Camera Raw

1. Tractor; 1/15/2011 3:35 pm; f/2.6; 1/60; Flash did not fire; Canon PowerShot A 570 IS

When taking this picture I tried to get as close as I could to the "Diesel" brand and capture some shallow depth of field.  In the end it wasn't as shallow as I wanted and the sky was a bit blown out.  In Bridge I opened this photo and played with the sliders. I adjusted the contrast, brightness and exposure on this photo.

Panoramic Photo

Trees; 1/28/2011 4:48 pm; f/8; 1/100; Canon PowerShot A520
I took three photos in this panorama.  I blended them together using CS5 photomerge tool.  I cropped the uneven edges and edited the contrast overall.

         

Flexible Smart Filters/Adjustment Layers

1. Private Property; 1/15/2011 4:31 pm; 1/125; f/8; Flash did not fire; Canon Powershot A 570 IS

2. Danger; 1/14/2011 3:37 pm; 1/60; f/2.8; Flash did not fire; Canon Powershot SD 790 IS

On the Private Property photo, I set a smaller aperature because there was a lot of natural light outside.  However, the picture turned out a little darker than I wanted so I used an adjustment layer to lighten the sky and then I unmasked the other objects in the photo back to their original color.  I left the private property sign lighter (I didn't unmask it) because it is a focal point.

With the Danger photo I worked on having some good shallow depth of field.  To give the photo a little more life I converted the photo into a Smart Object and added some filters (poster edges, water paper and texture) I love how it turned out.  I didn't change the opacity much but I did mask out my sister in the background a bit.

Flora & Fauna

 

1. Ramas; 1/22/2011 2:40 pm; 1/800; f/8; Flash did not fire; Canon Powershot A 570 IS

2. Orange; 1/15/2011 5:09 pm; 1/800; f/8; Flash did not fire; Canon Powershot A 570 IS

3. Patos;  1/15/2011 4:43 pm; 1/160; f/8; Flash did not fire; Canon Powershot A 570 IS

4. Horses; 1/22/2011 2:23 pm; 1/400; f/8; Flash did not fire; Canon Powershot A 570 IS

This assignment was a harder one for me, but I want to practice again in the future.  I ran into some obstacles and couldn't really find exactly what I was looking for to photograph.  I think I would have gotten better shots if I could have gotten a little closer, but I didn't want to enter private property etc.  I think my favorite shot is Orange.  I love the color contrast between the orange and all that white.

Sliding Type: Winter

1. Winter; 1/15/2011 4:20pm; 1/250; f/8 Flash did not fire; Canon Powershot 570 IS

To take this picture I set a higher F-stop.  The snow created a lot of light so a smaller aperture was needed. I also used the macro setting to capture the berries in focus.  I especially like seeing the detail in the snow.

Blending: Piano

    

 


1. Keys; 1/15/2011 9:10 am; 1/15; f/2.8; Flash did not fire; Canon Powershot 570 IS
2. Strings; 1/15/2011 9:32 am; 1/14; f/3.2; Flash did not fire; Canon Powershot 570 IS
3. Snow; 1/14/2011 4"27 pm; 1/100; f/4.0; Flash did not fire; Canon Powershot 570 IS

For the keys picture I opened the window and turned on an overhead light to improve the light in the room.  I didn't do any major editing on any of them, just the basic changing of opacities.

Rexburg in Red

                   

1. Christmas Light; 1/12/2011 7:46 am; 1/25; f/2.6; Flash did not fire; Canon Powershot A 570 IS

2. Baskets; 1/14/2011 4:47 pm; 1/10; f/2.8; Flashs did not fire; Canon Powershot A 570 IS

3. Fire Hydrant; 1/14/2011 4:22 pm; 1/60; f/8; Flash did not fire; Canon Powershot A 579 IS

4. Red Berries; 1/15/2011 3:38 pm; 1/50; f/8; Flash did not fire; Canon Powershot A 570 IS 

I really enjoyed learning hands on about aperture and shutter speed.  I had to take many pictures to get the desired results but all the practice has helped me understand a little more about the elements of photography!  In the Christmas Light shot I set a large aperture because there was hardly any light outside.  In photoshop I changed the saturation levels a bit.  I liked the basket picture because of the lines.  I thought the Fie Hydrant was good deep depth of field.  I set a fast shutter speed to make all images clear and sharp.  The Red Berries shot was good practice for shallow depth of field.

Skyline; 8/8/2008 12:06 pm; NYC; f/4.0; 1/500; Flash did not fire

Templo; 10/3/2009 5:29 pm; Madrid, Spain; f/2.8; 1/640; Flash did not fire

Castillo; 4/5/2010 5:07pm; Segovia, Spain; f/3.5; 1/640; Flash did not fire

Freedom; 8/5/2008 6:07 am; f/2.6; 1/60; Flash did not fire

Catedral; 4/6/210 3:40 pm; Segovia, Spain; f/8; 1/100; Flash did not fire

Lake Powell; 8/9/2005 4:35 pm; Lake Powell; f/4.9; 1/500; Flash did no fire

Photography and digital imaging is relatively new to me.  I did take a photojournalism class about two years ago.  There I learned a little about the basics of photography and really liked it.  I also can see how useful it is to have a handle on good photography and editing.  Most of the past photos that I have placed on this blog were taken just for fun in places that are special to me with my everyday joe digital camera.  I had rules of third in mind, but that is about advanced as I get!  I hardly did any editing to these photos but I would like to, especially the one of the Madrid temple.  I really enjoy landscape photography and am looking forward to learning more about changing the light, angles and focusing.