I Clicked It Up a Notch - March Contest

It's that time again! Click it up a Notch's monthly photo contest! This is my favorite shot from the month. It's not a shot of my son (for once), but the first signs of Spring. Living in Washington state, where the rain never ends, shots like these are vitally important. It's probably one of the few signs of Spring we've had here!


 So here's my favorite shot from the month of March:

Make sure you check out the other entries in the contest! You won't be disappointed!

Tuesday's Random Thought

So if you've been living under a rock with no access to internet or TV, here's what you've missed.

17 year old Trayvon Martin was shot and killed in Sanford, Florida while he was heading home from a convenience store where he picked up a bag of skittles and an iced tea. Neighborhood watch volunteer George  Zimmerman (28) called the police after seeing Trayvon walking through his neighborhood. After being seen by Zimmerman, Trayvon started running. Zimmerman ran after him after being told repeatedly to let the cops handle it. Zimmerman lost Trayvon, walked back to his SUV. Trayvon came up to Zimmerman about that time and a fight broke out between the two. Neighbors reported hearing screaming, and then hearing Trayvon yell for help repeatedly until the gunshots were fired. When they went outside, Zimmerman was standing over Trayvon with his hand on his back, as if holding the badly bleeding near death teen down.

Zimmerman yelled self defense and is now free.

What part of that story says "self defense" to you? Was it before or after Zimmerman started chasing Trayvon? Was it before or after Zimmerman had Trayvon on the ground? Was it before or after Zimmerman pulled a gun on a defenseless 17 year old?

I think what really upsets me about this case is that people are actually backing Zimmerman's absurd right to self defense. His self defense stance ended when he ignored the police and started chasing after Trayvon. By that time, his self defense turned into assault. By the end of it, it was assault with a deadly weapon. After that, it's murder.

So why isn't Zimmerman locked up yet?

Photography Basics: Aperture

Have you ever wondered how photographers get those amazing blurred backgrounds, only having the subject in perfect focus? The secret to it is really no secret at all! It's simply knowing how to use your aperture! But before you can use it, you have to know what it is.

An aperture is an opening in your camera that limits the amount of light let into the camera. The aperture of the camera is similar to the pupil of your eye. When your pupil dilates (generally in low light conditions, like walking to the bathroom in the middle of the night) it gets bigger to let in more light, so things that you weren't able to see before in those dark conditions you can see now with clarity. However, when your pupil contracts (in very bright situations, like being outside at noon) it gets much smaller to limit the amount of light needed to see objects clearly. An aperture works the same way. The bigger the hole, the more light is let in. The smaller the hole, the less light.

With me so far?

Aperture is expressed in terms of f stops, for example, f/1.8 or f/16. The larger the number, the smaller the aperture is. The smaller the hole, the bigger the aperture is. It's confusing, but once you get in there and start practicing with it, it becomes a lot easier to understand. Just remember, small number, big hole. Big number, small hole.

So let's put aperture to use. Here are three examples of a photo with three very different apertures.

 f/1.8

 f/5.6

f/13

Yes, this is Chewbacca. My two year old volunteered him for a photo shoot today. ;)

You'll notice in the first picture Chewbacca stands out from the background. He's perfectly in focus while the rest of the blanket and chair behind him are blurred. However, in the last one, you can see everything in almost perfect focus. What you'll also notice is that the quality of the third picture is terrible compared to the first. I had to bump my shutter speed down to right around 1/30 and my ISO all the way up to 6400 in order to make sure the last wasn't underexposed because of the super high aperture (bigger number, smaller hole, less light). 

Another thing to remember about aperture is that it works on a geometric plane. Take a look back at the first picture.You'll notice that directly in front and behind of Chewbacca are blurred, but to the immediate left and right, it's just as equally in focus as the subject. While you're out shooting, make sure you keep on eye on the plane.

