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Tuesday, August 9, 2011

New Beginnings

I'm sure going through a lot of those lately... but I'm enjoying the adventure :)



So much has happened and I'm just so excited!

For starters, my brother decided to get old and graduate... and now he's driving AND going to college... who would have thunk?
So I just got my new lights in and I couldn't be happier! I would describe them as... sort of entry level studio strobes? I guess... Anyways, they work for what I want, and not at a bad price either (they also came with stands and umbrellas). I actually wanted to get the umbrellas separately, but it was cheaper this way, and I can always DIY it ;)
I also bought a new lens! The 70-300mm f4.5-5.6. I was dying for a better zoom lens (mainly for horses), and considering I can certainly NOT afford the 70-200mm f.2.8, I just figured I'd settle with this lens until I can afford something better ;). It works for me for now anyways!
Anyhooo, for the picture above of my brother and I, I used one Delicacy 180 strobe with an umbrella to our right. I would have liked a reflector or something to brighten up that bottom corner, but I loved the picture too much not to post it!

Poor thing never saw it coming... muahahahaha


So aside from everyone getting old on me, I went on a road trip with my mom and Vance! It was actually my first road trip that I will really remember... and I loved every second of it. I would post more pictures... but this thing is so slow I just can't.

This is from Niagara Falls at night...


I know it doesn't exactly look like Niagara Falls, but I got some photos that you can really tell what it is, and I just don't like them as much. I like this sort of abstract, smokey image. This was the last picture I took, actually... the tour bus was leaving and I decided I could squeeze in one more long exposure shot... so I did!
I had it set to bulb mode, on a tripod, with a cable release. I took about 2 seconds on the actual waterfall, then I decided to do something random and pan over to the lights that were illuminating the waterfalls. The end result was this! I really like it because of where the lights ended up... I just think it adds something to it.

Then we had to take the scenic route home, and we drove along Blue Ridge Parkway... Which was amazing, beautiful, and terrifying all at the same time!

Here are some from that:



Wow, I really uploaded nothing from BRP o.O Oh well. Funny story about these butterflies, actually...

So all over the parkway were these trails that you could hike to go see various sights, and my brother and I decided to take the one that led to a really cool waterfall. It was all going great, really enjoying the sights... until Vance hears the creek. We kinda took a detour off the trail to go check it out, and it was just a wonderful creek! It was like I was looking at a moving picture from the magazines. I got some good pictures (which I'm too lazy to upload :/), but I decided oh hey! Wouldn't it be an AMAZING idea to walk on the stones in the creek and get some shots like that? :D 
Well it seemed like it, until I slipped and my camera hit the water. Luckily for me, it just barely got wet... but it got wet enough to scare me. The camera was just fine, but the lens (I was using my kit lens) decided to stop working. The camera began to act as if it wasn't there... which scared me. We got back to the car and I switched lenses sadly, but just after I did that we stopped at a lookout point where there were these most beautiful butterflies nomming on some flowers. It was actually my first butterfly/flower shots... so I was excited! I really liked the results :) 

Anyways, just a short update! :D 

I'm such a horrible blogger ! :) 


Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Stroll Down Memory Lane

"Stroll Down Memory Lane"

Oh such fun I had with the lighting! The sun was in the perfect position for some pretty glares and backlights... Personally, it's my favourite type of lighting. :) 
Isabelle came over yesterday for some photos as a favour, and they came out really well, I believe! I decided on a few that I might put in my personal portfolio... I really liked the one above because it can have a lot of meaning... if you analyze it. Or maybe that's just me making an excuse because I love the lighting and the composition so much... but there is a sewer that clearly says "foul sewer" kind of right next to her... *sigh* Oh well! 

Aside from that one... This portrait really caught my eye:



Then here are the other two that I just find pretty ! :)


Such a cute dress x]

I had so much fun, thanks Isabelle! :D 

On a side note...

I'm in the Amsterdam airport right now... nomnomnoming on mini chocolate muffins ! about 6 months to go until I see the sand filled skies of Bahrain again... so, very, bittersweet... 



Now just to wait and see what life has in store. :)


Sunday, June 26, 2011

Behind These Doors

So I've seen a bunch of pictures from the Bahrain fort and I've always wanted to go, but I've never had the time. Well, I finally got time!

I still haven't gone to the Bahrain fort... heh... but I did go to the Arad fort. :D Shaddin suggested we go there instead since she had been to both Arad fort and Bahrain fort and preferred Arad. It was such a cute place! Wonderful textures everywhere and lots of possible photo areas... We didn't stay long, so I only got about 100 pictures (hehe... only).

I managed to pick out three that I really liked... this one is my favourite!

