Different Points of View

Hey all!


It's Monday again. I didn't get round to posting at the end of last week, sorry. The weeks fly by, sometimes I find it hard just to take breath. I suppose it's better to be busy!


The weekend was mixed - Saturday was a day of mistakes and failings but Sunday turned out much better and I learnt alot. 


I have a photographer friend (he's retired now) who was a wedding photographer, only using film, eek, and I begged him to help me out with my film photography. So Sunday afternoon was spent indulging my new found love of film. He taught me some tricks and gave me guidelines - trust me if you have never used film - it's MUCH harder than digital. I never realised how spoilt we are with DSLR, they basically do so much for you that we don't even know about. 


I have about 4 more shots left on my reel and I am beyond excited to see how they turn out. The most difficult part is to get the shot in focus (no auto focus here). As you can probably tell from most of my photographs I am a BIG fan of shallow depth of field (really small aperatures) but with shallow depths of field comes lots of out of focus area and when you are manually focusing its really hard to tell if you have any parts in focus or not. Phew! Anyway all my shots will probably come out blurred but its all a great learning curve for me. As soon as I have my photographs developed I will share with you all, even the blurred ones! 


So moving on .... I have some photographs to share with you from my Canon 10d. My older boys have decided it is soooo boring to sit and have their photo taken, they made it VERY difficult to take any shots at all. But it made for some interesting angles. 
My youngest is the biggest poser EVER...although he wanted to lie on the floor mostly. 


Here's what I shot:

Thanks for popping bye. Don't forget to leave a comment I love hearing from readers.


X Vanessa X

Old but Still Worthy

So this is the very first image from my 'old but still worthy' camera. 

I haven't taken any of my youngest (2 years) for quite a while and this is a typical position for him. He is at that age where clinging on to my legs whilst I do ANYTHING is just really great. So I walk round the house, trying my hardest to get things done, with a little leech clinging on for dear life.

I have 3 children and I admit that probably my youngest gets the least attention in the day. My older two are taught from home and while Reuben joins in, he is usually left to his own devices. This is a constant struggle for me and feelings of guilt flood my mind. Does anyone else wish they could split themselves in two?

Anyway enough moaning for the day. I really hope to get more photographs on here. We are in the process of changing over our computer and so I am forced to use a netbook, which is horrendous!!!

I am going to try and blog more, more for me than anyone else. It is definitely an outlet for me to be creative and showcase any photographs I have taken...its also so theraputic because I can have a whinge and a moan.

Keep checking back for more shots soon.

x Vanessa x

Blog Lust and New Toys

Hello!


I don't have any photographs to share with you today. I hope to sort that out before the end of the week! 


I have new cameras whizzing their little botties my way and I am very excited. 
Iv'e decided to reach out into the field of film photography. It is something I have wanted to do for a long time, but I have been too scared, thinking it will be far too difficult/my pictures will turn out all wrong/I don't have the comfort of my DSLR. 
But I read this article ... www.istillshootfilm.org/beginners-guide-to-film-photography ... and with the help of a gift from a friend (Canon AT1 with 50mm 1.4 lens) I decided to take the plunge into the unknown. 


So film was ordered, Kodak BW400, loaded up and away I went .... until I pressed my shutter... it pushed down but there was no beautiful clicky sound. I had a play around with the camera trying to fix it, but still nothing. Since I made the decision that I liked the Canon AT1 I thought that I should just buy another body. I did last week and it's on its way!!! 


Next on my list was a new digital camera. Sadly due to financial difficulties I sold my Canon 450d. I wasn't making money from it and we needed the money for other things. So I decided to sell it and buy an older model. I have gone for a Canon 10d...now it maybe old (2003) but it is immaculate, barely been used....and I kind of agree with this article ... http://shutterskills.com/how-important-are-megapixels-in-your-digital-camera.html

Why are we tricked into buying the latest models? Why do we think that we can only produce quality photographs with the best money can buy? If we only need 4 megapixels and the colour and tone of an image is more technically important, why do we strive for the latest fancy camera? I spoke to a retired wedding photographer and he has a book with the greatest shots ever taken and, you know, they were taken using the old SLRs.

