The Fringe In Focus

So Long, Farewell, Auf wiedersehen, Goodbye...

2010-12-10T20:30:00.000-06:00

Well, my wake-up post didn't do much did it?

ha-ha.

Anywho...

I have kept up this little blog for some years now, and have loved all the comments, and having you all for my 'web' friends. But. The Fringe is one of 4 blogs that I oversee, and as it almost the same as my photo blog, it has been a challenge to come up with different ''stuff:" to put on here which would not be the same as Allie Dean. Plus, the less time I spend online the better...the list of other things to do is really long.

(Which might have to do with the fact I add to it regularly.)

So.

I am combining this one with Allie Dean, and you will see all things photography on there. The Fringe will remain as is, in case you would like to look at it again someday :)

Thank you all for your generous support with my photographic ramblings, and I hope you will continue visiting with me and each other on Allie Dean Photographie.

Happy 2011 to ya'll!

Blessings,

Allison

Waking Up

2010-07-21T16:30:00.000-05:00

Well, well….I think this blog has been sleeping for long enough :)

I am going to try and post pictures regularly along with a link or two to photo blogs that I have come across!

Oh! And here are a few great tips for photography and …..coffee filters!

Wipe off smudges. In a pinch, you can use to clean eyeglasses,

camera lenses, televisions, and computer monitors.

Diffuse the flash on your camera. Place a coffee filter over your flash to soften the brightness.

You can also try putting coffee filters over lights or lamps to lessen the harshness of direct light when taking indoor photos.

2 photog blogs for you to be inspired with!
Belle Photographie
Courtney Michelle Photography

okay…3…..

Grace Creations Photography

From DPS....

2010-05-20T22:24:00.002-05:00

DPS is offering something photographers and their friends should check out!
Scroll all the way down to get the special code located under the video :)

Publishing....

2010-05-17T21:42:00.002-05:00

...your wedding photography on a wedding blog!

Jasmine Star interviews Abby Larson from Style Me Pretty on how to submit your photographed wedding to a blog like SMP.

Read all about it here!!

Maybe we'll see each others' pictures on there someday!

Better Photographer Tips

2010-04-07T13:48:00.000-05:00

Scott Bourne had a list of 7 tips to become a better photographer:
Here they are :)

Don't you just love fresh flowers?

I do.

P.S. Gear is not even mentioned :)

Photo Contest!!

2010-03-15T23:00:00.000-05:00

#7 Create a Silhouette

2010-02-23T15:15:00.000-06:00

"Silhouettes command attention. They attract the eye. Why?
Because of the stark contrast betwen your subject to it's purest shape."

Jeff Wignall "The Joy of Digital Photography" Pg. 110

#6 Experiment with Subject Placement

2010-02-17T21:26:00.000-06:00

"For some odd reason we often take the term 'center of interest' a bit too literally
and we fell obliged to put the main subject square in the center of the viewfinder,
as if we were shooting it with a rifle instead of a lens.
Dead center in the frame though is probably the worst of all choices because
it surrounds your subject with equal amounts of space creating a stagnant
composition. Instead, shift your main point of interest to the left or right of center,
or slightly above or below the center of the frame to establish a more dynamic
use of space and a more natural feeling of balance.

One of the reasons we tend to center the main point of interest is that the
autofocus and light-metering indicators are in the center of the viewfinder
and so we center the subject to get sharp focus and good exposure. You can
do an end run around this, however, by pressing and holding your shutter-
release button halfway down to lock both focus and exposure.
You can then re-compose your image and still get a sharp, well-exposed picutre."

Jeff Wignall
The Joy of Digital Photography pg. 109

#5: Use Your Computer Skills

2010-02-12T10:45:00.001-06:00

Of course, there are times when finding a simple
background isn't possible or you just don't have time -
which is where your post-production skills come in handy.
By selectively adding a Gaussian blur to the background
you can isolate your subject even more
than you can by restricting depth.
Jeff Wignall The Joy of Digital Photography pg. 108

A Giveaway at Creature Comforts!!

2010-02-05T13:07:00.000-06:00

Enter to win a Photojojo Mini Polaroid Camera or a SLR Sloop Camera bag!!!

Here's the site: Creature Comforts

Have fun!! Hope you win!!

#4: Use Selective Focus

2010-02-04T18:42:00.000-06:00

"Another ways to simplify and soften backgrounds is by
restricting sharp focus to your main subject.
Using a moderate telephoto lens or zoom
setting with a wide aperture enables you to
restrict the range of sharp focus to just a few feet.
Shallow depth of field is a particularly
effective tool for shooting individual portraits.
By tossing the background totally out of focus
your attention goes directly to the
person in your photograph."

Jeff Wignall
The Joy of Digital Photography
pg. 108

Another post...

2010-01-25T19:21:00.002-06:00

Check out this link for a photography challenge! I did it today and posted about it here :)

#3: Use a Simple Background

2010-01-25T19:16:00.000-06:00

"Placing your subject in front of a plain background eliminates any doubt about what your point of interest is, and it also makes for a cleaner-looking image. Finding a clutter-free background isn't always easy, but often a simple shift in your viewpoint will reveal one. By climbing up on a porch to photograph your kids running through the sprinkler, for example, you can eliminate things like the neighbor's clothesline or the pile of garden tools leaning against the fence (the ones you were supposed to put away yesterday) and isolate the kids against the lawn. Similarly, by kneeling to photograph kids you can isolate them against the sky or a row of tall shrubs." Jeff Wignall's The Joy of Digital Photography pg. 107

From the Writer's Pen...

2010-01-19T21:57:00.003-06:00

My friend, Miss Lizzy at The Writer's Pen tagged me....so here it is!

