Halfway There!

It took longer than I expected (it usually does, from what I've heard from other students!), but I've now officially past the halfway mark to having completed the Complete Course on Professional Photography which I'm taking through the New York Institute of Photography!

I have successfully completed the theory tests, and have received good reviews on my photo projects for the first three units!

I thought I'd share my project photo's here, perhaps as a way to help future students get ideas for their own projects, and to point out places where they can learn from my mistakes!

I'd like to add here that I've made it this far due in large part to the help, encouragement and support I've received from the wonderful group of people on the NYIP forum! Thank you, guys! You know who you are!

I started the course in July 2010, and hope to graduate by the middle of 2011!

UNIT 1

Illustrate shallow depth of field:

Illustrate great depth of field:

Motion - freeze action:

Motion - panning technique (can't tell which direction movement is in - subject facing wrong way):

Motion - subject blur (watch out for cutting off feet):

UNIT 2

Illustrate framing (crop closer from left/right - don't necessarily need as much of the frame):

Illustrate the rule of thirds (consider a secondary subject in left-hand rot position):

Illustrate leading lines (take photo from between the lines):

UNIT 3:

Photograph a person in open shade (prefer portraits to have faces showing):

Illustrate back-lighting:

Illustrate texture using 90 degree lighting:

Using natural/available light from approximately 45 degrees, demonstrate how a reflector can open up shadows:

Without reflector:

With reflector:

First Portrait

I've been dreading this section of my course.

I don't take photo's of people. Unless they ask. And that's few and far between!

I took this photo because I wanted to enter a dpreview photo challenge entitled "almost twins".

People are always saying that I'm the spitting image of my Mum. I don't see it. She can't see it.

What do you think?


This is one of those quick kitchen window-light shots - 20 minutes from extending the legs of my tripod, to having 5 shots in the camera. Just a hint of reflector help - it was balanced on my Mum's foot!

Back At The Terrain Park

This is a three-day weekend in both Alberta and the US (both just a couple of hours' drive from here), so Panorama was really busy yesterday - it was great to see all the parking lots full and actual lift-lines happening.

Of course, the best snow conditions in many years helped attract the crowds!

It's about time good things started happening up at Pano!

Here are a few shots from the terrain park (I was disappointed at how few people were up taking advantage of this incredible facility - think I might've been too early in the day, being there around noon!).

Air Over The Rockies:




Riding The Rails:



And here are some shots from around the village:

Ski School In Paradise:


Riding The Magic Carpet:


Relaxing In The Hot Pools:


And last but not least, the Belgians:

Radium Hot Springs

Been through the town often, but never really stopped there or looked around! Mum decided to treat us to a traditional Schnitzel dinner, so we headed up to Radium early this evening.

Across the road from the restaurant was an odd place, looked like it had grown out of the forest itself ... we'll have to go back in the summer, when it's open, to learn more about it!





Then we enjoyed a super dinner at the Schnitzelhaus:


Schnitzel Champignon


Music to my ears ...


Needless to say, we were too full for dessert ... next time we'll start with dessert and take it from there!

Sundog

Of the photo's I've taken, this is one of my favourites already!

I took it yesterday, between 11am and noon, when my mum and I were out walking my dog, Taela. We had literally an hour of clear-ish sky before the clouds/fog moved back in.

This is certainly not the most distinct sundog I've ever seen, but it's definitely the biggest! And it's the first I've tried taking a photo of!


My flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/52832746@N03/

Arctic Outflow in Panorama!

It's crazy, but Shawna and I went up to Pano yesterday to practice some action shots! Yes, right in the middle of an arctic outflow! It was about -20C up there between 12.30pm and 2pm - very cold, but very beautiful! One has to take advantage of the occasions when a sitter is available - how we suffer for our art! ;D

All photo's were taken with a polarizing filter on the lens. Here, in no particular order, are some of my favourites from the outing (more will be posted on my flickr page later today):

The light was really difficult at times, with low very bright sunshine ... here's one saved by B&W:



There were a few speed demons out enjoying the hard, fast conditions:



Up, up, and away!



Gorgeous views:



And, last but not least, my first action triptych: