katydid...feel flower-y.

So, in addition to getting better at photography by taking a picture everyday, I also want to get better at Photoshop. Right now, I'm diggin' the black & white conversions.

katydid...make a new year's resolution.

I resolve to take at least 1 picture everyday (and eat more veggies and workout 3x per week). Today I went out for a walk (exercise!) & tried out things on my new camera. It really takes a lot of getting used to!

(Ansel Adams...EAT YOUR HEART OUT!) ;)

katydid...get a new camera!

I am now the proud owner of a Canon 40d. I was going to wait a few months, but I had the money all saved up & Hans was really encouraging me to go for it. What can I say: I'm a sucker for peer pressure! It was actually quite difficult to find the one with the kit lens I wanted (28-135mm). The night after I got it, we went out to do some night photography...something that would have been impossible on my other camera!


Check out these shots (the first one is straight out of the camera & the second one has be photoshop'd a bit...I don't think I set the white balance right. OOPS!)

katydid...not take a hiatus from photographing!

I got so wrapped up (literally) in the holidays & such that I haven't gotten around to posting any new pictures. But, rest assured, I HAVE BEEN TAKING THEM! Here's a sample from over the past weeks:

katydid...make a gummy bear army.

That's right: a gummy bear army.

Back story: I was out getting stocking stuffers (candy...shhhhh don't tell Hans!) during my lunch break and bought some gummy bears for me to keep at my desk. Well, I forgot to take them out of the bag when I got back to the office. On the ride home from work I started thinking about how light might look going through them. They are, afterall, gummy jewels of sugary goodness!

So, feeling inspired, I got home, grabbed a flashlight, my camera, and white paper to put them on. Of course, I ate the poor buggers that wouldn't stand up properly. Gimps. All & all it was an experience in night photography & noise reduction software (my camera is woefully noisy)! It also hightlighted my need for a true macro lense. **sigh** Someday...

Anyhow, some of these turned out super cool, although it appears a bit like they are heading to the Mother Ship.

katydid...get into the spirit of the season!

Hans got his new bike frame yesterday. A shiny, new, red bike. He named it Radio Flyer and rode it this morning, so it's already dirty. :( Good thing I took a picture of it!

The other one is from this morning. I snapped it just before leaving for work; the sun was rising and only the very tippy-top of the trees have leaves. The red color is partly due to the red leaves but also the sunrise. It was totally worth being 5 min late to work!

katydid...work on using aperture creatively.

I freaking puffy heart a good depth of field! And how do you get that, class? That's right, say it with me: A-PER-TURE! HOLLA! So, this weekend Hans & I headed over to T.R. Island and tried to capture what late fall looks like here. It's a pretty ugly time of year. The trees are half barren and there's lots of brown around. This is what I came up with:



Notice that it's basically the same picture, just different focal points (one has the focus on the foreground & one has the background).

I love the pattern & texture on the tree. I was trying to focus on pattern this weekend. It can be so hard photographing places and things that are familiar to you. Hans & my teacher suggested that when we have "photographer's"-block, we focus instead on shadow, lines, etc. to help us see our world in a new light.

I don't know what these berries are, but I love this grouping of three.



I wish all of these pictures were crisper...my shutter speed was a bit too slow and I was shivering! :)

Santa, can I have a tripod PLEASE?!? I've been good! Promise! ;)