2010 challenges

Here are the challenges that I set for myself. Once again I did not check on them throughout the year so I will find out how well I have done.

• Go on another photography course

I have not done this.

• Enter a photography competition with the photography club

I have done this.

• Look for a Photoshop course and if there is one available put my name down to attend it.

I have not done this.

• Read my Photoshop book and set aside times when I learn a new Photoshop thing each day for a week.

I have not done this.

• Find ways in which I could become a professional photographer.

I have not done this.

• Get on Flickr more often. Set aside days when I post pictures and comment on pictures. Days for posting are Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday.

I have not done this.

• Buy a domain name for my websit

I have not done this.

Oh dear. I have not done well at all this year. I know that it really did not help that I lost all motivation in the summer. I have only started getting it back, but I really have other things that I have to sort out before I get back to my photography. What I really need to do is when at night I need to stop browsing the Internet and looking at the rubbish celebrity gossip that I have become addicted to but spend at least half an hour on improving my photography.

Happy Christmas

But sadly no snow showers to take pictures of. I did have some fun taking some pictures of the wee ones opening their presents.

I need to find a place online that will give some tips about using CS5. I do not want to buy the book just yet.

Full moon lunar eclipse

But darn it I was not able to get any shots of it.

However I did manage to get some shots of the full moon later on. It does not matter how many times I take pictures, I still love taking shots of the moon.

I did take some pictures of the sky this morning. Maybe I can see the eclipse in it after all. I will have to look later.

Broken lens

Darn it my Nikon lens has broken. It is strange as it has broken in exactly the same way as my other one. I am not happy about this at all.

Thankfully I have got anther lens that I can use with my Nikon (50 - 200mm) and I also have my Olympus (it has become mine now after my partner said that he wanted to sell it after he realized that he does not really like using it)

I will be getting another lens for my Nikon in the New Year though. I will just have to try and find the least expensive lens that I can.

Making cards

I would like to make cards using the pictures that I have taken to send to people.

I can either use a company and pay for them to print them for me:

Moo

My cardmaker

Another way is that I can print off the templates for a card and add my own image:

Free printable greeting card templates

Mirkwood designs templates

Another way is that I create the card in Word and then I can add the image at the start and then print them off at the same time:

Microsoft office.com word-help - make your own greeting cards

Ehow.com How to make a card in microsoft word

This is for an older version of Word, but it should still be helpful:

Dummies.com - How to create greeting cards in Microsoft Word 2003

Computor companion - Making cards using Word

I also came across one that could be useful for me when setting up my home business. A guide on how to make my own business cards using Word:

Barrelofcrafts.com - How to create business cards using Microsoft Word

Nirmaltv.com - How to create and print business cards with Word 2007

December goals

I will not set myself this month:

I need to find out ways I can make cards from the photographs that I have taken.

November goals

Oops I must confess that I have not done any of them.

Oops my bad. I will do a much better job next time.

I have got lots of shots of the lovely snow that we have had recently. I am really pleased with them. I love the snow, it is so pretty.

 

November Challenges

These are my challenges for November:

I should see if there are any online guides to using CS5.

I should finish editing the wedding pictures.

October Goals

This is what I have managed to do this month:

Get out taking pictures. (I have done this)

Sort through the wedding photographs. (I have done this)

Learn more about CS5.(I have not done this)

I think I have done pretty well. I have not done them all but I have done the majority of them. Another thing I have done is start posting on Flickr again. I have not posted for a while so it will be good to get back into the habit of doing so.

Sorting through the wedding photographs

I have really made good progress with the wedding photographs tonight. Hopefully it will not be too much longer before I finish them.

I think I will spend time on them each night and work toward getting them finished in the next week.

At least the CS5 is working again. It is a bit of a performance to get it to work for me but at least we have got it (it will be invaluable when converting the images)

Darn it

My Photoshop is not working on my computer again. I do not know what my daughter has done to it but it is not working.

I have asked my partner to take a look at it tomorrow to see if there is anything that he can do.

If the worst comes to the worst though I will have to take what is left of the program off and then reinstall it.

Sorting through the wedding photographs

I have started sorting through them again. I have had a couple of set backs when I became ill and then through one thing and another I just have not got it done. But for the next month my main photography priority is to get them sorted out.

At least I have made a re-start.

I do not think that I am...

