Just another edit
10.06.10 / Edits, photography / Author: magdalena / Comments: (0)
Here is another edit. The original -eehhh, just what ever. The edited melts my heart. It’s my husband and my son.
Edits
10.06.10 / Edits, photography / Author: magdalena / Comments: (0)
Seems like all of my photos get edited these days. What do people do without photoshop?
The photo on the left is SOOC (Straight out of camera). It’s dark. it has a limb chop. it’s just not pretty, at all. The one on the right was cropped, lightened, sharpened, color pop and some other fun PS actions.
Look at the difference! really amazing. I heart photoshop!
Camera bags specifically for women!
18.03.10 / photography / Author: magdalena / Comments: (0)
Camera bags for women? pinch me, I’m dreaming!!!!! And they are actually stylish! Seriously, what’s next? I am totally in love with these new Epiphanie bags by Maile Wilson. Right now there are three different types of bags: Ginger, Belle, and Lola.
Ginger is brown (or black- can’t tell on their site), perfect for the simple kinda gal who likes to keep it low. Belle is more fun. A bit spicier with its Aqua color. It is boxy. It is fun. It is perfect for, ummm, me! Now there is also Lola. You have to be special to have Lola. Not just any female photographer can wear her the right way. You have to have that special spunk. There must be lipstick inside Lola. Perhaps even a hairbrush. Definitely a blackberry! No matter what epiphanie bag fits your style -wear her proudly.
without further ado… introducing Ginger, Belle, and Lola! ::The crowd goes wild::
Each bag is $164.99. They are synthetic leather. Lots of padding for equipment protection. Removable cross-body strap. Vibrant interior colors (so it’s easy to find your memory cards and batteries). A cute little camera signature tag. Oh I must have one!!!!
National Geographic Workshop
07.05.09 / photography / Author: magdalena / Comments: (0)
Image has nothing to do with the post -I just think posts with a photo are so much cooler
Last weekend I attended a National Geographic Workshop/Seminar. Bob Krist and Lee Hopkins were suppose to be the speakers but they were no where to be found, Eddie Soloway and Michael Melford were the two speakers instead. I was very disappointed at first and actually pretty angry but thankfully Eddie and Michael did a great job and the seminar was a hit. But I’m still wondering what happened, did I read the names wrong? did I register for the wrong one? hmmmm…
The seminar was titled “Putting the WOW in your nature and outdoor photography” and I was expecting the seminar to be about travel photography. I’ve never really been into nature photography but I was able to walk away with a lot of great insight and new visions. I really do believe that inspiration should come from every angle but I’ve never even though about nature photography. At the end I’m glad I was a part of this seminar and have a new interest in nature photography now.
After the seminar I decided to set up my own projects, this way it will get me to take photos and have something to look forward to. I will set up monthly topics and try to get 20 to 25 photos from each topic per month. Since May has just began, May will be about ::patterns::
Lets get to work!
Tots to Teens Seminar
23.04.09 / photography / Author: magdalena / Comments: (0)
Sandy Puc is a family photographer. From February till May she and her crew drive from Colorado all around America visiting many different states and doing seminars. I stumbled upon her website sometime last year and purchased her book which was fantastic and I was hooked. Since college I wanted to be a child photographer and her book really gives a lot of information on starting a studio and dealing with children.
I was so excited to find out she was touring and to my surprised she does it every single year! Last year was about babies, this year is about Teens and Tots, next year will be about family portraits. The seminar was amazing and I was so excited to attend it. I had to leave a little earlier so I missed a good portion of the actual photoshoot but I plan on purchasing some of her DVD’s to pick her brain a bit more.
Sandy is also a co-founder of Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep, a non profit organization. Her amazing personality and good heart beams through as soon as she steps on stage. The organization provides portraiture services to families whose babies will never leave the hospital.
I was extremely thrilled to meet her and be apart of seminar! can’t wait till next year.
Canon 5D Mark II
10.03.09 / photography / Author: magdalena / Comments: (0)
I am drooling over the new Canon 5D Mark II camera!
I came across this video clip (here) which explains the major features and technologies with this 21.1 megapixel full frame SLR camera.
In the Video:
01 CMOS Sensor
02 DIGIC processing
03 Shooting Speed
04 HD Movies
05 ISO Range
06 3.0” Screen
07 Integrated cleaning system
08 Durability
I am absolutely ready for an upgrade from my 30D (which I love, but it has taken some amateur abuse in the past three years).