What are six names you go by?
Al, Allie, Big Al, Tricksy, hmmm....that's about it :D

What are three things you're wearing right now?
A black skirt, green long-sleeved shirt under a pink & green plaid western shirt, and a tan velour hoodie

What are three things you want very badly right now?
A better violin, a better camera, a photography trip around the world (I dream big...)

What are three things you did last night/ yesterday?
Finished a book, practiced my violin, blogged

What are two things that you ate today?
Fruit cobbler and lasagne

Who are the last two people you talked to on the phone?
My violin teacher, my mom, my sister

What are two things you're going to do today/tomorrow?
Work on the computer, and make dinner

What are your three favorite beverages?
Ginger ale, homemade punch, and hot chocolate

Thank you Lizzy! These things are fuuuunn! :D
Thanks also for posting about my contest a few weeks ago!

#2: Get Farther Away

2010-01-18T16:34:00.002-06:00

"Getting closer and making your center of interest
larger is usually a good idea, but it's not always the
solution. Sometimes giving your focal point a lot
of space provides more dramatic and
emotional emphasis.

By including a lot of space around a lone beachcomber
on a deserted beach, for instance, you heighten
the feelings of solitude by showing the larger
environment. The eye had no trouble finding
the center of interest, rather it is drawn to it
by the emphasis of the overall scene."

Jeff Wignall "The Joy of Digital Photography" page 106

#1: Get In Close

2010-01-12T19:12:00.001-06:00

"There is a reason that Hollywood invented
the close-up (other than to suffer the vanity
of leading actors). Filling the frame is a powerful
and immediate device for directing someone's
attention to the main subject. The minute the
camera closes in on the gunslinger's belt,
you know there's going to be some shooting-
there's little doubt about what the director
wants you to notice.

Moving closer-either physically or optically-
isolates your subject and is like saying
to the viewer, "This is what I want to show you."

Jeff Wignall "The Joy of Digital Photography" page 105

P.S. For these ideas, how about posting your photos on your blog and leaving a link in the comments! Have fun!

Update coming soon...

2010-01-11T21:27:00.002-06:00

Thank you all for your exceeding great patience :)

I have decided on a book, and will post about a chapter tomorrow. Instead of plodding through the chapters in order, I may jump from chapter to chapter to keep it interesting :) Now all I have to do is wait for daylight to take illustrating photos!

Ringing In The New Year...

2009-12-30T22:28:00.001-06:00

It's that time of year again...

time to think of ideas for my blogs :)

What do ya'll think of going through some
photo books with me, and doing weekly
assignments based on the chapters?

I'll read a chapter a week, post bullet points
and assignments, and you can send in photos!

How does that sound?
Or if you have any other ideas, please
post 'em in the comments!

Happy New Year to you and yours!!

What is a photo blog post without a photo?

weddings make me smile...a lot...
(grin)

White: Hannah P.

2009-12-30T22:24:00.000-06:00

Christmasy white things are such fun! Great job, Hannah!

Wedding Press...

2009-12-23T13:04:00.002-06:00

...was capturing every moment :)

Dan & Bethany had quite the entourage!!

"To ensure your bouquet is thrown with the best 'randomness' as possible,
have a looooong kiss. Then get twirled a few times."

Why I haven't posted in awhile...

2009-12-22T16:00:00.001-06:00

(grin)

Wedding bells were chiming in
Seward, Nebraska!

We have a winner :)

2009-12-22T10:56:00.000-06:00

Miss Lizzy!

Congratulations! :) The prize is on it's way!

Thank you all for entering! I'm on the lookout for more fun 'stuff' to giveaway :)

P.S. If you are wondering how I got the winner, I just used the number generator to select a number between 1 and 10, since there were 10 entries :) The number was 7.

There is still time to enter the Fringe In Focus Christmas Giveaway!!!

2009-12-21T06:01:00.000-06:00

There's Still Time to Enter!!!

Hello friends!!
Life has been quite busy these last few weeks,
thus the lack of posts... :)

Anyway....

I thought it was high time to have a GIVEAWAY!
Here is the prize...

A hand-tatted cross bookmark
that I made earlier this year!
Great to keep your place in a book,
or to give as a gift for a birthday,
Christmas, etc :)

How does that sound?

Alrighty...here are the 4 easy ways to enter:

1. Just leave a comment with your name.

2. Leave a comment telling us one skill
you are working on or would like to have.

3. Blog about the giveaway
and let me know in the comment box :)

4. Follow this blog and comment that you are.
(If you already follow, just put it in the comments!)

Do all four (and do 'em as separate comments)
and increase your chances of winning!
The winner will be picked at random on December 21.

Let's have some fun!!

Weekly Assignments: Winter White

2009-12-14T20:41:00.000-06:00

This week look for anything with a wintery-white feel :)

Snow is acceptable....if you have it!
The rest of us have to
be super-creative :)

Deadline:
Monday, December 21, 2009
(The first day of winter!)

Fringe Mailbox

Happy shooting!

If cameras can be happy... :D...

2009-12-14T20:38:00.000-06:00

...then mine is.

New batteries and a battery grip
are sure to change any camera's
attitude for the better!

(grin)

W.A. : Food

2009-12-04T17:55:00.000-06:00

Food....something we all enjoy in some form :)

Tasty Food is what you get to capture this week!
Deadline is Friday the 11th.
Send in your yummy photos to:
Fringe Mailbox

Photograph anything and everything foodie!!
It doens't have to be a finished dish, try being artistic
with the ingredients and utensils you use along the way!

Coffee/Chocolate mugs, glasses etc, are also acceptable,
try to accompany them with a cookie :)
Then eat the cookie....of course!

Have fun!

Then & Now: Emily

2009-12-04T17:41:00.000-06:00

"I love autumn colors!
Here's a picture that I took of fall about a year ago
and one just recently" - Emily

Thank you for sending them in, Emily! I love fall colors, too :) - Allison

Does he look familiar?

2009-11-25T10:49:00.000-06:00

As long as it shoots...

2009-11-25T01:17:00.000-06:00

All cameras can be your friends :)

Weekly Assignment: Then and Now

2009-11-18T15:45:00.000-06:00

Hello friends!
Here is your assignment for this week!

Find a picture in your archive that contains
your favorite color, and take another picture
of another item in your favorite color :)

Deadline is Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Send both photos in to:
The Fringe Mailbox

Green is a favorite color of mine, and I took
this lake-scape last summer.

This cute green glass pumpkin was quite at
home in the green grass outside this afternoon :)

Have fun! Looking forward to seeing your photos!

From Laura....

2009-11-17T12:21:00.001-06:00

This is one of the photos taken by my friend Laura
on our excursion to Austin :)

And Thanks Goes To....

2009-11-11T21:11:00.003-06:00

Hannah Ruth at Farmgirl in Flipflops!
Thank you, Hannah, for sending me this
award! You are so kind :)
Check out her blog, my friends, and comment
on her great photography! I love her
pictures of her siblings :)

Okay, to claim this award I need to do the following five things:

1. Mention (in glowing terms) the blog(s) and person(s) who was/were kind enough to award you, and give a quick description and the link to their blog(s).

2. Name five of your favorite blogs, tell the reason why you award them, and notify them of their great winning!
3. Answer the ten random questions (found below).
4. Have fun!!

5 favorite blogs:

Hannah & Esther at DeL Sisters Kitchen
Dear friends of mine (going on 15 yrs now?)
They have s.c.r.u.m.p.t.i.o.u.s recipes and
yummy-looking pictures!

Laura & Elizabeth at Proverbs 31 Sisters
2 other sister-friends who love
sewing, writing, raw food,
and photography :)

Rachel
A friend from MI.
I enjoy seeing pictures of her
siblings, vacations, and friends
because I miss them all!!
Check out her sisters' blogs too!

Molly Rose at Imago Photography
Adorable family photos
and excellent wedding photography!

Arielle Joy
She has the same middle name as me :)
Love her photography :)
Reeeally cute puppy photo up there!

1. Have you ever ridden an elephant? Yes.
2. Ever eaten squid? I hope I never have to :)
3. What is something crazy you've done with your best friend?
Trying to find the home of a sponsor of our concert to deliver a
thank-you gift to the wife. It was an adventure complete with
rutted dirt roads and everything!
4. Ever held an alligator? Not yet.
5. Would you let a snake slither through your fingers? Yes, a tame one
6. What's your first and foremost dream in life?
To love Jesus above all and serve Him for the rest of my life...
and to go on photo shoots with husband (when I marry)
7. What's your dream vacation?
Visiting Italy
8. What's the funniest movie you've ever seen?
One of them is You've Got Mail
9. What's your favorite song?
"May The Mind of Christ"
10. If you could change the world in one way, what would that be?
To faithfully point the way to Christ and raise the next generation for Him.

A Thanks + Giving Giveaway!

2009-11-09T14:06:00.002-06:00

Head on over to Ica Images to enter her fun giveaway!

Leave a comment about something you're grateful for,
and you just might win 2 lovely prizes!
Blog or Facebook about the contest and increase your
chance of winning!

Thank you Ica and Molly!

Photography Video!

2009-11-05T23:04:00.002-06:00

Photography: Shooting the Galapagos from Vision Forum on Vimeo.

This is an amazing little movie! The pictures they were able to capture make you wish you could be there!

W.A.: Miss Laura

2009-10-29T22:25:00.000-05:00

Great composition, Laura! I like the
flow of the decorations :)

W.A.: Emily

2009-10-29T22:22:00.000-05:00

Music and fall...they go so well together!

I like your creative compositions, Emily :)

W.A.: Valerie

2009-10-29T22:20:00.000-05:00

Cute scarecrow, Valerie!
Nice use of the rule-of-thirds, too :)

W.A.: Hannah

2009-10-29T22:19:00.000-05:00

I really like the sunburst-flare :)

Ooo! Pretty silhouette!!

Lovely work, Hannah!

Photo Expedition :)

2009-10-22T20:59:00.000-05:00

Some friends took Catrina and myself to Austin
for a fun girl's outing :) We visited 2 farmers
markets and a Texas history museum.
We had a wonderful time :)

:: working gloves ::

A garden tool...I think....

Anyone know what it's supposed to do?

:: rocking chairs on the porch ::

Can you spot the wee bug? :)

Happy Birthday, Catrina :)

2009-10-22T20:51:00.000-05:00

My "baby" sister, Catrina (left), turned 16
this month! Happy Birthday! I love you!

W.A. Autumn Traditions

2009-10-14T12:23:00.001-05:00

Hello my friends!!

Here's a fun Weekly Assignment,
and the theme is
"Autumn Traditions"

You get to capture the decor, traditions,
food, and people that you do and spend
time with in our beautiful fall season :)

Deadline is: October 21, 2009
Send in your photos to:

The Fringe Mailbox

Looking forward to seeing your photos!!

To all my readers: YOU are Amazing!

2009-10-08T11:40:00.000-05:00

You really are!!!

My Sister, My Friend...

2009-10-05T12:43:00.000-05:00

...turned 22 in September!

Happy Birthday, Annick!

