Photography: Creative Captures Week 4

Confession: I haven't been nearly as focused on Souvenir Foto School this time around as I think I ought to have been. Opening the shop the same month as doing this class has left me with little time to pick up my camera outside of photographing my shop goods. I feel like I've been going full speed ahead creatively, but outside of "shop world", I've been lacking energy and inspiration for this class. Hence why I've jumped ahead to week 4's photographs, I'm too embarrassed to even post week 3's photos. Awful, simply awful. Week 4 was devoted to color, so I did get some decent shots this time. The cacti in our neighborhood are going wild with flowers and I scooted down to one insanely gorgeous one and snapped these two pics. Well, I snapped more than two, but these two were my favorites of the lot!

Photography: Creative Captures Week 2

Week 2 of Souvenir Foto School was all about removing a distracting background, cropping in camera and directional light. I almost succeeded in getting all three done in this photo, but I needed to crop the image down a bit more in post editing than I had in camera. Oh well, there's always next time!

I also finally succeeded in capturing an image that captures my new found tea obsession. Little Dickens, I can't get enough of this stuff - it's just so very good!

Photography: Creative Captures Week 1

I signed up for my second session of Souvenir Foto School. Fortunately, this month's class, entitled Creative Captures, is one to two photos a week with more specific assignments - much less intense than the photo a day alphabet challenge. I submitted this photo for my first week's assignment: rule of thirds, focus points and the Golden Hour. N and I headed to our favorite sunset spot, Mt Bonnell, to capture some images in the Golden Hour (the hour before and after sunrise and sunset).

Of course I snapped a ton of photos (I'll be sharing more later this week) so it was hard to pick just one to submit. This second photo was the runner up, but I eventually went with the first photo because my focal point was more defined with the flower. I love them both, but then I guess I'm a bit biased :)

Photography: P is for Perfect Ending

Day 30. I suppose technically I'm braking the rules, because I took this shot last week, and not today, for my final photo. But really, it's the perfect photo for me to finish this project with, because without having participated in Souvenir Foto School, I wouldn't have maniacally pulled off the road at 50mph to capture this sight. I think that offsets the fact that I'm bending the rules here.

It was serendipity, this sunset moment, and bitter sweet at the same time. With an unexpected and sudden passing in our family, we headed straight up to Oklahoma to be with family and celebrate a wonderful person's life. Driving along a long country road, we couldn't help noticing how beautiful the sky was, tinged with purple and orange. I knew there weren't going to be many sunsets like the one we were experiencing and I frantically searched for a place to pull off the road so I could try to take some pictures. We finally happened upon a church, of all places, and pulled into its drive. When we parked, we saw the most amazing sight: a small hill overlooking a pond reflecting the most magnificent sky I've ever laid eyes upon! N and I stood there in quiet awe as we silently gave thanks for each other and for this life.

I took so many pictures, not only to capture the beauty to share with others, but to be able to hold onto that moment and that feeling. It was a tough decision to pick just one of the photos; to me, they all represent the perfect ending to a February full of challenge and growth, ever-changing in color, composition and pattern.

Photography: J is for Jagged

Day 29. Just a simple shot of the jagged edge of one of our kitchen knives - I hope this image doesn't come across too macabre. I found the jagged edge of the knife to be a lovely little pattern of waves when turned on its backside. One more day, one more photo and the 30 day challenge will be complete!

Photography: I is for Identical

Day 28. Identical in shape and pattern that is. I've had this small collection of snail shells for about a year now. It's not hard to find empty snail shells in our neighborhood, and I think they're so lovely. Simple beauty, it really can be found all around us.

Photography: Y is for Yellow Petals

Day 27. I puzzled over what to shoot for Y for days. I settled on the easiest thing I could think of: yellow. Some pretty tulips from the store provided the perfect subject. I love the repeating curves of their soft petals. Spring is coming!

Photography: W is for Woodgrain

Day 26. I'm in the homestretch now with this project - only 4 more letters to go! I took several shots of woodgrain today, but in the end, I turned in the most artsy one I took. These past few days, I've really begun to feel myself loosen the chains on this project and just start snapping pictures of things I find interesting or pleasing to my eye. N especially liked this one, which makes me smile.

