Time On My Hands

With no work and apparently a lack of better things to do with my time, I sifted through some photos and discovered these ones that I had never edited due to the whole computer crash and loss of Photoshop. I figured that I would do some editing. It was fun for me to see how the photos changed. And because I'M interesting in it, shouldn't you be too? Check out the original SOOC shots here.

The Great Salt Lake AGAIN!

My friend wanted to take pictures out at the Great Salt Lake. She thought I could teach her something about photography. Ha ha! :)  It was still fun.

It was also interesting at least being back there during the daylight (if you call sunset time "day") after so recently experiencing it at night.  Almost the EXACT same spot as before. Different focus/angles.

Practically the Coolest Thing EVER!

So let's just start off by saying that I have amazing friends that share ideas and knowledge with me. In this case, Adam was the teacher. He didn't seem to mind, or didn't let on that it bothered him, that I knew next to nothing about the technicalities of camera use or photography. He just shared and shared and shared! (All very interesting stuff)

I've seen Adam's pictures like these that he has done previously. I always gave him a hard time that he must have taken the photos during the day. I knew that wasn't the case, but it's more fun to tease. 

Wait, let's back up. Did you hear that? Do you think you didn't really read that? These photos weren't taken during the day.

THESE  PHOTOS WERE TAKEN AT NIGHT!

THAT IS THE MOON LIGHTING UP THE LANDSCAPE NOT THE SUN!

I took these photos and I still look at them and can hardly believe it. So crazy to me. Basically, it was all about tripod use and opening my shutter for long periods of time to let lots of light come in. It's practically the coolest thing ever! (thus my title) 

It was fun just experimenting. You can tell that the shutter was open for a long time due to the lighting that just glows, or in other cases of the cars driving by and you see a line of their tail lights. Or even the planes I caught flying overhead that now look like shooting stars.

And then we played around with other aspects. I believe Adam called it ghosting. He would stand in the frame for part of the time the shutter was open and then move out.

Then he pulled out his cell phone to create this lighting while attempting to move around quickly so he wasn't caught in the same place long enough to be photographed.

The bugs were out and biting and since they preferred Adam over me, I said we could wrap up our session and call it good after these last shots of the train. (I know there have already been plenty to look at, but at least you didn't have to get bitten by bugs to see them!)

 

There's always so much to learn from everyone! Thanks Adam!

My 4x6 problem

I've realized recently that I have a real problem with taking most of my photos vertically (meaning 4x6, meaning it's width is shorter than it's length). I don't know why exactly, but there must be something about how I can arrange my subject in the shot vertically better than horizontally. But no matter the angle, Baby Miley is adorable!

Here's the one shot of the set that isn't vertical. Better enjoy it while it lasts!

50 mm

We went to an outdoor movie at the capital and I brought my camera. It seemed to me that most of the photos I had shot recently were all with my p&s and I missed my DSLR. It felt so good to use it again. I also used my 50 mm for the day. I usually have my zoom lens on because, as the name implies, it zooms (duh) which sometimes makes shots more accessible, but ever time I use my 50 mm I remember it is my first love....well, as far as camera lenses go. Yay for my 50 mm!

Kittin'

Okay, so it's really kitten, but I couldn't help myself after the last couple of posts. We've now had Fui Vakapuna for 2 1/2 months now and we just love him! We just call him Fui for short.  Arnell tradition (my family) is to name our pets after BYU athletes. Jeremy let me continue the tradition. (Not to mention that Jeremy was extremely nice to let me get one considering he would rather have his dog at our house, but I've already discussed that here.) These photos are not recent and even looking at them now makes me miss those days when he was so tiny, but it is fun to see him grow too. 

Fui loves me. I tell Jeremy that Fui loves him too, but he shows it in different ways. Anyone else already feel like I'm posting something about our child. To continue the trend, here are some facts about Fui:

*My favorite thing about Fui is how he loves to cuddle right up in my neck by laying on my chest. We will sleep like this.
*Fui loves to play. He chases balls, strings, socks, plastic bags, flies, twist ties, fingers, toes.
*He loves to tear up tissues. He finds most of his tissues to play with by jumping in the garbage can and fishing out used ones. Gross. I know.
*He can jump so high!
*He starts out playing really nice by not using his claws until he gets really into and then I come away with wounds.
*Going outside in the back is one of his new favorite things. He won't wander around the entire yard, just the part against the house and under the deck. He hates coming back in again.
*He is curious about going outside in the front, but is too scared of everything that is out there.
*He loves running loose in our unfinished basement.
*He purrs and purrs and purrs.

I sure do love him!

Hikin'

(Anyone notice a theme for today yet? Don't ask me how I suddenly got motivated for more postin'.)

Ensign Peak (Maybe based on today's theme I should call it Ensi'n Peak). It's an easy hike. That's good. It means I have a place to go when I get in the mood to do something outdoors but I don't have much time.  Thus, here's my brief post of hikin'

(our house is somewhere out there in this view)