Clickin Moms.......

I've been a member of Clickin Moms for a few years now and have never really got actively involved until recently.  Clickin Moms is a community of artists, hobbyists, and professional photographers.  It includes a blog, forums and Workshops.  There are various different forums including Tutorials & Articles, Photographer's Chit Chat, Photography type, Business Matters, Contests, Challenges & Exercises and CM (Clickin Mums) Workshops.  At the moment I am spending a lot of time on the Forum - Tutorials and Articles, which features 300+ comprehensive how to guides and informational articles.  These posts are organized by subject area such as Shooting, Lighting, Processing, Colour Management and Business.  There is so much valuable information and it is great that some many people willingly give of the expertize.

I've also recently signed up for a breakout session "Finding the Frame" by Allison Zercher of Snippets from Suburbia.  "Finding the Frame" is a 40 page PDF where Allison will show you new ways to photograph your subject.  You'll learn to use what is around you, indoors and outside, to help frame photos, add interest to your composition and draw the eye right to the subject of your photograph  You also receive a recording of Allison's answers to questions from the breakout session.  Allison goes through ways of framing your subject with loads of ideas and examples.  All I need to do now is get out there and put what I am learning into practice!!

People Pictures........

In this book, photographer Chris Orwig offers 30 photographic exercises to renew your passion for capturing the people in your world. This is not a traditional portrait photography book. The goal isn’t flattery, but connection and depth. Whether you are a student, busy parent, or seasoned pro photographer, these exercises provide an accessible framework for exploration and growth.


With titles like: Be Quiet, Turn the Camera Around, and the Fabric of Family, each of the 30 exercises encourages you to have fun and experiment at your own pace. With step-by-step instructions and using natural light, you will explore everything from street, lifestyle, candid, and environmental shots. The projects are small artistic endeavors meant to change how you see and the pictures that you make. All that’s required is a camera, an intrepid attitude, curiosity, and some imagination.

Two members of Clickin Moms, Dawn and Christy have now set up a private Facebook Page for members of Clickin Moms who are interested in working through these 30 photographic exercises.  We will be able to submit and share our assisgnments.  So I'm hoping that this will motivate me to get out there and try and take more pictures.

The first assisgnment - Pictures in 10 minutes.

You have to select a subject who is an acquaintance, family member, or a friend.  I decided to select my darling hubby - who loves having his photo taken!!!!  I feel that was a challenge in itself.  The idea of this assisgnment is going back to basics - using manual focus, choose an f-stop with a shallow depth of field and keep it simple.

So here's a few of my attempts:

A Freshly caught Fairy ...... playing chess!

Being really nice to my little Fairy these days, so we decided to have a game of chess.  Unfortunately I haven't a clue in how to play chess so they game didn't go that well!

F16  1/30sec  ISO1000

A Freshly caught Fairy ...... with a cup of tea!

We Irish love our tea.  So there's nothing like a nice cup of tea after long hard day!!!!

F2  1/400 Sec  ISO 640

A Freshly caught Fairy ..... with a doily!

I remember years ago in my Granny's house how she would have a jug of milk on the dinning room table and have one of these doily's over it.  So when I saw these doily's in Avoca it brought back so many lovely memories.

A Freshly caught Fairy ...... in a tree house!

Here's my little Fairy beside the kid's old tree house.  I'm afraid this tree house is now redundant as my kids are teenagers now and are beyond playing in it.  Sometimes my younger nieces and nephews come over and play in it. 

A Freshly caught Fairy......lying amongst the daisies

Still doing my 30 day Challenge with Cheryl at Feelgood Photos.  I am getting quite attached to my little Fairy at this stage.

A Freshly caught Fairy......in a bird house

Today's photo is off my little Fairy in a bird house.  Still working on focusing.  Trying to keep up with Cheryl's 30 Day Photo Challenge over at Feelgood Photos.

A Freshly caught Fairy.......on the beach!

Yes, you heard on the beach!!!!  On Sunday we went to Galway and the sun was shinning - I am still in a state of shock.  Anyway it has been raining since.  When will it ever stop!!!!!

A Freshly caught Fairy.....on a bike.

Here's my Day 2 picture my little fairy on a Vintage bike.  Love these bikes - they seem to be popping up everywhere.  I was passing our local church the other day when I noticed that they were setting up for a wedding and outside the church door was a fabulous vintage bike with a huge basket of flowers.  Anyway I'm afraid my poor little fairy is out of focus.  I was so anxious to get a photo of her on the bike that I hadn't focused right - maybe next time.