Love,
Al

P.S. Check out the great western-picture card
from our friends in MI :)

The P&P Riddle....

2009-10-05T12:41:00.000-05:00

I'm home now, so I can post pictures of
my subdivision version of 'Netherfield Hall'...

....annnd.... MR. BINGLEY!!!

Isn't he a cutie?

On an evening walk around the neighborhood :)

(Some of you were SO close in the name game!
Thanks for posting comments! I had fun
reading them :) )

Just a note...

2009-09-30T14:16:00.003-05:00

...to say 'Hi!' :)

While I do have internet, getting my pictures recognized by a different computer is turning out to be rather difficult :)

I am house-sitting at a 'Netherfield Hall'(of sorts!), and taking care of the family dog...go ahead and guess his name!!!

Soooo....no pictures for awhile...going through a slight 'posting withdrawal' :D

I hope to post soon...yes, I call all times 'soon' !

Allison

FYI....

2009-09-23T16:37:00.000-05:00

W.A. : Turquoise

2009-09-21T15:22:00.000-05:00

Anything turquoise goes for this week!
Have Fun!
Deadline: September 28th 2009

Fringe Mailbox

Thank You, Hannah! :)

2009-09-12T14:46:00.000-05:00

I've had 2 happy surprises lately :)
One was placing in Hannah's
photo contest. The second was
receiving a prize for the photo
in the mail this week!

Aren't they cute?
Just my style and some of my
favorite colors :)

Thank you, Hannah!
I love the earrings :)

W.A. : Emily

2009-09-12T13:21:00.000-05:00

Excellent work, Emily!
I really like the brick wall
as a background :)

W.A. : Hero

2009-09-12T13:19:00.000-05:00

Very nice job, Hero!
I like the sun coming through the trees :)

Quote

2009-09-07T12:24:00.001-05:00

“To consult the rules of composition before making a picture is
a little like consulting the law of gravitation
before going for a walk. Such rules and laws
are deduced from the accomplished fact;
they are the products of reflection.”
Photographer Edward Weston

Just a little reminder that the rules of
composition are more like guidelines...
it's okay to bend them and add
your own flair :)

Weekly Assignment: Outdoor Self-Portrait

2009-09-03T19:14:00.000-05:00

My dog, Dixie, was such a good girl while I set the
timer, sat down, jumped up to look at the picture,
and do it all over again....and again....and again ;)

Finally! I got one that made me happy :)
I've tried to teach my Dixie to have good
manners and not lick faces, but I only had
10 seconds and decided to let it go....this once :)

Sooo...now it's YOUR turn!
This Weekly Assignment is Outdoor Self-Portrait.
You can take it with a pet(s), parent(s), sibling(s),
friend(s), or object(s)! :D

Deadline is September 10, 2009
Fringe Mailbox

Looking forward to seeing your photos!

W.A.: Emily

2009-08-31T17:16:00.000-05:00

I like how the placement of her
face and the angle of the camera
draw your eyes right up to her
smiling face!

The darker background is a good 'frame' for
the white dress and the ring on her finger.
Very nice B&W work, Emily!

How to make a personalized favicon :)

2009-08-28T14:09:00.007-05:00

Since I learned how to make 'favicons', I thought I would post a little tutorial on how to make them for your site!

Favicons (blend of 'favorite' and 'icon') are the little logos you see next to the web address you are visiting. It's a great way to personalize your site or get your brand 'out there' :)

Here's how:

1. Make a logo in Photoshop (or other design software) and resize it to 16 by 16 pixels. Try to do the original in a square background so that when you resize, it shrinks to the right proportions. Also, make it simple. It is going to be r.e.a.l.l.y tiny, so a photo or letter works quite well. Save the 16x16 image as a .png.

2. You now need to make it into an .ico file, so import the .png to an .ico generator like this one here. Once it makes the file, click on 'download file' and save it to your computer.

3. Next, go to stashbox.org and upload the file you downloaded from the generator. You don't have to make an account to host files there, just click on 'upload or manage files'. After it uploads scroll down to 'HTML/Forum Codes' and look for the URL code.

4. Open a new tab and go to your Blogger layout, click 'Edit HTML', do a Ctrl F to find the tag that has 'head' between two pointy brackets <>
2 lines below it copy and paste this code in:

link href='image url here' rel='shortcut icon' type='image/vnd.microsoft.icon'/

Erase the part in green, and copy and paste URL code from stashbox in that place, add a pointy bracket <> after '/'. Then, 'Save Template'. You can 'View Blog' and see your little favicon by the address!

Did it work? If it did, I'd like to come see it! If not, let me know...hope I didn't forget any instructions :)

Have fun!

Allison

P.S. Stashbox.org is a clean site as far as I could see. It took awhile to find a free image hosting place that would take .ico files and not show off any terrible ads, and this is one that looked okay :) I found this tutorial on Cool Tips and Tricks

Double Weekly Assignment!

2009-08-25T23:00:00.001-05:00

I loved seeing all the fun you have been having with B&W! So we are going to finish out August with a DOUBLE Weekly Assignment!

(Okay...wow..August is almost gone...am I the only one who thinks time flies??)

Here you go! B&W Filters and B&W Family Memory or Portrait

The Filter assignment can be completed either with actual filters that you can put on your camera, or 'filtered' in your photo editing software. (If you don't have either, send your color pics to me, I'll change them and post on the blog). Filters in B&W have neat effects on the shadows and light, and are great for all kinds of subjects.

The Family assignment can be a photo from summer 09 or it can be taken during the week and entered. If you take it in color please change it to B&W before sending it in :)

Some examples...

Can you see the difference between the filter effects? The strongest filters are red, green, and blue. Orange and yellow give a more subtle touch.