Cut out to be a competition photographer. the two pictures that I submitted to the latest competition did not do very well. they scored 13 and 14 out of 20. I was one of the lowest scores.

I do not think the judges like my style of photography. I love a shallow DOF but it seems that judges do not.

Ah well I will just keep submitting them just to see how they do.

Though I really need to upload the pictures that I have got recently and go through the pictures that I have got as well. I really need to start uploading onto Flickr again.

October Goals

These are my goals for October:

Get out taking pictures.

Sort through the wedding photographs.

Learn more about CS5.

Photoshop working again

I have been quiet on here but to be honest I have not really done a lot. I have managed to get CS5 working on my computer again (though I am now getting problems with my computer)

Hopefully I will be able to get back on track with my photography.

I need to build up a database of useful information. I will start printing out stuff from the Internet. I might scan in some of my articles that I have got.

I will start learning how to use the studio at the photography club that I am in.

The last thing that I need to do is work out what I would be able to make money from. I will not stop doing other types of photography, but I will be able to specialize in the area that I have chosen.

Drastic action

I have been thinking about the pile of magazine articles that I have got and I have been seriously considering just putting the whole lot in the paper bucket. It has become disorganized and I doubt I will ever sort through it. I will keep the booklets that they do from time to time.

Once I have done that I will just start from scratch. When I start getting the magazines again I will make sure that I am organized from the start so that I can avoid this happening again.

I know that if there is anything that I really want to learn about there will no doubt be soething on the Internet that will help me.

Getting there

I have been getting my camera out and taking more pictures. Sometimes though I have been taking any shot indoors at the end of the day. But then again that could also be an opportunity to expand the type of piuctures that I can get. I will have to look at the pictures and see how they look.

I do like taking shots of lights at night time. You get the light which is the only thing that is lit and the reflections of the light can create some interesting effects.

I have edited these shots that I got of some mushrooms.

Getting out and taking shots

I managed to get some shots taken on my birthday.

Wedding photographer

Today I went out with a friend to discuss his daughters (also a friend) wedding.

The both of us will be doing the photographs for it. He will be taking the more traditional shots while I will be taking more unusual shots. I am nervous about it though as I am not used to taking portraits. I am going to have to start reading up about it.

There will have to be some shots that I will need to take using a flash and traditionally but I have got a list so I know what shots that I will need to be getting.

But I have come to the conclusion that while I am not sure what kind of professional photographer I will be I do know that I will not be a wedding photographer.

We did not have time to look at the wedding venue so we went to a castle near to where we live. I managed to get a lot of shots there. But then again I do like getting shots of old buildings.

Photoshop broke again

Eek my Photoshop broke again. Thankfully though this time I fixed it again as soon as the error message came up.

I think my challenge for this month will be to find new challenges for me to do. I am not sure that I will get on another college course this year so I need to do the work at home instead.

The one thing I can think of that I would really like to improve on is my editing. I have got a Photoshop book but I have not really read it much and I have not used anything from it. I need to start reading it and trying out what it says.

I got a shot of a pretty flower I saw as I was going on my way to the shops. I am really pleased with how it turned out as getting flower shots when it is windy can be very challenging. Today was pretty windy at times.

It has taken a while...

...but I have not only managed to get my Photoshop fixed but I have also sorted through my pile of magazines.

I should have fixed the Photoshop as soon as it developed the problem as it did not take long to get it sorted. I will make sure that I am more prompt next time. I am happy to get my Photoshop working again though and I will have to find the time to read through my Photoshop book that I have got.

I am also glad that I sorted the magazines out. I have also got a better system. The last time I went through them I did not really keep them together that well and they have become all mixed up. I have found some card and I will use that for a folder. I then put holes through the paper and bound them all together with string. I will have to look through them again to sort out the pages into order and make sure that what I have is what I want and what will be useful for me.

Now that I have got my Photoshop working I can now start to edit picture better.

Here are some shots that I got today:

My daughter the photographer

I have not had a lot of enthusiasm for photography for the last week or two. I think that is because I have had so much to do that something had to be left off until I have the time for it. I have been managing to get pictures taken. Some days are better than the others. At least I am still getting pictures taken every day. I just need to keep ticking over while I am getting through this tough time. It has been pretty challenging this year but I have to keep at it as I still would like to become a professional photographer.

I have not even fixed my Photoshop yet. I really must get that done tomorrow.

