this and that…on photography

Oh my…I’m thinking my head will explode at any moment now…between my new iphone, my still life photography on-line course, my photo editing software class…well, let’s just say my brain is on overload!

But…I must tell you because this is what I’ve been doing lately!

my new iPhone:

After playing around for a few days, one thing I know.  This will only supplement my photography.  There are no plans to give up my Nikon.  What I’m finding so far is how wonderful it is to have an iphone for scouting.  Yep, scouting.  A term used for finding awesome photo spots, taking a quick photo and then returning later when the lighting is better.  But, no doubt there is merit in the camera of this little jewel.  Such as this photo of the bridge as you walk into the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir in Central Park.  Hopefully one day someone will paint this bridge and I can show you a before and after. <smile>

 

However, I haven’t yet mastered the ease of holding the iphone for photo taking…so for now it’s difficult being spontaneous and quick…unlike my Nikon – especially for street photography.  For those of you that shoot both, did you find it to be harder at the beginning?  Does it get easier?

Here’s another…pretty good for bridge detail…also in Central Park.

While we’re on the subject of Central Park…did you know there’s a really cool app – Central Park NYC Lite for ipod/iphone?  With over 778 acres (340 hectares) of park…sometimes this is really handy.

Besides scouting and just being spontaneous, it’ll help me with a collection that I’m working on…Curb Your Dog.  I usually don’t carry my Nikon during the middle of the day when the lighting is so bright.  So this will really help with this collection.  What I’ve found since living in my city is that no one understands what Curb Your Dog really means, so I’ve been compiling photos of these signs now for the past several years.  Have no clue what I’ll do with them, but they’ve been fun to collect not only here in NYC, but in other countries as well.  I now have over a hundred images…a couple more from my iphone…

Because my head is deep into other classes, I haven’t found the time yet to dig into iphone photography apps or Instagram.  Soon…<sigh>

Still Life Photography course:

I’ve been wanting to take Kim’s class (Start to Finish) for a long time now.  I have tons of treasures from my travels, as well as items handed down in my family that I’ve wanted to photograph for a long time.  The key?  Using only natural light.  I don’t have any desire to do studio lighting.  So for now while I’m in New York, I have this really crazy set up on top of my bed that gives me some pretty decent light but only in the morning hours.  Here’s my first attempt at photographing my Moroccan teapot along with the Moroccan wedding blanket that I purchased on my last trip.  Again, my first attempt and so much to learn about lighting, designing and using props etc.  But such a wonderful fun class and I’m learning so much!  Thank you Kim!  My final desire is to make a book of all my treasures…the story behind them all…but that’s way in the future.  Geez..I gotta learn all this stuff first.

Photo Editing Software:

Since this is software that Kim uses in her course (and I’ve wanted to learn Photoshop Elements for soooo long)…well…yep…started a class on this software too.  But a great excuse to have a purpose every Monday afternoon to walk across Central Park and go to where the one percent live – The Upper East Side.  They don’t have Curb Your Dog signs.  I guess all the doormen know better.

Anyway, it’s busy here…which gave me the idea of posting just photos for the next few weeks until I get over this big hurdle.  Thinking I’d share just some shots throughout the day as I’m out and about with no rhyme or reason.  However, having just said that…there will be a posting coming up next on my amazing visit to Ellis Island to participate in a unique tour of the hospital complex. This is the first time in 60 years since it’s been available to the public.  Only 10 people on a tour…and it’s already booked until December.   So stay tuned!

Thanks always for following along on my journey! xo