"Behind These Doors" 


These are the other two:







Shaddin, being as amazing as she is, walked around in that beautiful Bahraini traditional dress (which I forgot the name of), providing some very nice contrast. 




On a side note,

 I've been here in Bahrain for the past couple of weeks wrapping things up after our sudden move. Since we moved at such an awkward time school wise, we weren't sure how my brother was going to graduate... luckily things worked out and he was allowed to walk across the stage at the Bahrain School graduation! 
I can't believe he's graduated... and that I'm graduating in LESS than a year now! I remember when it was 'only four more years'! 


I still can't believe he's 18 and out of high school... since he doesn't read these blogs, I can admit it! I'm going to miss the moron :/


Thursday, May 5, 2011

Biggest Fear

My biggest fear: Being generic.

I shudder at the thought of blending into the crowd... Photography wise, that is. There are a lot of photographers out there, which inevitably leads to many photos looking the same. I can't stand it when I look through a photographers gallery and it's basically the same thing repeated over, and over, and over again.

Because of this fear, I find myself getting stuck... a lot.
This happened today while taking my brother's senior pictures... he doesn't know this yet, but I'm going to take him out again tomorrow to redo them ;).
It's not that they're bad... it's just that I feel like I've seen them before. They're just so... generic.
I managed to find one that I thought was alright... but I'm not sending it to the yearbook lady, she can wait a day :D.

Since I can't post without posting a picture, I'll post the picture we chose xP.



Now, aside from generic blah boring photos, I managed to take a couple which I thought were pretty... interesting xP

Here's one! :O



Oh, how epic my brother is ;D

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Cutest Baby in the World!

So my cousins came over today for a late Easter. :)
Now these are some super amazing ridiculously awesome cousins... why?
Because they made the freaking CUTEST baby EVER!!!

Bailey the baby :D






And wait for it, just wait for ittt....









BABY + CANDY =









I don't know if I can take the cuteness much longer :'). 
And just look at those eyes... my goodness! 

I just felt I should share the cuteness :) 

Oh yeah, and I particularly like this picture... Perhaps it's the connection between parent and child? I don't know, but I think it's just adorable :)


Saturday, April 23, 2011

Remember When?

So I just got home after a rather l  o  n  g day.
But it was amazing!

So the other day I went on a field trip with my art class to this magical land called George Ranch. I was SUPER excited when I found out what this place was all about! I had my camera and my SD cards, my flash and all my accessories I might need... I was set!

...Except when I went to take my first picture and my camera died...
Aren't I a genius? :)

Anyways, I went back again today so I could get pictures for the class.... I'm so glad my camera died! The first time was great, but this time was great too in different ways! My mom and I walked around on our own, so we weren't under a time constraint or anything... the only thing was that this swarm of photographers came along too... not that I mind other photographers... but some of them were so bleh. The guy actually said that many photographers come along and just take pictures and don't even talk... I find that sad. :( The place is so interesting! How could you not want to talk to people?!

So let me give you a rundown on what this place actually is:

The ranch is a working 23,000 acre ranch, it's MASSIVE. Inside this ranch, are four time periods: 1830's, 1860's, 1930's, and 19...something's. The people who work there dress/act/and live in the time period while they are on the ranch. The first guy I met in the first time period said it perfectly:

























"From 7 A.M. to 6 P.M. weekdays and Saturday I live and work in the 1830's. The rest of the time, I'm a husband and a dad to three wonderful kids." 

Now that you have a basic idea... time for photos! 8D

The main issue I ran into while taking photos was that I couldn't really see my screen while reviewing photos (the sun was really bright), so quite a few of them came out just a tad more exposed than I would like. Not overexposed, but what ever. :)

We skipped the 1860's accidentally :( But here is the 1830's :)

1830's


This is actually one of my favoutite pictures... I mean it's nothing special... but something about the hanging fabric and messed up bed just... ahh I don't know. Just enjoy the stupid thing x]
This was their bed in the 1860's!




I really really love how the wide angle distorted the... the... the thinggy that covers the window. I think it adds some character to the photo :) 







ahhh I can NOT decide which one I like better! I quite like them both! I think the second one is a bit creepier though... Hm...




Just a picture I took of some wicker :P I know it's simple but I really like it! This isn't actually the better one, this one has a glare. But I'm far too lazy to upload it again, so you'll just have to deal ;)

1930's 

This house was so pretty! even though there was no AC, I could have lived there. I don't use mine anyways xP




My favourite part about this time period and house is the lace curtains! They made for some of my favourite photos! Like the second window picture. I saw the piece of curtain flying and I thought it looked so pretty...


More flying lace...



