Week 2: Contemplating portrait and more shots of Sophie!
Oh my goodness it seems like forever that I have been in the studio! From vacation photos to holiday photos to new puppy pictures I have definitely been busy. But my studio is my safe place. And today I was finally able to get in and start getting equipment out. Just like riding a bike. Setting equipment up, making sure flashes work, deciding between hard or soft light. I think I have just as much fun setting things up as I do when I finally get everything in working order and begin taking pictures. Of course I had a vision of the picture I wanted to take, another self portrait. I call it contemplating (I look so serious!):
Ginger likes my hair messy like this. Kind of a 70's look. She said I better take pictures of it while it is long because inevitably I get tired of it and cut it short. As far as the title, contemplating, it is because, well, I have been contemplating the untraveled road I want to take on this next challenge. I am getting more comfortable with my flashes and experimenting with different effects. What I love now is that I am not blowing my portrait highlights out. Of course I am using my favorite effect, the Dragan Effect, but that is a niche that I am happy to fit into. My dodging and burning is getting better, though I have work to accomplish better results. And this year I will be teaching myself Lightroom. It goes with Photoshop, but helps with the organizing part of the work flow. And I have some new projects dealing with different textures that I want to try. I have been going through somewhat of a creative block lately. Mostly because of the changes of taking care of a puppy, loving on Ginger as she stabilizes mood wise, and a huge job I was put in charge of at work. All good stuff, all things that need attention, but in the end I am still an artist and inevitably the creativity will begin creeping back into my brain. The above shot would not leave my head all week, so I knew it was time to get back into the studio and create.
Of course in the process of setting up and taking test shots I inevitably take one that Ginger just loves. Don't get me wrong, she loves the shot above, but this is the one that caught her eye first:
You see a lot of pictures of me in this hat because it happens to be my favorite and Ginger's.
And then, of course, I have to take a shot of Sophie and I. I offered to take one of Ginger and Sophie but, well, girls have this thing about wanting to have make up on, get fixed up, put their face on (as my mom would say). So when she gets dolled up, expect one of the two of them. In the meantime:
She really is a happy little puppy. She was really good with Daddy in taking the shots, thank goodness Mommy was keeping her attention so I could get a shot of her face. She is spunky as ever and even has a cute little bark, though it is very rare that she barks. She does like to chew on Daddy's fingers and thumbs! Thank goodness for chew toys! She has two favorite places to sleep, Around Ginger's head and on her rug in the hallway snuggled up to Daddy's work boots. Really is a cute sight.
And yes, she has grown a bit. Our little girl is growing up! That shot was JUST taken. So she is napping, Ginger is watching Hallmark, and I have my headphones in rocking out to.....well let's just say I have my blog writing music on! From what I understand we are suppose to get an inch or two of snow this week. (My northern family and friends are laughing hysterically now). I think I might be able to get some good pictures this week if it does. We shall see!
Well thank you all for your support, prayers and love! Keep safe and warm and talk to you next week! Above all, God is good!
Baa
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| Contemplating, 3 flash shot |
Ginger likes my hair messy like this. Kind of a 70's look. She said I better take pictures of it while it is long because inevitably I get tired of it and cut it short. As far as the title, contemplating, it is because, well, I have been contemplating the untraveled road I want to take on this next challenge. I am getting more comfortable with my flashes and experimenting with different effects. What I love now is that I am not blowing my portrait highlights out. Of course I am using my favorite effect, the Dragan Effect, but that is a niche that I am happy to fit into. My dodging and burning is getting better, though I have work to accomplish better results. And this year I will be teaching myself Lightroom. It goes with Photoshop, but helps with the organizing part of the work flow. And I have some new projects dealing with different textures that I want to try. I have been going through somewhat of a creative block lately. Mostly because of the changes of taking care of a puppy, loving on Ginger as she stabilizes mood wise, and a huge job I was put in charge of at work. All good stuff, all things that need attention, but in the end I am still an artist and inevitably the creativity will begin creeping back into my brain. The above shot would not leave my head all week, so I knew it was time to get back into the studio and create.
Of course in the process of setting up and taking test shots I inevitably take one that Ginger just loves. Don't get me wrong, she loves the shot above, but this is the one that caught her eye first:
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| Paul with Ginger's favorite hat for him on |
And then, of course, I have to take a shot of Sophie and I. I offered to take one of Ginger and Sophie but, well, girls have this thing about wanting to have make up on, get fixed up, put their face on (as my mom would say). So when she gets dolled up, expect one of the two of them. In the meantime:
She really is a happy little puppy. She was really good with Daddy in taking the shots, thank goodness Mommy was keeping her attention so I could get a shot of her face. She is spunky as ever and even has a cute little bark, though it is very rare that she barks. She does like to chew on Daddy's fingers and thumbs! Thank goodness for chew toys! She has two favorite places to sleep, Around Ginger's head and on her rug in the hallway snuggled up to Daddy's work boots. Really is a cute sight.
And yes, she has grown a bit. Our little girl is growing up! That shot was JUST taken. So she is napping, Ginger is watching Hallmark, and I have my headphones in rocking out to.....well let's just say I have my blog writing music on! From what I understand we are suppose to get an inch or two of snow this week. (My northern family and friends are laughing hysterically now). I think I might be able to get some good pictures this week if it does. We shall see!
Well thank you all for your support, prayers and love! Keep safe and warm and talk to you next week! Above all, God is good!
Baa
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