I took the time throughout the year to write down my favorites from each month – the photos that captured not only something that makes me proud but also captured my mood.  They may not be my “best work” or your favorites, but they bring a twinge to my stomach, stir up my butterflies – and I kind of love that feeling.

January: The Virgin Islands

We went cruising last January and my new 7D made it’s way with me to the Virgin Islands.  By far one of my favorite images from the year is of my friend Alan standing on the beach in St. Kitts.  Every time I look at it, I want to go back.

February: Balloon Self-Portrait

I took this photo for the WPC{2011} but it’s one of my favorites.  I’ve taken the advice of my friend Mrs. Rev and strive to take a self-portrait each birthday.  So while this isn’t my birthday SP, it was still in February and involved the largest balloons I’ve ever encountered.

 March: Chase – the one that can hear

I don’t have very many good photos of my doggin Chase.  She despises the camera and usually darts away.  But for longer than a split second, she left the blanket on her head and I caught picture.  She’s not a silly dog, more of a no nonsense kind of pup… but that just makes this one even better.

April: Meredith+Troy

I was hesitant to take their engagement photos, but man am I so glad I did.  Meredith and Troy.  I had a blast being with them, jumping all over the place with my nerves, but we walked away with some keepers.  “No Parking” is a forever favorite.  I know some other people that feel this way as well.

May: The Sorority Girls

I had the honor of photographing several different Sigma Kappas last year but the first group is the one that stayed with me.  These three gals, Madison, Kelsey and Sarah, were goofy as could be and didn’t have a care in the world.  Not only did we get some fantastic images on UofL’s campus, but they stirred up my girly feelings for the ladies I call my sisters.

June: Little Angry Man

My DAd has said that if you want to capture the pictures others don’t, don’t take the camera away from your eye.  I did just that and I caught this little boy in a mini-fit of rage, accusing me of stealing his cousin’s flashlight.  I was an innocent bystander holding on to a small flashlight only after being asked to.  And well, I snapped this.

July: Cali

I am loving watching all my friends’ children turn into little people.  And it’s especially true of Cali – she is her mother once over and I could not believe the fun stories this little girl told during our family session.  And I adore this photo of her.

August: Sleepy Ethan

Oh man.  I couldn’t wait to get over to Brent and Emily’s to see their youngest son, their third son, and stick my camera in his face.  He was as precious as could be, so sweet and mellow.  Then he yawned.  And then I melted.

September: Heather+Clinton

I had the opportunity to assist Louisville Wedding Photographer Courtney Reece in September.  And not only did I learn a lot, but I had such a wonderful time.  The time I spent with Courtney and Melinda was some of the best hands-on schooling I’ve had.  And the bride and groom, Heather and Clinton, were out-of-this-world gorgeous/in love/fabulous/pick a positive adjective and it will probably fit.

October: The Meehans

I feel the need to say that the mini-sessions I had in October were better than I had even hoped for.  Each family was fantastic to photograph, the kiddos were beyondo cute and I felt so blessed to be a part of their lives in 2011.  But the Meehans… maybe it was the time of day, I’m not sure… but the colors that came out during their mini-session were like whoa.  And I might have a crush on Eli.

November: Theresa+Billy

My cousins who are expecting their first child in February.  This definitely took the top spot of any other photographs I took in November – and I got so many awesome photos in November – but this one takes the cake because I cannot help but smile.  I could not be happier for them, knowing that it’s taken years to get to this point, but in a matter of weeks, they’ll be a family of three.  I am so excited.

December: The Big Deaf Dog

Seriously, could I have left the BDD out?  My last photo taken for the WPC{2011}, the theme was “black and white” and the BDD fit the bill.  This dog gives me so many headaches… but they’re soon forgotten when she pulls on her sweet face.  And even though she can’t hear and does the weirdest things dogs shouldn’t do, I think I’ll keep her.

{ Shutterboo Photography }

Attraction through the view finder.  I go through phases where I constantly keep ending up in front of something.  For the longest time it was flowers.  Couldn’t go a few days without trying to photograph the soft petals and bright colors.  Then I became mildly obsessed with sun flares.  These days I’m attracted to lines.

