Collaborative Composition

Friday, April 30, 2010

365: 6 Sewn Much Fun

Prepping for Annual Deschutes County Fair...
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ISO 200 - Exposure 1/25 sec - Aperture f/4.0 - Focal Length 6 mm - Measured EV 3.09 - Focus Distance Upper 1.08
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ISO 800 - Exposure 1/10 sec - Aperture f/2.8 - Focal Length 6 mm - Measured EV 3.09 - Focus Distance Upper -1.72

Happy Shooting. DREAM...EXPLORE...AND DISCOVER! (stop by here to see what I've been creating)!

(one who still doesn't do texting, MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, StumbleUpon, DiggIt...)

Thursday, April 29, 2010

365: 5 Favorite Venue

One of Many Specials of Westside Bakery
ISO 800 - Exposure 1/25 sec - Aperture f/3.2 - Focal Length 8.2 mm - Measured EV 0.09 - Focus Distance Upper 1.38

A glorious morning...delightful breakfast and conversation with the teen...amazing points of interest...all at Westside Bakery here in Bend, Oregon.

Happy Shooting. DREAM...EXPLORE...AND DISCOVER! (stop by here to see what I've been creating)!

(one who still doesn't do texting, MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, StumbleUpon, DiggIt...)

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Photograph Exposed: What You Get When White Meets Vivid Colors

What you get when white and colors meet
ISO 800 - Exposure 1/25 sec - Aperture f/2.8 - Focal Length 6 mm - Measured EV 1.09 - Focus Distance Upper 0.25

a partial experiment of the day...I love the outcome even it's not a full-blown tent. I've never been able to capture true value of objects until now. I am forever more wanting to build myself an inexpensive light tent out of recycling box and cloth.

Happy Shooting. DREAM...EXPLORE...AND DISCOVER! (stop by here to see what I've been creating)!

(one who still doesn't do texting, MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, StumbleUpon, DiggIt...)

365: 4 Puzzle Mania

This was no ordinary World Map puzzle...laid out based on alphabetical rather than geographical order. It's quite a challenge to the brain.
Puzzlemania - Start Up
ISO Speed 400 - Exposure 1/160 sec - Aperture f/2.8 - Focal Length 6 mm - Measured EV 4.5 - Focus Distance Upper 0.83

It took four adults and four kids, ranging from 5 to 49 years old, over two-hour period
Puzzlemania - Wrap Up
ISO Speed 400 - Exposure 1/250 sec - Aperture f/2.8 - Focal Length 6 mm - Measured EV 5.06 - Focus Distance Upper 0.64

...and it's still not complete. We would've started...there will be next Kids' Club :D

Happy Shooting. DREAM...EXPLORE...AND DISCOVER! (stop by here to see what I've been creating)!

(one who still doesn't do texting, MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, StumbleUpon, DiggIt...)

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Photograph Exposed: How to Adjust AV & TV

...on Manual Mode by toggling the Trash button back and forth.
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ISO 400 - Exposure 1/10 sec - Aperture f/2.8 - Focal Length 6 mm - Measured EV 0.50 - Focus Distance Upper 0.38
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ISO 1600 - Exposure 1/15 sec - Aperture f/5 - Focal Length 6 mm - Measured EV 0.34 - Focus Distance Upper 0.4
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ISO 800 - Exposure 1/15 sec - Aperture f/5 - Focal Length 6 mm - Measured EV 0.56 - Focus Distance Upper 0.38

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ISO 800 - Exposure 1/30 sec - Aperture f/3.2 - Focal Length 6 mm - Measured EV 0.34 - Focus Distance Upper 0.91
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ISO 800 - Exposure 1/30 sec - Aperture f/4 - Focal Length 6 mm - Measured EV 0.34 - Focus Distance Upper 0.91
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ISO 400 - Exposure 1/20 sec - Aperture f/4 - Focal Length 6 mm - Measured EV 0.78 - Focus Distance Upper 0.72
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ISO 400 - Exposure 1/13 sec - Aperture f/4 - Focal Length 6 mm - Measured EV 1.53 - Focus Distance Upper 0.96
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ISO 400 - Exposure 1/13 sec - Aperture f/4 - Focal Length 6 mm - Measured EV .41 - Focus Distance Upper 0.72

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ISO 800 - Exposure 1/20 sec - Aperture f/4.5 - Focal Length 6 mm - Measured EV 1.53 - Focus Distance Upper 0.72
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ISO 800 - Exposure 1/20 sec - Aperture f/4.5 - Focal Length 6 mm - Measured EV 1.19 - Focus Distance Upper 0.66

The more I play and compare the different setting, the better I get. Or rather more confident I am about my digital camera. Happy Shooting. DREAM...EXPLORE...AND DISCOVER! (stop by here to see what I've been creating)!

(one who still doesn't do texting, MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, StumbleUpon, DiggIt...)

365: 3 Musical Mind

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Preparing for CFMA's (formerly Friends of Young Instrumentalists) Annual Competition for Young Musicians on May 8, 2010, Entry categories are piano, strings, woodwinds, brass, voice, and ensembles. Classical adjudicators will award medals and critique performances. Performances will take place at COCC's Willie Hall. My teen will be competing in Flute Solo and two duet pieces. Save the date...best entertainment for the day (from 9 to 5.)

