{seven}52

This week...

2010-05-15T21:54:00.006-05:00

I'm behind. As usual. But it's okay, I can count the regular visitors on one hand, and I'm sure they don't mind. I'm going to have to find a way to combine this with my other blog, which doesn't get updated enough either.

Here's some pictures I took while at the zoo on a field trip last week. I'm on full manual now! I haven't used auto in....about a month!!! I'm happy about that.

Week 11- Shutter Speed~ Fast

2010-04-03T14:42:00.004-05:00

22mm 1/10 1/60s ISO 200

55mm f/5.6 1/400 ISO 200
55mm f/11 1/160s ISO 200

48mm f/13 1/250s ISO 400

50mm f/8 1/640s ISO 200

38mm f/13 1/ 320s ISO 200

55mm f/5.6 1/640s ISO 200

A fast shutter speed will freeze the action, the faster the shutter speed the less blurred motion there is. But it also means the less amount of time light gets in, so be careful or you'll end up with darker photos. I haven't perfected this delicate balance quite yet, but in time I hope that making adjustments becomes second nature!

Week 12- Shutter Speed~ Slow

2010-04-03T13:33:00.006-05:00

22mm f/22 1/10s ISO 200

55mm f/36 1/5s ISO 200

18mm f/22 1/50s ISO 400

Shutter speed controls the about of time the shutter is open. A slow shutter speed can be used to show movement, the slower the speed the more motion that is shown.

22mm f/22 1/30s ISO 200

30mm f/25 1/30s ISO 200

18mm f/22 1/30s ISO 200

Using a slow shutter speed and panning (following your subject with your camera) can create some cool images!

30mm f/4.2 1/15s ISO 1500

Or you can keep your focus on the subject and the surrounding motion will be blurred, another great way to create an interesting photo! I'm so excited to have a better handle on shutter speed!

week 13- Learning about Depth of Field

2010-04-02T23:22:00.005-05:00

I've fallen FOUR WEEKS behind! I cannot believe it! I'm going to attempt to catch up, being on spring break I was able to take a gazillion photos, but because my monitor went out I haven't been able to do anything with them. SO it'll be post after post until I have added my 28 (eeek) photos and get caught up. I'm learning quite a bit through a friend who is sharing her photography class information/lessons with me, so I'll be trying to organize these to go along with what I learn there.
Here are some practice shots where I've adjusted the aperture settings to focus on my subject while blurring out the rest. It took awhile to sink in, but I finally learned that the smaller the f/stop the less that is in focus, and the larger the f/stop the more that is in focus. I've also decided to stop photoshopping the photos shared here. Although, I won't be giving up the cropping yet, not until I learn more about composition. So from here on out, it's sooc (straight out of camera) with cropping when needed.

All photos were shot on Aperture Priority

f/3.8 1/1250s ISO 200 22mm
f/5.6 1/400s ISO 200 50mm

f/5 1/1600s ISO 200 38mm

f/5.6 1/400s ISO 200 50mm

f/5.6 1/200s ISO 200 55mm

f/10 1/400s ISO 200 55mm

f/5.6 1/125s ISO 200 22mm

Week 8 ( a little late)

2010-02-28T17:51:00.000-06:00

Week 9

2010-02-28T16:44:00.004-06:00

Week 7

2010-02-14T22:37:00.004-06:00

Week six

2010-02-07T19:01:00.003-06:00

6.1

No arm Zoe! In her brother's underoos.

6.2

See no evil

6.3

So much for quitting. hmph.

6.4

The last rose standing, or rather, wilting.

6.5

"Cold."

Remainder of week 5

2010-02-07T16:45:00.004-06:00

Daba, my third child.

Wherever we go, he goes!

I like it, Nolan doesn't

Treadmill man

This is Zoe's reaction to her daddy hugging her Mommy.

The result of us sending Max to his room to get dressed.

5.2

2010-01-29T22:49:00.003-06:00

My life seems to revolve around potty progress. Zoe is taking off with the whole process, who am I to stop her? Poop, pee, and baby...they all go in the potty!

5.1

2010-01-29T22:45:00.002-06:00

Again, more with the focusing issues, but the moon was so bright and clear! But free with the blurry photo is a second moon =)
Next time I'll have to bundle up and go outside to try.

p.s. HOLY COW! Can you believe it's the 5th week of the new year?!?!? I'm in shock!

4.7

2010-01-29T22:42:00.003-06:00

I've been itching to catch a good sunrise, we had a few this week, but I just can't find a good spot before I leave fo work. Here's the sun by the time I pulled into the parking lot at work, still pretty, I think. I'm having some focusing issues, but it's a learning process!

4.6

2010-01-29T22:39:00.002-06:00

I'm still stuck in auto, but I was driving, so can you blame me?? For some odd reason this building intrigues me. I pass it almost every morning on my way to work, I don't know if it's the shape, or the location or what, but I stare at it everyday. It's not ideal getting the gate in front of it, but I sort of like the lines in front of it. Not sure what I was trying to achieve, but I like the shot.

