I gave myself a haircut a few days ago. I had been, once again, growing my hair out, thinking I might like to have it long again, and had, once again, gotten to that awful in between place where I tried not to look at my hair when I looked in the mirror.
So, this is me, now. at 51. Self-cut curls. Wearing a freshly made pair of earrings and a new shade of lipstick. Slightly crazy and rather curly, or is it the other way around?
| |
|
Here is look at my room after moving in the furniture yesterday afternoon.
The coffee table is going to be painted black. (green & raspberry were great in Maggie's room.)
| |
|
Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end; then stop.
Lewis Carroll
I've relocated, but only sort of! The Poetic Eye will now be located here at lkludwig.typepad.com, and my online and in-person class information will be housed at gryphonsfeather.typepad.com.
After seven years of blogging, I felt the urge to begin again at the beginning- to make use of some of the energy and freshness that comes along with making a beginning in a new home! I'm hoping you'll join me for all the goodness to come!
Let's start at the very beginning
A very good place to start
Rodgers & Hammestein, A Sound of Music
OFF WE GO, then! C'mon along!
Here's the new look at The Gryphon's Feather Studio Site:
(linked image- click on link to visit our studio)
| |
|
As photographer, Chase Jarvis, said, “The best camera is the one that’s with you.” You can’t make pictures with a camera that is at home in your camera bag, or locked safely in the trunk of your car. Thinking that you wish you had your camera with you to snap a shot, isn’t quite the same as actually making that shot. The first tip for getting great creative images is to carry a camera with you as constantly as possible. This is where point & shoot cameras excel- they are light and compact- perfect for carrying around in a pocket or bag. Camera phones are also a terrific resource, since most of use take our phones with us everywhere. Many camera phones now have cameras with 2 megapixel or greater resolution, making them useful for creating images to incorporate into art journal pages and mixed media pieces.
Read the manual that came with your camera. Unlike the manual that came with your microwave, your camera manual is full of useful and important information. You will learn how close you can get to an object and have it remain in focus, and what settings and features are available to you and how to change them. The first setting you should change is the setting that determines your image quality - set it to as high quality as possible. Sometimes this setting is also called image size or resolution. You’ll want to have as large a memory card or memory stick (whatever your camera requires) as is reasonable and be sure to have a spare. Speaking of spares, have a spare set of batteries, or for a camera phone, carry your charger.
Be aware of the available light. Shoot in natural light as much as possible, trying not to use your flash. Camera phones and other lower megapixel cameras need a good bit of light to do their job. Low light shooting without a flash, means a longer exposure time. You can avoid blurry images when the light is low by using a tripod. Invest in a small or ultra-lightweight tripod; they are pretty inexpensive. Another trick for shooting in low light is to use the self-timer setting (check your camera manual- the symbol will be a clock) to avoid causing camera shake when the shutter button is pressed. A good use for your flash is as “fill” light for specific situations such as when photographing people outdoors in harsh midday sun which leaves strong shadows on faces, or when they are being backlit by a window. The flash will render the lighting more even. Your camera manual will tell you how to turn off your flash. The setting button on your camera is often marked with a lightning bolt symbol.
Pay attention to the background in your photos. Watch for power lines crossing your landscapes, tree branches growing out of your subject’s head, and unsightly clutter. Especially in landscape scenes, look for the horizon line and be sure it is level. Check your photos right after you shoot. The beauty of digital is that you can have a look, and if necessary, try again.
| |
|
Altered Books, Collaborative Journals, and Other Adventures in Bookmaking
Artists' Cafe (Best of Somerset Studio Art & Design, Volume 4)
Photo Crafts Sourcebook: Projects and Ideas for Making Photos Fun (Let's Start! Classic Songs)