Day 16 - Rustic Fence

Was looking for some thing to photograph with strong lines. Not the most interesting photo, but I did have to tinker with it in editing to get the colours I wanted in the shot.

Rustic Fence

Reminder: Enter to win a DSLR from SnapKnot!

Just a friendly reminder about the contest by SnapKnot that is soon coming to an end.

Big thanks to the SnapKnot wedding photography directory for offering this great camera giveaway!

Enter soon as the contest ends in just over 2 weeks on July 16, 2013 @ 03:00 am (US/Eastern)...

Day 15 - Highway Lights

This is also from last night.  I wanted to see what I could do with a long exposure driving along the highway.  This is from the camera on the dashboard.  This picture collected a lot of light, so I had to darken it in editing.  I still don't like the way the road looks, but I like the upper part of the photo.

Highway Lights

Note: I was the passenger in the car, not the driver!

Day 14 - Out of Focus

Was out and about yesterday, and wanted to try something different.  I know that most photos are supposed to be a sharp focused image, but I really like photos that are not.  I like soft focus photography (and have much learn about it), and am huge fan of  the bokeh effect.  I'm limited with my point and shoot, but wanted to try to take a picture that was out of focus on purpose. 

On the highway

Note: I was the passenger in the car, not the driver!

Day 13 - Not just straight lines

I realized that most of the lines I've been looking at are straight lines, so, found a place that doesn't have only straight lines.  I actually took this picture as a reference for something else, but it's making me think.  What do lines mean, and how can they relay different feelings.

Day 12 - The towers through the glass

Continuing on the lines theme, I took this picture that has a lot of lines... a few too many.  Actually, when I took the picture through a glass barrier, purposefully, to get the frosted glass on the right side of the photo.  I just couldn't take a picture without the glare of the glass, so I those diagonal lines are unwelcomed reflections. 

I edited this photo to give it a HDR look.  I just wanted to see how it would look.  

Day 11 - Painted brick wall

Further to the previous post, I was looking at the painted bricks at a shopping centre.  I saw the lines of the brick wall, and wondered how I could use these lines to make a photo interesting.  I couldn't figure it out, but I did realize I didn't like how this painted brick looked.  That is not to say, I dislike graffiti, I think some of it can be quite artistic and interesting.

The painted brick wall

Day 10 - Lines in the walkway

Anyone learning about photography can tell you that lines are important, they play an important role in the composition and feel of the photo. The lines in a photo can work to divide, unify, or accent certain parts or elements of a composition. They can also be the focus of the photo, like a spider's web or the rails of a train track.  I've been thinking of lines and the role they play in photography. 

Here is a picture (in colour, though it looks like it's black and white) of the paving stones at city hall.

Lines in the walkway

Day 9 - City Wildlife III - Escape

Final picture of the gulls... for now.  Gull taking flight... need to work on my reflexes, to focus and frame more quickly.  I did capture the gull in flight, I'm thrilled about that!

Escape

Day 8 - City Wildlife II

Here is another picture from the walk around downtown.  I tried to capture the gull on the right swooping in, but missed it and captured it scaring away the gull on the left.

The gulls, the supposed subjects, are not in focus, but the sculpture on the edge on the frame is.  Sigh. Something I know I need to work on...

"My space!"

Day 7 - City Wildlife I

This afternoon, I walked around downtown, and saw all sorts of pigeons and seagulls flying around.  I decided that I would try to capture them.  I have not been able capture birds in flight and other animals in action.

This one pigeon looked regal, so I had to take his/her picture. I'm surprised it turned out so well.

King Pigeon

Day 6 - Life Through the Lens

At every event I attend, one thing I've noticed that some people are preoccupied with recording and not actually experiencing the event.  Here is one picture of a girl recording Down with Webster performing, which she later tweeted.

Day 5 - Glowing Bowling Shoes

I love the way white things look under black lights.  So, took a bunch of pictures at cosmic bowling event in April.  Here is a picture of a pair of bowling shoes I took.

