Having a Flickr day
Rubber thoughts
One of the things that made me start the blog is that I wanted to stop uploading my pictures to Facebook. But WordPress does not offer a good way protect your pictures (at least not on the theme I picked). So I started researching online. I found Flickr, which has become one of the most popular options for photographers.
Basic account is free but the number of uploads is limited. You can upgrade to an unlimited Pro account for $25 a year. I like that I can create a photo stream to plug anywhere. I can even blog from Flickr but their design is very poor. I can setup rights to keep pictures private or public and have them available with several copyrights options. Yes, it is still “the cloud”…
Today I discovered I can create a HTML code plug in my blog so now I don’t even have to upload pictures in WordPress. Just click on your picture, click on share this, and select the option: email, link, HTML code… Pretty shabby….
10,000 hours to Greatness
Malcolm Gladwell explains on his book the Outliers that successful people excel at their craft because they have devoted at least 10,000 hour of practice. So I did a little calculation… If I dedicate 3 hours a day to photography, 365 days a year for almost 10 years then I may excel as photographer. He reaches the conclusion that at the end talent is not the most important thing, practice is.
That is a daunting task! He made the case for young Beatles and Bill Gates and I wonder if, once you passed your 20’s, you can still reach for greatness.
I certainly cannot spend 3 hours a day taking pics! I am a mom and have a day job (that does not involve photography). I already ditched the broom and duster to go around capturing what the eyes cannot see. My house is dusty, my external hardrive getting full. It is liberating to know that talent is overrated, but eye opening to know I may be out for a long, long trip…
Schoolhouse Children’s Museum
The schoolhouse childen’s museum in Boynton is a space for kids to explore, play and scape from the Florida heat. Staff is really nice and there is an outdoor playground in case the kids did not have enough playing inside (do they ever?). Aidan and I spent the afternoon there. He was playing, me too…
I don’t speak plant…
I always wanted to have a beautiful lush backyard. I dream having a tropical paradise outside my window. But I don’t speak plant. I have a brown thumb and no matter what I do, I do it wrong. Too much water, too little water, too much sun, too little sun… I need translation services for green in my life.
Inspiration…
Thomas Hawk
What inspires you?
Thomas Hawk is not your average gifted photographer. He envisions his art as an “obsessive compulsive view on photography”. He describes himself as a “photography factory”. His goal is to reach one million photographs in his lifetime. Yes, you do the math! At his actual rate (he currently uploads more than 50 pictures a day) it would take him 50 years to reach his goal.
Anyone taking pictures out there may be baffled by Hawk’s goal. I certainly am. This is no easy task! I don’t even think I can look at all 50.000+ pictures he already has on Flickr. I’ve been haunted by his images, he has an incredible eye to abstract reality, an amazing sensibility for patterns. Not only his images are riveting but his titles are for the most part fun and creative.
We have similar age so I hope to be around when he achieves the milestone. What inspires me the most, beyond his images and titles, is his conviction and self-knowledge. Understanding his compulsion and using it as a driving force for his art. That is inspiration!
Latte Fun
It is not a secret that when it comes to photography, kids are my favorite subject. A year ago I decided to spend some money on a DSLR camera instead of paying for cheesy portraits. Of course, my son Aidan is my favorite subject! He is very expressive and always gives me an opportunity for a great picture. Today we went to Latte Fun in Palm Beach. I love that place! It was hard for me to stay away from other people kids and not taking their pictures!
When it comes to portraits I like candid shots, kids engaging in activities instead of posing for the camera. Playgrounds are the best places to take kids pictures: Great props, consistent light (if indoors) and plenty color for your composition. Also in playgrounds kids are very happy and happy kids = great shots!
Lately I’ve been using my Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS for portraits a lot. It is not an expensive lens, I can stay way back and let my subjects do their thing and the image stabilization lets me hand hold the camera. Yes, I have to pump the ISO in low light but I have to compromise until I can afford the prime. Digital ISO is way better than film’s so don’t be shy to push 800+. Another lens I love for portraits is the famous “nifty fifty” Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II. For the price you cannot get a better portrait lens.
Couple of tips: Dress your kid in solid color clothes and get close, close, close…
Super Moon
Today was Supermoon day! So I decided to give it a try and practice some moon shots. I goggled how to do it, and it didn’t seem too complicated.
Camera: check, Tripod: check, Long zoom: check, check
Well, when you have a 3-year-old the whole idea of planning for a shoot goes down the drain. We made it late for dinner and by the time we got home the moon was past its biggest size. Then, it’s been so long since I’ve used my Manfrotto that now I remember why I haven’t used it more often. Same thing with the remote cable Yeap, I was not prepared.
So my shots were way over exposed (I forgot to read the whole line with the basic formula: ISO 100, f 11, 1/125). Still, it was fun to play with my camera. Even on digital, long exposures bring interesting possibilities. Oh well, I have plenty time to prepare for Nov. 14, 2016.
I will not quit my day job….
The art corner
Today we pushed out of our comfort zone… Girls night out went artsy! We went to the Art-sea living gallery to do some wine glass painting.
Yes, it looks way easier than it is… Of course I can do that! Until you have to grab your brushes…. Nope, not that easy.
The funniest thing is to get a glimpse of everyone’s personality beyond what we normally see. And yes, we are a bunch of overachiever girls that cannot stand doing a lousy job. I am very proud of everyone, including myself. Thank God for wine and chocolate cookies. I will not give up my day job any time soon.
Bye bye Elan (aka) There is always a new begining…
Tuesday I said goodbye to my old faithful film camera…
Bye bye Elan IIe…
It was a simple goodbye. I packed it on a small box and UPS her to Canon’s camera heaven.
For many years I hanged on to that camera like my photographic soul depended on it. It was my 30th birthday gift and I still remember my expression (because someone took a picture of the exact moment). It was my first SLR camera.
But I will not romanticize those old times. Yes I still remember the red light bulb in my dad’s darkroom, the texture of the photo paper in my fingers. His old Canon Ae-1, I wished I had.
But in reality what I remember the most is spending a fortune on film and development, traveling with film canisters everywhere. And after waiting for days to have pictures printed the revelation that most pictures were a waste. Film is not a friendly medium for amateurs and beginners. And the pictures I liked? Well, I couldn’t possibly remember the camera setting to replicate the lucky shot.
Digital photography liberated us, amateur photographers wana be….
Nothing better than the little trash can icon on the camera reminding us that it is ok to get it wrong. When you see 500+ shots in the folder, you know that some shots will turn ok…. Oh, and the metadata on the pictures! Little gnomes that grab all that info we don’t have time to write distance, lenses, aperture…
Digital photography rocks!
My Life on a Frame 
