It's Subjective

Last night I attended my first meeting with the Eastside Camera Club and I think this will be a good group for me. Members seem very passionate about what they do, or at least are very anxious to learn. Currently there are 19 members, and I'm kind of hoping it stays this size (no bigger) because it gives everyone the opportunity to critique and be critiqued. A few of the members are quite experienced, and some have barely any experience outside of point and shoot snapshots. I liked that everyone spoke up constructively, and I liked the variety of personalities. I was very relieved that this is a tech-savvy group. I also like the fact that a few members noted to a couple of the less experienced folk that they've seen a lot of improvement in a short amount of time. This is what I'm hoping to hear in the coming months.

One point that came up during the critique was how subjective "good" photography can be, but our criticisms should not be. While I believe that one should learn the fundamentals of taking a technically "good" photo, I think that one should keep in mind what the photographer is trying to achieve. For instance, are they trying to convey a "feeling" or mood? Many photographers I enjoy on Flickr and elsewhere do not create what I would call and "expert" photograph from a technical standpoint, however that does not mean it's not beautiful or interesting or "good". As an artist I understand that some people do not like abstract art: they want a rose to look like a rose! Similarly there are "purists" in photography who feel that any digital post-processing out side of sharpening or contrast somehow degrades the "worth" of the photograph.

Additionally there are those who have been "educated" and hold credentials in the photography world who like to make the differentiation between their professional skill level and those of a mere (albeit talented) amatuer. I ran across this all of the time in the art-world, and sometimes bought into it. While I seek and respect the opinion of those more talented and experienced than myself, I have to be careful that I don't become discouraged by their opinions.

I totally believe that improving one's skills technically and compositionally is essential, but when all is said and done sometimes the only thing that is important to me is "Do I like it? (or, in the case of more journalistic subject matter: Does it work?)

You can view the photo-pool of the Eastside Camera Club here.

Orange Coleus

Orange Coleus
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Gallo

if I can't get my focus sharper I'm in trouble. this is not sharp enough... i don't know if it's me or possibly the smallest tiniest hint of the breeze. I'm frustrated!
I'm using a tripod of course, but it's just not right! Argh!

It's difficult to practice outside: this summer has been cool and damp, and the mosquitoes are relentless. I don't remember ever having such a mosquito problem, and they are out full force morning, noon and night!

I don't like repellent, and it's not very effective anyway.

I have my first meeting with the camera group tomorrow night. I feel nervous and shy (weird for me!) and full of questions. The group frequently gets together for shoots... I don't think I'll be able to attend many of them (maybe once a month if I'm lucky!) It will be nice to get out and shoot something other my usual surroundings.

I REALLY WANT to get better.

Queen Anne Macro

Queen Anne Macro
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Gallo

Getting the DOF right is a huge challenge with this lens... you'd think of Queen Annes Lace being a relatively flat flower... that is until you try to find a focal point!

The challenge in teaching yourself is that you know you are doing something wrong, you're just not sure what!

and so I'm crabby, and don't feel like going to my Art Association Meeting tonight. Because I am being a self-centered child.

Little Girl is calling, gotta go!

Old Dodge Grill

Old Dodge Grill
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Gallo

My husband had a rare Saturday off and we took advantage of it by spending some family time... going out to breakfast and then about 5 miles up the road to the Armada Fair. It's a lovely small town fair filled with 4H competitions, a midway, demolition derby, etc. This old truck was positioned by about 100 tractors that were on display. I could have photographed every square inch of it, because every piece of it had interesting bits and lines and crust. But in the real world I had a toddler running amok (and horse doo-doo here and there on the ground) plus a husband asking me goofy questions like "do you think we should put a jacket on her?" (it was only in the 60's...make a decision man! lol!)

Anyhoo,
I was tempted to go crazy with the contrast here, but I restrained myself by giving it a teeny tiny boost, and voila.

I'm hoping to get in a little more playtime with the macro tomorrow, we shall see.

and that's what we did today.

Black Eyed Susan (macro)

Black Eyed Susan (macro)
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Gallo

Well, this is one of my very first macros, today being my first official day with this new lens. If you ever though Macro was simply hyper-close up photography, well, think again! There is so much more to take into account: how to focus and getting it right is number one. and exposure would be #2.
These things are so much more critical here.