Happy Shooting! DREAM...EXPLORE...AND DISCOVER! (stop by here to see what I've been creating)!
(one who still doesn't do texting, MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, StumbleUpon, DiggIt...)

Monday, April 26, 2010

365: 2 Born to Be Free

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ISO 800 - Exposure 1/13 Sec - Aperture f/2.8 - Focal Length 6 mm


(one who still doesn't do texting, MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, StumbleUpon, DiggIt...)

Photograph Exposed: Low Light and Fast Action

Shooting indoor and moving object is most challenging situations for me. Only way to take indoor shots successfully is to have more light. How do I get more light on to the sensor?
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Left: ISO 80 - Exposure 1/3 Sec - Aperture f/3.5 - Focal Length 6 mm
Right: ISO 1600 Exposure 1/10 Sec - Aperture f/2.8 - Focal Length 6 mm

Perplexed why these images are dark or blurry:
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Left:  ISO 800 - Exposure 1/8 Sec - Aperture f/5 - Focal Length 6 mm
Right: ISO 80 - Exposure 1/25 Sec - Aperture f/2.8 - Focal Length 6 mm

That is because the lens in my Canon Powershot SX100 IS is not fast due to its minimal f-stop capability. Wish I can replace it with a faster lens, but, it's not an option with what I have. Flash is like a torch--only works well if you are close to the action--and I do not like using it. Only alternative is to manually increase setting such as faster shutter, smaller F stop number, increasing the ISO.
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Left:  ISO 800 - Exposure 1/4 Sec - Aperture f/2.8 - Focal Length 6 mm
Right:  ISO 800 - Exposure 1/8 Sec - Aperture f/5 - Focal Length 6 mm

Below:  ISO 800 - Exposure 1/25 Sec - Aperture f/2.8 - Focal Length 6 mm
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While shooting indoors, low f-stop numbers let in more light which increase shutter speed capabilities. This one is very grainy
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ISO 1600 - Exposure 1/10 Sec - Aperture f/2.8 - Focal Length: 6 mm

...yet interesting and I do like the non-posing composition.

Increasing the f-number (decreasing the aperture diameter) increases the Depth of Field (DOF - deep focus; decreasing f-number decreases DOF (shallow focus). I will explore more on this setting latter in the week.

Here is a string of Continuous play:
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Happy Shooting. DREAM...EXPLORE...AND DISCOVER! (stop by here to see what I've been creating)!

(one who still doesn't do texting, MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, StumbleUpon, DiggIt...)

Sunday, April 25, 2010

365: 1 Photograph Exposed

I have been taking pictures of family, friends, social events/activities, and hand-made show-n-tells since 2007...and have gone through two digit cameras during the period. I don't need to tell you what a terrible amateur I am at this art form. It's about time I learn how to take some decent photos with my point & shoot Canon PowerShot SX100 IS. Last Sunday, my 11-year-old and I started our first lesson together (a mother-daughter thingy) led by a talented journalist/photographer Kristina Cyr at The PoetHouse. (Picture above by me: ISO400 - 6-60mm f/6 - F/8 - 1/6 second)
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ISO400 - 6-60mm f/12.8 - F/8 - 1/8 second (taken by me)

This was taken before I knew to drop the ISO to allow for longer exposure times. Over next 4-week intimate group sessions, we will discuss more on why we take photographs, what we want to learn, explore on various genres of photography we encounter each day--Documentary, Reportage, Fashion, Travel, Commercial, Fine Art, etc...and learn what makes a photograph resonate with the viewer based on its aesthetic value and/or underlying message. We will experiment with shooting and framing techniques using manual features on our cameras to get image results we desire.

As a starter, we covered Manual Exposure and Artistic Interpretations this afternoon. Here are a few of my favorites:
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ISO200 - 6-60mm f/28.1 - F/4 - 1/80 second (taken by me)
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ISO400 - 6-60mm f/6 - F/8 - 1/160 second (taken by tween)
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ISO200 - 6-60mm f/6 - F/8 - 1/400 second (taken by tween)
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ISO200 - 6-60mm f/6 - F/8 - 1/400 second (taken by tween)

This doesn't mean much to anyone...but to me it represents a small triumph
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0.077 ISO200 - 6-60mm f/6 - F/8 - 1/13 second (taken by me)

...because my attempt last Sunday was pitch black!

My best composing work was at Shevlin Park this afternoon while the family took a short stroll along the river. Sadly, my memory card threw another tantrum and swallowed all undertaking! At least, it didn't happen to the class work taken earlier in the day...I am thankful! It's time to invest in another card and a spare.
My tween and I had such a wonderful feeling about gaining control of our camera and learning different cool techniques. I am keen on taking some good clean shots, playing with black-and-white, coloring them by hand...and organizing my photos into part of my daily life. Want to join me in the cool Photo 365 bandwagon to put a framework on your creativity? There is no rule--you just shoot one photo a day. It doesn't matter of what or with what.

Here are comparison shots taken at 8:05 PDT
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Left: ISO400 - 6-60mm f/6 - F/2.8 - 1/25 second
Right: ISO800 - 6-60mm f/6 - F/5.6 - 1/4 second

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Left: ISO1600 - 6-60mm f/6 - F/8 - 1/15 second
Right: ISO800 - 6-60mm f/6 - F/8 - 1/10 second

Happy crafting and keep those creative juices running!
(still doesn't do texting, MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, StumbleUpon, DiggIt...)