2009-08-25T22:59:00.002-05:00

Blue Filter

Green Filter

Red Filter

Family in B&W

2009-08-25T22:58:00.001-05:00

These photos were taken by my sister of herself and
my two other sisters, while I was out of the van :)
I think they like my camera! I like their style :)

Annick takes a self portrait with Catrina adding her smile
in the background.

Annick took this one of Evvie, too :)

The Deadline is Monday August 31st.

Fringe Mailbox

W.A.: Sara

2009-08-20T21:27:00.001-05:00

Great composition, Sara!
I like how the flowers guide
your eye all the way back
to the old mill :)

Keep it up!
-Allison

W.A.: Hannah

2009-08-20T19:04:00.000-05:00

I like the leading lines and rule-of-thirds
in this photo! Plus, it looks as if the horizon
is calling YOU!

Architecture is SO great in B&W!
Nice contrast, Hannah!

Keep shooting!
-Allison

W.A.: Amber

2009-08-20T18:57:00.000-05:00

Great job using the rule-of-thirds, Amber!
Excellent use of leading lines, too!
These are very strong images because
of the contrast between light and shadow,
and the lines of the structures.

Keep it up!
-Allison

Fixed :)

2009-08-20T18:47:00.001-05:00

Thank you all for visiting my Studio blog! So sorry about the comment problem…fixed that bug today!

Allison

Studio Blog :)

2009-08-19T14:37:00.003-05:00

After lots of tweaking I finally have my Studio blog live online!
There will be previews of shoots, fun photos, ideas etc, all coming soon :)
Right now there are only 4 posts to read, but that number should rise as time goes by.

If you have a minute, I'd love to know what you think! Allison Joy Studios

More Weeklies coming...

Allison

B&W Weekly Assignment: Art and Architechture

2009-08-11T23:07:00.000-05:00

This month's projects are all in B&W
so you get to test your eye
and have fun!!!

Buildings have great angles, and the windows
and accents provide perfect shadow effects.
Your assignment is to go find some buildings!
Houses, tourist stops, train stations, lighthouses,
doll houses, barns, play houses....anything with
walls, windows, doors, and a roof goes :)

Next, try looking at other subjects
in B&W...chairs, animals, nature...etc.
(found this little doggie online...I have a penchant for vintage photos!)

I'm looking forward to seeing your pictures!!
Deadline is Tuesday August 18th
Fringe Mailbox

I would encourage trying the project in B&W, instead
of color then changing later, just so you can get a
good idea of what to look for, but I'll leave it up to you :)

P.S. If your camera does not take in B&W, or if you do not have
a program that you can use to change your color photos into B&W,
go ahead and send in your color pics and I'll change them and post
them here on the Fringe for you :)

Black and White Photography

2009-08-03T20:23:00.000-05:00

"Color shows the color of their clothes,
black and white shows the color of their souls."

Here it is :) As promised :) A few ideas on how
to look at the world around us in B&W!

2009-08-03T20:19:00.000-05:00

B&W: What?
· Black and white removes color from photos.
· It is a means of communicating emotion in portraiture and photojournalism.

B&W: Why?
Photojournalism tells a story and is known to have an earthy, gritty feel.

B&W: How?
Black and white photos are images of contrast and tone.

When taking your B&W pictures look for highlights, shadows, and tones of light.

2009-08-03T19:31:00.000-05:00

Watch where the light falls, where it makes highlights, where it leaves shadows. You almost have to ‘see’ in B&W before you take the photo!

There are different ways of capturing B&W, most DSLRs and even Digi-cams have a black and white or sepia capture option. Or you can use various computer programs to change your color photos in to B&W. Picasa, Photoshop, Corel PSP, and iPhoto are some of the available programs.Special Effects for B&W include increasing the noise or grain (gives a nice newspaper-y feel!), Sepia or other color tinting, which can also be done in computer programs.

A really fun B&W project is to open a color photo in Corel or Photoshop, copy and paste it as a ‘New Layer’ on itself, and change the new layer into B&W. Select the Background Eraserand ‘erase’ any areas in which you would like the color to show through. Watch out though…you might get addicted to color tinting! :)

I would suggest you continue to take photos in color and change them later, in case you decide you want the color version or memory :)
Then again, if you just want to hone your sensitivity to light and shadowby all means, shoot in B&W…and have tons of fun!!!

Questions, please :)

2009-07-29T23:24:00.002-05:00

Hi!

I'm trying to develop a 'profile' or 'about' section for my photography site, and it's a little hard to ask myself all the questions that are what people would like to know...sooooo....
could you all help me out by asking any number of questions about anything you might want to know about me? (Hmmm...hope this isn't sounding too vain.... :D )

Thank you!

Allison

Week 4 Independence Day Celebration Memories: Esther

2009-07-28T10:39:00.000-05:00

Firework photos are fun, fantastic,
and simply fabulous!
Thanks, Esther!

Pardon my dust... :D

2009-07-24T22:37:00.000-05:00

Hello all!

I'm working on a new layout so it might look a little funny around here for a bit!

B&W tips are on their way!

Allison

Weekly Assignment Week 3: Symbols of Freedom: Hannah Ruth

2009-07-23T14:40:00.000-05:00

Great job Hannah! I like the angle of the flag photo, and I really like the starry sparkler!

Hand of a Harpist

2009-07-22T19:58:00.000-05:00

Here's my photo for the contest, Hannah!
I'm entering this into the 'Hands' category :)

Puppy Love

2009-07-16T15:51:00.000-05:00

Boys and puppies :)
Gotta love 'em :)

Musette Bracelet GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

2009-07-16T15:48:00.000-05:00

Musette Bracelet GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Pure Praise...

