Picking up the microphone: "Ladies, and Gentlemen, we HAVE focus. Lauren HAS focus!"

Yep. Boy, I tell you, the tripod was the key. I really dislike using one, it's such a pain in the rear. But, since moving a 1/4" can (literally) throw off the focus of a macro, I just can't trust that I'm not going to move at all. I wish I had used it yesterday. Would have saved me a whole lot of aggravation.

I realized I'm an all or (almost nothing) girl when it comes to focus on macros. I like the really wide aps, where there is just a teeny tiny bit in focus (like the very tip of a flower petal), or really narrow ones (like F32) where there entire thing is. No in-betweens for this girl.

Now I have to start working on the composition (a whole different ballgame than regular photos) , but in the meanwhile, here are a couple of todays focusing attempts.



It's unfortunate I didn't realize until after I was done that the color of paper I used in the background doesn't suit it.

Why did I think macro would be easy?

It's like learning photography all over again, but with the lens mere inches from the subject. Which IS very cool, but really difficult. Add to the mix that I stink at manual focus, and well, my first attempts today with the rental lens are less than stellar. Hopefully I'll be able to look back at these ridiculous photos in a few months and just smile at how far I've come!

In the meanwhile, my first pathetic attempts. Tomorrow I choose just ONE subject, one only, and shoot it until I get something I like out of it. And, I'm using the tripod! I was just all over the place today:

More macros, and it's a good thing S'mores is so cute

I played with the macro setting on my 70-300 again today. Just for the heck of it. Then I got a notice that the macro lens I'm renting from rentglass.com was waiting to be picked up at the PO. Unfortunately, it wasn't there until 5pm, so I have to wait till tomorrow to try it out, since I would prefer to use natural light over using the flash.

Anyhow, until then:



And it's a darn good thing S'mores is so cute (and lovable), because she brought home yet another bird today. This one was live, so we were able to get it away from her and it flew off....hopefully to live a long and happy life. I swear, that cat is just too good at catching birds, she brought one home 2 weeks ago and left it on the back porch in pieces. Grrrr.

Anyhow, I "macroed" her too today as she sat outside on the kitchen windowsill sunning herself:) the focus was always on her nose...I think I should have stopped the lens down a bit so more of her face was in focus. But, her nose looks good dontcha think?

Wow, an entry actually (kind of) on theme, imagine that!

This week's theme was signs, or something like that. I think it actually was road signs. Or was it roads. Shoot, I really am clueless! Anyhow, I took a couple of quick sign photos this afternoon, though they aren't road signs, or roads, or whatever....;).

I love the Pike Place Market. It's one of my favorite areas of the city. I worked there for 11 years from my mid teens to my mid twenties. It's fun and just full of life. I "taught" myself to like coffee (got tired of going out to coffee with my friends and being the only one to order hot chocolate) at the first Starbucks store, back when it was the only Starbucks store (yes, I know I'm dating myself). It's just a little, funky, hole in the wall shop...nothing like the big fancy ones they have now. I love that it still has all it's original character.

Brett carried my camera bag around for me for several hours this afternoon (he's so good to me) so I could take pictures while we were there, but it was so dark, cold and rainy, that these two are the only ones I took. I just wasn't inspired to do more.





And I know, you are going to roll your collective eyes at me when you see the next photo. Honestly, I do not have a thing for the moon. I swear it. But when I see it outside my kitchen window, most of the time I can't help but to fire off a couple of frames. Last night was no exception, especially because I hadn't shot it half full yet. Ok, go ahead and roll your eyes ;) you know you want to....

Two for one gerbera daisies

My grocery store had them on special, two bunches for one this week. Yesterday I played with the pink ones, today, the yellow. These yellow ones are so bright and feel very spring-like to me. Believe it or not, I didn't do anything to the color. The only editing was to run noiseware, a very (and I do mean very) slight levels adjustment, and sharpen.

I'd like to print one of these out as an enlargement, but I'm a little concerned that the colors are too bright and won't print well. I think I'll order a 5x7 first, and see how it comes back. So, if you were going to print one, which would you print? None of them really wow me compositionally (it's the color I love), so I'm having a hard time deciding....I'd love your input!

Thanks for looking.

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I had hoped these would convert to B&W well, but the green grass just turns too dark. I'll have to try again another day with something a little lighter in the background....

Good thing my husband is so understanding...

So I was editing these pictures tonight when he walked through. I'm sure he was wondering why the heck I had taken photos of water droplets on flower petals. But ya know what, he didn't bat an eye. If only he knew I had spent 45 minutes on this endeavor this afternoon ;) So, how DO you keep water droplets on TOP of the petals? Does anyone know? Mine kept rolling to the underside.

To try and get as close as I possibly could for these images, I manually focused. Have I mentioned that I stink at manual focus?

Close-ups

I admire macro photographers so much. The things they can do are truly amazing, and I drool (ok, not really, but figuratively ;)) over their DOF. I don't own a macro lens unfortunately. I do have a 70-300 with macro capabilites, but honestly, it just doesn't compare to a dedicated macro lens. I think I might just decide to add one to my bag of tricks.

Anyhow, I thought I'd play with my lens on the macro setting for a short time this afternoon.

YAWN....

Tired of my moon shots yet? I hadn't picked up the camera since Saturday, but when I saw the moon outside my kitchen window tonight, I had to fire off a couple of shots. Just for fun, I rotated the image upside down. Yes, even I'm getting bored with these shots (yawn), and had to spice it up a little bit ;)

Thanks for visiting!

