Monday, August 30, 2010

Equestrian Photography

On Saturday I had the opportunity to spend a couple of hours at a horse show in Chilliwack, the National Youth Championships.

I just wish I could've spent more time there ... not only do I need the photography practice, but it was SO great to be around horses again!

The arena I photographed was indoors with a combination of some natural light and electric lighting. It was rather dark but I wasn't keen to use a flash in case it disturbed the competitors. Of the 300+ shots I took, I think a handful might come out well enough to share. I had my iso set at the highest it would go. Of course, not being an "official" photog, I couldn't get as close to the ring as I'd have liked but hey, I worked with what I had.

I'll be keeping my eyes open for another equestrian opportunity!

Friday, August 27, 2010

Education & Practice

As I mentioned, I am currently working on a pro photog course through the New York Institute of Photography. It is an indepth program with six modules. I've finished the theory and test for the first, but am still working on the photo project for this section.

I've got two images showing motion (panning and freeze action), and I've got one each to illustrate both shallow depth of field, and distance. I need one more motion picture, one that has the background in focus but the subject blurred by movement.

This last shot I'm hoping to get this weekend. We're heading down to Chilliwack where we'll be visiting family. A big get-together of the immediate clan, which we haven't done in many years - and a long time coming! My father's visiting Canada from South Africa, my mother and older-younger brother who live in Chilliwack will be there of course, and my younger-younger brother will also be visiting from Panorama, B.C. Very excited!

Anyway, back to photography. There's an equestrian event going on nearby, so I'll be heading there for a couple of hours on Saturday morning to see if I can get the last shot for my photo project. And, of course, indulge in my passion for horses - haven't been around them in years - looking forward to that, too!

Needless to say, now that I'm the "photographer" in the family, I'll be tasked with the family portrait/s ... should be good practice!

And yes, I know this is a photography blog ... I'll get to posting some photo's soon! Meanwhile, I've got a photography group on Facebook that you're welcome to join if you're so inclined!

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Jasmine Star = Dynamo

Now, I'm not even remotely interested in going into wedding photography, so that's not why I'm watching as much of this free online course as I can!

It's more about managing time, and people, breaking into the industry ...

If you want to join it's free to watch the live version ... and the video of the event will be for sale afterwards.

I'll be following Jasmine's blog in future, too, because she has a very engaging and honest writing style and is unusually generous about sharing her experience, both personal and technical.

If you (or someone you know) are in the market for a wedding photog, and have some $$ to invest in the ONLY tangible memories of the Big Day, Jasmine Star is a great candidate. She works mostly in California, but will travel.

I wish there were more photog's like her out there ... it seems that the more established photog's in any field are very territorial and aggressive about defending their turf!

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Starting Out

I've always loved photography, but only really got into it once the digital age was firmly established ... no way I could've afforded it prior to that!

I've taken a handful of short online courses on photography through the College of the Rockies ... they were ok, and I definitely learned stuff ... but the biggest thing I learned was that I wanted MORE! Now I'm into a Complete Professional Photographer course offered by the New York Institute of Photography. The course is pretty intense but I can go at my own pace (home study), so should be fine. Unit 1 of six almost complete ...

In my 40-somethings, I'm undergoing a career change after over 25 years in various aspects of the tourism/travel industry. Life sort of forced the change on me (long story), I had no intention of switching callings until about a month ago ... but since it's happened, I'm actually RELIEVED! I didn't realize I wasn't happy in what I was doing, until I knew it was over ...

Scary? Yes! Scared? Yes! Exciting/excited? YES, VERY EXCITED! And having SO much fun in the learning process!

I love taking photo's of pets, landscapes, wildlife, people enjoying sports ... not even a slight inkling towards something as stressful as weddings ... but with so much still to learn, I'm not sure what direction, if anything specific, my photographic career will take!

Oh yes, I live in the Coast Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, (aka Paradise), with my incredibly supportive husband Paul, and our treasured toller-dog, Taela.