No Photos for a while

Why? Because my Gateway's motherboard died over the weekend. Luckily for me I still have the hard drive and all the images from my classes and eariler works on my memory cards so I didn't lose any photos, there just won't be any for a while. But Imma try and post the rest of the Black and white photos in another post after this one

Black and white photos

Ok I have a treat for all you guys that view this blog if anyone actually reads this. I know this is way way late but these are the final Photos  from my First Portfolio project, I will post the final nine for the second set once I get the critiques and everything out the way. So without further adieu Here's my final nine photos from my First Portfolio

So This is my First Photo all these images were taken at the Botanical gardens in Norfolk Virginia, This is a statue of I think The virgin Mary and a little baby. I've taken numerous photos of this statue but I think it looks wonderful as Black and white. One thing I hated was that it was a pain in the butt to make this thing black and white, I couldn't find the balance that I wanted for the longest time, because I'm picky about my photos like that, truth be told I'm still not happy about it but it'll do I suppose you can't have perfect everything. Next Photo

Second Photo. In class I got a lot of comments on this one. This one, as in this one spot could be my little escape, that and I have plans to do a cosplay shoot at this one spot. Hopefully photos of this one will be done once I get the costume and things for it. Anyway this one was fairly easy to edit I think I like the sky and the flowers most this one was even more of a pain to edit than the last one was because I had such a rich amount of color that I had to just deepen the sky and whiten the flowers and boom this photo. Next up

This one here is from the Japanese Garden, When I take Photos I want my viewers or lack of to feel what I feel when I take photos. When I took this photo I felt relaxed, calm, at peace and I hope you guys can feel the same.

This is only three of the nine pictures I have I'll post the other six at a later time But I guess this is what you call a teaser post, Next Post will probably be more edited photos or my personal photos of having learned Shutter Priority mode. Probably Shutter priority mode because I plan on going to Busch Gardens for a bit and freezing the roller coasters as they move.

Shutter Priority mode/compliments

WHoot I learned yet another skill set! How to use Rea(my dear Nikon 3100) Don't judge me I don't pick names for my camera they tell me their names. Well except for beloved I kinda chose that name(He's my Nikon D40 by the way and my personal/adventure/slash will always have a soft spot in my heart for camera. I love my cameras. Anyway....

So I learned last week to use the Shutter Priority mode on Rea to take photos the assignment was once again to get 150-300(I got 320 @_@) still amazed I shot that much I don't realize how much I shoot sometimes. Sorry getting distracted again. Anyway As I said a few posts back whenever I learn a new skill set or some new mode on my Camera I will take my personal camera out and shoot using that mode and post photos.

Now there's gonna be two separate posts for this. The first set is gonna be from the photos I took using Beloved, and the second set from my Portfolio assignment. But before I start the photo posting. Something really odd, well not odd I guess I'm just not really used to getting them is that I've been getting a lot of compliments on my photos from my class mates. Two of which are guys I sit between one is a professional that works with Lifetouch, and the other two from my instructor who's also a professional and the third another classmate that shoots models. I think the most flattering, that made me feel really shy about my skills. Why I'm shy? I dunno Its how I am I don't get complimented on things much so my reaction to it is to be really shy and knock my photos off as they're nothing special they suck, they could be so much better. But The comment was after he had complemented me  on my composition was if you can do these kinds of pictures with an entry level camera think of what you can do with a professional one. I almost went speechless after that. I don't really think I'm THAT good. I just shoot what I want to be engraved in people's brains, and for them to know the beauty of this planet that we're slowly destroying. I mean if the great spirit Gaia were real(yes that was a captain planet reference) I would love to shoot photos of her to show the world the damage we're doing to it.

Ok onto photos now that I've had my sappy everyone is probably gonna skip that whole paragraph rant. Photo time.

 Ok so here's my first pic. Honestly it came out pretty well with the exception of that frog leaf off towards the right being bright as crap, the photo looks peaceful tranquil, like a Japanese Garden is supposed to look I felt so relaxed walking through it.

