Week 7 - Edited picture 1

FINAL FINAL:

Final Result:

Original:

I created 3 additional layers. 2 layers were adjustment layers. I adjusted the levels. I brought the highlights and shadows in a bit, and shifted the midtones closer to the shadows. I used the magic eraser and removed everything but Jasmine. I then created a new background layer that was a solid black. I still need to do something to fill out the skirt area that was blocked by the head. I wanted to smack the person. :) Ok not really but I got annoyed at how often they would stand up in front of me..

Ok.. I went back and did the obvious and cropped the final.. The Final Final also has an additional layer that adjusts saturation (-40) and vibrance (+40).

composition and aesthetics

There are two rules (other than the golden rule) that stick out from readings I have done on photograpy... Like all rules they are general and not the end all be all..

Animals:
Make sure the eyes are in focus! I have seen were this can make the difference from an animal looking "real" or not.

Landscapes:
Keep your horizon level. Many people find it unsettling if you have a beautiful landscape but the horizon is off.

Framing.. These are a couple of pictures I took in March (before the class) but I could not resist.. I used the window as the frame to the out side.. There is no class in the window..

Light...

All three pictures were taken from overlook park in South Burlington. All were using the P setting on my D40. The dark one was with the bright spot (the sun.. :) ) as the point of focus.. This created a dark foreground as expected. The first image was done by pressing the shutter release half way, thus focusing and doing a meter reading from away from the sun.. I used the trees on the left. This allowed the forground to be exposed better.

The Last picture was focused (metered) on the trees again, but making sure the sun was not fully in frame..

My favorite time for pictures is near sunset.. without a flash. I MUCH prefer natural light.

Compare/contrast assignment

These are from Jasmine's dance recital today.. She was great.. but I am a bit biased. :)

So.. The differences are many.. Landscape vs portrait as well as different shutter speeds and zooms. I have learned a valuable lesson today.. Light decides everything.. and knowing what there are a number of ways to deal with it is key.. These pictures are darker than I would have liked.. what I realized after the fact is that I had not changed the ISO back from 200. ISO rating is the sensor's sensitivity to light.. So I had the right aperture, and was able to use a flash.. but with the lower ISO I was not getting the results I wanted.. I should have been at at least 400. Live and learn.. I suppose I could have set it back to AUTO for ISO..

Taste's like chicken?

I joined Jasmine and her first grade class to Shelburne farms' Dairy farm. The kids giggled whenever the cow did this... The kid in you is giggling now isn't it!

Test upload...

Blogging.. here I thought I would be able to avoid doing it.. I guess not.. :)

A sample image.. Taken this past Friday while checking out our crab apple tree with Ryguy..