Horizontal lines.  They catch my eye.  Which is funny considering I can never balance my camera so that they’re straight.  Luckily, I’ve learned how to quickly straighten them and crop in editing.  But I love them.  Everything about them.  How they carry your eye across the image, have a clean appearance and are everywhere I go.

After I snapped this shot, I started questioning my new attraction.  I had just walked up to the stack of lunch trays and snapped it.  Random lunch trays… I just took a picture of lunch trays.  But the colors, the negative space between them, it keeps my interest.

So what about you?  Do you have something that keeps bringing you back with your camera?

We took our first cruise to the Virgin Islands with two other couples.  I love vacationing with friends.  Having a group to parade around with makes it more of an adventure.  You also have more people making fun of you but whatever.  Details.  We left port from Puerto Rico and made the rounds to St. Thomas, St. Johns, St. Kitts and St. Croix before floating back to San Juan.

I’ve shared much of our St. Thomas adventure already.  I have no photos from St. Johns as we were ziplining in the jungle.  Kind of hard to hold a camera when you’re doing your best Rambo impersonation.  So many of the photos below are from St. Kitts, St. Croix and El Yunque in Puerto Rico.  And what I’ve learned is that composing photographs while on vacation is for photographers that vacation with photographers.  I also learned that sea legs stay with you even after you leave the boat.

Our first night on the ship – the boat across from us waved goodbye.

The bay at St. Thomas.  I really loved St. Thomas.

The bay at St. Kitts.  My second favorite island.

Taxi to the beach.

The Atlantic is on the left.  The Caribbean is on the right.

You’re familiar with this one.  But Alan was soaking it all in.  Gorgeous.

Hills.  Clouds.  Grass.  Sigh.

In port at St. Croix.  Where everything was blockaded for a parade.

As you can see, they are not photographers.  And walk very,very fast.  Too fast.

So many baton twirlers walked the parade in their sequence.

I don’t really care for sailboats.  But it’s got to be better than this desk.

El Yunque.  We walked to the top of the tower to get the birds eye view.

Proof that we made it to the tippy top.

All I wanted to see was a monkey in it’s natural habitat.  El Yunque has no monkeys.  I settled on this gecko.

Would you believe I still haven’t made my way through our vacation photos?  The cruise was in January.  It’s May.  I’m not done.  I can’t believe I’m not done.  Boo Brooke, boo.  But I think I know why.

When I look back on our pictures from our trip, they almost all look the same.  Different islands, same pictures.  I suppose my eye just doesn’t know how to change it up in a new place because they all look the same to me.  There’s ocean, a thick line of land and blue skies.  It’s gorgeous.  I’d go back in a heartbeat.  But kind of disappointing.

I did walk away with some lovely scenery shots (which I feel like I struggle with so I’m glad to have them) but the overall group of vacation photos… meh.  Meh or not, I will finish sorting and editing our vacation photos by the end of the month.  I’m saying it out loud so that it will happen.  And then I will print them.

OK, that last part might take me another month.  But I’ll try my darnedest.

The sun was too bright, the shadows were too harsh – even with ISO at 100 and f/stops dialed up to 16, I just couldn’t figure out what else I could do in the concrete jungle.  Especially when I wanted to keep the focus on one person and not have the background sharp as a tack.  It was like I needed sunglasses for my camera.

Enter Google.  Enter my horrible searching ability.

Thing is, I actually found an answer: a neutral density filter.

A neutral density filter is supposed to reduce and modify the intensity of light before it reaches your camera’s sensor.  It totally sounds like RayBans for the Mac.  So I got one to experiment with.

Don’t ask me what brand or strength it is – I’m not sure as I left it at home.  Boo.

I got my lab coat on and started playing with the filter.  One thing to note is your camera must be in manual mode – your camera is too smart on the aperture preferred mode for this doohickey.  The AP mode accomodates for it.  Which then defeats its purpose.  So after I slapped on my 50mm prime, I found the most colorful thing within 20 feet of me and set up a still life.

