Photographing Chelsea

Digital Cameras are so wonderful! They open up a new world! To think that we can take as many photos as we want, and simply delete the ones we don’t like.

I was working away at the computer today and I happened to look over and see Chelsea sleeping about 2 ft. away. I decided it was a photo moment. Camera was right next to the computer so I grabbed it and did some practice shots!

Here she is, sleeping in her little bed. Cute photo, but too many distractions in the background. That sewing machine cord looks unattractive and yes the window is blurred, but still not the best frame for the photo. Even if I crop it, I’ll loose some of the photo size. Time to go in for the close up!

Close-up, but where did those ears go? Yes, it’s a dog, but wouldn’t she be much cuter with ears?

So I got in really close, and made sure I had ears in the frame! It adds personality to her photo. It also adds a few little stray hairs to her face! Humm, where did those come from?

No worries. I can Photoshop them out using the clone tool! I enlarged the photo and took out the little hairs.

Isn’t she cute? Pretty near a perfect dog, I mean perfect photo.

For a good pet photo, get down on your pet's level, and get close! Get them when they’re sleeping and you’ve got it made!

Try it with your camera. It works on anything, not just pets. Get in close and see what happens! What have you got to lose? You can always hit delete!

Hugs,

Anne

Go Into The Garden with Camera!

Don’t talk about the weather. Isn’t that some kind of rule?  Not in a blog.  It’s kind of like what you had for lunch,  or when you ask someone “how’s the weather”?   But you have to see this  iphone photo I took on our walk this AM. It was 101 here yesterday and today look at it today!

Cool with a few rain drops off and on.  Chelsea wasn’t impressed at all.  Too busy sniffing the dirt. Bitsy stayed home to work on her birthday list.   She turns 14 on October 7th.

Since I’m working in the studio all day, dreaming of being outside, I thought I’d share some of my backyard photos.  I follow a photography site and the challenge for the day was  “go outside and photograph your backyard”.  So I did! Try it.  Go into your own backyard with your camera in hand!

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And below is a the garden bed from my old house.  I want it back.  Really.  Not the house, just the bed.

And all day today I’m dreaming of lambs.  Wish these were in my garden.  Maybe soon LOL!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Hugs,

 

Anne

Creative photo practice session

I LOVE the way Camille takes her photos.  You know the photos I’m talking about don’t you?  They have the tilt to them.  The angle that give the subject interest? 

So there I was yesterday, up in the studio, putting away my cotton ric rac (rick rack) that just arrived.  (Yes you can spell ric rac either way.) I get this great idea to take a picture for you! 

First I take this one…

Straight up photo: bookshelf with new ric rac,  AND new French General pincushion that I LOVE! No awards here except for maybe the pincushion and the ric rack. So how boring is this photo I ask myself?  Why can’t I be more like Camille?

So I take another photo…camera tilted…

…made myself feel a little sea sick.  Had to move that big pincushion.  It almost fell off LOL!  How does Camille do it?

Let’s try again with my new bunny from Jennifer Murphy…

…Oh no!  I left in the pink file folder and that tacky yellow Tupperware cup I drink out of!  Can you believe I did that?  Oh and that pencil sharpener too! Tilt is there, but the background is SO tacky!

One more time and I’m sure I’ll get it…

…Oh I think this is better.  Just a few lessons from Camille and I might have it!  Notice how the cup is gone and the shelf in the background is blurred.  She’d be proud of me! 

 

So now I try this one…tilt the PINCUSHION and leave the camera straight.  Pure genius.  Ok, I admit not quite genius. 

It does give me a chance to rave about The French General linen pincushion from Moda…it’s LONG, and HEAVY, and I just love it!  It’s weighted and I do mean weighted.  If you had two, you could do arm exercises.  There’s something about them that’s so cool. 

I have them on my web site so you can buy one too.  Just look under notions.   These are heavy (a little over 3 lbs) but we found we can fit one in a flat rate envelope!  It’s true!   Unless you live in another country or your postman has weak arms! 

Back to photography school…

 

Hugs, 

 

Anne