I Am a Photographer!

Water Lilies

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 00:45:26 GMT

Two more behind the cut.

I really like what I was going for here, but I need my tripod. I was hovering over the fountain/pond thing, praying that the rain wouldn't start up and that i wouldn't drop the camera into the pond/fountain. I would love to get a bit more of the reflection of the lily in the water.

Peep Project: Peeps About Town

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 00:42:07 GMT

This is the beginning of my Peep project, although I'm not sure if I will continue working on it until I get another lens.

Peeps Eat Mosquitos

A Peep in the hand is worth two in the bush.

I actually had a photo of some peeps in a pineapple palm. But I didn't care for it. Here's another photo of the gator with the peeps. I wanted to get a closer picture of the peep in the mouth but my lens just doesn't focus down that far. oh well.

When Peeps attack

Office Photo a Day: Day 6

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:31:48 GMT

Who will win? Who will lose? You decide!

Cage Match Featuring Darth Tater Head and Tuborous Tebow!

See the rest of my filing cabinet toys behind the cut.

From left to right
Darth Tater Head, Han Solo (Return of the Jedi), Leia (Star Wars: A New Hope), Master Chief (Halo 3), mini-Master Chiefs, Tuberous Tebow (Tim Tebow, 2007 Heisman Award Winner, Florida Gators), World War 1 Flying Ace Snoopy.

When people come into my office they always have a fun time playing with my toys. The guys are always shocked that I have Star Wars toys and Halo 3 toys, the girls aren't. I think that's cuz more girls are actually playing video games and getting into science-fiction now so they just see another kindred spirit.

Office Photo a Day: Day 5

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 16:59:06 GMT

What it takes to get through the day:

Office Photo a Day: Day 4

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 18:32:50 GMT

Just 2.5 more hours until I can loose this place for an entire week!

Office Photo a Day: Day 3

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 18:31:38 GMT

Lovely pens. Love pens. Steal pens!

Starting Over: Project Photo A Day

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 20:27:31 GMT

So I let things get out of hand and then I stopped caring because I was in a bad place and now I'm back on the good foot and want to start up again.

I come bearing images for my starting over project photo a day.

This time I'm setting a much smaller goal with some guidelines based on an article I read about Photo A Day challenges.

My self-imposed guidelines:
1) Photo a day every day for 21 days.
2) Must be work related but cannot be simple photograph, must have some value to it that either is a story in pictures about an event/experience I had at work OR looking at work things with a new perspective.

So here is Day 1

Four drawers of this...

plus five boxes of these...

went into these seven drawers without room to spare.

The original four drawers were packed so tightly that I could not get the files out without yanking on them. But now all denied files are organized alphabetically.

Sadly I still could not find the missing file.

First Meeting of the Creative

Thu, 08 May 2008 19:21:25 GMT

Last night I went to Danielle's house to meet with her and Sarah to discuss Danielle's portrait. Originally my idea was to make Danielle into a 1950s showgirl ala Marilyn Monroe in "Bus Stop". But as we started talking about and trying to figure out costumes and things, Sarah was doing Danielle's make-up and hair.

Pretty soon Danielle had evolved from showgirl to 1950s MILF (Mother I'd Like to Do Sexy Things With). Then I suggested a tray of martinis and Sarah suggested a pie and the whole thing fell together. We definitely got Marilyn Monroe - but in the kitchen! Now we're going to scout places to take the photo.

Again, originally the "set" was just going to be a white or cream or gray backdrop, and maybe it still will be, but we were giggling and wishing we could find and old stove or something. If we decide to use a prop outside the pie, like an old stove or wet bar, it has to be authentic. At least in my mind it should be. I think it might be too much to mix this sassy 1950s lady with a kitchen from the 21st century.

Working with Sarah is always fascinating. The two of us really brainstorm and pull out some neat ideas. We really play off each other well. It's great.