A Scrapbook Challenge

Over at Shimelle's Blog there are 3 days of scrapbooking challenges, giveaways, mini-lessons, special guests and free downloads on 12th, 13th and 14th August.

This is a layout I based on a sketch from Shimelle's Blog - one of the first challenges.

Instead of one 6 x 4 photo, I used two 6 x 4 photos and I eliminated the photo strip at the top of the page and added the title there instead.  Also as part of the Explore class I was more aware of matching the colours of the papers to the photos.  When I picked out the photos first, the colours that sprang to mind were greens, blues, teals and red.  When I looked through my stash I found this kit I had never used - I must have had it for a least 2 or 3 years!  The papers are Chatterbox Inc. - Together which I found were ideal for this layout.

Crazy Days of Summer

Light

The theme over at Project Alicia this week is Light.  I took this picture a few weeks ago and I loved the light, does it fall into the category of Backlight and/or Sunflare?  Anyway I also used this for another challenge, so I'm getting a bit lazy.  Anyway have a look at everybody else's pictures, some of them are stunning.



30 Day Photography Challenge ......Day 30

Self Portrait

Ok this in the final prompt of the 30 Day Photography Challenge over at White Peach Photography and of course I am late with it.  Oh how I hate self portraits but it is one good way of learning.  I took it holding an old film Canon camera belonged to my Uncle who has passed away and a laminated copy of the 30 Day Challange.  Can't believe I have actually taken part in a photography challenge and went on to complete it.  O.k. I ran out of steam near the end of it but better late than never.  When starting out I felt well I'll give it a go - I'm great for starting things but when it comes to completing them, now that's a different story.  Anyway thoroughly enjoyed this challenge run by Mary over at White Peach Photography.  Why don't you have a look at everybody else's Self Portraits.

30 Day Photography Challenge.....Day 29

Black and White!



Today's challenge over at White Peach Photography is for a black and white photo.  This is a very rare photograph I am able to capture of my son - he hates, hates having his picture taken.  I also had to include this one of my daughter as I liked it too.  Is it the mother in me can't leave one out - have to have a picture of both my kids.  Anyway have a look at everybody else's 'black and white' over at White Peach Photography .

Black and White

Crazy Days of Summer .....Yellow



Yellow!

The theme over at Project Alicia's Crazy Days of Summer for this week is Yellow.  I had taken a few yellow themed photos but when I saw this bunch of yellow roses in Tescos, I had to get them.







30 Day Photography Challenge.....Day 28

Flowers!

Today's challenge over on White Peach Photography is a photograph of 'flowers'.  Love these flowers and would love to have them in the garden but I don't know what they are called.  I find that I am taking more photos of flowers that I would like in the garden as I am the world's worst for remembering names of flowers and plants.  So next time I'm at a garden centre I will have an idea as to what I am looking for.  Anyway why don't you have look at everybody's 'flowers' over at White Peach Photography.



30 Day Photography Challenge.....Day 27

From a distance!



Ooops I am falling behind on the 30 Day Photography Challenge over on White Peach Photography.  Anyway today's challenge is a photograph 'from a distance'.  I captured this photo on the way home from my son's football match (they won!!!).  Why don't you head on over to White Peach Photography to have a look at everybody else's 'from a distance'.

30 day Photography Challenge.....Day 26

Close Up



Over on White Peach Photography the challenge today is 'Close Up'.  Today's photo is a close up of darling Hubby, who is a very accommodating model!!!  I think I caught him off guard.  Have a look at everybody else's 'Close Up' on White Peach Photography.

30 Day Photography Challenge Day.....25

Pink Tutu!



Over on White Peach Photography the challenge today is for something 'pink'.  My photo today is of Chloe's Tutu when she was small and I had to include this second one as it is one of her favourite 'Chloe' bags.  One day it is tutu's and the next it is bags!  Where has my little girl gone?  Why don't you pop on over to White Peach Photography to have a look at everybody else's 'pinks'.

A Chloe Bag!



30 Day Photography Challenge.....Day 24

Too Cute!

Today's challenge over on White Peach Photography is a photograph of an 'animal'.  I don't know if Swans fall into this category but I just had to include these pictures.  I was out on the River Shannon with my hubby, he was fishing while I was just chillin when I saw this nest with a Swan and her goslings.  But when we got closer I noticed that one of the little goslings was on her mother's back - Mother Nature at it's best.  How cute is that!  Head on over to see everybody else's 'animals'.