Yes.  It is Sprite.  I work with what I got, people.

Like any experiment, I needed a sample, a constant, to compare the NDF test against.  In manual mode, I set the camera for the perfect exposure and fired.

Focal length: 50mm
Exposure: 1/160 sec
Aperture: f/2.8
ISO: 250

Since the neutral density filter is supposed to reduce light and result with a shaded photo, I left my camera settings as they were.  I screwed the filter on and set up my second shot – my NDF test shot.

Focal length: 50mm
Exposure: 1/160 sec
Aperture: f/2.8
ISO: 250

Mac totally has a pair of shades now.  With the settings the same as the perfect exposure shot without the filter, I new that it would in fact (or should) shade the image.  Which is what I wanted it to do.  With this doohickey, I will have more creative control over my camera when shooting in bright light situations.  (I’m afraid it won’t help harsh shadows though.)

I knew that the AP mode accommodated for the filter, so I went ahead and manually set for the perfect exposure with the filter on.

Focal length: 50mm
Exposure: 1/60 sec
Aperture: f/2.0
ISO: 250

It’s just a wee bit lighter than my first shot, the one taken without the neutral density filter.  But it can be done.  And if I wanted, I could purchase a second filter and fit it atop this one to double the light reduction.

I haven’t played with filters much but I know that they are an inexpensive way to experiment with photography.  Neutral density, polarizing, infrared, contrast, color correction, cross screen, diopters – there’s so many out there to play with.  The next time I feel like I need something to “push me,” I think I’ll be trying another kind of filter.  But this one will keep me busy for a while.

Sometimes it works.  Sometimes it doesn’t.  All I ask is that you try – that’s all I’m going to do too.  But since we’re moving into the weekend and I haven’t even tried to snap a photo yet, I thought a little inspiration might get the old gears turning.

Focal Length: 21mm
Exposure: 0.8 sec
Aperture: f/14.0
ISO: 400

Focal Length: 50mm
Exposure: 0.077 sec (1/13)
Aperture: f/3.2
ISO: 100

Focal Length: 21mm
Exposure: 1.0 sec
Aperture: f/14.0
ISO: 400

Focal Length:  31mm
Exposure: 0.167 sec (1/6)
Aperture: f/5.6
ISO: 1600

Slow down your shutter speed.  Try a darker setting.  Pull out your tripod.  Experiment with panning.  Shoot from above.  Shoot from below.  Just push yourself – you’ll be more satisfied in the end.

With the recent purchase of Mac Daddy (I love my 7D!), the square footage in my Crumpler no longer existed.  I could only carry two lenses and the kit lens had to be on the body for it all to fit.  I had been shopping/eyeballing/drooling over new camera bags – or camera purses rather – for well over a year but the purchase kept taking a backseat to other things.  With my Christmas loot in hand, I started my research all over.  And after taking my lunch to work for five straight weeks, I had saved up enough dough to make my research a reality.  And now momma’s got a new camera bag.  I mean, camera purse.

And it’s green.  Thanks to Kelly Moore.  Her b-hobo bag was the perfect size for what I carry on a shoot and her videos showing how the bag fit to the body and exactly what all it could hold sold me.  It’s comfortable, it feels nice and it doesn’t look like a traditional boxy camera bag.  Camera purse for the win.

The cool thing about this bag is it comes with two straps.  A cross-body strap (which I prefer) that can be shortened or extended for whatever length you need.  And a shorter shoulder strap – when it’s on the bag it really does look like a normal hobo purse.  On Saturday, my friend was actually surprised to see me pull my camera out of it.  (I took her on a tour after this.)

There are extra pockets to hold my girly stuff, my wallet, my phone – no need to carry two bags or try to cram all my miscellaneous stuffs in my tiny pockets.  (What is up with how small women’s pockets are?  Men don’t need bags because they can fit a small country into their pant pockets.  However, I can barely fit my hand in mine to fetch out a penny.  What gives?)

