ART in ALL Forms

The Donkey Kong Birthday Cake my daughter made for my grandson's party. (she took this picture)

I love or at least appreciate art in all forms.  How many times do you see a painting that takes your breath away or hear a song that brings chill bumps to your skin?  Sometimes I pass a yard and circle the neighborhood and come back to a yard to just stare at it because it has been landscaped so artistically that it drew me back.  That is definitely not a talent I have ever had. I do try. I work hard to make my yard look good.  I dig in it, I plan, I plant but it will never draw anyone's attention enough they'll circle the neighborhood and return to sit and look at it again.  That's talent.  That's art.  My daughter can bake the most delicious desserts and they are gorgeous too.  Again, that's talent and it's also art but she can go further with it.  My grandson wanted a video game birthday.  They rented an arcade game place for his birthday and she made him a Donkey Kong arcade type cake.  It looked exactly like the machine they had at bowling alleys, pizza places and other places that had those games.  She's an artist in many ways though.  She can dream up a pattern for a costume for herself or her son and make it reality.  She has always written stories from her imagination.  As a teacher that has always come in handy.  She is now learning how to work with leather and doing an amazing job.  She decided one of her characters needed armor so she began the journey of learning how to make it.  She can draw, paint or work with pastels.  She says she doesn't have the patience for photography.  I find that amazing because she is so talented in so many ways.  Of course she is my daughter and I should find her amazing but if she weren't my daughter I would seek her out because she's such an amazing, talented, intelligent, fun person to be around.  I cannot imagine anything that she could not do if she set her mind to it.  Well, except plants ... like me she seems to have that black thumb LOL.  I think we could both kill silk plants.  I do plant things but Gary, my wonderful husband takes care of them for me.  He nurtures them, waters them and weeds them.  Thank goodness for him because once they are in the ground I have totally forgotten them and moved on to the next project.  But, I have gotten off subject, something I have a tendency to do often ... art in all forms.  I have noticed things in the last few months ... maybe this last year since I have slowed down and taken the time to do so.  There are people that seem to be able to just touch other people, to lift them up when they are down.  I know a few of these people.  I would say they are probably some of the strongest people I know yet the kindest as well.  They have a kind word for everyone they meet, patience of a saint.  They aren't push overs but they are just genuine wonderful people.  To me, this is a talent as well, an art.  It's not something most of us have, this over abundance of kindness, this genuine giving spirit.  This person is rare but so greatly appreciated and loved and if not, should be. 

Art is all around us and we need to appreciate it ... it reaches out to all our senses in so many forms.  Take a minute and look around you ... give yourself a few moments to absorb it and realize what each person brings into your life.  I think you'll realize that each of us are touched by art several times a day by many different people.  Reach out and touch them with a smile, give them encouragement with your words. 

Learning Photography

I've been taking photography classes at the local college for several months now.  We've been covering different aspects of photography but in waves.  Like Photography 101 was learning your camera.  Photography 102 and 103 expanded on 101 and went into different kinds of photography.  Photojournalism, Product Photography, Food Photography, Candid Photography, Portrait Photography, etc.  The problem with this is, you really only get a 3 hour lesson on each different style so it basically a rush job and then you go home and try to do it and turn in your "homework".  Photography is a whole lot more complicated than that.  A lot of these subjects need some in-depth training.  Three hours in a class room of 10 to 12 other students really isn't going to teach you a whole lot.  You think you're getting it but in truth, it goes in one ear and out the other.  Some of it sticks but you're still trying to grasp the camera and its features and how it works.  You're still trying to understand ISO, Aperture and Shutter Speed and how they relate to each situation you are trying to shoot.  You are working towards a certificate and yet you feel like you're drowning.  Yes, you can shoot some amazing pictures but are you truly learning what you need to learn?  I'm a perfectionist, so for me I get very disappointed in myself when I can't deliver what I feel I need to deliver.  You can go out every day and shoot 100s of pictures but if you're not understanding what you are looking for, what you should be aiming at, what you should be setting your camera at and how that should become instinctual, you're just going to be shooting 100s of pictures and occasionally getting lucky. I have had to supplement my education in photography will many photography books by well known photographers and loads of YouTube videos.  Am I perfect?  Not by a long shot.  I still feel I am missing so much and it frustrates me beyond anything I can express.

Product Shoot - Black Background

Product Shot - White Background

As we did the product shoot a week after the food shoot, I enjoyed it a lot more.  I understood more of what was expected of me.  I think everyone did.  Being told you need to bring your props doesn't become quite clear until you are under the gun.  This shoot, I feel, was a success. 