4.5

2010-01-29T22:34:00.002-06:00

Just pulling away from the house....gotta get to work! I've been trying to take my camera with me everywhere, it's HARD to do! I see so many things I wish I could take a picture of, especially on the morning commute, but of course my camera is at home.

Week four 1-4

2010-01-25T19:49:00.003-06:00

My pretty Zo baby playing outside on the warmest day since November. She had just eaten a cookie and ran outside, the pics would've been cuter without the crumbs, but whatta ya gonna do? =)

I heart faces- Textures

2010-01-25T17:55:00.003-06:00

Here's a neighborhood kid with a TTV texture in addition to the texture of the wall and basketball =)

Check out more faces and textures over at iheartfaces you won't regret it!

3.7

2010-01-22T19:45:00.002-06:00

I couldn't resist this little guy's smile! He is just a DOLL!!!

3.6

2010-01-21T19:42:00.001-06:00

"Cheese, Mommy"

Thanks to daycare, this is what my daughter does when she sees me with the camera! At least it doesn't last the entire time I have the camera out.

3.5

2010-01-20T19:38:00.000-06:00

HA HA HA! This one hardly needs a caption or explanation! I'm sharing this for no reason other than it's funny. Keep in mind this is a 3rd grader!

3.4

2010-01-19T19:25:00.000-06:00

I've fallen a bit behind, but in my defense, it's report card time! Here's Max getting squashed by his mommy for a picture =) It's the only way I can get him to sit still long enough to get a picture!

~We Are Family~ I <3 Faces

2010-01-19T19:12:00.002-06:00

I figured I may as well challenge myself further by participating in the challenges at I Heart Faces. Yeah, I know. There are hundreds of entries and professional photographers to compete with, but maybe I'll learn a thing or two!

See some amazing photos, click on the button, you know you wanna!

3.3

2010-01-18T20:10:00.002-06:00

Spare

I like the composition of this photo, you just have to look past the grainy-ness of the it.

3.2

2010-01-18T00:22:00.001-06:00

Catching his breath

Nick Nick needed a break from all the birthday party fun! Don't be fooled, he's just contemplating his next move!

3.1

2010-01-18T00:18:00.001-06:00

Wheeeeee!!!!

OOOh! Isn't she cute! Zoe had a blast at her cousins' birthday party at The Little Gym. She was braver than I expected!

2.7

2010-01-15T22:35:00.002-06:00

Success!

Max is going to a birthday party at a bowling alley tomorrow and I was looking forward to getting some motion blur shots. I took out the camera to test the settings and played around with panning. I know it's just my foot, but I'm thrilled I was able to coordinate the panning with the foot movement! I did have to adjust the exposure in photoshop, but hopefully in time I'll be able to adjust in camera.

2.6

2010-01-15T22:29:00.003-06:00

Would you like so soup with those crackers?

My husband loves Club crackers, so much so that he usually ends up with more crackers than soup!

2.5

2010-01-13T22:14:00.002-06:00

Boo Box

Zoe drinking her juice box at Max's birthday party!

2.4

2010-01-13T21:52:00.002-06:00

Parallel View

I needed a break from chasing the kids with my camera, Nolan doesn't move as fast.

2.3

2010-01-13T21:43:00.003-06:00

"Can I Play?" - Zoe

This little sister idolizes her big brother. He can always get a giggle with the smallest effort. She tries to imitate everything he does... she was waiting for someone to give her a boost.

2.2

2010-01-11T15:58:00.004-06:00

Dancing "A's"

f/5.6 1/15s ISO 800

This is a photo of Max's homework. He had to practice writing A's. I showed him how, and he did fine, but then started giving the A's "arms". I told him he didn't need to give them arms, and that he was doing them wrong. Typical Max tells me "they need arms, Mommy, they are dancing"

2.1

2010-01-08T08:52:00.000-06:00

Which Button?

1.7

2010-01-07T05:31:00.000-06:00

A New Beginning

1.6

2010-01-06T09:29:00.001-06:00

Creepy Alley

1.5

2010-01-05T09:11:00.001-06:00

Two of three

1.4

2010-01-04T09:09:00.000-06:00

"Hang on, I'm watching something"

1.3

2010-01-03T09:04:00.001-06:00

SIXLETS

1.2

2010-01-02T10:37:00.009-06:00

Alley Looking In

Week One 1.1

2010-01-01T18:13:00.004-06:00

Jack the cat

What is {seven}52?

2010-01-01T00:01:00.001-06:00

This blog is meant to be a record of a self imposed challenge to turn the dial past auto and learn more about photography. The idea is to take photographs everyday (with a gradual increase in the use of manual settings) and post seven photos a week for 52 weeks. I welcome questions, comments, suggestions and constructive criticism. Challenges are easier to face with company, so please join me! Leave a comment with a link to where you will share your progress and grab my button for you blog!