DSLR | Little Miss Drama Pants

Self Portrait: Reflection

February 9, 2013 by lilMDP | 2 Comments

I love to tell a story, be it with words or with pictures.

I got a little behind in Capturing My 365 because the shot I wanted to take for yesterday’s prompt required daylight and the days still aren’t quite long enough for that when I get home from work. So today I’m posting a two-fer.

I chose to start CY365 in February because I felt like taking on something as huge as this would be easier to start in a short month. Dip my toe in, so to speak. And it’s in keeping with my resolution to take more pictures in 2013.

Katrina Kennedy offers a monthly list of the photos to take and a daily photo inspiration email. I use both. The planner in me likes to know what is coming up in my week/month and having the list appeases that part of me. The daily inspiration makes me stop and think about the photo idea and often to come up with even better ideas for my photos. I love it because it challenges me as a photographer to really think about what I’m trying to capture. It makes me stop and think about the story I’m trying to tell.

And most importantly of all, it’s fun.

May 20, 2012
by lilMDP 1 Comment

Shooting in Full Manual Mode

I took my second photography class today in which we learned to go full manual mode. It was scary-awesome. Our instructor, Andrew, was really good and was great at critiquing our shots and giving helpful and useful information on how to take a better shot. I think I’d like to take another advanced DSLR class. I feel like I’ve just hit the tip of the iceberg, but there is no substitute for getting out there and actually shooting. So I think I will do both. We’re headed to the beach soon so that will be an excellent time to practice what I’ve learned.

But you want to see pictures, right? Well, here is a shot I took in the class today.

Uncropped

Exposure:1/4000 sec
Aperture:f/1.8
Focal Length:50 mm
Exposure Bias:0
EVISO Speed:200
Flash:Off, Did not fire

Andrew said this was a good shot, but it would be even better if I cropped it. So I cropped it. And you know what? He was right.

Empty Chairs

Both of these classes has brought one thing home for me. Well, two things.

Every picture should tell a story.
Lighting is everything.

So when I got home, I took some shots of my favorite subjects. The Animals.

Charlie

Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture: f/1.8
Focal Length: 50 mm
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
ISO Speed: 200
Flash: Off, Did not fire

I have mixed feelings about this shot. I can’t decide if it’s “warm” or just too yellow. I think it may be a little to washed out, though.

Chelsea

Exposure: 0.05 sec (1/20)
Aperture: f/2.5
Focal Length: 50 mm
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
ISO Speed: 100
Flash: Off, Did not fire

Black cats are so hard to keep clean when they lay around outside.

Chloe

Exposure: 0.02 sec (1/50)
Aperture: f/1.8
Focal Length: 50 mm
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
ISO Speed: 200
Flash: Off, Did not fire

She still hates you and is totally plotting your death, just as soon as she finishes her manifesto.

Cody

Exposure: 0.025 sec (1/40)
Aperture: f/1.8
Focal Length: 50 mm
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
ISO Speed: 200
Flash: Off, Did not fire

Stoic dog is stoic. Also, he is completely unimpressed with the camera despite constantly getting right up in it. If it doesn’t pet him, Cody is not interested in it.

Feet

Exposure: 0.033 sec (1/30)
Aperture: f/2.5
Focal Length: 50 mm
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
ISO Speed: 200
Flash: Off, Did not fire

OMG, puppy feet are SO CUTE! And smell like corn chips. This is Cody in the depths of despair because I will not put down the camera and JUST PET HIM ALREADY.

Next up? I’m getting a wide-angle lens. This one to be exact. And it should be here before we head to the beach. This beach trip will be EPIC.

May 5, 2012
by lilMDP 2 Comments

Afternoon at the Zoo

This morning I took a beginner DSLR course. There was a groupon deal for Chimpsy DSLR classes awhile back and I jumped on it. I’ve played around with the setting on my own and taking quite a few pictures already. I’ve even read a lot of photog blogs. I even bought Scott Kelby’s book and have read through most of it. But hearing the information from someone who is a photographer by profession just made it click for me in a way that reading it didn’t. Plus, she gave us tips that I haven’t found anywhere online or in a book. Maybe because they’re such common knowledge? I don’t know, but I am so glad I took the class and I’m really looking forward to the advanced class I’m taking in a few weeks.