Ok this is the sand garden. Normally in Japanese Gardens one doesn't walk in these and play in them just observe them I've seen a numerous amount of these pics, some of them are huge with many rocks and boulders, and some are like this with just two. I forget the purpose behind them but yeah the whole theory is to observe and let nature relax you and go with the flow

Photo edits/short post

Ok as it is 12:37 at night and I probably won't finish this post before I fall asleep I'm just letting you guys know I got around to editing one of the pics that I want to post....if I can retrieve it I'll show you the after pic with all the color effects, the before pic will probably be up tomorrow once I edit this post.

Ok here's the first photo edit from the Rally I think it was...three weeks going on now...no a month ago. The main campus I go was having a call to arms rally and my instructor, That dude in the pic talked about his life and how he didn't let the bad things that happened to him keep him down, and from finding his own success, He is a very inspirational man, and a very kind one as well that lives for helping people find their own success in life. His shirt and the reason only the o and the two rings are edited is because I feel strongly about it. During his speech at one point he was talking about sex symbols and um, yeah kinda held up a pair of lingerie, of course he stated that's what America and the world wants you to think is the typical sex symbol, so he proceeds to take the top half of his suit off and lo and behold this shirt. I'll post what he was wearing before this one but in my eyes, Marriage is the true sex symbol not only because its the right thing to do but because marriage kind of symbolizes that closeness during sex, and that unity, and to me that's what marriage is, becoming one, becoming unified in a close bond that will always last and never separate.

Yeah that's my sappy for the night I'm off to bed now so I can get up in a few hours.

Call to Arms Rally/Continuation of 150 pics Assignment

Ok found the memory card, in my backpack of all places. Kinda feel like Dora the explorer now, and singing that cute little backpack song....ok focus. Sorry I tend to go off on little rants like that. Yeah I hate it......

Anyway that aside and distractions aside I found my memory card, and I'll look through the pics and pick which ones I want to play color with, and if I still have my final count of 260 pics from my garden adventure I'll post more of those for you guys so I can show off more. I also did a few self portrait pics. I don't know if I'm bold enough to post pictures of myself on line yet. I'm not really all that pretty and my hair is a literal mess. Yeah I can be a girl at times so what. I'm usually a huge tomboy though, ok I'll post one of my self portrait  photos so don't laugh at me, I was wearing one of my lolita dresses. Needless to say that little photo op went kaput cause I didn't have much light to work with because it was like five-six in the evening and town point park was pretty much closing down. Yeah I just looked at the photos....not getting my self portraits they are terrible. Wait till I complete the outfit I was wearing and then I'll do another set when the sun ISN'T going down.

But I will however give my readers and viewers this.

 and this

 annnnnd these last two

 Ok that's enough pictuure posting for now I'll get around to giving my self critique sometime in the week looking through rally photos now See you guys next time

Next set/Photoshop edits

So two weeks ago I went to my college's call to arms rally, and had blast and took a few photos as soon as I find the memory card and pick which ones I need I'll be doing a little color accent and some other things to the photos. I want to be able to take photos without the use of having to use photoshop but sometimes that option isn't available so look for those photos soon

Class assignment: 150 pictures

Ok New post. I have an assignment/portfolio project. My theme, one of my favorites and what I always return to. Nature. Nature nature nature nature. No I won't post all 150 pics but probably the normal two or three. The goal was to take a far away shot get closer, re meter and get closer still and repeat process. I'm five pics under where I need to be and I haven't even covered the whole park yet wow! but hey that means lots of leftovers for me to post as favorites and where I can improve on. Once again all these are taken in manual which I'm starting to love. So first pic

Ok this is my first what I consider a post card Pic. I have a landscape version of it but I wanted to show off this version. I think it gives the feel of a vacation or someone getting ready to go on a beach date. Its just very summery and reminiscent of summer going into fall when you would go on a beach walk with your significant other and enjoy the last remaining remnants of fall.

