Thursday, February 24, 2011

use photography to stay inspired

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I get asked a lot of questions about the pictures that I take and the equipment that I use so I thought I would put together a photography post to answer all those questions. Keep in mind- I am by no means an expert but I do have my own way of taking photos :)


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Photography has completely changed my creative routine and has influenced the way that I find inspiration. I don't go anywhere without some kind of camera because I know there will always be something that catches my eye and NEEDS to be captured. I keep thousands of photos on hand to use when I am looking for inspiration with color, shapes, texture, pattern and more!

Again, I am not a professional but over time I have learned all kinds of ways to take photos that work for me. I always try to capture a great shot and challenge myself to look for unique things that I can use in all sorts of creative projects.



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My favorite camera is my Cannon Rebel that I've had for years (there is paint all over it)- it is really easy to use and I can do all kinds of fun stuff with exposure and lighting. I also use a Cannon EOS 7-D which is WAY more complicated (and heavy!) than my trusty Rebel but has all kinds of features and when I have time, patience and want really nice photos I will use it.


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Over time I have collected a handful of different lenses for a variety of different situations. My favorite is a my Cannon 300mm zoom lens that I often use to capture details like in the photos below


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You might be surprised to learn that I actually use my little "point and shoot" digital cameras just as much as my fancy SLR cameras. They are easy to throw into a bag or pocket and to travel with. And while you cannot do as much, you can still capture some really great photos- especially when looking for inspiration or capturing a moment.


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taken with Cannon PowerShot SD3500

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I also love using my Holga- a Holga is a film toy camera that takes really cool photos. The "cheaper" construction of the camera creates blurring, light leaks and all kinds of cool effects that can't be predicted.



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Through the Viewfinder photography or TTV photography is another one of my favorite ways to capture unique photos that look aged. The technique is actually using the viewfinder of a vintage camera and taking photos with your digital camera through the viewfinder. There are a number of different ways to take photos through the viewfinder-here is a simple tutorial


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This is what it looks like when looking through the view finder.


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and this is how the photo looks once the photo is taken and cropped in photoshop.


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Since there are SO many really cool camera applications for phones- often I will only take my iphone with me.

Once of my favorites applications is the Hipstamtic iPhone App- you can take photos with a number of really cool filters.


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Another one of my favorites is the CameraBag application- again lots of really cool filters. If you don't have an iPhone you can actually download a desktop version here that can be used on your computer to alter digital photos.

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Regardless of the camera that I use, I find that utalizing photography is one of the most profound and important ways that I can stay inspired!

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

inspiration- the many shades of flamingo pink

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I go to to zoo every couple of weeks to look for color and inspiration and I NEVER seem to get tired of the flamingos. It is truly amazing how many different shades of flamingo pink there actually is!


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zoo

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Sunday, February 20, 2011

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