In Intriguing Sites, Photography on February 18, 2010 at 8:00 am
Many of us fantasize about the ability to take superb photographs but feel limited by our lack of knowledge, skill or equipment. Myself included. I am lucky enough to have a nice DSLR camera. But the knowledge and skill part is where I fall short. My photography experiences includes working one summer with a wedding photographer and taking a film photography and black and white developing class. Both happened while I was in high school. Everything else is pretty much self taught, practice and reading digital photography blogs.
That’s why when I discovered Beyond Snapshots, I was thrilled. The blog only began January 2010, but Rachel and Peta (the two masterminds and photographers behind Beyond Snapshots) has all ready taught me so much. They are sharing photography secrets and tips to help others take pictures beyond the auto mode. My favorite part about the site thus far? The Spotted segment where they take someone’s photograph and provide constructive criticisms. I’m learning how to really look at photographs in an artistic way. At the same time, it is improving my photography. Thanks Rachel and Peta for sharing your talent with us!
» Tell me… What has helped you improve your photography skills?
In Life, Photography on January 29, 2010 at 9:00 am
I’m getting personal today. I hope you don’t mind. My youngest, Elle, just turned 1 yesterday. Nathan and I turned our room into a mini studio to snap a few pictures of her. OK, a few as in over 300, but that is because she doesn’t sit still and I knew most pictures would turn out blurry. Good thing for digital, right?
In Intriguing Sites, Photography on January 20, 2010 at 9:00 am
A series of thoughts and searches on Google led me to this awesome site that I am psyched about. It’s Poladroid.net. Nathan was telling me last year about how Polaroid is sooo early ’90s and the company is struggling to survive. I refused to put down Polaroid that way. Although I was not an 80’s child, I did own one Polaroid camera. The Polaroid i-Zone Pocket
. I had it when I was in high school and I loved it. It had little thumbnail size Polaroid film. The best part: You could purchase film that had a sticky back. Picture turned sticker. Awesome.
How can you not like the click sound when you take the picture. Watching the thick film come out. Shaking it to make it develop faster. Anticipating the candid picture to magically appear in that square box. No other experience like it.
I kept my Polaroid i-Zone throughout college. Had it even when Nathan and I were first married. Finally he convinced me that I couldn’t find film for it anymore in stores. I got rid of it. Still wish I had it.
So, boy, was I glad to find Poladroid.net. Download their free application. Drag digital photos into the Polaroid on your desktop. Wait and watch it develop right before your eyes. Love it. Love it so much that I am dedicating a Tumblr site to it. Remember my goal to practice photography in 2010? This will help. See personal photos of my family at tiffanybird.tumblr.com.
I recommend visiting Poladroid.net. Download the application. Use it. Love it. Donate to support the Polaroid Project.
In Friday's 5 at 5, Photography on December 11, 2009 at 5:00 am
I am constantly looking for ways to make gift giving more personal. Those are my favorite gifts to give. As we are in the season of giving, here are five ideas for using your photos…
- Favorite things. This Christmas, I made photo books of my kids favorite things. It was a medium size flipbook. One for Elle and one for Kaye. It’s fun to be able to capture their favorite things at this age. I also used letter blocks to spell out their favorite things, an idea I received from Liz’s blog.
- Favorite memories. This year, I hand bound personal books for our parents for Mother’s and Father’s Day. I had each of our siblings write a couple favorite memories with our parents. Then dug through old photographs for pictures to go along with the stories. We all laughed and cried taking a trip down memory lane.
- While you were gone. My brother and some of Nathan’s siblings travel all around the world. We send them photo books of our children growing up while they were gone. Catch them up on some of the things they missed.
- Messages. Have family members or friends hold a sign with a message of ‘I love you’ or ‘thank you’ or ‘we miss you’ in a photograph. Put it on a card or make it into a poster.
- Cover an event. At a special event, take ample pictures and make a little scrapbook for them. Don’t forget to include your thoughts and feelings of the event. This is great for weddings, birthdays, graduations and performances.
In Photography on October 14, 2009 at 9:00 am
I have a soft place in my heart for trees. I don’t know what it is about them that I love so much, especially since I’m not the kind of person that can grow anything green. But I love landscape and I love trees. Digital Photography School had a post last week, “21 impressive tree images.” All so lovely.
{image by Carl Jones}
{image by Luc Bollen}
{image by Rik_C}
{image by Garry Schlatter}
In Events, Photography on October 9, 2009 at 10:52 am
The last time we went to the botanical gardens we only saw half of it. Not wanting to miss the Henry Moore sculptures, we had to go back a second time. This time we tried to get some family pictures… didn’t work out too well other than our individual shots. I didn’t bring a tripod and had to ask random passerby to snap photos of us. But I did bring some of the fake mustaches just in case.
In Photography on September 25, 2009 at 9:52 am
I saw this cleaver idea a while ago at Liz’s blog. It has been stuck in my head ever since. I loved the idea of such a personalized book. And while I was shopping the craft stores last week, I found wooden children’s blocks for 50 cents a set. Then, Liz announced a giveaway on her blog where she is giving away two Shutterfly books. I hope I win as I’m already working on my block books for Kaye and Elle. Go to her site to enter for your chance to win.
In Photography on July 8, 2009 at 9:00 am
After days of researching and shopping around online for a great deal, I finally decided on a camera. I looked at all the Canon Rebels and Nikon D series. When it came down to purchasing, it turned out to be quite the ordeal.
At first, I tried to purchase a Nikon D40, but the deal didn’t come through. Next, I ordered another Nikon D40 from another site. When I got the confirmation email, it said the camera was on backorder. I called to company to see when they expected it in and they had no idea. So I canceled the order and looked for yet another deal. I found an much better deal at a different site- it was the whole package with lens, memory card, tripod, camera bag, so on and so forth. When I Googled the site’s name for reviews, everyone gave it horrible reviews and had several complaints to the Better Business Bureau. Forget it.
I was just about to give up when I saw the best deal of all. Canon EOS Rebel T1i
. I was just looking for a basic SLR camera to transition me from a point and shoot to SLR. But the deal made it irresistible. The T1i has HD video recording built into the camera.
I purchased a Canon Rebel T1i and a Canon PIXMA Pro9000 MkII Printer and qualified for a $400 rebate. Since we’re not interested in the printer, we’re going to sell it to help with the cost of the camera. Essentially, we would be getting a $900 camera for $450. Check in my Amazon store if you are interested.
In Photography on July 1, 2009 at 10:29 am
I have been secretly coveting a SLR digital camera for a long time. I’ve been looking at them in the stores, researching them online, and envying of other bloggers’ better quality photos. Finally, yesterday a great deal popped up for a Nikon D40. Then Nathan sold some gadgets we had around the house to the point where we can get a $500 camera for about $150.
I spent my free time yesterday researching Nikon SLR cameras. Today, I’m going to look into Canon Rebels. I have used both brands of cameras before, but they were the older versions. I have a Canon Rebel film camera that is in mint condition, but it’s film. I haven’t touched it in years. So anyone with some digital camera advice or reviews, please leave me comments. Also, if anyone is interested in a film Canon Rebel, let me know.
