Composition Assignment, Take II

This is my second attempt for my assignment.

Pictures after changing settings

I think I am happy with the results. This is a shot after changing some of my camera settings.

Black Widow - Confirmed!

The kids got really excited and wanted us to come see the "really ginormous" spider that they found. Yep...turns out it is a female black widow playing right along with them. Just in time for Halloween, I guess. Don't worry, it is now our pet. If any of our neighbors start to bug us, we are going let it go on their doorstep. :)

Camera Settings

I have been struggling with camera settings and focus and metering and exposure and should I go on? :)

So, for the record (my record) these are the settings I am sticking with for a while (when shooting people):

auto focus single mode (not continuous)
single AF point (not dynamic)
spot metering usually
ISO as low as I can get away with
manual mode
no flash

These are also some custom settings on my camera that I am going to try:

• Image Sharpening: Auto (default).
• Tone Compensation (contrast): Auto (default). The D200 automatically adjusts its contrast and dynamic range to each and every shot.
  Color Mode: III (three).
• Saturation: +
• Hue: 0 (Default)

I hope they work out. Maybe this will be my big "Ah-Ha" moment.

Cool Location

Found this neat location (actually months ago) and finally took my kids to try it out. These are not the greatest pictures, but it give you an idea of what the location is like. Kind of fun. Any good tips to getting a 5, almost 3 and almost 2 year old to hold still? Seriously...give me some ideas!!!

Composition Assignment with Kids

"Continue with the story telling environmental images adding in different angles with your kids and their surroundings. Not all shots need to be of their faces, capture the action of their hands or feet to tell the story. "

I need to keep trying. Perhaps I get something good this weekend.

Great find at Goodwill

"R" family

Another fun afternoon of family pictures. The "R" family was very cooperative and patient with me. I hope they got a few shots they can treasure.

Another borrowed idea

I am not all that creative, but I can look at someone's work and say, "I like that." and then borrow the idea. This is an example of that. Which do you like the most?

1.



2.



3.



I never got a shot of the three of them together...just too complicated. But guess what I made yesterday...I'll give you a hint, it is in this picture. :)

Great prop

I just realized I have a great prop right in my house....

Swinging

I thought I got catchlights in her eyes. Turns out it is actually out of focus. I was trying to shoot with my 50 mm. I am feeling limited with light and my other lens so I am practicing with the 50 mm. Because of the aperature, my focus is often off....




This one looks better (I think):

Composition Assignment - Take II

Here is my second attempt at composition - telling the whole story (in order of my favorite to least favorite):

1.


2.


3.


4. Not sure this one qualifies but I wanted to include it. I know it is not a great composition shot because the story I wanted it to tell was this is ONE lonely sunflower grew by itself in the middle of my flower bed.

5. I would love feedback on how to make this shot better. The kids have a ton of water balloons inside on the tramp with them and they are throwing them out and over the enclosure (trying to hit mom and dad). There is too much "stuff" everywhere...houses, enclosure, fences...too bad we live in the middle of the city! I guess that is the story that this shot is telling me. :)

Composition Assignment - Take I

My latest assignment is to, "Focus on compositionally strong images including the environment that your subject is in. By adding in environment we (the viewer) get a better grasp for the whole story. Post 3 different pictures that tell 3 different stories!"

I am not sure that these tell very good stories or that they are very strong images. I would love to get feedback and then try the assignment again!

Copy Cat; Silouhetteing

I am not very good at original ideas...
My mentor, Amy, did this and I wanted to give it a try.



I love the saying she also put on top of hers: Give children roots of responsibility and wings of independence and they will know they can depend on you to catch them if they fall.

I wanted to do something about daddy's little angel will alwasy be caught in the arms of love...any ideas?

the "P" family

Like I told the family; the bad news is, some of the pictures I took are pretty bad but I think the good news is some of them turned out really cute!