| | Photography is a hobby of mine that began when I was 15. I didn't have a camera, but I would go to the library and read on photography. I was enthralled by the study of light. Being an artist, it seemed another way to paint a picture, to "draw" beauty, to capture what's in your imagination on a piece of paper, to freeze beautiful moments in time. To create and to design. And I loved it.
I would sit on the library floor flipping through one photography book after another, reading all the little details and studying the pictures.
It wasn't until I was 20 though that I picked up my first "real" camera. I mentioned saving to buy a camera and Robert said there was no need - he had an old Canon camera and lenses and I didn't have a clue 'cause he never, ever took pictures. He pulled it out of storage and I started reading the manuals stuck deep in the old camera bag and then started taking pictures.
It wasn't a very good camera, but it was nicer than anything I'd ever owned or been around and it worked.
My imagination went wild with all that could be done and created. Those good ol' standard cameras. They made you learn how to take pictures and how to use light and your settings. I didn't even know what photoshop was, or for that matter, a digital camera. I was loving what I could capture just by changing settings, chasing light, and watching my little one year old boy play.
I held on to the "old way" of photography for as long as I possibly could. Digital wasn't something I quickly embraced and jumped into. I had my reasons, beyond just that it was expensive and I didn't have the money. It was plain intimidating to me because I didn't even own a computer.
But then I gave in because a big job came my way and it was going to pay for my upgrade to digital - because they wanted digital photography because the pictures were going to be used "online." Wow, I didn't have a clue 'bout things like that. I took the dive with fear and trembling because I knew this would mean photography becoming more than just art to me -it would become techy - and that is something I am not.
It seemed a silly way of photography - it seemed like the study of what photography really was became next to nothing and it all was what you knew about the computer and photoshop, and then onto textures and programs and downloads and on and on. And I didn't have time for all that or the smarts.
I felt rather stuck in progression because I didn't have any desire whatsoever to sit hours at my computer editing pictures or making them look "unreal." But I did want my photos to look better and be the best I could make them - anybody would feel that way about a hobby, an art they pursue.
I didn't have time to learn from classes or the millions of seminars being offered. I didn't have the money that was needed to pursue photography once the digital age took over. It just wasn't going to happen.
Instead of being bummed about that... I decided to figure out what it was I really liked about photography anyway, and how was it for decades there were photographers who did amazing work without the aid of technology - people who had learned what light was and how to use it, people who knew how to get that crisp look without the aid of sharpeners and computer programs. People who knew how to take good pictures right out of their camera instead of taking so-so pictures or even bad ones and making them look good through the computer. I remembered the books I read in highschool in the library. They were before the digital age.
I guess my desire to be authentic in life just didn't jell with the idea of "fixing" real life photos. If something was going to look airbrushed, then it should be in real life right? After all, that's just deceptive. Things should be as they really are. Why take the wrinkles out from under your eyes, if in real life they're there? So yeah, I have had all these thoughts because that's me to think about that kind of stuff.
Well, needless to say, I got over that hang up. I was convinced "editing photographs," this too was "art." The art of computerized perfection - the beauty (?) of "being the best you." (okay, I am still a bit sarcastic about it.) Saying that, I still lean and pursue natural photography. Keeping it simple, keeping it real. Keeping it true.
That's why I have pursued the challenge of learning my camera, my lighting, and my subjects over the challenge of learning Photoshop. - in my pursuit to keep it "real." - or as some might rightfully say: old fashioned.
People ask me all the time about Photoshop. I'm sure it's amazing - it's so amazing, I don't have a clue about it! I downloaded an old version of it on my Mac - one that had been sitting around my my dad's garage for years. I know how to use the things that are obvious and easy, the things that still keep the photo pretty natural, but slightly enhanced.
If you have techy photography questions, I'm the wrong person to ask. I'm just not knowledgeable. There are a ton of people out there who are though and good for them. They have a gifting I do not.
I keep coming back to the idea that I want to be a good photographer not because I know my computer and how to fix my pictures, but because I want to actually know how to take a good picture. I want every shot I take to be good and to speak volumes, not just one good shot every ten shots or so. I don't want to have to take 200 photos to get 20 good shots. I want my 20 shots to all be worth the shots taken.
I download into Aperature on my iMac. Everything goes in - and then I do my process of deletion. I pretty much only keep the photos that are art to me, the ones that "speak." This is not to say I don't have pictures that are documentation of certain activities. For example, pictures of the boys playing basketball in a horribly lit gym, "snap shots" so to speak. I've a file for those kind.
