Beyond Grateful [2B.3]

The challenge in Kim Klassen's third 2B class

is to experiment with different focal points

and to create a collage of the results . . .

I have fallen in love with become totally distracted by Lightroom!

So, in an effort to continue with the class work

while at the same time exploring,

I chose some archived experimental focal point photos . . .

and used the opportunity to practice/develop my culling & rejecting skills

as I explored Lightroom.

I also created my collage template in Lightroom a la Kim's careful instructions.

Have I mentioned that I LOVE Lightroom???

I am so grateful to Kim for suggesting it and, 

though I know it is going to take a while for me to go through all my photos, 

in the end I will be so much happier and more efficient!

:::

EMBARRASSING CONFESSION TIME

I should point out here, that the lovely young man at the "Genius Bar"

in our Apple Store was STUNNED at how many photos I had on my hard drive,

which he kindly saved for me . . .

It was the talk of the 'backroom' for several days apparently.

I love it when techies revel in sharing stories of my technovirginity.
I am so grateful to the Genius for saving my photos

:::

Even with hundreds of photos strewn about my virtual cutting room floor

I had plenty to put together for my collage.

The photos are all SOOC,

 as I am just beginning to experiment with the Lightroom controls . . .
I hope to dive into them as soon as I am caught up with my assignments! 

Kim included a little "just for added fun" exercise

which was to experiment with her "Frosted" texture . . .

All this working with photos of flowers

is making me impatient for spring!

I can't wait to get out there and get my hands in the warm dirt!!

The operative word there being WARM . . .

On to 2B.4 and then I shall be all caught up!

Love, Janet xo

Beyond Simple [2B.2]

Day 2 of Kim's Beyond Beyond Class was awesome for me!

Besides great tips and tricks on Aperture settings, Kim took us through the start to finish steps for processing a photo . . . mostly in Lightroom!

By the time I had finished watching her short video tutorials 

I HAD to have Lightroom! 

I NEEEEEEEEED Lightroom! 

I downloaded a 30 day free trial at the Adobe website, and I am thrilled so far (but have much to learn!) 

I am in Love! 

Challenge 1: 

Download sample photo or use your own and give the steps (from tutorial) a go or do your own thing.

I used Kim's photo, not only to got through the steps and to experiment but also to learn a bit about the Lightroom software . . .

I messed around so much that in the end I can't exactly remember what I did!!

I flipped Kim's original photo horizontally and added a warmer tone than she has in her tutorial, just to see how it was different. I used her "- 43 texture" and added a quote by Oscar Wilde.

Original photo and texture layer (-43) by Kim Klassen

Next I am going to find a photo of my own to experiment with!

Challenge 2:

Experiment with your camera. 

Set up a shot and shoot, bumping the f/stop, one stop at a time. 

Move in closer and do it again.
This exercise totally fascinated me!
Perhaps, as someone who once used a Nikon FM SLR back in the day, it shouldn't have . . .

I won't bore you with the gory details . . . 

but have chosen two shoots, SOOC, to demonstrate the difference.

f/stop 5

f/stop 32

Can you see the difference?

I love the dreamier effect one can get with the lower f/stop!

Not that garlic is particularly dreamy . . .

Not exactly the epitome of Valentine's Day wishes either . . .

But wishing you a happy Valentine's Day anyway!

Love, Janet xo

Going Beyond [2B.1]

Wow . . . what a learning experience this has been already!! . . . and on so many levels….

This truly was a challenge for me right from the start . . . 

Kim said: “Set up your own scene”?

I have always been a sort of spontaneous shooter - I am rarely without a camera . . . 
I see something I like - I shoot it!! 

Yikes!! I question my ability to actually even ‘set something up’ in a way that is visually appealing . . . 
I have always been a proponent of the great photographer Diane Arbus, who said:

"I work from awkwardness.

By that I mean I don't like to arrange things. If I stand in front

of something, instead of arranging it, I arrange myself."

 . . . this was exactly what Kim was asking us to do!!  Arrange ourselves, not our subject

 . . . and that is why I am here . . . too learn, to stretch, to grow my creative talents . . . 

So I set up my scene.   Sort of . . . I added the flowers to the red vase

The Scene

Kim said: "try taking 10 different shots"

No problem! I have pretty much always used what is affectionately known as the ‘spray and pray’ approach to photography . . . 
I think I took over 100 shots . . .

  

This is likely why I have always found the next steps to be a huge challenge . . .

Kim said: "Take note of 1 or 2 of your favourites"

Did she say 1 or 2?? 

Note to Self: Learn step 3 in Kim’s ‘Photo Workflow’ - Cull/Sort

I confess. I find it so hard to delete rejects . . . 

I wince, I hesitate, I rationalize and, when I finally force my hand, I apologize profusely to the offending photo . . .

Oh yes I definitely need to be here . . . and now . . . I need this so badly!  I am far too embarrassed to admit to myself tell you how many photos I have saved . . . all over the place . . . or how much time I spend waste looking for them…

So today I will turn over a new leaf . . .

I inspected, I culled, I deleted (ow, Ow, OW)

I realized that I needed to adjust my idea of ‘the scene’

I had too many components to it…a bouquet, a stack of cups, a Ball canning jar. . . In my mind I thought I would use each part in the collage . . . I broke it down and decided I would make three collages! One for the bouquet, one for the cups and one for the Ball Jar . . .

Then I decided that was rationalizing and made a valiant attempt . . .

et voila

Kim asked: "Did I enjoy the challenge?"

Absolutely!!

Kim asked: "Was it difficult to find time for the exercise, did you feel rushed…"

No, not this time because I set aside the whole day (yes, I am lucky that way) to get up to speed . . . which didn’t happen but I will get there . . .

I know I can’t spend a whole day on every assignment but I am so excited to be feeling inspired again!!

Kim suggested: ". . . printing a small version of your fav and . . ."

My fav?????   Uh oh . . .

Okay. Okay.  I'm working on it . . .

Thank you Kim!!

For allowing me to join late and for igniting the creative spark and kick starting my photo mojo . . . 

Love, Janet xo

P.S. I LOVE Ommwriter!!