So in about two weeks I'll start shooting. I'm really excited. I've got to do some homework first - I have no real studio lighting and no flash, so everything is going to be reflectors, natural lighting. This is when I do wish I had a digital so I could stop the shoot, see what's working and what's not, and redirect if I need to. But I guess this is when I'll really be putting my skills to the test. Any hints and recommendations will be really helpful.

120 Film vs. 35mm

Tue, 06 May 2008 12:27:56 GMT

So here's a little comparision between my new Mamiya medium format camera that uses 120 film and my Nikon N80 that uses 35mm film. I wish you could see the actual amazingness. The Mamiya has an amazing lens. Everything looks so clear and clean when I look through it. And because of the size of the film, I get a larger view too.

35mm

120

I like both photos. The top one, 35mm, shows more of the yellowness of the building. That building is butter yellow. I mean yellow! But I like the clarity of the 120. I need to take my grey card out there and get my readings from it instead of just relying on the internal meters of the cameras. I couldn't find my gray card on Sunday when I shot these photos, but I just found this past Friday when I was cleaning up my craft room.

I thought I had a few more comparison images, but I was wrong. Well...actually I do have two more but I don't think I uploaded them. Anyway, if you want to see some more fun pictures click the cut again.

35mm
Miss Winni Baby! Mike has taken to calling her Monkey Poodle. We call both cats Monkey (nicknames) but because Winni is so high maintenance he tacked on Poodle. Here she is enjoying being on the porch and being in the sun.

I have no idea what this plant is, but it said full sunlight (which I have) and it was pretty. I think it looks very Shabby Chic/English Country like.

Once again, the walkway of the building.

120
I like patterns. I really liked the lines of this when I shot it.

Once again, the Thomas Center. I love this building. It's very, very Florida architecture. Sunny colors, trace of Spanish Architecture. I would love to do a series of these, do some pop art type looks in photo shop or something.

Slip n Slide, Baby!!!

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:48:23 GMT

I get my first batch of negatives back from my Nikon N80 and Mamiya 345E. YAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!!!!! I cannot WAIT to compare the two. I'll be doing a lot of scanning this evening and posting and what not. Hopefully my scanner will do a relatively good job of scanning the negs so I can really show off just how different the images from 35mm is from 120 film. 120...man, you guys, I cannot tell you just how clear and brillant everything is through that camera.

Hee hee, the mamiya is the same one that Annie Liebovitz uses! Except that I'm a little ticked off at her about this whole Miley Cyrus thing.

Photo A Day: Day 21

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:02:58 GMT

This is how we chill in our family. We have a severe lack of furniture. If we want to watch TV we have limited choices about where we can sit: the floor (as Mike is demonstrating), a rocking chair, or my computer chair. We have a big floor pillow, but when one sits on the floor too long, one ends up laying down and using the floor pillow as a head pillow on the floor.

Remember this:

Look behind the cut for the cleaned up version!

We thought our stools would be good for our kitchen counter, but nope. Too short. Again, more lack of furniture. I'm standing in the porch shooting through the living room. But at least there are no more boxes!~

If you came over to my house tonight you could have some unfrosted cookies.

I've been trying to freecycle some furniture but to no avail. Oh well, God will provide. I am sure of it.

Photo A Day: Days 17 - 20

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 10:43:16 GMT

Days 19 & 20 are on film, it'll be a couple of weeks before I get that completed as this weekend I made a couple of purchases and so film development will have to wait.

Days 17 & 18...things at work and at home were a little strained, not Mike and I, just the move and some work stress. It was a little too much to consider taking a picture(s), when really I should have used that for the sake of the art (wow, that's a bit dramatic). I really, really just didn't even want to think about taking a picture.

Photo A Day: Day 16

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 01:50:30 GMT

Day 16 - I love my new home. I love sitting on the couch and looking out our big windows and watching the neighbors. I love opening up the windows and feeling the Florida breeze on my face.

How else should I spend my early evening except on the porch with my feet up surrounded by blooming flowers? This is what I've been wanting for so long. Now I have it, and I am so utterly grateful.

