Photography Class - The Beginning

Now I know a few things

During the fall of 2013 I was enrolled in a beginning photography class. I had actually tried to take the class during the spring of 2013, but not enough students enrolled and the class was cancelled. I waited until the next semester so that I could take the class from that same teachers. Turns out there were only 5 students in the class this past fall, but since the teacher already signed her contract, we got to stay.

I think in the end, it was a blessing to be in a small class. We were able to get some individual attention and I never felt lost in the crowd. Each class member made a difference to each class.

So, the reason for taking this class was to really learn how to use my camera. I had to shoot in manual and my images were captured in RAW not JPEG. Also, NO FLASH was allowed. I could only shoot during the SUNNY 16. Which is when the sun is within 15 degrees of either horizon. Basically, I had to shoot between 8 and 3 on most days. This became a HUGE issue for me. My contracted hours at work are 8 am to 3:30 pm. To top it off, I had class Saturday afternoon from 2 pm to 6 pm, and I couldn't even get into the digital lab at school on a Saturday morning. My work had to be ready to turn in by Friday night at 10 pm. That meant that I was completing my assignments the day after they were assigned - Sunday. It was a stressful 16 weeks, but at the end of the semester I ended up walking away with an A by one point!

When the class first started out, we had to complete some shots to show that we understood the different composition rules. Here are my images:

Blurred Action

Everything in Focus

One thing in Focus

Panned Action

Stopped Action

There are 10 composition rules when taking a picture. These rules are to help make a great image. They are:

1. Simplicity: A simple background

2. Rule of Thirds: The subject of the image is on a third division line of the image

3. Leading Lines: The image has the idea that a line is leading you to something 

4. Repeating Patterns 

5. Curve 

6. Framing 

7. Symmetry 

8. Asymmetrical: looks like two images together 

9. Forced Perspective: Something forcing your eye to the subject 

10. Merger: A distraction. This one happens to be a head merger. 

It was after this last assignment that I was not liking my teacher. When I didn't get something right, and I asked why, or how I could have made it better, her answer was just keep shooting. There was no partial credit - it was an ALL or NOTHING.

The first real assignment was the Freemont Experience. We were to take our cameras to downtown Vegas and shoot. That's it. We weren't given any more guidelines other than use your composition rules. So my awesome husband and I picked up a class mate and went to Freemont. John was still dressed in church clothes, so it looked like someone important was around. We had "CIA" and "photographers." Boy, did we catch the eyes of people.

After the shoot, I spent time in the lab critiquing my work and finding the shot that I thought was ready to mount. We actually had 2 weeks for the project, because our teacher wanted to "flag" our images so that we would have an idea of what she liked. Out of my 150 images, she likes 2. And neither one was one that I thought was good. I was not happy.

That day in class, we needed to choose an image to print and practice mounting so that we knew what we were doing. This would not be the image that we were turning in for the assignment and we could not submit it for a redo. Basically, it was an image that didn't count. I chose an image that I liked, but the teacher did not; since I couldn't use it anyway. When my teacher saw that, she said no, I had to pick one of the ones that she liked - But I only had 2!!!!! This is the one I picked:

"Mixin' it Up"

The next week, my parents were in town and I took a half day from work and they went back to Freemont with me. I got about 100 more images. Ran to the school, critiqued and mounted them before class the next day. This is what I turned in:

"Great Ball of Fire"

I was really happy with this image. It was mounted great and I had all sorts of composition rules happening. Curves, one thing in focus, rule of thirds. BUT my teacher was NOT impressed. I got a D on the assignment. Fortunately, I could turn in a new print the next week to make up the grade. I went with the other image that she liked:

"Doorway to Fun Times"

Ironically, I got a lower D on the redo than I did on the original. It was after this assignment, and the redo, that I started to seriously consider auditing the class. I didn't like the pressure of the grade and a teacher that wasn't telling me HOW to improve when I wasn't making the grade. In the end, I didn't audit and I feel like I did improve.

I need to take a break for now - time to make dinner. But I will be back tonight to finish putting up the images from the class and to get this blog up to date.

~Amy J. Gardner

Newborn Session

Max

In August of 2013, I got to take pictures of my co-worker's newborn boy. He was only 6 and 7 weeks old. I had to split it up over two different sessions because Max was not cooperating with me. The first time I was there he just wanted to sleep. Mommy and I were being VERY mean with the tickles, pinches, and camera. There were LOTS of pictures of a not very happy Max.

