Photography: steps 2 & 3

I've been thinking about the importance of photography for this kind of blog, a blog that's attempting to capture a moment, a lifestyle, a creative act, an idea. As I've mused, a sense of a step-by-step approach to photography has emerged for me. So like I said in a previous post, I reckon Step 1 is taking your camera with you, no matter how mundane your errand or environment, cos you can never predict when the perfect visual moment will come together.

Step 2, in my experience, is reading through the camera manual so that you become familiar with your tool. I was annoyed for weeks cos the exposure setting on the aperture-priority mode of my camera was set one stop up, so everything was over-exposed, to the point where I couldn't use the images at all. And yet, using a short depth of field (ie. playing with the aperture) is one of the easiest ways to add focus or interest to an image. So finally I pulled out the manual and sorted out the solution. If I was really motivated, I'd write down the solution I found, so that next time I don't have to wade through it all again.

The next step, Step 3, that just seems to roll out, is to regularly and deliberately take photos. Making a regular photoshoot space, if you like. For me this means a space where I approach my photography as a creative act in itself, rather than using it to capture other physical creative efforts. Using the lens to see moments of beauty all around me. Experimenting with colour and effect. Seeing a place, seeing life, in a new way.

On Sunday we were at the Prahran Market, our old haunt, with some friends. The kids were having fun on the carousel, so I attempted to capture the moment...

Photography: step 1

We were at some friends' place last night and I took the liberty of taking a few photos...

I'm aiming, in 2009, to focus on my photography and try and get to a point where I'm taking better shots. In particularly, I'm realising that there's an art to setting up a shot, stylising it, if you will. Not just taking a photo of a cake, but teaming it with some vintage loveliness in the background, say. So none of these shots are amazing, but they are a step - the first step of taking the camera with me and at least trying! And with two young kids, soon to be three, and the amount of stuff I already have to remember when I walk out of the house, taking the camera is a big enough step for now!

Catchup!

This blog is sorely in need to some loving attention! I ran out of oomph to keep posting my Thing-A-Day efforts in February, but thought I'd put up a few pics of the creative projects that have continued to happen, despite my lack of posting.

Five CDs with covers, a belated Christmas gift for my mum. For the covers, I sewed 5" square scrapbook paper sheets together with a decorative stitch.


It was our turn to bring food to storytime at the library. The theme was dogs, so I decided to make cheddar cheese dog biscuits. This felt like a creative effort, for one, because I don't have a food processor, so I spent a long time mooshing the cheese, butter and flour together by hand, and two, I don't have a dog-bone cookie cutter, so I cut each of these out using a paper stencil! Bit too much effort for some three-year-olds I hardly know, but still, it was fun!


Piper and I decorated an Easter parcel for Pippa and Poppa.


I tried my hand at rainbow wrapping paper for Olivia, a two-year-old friend.


I made Piper a dancing skirt for her 4th birthday, earlier this month. Came together at the last minute, but she wore it for four days straight, so I know she likes it!


Finally, photos of loved ones on the wall, to watch over us as we eat! This is one of the few collaborations Gord and I have undertaken, and we worked very well together - made the most of the strengths and motivations of both of us. The photos are mounted on insulation foam, which Gord cut using a table saw. He painted them red (only the edges matter - they're the only visible bits). I cropped the photos, arranged printing, cut and glued them to the foam using permanent sticking tape, like what you use for scrapbooking. Gord banged in some nails and mounted the finished products just this morning. Took us at least a month to pull this idea together, but it feels very satisfying!



This week Piper and I have been decorating eggs for Easter. Crayon and food dye process.




An ongoing creative endeavour is my photography. I continue to try and take a photo a day, to capture some of life here in Canada. I post those here, and it's one of the reasons this blog is a bit neglected! Here's a quintessential red barn...

Backyard photo shoot

Friday the Fifteenth, my Dad's birthday: I finally convinced Piper to play outside. Not sure why she’s been so reluctant to do so. Meant I could take some photos outside - nothing too special, but still good to get some practice in. Training my eye to see things from a different perspective.

Photography Fun

Snapped these after a walk around the neighbourhood in minus thirty something weather - rugging up is a novelty, for me!