2009-07-09T21:57:00.000-05:00

In response to the question, "What is your
greatest longing?" Joni Eareckson Tada
answers with a statement which most
would not expect.

"I won't be crippled by distractions, or disabled by
insincerity. I won't be handicapped by a ho-hum
half-heartedness.

My heart will join with yours and bubble over
with effervescent adoration. We will finally
be able to fellowship fully with the Father
and the Son. For me, this will be the
best part of heaven." Joni Tada

She would rather offer a "praise that is pure"
than to leave the confines of her wheelchair.

To see Jesus will be heaven's greatest joy

Hi....

2009-07-08T23:25:00.000-05:00

As you can see, I'm still sifting through blog looks :) I'm always open to ideas!

Saw a double rainbow yesterday...reminder of God's promise never to flood the entire earth again....I was driving my sister home from work so I tried to keep my eyes on the road, but it was kinda hard. :)

Have you ever really gazed at a rainbow?
And dwelt on the thought that God made it just for us?

Wow....

Can't wait to see another one!

What's ahead this month...

2009-06-30T18:00:00.000-05:00

Hello to all my dear photo-friends
and dear readers :)

I posted July's assignments all at once
simply because we will be busy and I'm not
sure how often I'll be able to post :)
A trip to Arizona may happen this weekend
as we would like to be with my Grandma
for awhile.

August is still going to be B&W month,
so hold on to your...well, I was going
to say 'hats', but maybe 'shutters'
is a better word :-D

July's Assignments

2009-06-30T17:35:00.000-05:00

Week One: June 30th-July 6th
"Red, White & Blue"

Week 2: July 7th-13th
"Patriotism"

Week 3 July 14th-20th
"Symbols of Freedom"

Week 4: July 21st-27th
"Your Independence Day Celebration Memories"

Fringe Mailbox

Can't wait to see each and every one of your entries!
Anyone in your family who likes to take photos
is always welcome to join and send in pictures!!

John 17:23

2009-06-27T21:31:00.000-05:00

"I in them and Thou in Me, that they
may be made perfect in one: and that
the world may know that Thou hast
sent Me and hast loved them as
Thou hast loved Me..." John 17:23

"The Sermon on the Mount indicates that when we
are on Jesus Christ's errands, there is no time to stand
up for ourselves. Jesus says, in effect, Do not be
bothered with whether you are being justly dealt with
or not. To look for justice is a sign of deflection from
devotion to Him. Never look for justice in this world
but never cease to give it....Jesus says, Go steadily
on with what I have told you to do and I will guard
your life. If you try to guard it yoursef, you remove
yourself from my deliverance. The most devout
among us become atheistic in this connection;
we do not believe God, we enthrone common
sense and tack the name of God onto it.
We do lean to our own understanding,
instead of trusting God with our whole hearts."
-Oswald Chambers

Goodbye Grandpa....

2009-06-26T18:13:00.000-05:00

My friend Jessica Shae had a good post about
making the most of every minute, taking time
to savor memories, paying more attention
to the here and now instead of only on the future
(projects, jobs, etc.)

It was personally meaningful to me after yesterday...

My Grandma called yesterday to say that Grandpa
was having trouble getting enough oxygen from his tank.
He was able to have a little morphine to help him relax
and sleep, and breathe easier. Two hours later Grandma
called again and said he was gone....

Mama and we girls stood in the kitchen around the phone and cried...

We will miss Grandpa very much...and I covet your
prayers for my Grandma as she adjusts to life without him...

Thank you :)

My Grandfather's Photography

2009-06-26T18:07:00.000-05:00

"A Stitch in Time"

My grandpa traveled the world,
after serving (and taking photos)
in the Air Force, and loved
capturing the light and people he saw.

"The Artist and His Critic"

"Pensive Miss"
(my mother)

I am so glad I had a photographic grandfather I could look up to,
and that I could carry on his hobby after he no longer was able
to make photographs. I am so very proud of him....
I miss you "Buh-pa-pa".....

Brown & Metal: Kayla

2009-06-26T17:15:00.000-05:00

Ooo! Nice angle, Kayla...love angles... :)
The blue sky really compliments this photo!
Keep up the good work!

Your Photo-Friend,

Brown & Metal: Olivia

2009-06-26T17:11:00.000-05:00

Nice job on putting the subject off-center, Olivia!
I like the color scheme too, very calming colors :)

P.S. Congrats on the new camera! Keep using it!!

Your Photo-Friend,

Weekly Assignment: Brown & Metal

2009-06-22T15:10:00.000-05:00

This week you get to capture 'BROWN'

...and 'METAL'.

Have fun!!!

Deadline is June 26th

Fringe Mailbox

Pictures of delicious-ness.... :)

2009-06-22T12:21:00.000-05:00

We had a delicious dinner made by the
DeL Sisters Kitchen
last night.

Pictures of homemade grilled pizzas still make
my mouth water....

My new 'Mac' :)

2009-06-22T12:17:00.000-05:00

There was a good deal on an HP laptop a few weeks ago,
and I was able to get one :)

My sister had a few 'Mac' stickers and gave me one...
so now I can 'blend in' with all the Mac users out there
without actually using one :D

Glass & Shiny: Hannah

2009-06-19T16:27:00.000-05:00

Great composition, Hannah!

God does indeed order our steps...

2009-06-11T14:28:00.000-05:00

Hello my friends!
So sorry to have been so quiet for so long!
Life has been pretty busy and sitting down to blog
hasn't been top priority for some days now :)

I was able to purchase an upgraded computer last week,
so now I really have no excuse to keep the Fringe updated
more often! For those of you who would like to do Black and
White, I will be posting tips in July and you get to do
B&W assignments in August, should be tons of fun...
love B&W....