But for the most part, activity or not, documentation of not, I want my photos to be art. That's how I think, that's how I have always seen life.
I do not know how to use Aperature to it's fullest - at all. I use the very basic stuff. Reading the manual for it is on my to do list. Way down the line! I learned what I do use by just playing around. It works for me.
"You must take thousands of photos!" people accuse. (as if that's a sin.) Yes, I use to - when I had two boys - and more time on my hands. That's when I was learning, experimenting, exploring photography before the digital age. I took my camera everywhere and I shot all the time.
Now, I don't do that. I haven't for years. I select times I want my camera with me - when I feel like being artistic, when the creative juices are feeling a need to flow, when the right-brained me just needs some room to roam and just HAS to create.
"She must make her children dress up for photo shoots all the time and pose for pictures constantly!" they accuse. No, I don't. I started taking a shoot with all of them together once a month (missed a few months here and there), starting last year. Once every other month or so I set up a picture where they are all together. I'm so glad I have started doing this - it's been neat to print one from each time from each month and put them in an album. Someday this will be really fun to look at. It is already, seeing how they grow so fast! I wish I'd done this since I started a family. Would be so neat now.
"She must spend so much time taking pictures of her dear children!" they accuse. I don't need to, nor do I more than any other mother, and probably less than most who have photography as a hobby! My children like being in pictures and I don't have to make them do anything. If they don't want to be in a shot, I don't push it. Photography is not my passion. My children are. That is the main reason I even take pictures of them.
"She must spend a lot of time editing..." No, like what I wrote above, editing is not my goal with my photography and it is not what I spend my time doing. I cut all corners elsewhere in my photography to ensure that I do not have to spend hours fixing pictures on the computer.
"What camera? What lenses?" I use Canon - 40D. I have a 50mm lens I use most. I have a 17-85mm. My other lens broke last year. I do everything with those two lenses. I am saving to buy another - possibly! haha. Not my priority. I have a battery pack on the bottom of my camera - this makes it heavy and gives reason to have a very steady hand, but it means recharging batteries whenever I need to and I like that. It's practical. I have two lens filters. The affect can be done on the computer, but I prefer the filters.
"What do you edit with if you do edit?" I have Aperature on my iMac. I download everything into it. The things I like to do - which are all very quick and easy - are to sharpen a bit, sometimes lighten up, bump up the contrast, and sometimes I will change the color hue just a tad to give a more yellow-y undertone. This takes less than 30 seconds.
"What modes do you use on your camera?" Typically the action mode with children. Otherwise, I program my camera on my manual settings in relation to the lighting I am in and what is behind the subject. I will often manually set my focal points as well.
"What about Nikon?" I don't know much. I've never had one, but have used a friends once or twice and didn't like it as well as Canon. That's just opinion.
"What about starting a business?" Go ahead, if you want to join the other millions of mothers who have. Anyone can claim the name "photographer."
Personally, there are very few photographers I think are really good. I do not consider myself one of them. I am extremely critical of my own stuff (I analyze it all to the tiniest detail), and picky enough about others, and then am flat amazed at some other's work - just flat out enthralled!
If you want to join the ranks of mothers who have a home business in photography, good luck! There seems to be enough people wanting it, to make the world go 'round.
Personally, I have found I enjoy photography the most outside a business.
"Her children always look dressed for a photo!" they cry! Course they are. We don't believe in nude childrens' photography. During the years I just had two boys, when I was taking tons of photos and learning, I found that through looking at photos, that so much of childrens' clothing stinks. It really is unattractive and distracting, especially in pictures. I found I really preferred dressing my sons simply and in timeless fashions, or in fashions that were creative.
That's what I always dress them in - I buy or make their clothing to correspond with each other, whether we happen to have a picture taken or not. That's what I have decided I like for my children. They like it to. I like the order of it, it's my personality. I love color, and lack there of. I view clothing from an artist's perspective, so of course my children look dressed for a photo. That's just how I think: what will look the best with what I have. I enjoy fashion as much as I enjoy any other form of art. It's a wonderment for the creative mind.
"Do her children always go around matchy-matchy???" Again, yep, pretty much. If you know us in real life, that's what you'll see. It's crazy looking I guess to some people, but I don't really care. Sorry if some have a problem with that. I find it easy and practical with seven under eleven. Not to mention I just like it. It's not costly, it's even less so.