Shoot with your heart as well as your camera
Name Your Dream Assignment
27.01.09 / photography / Author: magdalena / Comments: (0)
If you have an out-of-this-world fantastic idea for a photo assignment you can win $50,000 to bring that dream assignment to life. And you also win a ThinkPad laptop.
The competition begins March 3rd and I’m going to start thinking of a never-done-before photo shoot, hey you never know! I’ve got quite the imagination *smile*
Workshop with Rick Sammon
12.01.09 / Inspiration, photography / Author: magdalena / Comments: (0)
Yesterday I attended a Photography workshop with Rick Sammon at B&H and I’m blown away with all the great stuff he spoke about. In my last blog I wrote about making pictures, not just taking them, and I was pretty sure I heard that somewhere before, well, it was from one of Rick Sammon’s books since he spoke about this quite a bit in the workshop. I have several of his books and I was shocked to hear that he has written over 30 books already! Amazing! He even has a collection of children’s books, which is my dream to one day publish a book for children (I already have a pretty good idea what this book is about).
I have been in search of new ways to see the light while taking pictures and Rick Sammon’s workshop was exactly what I needed. Most of the things that was mentioned, some of us already know, but we don’t execute. He said, “Always look up, down, back when taking a picture” of course I know that, but I never really do that when my eye is looking through the viewfinder. Another thing I need to keep in mind is to always expose for the highlights. When he said this, I automatically though, of course! I knew that! But I really didn’t. It’s so important to attend these workshops because photographers, like Rick Sammon, provide inspiration and reminders to look up, down and back every time you are out shooting.
Another very important thing I walked away with was “Think about the end result.” When I photograph I put myself in the moment and forget about everything else, including the end results. I need to focus more about why am I even taking this photo right now and what is my plan with it.
I am looking forward to my next workshop with Jay Maisel!
Here is a link to two places you can find Photography workshops:
Back to Film
05.01.09 / photography / Author: magdalena / Comments: (0)
We are extremely spoiled with digital photography. Taking lots of photos has never been so easy. When I take photos and feel the pressure of time, I shoot, I mean I really shoot! My finger never leaves the shutter button. I can take about 50 or more photos in about a minute but only one or two of those images are somewhat good, but Somewhat Good, is not good enough. During film photography I would take about five photos in that same time frame because I didn’t have the option to just shoot non-stop. I think digital shooting created a lot of meaningless images.
With film photography I spend couple of hours shooting with one or two rolls of film. Now I go on a photo rampage with my digital camera. I really need to slow down and start making photos, not just taking them.
A good example is the image above. I asked this girl, who obviously is full of personality, if I could photograph her, she said yes but seemed in a hurry so I quickly put her against the wall and told her to have fun (well, she didn’t need direction on how to pose) but knowing I had limited time I rushed. I shot close to 40 images in about a minute and was very disappointed with the results. I know if I took that minute and created four or five images in that same time frame I would have been a lot happier with the results. Most of the images were not in focus or not exposed properly, this could have been prevented if I wasn’t in the digital mind set.
This is a reminder to myself to stop taking pictures, start making pictures. Shoot from the heart and have original thoughts.
Happy Holidays
19.12.08 / general, photography / Author: magdalena / Comments: (0)
New snow is a good sign that the holidays are just around the corner. A lot of my fellow bloggers create a holiday gift list and post them on their blogs, so here is my own version which I think is pretty cool 
My top 15 Chrismukkah gifts for a photo guru
1. Books ($)
Henri Cartier-Bresson: Scrapbook $50
The Moment It Clicks by Joe McNally $35
The Digital Photography by Scott Kelby $15
South Southeast by Steve McCurry $40
2. Subscription ($)
National Geographic
Outdoor photographers
Popular photography
3. Digital Survival Kit ($) <<Link>> ($17)
4. Blackrapid Camera Strap ($) <<Link>> $45
5. Make it personal with ofoto ($) <<Link>>
Puzzles & a deck of cards $20 – $25
Mouse pads & Keepsake boxes & ornaments $10 – $30
Keepsake box 30
Pen/pencil holder $30
Mouse pad $10
Coasters $20
Blanket $40
Deck of cards $20
Puzzle $25
6. Membership ($$)
NAPP (National Association of Photoshop Professionals) $100 per year
Kelby Training $100 per year
7. Hoodman Screen Loop ($$)
8. Flash Ring ($$$)
Ray Flash $300
Orbis $170
9. Silver Eex Pro ($$$) <<Link>> $200
10. Kubota image tools (for Photoshop users) <<Link>>