So, after many unsuccessful shots this one was the best I could come up with. The DOF on this lens is a double edged sword, and to be truthful I am not liking this piece of glass so much (just yet.)

but... it's intriguing me like you would not believe!

so bear with me as I practice (a lot) and be prepared to have a bunch of household objects smack-dab right up in yo face as I try to become acquainted with my new toy. I promise it will get better!

Self Portrait with Camera

Self Port with Camera
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Gallo

The "trend" that I'm seeing on a lot of blogs is washed out color... not exactly like the self-portrait you see here, but kind of white-wash vintage-y grainy blurry stuff like I used to get out of my 1st camera: a Kodak 110 pocket camera that used flash bulbs, from back in the 70's when I was in like 5th grade.

I haven't drunk the kool-aid yet... I am a high contrast queen... LOVE contrast. The good news with this trend is you can take a so-so snapshot and manipulate it into what it seems sights like Shutter Sisters gobble right up. (See the One Word Project and you'll see what I mean.) I must say, I LOVE this effect for still-life and florals, but I'm not so nuts about it for portraits or landscapes.

Maybe it will grow on me...

Happy Monday... yeah, I gotta be like that. Monday's are actually my favorite day... a fresh start to a week, everything open and out in front, possibilities! I feel that way about September also... after years marking the beginning of a new school year it has that "new beginning" feeling, as does January (of course). It's not that I have anything special planned, not boring old me, lol!

I'll be ordering my new lens this week... I'm stoked about that! I've joined the Eastside Camera Club, but my first meeting isn't until next week. I'm preparing my little portfolio of work, getting prints made, making a list of questions, trying not to be nervous about meeting a new group of strangers. So far I've conversed with a few members via Flickr, and it sounds like a fun group. It seems as though there is a variety of experience, and everyone seems helpful. I think it may be a more "energetic" group then my art association... it's smaller, more tech savvy, more guys than gals. I think the energy of this new group will better suit my style and help me improve and learn! (I'm not leaving my art group, I still love it there...)

In other news:
I've gotten my hands on the latest issue of Artful Blogging. Many of my fave blog-reads are in this issue: Tascha,(LOVE her!!!) Lauralines, Shutter Sisters, Superhero, and a few more. Plus there are some new ones I'm not familiar with that I urgently need to check out.

A common refrain among them is "What should i BLOG ABOUT? Why would anyone want to read my blog?" (they are singin' my song! Some of them are very very personal (or as they say in the blogosphere: "authentic". I enjoy reading these types of blogs, it's a chick-thing, it's how we connect. However I have a husband that seriously does NOT understand this "silly blog-thing": "So, it's like a diary???!!! I don't want you posting stuff about me or the baby!!!" I seriously don't think he knew how crushing that was to me... How could I write about my artistic journey/ challenges without including a generic snippet or two of what was happening in my life??? But I understand his concerns, and I'll respect his wishes, even though I know he would jump for joy if I just forgot about blogging altogether! :c ) (friends/family: if you know my husband please don't "run" to him and "try to help" by blabbing about this post to him! He has access to reading it if he wants to. This blog is a pleasure for me. Please don't ruin it. Thanks.)

I've oft considered trashing this blog and starting an anonymous one, for the sole purpose of privacy, but as an artist it is kind of self-defeating to be anonymous.

But there are plenty of blogs out there who don't share all of the personal stuff and are still popular and entertaining. It's possible, and I probably need to be more like them. in the long run it might be better for me professionally anyway!

How about you? Is your blog personal or strictly about your work? What does your spouse or significant other think about your blog/ business/ hobbies/ interests? What is your opinion of bloggers who share family anecdotes? Are you more apt to read a blog that's personal?

Well, I have a little more time before little-girl wakes from her nap...time to get some stuff done!

The constant thought...

"Never give up on something that you can't go a day without thinking about."
-- Unknown

{{{do you like my new flower photos? :c ) }}}

I stumbled upon this quote while visiting the blog of Robin Laws... she calls her blog Bird Tweets, and seriously I don't think I've ever seen such gorgeous work! I could just look at her photostream FOREVER! 4-EV-VAH!!!

(you will have to click on the link to see her photos, because the ones you see here were take by moi'. Oh, i told you that already, didn't I?)

