New Car

Here she is, my new car. A Ford Fiesta. She is very nippy and I am pleased to report I have already seen plenty of photo opportunities. I think its the chrome trim against the black interior that makes it look interesting.

Toby Again

After saying Toby is quite difficult to photograph, I am making it my mission to try and get a decent picture of him. Last night I took him to the park. He loves playing with sticks, and will often sort one out for us to play with. I soon noticed that he didn't like it when I lifted the camera to my face. So, I started to take pictures without looking, and holding the camera down at my side. Here are the results so far:



I do need to practise this method a little more, as it seemed to disturb him a little if I chimped, and therefore in the end, I had to resort to more luck than judgement. It looks like I'm nearly there. I have always wanted a close up picture of his face.

On-line Resources

My favourite on-line resource is Tips From The Top Floor. This is a podcast/videocast, which are a series of on-line radio shows. I have learnt a lot from this show and its host Chris Marquardt. Chris explains everything very clearly and simply. I also love the relaxed style of the show. The shows are tailored for all digital camera users, and one of Chris's favourite sayings is "it's not the camera but the photographer". It also has a great Forum, which has a thriving friendly community. I would say that, as I am a forum moderator!!!

I have recently discovered Digital Photography School. This is a blog that people can contribute to. It covers everything from camera techniques to composition ideas. I have found a number of interesting articles here.

I have also started to watch Photo Walking. This is a series of videos, where you join a photographer on a photo shoot.

Self Timing Experiment

As I mentioned earlier, Toby does not like the camera very much. So with the sun peeking through the clouds I thought I would try and trick him in to posing for the camera. With a little bribary, with his football, I managed to capture the following:




I always tend to use aperture priority, and forgot to change the set up for this final picture:


I will have to set this up again, and choose shutter priority and select a faster setting.

Cross Processing

Cross Processing is a process that was once completed in the traditional dark room. Basically the effect was achieved by using the wrong chemicals. I have always liked this look, and seem to see it quite often used in advertising.

I had seen tutorials for this using PhotoShop CS however, I can't afford it. So for ages and ages I was looking for a way to create the same effects using PhotoShop Elements, and at long last I found this:

This is how to do it using PhotoShop Elements:

1. Create new adjustment layer. - using levels, choose red from the channel drop down box, and select the following values:

from left to right: 22 0.32 213 into the input level boxes

Then choose green from the channel drop down box, and select the following values:

from left to right: 36 1.45 231

Finally select blue and enter:

from left to right: 0 0.62 234

2. OK this, then right click on the background layer and chose duplicate layer. Move this layer to the top of the stack and then adjust hue/saturation. Select Saturation and move to +60. OK this.

3. Set the blending mode for this layer to hard light.

4. Select New Adjustment Layer> Photo Filter. From the filter list choose Cyan and drag the intensity slider to 89% and uncheck preserve luminosity. Click OK.

5. Set the blending mode for this layer to colour.

That is the basic technique, but you can use the burn and sponge tools to create more intensity of the colours.

Introducing the Pets (no.2)......

This is Toby.....


Toby is now 4 years old, and has loads of energy. Unfortunately, for some reason, Toby has become a little scared of the camera. I have tried loads of times to sneak up on him, but he seems to have developed a sixth sense when it comes to cameras!!!

Introducing the Pets (no.1)......

This is Luca.....


He is 6 years old now, and a really friendly lopped ear rabbit. He is a house rabbit, and loves running around the house. Of all the pets we have, he is the easiest to get a picture of. This one was when he was playing in the garden and he decided he needed to know what the black box on the floor was.

2012 London Olympic Roadshow

The first time I saw the Olympic Logo in use. I'm still not too sure what to make of it.

The 2012 Olympic Roadshow is travelling around the country to try and encourage people to take up sports. They even have a programme which helps to tell you what sport is most suitable for you. Unfortunately I was in a rush, as I was in my lunch break, and just had enough time to travel to the event and back again.

The Dome

A quick visit in my lunch break to North Greenwich, which is home to O2 Arena which was built as the Millenium Dome to see in the new century. Its now a concert and entertainment venue, and will be used to stage some events at the London Olympics in 2012

It is a really impressive structure, and unless you are on the other side of the river Thames, there isn’t really much opportunity to get the whole building in one shot. However, I must admit, I kind of like the idea in pictures of giving you a hint of something. It stops it from being what looks like a grab shot, and gives the impression, that you have actually thought about what you are doing.

Down on the Farm

Thursday night is Camera Club night. I belong to Dagenham Camera Club, and in the summer there are a series of planned evenings out. Last night one of the members, invited us all to their friends farm. However, as is the way, for the first time in ages we had rain. Boy did it rain. The light was not very good, and most of the photography opportunities had to be taken inside. Thankfully, Jim who arranged this evening, said we could go back when the weather is more favourable. I hope we do get the chance to go again, as there were so many things that caught my eye.



The light was not very good, and I shot using a high ISO to try and reduce the shutter speed. I also tried to reduce the effects of noise in PhotoShop, and I think this has turned out to be my favourite picture of the night.

The Alphabet Challenge

A couple of years ago, as part of an assignment on Tips From The Top Floor we were asked to provide a group of pictures depicting the letters of the alphabet with out using both the written and printed form.

It was also one of the first things we did on the forum that belongs to Tips From The Top Floor, and was great fun to do. It did take a while though, and I think I was obsessed with this project.



I was recently reminded about this project and asked to post it to
The Tech Guy Flickr Group as it may be discussed on the Tech Guy podcast over the coming weeks.

Just in case you don't remember your ABC, here is my take on it:
A is for Clothes Peg
B is for Reading Glasses
C is for Artist Dummy
D is for Fence Top
E is for Traffic Lights
F is for Dog
G is for Metal Clip
H is for Lamp Posts
I is for Column
J is for Axe
K is for Fence
L is for Computer
M is for Arches
N is for Modern Art
O is for Headlight
P is for Shaving Mirror
Q is for Used Tea Bag Pot and Spoon
R is for Lance Head
S is for Park Bench
T is for Motor Way Lights
U is for Two Lamps
V is for Road Sign
W is for Tower Bridge
X is for Windmill
Y is for Tweezers
Z is for Swan

Hello

I thought I would start a photo blog. I enjoy taking pictures, and believe I am still learning how to become a better photographer. The idea of this blog, is to document the things I see, but also to see how I am improving over time.

I have had my current camera, an Olympus E-500 for just over a year now, and I love using it. It also gives me a great excuse to go out and about as well.

I'm not too sure if I have a favourite style of photography, but at the camera club I'm a member off, I have a reputation of being a little "quirky". I think this is one of the reasons why:

I'm not too sure if I have a style of photography, but over the coming months I might discover I have. I do know I'm not a great lover of portrait photography, although that might be because I know my limitations. I still struggle at times to get a proper grasp on lighting for example.