Yesterday I was planning to get a bunch of picture CDs made
for some people, update blogs, update my website,
get ready for today's shoot at the pregnancy center,
etc. when around 10:30 in the morning our power was
shut off! That was rather surprising! I was thinking
'Oh, just one of those fluke-y power-outs and it'll probably
come on soon.'

Hours passed.

My laptop was running on battery so I could do a few things,
though our wireless card had no power, so no internet.
During past power-outages the mantra in our house is
'Do-not-open-the-fridge-unless-you-are really-fast-and-even-then-think-again' :D
so we limited ourselves to what was in the pantry and hoped the fresh milk
would be okay. Thankfully the well is seperate so we could use water.

Hours passed.

I decided to conserve laptop battery, shut it down,
and went in search of my violin "at least I'll get some
practice in...practicing wasn't top priority today, but it is now!"
After that I caught up on some books and some sleep.

Still no power.

Mama went to pick up Papa from his carpool place, and my sister
from a ranch, then he went out again to get some pizza dinner,
and by this time we had found out that the shut-off was done
to the wrong house, but they wouldn't turn it on till tomorrow.
Our dear friends invited us over for an evening swim and they
supplied us with extension cords, a flashlight, and a fan.

Morning came without power, and the warm house reminded
us of Michigan, we don't have air in that house either :)
The power was turned on around 9:30 and we are now enjoying
a present state of coolness....and we now we can't use the water...!

So God re-arranged our Wednesday and Thursday which was perfectly fine :)

-Thursday was pretty crowded with a long session at the theraputic ranch,
my photography session at the Preg. Center, and a violin lesson.
-We found out on Wed. that the session doesn't start till next week
which cleared up the morning.
-My dad was going to have a meeting at the same time as the photo shoot,
so I canceled the shoot (we only have one car at present) which cleared
up the afternoon.
-My violin teacher cancelled the lesson since he would be celebrating
his 25th anniversary that week, which cleared up the evening.
-I got some practice, reading, and sleep in which was not going to
be part of the day, but are things I did need to get done :)
-We took it easy yesterday, had pizza for dinner, and went swimming :)
-It was a good reminder not to take power or running water for granted
-We realized how unprepared we are for emergancies of this kind,
and need to get ready for any which may come someday
-We enjoyed a gorgeous sunset on the way to the pool :)

Nothing tragic happened, we just had a re-arrangement of priorites,
and now we are getting ready to have the house shown, so we'll
probably take the dogs to the dog park while Mama goes for water :)

So my friends, if God rearranges your days, He knows why, and if
you'll praise Him regardless of what happens, He will be glorified
and you might even see a beautiful sunset :)

In His Love,

Weekly Assignment: Glass & Shiny

2009-06-11T13:53:00.000-05:00

This week is 'Glass & Shiny'
You can submit shiny glass or
something glass and something shiny,
or any creative combination you
can think of!
Can't wait to see your art!

Deadline is Friday June 19th 2009

The Fringe Mailbox

Where did I get all this glass? Well, while we were in
Arizona over Easter, my grandma took us to a desert
botanical garden to see this Chihuly (chi-HOO-lee) exhibit.
Wow! It was amazing! I came home with tons of photos....
....which is not surprising..... :)

Purple: Emily W.

2009-06-11T13:43:00.000-05:00

Weekly Assignment: Purple

2009-05-15T13:25:00.000-05:00

For this assignment you get to find
all things purple!

Have fun!

Deadline: Friday May 22, 2009

Fringe Mailbox

My 'good-reason-for-not-posting-sooner' post :)

2009-05-13T13:50:00.000-05:00

I've been busy with a new blog showcasing the
photos of the children at the PCC center,
which is one of the reasons it has been
rather quiet around here :)

I just put up the rest of Picturesque Portraits,
and there is a new poll on the side bar :)

Sorry for the delay, my friends...

May you have a blessed rest-of-the-week!

Allison

Picturesque Portraits Part 5

2009-05-13T13:12:00.000-05:00

Posing Basics

Your subjects will give you genuine smiles
and expressions if you get to know (or already know)
them before bringing out the camera.
Talk to them before and during the shoot,
and with children, take playtime breaks
in between posing.

You can demonstrate the pose for them, and also
ask if the pose you choose feels natural and
comfortable to them.

Use action to get spontaneous natural expressions.
This is really helpful with children as well.
Have the kids give you their best sports(boys)
or princess(girls) pose, or character face.
They usually enjoy acting on command!

For slightly older subjects (grin)
have them jump off something,
peek out from behind a tree,
swing around a lampost,
swing on a swing, climb a tree,
pose with a pet or object they like,
or anything else you can think of!
They probably have good ideas, too :)

"If it bends, bend it!"

Masculine Poses:
-Strong angular stances
-Head square with the
shoulders or tilted towards
the lower shoulder
-Hips held straitght
-Weight on back foot
-Minimize waist
-Hands in soft fist,
or in pocket.

And fellas like leaning on
something, or anything :)
So find a good leaning spot
and adjust head etc. accordingly.

Feminine Poses:
-Gentle, flowing stance
-Head tilted towards high shoulder
-Arms gracefully positioned,
each finger seperated
and positioned
-Back arched (weight on
back foot)
-Minimize waist and thighs

Have her twist slightly at the waist
so that her shoulders aren't even
with her hips. Keeping the arms
away from the body also helps
to slim the figure :)

2009-05-13T13:09:00.000-05:00

Don't crop at joints, and make sure
there is room at the head and feet.
You may need to crop it in editing,
or the place where you print may
need to crop it to size, so leave
room for that. Also check
the edges of the frame for
distracting elements :)

Keep the background simple to
emphasize the subject, and check
for trees, poles, and lines
that may be 'growing' out
of your subject's head!