My four year old daughter has started taking pictures with a camera that I do not use. It is a bit hit and miss as all she is doing it pointing and clicking, but I think she has done a great job with some of them. when taking pictures of the doll (she calls that her baby) you can see that she has set up the picture. There were some other shots and I thought they were a cute set up. It was a shame that they were blurry. The battery ran out before she could get more. She was upset when it ran out.

Still not fixed Photoshop

Oops.

I have been so busy with getting my home tidy and organized that I have not managed to fix my Photoshop.

Thankfully I have found a way of converting my RAW files into JPEG. I cannot properly edit them like I could in Photoshop but at least I am able to do something. It gave me the chance to print off a picture for something that I wanted to put in my younglings PLP.

I went out on a day trip to Aviemore and while I did not really get the time to get any pictures I was able to get a copy of Digital Photographer. I have not got that for a while and I have not got around to subscribing to it. I will have a read through it tonight but there is a section about wedding photographs. I am very pleased as I will be needing to take good photographs at my friends wedding. I can take unconventional shots but for a few I will need to take them properly. That should be an interesting challenge for me.

I saw a really funky fungi recently. Because it had been raining there was a puddle in the middle of it. It was a challenge to get the shots of it but it was worth it.

When I was in Aviemore yesterday I went on a steam train. The stop that we got of on had a really cute station and in that station was the greatest looking waiting room that I have ever seen. So much nicer that the modern waiting rooms (I really am going to have to fix my CS4 so that I will be able to convert it into sepia nicely)

Broken camera

Thankfully not as bad as it sounds.

I was at the beach yesterday when part of my camera broke. The card slot.

I changed cards as normal but when I put in the new card to use it would not click into place. I looked on the sand and found something to wedge it into place. thankfully that worked so I am still able to use it.

I will see if I can contact Nikon and see what they say about what can be done about fixing it.

My Photoshop has stopped working again. I am not sure if it is the same problem that I had before, but I will have a look on the Internet tomorrow to see if I can fix it.

June Goals

I will not set myself much for this month.

But I must sort through my photography magazines, they are taking up too much room.

I must also order a back edition of one of the magazines that I cannot find.

I must apply for an ILA so that I can get on another photography course.

Quiet again

I am going through a lull at the moment. It is mainly lacking direction. I have got so much going on at the moment that my photography has suffered.

I have even found that I have not been taking that many pictures when I have been out and about.

I have been getting shots every day as I had set myself in the goals at the beginning of the month, but there were days when I only took the 30 day project pictures.

I have not looked through the magazines that I need to go through.

I need to find something that I can aim toward and make a profession out of. There must be something that I can use to earn some money.

Found the cable

I managed to find the cable. It was by the Playstation. At least I have got the cable and was able to get the pictures off my camera.

I was also able to catch up on uploading my pictures onto Flick.

I got some shots of some Fungi yesterday and today. I think Fungi is great as every one looks different. There are so many varieties even with the same kind of Fungi.

Still no cable

I have not had any joy finding the cables to get the pictures off the camera, and my partner sadly has not been much help in finding it.

He was the last one that had the cables but sadly he was drunk at the time and cannot remember where he put them.

I have had a look through some pictures that I have already got on the computer and edited them.

Here are some shots of tree blossom:

I like this shot in color and in black and white. Though I do prefer the black and while shot.

Pictures stuck on camera

I have been taking pictures but unfortunately I am not able to get them off the camera as the cable has gone awol.

Hopefully I will find it soon.

Walking into the sun

My daughter can be eccentric at times and last week she wanted to take her umbrella out even though it was sunny. I got a shot of her walking into the sunlight with her umbrella. I am really pleased with how it looks (especially as I did not much chance to get the shot)

I also got this shot of my youngest son when I was at the park. He was at the bottom of the slide when I got this shot. I love the look of pure joy on his face and I also like the sun beams that are cutting across his face as well.

Pretty flowers

There really is a lot that happens at this time of the year. That is why it is the best time for me to get out and about getting shots. At the moment I have not been getting much chance once the younglings are home or even when I am walking with them as I have to be vigilant.

I did get this shot this morning of some flowers that I saw on a bush. The flowers do not stay for long so I need to be quick to catch them.

I am really happy with how the shot turned out though.

New pine cones

When releasing a mouse today my son noticed the new pine cones growing. He thought they were nuts. They looked really funky and I have never seen them at this stage before. Well I have never noticed them before that is.

