Vignettes

I took a slightly different approach with these pictures. I thought I'd try putting a vignette around them. Each of the flowers were taken with a neutral, blank background. The bottom one is actually a white rose, and was taken with backlight from a window, then given a pink tint. Still practising, still learning.


I've learned that post production should not be too elaborate or it will take away from the actual photograph itself. I use some of these photos for greeting cards, so am always looking for subjects that can be used on the cards.


When I look at how much there is to learn in photography, and how much more I have to learn, it reminds me of how much more I have to learn about God. Even more importantly, it reminds me that I need to know Him more and more all the time. 

Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. 

Isaiah 55:6

Learning to Shoot in Raw Format

 I've recently been using Raw Format when I'm taking photos. They do take up more space in the camera so that you can't take as many pictures as you can when you have your camera set to Large (jpeg) for photos. It takes longer when you download and when you open the photos. The photos also take up more space in the computer.


But ... it lets you play with the white balance ... contrast ... saturation. I've been working with the white balance the most, and still have more to learn. White balance is the camera setting that adjusts lighting so that white objects appear white. Otherwise, the picture might look a bit blue, orange, or other colour. This happened to me when I was taking a photo awhile ago, and I'd forgotten to take the "tungsten" setting off. Black hair can look quite blue sometimes - not necessarily what you want.

The two pictures below illustrate what I am talking about. The top one looks closer to the actual scene when I took the picture. The bottom one has had the white balance changed to tungsten, to show how it can be changed. Both are interesting - matter of taste?

When we saw this sunset, I was glad I had my camera with me. We stopped, and I was able to take the photo. We need to take time to look around more often and enjoy God's handiwork. He provides us with so many beautiful sunsets for us to see and commit to our memories.  And ... just imagine what heaven must be like ...

In my Father's house are many mansions ...

John 14:2

Looking ahead ...

 After the Rain

Lily

During January, I thought I would put up a variety of photos I've taken over the last few years - as a record for myself of where I've been so that I can make comparisons as I learn and take more photographs.  I hope to continue to put photos up on my blog, and continue to grow in my photography. I'm finding that this is helping me to improve my work..


These flowers have water droplets on them. They are actual rain drops, but I have sprayed water on other flowers to give the same effect. When you do this, you need to give the drops time to settle so that they look natural.  I've also seen tutorials for "painting" water drops on flowers in post production, but I believe the real thing looks best.


God has put so many different kinds of flowers on this earth for our enjoyment. We could be taking photos for the rest of our lives, and still not take photos of all of the types of flowers in the world.

... my God will meet all your needs 

according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. 

~ Philippians 4:19

Happy New Year!

Wishing you and yours a Happy New Year!

To take pictures of water drops, I need to prepare for the shot. It could not be taken unless this preparation takes place. There are more sophisticated methods for taking these photos than I am using ... but they still need to be set up in order to get the photo. Each of these methods provide some form of control by the photographer.

When we look at the year coming up, we have no idea what we will be facing. It could be a good year, or it could be a very challenging year with difficult circumstances to live through. As a Christian, I can be thankful that God is in control, and He knows what the future holds. Better yet, He has promised to be there for us. We have so much to be thankful for.

... I know Who holds the future

and I know Who holds my hand ...

A Visit from a Barred Owl

Barred Owl

A few years ago, we had a barred owl come to visit us. My husband was hoping he would stay around and catch some of the squirrels in our yard. He was disappointed. We didn't see him after this, but they don't usually spend their time hunting in the daytime.

The barred owl appeared to be enjoying the sun as it was going down. It stayed there quite awhile, and didn't mind me coming around to take pictures of him. We don't get to see these birds very often, which made this a special experience for me. One of those special moments for me that God gives us sometimes.

This is the week following Christmas. My family is still enjoying Christmas together. May God bless you and your family at this time of year, and in  the coming year.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.
We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, 
who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
 ~ John 1:14

The King at Christmas

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: 

The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, 

and will call him Immanuel (God with us). (Isaiah 7:14)

In the beginning was the Word, and  the Word was with God,

and the Word was God.

He was with God in  the beginning.

Through Him all things were made;

without Him nothing was made that has been made.

In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.

The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. (John 1:1-5)

The true light that gives light to every man 

was coming into the world. 

He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him,

 the world did not recognize Him. 

He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him. 

Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, 

He gave the right to become children of God 

— children born not of natural descent, 

nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. 

The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. 

We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, 

who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:9-14)

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. 

And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, 

 Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end.

 He will reign on David's throne and over His kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. 

The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this. (Isaiah 9:6-7) 

... that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

 in heaven and on earth and under the earth, (Philippians 2:10)

Photo Opportunities at the Bird Feeder

Bluejay

Red Breasted Nuthatch

White Breasted Nuthatch

Black-capped Chickadee

A great way to practice your photography is taking pictures of the birds at the birdfeeders. We get quite a few of them in the winter. To make them look as though they aren't right at the feeder, I put out several different branches to have them land on before getting the seed - this opened it up for some good pictures. 


The chicadees and red breasted nuthatches were tame enough to land on my hand for seed. One year I was up to a 1/4 kilometre away from home, and they still flew around me looking for food.


The only picture that was not taken near our birdfeeder was the chicadee, even though it comes to our birdfeeding station the most. This chicadee was preparing a nest in the springtime - making a hole in a small dead tree. It was very interesting to watch as it kept going into the hole, and hollowing it out even more. It would squeeze into the hole, work on making the hole bigger, then turn around and squeeze its way out of the hole with its beak full. Fascinating!


May you have a blessed Christmas, remembering the true reason for the season. 

She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus,

 because He will save His people from their sins.

Matthew 1:21