Slice of Life

I just completed a fabulous photography e-course led by Darrah Parker over at Slice of Life.

http://www.darrahparker.com/slice-of-life-project

Here are a few of the subjects she covered and some of the pictures I took:

Week 1: What Matters to Me

Week 2: Composition, Creativity & Cropping

Week 3: Let There Be Light - Using your flash

Week 4: People in our Lives - Body Language & Photographing Faces

Week 5: The Decisive Moment & Tell Your Story

Week 6: Putting It All Together

Here is a video she put together, at the end of the class, showcasing photographs from all the students - http://vimeo.com/19759564 . The music is really wonderful jazz played by her husband and his band the Jason Parker Quartet:) 

If you are interested in a fun photography class and meeting new Flickr friends, this is a great class and well worth the time:)

Creating Collages with Picnik

I wanted to create a simple collage using 3 photos I took during the self-portrait class Wading In with the lovely Miss Viv:)  I had heard about Picnik, and the programs they had, and decided to give it a try:) 

1. Log onto their website at http://www.picnik.com/ and create an account if you don't already have one.
2. In the free account they only allow you to upload 5 pictures at a time, so choose the 3-5 photos you want to use.

3. Click on the collage button.  There are 12 *Basic* templates you can use for free without having to upgrade to premium.

4. Choose a template and then drag and drop the photos into the spot you want them in.

5. You can make slight adjustments on centering by moving vertically or horizontally within the template *frame* on each photo.

6. Slide the Spacing bar to increase or decrease the amount of *leading* or black grid between photos.

7. Slide the Proportions bar to lengthen or shrink the frame width.

8. Slide the Kookiness bar to give your photos a little tilt.

9.Slide the Roundness button to adjust photo shape from square to rounded edges.

In this version I used more spacing, roundness and kookiness!

10. Once you are done you click on Done then click on the tab at the top Save & Share.

11. Save to you desktop, or a photo file of your choice, and you're done!

This is the collage I originally made:)

This was so easy and fun to use:)  I think I will return to Picnik again the next time I need to create a photo collage!

Lunar New Year

Welcome to the Year of the Rabbit:)  I am doing a self-portrait photo class and did a photo shoot out by the pool this morning.  It was quite chilly!  I decided to try my hand at writing a couple haiku to celebrate the new year, too<3

Windblown, I attempt

to breathe in peace, breathe out joy…

quiet thoughts prevail.

Shivering, I pose

like an oak tree rooted deep

in tranquility.

  

Holding Peace

Yoga Props

You can even make a collage with your photos in Picnik.  So easy even using the *free* version.

Happy New Year!

Easy DSLR Flash Diffuser

Are you a Photojojo fan?  I just love some of their fun, offbeat project ideas so when this one came up again in an e-course I am taking, I just had to try it out.

To make a flash diffuser for the little pop-up flash on my Canon Rebel all I neede was an empty *clear* film canister (with cap) and a  pair of scissors.  I made a rectangular cut, the width of the base of the flash, and then slipped it on.  To finish, I popped the cap back on the end to stabilize it:)  So easy and it works great...and it's FREE!

The finished project:)

Without the flash diffuser.

With the flash diffuser.  SOOC = no Photoshop!

On my Rebel:)

Let me know if you make one for your camera and how it works for you!

2011...I resolve to post more often:)

After setting up this blog last year, I have not been very good at posting anything to it.  After having my site linked in 2 other blog friend's posts, I guess I better get busy!