Making adjustments.

I've been tweaking some pictures that I took just to see what the effect looks like. It can be fun, but it can be quite time consuming. I wanted to post a couple to get some feedback.  I would welcome any comments you have.. be it yah or nay. Be honest. If you hate it, tell me. It's not something I would do to a portrait, but I find it interesting. It's fun trying new things and I'm always trying to improve.

Feel free to comment on Facebook or send me an email at:  Sandra@sandrafinnerphotography.com

Getting there...

Yesterday, I took some time to go through my vacation shots. I mulled through the lot deciding what I liked and what I loved and what I wanted to throw away. I'm very hesitant to delete much and usually revisit them a few times, looking again for new and interesting aspects in each picture. What I noticed is that despite my passion for landscapes, I took loads of family pictures and I can see the improvement I'm making when photographing people.

I resist shooting in 'auto' and prefer to use mostly natural light. Despite the challenges of sticking to that, I know I've learned much more about my camera. I also learned that great pictures don't happen everytime, but 'learning' always does. I have a better understanding what I like. I know what I aspire to. And sometimes you just have to give yourself the freedom to love a shot just because you do. It's maybe not what anyone else loves, but a personal preference. It's like hairstyles in the 80's. What were we thinking?!!!

Photography has many moments of trial and error, but it's half the fun of getting where you want to be.

My new baby...

I shoot Nikon and I love, love, love my camera for it's pure greatness. I haven't seen a camera review site out there that doesn't love this l'il puppy (yah! I said puppy) and give it great marks for it's abilities. To me, it's a precious little gem that is exactly perfect. It's like the little engine who could.

I read lots of blogs where people spend WAY too much time fretting about the big brand names; who has this, who has that. They leap frog each other year after year with new developments in technology so it's dumb to even care unless your intention is always having the latest and greatest. That being said, there's a new kid in camera town. I just picked up a Panasonic Lumix that is so super great I cannot tell you. It's a great little point and shoot that you can throw in your pocket and take anywhere. You won't have to worry about the cold, heat, (sand!) or anything that can damage your more expensive camera. It's very fun to play with and it's capabilities are pretty spectacular.

You can check it out at: http://www.dpreview.com/news/1001/10012605panazs7.asp

I'm ba-a-a-a-a-a-a-c-k!

I'm back from a nice little break to the sunny south. At least I believed I was going south until I got there. It was pretty chilly - only in the low 20's. I'm thinking next year we might go to the Carribean to get some really HOT weather in the 30's. I took lots and lots of family pictures but I'll have to get into my business planning and creative photography this coming week. Good to be home.

Younes Bounhar

 In the past few months since I’ve begun my blog, I have met so many talented people that share a love of photography and who have had some pretty incredible experiences of their own trying to establish themselves as professionals. I’ve gotten the chance to hear their stories. Some of them have been incredibly successful. Some of them still struggling. All of them real and passionate. I really love to hear about the travelling they've done, the experiences they’ve had, the people they've admired and had the opportunity to work along side and learn from.

For the past two weekends, I've had the extreme pleasure spending Saturdays with Younes Bounhar http://www.younesbounhar.com/  Younes is an internationally respected photographer, who despite his initial reluctance to believe he was artistic, now creates the most amazing artistic photographs.  He has an eye for capturing incredible landscapes and architecture, seeing a unique and creative perspective on a simple subject and he has traveled the world doing so.

Younes is a frequent contributor to Photo Life magazine and his photos have graced their cover, he's written several technical articles and his upcoming travels will take him from a personal journey to the Moroccan desert, to a photojournalist tour and workshop in the Arctic. Recently, he had the huge privilege of guest blogging on Art Wolfe’s website (yes! Incredible…THE Art Wolfe from Travels to the Edge!!) this month. Now that’s good company to keep in my opinion. Maybe someday!

The amount of information packed into two days was invalueable and I also have a new appreciation for architectural and landscape photographers and the punishment their bodies go through to get 'the' shot. I was so tired carrying heavy gear around all day (I actually fell asleep on my friend's couch!) but the experience was fantastic! Thank you so much Younes!  

Caught in the In-Between

It isn't that I haven't got lots to blog about. I seem to be caught somewhere in the in between. I'm in between jobs. In between desks. In between floors. My day job has me on a computer on the main floor keeping all my accounting programs running and my files filling the dining room table.  My new office in the basement is somewhat of an evolving headquarters for my photography. I can't quite to seem to cut the cord on the upstairs. I'm afraid to completely move everything in fear of losing the accounting records...and that would be completely tragic. I must say, I'm beginning to feel somewhat like the Robin Williams character in the movie Mrs. Doubtfire, running back and forth between the tables, switching costumes and trying to remember what to do next. I can't tell you the number of times in a day that the ONE thing I need is on the other floor.

For example, right this minute, Jasper the cat is stretched out beside me on the floor, claiming the spot on the floor where a huge beam of sunlight hits the carpet....and my camera is where? I'm going to attempt to go get it without disturbing him...and maybe cancel my gym membership at the same time.

Team Canada gets the GOLD

The world was watching as Canada and the USA men’s teams faced off against each other in the Gold medal hockey game of the 2010 Olympiad this past Sunday. It was a nail biter right until the very end, although Canada reigned supreme with an overtime goal by the incredible Sidney Crosby and came away with the GOLD! What a way to wrap up the games for all Canadians. People in Vancouver say that the party went on well into the night.

We watched the game at our friend’s place and I took some pictures off the TV with Steve’s i Phone. I've gotta get one of those!!!