Feb 25 2010

Another panic photo. I left work about 15 minutes too late to get the sunset reflecting off the high clouds. By the time I had found a suitable site to take the photo it was gone. So I had about 20 minutes to find something before I had to be at pool. What better than the thing I've driven by a 1000 times meaning to take a photo of. So what you are seeing is the sundial outside the visitor center in Grande Prairie. I like how this resembles the wing of a plane. If I squint just right I'm heading to Tahiti. Pentax K100D 18mm, f5.6, 1/30 sec, ISO 200

Photoshop- removed background clutter, Intentionally left the reflection

Feb 26 2010

This was the last photo I took today. I had been inspired by a crystal necklace that I left on the bathroom counter. I started taking photos of it but was unhappy with the results because the lighting was bad. I took the crystal down to my "ompah loompah" room. That is where my studio ( I use that in the loosest sense of the word) is set up. What you are seeing is the props from when I was doing my waterdrop photos. I had rushed up stairs to check them out and to play on photoshop then neglected to go back down and clean up. The orange bowl is full of half dried dish soap that I was using with the straw to create bubbles. (There is the secret to my high tech bubble machine.) I like the colour and texture in this photo.

Pentax K100D 18mm, f5.7, 1/60 sec ISO200

I am looking forward to seeing the difference in the quality of my photos once my new camera comes in. Now I have to make the camera earn its keep.

A year in pictures.

"My name is Leanna and it has been 19 month since my last blog." Hmm nothing but a dusty empty auditorium to talk to. Serves me right. No one is going to wait around that long for me to get back off the wagon.

I have alternative motives for doing this blog. Photography. I've always enjoyed taking photos but after Phil bought me the DSLR I've kind gone a little wacky. In the two and a half years that I've had the camera I've taken 11000 photos. Yes you read that right eleven thousand. That averages out to about 12 photos a day. Every day; since I got the camera.

So this is the wacky part, I've decided to start the blog to inspire myself. My goal is do a photo a day for 365 days.

You may say no problem based off the numbers above, but it will be harder than you think. I already carry my camera everywhere but the trick will be to pull it out and use it. I tend to take photos in clumps, my water drop phase had me do 2000 photos in a week.

Rule one- I can't use any photos that I have already taken; they must be new.

Rule two- Avoid repeat photos. How many photos of my sleeping cats do you think you could handle before the old gag reflex kicked in.

Rule three- no cheating if I miss a day I have to add those days on the end, kind of like a penalty lap.

Rule four-Blog at least once a week. Subject to life. If I'm off hiking you will just have to wait.

Rule five- Must blog in the blog, I can't just drop a photo in the blog and wander away. I have to write why I took that photo. (for you photo teckies I will try to give you focal length, f stops and other random numbers that mean nothing to 98% of the real world but makes the rest of us pretty excited.)

February 23, 2010 Phil's Birthday

Pentax K100D focal length 28mm, f/5.6 at 1/30sec, ISO 200

Bet you were expecting cake, goofy hats and funny cards. Sorry Phil got called away for work so no party. What you are seeing instead is my cell, I mean work station, at work. In honour of the Olympics I have my cubical covered in 25 maple leaves. I have also been wearing red and white every day. I am not particularly happy with this photo. Very "snap shot"ish I give it a 0 for artistic merit.

February 24, 2010

Pentax K100D focal length 33mm, f/4.0 at 1/30 sec, ISO 200 photoshop conversion to B&W

Semi- annual visit to the dentist, another last minute panic photo, in hind site I should have focused more on the tools and less on the setting. The tools had been less organized, pick up stick style but the minute I reached for my camera the hygienist "cleaned up" so the photo lost some of the effect. Lesson learned hog tie the "helpers". As it was I had to fight her to keep the floss and swabs.