I've been wanting to grow Gerbera Daisies since 1999 when I grew them in a little plot with my neighbor outside of our on campus apartments. Now I'm finally in a position where I can grow them. And grow them I will! In all colors, sizes, species of daisies, I will grow daises and love them.

Photo A Day: Day 15

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 01:47:31 GMT

Day 15 - All I could manage to do tonight after work was come home, garden, go to school, get kidnapped by aliens, and have an alien baby.

Day 14

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 10:50:14 GMT

Day 14
Originally uploaded by Mike's Wife

This is the part of moving that bothers me the most: the disorganization. I want everything to be in it's place, organized beautifully. Most people understand this desire to be moved in and cleaned up. Other people always say, "Take your time, you have plenty of time." No, how can I use my kitchen when it looks like this? I can't even use the sink to wash my hands! No, there is no waiting. It shall be cleaned.

Photo A Day: Day 13

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 21:55:14 GMT

Day 13 - I just cannot get over how light and airy our apartment is. I sat down with our laptop (hoping for some wifi) and blogged in the sun for awhile. The cats came in and out of the porch or stretched out in the sun next to me. What an amazing day.

One of the few times that Felix went out on the porch on his own. He seemed very relaxed, for awhile.

Both of the kids are in love with the porch and the sun spots. They took turns laying in the sun. This is Winni doing everything she possibly can to streeeetttccchhh and get every inch of herself coated in sun.

Day 13 - Felix's turn in the sun spot. He is still really unsure of the porch, but he loves the sun. Anywhere it goes, Felix follows.

Photo A Day: Day 12

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 21:35:40 GMT

Day 12 - End of unloading Day 1 - After we got done unloading the truck we had lunch at the pool. Somehow we got talking about yoga and how some yogis can float. When we got back to our new house I pretended to be a floating yogi. Bina is off to the side saying, "Wendi, yogis don't laugh! Yogis don't laugh!" I was falling over in this picture and laughing my head off. Oh well, guess I'm too goofy to be a yogi!

Let's try the floating yogi again. Nope, still didn't work.

This sign was posted on every door at our complex office. I wish I could talk to this guy and tell him just what you get when you pay less. Stop your whining already!

One of our new "neighbors" coming to say hello. The Ghetto had raccoons and stray cats. Now we have mating frogs and turtles.

Thinking outside inside a box. Winni had a blast on moving day. Other than having to get into her carrier (which she thought was going to take her directly to the vet for another invasive bum temperature taking), she ran around sniffing all th corners and playing with Jim's kids. This is our girl doing one of her favorite things - sitting in a box.

Felix isn't having any of it! He was traumatized by the car ride. Traumatized by being in a new house. Traumatized by being surrounded by new people. Poor guy. Once we put the comforter on the bed he jumped up and immediately curled up for a nap.

Photo A Day: Day 11

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 21:29:11 GMT

Friday was another crazy day.

Day 11 - Because we don't have enough drama already. This is out peephole over at The Ghetto. One of the idiots came back again! And Mike, while on the phone to the police, watched the kid through the peep hole.

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 13:49:49 GMT

Well, I've got a lot of Photo A Day photos to work on and get posted. I need to be a lot more diligent about this project. I'm set on doing it but I let a lot of little things stop me from posting every day. I think this project is perfect for me to get back into the mindset of going back to school. No matter how tired I am, how whatever, I have a commitment and I need to follow through.

So let me get on that and I'll have some shots up for you pretty soon. Love jump drives!

Photo a Day: Day 9

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 03:02:21 GMT

This is becoming an altogether too familiar sight at our apartment. Once again, we came home to find our apartment had been broken into. Even with our safety features in place, the peg in it's hole, the lock in place, the security tabs raised, the little punks were able to break in and steal our TV and our PS3. They left me my cameras but not after they ripped the guts out of the camera bag they had left behind the first time. They took that with them too, probably to carry the remote control that isn't going to work with the stuff they stole. Dumbasses.

This is what it finally looks like when someone dusts for fingerprints in your home. Why they couldn't do this this first time the kids broke in is beyond me. The field service tech was able to retrieve at least seven sets. She's hoping there will be a match. We're supposed to find out in a couple of weeks. We'll see.