When to use a higher versus lower aperture

I know a lot of people who shoot with their aperture wide open (at the lowest f-stop), I can be one of them! There are some situations where having a higher f-stop results in a better photo than a lower one. City skylines, photos of mountains, streams, waterfalls, all are better with a higher aperture because you want every detail of it captured. A lower f-stop is preferred in portraits, pictures of your loved ones, your dog, etc, so that they are the focus of the moment. Another time to use a higher f-stop during a photo session is if you want to capture the surroundings of your subject, the flowers in the background, the beautiful landscape or mountains, etc. What aperture you decide to use is entirely up to what potential you see in that photo! 

Next week we'll finish up the last leg of the exposure triangle: shutter speed! I would love to see your examples of playing with aperture. What aperture range do you prefer the most?

Tuesday's Random Thought

I am having horrible luck with babysitters. One of them walked out of the house with my son without telling us she was leaving. The next just can't ever seem to make it to the house, which has resulted in me missing two days of work. I really like the third, but don't expect her to show up on call. Plus we can't afford her. So I'm setting up an interview with a fourth babysitter hoping that this time it'll be it. Which may not matter after today's fiasco because my job may just fire me for being unreliable. But I think I've decided I don't really care. I'm enjoying being a stay at home mom. I enjoy running my own photography business and watching it grow. I'm enjoying studying medical transcription. I'm enjoying being free.

So I'm totally prepared to lose this job. It'll suck, because I've never been fired before, but I know I'll be happy.

And if I do get to keep the job, I will continue to learn and grow from it until it's time to move on.

Pinterest Challenge Day 6

A picture is worth a thousand words. Today's Pinterest Challenge was about telling a story using pictures. I spent a better part of the day trying to figure out what story I could tell. It wasn't until hubby came through the front door limping from his road march this morning that it hit me. What story is ever better than a husband and daddy coming home after work? This story will always be special to me, but more so to our son in years to come. So here's my story:

Cute, huh? I think he's turning into a daddy's boy. ;)  What story do you want your pictures to tell?

Pinterest Challenge Day 5

I loathe self portraits. Maybe it's because I generally don't rock them the way I've seen others, or maybe it's because I'm such a harsh critic on myself, but I seriously don't like them. So I balked when Courtney mentioned that we were going to do self portraits as part of the Pinterest challenge. I  mean, blech!!

But... I did it anyway. And I learned that taking a good self portrait is more than getting the technical right. It's being who you are and portraying who you are through the camera. That's what makes a good self portrait. So here's a couple of mine (hubby only suffered through one, but Balian is always game).

Cute huh? Definitely some of my favorite photos of myself. I think it's because of who is in them. ;)

Post a link to your own self portrait. What are your inhibitions about taking self portraits?

Pinterest Challenge Day 4

Here is my day 4 Pinterest Challenge entry. Today's post was about Outdoor Photography, mainly about the golden hour and how to deal with the blaring noon day sun. I couldn't get outside during the hour of sun we had earlier today, so I pulled this one of my best friend. This was shot during the golden hour in Virginia. You can see the way her face has a glow from where the sun hits it. 

Check out the other amazing entries! And I'd love to know, what are your weaknesses when it comes to photography? Do you have problems shooting in full sun? What are some tips to help you overcome them?

Pinterest Challenge Day 2

I have been following the Pinterest Challenge by the Sits Girls and done by Courtney at Click it Up a Notch. I know it seems like I'm constantly going over basics, but that's really what photography is. Everything builds on these basics of light and composition. Once you have these ingrained and pounded into your head, the rest follows naturally.

The Day 2 Challenge focused on how to straighten photos and clean up images. My photos are generally very busy. I always have a ton of clutter in my house, so this was a challenging thing for me. I picked the hallway leading as the spot for the challenge since it's where I get the best light and it's where a lot of the clutter seems to end up. John's ruck pack, dirty laundry, toys are always scattered through here. I picked up the toys, moved hubby's ruck sack, put the laundry where it was supposed to be, and closed the bathroom door. Then I opened the shutters in both bedrooms to let in more light. Here's the before and after results:

Doesn't that look better?? It's definitely getting me motivated to clean up the house. ;)

Where's your worst clutter area? Clean it up and take a pic! And check out this article about how to prepare a room for a session in your own home!

Tuesday's Random Thought

I feel like life is going too quickly. The remote is stuck on fast forward, and I can't unstick it!

My greatest fear is that I'll wake up one morning, and I'll be 80 and have not achieved anything in this life, but instead, spent it on the trivial.

Tuesday's Random Thought

I am not a perfect mom. I never have been and I never will be. Let me explain...

I do not spend every second of every minute of every hour of every day watching my child. I know, shocking right? I mean, isn't that what stay at home mom's do?? Sit in the floor and provide their kids with an ever moving plaything?

We do not fork over the extra money for organics. Love some of it, hate the rest.

Balian is not enrolled in extra classes to help him develop. He's ahead of most kids his age regardless.

I breastfed him for less than a month. He's been a formula baby since then.

So no, I'm not the typical stay at home mom. For the greater part of the day, I work on editing photos and building my businesses, provided I'm not working at the studio. If he's not helping, he's in his room playing with his toys. He brings me books and toys to play with him, and those are my breaks. But not every second of my life is devoted to him. For you moms whose lives revolve around your kid, kudos to you. I can't do it. It would drive me insane.

If I could enroll my son in any class, it would be a music class. He ADORES music, especially classical. He also love photography, but I can teach him that once he is old enough. He's smarter than most kids I've seen his age and can figure out problems pretty quickly that most two year olds would give up on.

So no, I'm not a perfect mom. But I am a damn good one. I am a lenient parent. He isn't told "no" often, but when he does, he listens and understands.

Balian is healthy, intelligent, loving, carefree, social, energetic, and loved. I don't have to be a perfect mother. I just have to be his mom. And that's really all that matters.

Because It's Monday

My gorgeous and amazing friend Anna at Living the Leviner Life posted these, and since I completely blanked on the last ones she tagged me in, I'm doing these. Enjoy. :)

1. Post these rules.
2. Post 11 random things about yourself.
3. Answer the questions set for you in their post.
4. Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.
5. Go to their blog and tell them you've tagged them.

11 Random Things About Me:

1.) I'm a Pinterest Junkie, and am obsessed with creating some of the things I've found there. Current project: key fobs out of old credit cards.

2.) My brain is deciding it can't sleep tonight.

3.) Mainly because I've been planning out how to tell everyone I'm pregnant once I am (NO I am NOT currently. Just a future thing. And it will be awesome.). This comes from having six different friends who are currently pregnant.

4.) I ordered a necklace from an Etsy store tonight. It's custom made and amazing. I loved my Jewish star, but I've worn it every day for five years. It was time for a change.

5.) I may be bi-polar. Still waiting on that diagnosis to come back.

6.) My very first Epiphanie bag comes in tomorrow.

7.) John and I decided that we were each going to get one fun thing from this refund check. I bought the Epiphanie bag. He bought a new TV. 

8.) All of our bills are paid, and we've paid a significant amount on our car. This makes me happy.

9.) Tonight I had a random controversial thought regarding the person who said vaginal ultrasounds could be considered rape to women wanting an abortion. If a vaginal ultrasound is rape, then what the hell is an abortion? If you can't handle the ultrasound, then why are you having an abortion to begin with??? 

10.) I frequently become frustrated when I don't receive critiques and feedbacks on my photography. Yes, I know the shot was good/amazing/cute/sweet/etc... Tell me what I can do better!

11.) I have amazing best friends who take time to fly out to see me and send me random videos on Facebook to cheer me up.

Here are the questions that Anna put on her post for reposters:
1) What book are you currently reading?

   House Rules by Jodi Picoult

2) What was your favorite subject in school?

   17th Century Literature, Elizabethan Literature, and History of the English Language.

3) Do you have any pets?

   Yes. One American Eskimo four year old pup. He's my first son, Balian's older brother.

4) What is your favorite dessert?

