like the pictures below.  You do this by setting your aperture to a low number.  Mine was at F2.8.  

See how the yellow flowers have blurred and the girls just pop out?  I love it!  Recently, I've noticed that I've been using a lot of the same perspectives.  One day, I was watching a video by one of my favorite photographers, Brooke Snow. In her video she included the foreground in her photo.  It dawned on me, that I don't do that much and a new perspective is what I needed.  I love this next picture.

 I included the flowers in the foreground and blurred them out.   I love the effect and texture it gives the picture.  It makes the girls look like their being swallowed up by a field of flowers.  Now, not only am I looking at the background but also focusing on the foreground.  The foreground can really enhance your picture.  Give it a try!

Keep clicking,
Nickie

Photo Tip Friday #3 Capturing Conflict

This week and the next couple of weeks I want to concentrate on story telling. Because pictures do not have words we rely on the image to tell us the story. One way we can do this is by capturing conflict. I learned this tip from my mentor, Me Ra Koh. I like the way she explains conflict. She says, "Conflict isn’t necessarily bad or negative. It is a moment of emotion, tension, struggle, achievement, or an exchange between two people with something hanging in the balance."

The following photo to me tells a story of conflict. It's a moment of stong emotion. Violet was talking to her daddy nonstop on the phone. He had to go and ended up hanging up on her. You can tell by her face she wasn't to happy about it. No need for words the picture speaks for its self.

This week look for opportunities to capture conflict. Remember it doesn't have to be negative. It can be your little baby learning to crawl or walk for the first time. Or you toddler who has entered the "I'll do it myself" stage. Good luck!!! I would love to see what you captured.

Camera settings:
ISO 400
Apeture 1.4
Shutter Speed 320
I have a north facing window that lets indirect light filter in. I used an iso 400(not a whole lot of light in bedroom) and opened my apeture all the way to 1.4 to let as much light in and get a faster shutter speed. When taking pictures of toddlers I like to keep my shutter speed above 250.

Photo Tip Friday #2 See the Possibilities

When I was in school I learned that the number 1 rule in real estate was location, location, location. You can also apply this in photography. Whenever I'm driving around I'm always looking for cool locations. It may not be what you might think. An old shipping container or abandoned equipment can make great pictures. I love to look for things that have color or texture. You just need to train your eye to see the possibilities. So next time your driving around keep a look out for something that you find interesting.

Photo tip Friday #1 turn your garage into a studio

Yes, I know it's Sunday but better late than never. Did you know your garage is a great place to take pictures? I just put up a back drop and let all the sun light filter into my garage. Because the sun light is coming directly into your garage you'll get beautiful even light over your subject and the concrete floor makes a great reflector. During the day is great time to try this when the sun is directly over us and it's to bright to take pictues outside. Just make sure to look at the floor and place your subject in the shadow part of the floor not the direct sunlight.

Here is a few pictures that I took in my garage. Give this a try and let me know how it turns out. Good Luck!!!

This last images is Gabe's letting me know that he is done with pictures.