Patience.

 

These photos were taken in the summer of 2009, but they best illustrate the most important part of being a photographer - PATIENCE. 

This was an electrical storm. There was no rain, only a lot of lightening and thunder. I layed on the driveway for several hours, trying so hard to snap the shutter at just the right fraction of a second to catch a bolt of lightening! It took hours, and hundreds of shots, but in the end I had what I wanted - a small handful of really cool lightening photos.

I cannot stress enough how truly important patience is. You are NOT going to get a perfect shot the first time around. You might not even get one the first hundred times around. This applies no matter what you are photographing. Even the best photographers in the world take many, many shots during a photo shoot. And in the end, you might only end up using one or two. Be patient!! Do not expect the perfect shot to come easily to you.

Thanksgiving!

 

Welcome to the aftermath of Thanksgiving at my house. Mom is carving the leftover turkey, while every critter in the house begs for pieces. This is my favorite photo from the entire day. Why? Because it's candid and charming. Often, candid shots become favorites. It's important as a photographer to not just snap the posed, typical shots - you should keep an eye out for candid shots. Look at what is going on around you and document it. Often, these shots are more memorable than a shot of your siblings looking uncomfortable with their fake smiles.

Black & White.

 

When you have a lot of contrast in a frame, black and white usually comes out looking very crisp and classy. Black and white is also great for producing photos with a nostalgic feel. With today's photo processing software, it is very easy to turn color photos into black and white. However, unless you have very nice software, photos often turn out the best if they are taken in black and white straight on the camera. You can also help create extra contrast in black and white photos by experimenting with filters. These are colored glass that you can screw onto the end of your lens. Often a red filter will bring more contrast to a black and white photo.

Thank you to my brother for posing for me!

Bribery.

 

If you know what you will be photographing ahead of time, it is very important to prepare. This is one of the few times you can get away with bribery! On the left is Koda; she's a 5-year-old flat coated lab mix. She's the most hyper of the three and also the one who loves to lick - which is unfortunate, as she has the worst dog breath! Haha. In the middle is Arlo. He is a 100-pound deaf pitbull. You might describe him as a lovable oaf - though he's much smarter than he lets on. On the Right is Sam - he's a golden retriever mix and the calmest of the three pooches. They live at my parents' - usually it's impossible to get all three of them to sit still at the same time. The solution? Dog treats! 

This method is also helpful when you're dealing with babies or small children. Bringing small toys, candy, or something shiny or noisy will help you focus their attention on you and hopefully get the shots you're looking for!

Think Small.

 

Sometimes you need to think small. Get as close as you can to your subject. Instead of the typical photo of a flower or your dog, get up close. Show the tiny details. Zoom in on his whiskers, or his big brown doggy eyes. This is called "macro" photography. How close you can get to an object and still be able to focus will depend on your camera or lens. For DSLR cameras, you can buy lenses specially designed for macro purposes. It's a great way to see the world from a different perspective and give your photos a unique edge!

Ferdinand.

 

November 1st marks the first birthday of my beloved mouse, Ferdinand. Last year, he and 3 siblings were brought to me after their mom died. The other three didn't make it, but Ferdinand was a trooper! For two weeks I had to feed him every few hours, day and night. I had to carefully balance his diet, watch everything he did, and help him do everything. By the end of the first week, he was feeling a LOT better - and showed it by zooming around faster than a speeding bullet! He can also jump amazing heights. By the time I'd had him a week, he could jump straight out of the glass 2-gallon fish tank I was keeping him in!

Now he's hit old age for a mouse. He's spoiled rotten - he loves chasing the cat in his gerbil ball, he loves getting his face and ears rubbed, and he loves to nibble on Cheerios! I was never a rodent person until this little guy came into my life. He's just too adorable - it melts my heart!