Goal for the month

I think I will set something for this month.

I need to get out and about every day taking shots of the spring. Things are really starting to grow and now is the best time to catch it.

I also need to sort through my magazines and put any useful tips into a pile.

First bee

I have managed to get a shot of my first bee of the year. I think it was low in energy at that point as it was not moving much. It was a great opportunity to get a quick shot of it while the younglings were on their way home from nursery.

I did not get much time to get a shot of it but this it what I managed to get:

Been busy

Once again I have been very busy so I have not been able to get many pictures taken apart from the daily pictures that I have been taking for my projects.

I think what I will have to do is set off to collect the twins five minutes earlier so that I will be able to get some shots. It is not much time but it will be wirth the extra effort.

I took this picture when taking pictures of my son. I did not use this for the daily shot but I like it. I am not sure why but I do.

New fern

I love spring and seeing new life to photograph.

I especially love seeing new fern. I think it is great how they uncurl before they open up. when I first starting taking photographs I was not able to get the shot that I was after. Ever since then I always try to improve on my fern shots. I was able to get the kind of shots that I was after once I started getting better cameras. I think I will always photograph  opening fern though as I think I will continue to learn new things and improve on each shot.

I spotted my first opening fern today when I was taking the younglings home from school. This is the shot that I got. I was really happy with it.

Action shot

I managed to get a couple of shots of my daughter on the trampoline today. It has been the first time that I have got a good shot of one of my younglings jumping up and down on the trampoline. I am pleased with how the shots look.

Spring is here

It is nice to see the new flowers coming out so that I have got something new to photograph. It has also nice getting brighter days so that I have been able to get the shots.

One of the good things about doing the 30 days projects is that it gets me looking through the pictures that I have taken and sorting out the shots that should be kept and the ones that should go.

Here are a couple of shots that I got of some pretty pink flowers:

This month

I think I will just set myself the challenge of getting vback into photography.

Starting off small. Getting out and getting the shots. I should also dedicat time to looking through my magazines and seeing what I can test out.

Better month next month

This month has not beena  good month photography wise. I have not had much time to get anything done or uploaded at all.

It has not helped that I have not had much time to get on the computer and that I have not had much time to get the shots during the day as well as not seeing anything that has inspired me.

I think in the next few days I need to work on getting my project pictures edited and uploaded. I am planning on working on another project for this month so I need to get the pictures sorted tomorrow morning.

Returning enthusiasm

I have recently become really lethargic and have little enthusiasm for getting things done. I have been continuing to dop m,y photography project (though not uploading it onto Flickr) but I have had no energy to take pictures or even look at my photography magazines.

I think that this is due to my over eating chocolate recently. Today however I feel like my energy and enthusiasm is returning (I have started to drastically cut down on the chocolate that I have been eating - I only had two bars today)

I went to see my friend today and her new daughter looked so cute as she slept. I took lots of pictures of her and I really enjoyed taking the pictures.

Another thing I realized was that I have not been wanting to take pictures as I have not seen anything that I want to photograph.

Editing with new computer

My compute is still out of action so I am having to get used to editing with the laptop. It is not that good but I have been able to get by for now. I must find the disc so that I can fix my computer.

I have started a project today that will run for the next 30 days. I will take a picture of the same object for the next 30 days. I have not done one of these projects for a while and I think it will be fun to do.

This is what I will be taking a picture of every day for the next 30 days.

 

I also got a funky picture of the younglings when they were walking home. They all decided to hold hands. It was lovely to see.

 

 

Natural lighting

I will have to investigate the different ways that I can experiment with lighting toget different effects.

There is of course natural light (which I have best access to) I love being able to capture the suns rays.

I saw a tree branch covered in snow and I thought I would get a shot of the sunlight reflecting off it:

 

  

  

 

Experimenting with light

I think is is fun to experiment with lighting conditions.

I discovered that if I took a picture of a cooker burner then it looked like a blue flower to me. To take advantage of this I cannot use the flash. I think it is interesting to see the different shots are affected by light. I think I will have to experiment with different kinds of light. I like taking shots of the sunlight.

Here are some shots I took of the lamp in my kitchen. I prefer the black and white version.

 

 

More frost shots

I managed to edit a couple more shots from the frosty days.

Here is when the frost was beginning to thaw.