Catalog Shots

On the side of school, I also run an online craft and accessories business. I call it In-skein Designs and I have had the hardest time in the past making the photos look like the item was free standing instead of sitting on a dark and dingy coffee table or book shelf. I think I may have succeeded!

I was commissioned to do the web development and catalog for a local businesswoman's yarn and fiber store. Because it is a catalog, the only things I wanted to show up were the products themselves.

Here are a few shots I took yesterday for her site.







The full descriptions of these products are found on sheep2shawl.net

Now, the kicker in this experiment and success of this experiment was the white box I created...for less that $7.00.

I took a simple cardboard box from Wal-mart, one of the ones that folds into a nearly perfect square, and I cut off 1 whole side, folded in the bottom and taped it. I took a basket I had laying around, this could be a small box, or Tuperware container or something of the sort, and I placed it in the middle of the larger box. While you are at Wal-mart, pick up 1.5 yards of the brightest white fabric you can that has nice drape and is thick enough that you can not see through it. Then drape the fabric over the back and both sides of the box, pushing it down into the box so that you can put things on top of the basket inside.

I had a great setting for my light, I took my tripod and stood in front of the kitchen window with the kitchen light on. I had a low ISO and a small aperture to balance the light. (I just figured out how to change these on my new camera...)

Wonders of photoshop

Today in class, we learned a bit of using Photoshop Elements 8 to intesify colors, deepen contrasts, and alter photos to capture the imagination.

I enjoy working with bold colors that belong in your dreams, not in every day life.

I give you the progression of my brain child image.

Original:
Unaltered
First Layer, pulled hue to almost black and white and saturation to magenta

Layered purple over sky and water

Layered blue and gray over bridge and trees/ tree reflection


I am playing some more with images and making them more surreal for the art show next week.

Opinions?

Camera Review

Right now, I am using my hubby's Aunt Holly's camera. It is a Nikkon Coolpix s230 Touch screen point&shoot 10MP 3x zoom. Found here.

I will working with this camera for the next 2 or so weeks until I get my upgrade. All pictures for 2 weeks will be shot with this. It is a great little camera, and can do a LOT of the same things as a Digital SLR.

My mis-adventures in the world of digital photography

Here you will find my Photographic works as I progress through my first term as a Central Oregon Community College Photography student. I am currently enrolled in Digital Photography, and will be using several different cameras throughout term.

You will find a format following each photo that will tell you what camera was used, and the other professional details of the photo. If there is a live subject, it will also have information about them. I may also add in details relevant to the image, such as time of day, location and lighting effects. If you are not familiar with these details, ignore them, and just give feedback relating to the composition from your perspective.

Thanks a ton!