So! My mission... prove that I don't need amazing, state of the art equipment to produce beautiful pieces of art and that its not about the equipment, its about the photographers abilities. 


So follow me on my new journey, but in the mean time I wanted to share with you some blogs I follow. These blogs are not all about photography, but they inspire me everyday. I spend 10 - 20 minutes each morning reading about these peoples lives and it gives me the kick up the booty to try harder in every aspect of my own life.


http://freespiritedmama.blogspot.com - bohemian life with a family of 4.
http://dee-construction.blogspot.com - sewing, homeschooling and stunning New Zealand
http://wethreepilgrims.blogspot.com - family life and she is a great photographer
http://violetbellasworld.blogspot.com - bohemian fashion/lifestyle & she makes jewelry!
weliveyoung.blogspot.com - excellent photographer! she has a beautiful outlook on life
taza-and-husband.blogspot.com - ever so stylish in practically every way!


Lastly you MUST check out this photograper, she took some photographs of Naomi and her daughter from taza and husband's blog. They are in a word, breathtaking. 
I am so going to draw inspiration from her. www.carissagallo.com


Don't be a stranger.


xVanessax

Macro Winter

Hey everyone!

Brrrrr it's cold outside! But we have some beautiful icicles, here are just a couple of shots I took today :)

I am so ecstatically happy because I have found someone who has replicated the Instagram actions for Photoshop - My favourite is Earlybird, with a waffle frame I get a cool retro look.


I hope over the next week or two to get some decent shots to share with you. It will be school holidays so I will have more time.

Have a great weekend peeps.


x Vanessa x

I couldn't be without my iPhone

Hey

I don't know when I will get round to posting some photographs on here, I don't seem to have a had the motivation to get my camera out lately. But I wouldn't be without my iPhone and Instagram. It's so easy. So these are what I share with you today :)


Our visit to Jodrell Bank. Who knew Science could be pretty? 

The big telescope.....

Bailey and Jude ....

More telescope images ....
 

It was such a beautiful sunny, winter day. Lovely low sun for striking shadows ....
 

 

Infra-red camera :) ...

 

I am not a massive science fan, but it was an amazing day and the boys had a fantastic time. 
If you live in the UK, definitely visit Jodrell Bank.

Having my iPhone on the day enabled me to have my hands free to help the boys with their project and I still got some great photos 

Have a good week guys.

x Vanessa x

Hello!!!

I am back online (properly), my Imac has been fixed (finally), by my super-duper dad..... it's quite late here and I am soooo tired, but here is what I have been upto of late via the wonderful Instagram app :)

1. Receiving wonderful gifts .... 

2. Making Cath Kidston quilts ....
 

  
3. Producing wall art thrify-i-ly (is that a word????)
 

4. Making Amy Butler owls ....

5. Making dollies (her head looks a little weird because it isn't fully sewn at the top)
 

6. Making dollies for friends ....
 

7. Having tea parties ....
 

I love, love, love my computer.... but you know, I have spent more time producing things than looking at what other people have produced.... the lesson? 

SPEND LESS TIME ON THE INTERNET!!! 

Will I listen to my own advice? mmmmmm................

x Vanessa x

New Fine Art

Hey everyone!

I have been out today photographing new things. First time in quite a while. 
I had felt a little lost and I had a creative block. I was finding it very difficult to produce something worthwhile. But today I decided to stop stressing about expectations and just enjoy taking photographs again. Pressure off and I actually feel happy about these photographs.


What do you think?

 How cute is the squirrel? They are so tame where we live, I felt guilty that I didn't have any nuts for him. 

I am hoping to put together some still life photographs tomorrow. So hopefully all goes well!

ttfn

x Vanessa x

ps. All my images are in my Etsy shop .... www.etsy.com/shop/blissfullights