Photo Collages

This is My Tuesday


Since I pull out my camera for a ton of little things, many shots don't often make it to the blog, so I thought I would share some random photos with you from the past two weeks.

Going clockwise:

1. The brunch I promised to show you. Healthy whole wheat french toast and egg whites (p.s. I totally disregarded my wheat allergy and suffered itchy rosy cheeks for the day - it was worth it).

2. Architecture shot around my building.

3. Our little cat Boots relishes in his few moments outside each day. He's our little Bengel Tiger...

4. From yesterday's post... as I watched my camera began to slide on the tripod... or maybe I was practicing my surprised expression.

5. Rocks from the beaches of Wales. Still have them from one of my first European excursion at 16... shot them for my Set of Three for Scavenger Hunt Sunday.

6. Fresh dough about to go in the oven for breadsticks with oregano. See the finished product HERE.

7. Balcony railing and shadows.

&

Here are my shots of the Supermoon. Better way late than never.

The first one was as we were driving slowly and I was pretty much sticking my head out the window to attempt a shot as the moon rose over the water. It was so cool, we saw the whole thing, but could not find parking in time! But I did manage to get the second one with the tripod directly from the sandy beach!

Question for bloggers: Which method do you use for collaging?

I've been using Picnik, but it seems to crash my internet all the time. Now I use Picasa.

Just curious about your preferences.

Happy Tuesday!

Imperfection

Photography


When I was working on Sunday's Scavenger Hunt post for "Imperfection". I came across some old photos I took a few years ago in Las Vegas as I was waiting for the Zumanity show to start. The photos were taken with a very slow shutter speed and I disregarded the thought of ever using them, but somehow could never delete because I thought they turned out kind of cool. Now, I think they are kind of artisic in a goth sort of way. So they've been sitting around in my archives wondering if they will ever have there day. Today feels like the right day. :)

Have a super day!

Red & Yellow Tulip

A Photographer's Journal

One of my favorites...

As I'm doing some spring cleaning on my computer of images that need to be transferred or deleted. It's always nice to find one that make you smile and reminds you of a fond memory. This was taken on a spring morning in the Keukenhof Gardens outside of Amsterdam. I will be doing a photo feature touring the tulip garden for the March issue of Belle Inspiration. This photo is newly listed on Etsy. It also makes a gorgeous card set!

Have a beautiful day!

Anthropologie-Inspired Photo Shoot

Fashion Friday

Last weekend we did some shooting, and finally everything just came together.

The relationship between model and photographer finally clicked.

Our communication improved leaps and bounds, me as director, his listening, and finally I relaxed in front of the camera.

Plus the lighting was perfect!

We have the best set in our backyard, a torn down golf course,

and a beautiful golf course right next to the other.

Did you know I can fly?!

Jade Peasant Top ANTHROPOLOGIE

Cream Knicker Shorts ANTHROPOLOGIE

Boots NINE WEST

Necklace CHARLOTTE RUSSE

Bracelet CHARLOTTE RUSSE

Tights CHARLOTTE RUSSE

Bag GUESS

Wondering how our holiday shoot went? See here.

Happy Friday!

Holiday Photo Shoot

& Photographers Journal
A  Special Post

I had big plans for this weekend. Obsessed about it all week, my Red Velvets Fashion Holiday Shoot for Christmas cards and the blog. Since the time changed, photos after work are impossible, so I rose early Saturday morning to steam the dress and satin dropcloth, did the hair, makeup, nails, whitened teeth, packed the prop bag, gathered the tripod, camera, etc., even managed to drag my boyfriend out to be my photographer. But... after about 2 minutes outside, the camera started acting up. I had forgotten to re-charge the battery. Crap. Rookie move, and utterly defeated.

These were taken in that short window...

My boyfriend being very sweet & consoling offered that we 'reschedule' for 4:30 lighting instead. Which we did, but it just wasn't the same...  It is sort of hilarious now to capture my frustration like a film strip.