Photography: T is for Tractor

Day 24. I got a little off my pattern theme with this one, but I couldn't resist the appeal of a vintage tractor in a bucolic setting. She sure is a beauty!

Photography: M is for Mosaic

Day 22. A quick photo this morning and an even quicker edit! This is a mosaic in our neighborhood and I love how colorful and visually interesting it is. I just knew I had to include it in this photo project!

Photography: N is for Native American

Day 21. Boy, I'm getting down to the wire and trying to find things to photograph with the last 7 letters of the alphabet. Today's photo: a shot of a momento from a trip to Santa Fe, NM a few years back. He's an Eagle Warrior and a symbol of strength.

Photography: Z is for Zig Zag

Day 20. Today's photo was all about infusing some color into an otherwise gloomy morning. It must have worked because the sun came out this afternoon and it warmed up to a beautiful 70 degrees. Winter in Austin can sometimes be so wonderful!

Photography: R is for Rope

Day 19. N and I took a trip out to Mount Bonnell this morning for a little bit of photographic inspiration. The views were amazing, but this steel rope railing really caught my eye for this project. Getting out was wonderful - the fresh air and new subject matter was definitely good for my photographic soul.

Photography: V is for Vintage

Day 18. My camera and I got in a fight yesterday. That's why I took yesterday off. The camera, of course, did what it was supposed to do, the photographer, however, became increasingly frustrated with not being able to do capture what she was hoping. I decided it was best to leave it and start again today. I woke up knowing I was going to have to confront the camera and honestly, was dreading it. Instead of succumbing to my dread, I decided to face it head on and make today's photo about the camera. Well, actually my father's old camera that he gave me last year. I grew up with this camera capturing every aspect of our lives. I love this camera and I especially love the camera strap that my father put on it; it's straight from the 70s and and he never once took it off. After taking this photo, I took the strap right off this camera and put it on mine, a rite of passage of sorts I suppose, and it won't be coming off anytime soon.

Photography: B is for Bandana

Day 16. It was characterized by a real lack of energy on my part. I was just barely able to get the photo styled and taken, so no edits on this one; it's SOOC (straight out of camera). I've solicited my classmates for their editing suggestions and if/when I hear back with any, I'll make the edits and post the updated photo. I'm hoping for a good night's sleep tonight so I'll feel refreshed and rejuvenated for tomorrow's photo!

Photography: C is for Chinoiserie

Day 15. I was inspired by others participating in Souvenir Foto School to try photographing a subject on a dark background. After taking numerous shots, I came to realize how important it is to get the lighting just right when you photograph on a dark background. A bit of post processing helped as well! This beautiful ceramic box was given to me by my sister-in-law; I keep it on my bedside table full of trinkets and jewelry.

Photography: X is for X's and O's

Day 14. I was able to knock out the letter X thanks to Valentine's day! A little picture of this mornings breakfast with lots of X's and O's to go around. Funny how inspiration works; I usually wake up in the morning rarely knowing what I'm going to shoot for the day, but by the time I'm out of the shower, I have some idea that I've thrown together in my head. And by the time I leave for work, I've usually gotten at least my preliminary shots, if not my final ones, done. It feels wonderful to have my creative juices flowing again!

Photography: F is for Fair Isle

Day 13. Phew, today's subject was hard; she just wouldn't sit still! Of course you knew Lily would have to make it in at least one picture for this project. You should have seen N and I working her to the bone this morning...bribing her with biscuits to sit still in front of the window. It was no easy task; this girl does not like to pose for the camera. Of about the 15 shots I got (that's all the torture she would endure), this was the one I was finally able to do a little something with in post-editing. Professional pet photographers, I salute you! 

Photography: A is for Anchor

Day 12. I took Saturday off from this little photography project (we're allowed 4 days off, 26 letters in the alphabet, 30 day challenge), but got right back into it today. N brought me back these wonderful chocolate bars from Manhattan (my favorite: Sea Salt Chocolate) and I couldn't resist photographing them for this project; they're too beautiful not to!!

Photography: E is for Eyelet

Day 10. Admittedly, not my best shot, but for some reason, out of all the photos I took today, I kept coming back to it again and again. There is something eerie or nostalgic about it and I like how the eyelet seems to pop even though it's a bit blurry. This is the full size photo with more context and better framing. Here's to better photo taking this weekend!