   It depends on the day.

5) Who inspires you?

   Michelle Mullins. Marquis Dugger. Charlotte Tomlinson. My husband. And my mom.

6) How do you like to spend your free time?

   Shooting pictures and editing photos. 

7) What is your favorite movie from the '90's?

    The Lion King.

8) What's your favorite memory from childhood?

    Watching mom play Pokemon Stadium. Joint playing Sonic the Hedgehog 2 with my sister (you couldn't save the game, so you better have a partner!). Innocence.

9) Where's your favorite vacation spot?

    Chincoteague Island or James River State Park.

10) Do you prefer the city or the country?

     The Suburbs.

11) What kind of you climate would you prefer to live in?

    It changes. Lately, I've been missing the extreme humidity of South Georgia. 

So here's my 11 questions for you to answer, should you ever want to repost.

1.) What is your favorite season and why?

2.) Do you like to cook?

3.) Who is your celeb crush?

4.) What is your dream job?

5.) Do you prefer American History or British History?

6.) What is your favorite book?

7.) If you could spend the rest of your life in one place, where would it be?

8.) Would you survive a Zombie Apocalypse?

9.) What is one thing you would you tell your twelve year old self knowing what you do now?

10.) What is one of your pet peeves?

11.) What is the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow?

Make sure you link back up by commenting below so I can read your answers! Have fun!

Photography Basics: ISO

This week I'm going to delve into one of the terms of photography that you hear and kind of understand, but never really think of when shooting: ISO. ISO stands for the International Standardization Organization and is "the numerical exposure index of a photographic film under the system adopted by the International Standardization organization, used to indicate the light sensitivity of the film's emulsion" (thank you dictionary.com). That definition is a supreme mouthful, so let me help break it down.

ISO is signified by a number (100, 200, 400, 800, etc) that denotes how much light the sensor will take. ISO is a compensation tool, part of the three points of the exposure triangle (aperture and shutter speed are the other two points, but we'll get to those later). The higher the ISO setting, the brighter the picture. Higher ISO's are often used in low light situations. Say you were in your living room watching your two year old play on the couch and it's night time. You (or if you have your camera set on autoISO, then your camera) may bump your ISO up to 800 or higher to get the right amount of light in the sensor to expose the photo properly. Make sense?

 ISO is a way for the computer inside your camera to compensate for the lack of light in any given 
situation. It changes the sensitivity of the camera's sensor so that, even in darker situations, you get a bright and prettily exposed photo.

Here's an example: 

ISO 100

ISO 200

ISO 400

ISO 800

The first picture was shot using ISO 100. The second one was ISO 200, then 400 and then 800. The only setting I changed was the ISO (aperture was f/1.8 and shutterspeed was 1/40 for all four pictures). The first shot is a little underexposed and the last is way too overexposed. ISO 200 seems a tad dark, but the details show up a little better than they do in ISO 400.

Depending on the camera you use, lens, what have you, ISO values can vary. Using my 35 mm, I can achieve an ISO setting of 12800. Some ISO settings can go even higher than that, though I don't recommend going that high for a very good reason: noise level.

Noise in a photo refers to the specks and dots that appear in an image. The camera tries to compensate for the higher levels of light by filling in missing pixels with extraneous information, leading to specks of color and ugliness. The higher your ISO, the more noise or grain is in the picture. Let's look at two more examples:

 ISO 100

ISO 3200

  Look at the top of each picture, right where the brown edging disappears. The brown in the first photo is much clearer than in the second photo. In the second photo, the brown looks a little lighter, a little more degraded. That's the noise (if you click on the image, you can see better what I'm talking about).

It's ultimately up to you what you decide to shoot on in regards to ISO. Sometimes using a higher ISO can't be helped unless you're able to use a flash. I personally try not to shoot with an ISO higher than 800. Past that, the noise becomes noticeable and the picture quality isn't as good (in my opinion). Find the "sweet spot" with your camera and experiment. I'd love to hear about and see your own examples!