The 365 Project: Week 31 and 32

Rainbow Cove at the Pictured Rocks Natl Lakeshore in Munising, Mi

This week was all about taking photos of landscapes.  The photo above was featured in Picaboo's blog with the best of the week! I admit, some of these photos weren't actually taken this week, but they lend great examples of the theme along with the ones I did take this week!

Red rock outcrop in Marquette, MI

Slag beach at the mining ghost town in Fayette, MI

It should seem easy enough, but taking a quick shot of some pretty scenery doesn't always lead to a pretty photo.  You'll want to keep an eye on a few key items to get a great shot.  Watch your horizon; nothing ruins a great photo like a slanted horizon.  This can be fixed in post-processing depending on your software but it's so much easier to get it right the first time.  Turn on your camera display's grid lines (usually an option in the menu) to help you line up your shot.  Consult your manual if you don't know how.

Limestone cliff and old pilings at Fayette, MI

A hike in the woods, Hunter Point Park in Copper Harbor, MI

Pick a focal point.  Look for something interesting to focus your camera on.  Use leading lines, a tree, rock outcrop or other interesting feature to draw your viewer's attention and make them feel like they are there with you.  Try capturing a sense of movement if you can: waves on the beach, wind in the trees etc.  You can also create an interesting focal point by using creative angles.  Take a photo looking straight up a cliff face, from a high vantage point, or from the side.  Be creative!

Golden light at sunset on top of Brockway Mtn in Copper Harbor, MI

Trail to the beach in Escanaba, MI

This isn't listed in the Picaboo tutorial but keep in mind your time of day.  Early morning and evening give softer lighting and create a more "dreamy" look.  Bright, direct sunlight gives crisp angles and dramatic shadowing.  The best midday lighting is on a partly cloudy day, when the clouds act as a natural light diffuser.

Drop of dew on water lettuce

For week 32, Picaboo had a tutorial on resizing your photos to look better on Facebook and also had a challenge of showing size in your photos.  My photo above was featured in Picaboo's Blog featuring the best of the week!

We went to Mackinac Island and I loved taking photos of all the horses!

An exotic Red Postman butterfly at Mackinac Island's Butterfly House.

I don't really have a tutorial to go over with you since resizing your photos specifically for Facebook has nothing to do with photography in my opinion.  As for showing size, you really can interpret that however you wish and I know not all my photos this week show it. My favorite way is through macro photography.  I love making tiny details larger than life (such as the tiny drop of dew). If your camera has a macro setting, it will be a flower icon on a button.  If you have a dSLR, you need a macro lens depending on how close you want to get.

Busy bee on a purple cone flower

I needed a lot of patience and good timing for this flitting dragonfly!

You can also show size using dramatic perspective.  Make a tree or other tall object look gigantic by taking a photo close to the trunk and look up or there's your classic "look I'm holding up a mountain" pose that you see in family vacation photos.  Have fun with it!

Another busy bee this time on my sedum flowers

I have no idea what this flower is but it's gorgeous!

A Few New Things

I've been busy creating new designs for summer and I'd like to share them with you!  Today is also the last day of my sale!  Use code SUMMER when checking out at my Etsy shop to get 15% off!

Monarch Scrabble Necklace

I adore butterflies, and honestly I'm surprised I haven't made a butterfly themed scrabble necklace sooner!  The Monarch Scrabble Necklace features a hand painted up close view of the regal butterfly's wing pattern on the back of a vintage genuine scrabble game tile.  It hangs on a little copper plated heart bail on a waxed cotton cord.

Gypsy Feather Necklace

I adore bohemian style jewelry so it's no real surprise that I love to create it as well!  My recently listed Gypsy Feather Necklace is a lovely multi-strand necklace made with a myriad of charms including feathers, sparkling Czech glass, hearts, keys and locks among others.  The two feather charms have a hand applied patina finish for a pretty turquoise pop of color!

Gypsy Feather Earrings

The matching Gypsy Feather Earrings feature the same hand applied patina finish small feathers as the necklace has.  Along with the pretty feather charms, lengths of brass and copper chain dangle behind the charms for a cascading look under the swirly connector.

Gypsy Hoop Earrings

Keeping with the bohemian theme, my Gypsy Hoop Earrings are made from solid hammered copper wire and sparkling Czech glass beads in olive and smokey brown.  Swirly links are attached with wire in the centers for an added delicate touch.

