Class Project

I have a class project to do which involves using the bulb function and taking night shots. I'm not sure if they came out right because I don't think they're supposed to blur. I used a tripod but I didn't have a cable remote so I had to hold onto the camera and maybe that caused the blur. This picture is of the Ambassador Bridge (Bridge to Canada). This is it without the flash.
The teacher gave instructions on how to set the camera. In this shot I had to hold down the shutter for 30 seconds, then release the shutter to take the picture.

This picture is where I have to hold down the shutter for 1 minute then release it.

This picture I had to hold down the shutter for 2 minutes, it lets in a lot more light. It's cold out and I didn't have the cable so I got blur.

In this picture I had to change the setting and redo the picture, this time I started at 1 minute.

This picture is held open for 2 minutes. I was supposed to do another one holding the shutter open for 4 minutes. It was cold and I wasn't about to continue for another 4 minutes.

Maybe I'll try this again after it warms up, I guess something to practice on until I can accomplish it.

Vanessa & Chelsea

I went to the studio again and tried by myself to do different shots. I had different poses to try but when I got there I forgot what to do. I guess I need to take my paper with poses on it so I can know what to do. Above I used a dk pink gel, the light stand was broke so I couldn't aim high to get the pink up more.

Vanessa in a basic portrait pose. There's a couple with Chelsea and Vanessa together. They wanted to do silly things, I wanted to get something for a class project. I tried working with the mirror again, first it's not wide enough, and second there is no stand for it. Therefore I had to be careful so that it wouldn't come out like a funhouse mirror.

I tried to get an inocent picture so I thought using this flower would be cute.




I posed her the other way with out the filler light so I could get a different effect.

Mom & Dad

I went to the studio again this time I used mom and dad as models. I'm not sure if I like using the white background. I didn't get shadows this time.

I got alot of mom and dad by themselves. I think these two came out pretty good. Mom kept acting silly after you took her picture so I didn't get many good facial pictures. Dad wouldn't smile for me, he looked all uptight and stiff necked. One of my fellow students helped me that day. When Clarence got up to take dad's picture dad just laughed and smiled, then I came up and he went back to his old self. I did manage to get a couple good ones.

This is Clarence he helped me out that day. He was a photographer about 15yrs ago using film, he's in the class now learning to use digital. He was showing me how to use the props we have at the studio. The instructor just got this mirror in and I wanted to learn to use it. We didn't have a stand to put it on so we improvised. We have a few other props that we used on mom and dad and Clarence showed me a few lighting techniques. I'm heading back to the studio on monday with Chelsea and Vanessa, I need the practice, I need to learn to feel comfortable posing and working with the lights.

What happened to SPRING ?

What a way to start out my vacation. With a snow storm. I took Chelsea, Vanessa, and Alex out shopping today. We left about 1:00 and it was clear, but by the time we finished around 5:00 everything was a mess. I took this picture about 6:00p.m. while me and Alex was waiting for Chelsea to finish tanning. According to the weather report the snow storm warning goes on til 8:00 a.m. I've read that we're getting anywhere from 2-8 inches. I also read that it's suppossed to snow most of the week. So much for wishing for nice weather while I'm off.

Easter Break

I can't wait til work is over today. We are off until March 31st for Easter break. These last 2 weeks have been hectic. I've done a lot of teaching these last weeks, I've taught 3rd grade, kindergarten, and gym. I did 3 classes of gym and it about killed me. I did the stretching and warm ups with the kids, I was in so much pain that night and I still hurt yesterday. I've got enough time accumulated where I can take 2 1/2 weeks off (if it ever gets warm I'll use it).

More Studio Pix's

I went back to the studio yesterday, I wanted to try taking pictures by myself. The instructor got a new white background and took down the black and gray backgrounds. I couldn't get it just right, then I couldn't figure out how to twist the light to aim down. I went ahead and played around anyway.

I took a couple of pictures of Alex in this pose, and when I looked at them on the computer I noticed he had his lips puckered.














I thought this one of the both of them was cute. I'm going back to the studio a few more times and maybe I'll get the hang of it on my own. I have to find some models to take with me.

Winter Won't Leave!

Yesterday it started snowing just before 6 p.m. and it snowed and it snowed until 7 a.m. We ended up with 6 inches, and a day off school. I went out shopping today at the new Walmarts store, it was their grand opening. The only bad thing was the parking, the plows had piled mountians of snow all over and you really couldn't tell where the parking spots were.

The trucks were still out plowing the roads when I was out. Then I

got into a traffic jam for a good 40 minutes, it was backed up for at least 2-3 miles it was all due to truck traffic going to Canada what a headache. Alex did get out to enjoy the snow, the second picture he's showing me his wet behind. According to the news we have more snow coming, I really am ready for something other than snow or ice.

She's Home Again

Chelsea made it home last night, her plane came in on schedule. Dad took me to the airport I went in an waited while he went and parked somewhere. Although her plane was on time, it only took the airlines about 15 minutes to get the luggage started. When she left last monday we got hit by some bad weather. When we left for the airport it was raining, when we finally got out of the airport there was a layer of snow on the ground, and now we're getting more snow tonight. We're expecting at least 4-6 inches. I'd say she planned her trip on the right days. It was funny to see everyone getting off the plane with red skin and of all things, shorts on. Didn't they realize they were coming to Michigan.

