Art and Fire Project

This is one of the photos i took from the Art and Fire Project in Stockholm, Wisconsin. It was my first attempt at taking photos of fire, and also where it was so dark. This was a total challenge for me and my knowledge of photography. I didn't bring a tripod, which i probably should have, i was worried about someone tripping on it, so all the shots are hand held. I had to crank the iso to the highest so shots would be decent. I probably would have gotten better shots too if i had a lower F-stop lens, but f-4 was the lowest i could go, even though it's a pretty awesome lens. This isn't probably the best image, but i just wanted to start with posing the images from it.

Because i need a smile

I still love this picture, even if these bunnies aren't with me anymore (from left to right: Alex, Dru, Miso), i get a smile looking at this picture. Alex was alone and depressed for a long time after his previous bunny friend passed, and then we got Dru, who was for sale at the pet store when we got food for Alex for only ten dollars. He was grooming the ear of a chinchilla, who was annoyed. Had to get him as i worried about him, and never regretted it. Dru and Alex got a long great and were best friends (more than that from the looks of it huh? heh). Miso was given to us (me and my ex) from friends who were giving her up, she lept in my lap when we went to get her. She was smart and a trouble maker. She could open her cage that i had trouble opening, and always seemed to know what we were saying. She got fixed after moving up here, and once Dru and Alex could play with her, you should have seen the smile on Dru's face. (yep, bunny smile, hard to explain, lower lip down, not in an angry way)

Things have been tossing me around lately, health, loved ones passing, severe depression, all that mess. So i saw this and wanted to share a bit of the happy. (btw, my ex's dad referred to this picture as "receding hare line". ;)

Been busy

I've been taking a digital photography class here in town at the university. It was interesting if not a tad intense, started at 8am, every monday through thursday, on the third floor, ended at noon. Kind of ironic (a digital class, using such an image of such an old camera) i picked this photo from my final project, but i love it. Took a bit of photoshopping to remove a flash glare, but i love the texture on it. The class mostly covered using photoshop, with about the first week going over the digital photography aspect. Still, learned a good deal. Now i just want to learn more about the other aspects of photography, but his other classes fill up pretty quickly. I'm okay learning by myself, but it's nice to have that other perspective i can't get alone.

Jerry and me

Just a picture of Jerry drinking while i take his picture with my holga lens on the digital camera. How cute is he? (very!) hee.

Yard bunny

Spotted one of the yard bunnies on my way out today, was sitting under a bush by the front door, but when my garage door opened it spooked him. Thankfully didn't scare him too badly, and he sat there watching me photo him and drive away. I love seeing the yard bunnies. ;)

Infrared Photography self portrait

This was interesting, it's quite hard to figure out exposure for IR photography as it is, much less from the front of the camera, and then to stand still for those minutes. This lens does have quite a hot spot, but it's really my only wider lens that the filter fits. I'm still not sure if i'm doing it right, but i guess that is what learning is all about. I've been going into the longer exposures, around 3min each, and it seems to be closer to what others have online. I just wish i had a remote trigger for the 5D, i do for my rebel, but they don't share the connector, grr... Oh well, it works just as well. ;)

Charing Cross Road J-Doll

I was just playing around with lenses i don't usually use, and using my Charing Cross Road J-Doll as a model. (yes, i know, i'm weird) I wish it was more posable, so i could practice with taking pictures of people, which is hard to do when people are hard to come by that want pictures taken by someone without a lot of people experience. I'm hoping to get a Dollfie in the near future (not a naked one, who put that picture on wikipedia, lol) thanks to what Danny Choo has shown of them. Kind of pricey, the one i want (heh, she shares my initials) to start with is $418, and that's without a cool outfit (and not really the eyes or other parts i'd customize). I guess that's not too bad, as the one Danny has that is awesome is over $1,000. (after seeing the guy at the bank get that in fives for his trip to a strip club, in addition to $500 in ones, i don't feel so bad) Anyway, i've been told it's good practice taking pictures of the dolls to get posing and lighting down more. I've mostly had experience with nature and other more random things. On a related note, sort of, i've been thinking when i do get around to more people photography, tossing in my other experience with 3D modeling/animation and special effects make up. Could get some surreal or unique images that way. 

Potted bunn

I wonder, will i get little bunnies from this odd plant? ;)

Jerry being a goof as usual, digging in the dirt in an old pan. He's listening to me take the picture, probably thinking "If i don't move, he can't see me, and i can't get in trouble." (not that he gets in trouble really anyway)

Bunns getting cozy

Oh my, the cuteness, it burns. ;) This morning, i'm waking up and hear them doing something. I look over, and they are going into the carrier together. Just hanging out in there too, for some odd reason. The brown one with the fluffy tail is Amanda, and the white cutie is Jerry. They are awesome together, if not a bit goofy. ;)

Cuteness on Easter

Here is Zack with Kitty behind him, just relaxing in the sun under the footstool. Zack pretty much flopped out stretched out for a good long while. I love seeing this kind of thing, just puts me in a better mood and glad they are that happy. :)

Kitty bunny after the vet

It's a little blurry, but i love this picture. Kitty is exploring the carrier after coming back from the vet for a nail trimming and yearly check up (had long ho nails, and gained a little weight,  but otherwise great.) She is so feisty, but loves to see what this thing is all about, she'll go in there and hang out, even after the trip in it.

Honestly, how can you not fall in love with that face? 

Infrared digital photography

So here is my first shot with infrared digital photography. The lens has a hot spot, and my results aren't nearly as cool as those others have taken by far. Wrong sized filter probably didn't help, but it stayed on, with tape. I used one of my cheaper lenses just in case. This was with my un-modified 5D, and about 10sec exposure. I used Aperture to do all the conversion from the red picture i took, not sure if i did that all right or what, something about the white balance should be set on something green, but in winter here, not much green. It would have probably helped if it had been a sunny day, not overcast near dusk, but oh well. Not exactly the most thrilling photo, but hopefully i'll get better at it. 

Yard bunny

This is one of the wild rabbits at my parents house a while ago eating at the base of one of the bird feeders. Their yard bunnies are a bit thinner and more "wild" looking than mine, not sure why, could be because they live pretty much at the edge of a smaller town near a river, and foxes and such live there too. Mine are probably more protected as they are in a city (of only about 12,000) but fewer predators so they can relax. I am not sure how true that all is, i'm guessing. Still love them all though. 

More lighting practice

This is another attempt at lighting practice, although i noticed it's really hard to get sharp focus without a remote trigger. Just touching the camera to take the picture shakes it enough where it's out of focus. :P I have a remote trigger for the Digital Rebel XTi i have, but it uses a different connector than the 5D, boo... Oh well. I think i'm getting better at lighting though, made a diy softbox for the main light, put some foamboard to reflect the light on the other side and lit the background. I know, basic stuff, but i'm learning here.