Project 365 week 21

Today I was driving past one of the area creek overflow areas on my way to pick up my kids and I noticed that since it has not been as rainy that the water level had dropped from the previous night's freeze. Around each tree however, the residual ice remained and it was just something kind of cool. So I turned the car around and drove back to a spot I could park and took a few photos. This one was the one I chose for the pic of the day.

I was playing around on my iPad and found this app called Photo soft box. Basically all it does is add a light to your iPad screen that can then be used on surfaces for creative lighting. I probably should have saved this photo for Valentine's Day... but oh well lol. There are three different apps, one is just different colored plain lights, one is different lit textures and the one I used on this photo is the symbols. If you have an iPad and iPhone you can download a remote for the phone to control the iPad light settings in the app so you are not having to clean the touch screen all the time or move the iPad's position. Just something fun to use and a different type of effect for those macro shots.

I think I am finally get a handle on this reflection thing. This photo actually has several of them. I took this picture through the window of the car at the mirror which is reflecting the image back on to the window. Catch all of that? :) The polarizing glass of the car window gives a good effect on the reflection too.

The storm clouds were back in the sky this evening and I decided to try using my polarizing filter. I have used this in the past to take photos on water or to get rid of the glare on eyeglasses, but never for sky shots. It does emphasize the colors that is for sure, I added an edge glow from one of my iPad apps and you get a very angry sky.... and yes, a very angry storm did soon follow with high wind advisories and power outages...

Today I took a drive down to the next county where they have an old covered bridge. This spring I have a Senior picture scheduled and one of the ideas for a setting was a covered bridge so I thought this would be a good time to take some test shots to see what angles I needed to take the pictures from and where was the best place to put her to take the photos. My son was the willing participant and on the excursion we went. I got some good test shots I think and some ideas as to how she should pose. The most import thing I realized is that there is a lot of modern buildings that you have to be very careful about in and around the area. Camera placement and angles are going to be very important on this shoot. I am glad that we went to do this, otherwise I may have been doing a whole lot of cropping to my photos, and then losing a lot of resolution to make larger prints. This was a teachable moment... even if you think you know an area... go to it prior to bringing a paying customer... it is amazing what your eyes overlook that is glaringly obvious in the viewfinder of a camera.

I used my ipad light app again to cast a soft light onto my daughter's clarinet. Shot in B&W - I am really liking the effects and creative aspect that is $.99 app brings to the table.

Take a drive in Pa during the fall and winter and you are liable to see quite a bit of blaze orange clothing. Hunting is a popular past time... and with as many hunters you will also see posted property signs. Most of them are the newer ones. I just happened to be driving down a dirt back road and found a really old style one- so I decided to make this the photo of the day.

With the stress of the holidays in the past the days are taking on a more normal pace. This has allowed me to take a bit more time in not only planning my photos, but also taking several so that I have choices to make. I have been able to get them done earlier in the day so that I have more options for lighting and filters. Quite honestly it has been a total turnaround.... thank goodness I did not quit during the holidays

Until next hub...

"May you always have a seashell in your pocket and sand between your toes."