Troubled Roads

After our winter blast on Friday all day, when I went to bed Friday night it had started to snow again and of course the temps began to fall. On Saturday morning the roads were nothing but ice there were so many freeways closed down because of multi car accidents. About 5 o'clock that morning a semi-truck lost control on the freeway and ran into the side of the activity center located in the parking lot of our church. I found out this morning at church one of the members was on his way home from work when the semi was passing him and lost control and sent him off the freeway as well, lucky no one was injured.

Winter Blast Part 2

Here we go again. We began the week with a snow storm, and we are ending the week with a snow storm. It began snowing about 6 a.m. and it snowed all day, only letting up a few times. By the time we left school, I'd say we had about another 3 inches. I made sure the date was left on the picture, this way you'll see that it wasn't monday's picture.

Winter Blast!

Well! here we go again, more snow. I do believe we got about 3-4 inches. Enough to make the morning commute messy. It was a heavy wet snow, I think it looked pretty laying on the trees and across the lines, It would look prettier if it wasn't such a nasty neighborhood.

Florida Bound

Off she goes headed back to Florida again, this time only for a week. I got this picture as she was checking her bag, she had to go inside to get her boarding pass. While inside when she wasn't looking I tried getting another picture but the camera mode changed and it came out blurry. That girl can take all kinds of pictures, but let me try to take a couple of her she says "you're being so obnoxious".

Lunar Eclipse

Alex and I watched the lunar eclipse, we went out every 20minutes to look at it. I snapped a few pictures, the only thing is I needed a zoom and a tripod. Otherwise this is what I ended up with. It was a clear night that night, but I didn't stay up to watch it all, I called it quits about 11:30

Wore Out

Today Dad took me, Diane and Lisa out to dinner with them for his birthday. After we got home I told Alex I was going next door for my daily walk. He asked when I come home can we play uno? I guess my 1/2 hour walk was too long, because when I came home I found him asleep in my bed with the uno cards beside him. We've been on winter break this week and every night he's been staying up late and I guess it just caught up with him, he just couldn't stay awake any longer.

Mike

Lisa sent me this picture today her baby. Michael in his new suit.

More Pix's

Here's just a few more pictures that I took yesterday. I have over 50 pictures to go through and decide which 2 that I want to use for my project, for the other classmates to critique. I'm having fun in the class I've decided to take part 2. It's exciting when you do a picture on your own that's when you realize your starting to get it. I know I've got a long way to go, I guess it's just practice, practice, practice.

My Pix's

Here is a picture I took with my new camera, I've been taking a class to learn how to use it. I have 3 projects to turn in and one of them is studio pictures. I had studio time today and I also asked the instructor to help me. My time was almost up when the next person came which happened to be a man from my class. He asked if I wanted him to get one of the 3 of us, so he did. I tried to hide my shirt because it has a picture of dopey on it. This is the only one of us together the rest are of Alex and Chelsea together and by themselves. I'll be posting them later when I get a chance to pick out some good ones.

Count Day

Today was our second count day, and one of our sponsors donated 3 bikes to raffle. All the kids that was at school today had their name put into a raffle. Alex was on of the winners along with another boy and girl. The bikes were all girls bikes but we kept it anyway. My friend has 2 granddaughters that might be able to ride the bike, I may give it to her. If not I'll find a little girl at school that's in need of a new bike and I'll give it to her. Until then I brought it home and put it up.

Kids Storm

Our Church had a kids program last night. They had Steve Harney come in and do some nickelodeon style game, with bible questions, he also did a few tricks for the kids. At the end he did a message for the kids. I took a picture of the clown, I thought the outfit was so original. She has on sweat pants and a shirt. She has ties pinned all over, I just had to get a picture.

Here he's doing a trick with his bird, but for the life of me I just can't remember the birds name.

This is one of the games the kids played, all with toilet paper. He had 4 kids in the aisle and one shooting toilet paper into the audience. The object was... they had 1min to shoot 2 rolls of toilet paper while the kids in the audience hand the toilet paper to the kids in the aisle and they were to pass it to the front and put it in the waste basket. (they made it).

Steve Harney let anyone who wanted get their picture taken with him and the bird.

Winter Formal

Chelsea just gave me these pictures last night. These are pictures of her and her roommates in Florida. I guess Disneyworld had a winter formal, and they went.

This is Justin and Chelsea. Remember this is Disney... what may look like an alcholic drink is just juice. (I asked about it).

Here's Chelsea posing on the balcony.

Awards Day

The school had their mid-year awards ceremony for 3rd grade on thursday. Alex got all 3 awards, Scholarship, Citizenship and Attendance. He had perfect attendance until the beginning of 2nd card marking. Then he missed a couple days due to the 24hr flu, which hit me then Chelsea.

Hurray! Snow Day

We got snow overnight just like they predicted. Although we only got about 4" they closed the schools because the worse part was around rush hour this morning.

Dad was up early this morning and got out and shoveled, while I slept in.