Photography Updates

Photography Update: Rebel Girl

Rebel Guy chose a photo editing program: Corel AfterShot Pro 3. I was using it, much more advanced for me and all it did was crash my computer. His is newer and does not have that problem.

Right now I am happy using my free stuff, the basic photo editor, Paint and Photo Shop Express. I will want better down the road.

We asked a few of Rebel Guy’s brothers close friends for some feedback. He has the most creative group of friends and they make a living doing it. One of them gave us his feedback and some great advice (Thanks, Craig!). One being to name our photographs so they are easier to find. Another was, though it is great to follow challenges, to also create our own personal challenges. Great advice!

I know what I need to work on, so why not challenge myself to master one thing at a time, be it lighting, a setting…the list is long!

From Mundane Mondays, I have learned that we should be able to take anything and make it into a MORE interesting picture. Spruce it up and make it photo worthy.

Normally I would have only posted the hanging garlic bunches I make on our personal blog. This challenged me to find a way of turning garlic into something worth putting on our photo site. This is my attempt:

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Ignore the painted black. Note to self – be pickier when it comes to the background!

It also gave me a chance to play with different looks:

That’s all for now. WAIT! No it’s not. Why didn’t I unfold the towel? How is this?

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I think I like the top ones better.

Photoshop Express – I Didn’t Have it.

Am I the only one? All this time I could have had it for free! I had been talking about photo editing programs with Rezinate for some time, not sure what one to use. Adobe Photoshop would be my choice but I just don’t want to pay a monthly fee. It would be different if photography was not a hobby and I was making an income from it.

I down loaded trials and free ones. Everything was just a huge learning curve and I wanted quick and easy. I do remember Rezinate mentioning PSE. I thought it was something else and downloaded the wrong thing!

My computer is a bit older, as is the windows program I use. I didn’t have anything but this basic editor. After deleting loads of pictures that I thought could never be saved, I went to windows to see if they had anything. PSE. I think that is what Rezinate was telling me the whole time!

From this:

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To this:

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That was one click using auto fix and nothing else. Do I feel stupid or what?

 

Photography Update – Rebel Girl

I have noticed a few changes in the past few weeks with my photography. Folders in my picture files that were organized into various genres, set aside to post for later, are now half empty. I am getting pickier. Ones I thought would make good posts are gone into the recycle bin.

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I am trying to take more interesting shots. We are stopping at places we would never have went before, just pulling over to see what might make a good picture.

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I have a hard time remembering things and have a notebook ready to jot down various things. That way I can just look it up. It is also great to take down places you pass and don’t have time to stop.

Nature is beautiful, but I am not writing off taking pictures of objects, like magazines do a set. I think next week I will spend some time with my tripod and lights. Oh, but aren’t clouds amazing?

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Grasses can make for a great photo too:

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Just a small update on my progress. I am getting there slowly. 🙂