"Does she set up shoots for her own children?" they accuse. Yep, why not? Anyone with a hobby or interest wants to get better at it if they are really serious about perfecting their art. I don't do it very often, but now and again, I need an outlet for fun - and I find this fun - like I mentioned before, it's like painting a picture, like letting my imagination create, like developing a color scheme and making it come to life. It's also a good way to capture the age and personality of that child, at that moment in their life's history. That's awesome.
"Her children look like they actually like to take pictures!" Yes, most of them do - and the one or two who don't so much, I don't take pictures of as much or pressure them to be like the others. They know it's mom's hobby and they know I am a creator. They appreciate the gift God has given me because their daddy does and because I always make it fun.
They will ask me to take pictures! Funny, so often I do not have my camera and it will be Robert or one of the boys who will say, "Take a picture!" or "Why didn't you bring your camera?"
"Why post pictures of yourself?" Back when the boys were little, I never did - I have lots of pictures of them and of them with their daddy and even of just their daddy. One day it hit me, "I wish I had taken more of me with them, after all I was with them 24/7 and I did so much with them and one day they might actually wonder why I was never in any of their pictures." So in the last few years I've sought to change that.
I've become less self-conscience about it and enjoyed joining in the fun instead of always being behind the camera. I decided to be real - and real life is, that I'm there - I'm doing it too - and I'm living life right along with them, and even by myself at times, just me in a picture. Just because I'm grown up now and not a child or in highschool, doesn't mean I can't enjoy jumping in a picture now and then with the children too, or even all alone. Mother's I challenge you to set that camera on a timer and get in the shots with them because one day they will be glad you did. That's not vain, that's reality. I am who I am, even without my children. My identity is not wrapped up in them. I am still an individual with likes and dislikes, expressions and lack there of. I am not a face behind the camera to them, I am also the face that wanted to be right next to their's in the photo, whether I look good or not.
I just love love looking at the pictures of my mom when she was in her 20's and 30's - ones of just her - and ones of her with my dad. And I know my daughters will feel the same way.
One day they will say, "That's what mom looked like when she was 32 and she was a mom of seven..." "That was mom, when I was born." And "That's dad and mom when they would go on dates together..." and "That's mom and dad when they were 30 and 40... wow, I look younger than she did at that age!" or whatever.
"Did she take lessons???" No, I never have. Ever. None. Maybe one day I hope! In the mean time, I teach myself.
"Please, pointers for beginners!!!" I wish I knew. I would say don't rely on the computer to fix pictures. Learn to take GOOD PICTURES for real. Study light. Study your camera manual, fold down the corners to the pages that are helpful and don't be ashamed to look at it as you shoot. Get a good camera, but don't be fooled! THAT WON'T MAKE YOU A PHOTOGRAPHER! I know folks who have way nicer cams, and honestly, they can't take good pictures.
Develop an eye, if you don't have it naturally. That means you will need to take LOTS AND LOTS of pictures, all the time. Learn from mistakes. Learn from others, look at a lot of photography. Ask questions. Go to all the millions of seminars offered. But then don't get caught up in the fads of photography. I would encourage you to keep it real and keep it simple and less time consuming.
Get involved with a site like "I Heart Faces" where you can be challenged and also view lots of other's work.
OH, but be creative! Don't just do what you see. Think on your own. Branch out past the norm. Think outside the box. Find what works for you. Discover who you are through what enthralls YOU through the lens.
"Location! Where do you find your locations that look like they're in some other-world type setting!" Personally it's all how you view what is around you. God has made it where I am constantly seeing things or viewing my surroundings from a different stand point or angle than most. I see beauty and interest everywhere. Even in some of the ugliest of places, I see something that will really interest me or look beautiful to me. Amazing locations are everywhere and anywhere. It's all in the grid you view life through.
I hope to post some pics this week of an example of that. We were hiking together and the boys were running on ahead - I bent down to tie my shoe and was looking ahead all the while as they ran... and at that level and angle I saw the most amazing thing - the most amazing picture, and lines and movement. I finished tying my shoes and grabbed my camera. The picture looks like, "Where in the world would that be!" It's cool.
"What is a good started camera!" Go with a Canon brand - go with like the xTi or the ones that have come after it in that same series. They're good. I hear the Sony brand has a good one too.
