Double Takes with Rebecca: Simplicity

Have you ever looked at a photo

and noticed your eye is so distracted

it doesn't even know what the subject is?

Well, there are some techniques 

to keep in mind to help draw the viewers eye.

One of my favorite techniques 

is the use of negative space.

Negative space is simply empty space.

Empty in the sense that

there are no distractions.

I love the simplicity it creates.

You might use a solid background,

or a blurred, soft background

which helps frame the subject 

and gives your eye a place to rest.

Think of a portrait studio...

in a portrait studio you will find 

solid or softly textured backdrops.

Why?

 Because it draws your eye to the subject - 

 the person's face!

Some ideas that create negative space.

The sky

A reflective surface

A shallow depth of field

A backdrop or wall

And sometimes just moving your position

eliminates distracting backgrounds.

Try to apply this idea to some of your photographs.

You can have some fun 

and create stunning images too!

Spotlight photos - Earth Day April 22 and a question.

Here are the spotlight photos for last week; trees, leaves, branches, dirt, planting for Earth Day.



Ann's trail parade. what a fantastic place for a walk.

 Camella's little sapling growing among all the dead leaves and seeds and brush.

 EG wow part of a tree in the electrical wires! I have never seen this before myself and found it very weird or strange.

 Jama's awesome look up a tree.

 Mark's friend and fish kiss. now if this is not loving the Earth and all it's creatures I don't know what is!!

Welcome to all of our new shooters that have been joining the shoot outs lately. If you would like to be added to the member list (on our sidebar) please email me with your name and url of your blog. Thanks! You can find a link to my email on the sidebar.

Here is my question. We have quite a long list of members. Many have not posted in quite a while. What do you think we should do with the member list? Should we clean it out or leave as is? Or any other ideas on what to do with it please leave a comment.

This Friday's shoot out is Textures!  HAPPY SHOOTING!!

Member Voice for April 29 - Textures

Think fabrics, exteriors of buildings, tree bark, there are many possibilities.

Textures

Look at a close-up photo of a weathered old barn board and you almost wince at the imagined pain of catching a sharp splinter. Our memories of how things feel are so ingrained in our consciousness that the mere sight of them brings a vivid sensation of touch. By exploiting textures you can bring a tactile dimension to your photographs.

Surface textures become most apparent when they are illuminated from an oblique light source. Angled light catches the shape and imperfections of an object's surface and creates a pattern of highlight and shadow to produce visual texture. The quality of the light is also important. Bold and large textures, such as the bark of a tree or the rough surface of the door detail, are best revealed by strong, direct sidelight. Smooth, more finely detailed textures, such as that of satin, would be erased by powerful light and are revealed best by gentler, oblique light.

Framing is important, too, especially when you want to give texture a leading role. By moving in close to an old, weathered face, either physically or with a long lens, you focus the viewer's attention on the wrinkles and crevices. When the texture is part of a broader scene, as in the surfaces of a coarse and barren desert, it's often better to back off and show its expanse. Sometimes you can dramatize texture by comparing different surfaces within a scene: an elderly potter's gnarled hands turning a vessel of wet, silken clay. In revealing such contrasts, it's important to move in close and exclude everything that doesn't enhance the tactile qualities of your image.

(info from http://www.fodors.com/travel-photography/article-textures-53/)

There are a few things to keep in mind to ensure that the textures you take are as useful as possible. In this tutorial they are  illustrated point by point, with as much examples as possible. click here.... 10 texture photography tips.

HAPPY SHOOTING!!

Spotlight Photos: Temples, Churches, Synagogues, Houses of Prayer

Love the spring flowers Dawn Treader captured with this church.

Love the symmetry and starkness of this photo by  E G WOW

although the fall shot is very pretty.

 Pauline's country church

The beauty of stained glass by Snapper II

Next Shootout:  Earth Day

Member Voice for April 22 - Earth Day - dirt, branches, leaves, trees, new plantings

Earth Day is a day that is intended to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's natural environment.

The idea came to Earth Day founder Gaylord Nelson, then a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, after witnessing the ravages of the 1969 massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California. Inspired by the student anti-war movement, he realized that if he could infuse that energy with an emerging public consciousness about air and water pollution, it would force environmental protection onto the national political agenda. Senator Nelson announced the idea for a “national teach-in on the environment” to the national media; persuaded Pete McCloskey, a conservation-minded Republican Congressman, to serve as his co-chair; and recruited Denis Hayes as national coordinator. Hayes built a national staff of 85 to promote events across the land.

