Working evening shifts has really opened up my eyes to being aware of light sources and how your vantage point can drastically change a subject depending on the angle of the light being thrown at, or through, it. I have been working on a series of shots of graffiti in bus shelters for about 6 weeks now, paying special attention to how rain, snow, frost and yes, even dirt, help compose the picture.
I'm starting to carry my camera with me to work more often. It has always been fun to look at something that would be an interesting image and walk around it looking for the best angle and how shadows and light transform it. I find this process especially relaxing after a shift in the kitchen. This is a shot of the roof of a bus terminal.
I did a test today by taking my camera out in -18C to see if 10 minutes in my backpack was long enough to keep it from fogging up. I had to go about 5 blocks to the supermarket and clicked off some pictures on the way there to see if there would be any effects from the cold. There didn't seem to be, but I want to be careful in future to wear a scarf so that my breath doesn't fog up the LCD.
Taking photos of something that is sitting up against a glass door or window in winter is tricky. The snow outside and the light glaring off of it make it hard to get a descent shot. This hobby horse was just such a subject.
First off, some Recovery and Clarity, plus a small crank down on the exposure in Lightroom defined the silhouette of the horse and the door frame better. Then by taking away some of the highlights and lights from the Tone Curve, as well as some of the shadow, it made the final image much clearer.
You always feel a bit weird snapping endless photos at family dinners or gatherings. Having been freed of using a flash, it makes it easier for everyone else in the room to relax. High ISO candid shots take a little bit more editing work than outdoor or flash work, but they catch people in their natural state.
My wife comes from a large Irish/ Scottish family on her mothers side. They are a close knit bunch and gather often throughout the year for parties, Birthdays or holidays. After a recent family dinner I got the opportunity to get some shots of three of Samantha's aunts while they watched some old home videos and had dessert.
Just some quick shots of some baking that Samantha and I did this week Pecan Tarts and some great rollup cookies called Rugelach.
After seeing the album page of Christmas photos I posted on Facebook, my mother in law said that she felt seeing all the colors from a bunch of different images was more striking than any one picture alone. I got the idea that it would be neat to try and find a way to make a collage type picture in Lightroom.
After finding a video on Youtube explaining how to set up a custom package in the print options, it was just a matter of patiently fitting the cells into a cohesive layout.