The pockets my hold more than my stuffs – I got one filled with wiping cloths, my handy remote and extra CF cards.  But in addition to the two zippered pockets on the front, there’s a large zippered pocket on the back and two open side pockets.

The inside is where it’s at – full on camera bag.  Velcro city to help compartmentalize all my camera stuffs.  Soft sides offer the protection Mac Daddy deserves.  Mac fits nicely in the middle – I have both lenses posted on either side of the bag.  A place for everything and everything in it’s place.

While it houses my equipment nicely, it actually has great access for a shoot.  I can leave it unzipped and fetch things in and out quite quickly.  And I only have to worry about getting grass stains on my clothes  because the bag wipes down easily.  Being green might also help with that.

But yeah, a lovely new camera purse in my arsenal.  It’s been coming to work with me everyday.

It feels nice to have Mac with me 24/7.

*woohoo*alright*excitedness*

My reason for the new prime lens is because I love what my 50mm offers.  I love that lens, how it doesn’t zoom which makes me work around the subject and the colors are always better than my zoom lens.  Even if it is the cheaper version of the 50mm – I heart it.  But – because there’s always a but – it’s too zoomy.

Mac Daddy (my beloved dSLR) has a cropped sensor.  And cropped sensors cause the lenses to zoom somewhat.  On a full frame camera, the 50mm is what is see with your eye is what you see through the lens.  With a cropped sensor, that isn’t the case.  So I wanted a lens that that was wider than the 50mm.

I scoured the forums and I have to say that questions about equipment on forums is a big waste of time.  Everyone has their own opinion and will tell you to get what they have (I’m guilty of it too) but it ends up making the decision process harder [and I already have a hard enough time making decisions... ask the hubs].  I instead kept my focus on reviews.  And Ken Rockwell’s reviews of the Sigma 30mm and Canon 28mm helped me make up my mind.

I got the 35mm f/2.0.

I wanted a wider lens but not something so wide that the edges would bend.  That is why I decided to part ways with the ultra-wide 10-22mm lens – the photos I enjoy taking don’t look great with a curved edge.  So the 28mm prime was marked off the list.  As for the Sigma 30mm f/1.4… that f/1.4 sounds mighty tasty but I felt more comfortable with a Canon lens even if it meant losing aperture.  I marked it off the list and went to my shopping cart to check out.

I haven’t had much time with the 35mm f/2.0 but I do like it.  On the cropped sensor, the 35mm is “what you see is what you get” which is going to be so great for when I shoot indoors or in tighter spaces.  I don’t feel like I’m losing any DOF with the f/2.0 either – it offers up some yummy bokeh.  My only problem so far is that it is loud.  The auto-focus is noisy and sounds so mechanical – more so than the 50mm.  But I’m guessing that’s something I’ll get used to.

I tried to get the doggins to obey me yesterday and show you some test shots.  Of course, they were being animals.  But I snapped a decent one of the BDD.

Focal Length 35mm
Aperture f/2.0
Exposure 1/13 second
ISO Speed 640

I’m surprised it’s even in focus with the shutter speed being as low as it was.  (Maybe the BDD and I are more steady than I originally thought?)  But you can see how her eyes are crisp and the focus starts to disappear about an inch in front and behind of her eyes.  The first spot on her snout is out of focus.  Just behind her doggin eyebrows, her fur is no longer sharp.  Nothing is lost – my gain is having more width – I am winning.

For instance, I don’t have the greatest skin so I know how to hide a blemish.  (I cannot, however, make someone look slimmer.  I’m not that advance nor do I really want to.  It’s deceiving.)  I can ever so quickly lighten and color correct.  (I do watch my white balance in camera but sometimes a girl forgets.)   And I’ve dappled in using textured layers.  But as far as “treating” an image, I have one trick up my sleeve that I’m always pleased with: a vintage blue hue.  And it’s so easy I thought I’d share it since I used it this week for my “fear” photo.

How To Create a Vintage Blue Hue with Photoshop

Caveat: The process is probably slightly different between different versions of Photoshop and Macs versus my PC.  With this being simple layering, it can probably be achieved on Adobe Elements as well.