As a result, on the 22nd of April, 20 million Americans took to the streets, parks, and auditoriums to demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable environment in massive coast-to-coast rallies. Thousands of colleges and universities organized protests against the deterioration of the environment. Groups that had been fighting against oil spills, polluting factories and power plants, raw sewage, toxic dumps, pesticides, freeways, the loss of wilderness, and the extinction of wildlife suddenly realized they shared common values.

 In honor of Earth Day show your fresh new plantings, leaves, dirt, trees and branches. Plants and trees help us and the environment in many ways. 

plants make food

plants make oxygen

 plants provide habitat for animals

 plants help make and preserve soil

 plants provide useful products for people

 plants beautify

    

HAPPY SHOOTING!!

In The Limelight

Our guest interview for April is JarieLyn. You can visit her at Write Place! Write Chick!

 

 

(I just came back from Vegas and while there met JarieLyn and Gayla. Two very nice people and so glad I met them. this is a pic I took of her at Red Rock Canyon.)

 

In The Limelight 

 

Photography

When did the photo bug bite you?

 

I remember being in Jr. High and bringing my camera to school with me to take pictures of all of my friends.  I took a photography class in the 8th grade but I don't recall finishing the class.  I'm not sure what happened. 

What was your first camera and what do you use now?

 

I don't recall my first camera.  It was probably a kodak camera that held 110 film.  My first REAL camera was an Olympus 35mm.  My husband bought it for me before we were married and then I graduated to a Nikon 35 mm camera with a zoom lens and I absolutely loved that camera and did not care to get a digital until my husband talked me into it.  When DSLR's came out I didn't want one of those either because I was perfectly happy with my little point and shoot and my Nikon 35 mm.  But I finally relented and let my husband get me the Nikon D90 for my birthday in 2009 and I haven't looked back since.  I just don't know why it took me so long to progress to that level.  

What is on your equipment wish list?

 

I don't think this page is long enough, haha.  I'd like to get a speed light and some strobes and just about every lens you can think of.

What are your favorite subjects to photograph?

 

I will photograph just about anything.  Some people really have an eye for landscape, nature and wildlife photography, and that's not me.  I can look at a scenery and think it's really beautiful but not quite capture the image through my lens.  I prefer to photograph interesting buildings, old rusty things, pets and people.  I like still life and I like getting close up shots of things I see. 

What aspect of your photography are you working on? Trying to improve?

 

Everything.  There's always room for improvement and I'm always learning new things.  I consider myself a beginner still because there is so much for me to learn.

Blogging

Blogging since ……

 

July 7, 2009

Is there a story behind the name of your blog?

 

I orginally started out with the name Blog Trove.  You can read about that here http://jarielyn.blogspot.com/2009/07/my-first-blog.html.

But that name was really atrocious and it just didn't fit my personality.  I consider myself a writer more than a photographer which is the reason I began the blog in the first place so Write Place is the place where I write and I'm a female so I came up with Write Chick.  Write Place Write Chick.  It's not the best name in the world and it was kind of settling but after some research it was AVAILABLE.

What does blogging mean to you now?

 

It means so much more to me now than when I started writing.  I have ventured into photography as a passion and the blogging community is so supportive and I really feel connected to my fellow bloggers.  It's really strange how comforting it is to come to blogland and feel a kinship with so many people that I don't even know.  The blogland community gives me so much inspiration, motivation, encouragement and friendship.  Blogging and connecting with other bloggers is something I really cherish and value.  I am learning more about myself every day through this community and I am also becoming a more compassionate and caring person because of all the wonderful people I come across in blogland.

Do you have a favorite time of the day to write posts?

 

I'm a night owl so that is my preferred time to write, however, I don't always get that luxury so I would say early in the morning between 5:00 am and 7:00 am.

Have you set any goal about your blog? Anything you want to achieve with it?

 

I really want to get back to writing more, at least write as equally as I post pictures and  I'd like to be more consistent with my posting.

What are you favorite places to visit on the web that aren’t blogs?

 

I visit lots of astrology web sites.  I read about twenty different Virgo horoscopes daily.

Smithmag.net (Six Word Memoirs)

48days.com

Ebay

This is really lame but I am addicted to reading Craigs List Missed Connections even though I get aggravated at the stupidity of the posters.