Does the background re-enforce
the mood or emotional impact
of the image?

Your goal in portraiture is
Personality :)

Picturesque Portraits Part 4

2009-05-13T11:57:00.000-05:00

Lighting

Add light to your portraits to cut
down on harsh shadows and to
make catchlights in your
subjects eyes.
You can use a reflector and/or
a fill flash.
(Just watch out for red-eye witht the fill flash!)

Flash

A bounce flash makes softer
natural shadows, causes
fewer reflections,
and eliminates red-eye.
It also lights up the room,
and you can add a bounce
card or a lightsphere
to direct the flash.

Balance your subject with the
background. There are two
kinds of flash options
manual and TTL.
When using your flash under-expose
to compensate for the flash of the flash :)

Picturesque Portraits Part 3

2009-05-13T11:24:00.000-05:00

Lenses

Portrait lenses have a focal range
from 85mm to 105mm.
This range isolates the subject,
blurs the background,
and doesn't distort the face.

Camera Angles

Move around and experiment
with different perspectives!

Shooting up at your subject
emphasizes strength and
achievement. :)

Shooting down at your subject
emphasizes innocence
and vulnerability. :)

Picturesque Portraits

2009-05-01T15:53:00.000-05:00

The Goal of Portraiture:

In simple terms, it is "using creative posing to show the true and real individual, and using camera angles and locations to emphasize the subjects personality and humanity."

Thus our journey into portraiture begins...your main goal is not just to take pictures of someone, but to show who they are with pictures. In one photo, how would your audience know that the graduating senior you just photographed, is a down-to-earth individual, or that a city-born bride loves the country? You get the awesome and amazing job of portraying personality! Don't be daunted if it's hard to 'see' what you want at first, shoot lots of pictures, use your model's ideas, try out 'crazy' things, and you may be surprised.... :-)

Picturesque Portraits: Part 1

2009-05-01T15:50:00.000-05:00

Ready for some portrait how-tos? I've been glancing over my notes from IPS as well as looking through my people-posing photography book, so here is your first lesson :)

Feel free to ask all kinds of questions, I'll do my best to answer them both in word and photo example if you want.

Can't wait to see your photos!

Part 1 Lighting:

There are several different sources of light that have varied effects on your portraiture.

1: Direct Sunlight
(the best way to use this type in portraits is to put it behind your subject and capture the "rim light" around your subject. "Rim light" is mostly seen around the rim of the head)
See the golden rim around their heads?
And if you can
get a lens flare now and then
so much the better! :)

2: Overcast Sunlight
(Provides a softer, diffused lighting
to your picture, and eliminates harsh
shadows and allows for natural
expressions.)

3: Open Shade
This lighting choice happens under trees
or next to buildings or structures that
cast large shadows.
(depending on the time of day
watch out for and avoid splotches
of light that land on the face
especially under trees)(In this photo, you can see the sun behind the couple
yet they are in complete shade. Neat, eh?)

4: Window Light
Provides very soft lighting, and you may need
to use a reflector to fill in and soften the shadows.

5: Studio Lighting
Gives you absolute control over the amount
and quality of light in each photo, and it's
wonderfully multi-purpose:
usable rain or shine!

(Wee disclaimer :) This photo was
made with just my camera and
my 430EX flash and the available
light...combined with some
editing in Picasa, it looks
pretty close to a studio-lit
photo....minus the studio!)

And last but not least...

6: Stop Light

With this you have absolute control
over pedestrians, and it is available
in most downtown areas :)

(imagine a photo here)

I have yet to get one of these :)

Thus ends lesson #1, and hopefully I can
get #2 up here today as well. Right now
I have to get dinner ready, so I'll
pull myself away from the computer
and I'll see you later :)

Play around with the different lighting where you are,
get used to interpreting what light you see and
can use for each portrait, and how you can
adapt the light or situation as needed :)

Any questions? Drop me a comment
or an email !

-Allison
Your Friendly Fotog

Picturesque Portraits Part 2

2009-05-01T15:49:00.000-05:00

Front View of the Face

The front view of the face is the most
common in portraiture. It's benefit
is that it is easy to pose, and it is ususally
how we look at those we talk to.
The drawback is that it tends to
flatten the face, and also sometimes
results in a 'mug shot' look.

Photos are already 2-dimensional,
and a front view of the face can add
to that instead of making the photo 3D.
Front views have their place, and if
your subject ends up liking the front
view in a particular shot, congratulations
on making them really happy!!!

3/4 View of the Face

2009-05-01T15:48:00.000-05:00

The 3/4 view of the face is the most
flattering because it portrays the
proper depth and
character of the subject.
The only drawback is that you need
to be attentive to the details:

-Keep the nose from breaking the
outline of the face
-Show only one ear
-Show a little skin at the
corner of the far eye.

The most crucial element of portraiture
is keepin the eyes in sharp focus.
Eyes are the windows to the soul.

Catchlights:
Are the reflection of the light source
in the subjects' eyes. They add
sparkle, life and vibrancy to
the subject, and without
catchlights people look
lifless.

Broad and Short (Loop) Lighting

2009-05-01T15:45:00.000-05:00

Broad lighting: the lighted part of the face
is facing the camera. This tends to
widen thin or narrow faces.

Short or Loop Lighting: the shadowed
part of the face is towards the camera.
This thins faces and is generally more
attractive.