He likes to take photos non-stop even while I'm trying to explain what I want, the angle, pose, zoom, pan out, where to focus, which gets frustrating because he won't listen. Maybe he'll listen now that I'm sharing it with all readers. He could just be trying to test my teaching patience for PHOTOgraphy Getaways! ;) Maybe if I can get through to him... I can help anyone. Trust me when I say he took over 500 pics! Of which, maybe 25 I wasn't looking down, squinting, talking, adjusting, setting up, blah blah blah. Hun, you have to put me at ease... say "relax, smile, fluff your hair, whatever!" Watch my progression of frustration... they are horrible photos which I will probably regret as soon as I post, but after settling down a few hours, I now find the body language hilarious. I especially love #2 "you need to do this... , #4 "you're not listening to me" & #6  loud sigh, yanking down the sweater tell myself to "take a deep breath Nikki". I think he just likes to get me going...

But he did manage to finally get me relaxed and the evening wasn't a total loss...

And when the shoot was over... I got to enjoy my Red Velvets & The Birds flew off just like out of a movie...

It was a long day... but now I'm pleased. I guess unpredictablity makes life fun and it was a good memory!

(Thanks for you help and patience sweetie!)

Dress, Tights & Accessories - Charlotte Russe

Maroon Heels - Nine West

Silver Flats - Xhileration

Southern Red Velvets - Crumbles Cookie Factory on Etsy

xoxo,

nicolette

Blog Couture

What Bloggers Wear

I was so excited to finally have some time to get out with the new tripod and my new Blog Couture shirt from the uber cool Gabby from Gyspy Diaries!

How do you sport your Blog Couture?

A Photographer's Journal

Series 1

I am so pleased that I purchased my new lens (Nikon 70-200mm) prior to my vacation. It's a great semi all-purpose lens, and really contributed to the quality of some of my photos this trip to Las Vegas and Truckee. Completely a great bargain for the quality.

But I HATE power lines. For the past few years they have been making an appearance in many of my city, landscape and scenery pics. I was trained to be a photojournalist rather than a artistic photographer, and was taught that it is a major violation to alter photos because it makes them false, ie. "to remove a power line is lying about the setting or place" therefore I've had the hardest time making alterations to photos. Well, I'm not a photojournalist now, so I'm slowly stepping out on the limb. I realize now, that to keep up with competition, it's almost always a necessity to brighten, crop, etc., to make an image more appealing. While it's best just to aim for natural skill, circumstances don't always allow one to get that flawlessly stunning image a perfectionist so craves. (For instance on the photo below- I LOVE the contrast of reflection, but the ducks need to be lighter. I made no modifications to this image, but in order to be truly compelling, their may need to be some minor adjustments.)

Thus, I take many shots of the same thing, standing in a different angle, positioning the lighting ever so lightly different, zoom, pan out, you get the picture... that's way I always max out my memory card and admit to the rookie move of not having a spare one hand, or forgetting to charge the battery that night.

It's funny at the end of the day, because the photos you have the greatest expectations for, sometimes just never quite turn out the way your hoped for, and that can be ok if you get photos in turn that turn out fantastic that you never saw coming or planned for-- kind of like life's little rule of thumb.

It's an odd thing looking at the world through the eyes of a photographer, you learn to see the world in a little tiny framed box, and love playing with that frame. The people I'm traveling with sometimes who aren't as into photography as I am, sometimes don't understand that when you see something compelling, you must stop and capture it at once. That opportunity to get the same image sometimes never exists... ie, the time of day, weather, circumstances. I always like to shoot as much as I can the first couple of days, as I call it, "the awe and wonder" of the tourist or seeing things for the first time. Things are never quite the same on the third or fourth day upon location, by that time the "awe and wonder" or newness has already run it's course.

What are some of the things you've learned along the way?

Have a great weekend!