We’ll started with my original, SOOC image below.

After giving it a once over, I decided to crop out the white on the bottom left and I lightened the image slightly using Curves.  After getting the image to a point I was happy with, it was time to play with layers.

And now bring my screen shots.  I haven’t done very much with screen shots so forgive me for anything that looks wonky or horrible or whatever.  And I feel the need to repeat I have Photoshop 7.0 – it will look ancient next to anything remotely new.

The first step is to duplicate the layer.  Go to the “Layer” drop down menu and select “Duplicate Layer.”  A duplicate layer is just that: a copy of the background image.

Selecting the duplicate layer in the layer work box (I don’t know what it’s technically called so I’m making things up as I go), click on the drop down menu and scroll to “Soft Light.”

The Soft Light will make the layer more color saturated and provide more contrast.  It lightens and darkens colors depending on the light source.  It’s magical.

Side by side we can see how the Soft Light did it’s magical magic thing.  It said “Abracadabra!”

The next step is creating a new layer.  Go back to the “Layer” drop down menu, scroll to “New” and select “Layer.”  And you thought this was hard.  Pshh.

In the work box, select the new layer.  From the drop box, scroll to “Exclusion.”  This is what’s going to make the layer awesome.  Because it, uh, excludes color.  Or something.  I think.

I really have no idea what it does.  But I do know it does awesome.

So now we need our blue hue.  Go back to the “Layers” menu and scroll to “New Fill Layer.”  Select “Solid Color.”  A color box will [should] pop up.  Your image might look weird now but never fear.

In the color box, move the slide to blue and drag your circle marker down to the dark blues.  Like navy.  I love navy blue.  You’ll see your image emerge and now a blue hue has been applied to the layer.  Play around with it to find what you like best.

Try different colors even.  I do this sometimes but always come back to blue.

And here I have it: the cropped image with a vintage blue hue.

I liked the end product but it still felt a little cloudy to me.  So pulled out Curves again and ever so slightly lightened the image once more and I increased the Contrast +2.  And then I was done.

My finished photo.

I tell you this because we never know when something will happen.  That’s why we have insurance to begin with.  Home owners, auto, medical – all there “just in case.”  We can sometimes forget about our personal effects.

Even after months of Mrs. Rev telling me about insuring her photography equipment, I didn’t do it.  Until we heard a story on the news.  About a tribe of assholes in St. Kitts who cut down a tree to block the road from a bus of tourist from Celebrity Cruises. This tribe then proceeded to strip them clean of anything of value.  At gunpoint.

That was one of the islands we were going to.  That was the cruise line we were aboard.

Not my ideal vacation, if ya know what I mean.

Fear set in – I called my insurance agent that week to see what I needed to do.  It turns out it was easy.  Super easy.

I took out a personal articles policy.  Covering personal articles from damage and theft.  Meaning that if anything were to happen, they’d try to repair or replace the items under coverage.  With no deductible.  For less than $50 for the year.  In case you missed it: no deductible.

I started pulling out every bit of my equipment.  Every box, lens, battery and memory card.  Possibly even that little prick of an accessory flash I have.  I listed them all out in a spreadsheet.  I included original costs, serial numbers if I could find them, provided copies of my receipts.  If I didn’t have receipts, I scoured the internet for replacement cost.  It took me about three hours to do this.  I couldn’t believe the final number.  But less than one email to my agent and a $50 premium later, everything was covered.

My dSLRs, Paco, my extra batteries, both multi-gig memory cards, interchangeable lenses.  Possibly even that little prick of an accessory flash.  All were accepted, inflation coverage applied, no questions asked.  I was told that some things could be rejected once reviewed but they saw no problem and gave it a stamp of approval.

Think it over.  Call your agent.  If you can swing a few hours and few extra bucks, do it.  It’s peace of mind.  And, I repeat, it’s no deductible.

Note: I do not work for an insurance company.  I didn’t even remark the company I use.  It’s only the casual passing along of helpful information.  It’s how I roll.