Editing editing editing

It is so much fun to edit photos!  I recently got my low key assignment chosen and have been doing small adjustments this morning.  I am pleased with the image and I am so sure my model will LOVE it as well.  I would love your feedback on the final image.

Holiday Portraits time!!

Everyone loves this time of year!  Families coming to town, large meals, wonderful desserts and family photos!  What a great time to bring the family together for a Holiday Portrait at Gwinnett Technical College.  The set is being built with all ages and groups and pets in mind!  We'd love to be the place you allow to do your Holiday Portrait! See you there!!

Photojournalism Final Project

I have been thinking hard about who's story I will tell for the final project in photojournalism class.  The assignment has to be a multimedia project that should include video, still photography, voice overs and music.  The main thing we are supposed to make sure of is that it's a story worth telling and that people will be interested in hearing.  My teacher Ms Finch took us to Best of Photojournalism website where there are award winning photo journalistic multimedia projects to help give us ideas in creating our project.  Below is one that moved me.

PPA Membership!

Recently we were all given an opportunity to assist with the Professional Photographers of America print competition that was held at Gwinnett Technical College.  It was such an amazing experience to be able to meet so many great photographers and look at some phenomenal prints.  Since we volunteered with the competition, PPA decided to reward us with memberships! What an awesome gift!

Bright Ideas for Lighting Portraits

This quarter we have an Advanced Portraiture class.  There are so many things to consider when doing portraiture.  Not only must you have a plan of who you're shooting, how you plan to shoot them and most importantly how you're planning to light your subject.  Lighting is the most important part of any successful portrait. 
Check out this article Bright Ideas for Lighting Portraits

Lighting Set up

Shopping for new camera gear

It's time to add some new items to the camera bag, but what should I purchase first?  There are so many things that are useful and could enhance what I currently have.  Here are a few things I DEFINITELY plan on getting...any suggestions of what should be first?

35mm 1.8

18-200 3.5

14mm 2.8

Feature feature feature...

I just didn't know how difficult it was to get a feature image, so I went to the Moonshine Festival to try again.  This HAD to be the place where I'd find something outstanding for class...maybe...hopefully...we'll see.  There were quite a few characters to photograph, that's for sure!

Last week of ACP

This is the final week of Atlanta Celebrates Photography.  There are a few more events that are a must see and I am going to attempt to get to at least one.  I really want to go to the SCAD-Atlanta Photo Exhibit that's happening Saturday night at Atlantic Station.

Looking for a feature...

The hunt to find a feature for my photojournalism class was quite interesting.  My venture began at the Corn Maze in Helen, GA.  I got a few good shots of kids running around playing on bails of hay that I think could be pretty good for feature...Below are a few of my favorites.

Vintage Camera!

I received my first vintage camera a few days ago.  My dad used to run an antique store and had mentioned to me that he had a camera that I'd probably want to have. I had no clue what kind it was but when he gave it to me I was so excited!  I immediately went to the internet to find out how old it was.  It was a  No1 Autographic Kodak Jr !!  This camera was made between 1917 and 1927!! So, the collection begins.

Nikon vs Canon

This weekend I mentioned that I was hired to be the photographer at a conference.  Since they wanted video and images, I decided I might need an extra camera.  I have the Nikon D5000 that shoots video and I checked out a Canon Rebel XT from school, although I had never shot with Canon before.  There wasn't a huge difference in the cameras, the controls are just in different places, but the functionality was the same.  The only downfall was since the Canon was older model, the batteries wouldn't hold charge as long as I needed it to.  It was a good experience and I'll post an image from each camera soon.

Networking is Huge!

Today, I had a wonderful opportunity to photograph a conference for top executives and business owners.  The organization is Executive50 and they are doing some great things not only in the companies that they are either President, Vice President, CEO or Founder of, but also in their communities.  It was emphasized more and more the power of networking and I think about how we never know who we're going to run into when we're out shooting or when we're doing a job for someone.  How we conduct ourselves could help or hurt our career! Just a thought..

Keith Wyche was one of the speakers today

Awesome shooting day!!

The day finally came to shoot my low key assignment.  I can sum it up with two words...Twila Whitley!! Just kidding, but she did a wonderful job!!!  The shoot went so much better than I would have thought and I am so pleased with the results.  I have lots of editing to do, but here's one image.  There will be more soon!

Twila Whitley in her element!

Things to do...

Photo class!! If you're looking for something to shoot this weekend, I just found something pretty cool happening in Cartersville, GA .  The Eighth Annual Cowboy Festival and Symposium.  I'd bet there will be plenty photo opportunities for photojournalism there. 