This is one of the boats that you can ride on and would have been a perfect subject to take pictures of all the little things on it but I was pressed for time and only had time to get this one. Looking at this picture, it gives me feelings like I'm standing right there in the park looking at that boat thinking hey let's go  on a ride if I had someone with me or hey what an adventure this would be if I were by myself looking at this picture. Its just perfect and looks like something out of a tropical island.

 

Ok I have to admit I snuck this one. He was checking the water, I don't know what for but I couldn't help it that was all but screaming get this shot get this shot. and its kinda one of those rare candid ones that you get and don't realize until after you take it. I had to zoom in using my 55-200 lens because he was to far away at the time. Ok last Photo

  Ok Last pic before bed. I wanted a different look and feel to this pick. more of a sun's rays coming over it but I can dream can't I?"I think it still looks good makes you wanna hang out on  it on a hot day and such.

So that's about it for me See you guys next time

Zoo Adventures in Manual

So I went to the zoo, and I plan on doing something like this every time I learn something new in class or learn a new rule.  So I learned how to shoot with my Camera in Manual mode, so I took my beloved(My Nikon D40 on an adventure to the zoo, and these are some of the shots I got. None of these shots are edited or anything. So onto the First pic

Ok this is the first pic I took and I posted this one for a reason. This was my first experiment in manual mode so the exposure is really crap. Actually its not all that bad but It can be better. So next photo

Now this is the better photo, the exposure is a lot brighter and I had my ah ha moment and had it almost perfectly metered. Its a still shot so meh, I want to get better so hopefully I will. Next pic.

This is a picture of a giraffe, I have a whole ton of these, I find hem to be very beautiful animals and was hoping for a shot where he looked at me but sadly I didn't get that shot.  I think this was the baby one, the bigger one was way in the back in the enclosure. I think the exposure and composition are good, and it follows some of the rules, but I think this is one of the best photos of this animal I have. Next Photo

Ok probably my favorite shot of the whole trip. This is  an...okuburo I think. He's a type of deer animal meaning he has antlers to fight with and defend himself with. I am in love with this photo because its perfectly metered, the exposure is what I wanted and I think its worthy enough to go into a photo contest. Might now win anything but hey oh well. 

So that's about it for this Entry. Next one will probably contain photos from my adventures in the gardens when I go.

Class assignment/Adventures in Manual Pt 2.

Yeah this is just gonna be a separate entry to the first one. I kinda got into my Crochet a few days ago and forgot about this, I need to have it done by Fri....yeah I'm bad with dates can't you tell? Anyway Here are the photos I took from the Scavenger Hunt Assignment, I'm not sure the names of the people in my group But I'll post that picture First Even though I think I have a better one.

Ok This photo is of myself and the people in my group I'm still learning as I'm in classes to do this professionally and I can already see a number of things wrong with this. The guy to my right looks purple and there wasn't enough light and exposure to the back. However I think it does a good job following the rule of thirds. If I could go back and take this photo again I probably would. The lady to the left of me is a bit fuzzy as well, maybe its just because the pic is small. I dunno anyway that's my thoughts on that one. Not my fav but hey I like to critique my own work. Ok Next Photo

 This is my second photo Of something round. Yes its an oil drum its what we found when we took our group shot. Things wrong with this picture, Aside from getting one of my group members arms along with his camera, I still don't know how that happened. I don't see anything particularly wrong with this photo other than the can being in the photo but I couldn't help that I didn't want to move someone's property. I think the exposure is good, the photo is clear so that's a plus.  Its a bit dark but it reflects the atmosphere in the alley and gives it that ol downtown Brooklyn feel. I dunno I think it does

Now this one here would probably be my favorite Picture. Why? Because one I love butterflies, two they were on a gate in front of a church, and three, look at the feather like wings. If it wasn't for the fact that the main body was metal, I woulda thought this was a real butterfly. I like that the focus is on he butterfly and surrounding metal and the fact that I got a good bit of bokeh in the background, it almost looks dreamy/magical, like the butterfly will come alive and flutter off into the sky. Yeah I'm weird like that. But hey its my photo. Um I think it follows the rules that were specified and I know we were only supposed to post one picture but I can't just post one of something, its an adventure, coming back and sharing just that one good thing is like teasing everyone in my opinion.

So Those are my three top ones From Least to favorite. Hopefully I'll get better as the year goes by and I can share better Photographs

Class assignment/Advventures in Manual

Ok so yeah that post is two days late but you know what that's ok, long as I get this in here its fine. Anyway I had a class assignment, a group assignment on Friday. Before I get to that let me explain a few things. As I said last class I'm an ametur photographer, and it is some day to be my career. So anyway I'm a photography major, though at TCC they refer to it as a specilized studio art class. Why I dunno, they just do. Silly schools.

Anyway I go to the seperate building called the Visual Art center where they booku amount of fields to study But I'm getting off topic here.

So the assignment was a mini Scavenger Hunt where myself and my group had to find seven items, Something read, something round, something ordinary looking, contrasting object, and the last one converging lines. There was also another bit where everyone had to get a group shot photographer included. That part was the most enjoyable for me. ^_^ Umm anyway This was the first time I've used Manual mode on my DSLR, my newest one, and I think I'll use it more often to photograph instead of the auto modes.

Because my Camera, and memory cards are in my trunk in my car I'm afraid I won't be able to post the pics tonight, but when I do I'll give you a small description of each photo with my favorite at the top to start the showcasing until then have a good night everyone

Welcome/Introduction

Welcome to my blog, I almost never use this and I've had to reformat it because I have a reason to use it now. Um yeah Little about me. I'm 26 years old and have been into photography since 2003-05 range. Up until that point, well I guess I've always been interested in it, because I only look in magazines to look at the photos so it may have been way before that.

Like I said I've Been into the hobby since 2003-05 range. How I got into it is both a sad and a good one. When my aunt Donna died and we, that is to say my Dad my brother and me,mother stayed behind to watch the house and stuff, I ran around snapping photos like heck. At that time I only had access to a small point and shoot, and I think when we returned I had shot over like...I don't know 200+ pics. Sadly half of those got deleted because me and novice self at the time didn't know that formatting a memory card would erase all your photos. I don't believe there was that message that said all photos will be lost either, just a "are you sure you want to format said memory card" message. So yeah take it from me folks, DO NOT TOUCH THE FORMAT CARD OPTION ON YOUR POINT AND SHOOT OR DSLR less you want to lose all of your pretty photos take it from someone that's done it. it Ain't pretty.

Anyway, when we came back down here I slowly, well not really slowly through pulling a crapton of hours at my then one job at the time I managed to get a rather nice big paycheck, upon researching, and doing a whole lot of number crunching and price checking in between I bought my First DSLR, my Beloved Nikon D40. From the time I bought it up until the time I started working two jobs I don't think I ever stopped taking photos with that Camera. I'm the kind of person that likes things quick and simple so I shot in Automatic modes most of the time, Most of my earlier pictures, which I clock in at around 1k to maybe 2k photos. When I picked up a second job I sadly and regretfully couldn't shoot photos as much as I liked, and once I got my license well yeah all heck broke lose from there, now with a means of transportation I attended my First American Indian Festival The photos from that event can be found here American Indian Festival .

Between that time and my next big photo event I shot wild animals, mainly geese before they hung around in a small shopping center, A snow storm, and various other things that I haven't uploaded to any of my photo sites. My next big event, I would have to say was the Bark in the Park, which is a local I guess you can call it a mini festival where people Bring their dogs out, and have a good time. Its sponsered by the Chesapeake SPCA and they had many tents up to adopt certain dogs, reptiles and carious animals and games for the kids up. They also had various demonstrations involving dogs and the roles they played in the city. Photos from that Event can be found here Bark in the Park

Next up and I'll stop after this because I have to head to work soon. >_< Was Virginia's, what I consider to be its biggest since we only have two, is the 2011 Nekocon, where anime fans, comic fans, movie fans and such on hole up in the Hampton Convention Center for three days and shoot photos buy things and have a good ol fashioned time. Images from this event which I have to say is my most favorite and memorable Can be found here Nekocon

Ok that's about it for my introduction I'll have another post probably later tonight....