I thought day 5 was the hardest thing ever until I got to day 6. Day 5 was symmetry. There is symmetry everywhere so you would think it would be easy. It wasn't and a lot of other pojecter's felt the same way about this theme. It just isn't easy to portray symmetry. Try it for yourself. I tried different subjects, angles, and light something was always just off,or wrong. Mostly what happened was something else would manage to be in the frame and the symmetry would get lost. It took me all day to get my picture and even after I had it I was unsure of it and myself. I came up with 3 pictures that actually screamed symmetry making it hard for me to pick just one. In the end I did and this is it.
When I framed this shot I saw symmetry just about every where you looked in the screen. When I loaded it up on the computer and I could see it better I was pleased with my self that I had caught with the camera what I had seen with my eyes. I really like that there are angles of symmetry in this photo as well as shadows of symmetry. Every where you look symmetry.
So now you heard how difficult it was to do day 5,well day 6 that one was even harder. How do you shot winter on a warm almost hot summer day. Professionals do it every day,I am the first to say I am not a professional. I had an idea however I went looking in the barn for the props I would need and then went looking for the perfect spot to get a picture of winter in the heat of the summer. I tried this that and the other and nothing was coming together. I tried in the shade, late afternoon, and dusk, inside, up against a white wall. I tried every setting on my camera. Nothing worked. I was giving up and going to just use the best shot I got whatever that was, and believe me there was no best shot. As I was putting my props back I saw one of my snow children peeking out from behind the shelf and I knew I was on to something so I grabbed the snow child my sled and headed to the sand box. Nothing says winter better then sledding at least not to me. I had been using the sled in all my pictures and it wasn't coming through as winter. Most likely because the sled is modern and not an old fashion wooden one with red handles. Anyway my idea was going to work I just knew but it was to dark and I wasn't getting the effect I wanted so I gave up. Until morning that is I cheated a little and got my day 6 done on day 7. I needed the softness of the morning light and since my themes don't get here until after 10 am I can't get early morning light until the next day. I still wasn't able to get the effect I wanted, I was at least a lot happier with the pictures I took in the AM then anything i had done the day before. I was trying to make the sand look white enough to pass for snow. It just didn't work that way. Well have a look and tell me what you think. Did I make you think of winter.
I still have a lot to learn about shadows and lighting.
So there you have Day 5 and Day 6 both challenging days for sure.
This photograph made me really work for it. I had to spend my afternoon walking a trail in the woods. I have to say while it was a beautiful day perfect for walking in the woods I was a little tense at being alone in the woods. Not sure why but I was just short of scared.
Once I got to the lake I realized you couldn't just walk up to the waters edge and walk along its banks, there was way to much foliage for that. I wasn't walking away with out at least on picture of the water. I stood on a park bench that was there and looked up down and all around the body of water and saw nothing,no reflection, or ripples nothing that smacked me in the face and said water.As I stepping down from the bench I saw a small opening in all that beautiful green foliage that was just wide enough for me to step into. I stepped in and again no smack in the face. I felt something under my foot that gave me an idea. I aimed focused and set my camera settings then I bent down and pick up the good size stone under my foot and threw it in the water aiming for the spot I had focused my camera on. Then I just started taking pictures of the ripple. It work well and I got 3 or 4 picture before the water went completely still again. I like every shot I took, focused, framed and good color. Just in case I was wrong and didn't like or they weren't as good as I thought I took a couple of back up pictures of water being poured. I didn't do that one so well to much light and bad angles as well out of focus. I did take a picture of water running in a drinking fountain and I did like that one a lot also but
I liked this one so much more. It was after all the picture I walked and worked for.
The hardest part of day 3's project was picking my subject. There is just so much to choose from. While I was thinking about it and planing my picture I came up with 3 ideas all involving trees in one form or another.
My first idea was leaves we have some real beautiful leaves around our yard and there was this one leaf that kept calling to me through the window.
My second idea was the tree itself there is just so much texture in the bark. We are surrounded by trees and I never get tired of looking at them.The many different styles of bark is so interesting.
My third idea was the wood it self. It was raining yesterday and the ends of the wet fire wood were so eye catching with their rings and variation of colors.
I took a handful of pictures of all 3 ideas. When I took the picture that I knew in my heart was the one I didn't stop I finished all the ideas I had. I was right all 3 ideas gave me some stunning pictures and any one of the ideas would be a good one,but there could only be one. When I loaded up my pictures I knew in a glance which picture it would be. I was absolutely right about the picture when I took it. It was the one
The leaf, an entire tapestry of texture.
Day 2 was clouds. Easy right? Wrong! The first two pictures were just what we aren't suppose to do. I just aimed and shot. The result was pretty pictures of trees with clouds behind them. After picture 1 and 2 I stopped and did what we are suppose to do,think about the shot plan the shot. I took a walk around the neighborhood looking for a fluffy white cloud that wanted its picture taken. I took about 10 pictures on that walk. One of them was pretty good and I thought I had my picture.
I actually liked all 10 of the photos but I didn't love any of them. I went for a ride to the grocery store with out my camera and all I could see was clouds. I did however have my Iphone. I took 3 pictures in the parking lot and they looked pretty good. I really liked the lighting behind them,to bad they weren't in frame. When I got home from the store I took a walk all the way out back with my camera in hand. As soon as I looked up at the sky I saw it,I took my time thought about it and pictured it and then I took my shot.
I love it. This is one of the best photos of clouds I have ever done.
I started a new project yesterday with the intent of improving my photography. Each day I am given a suggestion and I need to take a picture of that suggestion.
Yesterday was windows. I took 21 pictures of three different windows to get the one perfect shot. well if not perfect then at least good. My hope is that by this time next year I take less shots and I do get the perfect picture. A person can dream. Anyway here is the picture I picked as being my best shot.
I was thinking about putting all 21 pictures up for your viewing pleasure. That just seemed like to much so I am going with "and the winner is" kind of style and only showing the picture I pick for the project.
I have checked my email twice already this morning I just can't wait to see what I am photographing today.