You Tube

Mytotalmoneymakeover.com

Photography web sites

Fotoblur.com

 

Guest Interview Questions

 

From Elaine Dale

Who has influenced you the most in your life?

 

I would have to say my grandparents.  They taught me what it's like to have a generous heart and to be kind to all people.  They've been gone for so long now but I still look to them for guidance when I feel off track.

From Lena

 

If you could have any job in the world, what would it be?

 

Writing love letters.  That would be my perfect job and/or just driving around all day.  I don't aspire to much. Haha.

 

 

Personal

Which adjectives best describe you?

 

I always think of myself as quiet and reserved with a wild streak.

 

How has your life been different than what you'd imagined?

 

It is so much better than I imagined.  I am very fortunate to have a wonderful husband who is supportive in all of my entrepreunerial ventures.  Sometimes though, I feel like my happy face masks a tormented soul who is still searching for something.  But even with that I am SO grateful for the life I live.

 

Do you have any special talents; such as singing, dancing, playing a musical instrument? 

 

I can't carry a tune at all so Karaoke is out.  Dancing is my biggest passion in life, more than photography.  It is my true self expression other than my journal writing.

I used to take piano lessons when I was five and eight but I can really only play parts of songs.  So no, I really don't play any musical instruments.

I write poetry occasionally and I think I'm pretty good at that.

 

 

What are your basic stats that you would like to share?

I'm a VIRGO

I'm 46 Yrs. Old

Married 16 Years

 

  I have very strong intuition. I believe in reincarnation and psychic ability.

 

 

 

If you could interview anyone from your life living or dead, but not a celebrity, who would it be and why?

 

Both of my grandparents so that I could get a sense of who they were growing up and where they came from.  I would like to know what their happiest memories were as individuals.

 

 

 

 

Favorite saying or quotation: (or any comment you would like to make)

 

Of all sad words of tongue and pen, the saddest are these: "It might have been."

— John Greenleaf Whittier

 

The borrower is slave to the lender:  Dave Ramsey

 

 

Thank you JarieLyn for an awesome interview!!

Spotlight Photos: Circle Triangle Square

This past week was the first ever scavenger hunt!

Did you have fun?

Your photos sure look like you did!

This photo is from Kim.

Like Kim, several of you had interesting vehicle shots.

Mark captured all in one

with a magical feel to boot!

And look at this house

Kerry found.

Two offset squares!

I bet you can find all

kind of shapes in this photo by Gigi.

I would love to snoop around here.

And Elaine's square

also has circles

and puts me in the mood for 

some Beatles' tunes.

This week...Temples, Churches, Synagogues, Houses of Prayer

Member Voice for April 15th ~ Temples, Churches, Synagogues, House of Prayer ~

The theme for April 15th is Temples, Churches, Synagogues, House of Prayer. Places of worship are in every town or city. No matter what or whom you believe in, at one time or another we all have prayed, or talked things over with our higher power.

In the broadest sense, to pray is to make a request in a humble manner. The term to pray is now often used to refer to religious prayers: to commune with a spirit or deity that you believe in.  While the rituals and conventions of prayer may vary widely, the intention is the same--to renew one's spiritual connection with a power outside themselves.

You will find that you can pray anytime, anywhere, anyhow. It may help to be in a place where the focus is on spirituality (such as a church or temple) or where the environment reminds you of your spiritual bond (like a natural setting, or a spot with a big view). You can choose to pray in the presence of others, or you can pray privately.

 Show your places of worship from your town.

(this is next Friday's theme, this Friday is our first FMTSO Scavenger Hunt)

Spotlight Photos!! Favorite Assignment- April 1st!

Pauline - Weathered..stunning!

This weeks subject was,"favorite of all time" from our Assignment History Page. So it was kind of whatever you loved from the past..archived or renewed..and wow it was wonderful! Here are a few of my favorites!


JarieLyn - Night~ Beautiful~


Jama - Urban Macros...wowza~~~


Dawn Treader - Weird Stuff...yup and weirdly wonderful!!!


Elaine's (A Scattering)Shooter' Choice...seriously stunning macro shot!


Wowowowowowow guys you rocked this week! Don't forget...this week.... April 8 - Our First Friday My Town Shoot Out Scavenger Hunt!! Suggested by Dawn - round - square - triangular!

Have a wonderful week all, Sarah :)