Day 28

Dave and Alicia taught me tons last Saturday. Too much for one post. Besides, I didn't want to take away from that giant, giggle inducing tree stump named Conan.Muscley Barbarians aside, I did learn how to compensate when the background of my shot has more light than the subject in the foreground. Very useful given the amount of shots that I've taken that have been completely ruined by shadows.

It's a technique that can take a shot from this


to this


Want to see it again?

From this


To this


Again, maybe not terribly exciting in these basic practice shots, but something that I cannot wait to put to use.

Ah so empowering this learning thing is :)

Day 26

Saturday I took my first photography class. A real live photography class. Taught by someone who retired from teaching photography. And has shot for magazine covers. It was ahhh-mazing. David and Alicia from Silver Hills Studio taught me exactly how much I have to learn. Among other things :)

Our first lesson was in setting the proper exposure in 1/3rds.

Let's meet Conan: (that's Conan like Conan the Barbarian, not so much like Conan O'Brien, whom I do love dearly. Team Conan. Anyway.)


See the difference that changing the exposure by just 1/3 lighter or darker makes? The picture in the middle is set with a "normal" exposure, or at zero.

(ps. please feel free to giggle at the pictures in a slightly immature way. It was part of their structural garden in the fields. I agree. I see the naughtiness of it too.)

We also looked at how perspective of the subject can change the feel of the picture.


Amazing, no? Maybe not amazing, but definitely something I can't wait to try on other subjects.

Thanks Conan ;)