"What lens do you recommend!" Any. Really - seriously, again, a lens won't make you the photographer any more than the camera will - But, I personally like the 50mm because I like the fixed lens.
"Printing? Do you print your own pictures or do you have them sent off?" I have printed my pictures at all sorts of places but right now lean to doing it most at our local Costco because of PRICE and for the price, the best quality I can get for that price. I am a year and half behind in printing out my pics. Someday I might catch up. I do a little at a time, and only print my favorites, leaving the rest on a disc that is titles and filed.
When I print, I either file the pictures under the child's name, or under a category. I do not scrapbook like I did when I had two and three kids. I stopped doing that after #3 boy was born. Since then I have used normal acid free slip cover photo albums. These are excellent for the children to browse through and view without harming. I slowly chip away at working on getting my pics printed and in albums. I have albums with each child's name on them so they can know which is theirs. I do separate albums for special family times and vacations, etc. and title them accordingly. I use attractive black and brown or white albums I can get at Ross or Hobby Lobby for between $4. and $6. dollars.
Any more questions on printing and storing will have to wait for another time.
"How do you get those expressions!" LIVE LIFE RIGHT THERE WITH THEM. At their level. At their speed. At their passion. Let it come from your heart, and you will see their heart too. Enjoy your kids - be a cheerful parent. You will find those expressions come more readily and frequent.
Also, for my kiddos, many of them are just very expressive personalities. They live life outloud with their faces, I often say. Also, because photography isn't just something I decided to pick up one day, but have had an enjoyment for it far before the children came, looking into a camera even while living life isn't something they shy from. They don't see it as "picture taking time" - it's just natural for them. They know I most love seeing them be themselves.
"What about filters on your lens?" check this out {click}: Filters for your lens.
"Books on photography!?!" well, you could click here: {books on photography} and get someone else's opinion on the top 50 books on photography. I'm sure there are some good ones too. But since I didn't have time to read all 50, I recommend starting with something simple like: "Picture Taking for Moms and Dads" by Ron Nichols, Amherst Media. It's a 2001 book, so yes, maybe a little behind the times, but honestly, it's just practical and has some old school formulas and recipes for just taking good photos right out of your camera.
"How can I improve over night? What are some practical steps without taking some class???"
Here's what I would say:
-check your angle of view. make it new.
-consider it playtime, not photo time. get on their level, don't rise above.
-get close. closer, and then back away.
-don't hit bulls eye. and then hit bulls eye. decide what you like best for you.
-slow down, shoot more.
-avoid midday light until you know what you're doing.
-try out overcast days.
-put away your flash for good.
-try out the "golden hours" of the day.
-window light - experiment.
-get the little book I mentioned because it's a short read and it will remind you of the above suggestions.
~
So, though I don't typically direct my posts to readers - (I've somehow never felt a desire to "teach" or direct or lead or preach at anyone through my blog - but rather just write honest, from the heart what God is doing in my own life and the feelings and thoughts about motherhood, and just life in general.) - I thought I'd go ahead and answer a lot of the questions that have been thrown at me in one big post. I hope this has answered them. 
I'll continue to add to this post as I get questions - so don't hesitate to ask or come back for another read as this post grows.
Not my fav shots in the world, but just a little demonstration from a few recent shots:
Straight out of the camera. Manual mode - ISO 400, in ideal indirect natural lighting, focal points set on her face.
Just a few tweaks in Aperature. Lightened, sharpened. Not necessarily better than straight out of the camera - just a different look.
A dull picture, no good lighting. But I liked her expression and the angle...
So, instead of deleting a picture like this I will often take the dull picture add contrast, more yellow, sometimes a slight vignette. This makes it keepable at least and then well - editing is usefull after all :)
Enjoy life. Enjoy what God has created - there is beauty everywhere and in every face. I believe that with my whole heart ~ God has made us all differently. And in those differences there is wonderment and enjoyment. He is the most incredible Artist. I have learned the most from just watching what He has already created. His light. His sunsets. His love through the expressions I see each day. His compassion. He makes the most wonderful pictures ever.
a. ann |
That is a blessing. I am sure the Lord enjoys us and our enjoyment of each other and the world He made. You do have a beautiful family! I love it that you take pictures of one another. We have found we have some of me and the boys and some of Bob and the boys, but very few of us as a couple. We have started to make sure to get those pics too! Thankfully we do have family pictures that Mary took every year. 