As you can see, the food shoot is very bland.  Not much here.  It really should have been more and I will need to do a lot more practice on this. 

This was a fun photo shoot.  We learned how to capture the swirl when pouring wine or anything really.  This was one of my favorite classes.  Very messy but a lot of fun to learn.  

This is some of what I worked on in my classroom classes.  I will admit that I've learned more there than I did on the online class I paid a mint for.  I will continue to learn and seek advise from as many as I can find to give it or show me.  I love photography, it's always been a great love of mine but now I'm allowing it to become a passion and I want it to get better and better.  I want to see improvement with each photo that I take.  

Introducing The Queen & Princess of the House!

Kali, our tabby, on top of her cat tree gazing outside and watching kids in the neighborhood play.

We have always had pets in this family and they are as much a part of the family as we are.  They are allowed to develop their personalities and believe me they do!  At the moment we have two beautiful cats.  Our first one is actually my son's cat, Kali.  She's a gray and white tabby and rules the roost.  She's the smaller of the two but big in personality.  She is always watching everything and our son, Rob is hers and hers alone.  If the other cat goes near him, she gets very jealous.

Kali, sitting atop the cat tree in the living room over looking all she rules.

Then there is Bandit, our black and white long hair tuxedo cat.  She, too, is adorable.  Where Kali is jealous, Bandit is accepting of all.  She's lovable, adaptable and forgivable.  Kali bullies her terribly but yet she loves her.

Bandit, always up for a cuddle.  She loves to be petted and her purrs can be heard across the room.

As soon as you get up and get something to drink, she steals your place.  She's the couch thief!

Bandit, taking over the couch again!  She's our larger cat weighing about 18 pounds.  She's also about twice as long as our tabby is.  Her legs are shorter but she's much larger and more friendly than Kali.

Learning How to Make Eyes Pop

When I first began this journey into photography, I thought "how hard can this be? I've always loved photography and now I can take it a step further."  Well, that's true to a point but you do have to learn editing as well.  I haven't touched Photoshop for almost 20 years so it's all new to me.  I am having to learn it all over again.  I refuse to just shoot pictures and accept that as ... here it is.  I wanted to expand my knowledge, learn to turn my photography into art.  I wanted to make my portraits to be those everyone wanted taken.  You have to know Photoshop to take that extra step.  So, I have purchased books on Photoshop, I have taken an editing class (though to be honest I didn't feel I learned much in it.) and I have set myself a schedule.  I have to learn 3-5 new things every day.  No pressure right? But I am learning and the more I do the more familiar I become with Photoshop.  Tonight I'm posting the before and after of one of the lessons I learned this week.  One that I feel will be beneficial to portrait photography.  This is all about learning how to make eyes stand out.  My husband's eye is my model.

BEFORE

AFTER

Do you see the difference?  When done in a portrait, it's amazing.  It gives that three dimensional look.  I love the effect.  I'll be practicing it a bit more before I actually use it professionally.  

Until Later ... Debbie

Christmas in Georgia

We fly to Georgia every year for Christmas to spend it with my daughter and her family.  I love seeing my grandson and spending time with him.  He's growing up so fast.  This year, before we left, I had spoken to my mother-in-law and she made me promise to get some family portraits taken.  She doesn't have internet but loves pictures of the family.  I now see the need for a wireless shutter release but we made due without one by taking turns after I got everything set up on the tripod.  Here are a few of the family pictures for Christmas 2018.  

Cosplay Photoshoot at Piedmont Park with Wonder Woman & Zoya the Destroya

Wonder Woman was played by a very sweet young lady named KaCe and Zoya by my daughter, Rachel.  Both were wonderful to stand, pose and shiver in the cold icy wind while I snapped away with the camera.

Cosplay Photoshoot in Piedmont Park with Spiderman & Spidergwen

I'm in Georgia right now visiting my daughter, her husband and my wonderful grandson.  As I needed a few more pictures in my portfolio, my daughter decided to set up a day at Piedmont Park in Atlanta for me to shoot some of her cosplay friends.  The day we had set up was overcast and so very cold but the few that showed up were real troopers.  We spent over three hours at the park shooting different scenes and it was a blast!  They were the best people to work with.  They do volunteer cosplay for places like the Children's Hospital, Make a Wish and different things like that.  Very warm-hearted and cheerful people.  It was cold and uncomfortable but they smiled, laughed and joked through it.  They made it a fun day.   Here are a few of the pictures.

Best friends ... different worlds

Spidey climbing around

Selfie time!

Best Friends Selfie