 I used one the of the filters on Photoshop on the second version of the photo... I don't really like using the filters, but for some reason, I love this one.

Day 4 - Old Truck

So, note to self, when you have a photo project on the go, remember to keep a sd card in my camera.  So, what do you do when you have to post a picture?  Look through the archives for something I have not edited.

I took this picture last December when some friends were visiting from out of town.  We toured the Distillery District.  This truck caught my eye as we first got there and the sun was shinning and it wasn't raining.  I didn't really like the light then, so I decided to take a picture as we were leaving, but I was so cold that I could not hold still, and well, you can see the results.

Old Truck on a Rainy Night

I did end up editing to make the shot a little less warm, and increased the exposure.  Not thrilled the way it turned out, but I think that is because it is out of focus.  I really do like the water on my lens... though it wasn't good for my camera.

Day 3 - Cherry Blossoms

I heard that UofT had  Sakura trees on campus I had to go see them.  This was about a month ago.  I planned to be there during sunset, hoping that I could photograph what some had dubbed "The White Way of Delight", an homage to Anne of Green Gables.  I got there somewhat earlier, and there were a lot of people who had the same idea.  This is the only picture I could take didn't have unwelcome subjects.

Looking up at "The White Way of Delight"

If you ever get an opportunity to see Sakura trees, I strongly urge you to do.  It is a beautiful sight, and particularly so when the petals rain down on unsuspecting passersby.  I should note that Sakura trees only bloom for about a week before the shed their petals for the year.

Day 2 - Father's Day Cupcakes

Today is Father's Day, so I wanted to take a picture that represents fathers in a subtle way.  I didn't quite succeed. :)  This is a picture I took at the bakery today. I was trying to capture the DAD on the top of cupcakes, but I wasn't able to focus properly through the plastic clamshell container.  I guess that is what happens when you try to take a picture surreptitiously.  I should have used manual focus and that would have helped me focus better.

Dad's Cupcakes

Day 1 - Barrels in black and white

So, today begins my project of posting a new picture each day for the next year.  Was busy hanging out with a friend I hadn't seen in ages, so didn't get a chance to take any new photos today.  So, I went thru some of my old photos and found one that editing would make it better.

This is a picture I took at Black Creek Pioneer Village. I took the picture in black and white, but didn't like that it looked all washed out.  In editing I added more contrast and saturated it the colours a little more.  When I was doing this editing, I noticed the horizon was off, so I had to slightly rotate the photo when I was cropping. I have a feeling I will find the horizon is off in a lot of my pictures.  Something for me to keep in mind.

Black & White Barrels

From the Archives: Red and White Polka Dot Dress

When I went to Chudleigh's a few years back, I was sitting on the hay ride, when I looked down at my lap, I really like the contrast between the red and white on my outfit and decided to take a self-portrait of sorts.

In editing, I decided that I wanted to make the picture bold.  I really liked how the vignetting added to the shot.  I think if I could take the picture again, I would remove the bag and maybe show a touch more of the planks on the wagon.

From the Archives: Obstructed Sunset

Ever see something perfect that you want to photograph, but there is just some annoying obstruction in the way?  I was watching a soccer match a few years ago, in an open air stadium, and as the sun started to set, the sky started turning brilliant shades of red and orange.  I looked up to see this amazing sight... the only problem was the stadium lights obstructed the view.  I wish I thought of some creative way to include in in the picture.  Something to work on.

This photo is unedited.

One photo a day for a year

So, I've decided to encourage myself to continue to improve my photography skills, which may include consistency, editing, creative perspective, etc., I will post one photo each day for the next year.  The photo will be either a new photo I took, or a photo I previously took, but re-edited.  I will try to be creative and emotive.

Would love to hear feedback if you see something which I should prove.

I plan to start on June 15th.

Wish me luck!