So as you've seen, I LOVE taking photos with my iPhone, and especially with the Hipstamatic app. I love the crazy outcomes, and I've found the combo of "lens" and "film" that get results that really thrill me. But now it's time that I find me a hobby that gets me OFF the iPhone, aka Extension of my arm. If my hands are full of a camera, I can't be Pinteresting or texting Millie, right? I kind of have to be looking at my kids, even if through a lens?
Unfortunately, I have zero photography experience. I am familiar with the terms F-stop, aperature, lens, zoom, uh...that's about it. And I don't really know what any of it means.
Thing is, I want to do a photo shoot this weekend of a whole group of babies of new mom friends. They are ALL in AppleCheeks (and most were in them BEFORE I met them, I'm happy to report!) and we're going apple picking and it's going to be SO CUTE because they're mostly around the same size, and they'll all be picking and eating apples. Can you picture it? I'm very excited.
Now, I adore working with professional photographers. I'm sure you've seen the work I've posted by the amazing Shoshana Ruttner, and we've worked with a couple of other local photographers, both personally and professionally. But the problem with working with a professional is that I'm not taking the photos. And seeing as I'm the one doing all the graphic design for the company, I find myself not ending up with the angles I can work with. So I figure that if I can decipher this whole DSLR mystery then I can at least have a bunch of decent quality shots that I can use in publicity items to fill in the gaps in my design work.
My friend Joyce lent me her Canon Rebel Xsi. The general conscensus seems to be that the Rebel is a good place to start. Thing is, she couldn't find her manual so I had to download it onto my iPhone to read. Gah. I clearly NEED an iPad.
Have you seen Staci Hopkin's blog, by the way? Not only is it a consistently phenomenal read, but it's chock full of amazing photography. That's what I aspire too (and the constantly changing banners, but learning how to program is not on the agenda anytime soon). I picked her brain and she had this great advice (which I hope she doesn't mind that I am quoting):
"And my one piece of advice: an SLR will never take the pictures you want to take if you leave in on Auto. Then it is a very expensive point and shoot. Your camera is only as good as what you tell it to do. Every picture I take I adjust the ISO, shutter speed and aperture. If a cloud moves, or I move and the light changes, I change one of those things. People take good pictures. Not cameras. Your manual for your camera will need to be your best friend for a few months. Back in the day it lived on my night stand and every night I read it and worked on understand my camera. For at least two or three months."
Hmmm...Sunday's shoot is in two days...
In the meantime, this is what I did my first time on the camera.
This one is making me angry. WHY DOES IT KEEP TURNING SIDEWAYS??
She is saying cheese. This is mid-eeeeeeeeeeeee. And mid-sandwich.
This was a test. But I am posting it anyways because it's funny. My husband doesn't read my blog, don't worry. Let this be a warning to him that he SHOULD.
Wow. A genuine smile from Phoenix captured in photo. This is a very momentous occasion. See why I NEED a dSLR camera?
Um, yes, I did mean to photograph her feet.
They say that for photographing children you need to get down to their level. See what a good student I am? I went so far as to get down UNDER her.
My beauty.
Nothing particularly special about this photo except the subject.
Tomorrow's challenge - depth of focus at Beaver Lake. Wish me luck!