Our instructor, Leslie Hollingsworth, was adamant that the best way to become a better photographer was to take pictures. So I decided to go forth and take pictures at the zoo with my new-found knowledge. I wanted to capture color and tropical birds are great for that, aren’t they? And such posers! It was a lot of fun even though it was approximately as hot as or hotter than the seventh circle of hell. (Note to self: invest in some shorts.)

I’ve got to say, I am pretty impressed with what I was able to capture after just a few hours of instruction. But! I’ve still got so much to learn and plenty of room for improvement.

Here are some of my favorites.

Vogue

Tail Feathers

Peacock Plume

Mated Lorakeets

Flamingos

Jamal the Camel

Pride

Squee!

Monkey!

Wingspan

You can see the rest of the set over here.
Some things I can definitely see myself investing in sometime in the near future:

more memory cards
extra battery
telephoto lens (I will need to save up for a while for this one)
more classes
making time to take more photos
making a list of places/things to photograph

Where are some of your favorite places to go to take photos?

January 2, 2012
by lilMDP 1 Comment

Playing at the Botanical Gardens

The other day, Melissa came over and we went to play with our cameras at the Botanical Gardens. I don’t know why it never occurs to me to visit the Gardens when it’s in the spring… oh, wait. I know why. I’m usually sneezing my head off outdoors and avoid flowering places. Maybe this year that won’t be an issue. (I’ve got a great allergy doctor who has helped me tremendously. Better living through science, bitches!)

The fun thing about going out to take photos with a friend is the creativity flying around and seeing someone else look at something from an angle you normally wouldn’t think of taking a photo or seeing something. I got down and dirty (literally) taking some of these pictures and I think if I hadn’t made that sacrifice (I don’t know if I’ll be able to get the sap out of those pants), I wouldn’t have gotten the great shots I did. Next time I will rethink my wardrobe before going somewhere I plan on laying in the (wet) dirt and grass to get the shot I’m after.

Hinge

The other thing that is good for creativity is that when you go to a Garden in the middle of winter (no matter how warm it is), there aren’t a bunch of pretty flowers to take pictures of so you have to find other interesting things to capture.

Fountain

And you can find color, just in less expected places.

Melissa on the Bridge

You can see the rest of the set here.

Melissa and I decided that we would go back to Botanical Gardens in the spring/summer to see how much we’ve improved and to take some photos of actual flowers.

I’m currently reading The Digital Photography Book by Scott Kelby and it’s a treasure trove of information, but there is still so much more for me to learn. I can’t wait for my photography class in February! In the meantime, I need to find some other places to go take photos. Suggestions, anyone?

December 27, 2011
by lilMDP Leave a comment

Finding (White) Balance

I’m still playing around and discovering new things with my camera. And it keeps getting better. Or maybe I keep getting better? Anyway, I loved the shots I got the other day, but as I’ve said before, the lighting in our house is not great. It’s better than it used to be (losing a bunch of trees will do that) but it’s a long way from being as bright and sunny as I would like. Also, it’s been gloomy and overcast which also doesn’t help.

Anyway, I’m lobbying for track lighting throughout the entire house to alleviate the lighting issue. I may need ~~more~~ people to sign my petition as I am meeting some opposition.

While I am waiting for track lighting petition to go through, I’m learning how to make my own light. Or, you know, changing the white balance setting to create the lighting I want.

Auto White Balance

I was so busy trying to figure out aperture and shutter speed and messing with the ISO that it never really occurred to me to also play with the white balance. That would be why all my photos have a yellowish tint to them. Kind of like a modern sepia? No. I don’t know that you could really call it anything other than horrible lighting.

Auto White Balance EV1

I tried messing with the exposure value and while that helped cut some of the yellow, it’s still not quite what I’m trying to achieve. I want the blue to pop (and the other colors too) and for my whites to really be white.

Flash EV1

I finally tried changing the white balance from automatic. I started with changing it to the flash setting and kept he exposure value to 1. It went in the opposite direction I was trying to go. Completely opposite way. In fact, this is even worse than just the automatic setting.