This is by far one of my favourites. I think it's such an interesting picture... I love how it's framed with the lace. What this is is a window that was partial open, the lace was flying out like in the last picture but this is an inside view. :)  The roof is a cover over the walkway that connected the kitchen/dining room area to the main house. :)





This is inside the children's room. Don't ask me why I like it, I just do! :)
Did you know that the saying "sleep tight" actually came from this time period? You can't see it here, but the beds are held up by ropes, rather than boards. Every night before they went to bed they had to make sure the ropes were pulled tight, or else they may end up on the floor! :P So every night, people made sure to say "Sleep tight" :).




I wanted to take that top hat home with me!!!!


Again, I like the distortion. :) I know it's very subtle, but it's enough. Also, ignore my knee ;)








Now, on a side note...
A foal was just born at my stables!!!! :D!!!
Her name is Fiera (isn't it a pretty name?), and her mom is HUGE!! Her mom is stunning as well, and is owned by Sandra, the owner of the stables. :)


Kisses from Sandra <3




Big mama!







And this is the horse that I lease, Katy She's the best! 








...To put Charisma's (the mom) size in perspective, here is a picture of Sandra next to her:

Friday, April 15, 2011

Fashion Wars and Fashion Stuffs!

Okay, so the thing has a name... but I forgot what it was o.O
Anyways;


Fashion shows are awesome!!!!!!! :O
This was my first fashion experience, and it was great! I got some great shots, which would have been better without the complications. But oh well, that's why I need to get pro, so I don't have to deal with the annoyances of being unknown! ;)


One day...


Anyhoo...
The reason I went to this whole fashion thing was because my sister was doing this thing called Fashion Wars with some other people. There were three groups of fashion designers from the Houston Art Institute (I think that's what it's called o.O). They all had a WEEK to design an outfit inspired by some charity. My sister's was somethingoranother heart something. Something for hearts :)


Here's their design:




Front View 








Back View


So as you can see, they made and ADORABLE mini dress! :) 

I wish I had gotten better pictures, but it caught me off guard when she came out! I was expecting the dresses to like walk in together or something... I don't know, but I wasn't ready! :( I think when I got shows the dress well enough though. :)




Here are the other two designs:


Group 2 (Inspired by some Earth charity thing called Bark)







Group 3 (Inspired by... a children's art charity... or something like that... I should have paid more attention :/) Also the winning dress












Now, aside from Fashion Wars, the actual thing that puts this on (which is called Fashion Now, as I smartly looked at the background in some of my photos to figure out ;) ) had fashion shows for various stores. Let me tell you, I just wanted to buy everything!


Favourite picture, dress, and model of the night!
Honestly, I'm not really a fashion follower, I just don't bother paying attention. I wish I would though.. I will admit to watching shows like Project Runway and America's Next Top model. But I don't watch ANTM for the modeling :P


As I'm watching ANTM I'll try and pick out what the photographers are doing and why. I actually pause the show just so I can examine the photo set up. It's hard since the show is just focusing on drama. :/


They should make a show for photographers like ANTM or project runway! >:( Liiiike... Project Top Photographer or something >.<


Sorry for the topic detour :3


Anyways, these are my favourite pictures of the night :3


























hmmm...















My favourite collection was a close tie between some store that carried mostly formal clothes, and with the swimwear shop. Oh my goodness their clothes were so cute!!! I want those shorts soooo bad! 







I really like the contrast in this photo
for some reason... there's just something
about it that I love:)
Charming Charlies Accessories 



More swim wear :) 



Now for the worst part of the night! The challenges!
Trust me, there were plenty of challenges to go around...

Let's start with the most annoying, and most common one (that I got):

You're kind of in my shot. 



 Being the small, insignificant 16 year old that I am, I have to settle with the not-so-front row. With this, comes the front row people deciding that they are going to do anything in their power to make sure you don't get a clear shot. (I'm kidding, of course :3.) The worse point was when the two guys in front of me decided to lean in as closetoeachother as possible... I tried to swerve to avoid it, but I only got a crooked picture with part of the guys camera in the picture -------->
You give it time! Eventually I'll be the one in the front row all like "MWAHAHAHAHA MY TURN NOW >DDD"


...Maybe.
:3


















You look like you need a hand... here's a hand.




 I actually didn't notice this while I was taking the photos, but when I went to review them, I found this creeper hand in like 30 of my photos! Drove me mad because It ruined some of my favourites :(








All lit up

Some of the photographers brought along their flashes, which sometimes would leak into my photos! :O



All in all, it was a wonderful experience! I loved seeing all the fashion, and I learned a lot. :) 
I tried to use some of what I have picked up on runway photography... the best shot being when their stride is at it's longest, waiting until their pose is at the point with least movement, etc... but it's harder than it looks! I wish I had a tripod with me... oh well, maybe next time. :)