Saturday, January 30, 2010

Week 3- Aperture-Priority Mode

Aperture was a challenge for me. I struggled with whether to zoom or not to zoom, using my proximity to zoom, and remembering that the depth of the background really makes a difference. Sometimes I felt like I had to be either standing very close to my subject to get results or be very zoomed in to get results. Anything in between didn't work for me.

I tried pictures of my dog and horse first and could not get a good blurred background so although I am not thrilled with all my subjects, I felt like taking these gave me a chance to work on aperture. They are taken on my Canon 350D with a Tamron 28-200mm Macro lens all on manual focus.









The backgrounds of these next two look different; one is more blurred than the other, and I have no idea what I did to make that happen.




















Friday, January 22, 2010

Week Two- Manual Focus

It has been raining here in Southern California for about 5 days. It is weather we are not used to at all. I waited and waited for a clear day to take some pictures. It never came. Although the lighting is not the best in these photos, they are my very first attempt at manual focus so let's concentrate on that skill!

Weather Vanes
Spring trying to pop through
No one is swinging on this rainy day.
Cattails



Just as I was finishing taking pictures it began to hail.


Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Week One

These eight pictures are of a variety of things I enjoy photographing. I am a beginner indeed but I love to take photographs. I always use the fully auto settings; the portrait and close-up settings being my favorite.



My three girls; Nicole, Jessica, and Karlee




Nicole





Jessica











I like old, rustic signs







Trying the angle thing







Koben