Abstract Hummingbird Necklace

Hummingbirds are one of my favorite garden visitors and I love watching them buzz from bloom to bloom.  I captured their image in my Abstract Hummingbird Necklace made from solid brass wire hanging on a textured brass plated chain.  I carefully designed him to be delicate looking and tiny as well.  From wing to tail, the bird is just under an inch long.

Teal and Tangerine Bar Necklace

I'm loving the look of orange and teal which is very popular lately so I had to make my own design featuring these luscious colors as well!  Bar necklaces are great everyday jewelry and they make up some of my favorite simple pieces in my own jewelry box.  I created this Teal and Tangerine Bar Necklace one with fire-polished Czech glass beads which sparkle in the sunlight!

Chubby Owl Necklace

Lastly, I created this Chubby Owl Necklace with a fun and playful design perfect for summer!  I couldn't wait to get these adorable brass chubby owl charms and he looks so sweet paired with bright blue turquoise magnesite bead and a cherry red Czech glass flower!

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer so far and stay tuned for more designs coming up soon!

The 365 Project: Week 28

Fresh cherry tomatoes and sugar peas from my garden

This week's theme/challenge was about focus.  I love the macro (close up, the little tulip button) setting on my camera so focus is something that is extremely important for me when taking photos.

A little fawn resting in the shade in my backyard

My fluffy Coon, Jasper.  I focused on the light to help darken the image.

Now if you have a fancy dSLR camera, there's lots of different focusing techniques for you to use depending on the circumstances.  I don't have one so I skipped that half of the tutorial.  If you'd like to read it, check out the tutorial on Picaboo.  For the rest of us with point and shoots, focusing is still very important and can be tricky.

Beautiful Red Admiral butterfly on a plant stand on my porch

Freshly watered impatiens

Most cameras focus automatically but you can fake your point and shoot to focus on what you want, not just the center of your screen.  Press your shutter button halfway and you'll probably hear a beep.  Depending on what type of make/model of your camera, a little box should show up on your LCD screen showing you what it's focusing on. You can trick your camera into darkening or brightening your shot.  Want it brighter? Focus on a darker area of your subject and press halfway on your shutter button then move your camera back to your subject.  Want it darker?  Focus on a lighter area of your subject and press halfway.  So long as you're not changing the distance from your subject it should remain a crisp image!

I never knew hens and chicks flowered!  Tiny but gorgeous!

Blueberries ready for picking!  I focused on a darker area to brighten it up.

If you routinely have trouble with unclear images you can try lowering your megapixels (check out your manual on how to do it).  You only need about 5 or 6 megapixels to print a good 4x6 photo.  Sometimes too many megapixels causes noise in the background.  Some brands of point and shoots don't have good sensors for achieving clarity.  I have only owned Canon brand cameras in the more advanced end of the PowerShot series and I personally have never had this issue, but it may be worth a try if you have trouble getting a clear photo!

Take A Tour of My Garden

A pretty Monarch visiting my lilacs, taken on Instagram

As you may already know, I love flowers and naturally I love gardening.  Well, I should say I like the end result of gardening; if I could skip the getting covered in dirt from head to toe while burning my skin to freshly boiled lobster crisp part, that would be dandy!  That being said, I wanted to share with you some pictures I've taken now that the flowers and plants are really taking off!  I excluded photos of my tulips since I'm sure you've seen enough of them in past 365 Project posts!

One of my hens and chicks early in spring

Dragon's Blood Sedum covering up an old ugly stump

Just got my water garden all set up with two goldfish too!

A flower garden staple: petunias!

The pretties in my flower ring minus the lavender, which hasn't bloomed yet.

You cannot beat the smell of lilacs!  I'm glad I invested in re-blooming plants!

A busy visitor

Pink thrift

Getting all artsy, I love the sun flair!  Pink thrift from an ant's perspective

One of my favorite garden flowers: Daisies in all sorts and colors!

Arizona Sun.  This one just opened today

Gerbera Daisy

Classic daisy rescued from my yard

Pretty orange daisy with a wisp of violet

Dianthus is another favorite

Purple dianthus with morning dew

This shot turned out great!  Just watered them

A mix of dainty pink and white dianthus

Now for a few others around the garden!

Blood red snapdragons

I can't remember the name of these but it's a flowering vine

More sun flair!  Impatiens in a hanging basket

Peach impatiens

Purple lupine, these puppies are taking over now!

Soft peach and white geranium

midnight blue torneia, the hummingbirds are crazy for these!

Well I hope you enjoyed a little virtual stroll through my garden!  As summer progresses and new flowers bloom, I'll be posting more pictures!