When we came home the blinds were blowing in the wind. Mike just dropped his hands at his sides, and I leaned around him to see. The only thing I could really say was, "Not again. Not again." Then I just grabbed my phone and walked out. I couldn't take it, not again. I walked the perimeter of our apartment complex looking for the hole they used to get in this time, but couldn't find one. My intention was to go over to Litton Oaks and just start shouting. I wasn't thinking clearly, obviously, the frustration, the broken feeling of safety, it was all just to fresh - like lemon juice over an open wound.

Photo a Day: Day 8

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:15:48 GMT

My boss made this for me today:

What's that funny looking little dotty thing next to the J?

Why it's a K and P.

What this sign really means is "What Would JKP Do?" JKP is the chairman of the admissions committee of our department and my ultimate supervisor. Joan is my first level super, but he's OUR supervisor. She created this sign for me after Friday's fiasco. It's to remind me that JKP is a very gentle, serene and peaceful person, and that I should approach work issues with the same sense of calm. I need to remember WWJkpD when I'm being bombarded with emails from irrate and crazy applicants all demanding that I send them their visa paperwork RIGHT NOW!!!!!

(Technical Stuff: Cheated - used my celly to take the pics, popped the photos in Snapfish, played around with the pre-set borders, made it all sepia and then clicked on each photo to save it to my desk top. Easy-peasey.)

Notice that there is no Day 7? Yeah, I skipped Day 7. Why? Because I should have skipped Day 4 'cuz it SUCKED. So I skipped day 7 because it wasn't so much for the suckage as for the amount of work and the amount of sheer exhaustion and absolute uncomfortableness that followed it.

I think I'm going to have some more photos to post from today later on including my BRAND NEW SPANKING apartment (includes sunlight!)!!!!

Photo A Day: Day 6

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 02:07:25 GMT

Hopefully this is the end of the Fall 2008 applicants. Let's hope that there is little left for me to do. I know that there is at least one more file I have to finish - problems from Friday. But this should be it. Keep your fingers crossed.

Photo A Day: Day 5

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 02:04:56 GMT

Red and Black - dying and highlighting

Okay, so what I've done is died it bright red. I was supposed to get these big black chunks of black stripes. I used that cap thingy but I didn't capture as much hair as I would like. But I love it. It's punky and fun, and it looks pretty cool. People kind of stare though *lol*.

Photo a Day: Day 4

Sat, 12 Apr 2008 04:32:29 GMT

Day 4
Originally uploaded by Mike's Wife

After the week I've been having...well, okay after the WEEKS I've been having, I decided that I needed to do something fun and wacky. You'll have to wait until tomorrow to see what it is!

Techs: You know...I really hate these flourescent "go green/save the planet" light bulbs. No matter what white balance setting I put my camera on, the stupid picturs in the house come out all grainy and icky. The white balance was set for flourescent.

Photo a Day: Day 3

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 11:12:04 GMT

By the time we got home last night I was exhausted. Work is wearing me down. The lovely mood I felt after my first physical therapy session for my elbow incision quickly wore off right around 6 p.m. A massive yawning attack set in and all I could think about was just going home and going to bed. But alas, there were things that needed to be accomplished. I finished the dishes. I had shot a picture of the last of the washed dishes but the white balance on the Nikon Cool pix was off and everything came out yellow. No amount of work in Photoshop could help that picture.

This picture is more true to form of what I ended up doing before bed: knitting while the Sims 2 Freetime loaded. Whatever intentions I had set yesterday went right out the window once those dishes were done. Sheer exhaustion hit me and this was all I was able to really do.

Processing tips: Shot with the Nikon Cool Pix, white balance setting for incandescent lighting. But still looked like crap, so I made a copy of the color picture. Grayscaled the copy, pasted the gray copy on top of the color copy and erased the sections of the photo that I wanted the color to come through. The yarn really is that bright and popping and it was important for me to have that color come through.