Fluorescent EV1

The flash setting results were discouraging and even a little embarrassing, but I decided not to let it get me down so I moved on to the fluorescent white balance setting since we actually use a lot of the newer fluorescent lights in our house since they last longer and cost less long-term. This is how I have been slowly converting B into a hippie. “Look, babe! It’s more cost efficient! We should do this.”

Anyway, this was closer to what I’ve always wanted the lighting in my house to look like, but still wasn’t quite right. I mean, I really don’t care for the pink tinge to the ceiling at all.

Tungsten EV1

Even thought I’m shooting these shots under a fluorescent light, the fluorescent white balance setting wasn’t achieving the final result I was looking for in this photo. I wanted crisp whites and colors that pop. And when I changed the white balance setting to tungsten? I finally got the result I was looking for color-wise in this photo. The colors are true to life and the whites really are white.

So what life lesson can we learn from this? Don’t be afraid to try something new to find your white balance. Or just your balance in general. But if we’re talking photography, then you definitely want to find the white balance that works best for your shot.

December 24, 2011
by lilMDP Leave a comment

The Gift That Keeps on Giving

Not that kind of gift, you perv! The best Christmas present I’ve gotten in a very long time has been my new DSLR camera. And it’s kind of like the gift that keeps on giving in that I keep getting things for it. Last night, my MIL gifted me with a new lens. She got me the EF 50mm F/1.8 II. I’ve been playing with it all morning and I really get why it’s so popular.

Here are some of my favorite shots so far.

I still have LOADS to learn about white balance and capturing colors better. I did a little editing in Aperture with some of these photos, but I need to learn how to use that better as well. Luckily I’ve signed up for two classes on how to use my camera better with Chimpsy. One class in February (intro) and another in March(intermediate). I’m really looking forward to both of them. After that, ~~maybe~~ I’ll probably sign up for a class for Aperture.

Now, I really need to get my ass in gear and go bake some cookies.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

December 4, 2011
by lilMDP 1 Comment

Christmas Comes Early

The other day B received a package from Amazon and wouldn’t tell me what it was so I had to assume it was for me. Today, he asked me if I wanted my Christmas present early. I opted for yes. I mean, who waits to open a present when you get the option to open it now?

Also, my family (read: baby sister) and I are notorious for calling each other and going, “Do you want [fill in the blank] for Christmas? Yes? OK. Don’t buy it. I’m getting you that.” Does anyone else do that? Or is it just us? I’m sure some people think we’re taking the fun out of gift giving, but we’re really not. We’re just building up anticipation without the worry of a tragic let down. I’m sure this is a side effect of getting a lot of bad clothing as gifts when we were kids. I mean, how may pairs of lacy fold down socks can one self-professed tomboy get? One pair is one too many.

ANYWAY. I digress.

My sweet husband got me something I’d been wanting for a really long time. A camera upgrade.

I love taking pictures. It’s a side effect of being kinda asiany. It’s in my blood. And, well, I like capturing moments of life. As soon as I saw this camera, I did two things. Well, three things.

I kissed my husband soundly. Several times. Wouldn’t you?
I started charging the battery.
I read the Pioneer Woman’s What the Heck is Aperture series.

And once my battery was charged, I tried out my new camera around the house.

Charlie on the Front Steps

Ornament Wreath in Natural Daylight

Cody Chilling on the Sofa

Chloe Doing What She Does Best

Festive Lights

Do you know how hard it is to photograph a black cat?

Of course I took another photo of the Christmas tree

B’s reasoning for giving my Christmas present early was so I could get used to using it before all the family get-togethers started so I’d be able to take pictures like I like to do. I think his reasoning is sound. I’ve got so much to learn. And I’m so excited about it!

B got me the kit that comes with the EF-S 18-55 IS II lens. I will be purchasing the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Camera Lens shortly. And I’m thinking about getting this camera bag insert to go in my Namaste Cali Malibu purse. I mean, why buy another bag when I have one that will do it all? It’s the mother of all kitchen sink bags and it’s purple! One of my favorite colors.

So here’s my question for you guys. What are your favorite photography blogs? Canon lenses? Other must have accessories? Workshops that you love? Your favorite trick for taking photos? I’m all ears. Eyes? Either way, I’m ready to learn more. Lots more.

Little Miss Drama Pants

a hot asiany mess

Tag Archives: DSLR