Update on Project 365

I am so glad I decided to do this!! It's not as easy as it may seem but the challenge gives me something to look forward to every day. I look at everything and everywhere I go differently. I can look at something or down the street and see a photo in my mind...it's totally funny to me. Something will catch my eye and with in a few seconds I'll say to myself either "that would be a cool shot" or "nah, not that great".

During the week it's a little harder for me to get good photos. When I get up first thing I have to do is start getting ready for work, then work all day and when I leave all I have on my mind is getting home but as I'm driving home I'm looking around for places to stop at in the near future for photo ops. During the week I also do some research online for places to go on the weekends to really spend some quality time with my camera and endless possibilities that are out there.

I also have been looking up photo ideas. I found a lot of great suggestions on scrapjazz.com. I googled photo ideas and their website came up. I loved what I found so I emailed myself a list of what the ideas and links. Here is what I found so far. All great ideas! I'm excited to try all of them.

Photos looking up:
* If you encounter rainy weather take a scenic shot of the sky full of ominous-looking rain clouds or maybe a rainbow if you're lucky.
* Take a photo of your favorite restaurant sign.
* While indoors at your hotel, take a shot of the stairwell going up or the beautiful lighting fixtures.
* Squat at the base of a statue and take the photo looking up towards the head; that makes a statue look super tall.

Lower angle perspective rather than eye level

Reflections:
* Start becoming aware of light and reflections. Keep your eyes open to all the possibilities, from the reflection on the side of a toaster to the reflection in the glass of a store window.
* The best time of day for capturing a reflection on water is mornings, followed by afternoons.
* Focus on the reflection to get a clearer mirror image. Focus on the subject to get a softer reflective image.
* Use a higher aperture so that the whole landscape will be in focus.
* Pay attention to wind and boat ripples in water and how they alter the reflections.
* Note if the water is causing glare on your subject and adjust your angle accordingly.
* Check to be sure you do not unintentionally get yourself in the picture, or any flash glare.
* Use reflections in mirrors and other objects to show more details and angles of your subject.

Beach photos:
* Early morning (7:30am) or early evening
* classic look for the beach with your best clothing choices being white shirts with khaki, pastel, or neutral-tone pants or capris. You will definitely want to avoid bold colors, stripes, or plaids. You also will want your group to coordinate.
* just do a web search on "beach photographers Hilton Head, SC" or use the name of your favorite beach.

“Hidden Treasure Locations”: http://www.scrapjazz.com/topics/Photography/Ideas/1658.php

Macro Photography: http://www.scrapjazz.com/topics/Photography/Ideas/1614.php

“Picture Your Words”: http://www.scrapjazz.com/topics/Photography/Ideas/1293.php

Capturing a sequence:  http://www.scrapjazz.com/topics/Photography/Ideas/1235.php

Self Portrait: http://www.scrapjazz.com/topics/Photography/Ideas/1165.php (using a timer)

Plexiglass Photography: http://www.scrapjazz.com/topics/Photography/Ideas/743.php

Homemade Backdrops:  http://www.scrapjazz.com/topics/Photography/Ideas/550.php

Macro, Plexiglass and beach photo ideas are my favorite ideas. As well as the looking up perspective.



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Here are a few of my recent photos for the project (can also be seen by clicking on the Flickr Box at the top left of my blog).

We were walking in downtown last night trying to decide where to go for dinner. This small old theater in town isn't really used anymore.
B&W over a color photo, used the eraser
Diffuse glow on the B&W
played with the contrast & brightness
added a lens flare
(1/30/2009)

Small part of The Petaluma Adobe. 

Only adjustments made on this one was contrast.

(1/25/2009)

My handsome husband.

diffuse glow
Render, Lighting Effects, Omni
(1/29/2009)

The old and current bell outside 

the San Rafael Mission aka Mission 

San Rafael Arcangel. This is up the 

street from my work. I got to work 

20 min early so I took a walk up the 

street and took a couple of photos.

Just did a little contrast change and cropping.
(1/23/2009)

To see more...Shannon's Flickr Photostream