Both of my plants are doing well so far.
Plant #1 still has 10 leaves and is trying to open one more. probably tomorrow it will partially open. Its largest leaf is 9 inches! ill have to check my previous picture but i think the leaves have grown a little.
Plant #2 has grown out its seventh leaf and it looks very healthy. Its largest leaf is about 8.6 inches long.
Both plants are still about 10inches tall even though the pseudo stem is taller when its growing a leaf.
But im happy to say that they are both health
y.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Sunday, August 7, 2011
My introduction to wedding photography.
To all of you who are new to my blog my name is Tomas.
About two years ago I really go into photography. I started with the Sony H20. I noticed that cameras had changed a lot since my previous camera bought in the early 2000s. This camera could do macros, could zoom very well and took very clear pictures. I then started taking pictures of everything I could find and even found some good locations near me as well.
I then found myself looking online at other cameras and even at DSLRs. I had always thought they were so expensive and too bulky for my taste, but doing research never hurt anyone.
I then stumbled across different models sold at Best Buy and to my surprise they were having a sale.
About 5 months later I found myself owning and selling the Nikon D3000, D5000 and getting ready to buy a D90.
In that time frame I had poured over books, magazines and websites where I found out more about different lenses, camera specs, uses of each and how to best apply them. I had also learned about shooting in different modes and how to compensate for bad lighting.
I continued to learn as much as I could and felt very happy owning the D90 and a couple lenses. I had already upgraded from my two kit lenses and at this point was just trying to get comfortable with the camera and all the new settings.
I found that my interests were leading me towards flowers and nature. So I would go out weekly to different locations and spend hours taking a variety of pictures.
I then bought a flash and yet another lens. But, the more you learn the more you want. I did sell a couple lenses to get a different "better" lens or so I thought.
Lucky for me I had some little cousins to shoot. I found myself taking pictures at family gatherings and other visits. Although taking pictures of people was not my strength I slowly started to enjoy it. I also felt it to be more of a challenge and capturing a moment or an expression was a lot more rewarding.
I then found any opportunity to shoot family, friends and others. I found a local meetup group on meetup.com and started going to their model shoots. This opened up my eyes even more. I learned to use off camera flashes better, strobes, and backdrops. I also started to learn the importance of posing properly. This part was tough as some models like to pose their own way and others had no idea.
By going to these model shoots I was able to network, find models to work with and even learn from more experienced photographers.
In the meantime I removed my website of all nature photography and started working on a portrait website. I started to speak with other photographers about helping out at their weddings and looked on craigslist as well.
After some time I found a couple photographers who could use my help and like my attention to little details.
I did one wedding with a fellow photographer and then landed a four wedding gig with a local photographer I had never met.
I found out first hand that weddings are stressful and that you really have to know your camera inside and out. Also, that you had to have great confidence in your abilities and and in yourself. I feel that I learned more in the first couple weddings I shot than in over 7 months of shooting and learning.
Shooting a wedding takes all your skills. You need to combine, macros (rings, bouquet, flower arrangements, table peices), portraits (first kiss, parents and family reactions), candids (children and guests enjoying their time at the reception), and mastering indoor and outdoor lighting. There are so many factors and none are exactly the same at each wedding or even throughout one wedding.
But, it is in this stress, in the sentiment of the day, the smiles of the bride and groom, the glow on the parent's faces and trying to capture all of this that I feel inspired.
To be a wedding photographer and to do well it is more than set up shots, and shooting at all angles. You have to love what you're doing and be ready for anything. Being able to anticipate an embrace or a laugh is worth so much more than just pointing and shooting.
The hardest part for sure has to be adapting to the light in every shot. Sometimes you are inside a church which is often not well lit, or a reception hall with high ceilings or you're outside in broad day light.
But to me this challenge is what I look forward to and know that every wedding will present itself different challenges and opportunities.
So now I have 3 weddings under my belt. I have one this weekend and two more soon after.
I hope to share these pictures with you here, but in any case they will be posted on my site.
www.tomasharanphotography.com
Thanks,
Tomas
About two years ago I really go into photography. I started with the Sony H20. I noticed that cameras had changed a lot since my previous camera bought in the early 2000s. This camera could do macros, could zoom very well and took very clear pictures. I then started taking pictures of everything I could find and even found some good locations near me as well.
I then found myself looking online at other cameras and even at DSLRs. I had always thought they were so expensive and too bulky for my taste, but doing research never hurt anyone.
I then stumbled across different models sold at Best Buy and to my surprise they were having a sale.
About 5 months later I found myself owning and selling the Nikon D3000, D5000 and getting ready to buy a D90.
In that time frame I had poured over books, magazines and websites where I found out more about different lenses, camera specs, uses of each and how to best apply them. I had also learned about shooting in different modes and how to compensate for bad lighting.
I continued to learn as much as I could and felt very happy owning the D90 and a couple lenses. I had already upgraded from my two kit lenses and at this point was just trying to get comfortable with the camera and all the new settings.
I found that my interests were leading me towards flowers and nature. So I would go out weekly to different locations and spend hours taking a variety of pictures.
I then bought a flash and yet another lens. But, the more you learn the more you want. I did sell a couple lenses to get a different "better" lens or so I thought.
Lucky for me I had some little cousins to shoot. I found myself taking pictures at family gatherings and other visits. Although taking pictures of people was not my strength I slowly started to enjoy it. I also felt it to be more of a challenge and capturing a moment or an expression was a lot more rewarding.
I then found any opportunity to shoot family, friends and others. I found a local meetup group on meetup.com and started going to their model shoots. This opened up my eyes even more. I learned to use off camera flashes better, strobes, and backdrops. I also started to learn the importance of posing properly. This part was tough as some models like to pose their own way and others had no idea.
By going to these model shoots I was able to network, find models to work with and even learn from more experienced photographers.
In the meantime I removed my website of all nature photography and started working on a portrait website. I started to speak with other photographers about helping out at their weddings and looked on craigslist as well.
After some time I found a couple photographers who could use my help and like my attention to little details.
I did one wedding with a fellow photographer and then landed a four wedding gig with a local photographer I had never met.
I found out first hand that weddings are stressful and that you really have to know your camera inside and out. Also, that you had to have great confidence in your abilities and and in yourself. I feel that I learned more in the first couple weddings I shot than in over 7 months of shooting and learning.
Shooting a wedding takes all your skills. You need to combine, macros (rings, bouquet, flower arrangements, table peices), portraits (first kiss, parents and family reactions), candids (children and guests enjoying their time at the reception), and mastering indoor and outdoor lighting. There are so many factors and none are exactly the same at each wedding or even throughout one wedding.
But, it is in this stress, in the sentiment of the day, the smiles of the bride and groom, the glow on the parent's faces and trying to capture all of this that I feel inspired.
To be a wedding photographer and to do well it is more than set up shots, and shooting at all angles. You have to love what you're doing and be ready for anything. Being able to anticipate an embrace or a laugh is worth so much more than just pointing and shooting.
The hardest part for sure has to be adapting to the light in every shot. Sometimes you are inside a church which is often not well lit, or a reception hall with high ceilings or you're outside in broad day light.
But to me this challenge is what I look forward to and know that every wedding will present itself different challenges and opportunities.
So now I have 3 weddings under my belt. I have one this weekend and two more soon after.
I hope to share these pictures with you here, but in any case they will be posted on my site.
www.tomasharanphotography.com
Thanks,
Tomas
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)