Sports Critique

Today we had our first critique for Photojournalism which was our Sports assignment.  The assignment was for us to find an organized sports game (preferably during the day) and photograph an action scene.  In Photojournalism, there are rules of ethics that prevent any editing to the images aside from cropping and burning and dodging.  Aside from a too long of a cut line and more cropping needed, I think Ms Finch was happy with my image.

Dacula Falcons vs Mtn View Bears

Happy Kids!

On Saturday, I photographed a birthday party for a friend of mine.  It was so much fun because to catch kids in the moments of their complete happiness is priceless!  Baylor and Benjamin Henry shared a birthday party at Lifetime Fitness in Alpharetta, GA.  Below is an image I got of Benjamin, being himself.

Benjamin Henry tickled...just because...

Portrait approval!

Since my initial ideas for high key/low key didn't pan out, I finally got approval for shooting low key on Thursday.  Thanks to my wonderful model Twila Whitley, this shoot should be AWESOME!! Check back to see how it went.

Twila volunteered to be the model for a day...now she's hooked!

Holiday Portraits

Every year Gwinnett Technical College Photography Department does a Holiday Portrait fundraiser.  The second year class creates a set and a scene for families to come to have their portraits done.  We not only photography parents with their kids, but pets are also welcome!!  It's time to get into the Holiday spirit!!

Happy Holidays!!

Finally...

Last week we had to sign up for Twitter. I think I'm finally getting the hang of it!  Follow me @grettabphoto

Chat with LA Photographer

So, thanks to Twitter, I just found out about this chat with an LA Photographer who works with the LA Times, Mark Boster.  He will be doing a chat tomorrow @11am PDT on the year he spent photographing the four seasons of Yosemite National Park.

Mark Boster image of Yosemite National Park in Spring

Low Key Photography

So, this week we're shooting High key/Low key images. Still not sure which I'll shoot, but I found this image online and was inspired.  Decisions, decisions...check back to find out what I decide!

Sports

Well, I wanna love photojournalism and with two weekends of shooting sports at the Dacula Falcons football team, I think I'm well on my way.   Now, I have only to hope they are good enough.  Below is an image from Dacula playing their rival team Mountain View.

Dacula vs Mtn View

Atlanta Celebrates Photography

Atlanta Celebrates Photography is a series of events, shows, exhibitions and lectures that happens all over Atlanta during the month of October.  There are photographers and artists that are featured in a variety of galleries most of which are free to the public.  Many well known photographers will take the time to share their knowledge and their secrets to aid in the assistance of those willing to come learn from them.  One event that I would love to attend is The Past Again - Reflection of the Daguerreotype with Grant B Romer.

Check out the website for dates and events...now, get out there and enjoy Atlanta Celebrates Photography!!

PhotoJournalism

This quarter we are diving into greater depths of photography.  One of my favorite classes so far is PhotoJournalism taught by a teacher who's very passionate about photojournalism.  Her passion is definitely infectious.  During my research for a paper we had to write I learned more about the Magnum Agency.  The founders of Magnum (Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Capa, George Rodger and David "Chim" Seymour) were all photojournalists and will always be remembered by their mark that was made in the photographic world.

Children Portraits

Ok, so this week we did Child portraits.  This was truly a learning experience, but it was a lot of fun.  Some kids were excited to be there while others really wanted to go home.  Thankfully, we all made it through with some pretty good images!!  I photographed 3 year old Bria Henry who is the youngest daughter of Gerard and Terry Henry.  She was the best model and really enjoyed "making a cake" for mommy!

Pet Portraits

With this new quarter, we started the fun off in the studio with Pet portraits.  It was an interesting time with the all sizes and types of dogs.  I don't have a pet, but thankfully Claire Welmering allowed me and a few of her classmates to use dogs that she had access to.  I shot her dog Dallas.  He was the BEST dog ever...here is one of my favorite shots of Dallas.

New Nikon D7000

I'm excited about this new Nikon D7000.
Here is a list of a few of the features

16.2MP CMOS Nikon sensor, DX format (16×24mm) with 4.78-micron pixels

ISO 100 to 6400, plus Hi1 (12800 equivalent) and Hi2 (25600)

Video: full 1080p, AF or face tracking during video capture, stereo microphone jack, 20-minute video capture time limit

Dual SD memory cards, SDXC (Secure Digital Extended Capacity) compatible

Preview article posted on photo.net by Shun Cheung

First Post!!

Welcome to my blog!!

This is the first of many.  I hope you enjoy the journey as much I am!

Image taken while on study abroad in Italy.