I've had this quote boring through my brain for over 2 days now, and it REALLY hit home with me. I've been feeling this pull toward digital photography for a while now, growing stronger in subtle little waves, and it feels a little bit surprising. Surprising because you'll always hear me squawk about originality, you've been listening to me bitch and moan about the LACK of originality I've been seeing, about the abundance of copy-cats, cheap imitators, and the like. I've always appreciated, admired and even envied those artists who could rise above the noise, stay ahead of the curve, carve out their niche. My old thoughts of photography were always flavored with a peaked interest, but subconsciously I wondered how an artist/photographer could ever put their mark on their work... I mean, there are artists I love such as Kelly Rae or Claudine Hellmuth whose work is so signature (and too often poorly imitated!!) Could the same be said for photography?

Three names come to mind: Anne Geddes, Ansel Adams, and Annie Leibowitz.

Yes, you can create your own style with photography. A real, very real photography personality (take Robin at Bird Tweetsfor example!

I hope you'll take some time to visit and DROOL over her luscious blog, or look for her on Flickr.


AND I hope you find ways to create your very own signature in your work to let the real you shine through!

Coneflower

Coneflower
Originally uploaded by Carolynchip

So I've managed to save a little coin and want to add to my camera equipment. The decision: Speedlite flash or Macro lens? hmmmm...

I LOVE portraiture... I love that a photograph has the potential of being a treasure for someone. I love the beauty of an ordinary face. I love the post-process, where the vibrancy or character of the person emerges.

I also love photographing nature. The beauty can be awe inspiring. I love capturing things of this world that we might take for granted: things we pass by daily and don't really notice.

Nature obviously is more accessible. It don't complain or run away or turn her head or cover her eyes when she sees me with the camera. Because of this I see a larger challenge in portraiture. But for now I'm looking both ways.

I'm exhausted. I'm having trouble staying awake to type here, and it's only just after 10pm. But that's what's running through my head today.

:c )

Funny Faces {i ♥ faces}

This is an outtake from a series of photos I took of my sweet little neighbor Marissa. She's such a sweetie-pie, one of those thoughtful looking little babies with big soulful eyes that you could just drown in! She is my entry for this weeks Funny face photo challenge over at i heart faces, a fantastic new photography blog I stumbled upon (via Squeeek Photo). I LOVE this blog! It's packed with inspiration, challenges, tips & tutorials etc (in fact I learned how to enlarge this photo (larger than the usual blogger format) through this great site!)(note: I DO have to figure out how I cropped it square... the actual image is in a 5x7 landscape format...)

It's been a while since I've felt so inspired by a site. It seems like a friendly place for aspiring photographers, so I hope you'll check it out!

Rainy Day Post

I wanna:
--keep a notebook handy to jot down blog-ideas. Once upon a time when I earned a paycheck I was great at writing and using lists to get things done... need to start doing this again!
--schedule alone time. yes, schedule it. Daddy needs more alone time with baby and Mama just needs more alone time.
--not feel guilty for taking time to recharge my batteries.
--ignore the "advice" of those who tell me what "I need". I know what I need!
--pre-write blogposts. This will enable me to compose more interesting posts, and manage my family-time better.
--re-organize my work area in the dreary basement.
--doodle in my trusty old sketchbook more. And I do mean doodle.
--Design more digi-elements. (Blog banners, web-buttons, etc).
--making some of these! (and other cute but useful handmade things for Christmas gifts!)
--re-doing the window treatments in my daughters room... (eek! it will soon be time to transition her to a toddler bed. I'm not sure if I'm ready for that....!)
--try to be kinder and more patient with others...
--get more physical activity!!! (this one is a big PRIORITY)
--manage my workday here at home more efficiently so I can at least have dinner on the table on the days when my husband can actually be home at dinner time... I have been a slacker. I really need to have a weekly plan... Sunday nights I need to schedule time to plan the new week!!!

hmmm... there is alway more!
how do YOU get it all done?

piano time

piano time
Originally uploaded by Carolynchip

Usually a photo of my daughter doesn't have to be technically "correct" for me to still love it.
i believe this expression is trying to tell me she's grown weary of mama and her camera!

I'm still playing with shutter speed... i REALLY want to learn how to manipulate this in order to work with the available light. In this photo the light is coming from behind her, and although I like the way her face is illuminated her eyes still appear too dark. They are grey-brown, so in shadow I really have a hard time exposing them properly. Plus I didn't pull the focus off in this one.

BUT, as I tell myself constantly, everything I do does not have to be a masterpiece. I am in awe of several portrait photographers who's images are absolutely tack-sharp! I wonder how they do it, especially when photographing children (who NEVER stop moving!).

I'm still discovering new and wonderful photo-blogs. I'll share a few links in the next couple days.

In the meantime I have a million mommy-things to do while she naps, so until next-time,

be creative!

Limelight Hydrangea

Limelight Hydrangea
Originally uploaded by Carolynchip

from my garden...
against the green in the woods behind my house there are times of the day when these flowers are positively illuminated...! I am totally in love with these hydrangeas... so beautiful and green, the color of cucumber, so fresh! ahhhh... they make me happy and peaceful!

After Little Girls playgroup at the park we came home and it was immediately time for her nap. So the first thing I did after shutting her bedroom door was grab the camera and run out to my garden where these flowers called out to me from the shade... and I started snapping away.

OK, if you want to be a photographer you do not frantically just start snappin' (unless you are a photojournalist or sports photographer of course.) But in the short time that I have been a mommy I have turned naptime into fast-forward go-go-GO time in order to get done what I need to get done!

Well, I've gotta slap myself and stop it. If I really mean to get better I have to think more about what I'm doing, technically and visually.

Yesterday I spent a little bit of time playing with the camera strictly in Manual mode... not even AV (I did leave my lens on auto focus, although I still manipulated the focus points... I love playing with those!) So I played with shutter speed while little girl played with the water hose in her kiddie-pool. I wondered impatiently to myself how long would it be until I knew instinctively how to adjust exposure, how long til I memorized those f/stop increments. Then I reminded myself I used to wonder the same thing back in the day when I was working as a kitchen designer, trying to learn the design programs. Then the same thing happened with Photoshop: there were times I thought I'd NEVER "get it". But eventually I DID, and while there is always something more to learn I can honestly say I've come a long way since I began teaching myself.

But the hardest thing is being patient with myself.... S-L-O-W-I-N-G down in order to be conscious of what works and what doesn't. Slowing down in order to really SEE.

Marissa

Marissa Bubbles
Originally uploaded by Carolynchip

my sweet little neighbor turned 1 year old this week.
Happy Birthday Sweet Marissa!

Refresh

Trying to refresh and clean up this old blog, so you'll see many experiments and frequent changes as I decide how I want it to look. I've freshened up my link lists by categorizing them a bit, added a few, deleted a few... I'll be trying new backgrounds, maybe some logos/banners, different looks, til it FEELS right....

I'm trying to explore a bit and find new blogs that interest me. With 3 or 4 exceptions I'm seeking bloggers and sites that are NOT the seemingly-same-10-artists-I-see-in-every-issue-of ClothPaperScissors! I LOVE ClothPaperScissors and the sister publications by Somerset, but I'm craving FRESH FRESH FRESH!!! I was starting to believe that in order to feel REAL that I needed to get great magazine like this.... and so began to orient my style to THEIR style, but though their style is eye-candy to me, well, it's not MY style.... no wonder I haven't been inspired, nor have I felt good anything I've attempted. (you've noticed I've not posted any art lately!) I'm especially drawn to creative moms (for obvious reasons). They reassure me. The inspire me. They remind me that it's not always easy, that the guilt and other challenges are something we moms struggle with.

Photography has been feeling good lately, though strangely I haven't found a lot of photo-blogs I'm drawn to... with the exception of the ones you see here....but slowly I'm discovering a few good ones...! in fact I stumbled upon Squeek Photo, a creative mom who is just beginning her leap as an aspiring photographer! I am so thrilled to have found her... she makes me want to be brave and take my photography up a notch! You can bet I'll be following her blog!

Same goes with a couple vector artists I've found... inspiring... different.... dynamic. And, as always, I'm a sucker for a good sewing blog!

So, I'm feeling a little bit better, a little bit inspired, a little bit more motivated. Shakin' it up, gettin' out of a rut...!

Summer Vacation

Still pretty much on a summer vacation mindset....

I don't think I'll let another summer slip by without going SOMEWHERE (other than visiting my mother which caused me so much anxiety I had heart palpitations before during and after--for DAYS....)

I'm finding it completely impossible to focus any attention or energy on this poor blog..... Little Girl is more in need of my attention than any creative endevour is right now, and in the small amounts of downtime I have it's not nearly enough to chill or be alone with myself, alone with my thoughts.
(I've rewritten the above sentence 4 times and it's taken me nearly 20 minutes!)

I REALLY REALLY must go.... I'll be back here and there, but probably not regularly for a while. I'll check for the occasional comment and will check in on you, so please do not give up on me.

I just
need
some
time.