Last of the International District photos

Nothing spectacular, or even really interesting, but I'm posting them anyhow.

When we were in this super huge store (Uwajimaya to those of your from Seattle) I decided to take some pictures. This store is like going on a field trip to some exotic Asian market. Well actually it IS. Fresh seafood and meats. Produce. Aisles and aisles of fish sauce, soy sauce, this and that sauce. Lots of goodies. Shelves and sheles of origami paper. Bowls. Rice cookers. A bazillion different chopsticks. Teapots, and on and on. But, I digrees.

Back to the topic at hand. I got one shot off, when an undercover security guy told me I couldn't do it without talking to the manager first. So I went upstairs to the office, and the manager almost reluctantly gave me a lanyard to wear around my neck, while I was in the store. He needed my driver's license as a sort of collateral, asked me a bunch of questions, and made me promise that they were for my own personal use - not for publication. I was happy to have permission to shoot, but I felt totally out of my element by it all....

I so was attracted by the way items were organized, and the colors and form. Unfortunately, I wasn't very successful translating it into images. I'd like to go back another time when it's not so busy there and try again...

And yes, we brought home some good stuff, including some chicken Lau Lau which was SO delicious, and shrimp potstickers.....yummmmmm...







And these guys just make me smile...

In a funk

Just feeling pretty blah about the photos I've been producing lately. I can't seem to put my finger on it, or know what to do about it. Set the camera down for a while? Find something new and completely different to photograph? Take a class? I just don't know. I wish I had that vision that can turn a simple photograph into a piece of art that inspires and amazes those who view it (including myself).

Just a few more from our visit to the International District yesterday as I didn't pick up the camera today....a little bit of a theme going on:



These guys are cool, they climb the electrical poles all over the area, each is a little different from the other. The sky started out like this at noon time:

....and within a few hours it looked like this:


And yes, the color on this is out of control, I was just having fun playing and went about 3 steps too far ;)

Happy New Year!

Brett and I decided to go down to the International District today, not realizing that tomorrow is the Chinese New Year. Holy smokes, it was crazy busy down there due to various special events for the occasion. It was a gorgeous day out though, so we just dodged people (once we finally found a parking spot) and enjoyed spending some time together.

I don't feel like proofing all the pictures tonight, but here are a few I like:

The scratches on this first one is from the glass I was shooting through, not my lens...thank goodness!

Waiting for the ferry to arrive....

I took this the other day. I managed to get to the ferry dock about 5 minutes before my niece's boat was due in, and snapped just a couple of shots. Nothing earth-shattering, but it sure is a pretty sight. Mt. Baker (in the northwestern region of Washington State), as seen from the beach adjacent to the Mukilteo ferry dock.

Thats it for tonight....thanks for visiting!

POOF, and with that, he's outta here....

Hard to believe the culmination of 10 months of hard work comes down to this. He is off to Northern Ireland. This program has been a positive addition to his life, the stress of keeping up with it all notwithstanding. He is looking at the world through different eyes, more globally, and more as "what can I do for the world," as opposed to "what can it do for me." The connections he has made with people are deeper, and stronger, and more commited than any he has made previously.

I received this in email yesterday, and I think it pretty much says it all. I've also included a link to the website, if you're interested in checking out more of this program.

Dear Hands for a Bridge community,

At the end of this week two Hands for a Bridge groups will be hurtling through the stratosphere, one to Northern Ireland, the other to South Africa. It has not been easy, but I can tell you, it has been joyous.

We began by laughing through carwash suds. Occasionally we went into the woods to share and mingle, write and sigh, run and play in mud and sun. We hung winter lights across Mary Gates Hall and auctioned dreams and visions. Our hearts opened when our South African friends came to bring the gift of deep reflection and human purpose. We read many books. We sang a few songs. If that were the only journey we could take, I believe it would almost be enough.

But we have sought knowledge, found commitment and have loaded our suitcases with questions. It is time to move beyond the abstraction. There is work to be done.

Many thanks to all of you for your wonderful support. As this program enters into its sixth year, we have some evidence that the students who emerge from the experience continue to impact their communities - locally, regionally and globally - with deliberate intent. You have helped to create new leaders, new problem solvers who have the vision and the commitment to scale the monolithic impediments of racism and intolerance.

With profound appreciation,
Hands for a Bridge Coordinating Committee
www.handsforabridge.org


Not a very exciting photo, but it was what last night was about, getting him organized and packed, and out the door at 4:35 this morning. Yes, super shallow DOF, playing with manual focus and forcing the DOF to the limits of what this particular lens will do.

This week's challenge, and I could use some help brainstorming....

This week's challenge was to photograph the same object in 5 different ways. I really like the metal part of this basket, both the finish and the shapes, but I'm not too keen on the bottom part, so I need to figure out what will look good in it, to cover that part up. That's where I could use some of your help - brainstorming ideas. It rests on a glass top sofa back table. Whatever goes in it needs to be large enough not to poke out the open sides, but dense enough to cover the woven portion of it. It measures 14" in diameter, and the woven portion is 5" in diameter.

I don't suppose you've got any great ideas? Or even mediocre ones? ;)

I actually manually focused the first two of these images, which I never do as I'm not very good at it. I was just too close for the auto focus to work. I actually think they turned out ok. Not perfect, but they'll do.

ISO 800, F 1.8 - 2.8, SS 125-350











And throwing a couple in in black and white....





Thanks for looking!