So I decided that I would come back to visit at a time that wasn't nap time. Good thing my "day job" is a teacher and I was on summer break. That meant that we could pick a day and I could just wait for the "He's awake, come now" text that Mommy was going to send me. The second sessions went better, as far as getting Max to keep is eyes open. When all was said and done, I had plenty of pictures of Max. I must say, that some of my favorite ones were when he was sleeping. I just love those sleeping babies. How about you??

So cute!!!!

This baseball was a gift at Max's baby shower. One of the Jones daughters (see Photographing Teenagers post) is making a name for herself with softball. Of course she needed to make sure that Max was set on the right track!

Of course not all the pictures were of Max sleeping. Here are some adorable ones that I caught.

The scale that Max is laying on is similar to the same scale that his mom's dad was weighed in.

 Taking pictures of a newborn is hard work, but the results are so precious. Before I left I made sure to get a picture of the adorable little man with both his parents.

Max is growing quickly and still just as adorable. I am not sure when the next time will be that I take pictures of a newborn. But I definitely love that I got the chance to take pictures of Max.

More past sessions to come.

~Amy J. Gardner

Catching Up

Family Time

So, it's been WAY too long since I have been on here. Almost 1 year since the last posted session that I had. And the really sad part is, I have had 3 sessions and a photography class since then and I haven't posted anything. The good news is that at least Facebook hasn't gotten these pictures yet either...LOL.

Last July, my sister came to visit us prior to her convention that she was going to. During that time we took a sisters trip to San Diego to visit our family. One of the days that we were there, we traveled to Balboa Park to take pictures; mostly of Ashley, but of our grandma and great-grandma too. It was a fun time, because I was working with my sister and we could be a little silly. I also could be VERY sarcastic and she wouldn't get too mad ;)

Here are some highlights of that session:

What I didn't realize, was that my sister is a VERY photogenic person. She is so easy to shoot and I want to keep taking pictures. Ashley also loves being in the spotlight, at least with me, and didn't have a problem with me wanting more pictures.

Here is my sister with my great-grandmother (Big Grandma) and my grandmother (Little Grandma).

I gave them those names because I had to distinguish between which grandma and big=older. In actuality, Little Grandma is taller.

At the time of this picture, Big Grandma was a wonderful 97. Now she is just as beautiful at 98! Her and her twin brother are alive and smiling down in San Diego.

This trip was so much fun. The best part was that I got to do it again at Christmas time. My whole family went down for the holidays and while we were there, we were able to take our family pictures (I shot them with my tripod and remote) at Balboa Park. There are such great places to take pictures....John and I should have had some of our wedding pictures taken there.

More posts will come in the next couple of days. I really need to get the pictures up for you to enjoy!!!

~Amy J. Gardner

Brelin's Second Birthday Party

First Event Shoot

A couple of months ago I had the opportunity to be the photographer at a birthday party. My life then got super crazy and I never had time to sit down and get the pictures here. Now that it is summer, I have had the chance to play around on Photoshop and get the photos uploaded. Sorry for the delay!

This was my first event shooting. The experience was great and I look forward to the next event that I will be able to shoot. I was a little nervous that I wasn't going to be able to capture everything (now I know why photography companies usually have two photographers at an event - more eyes to see the happenings). But never fear, I figured I would just follow the birthday girl and take pictures of the event as if it was mine. So I came home with another 650 photos to sift through and find those perfect shots.

Today I am showcasing highlights of the event as well and the new skills I have taught myself with Photoshop. I must say, I have had some fun with this.

This birthday girl getting all dressed up before her guests arrived. Her mommy made the outfit and Brelin wore it well.

 It was a Dora themed birthday party and the colors and decorations were great. Of course the weather didn't work too well with the decorations. Below you can see the girls got some good use out of the balloons in the wind.

  The party was at a public park here in Vegas. Since there is extreme heat here, parks are now becoming more welcomed int he summer because there are splash pads for the kids to play in. This was my first time visiting a splash pad (seeing as I don't have any kids of my own yet, I haven't had the need to visit one). What a great place for a party! The kids sure did have a great time.

 After the splash pad it was time to eat cake and open presents. Brelin was ready for them both! I especially love the picture of her eating her cake. It's as if she was saying "Don't bother me. I'm eating my cupcake!"

 The car was the biggest hit for all the gifts. I was surprised at how well she took turns and shared with her guests. Of course their turns in the car were never as long as hers, but it was her party.

So, in all the party was a great learning experience for me.

Later this week I will be spending time with some girls that are interested in photography. Not that I know what I am doing, but we are going to go out and play with my camera. I am hoping to get practice right along with them!

~Amy J. Gardner