more info on what goes on here in McGilly World

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Adventures in White Balance

One of my biggest obstacles in my photography in the early days (and today if I'm honest) is the getting
the white balance correct. I didn't even realize to begin with how far off I really was, sometimes I
even thought that the color casts looked pretty cool, giving my pictures some kind of ambiance! Duh!
There are filters and effects for that, you can't do a photograph justice when your white balance is all over the place.


I recently found a great video on You Tube through a site called Photographytalk.com; check it out here.... it's for the D90 but you can get the idea for your own camera. I personally prefer the preset because I feel it gives you a better balance of true color than the little auto settings you can use, but the quick set icons also work really well. I also sometimes use a tip from Ken Rockwell and use the cloudy setting even on a pretty sunny day, works well at least with the D90.
So ignoring the general ugliness of the above example, you can see the difference, the first was on a totally incorrect pre-set that I was using in another room (worked well in the other room btw) and then I quickly flicked it to incandescent light and voila... a truer duplication of the colors in my kitchen. Now if only I had chosen to present this in a more beautiful manner than a Krups toaster and a skanky hairbrush!!!! The monkey's cute tho'.
My point is clear though, if you want to take some lovely pictures you can concentrate on all kinds of details but if your white balance is off your whole pic is shot. Hope you enjoyed this episode of "stuff I sometimes forget about even though it's paramount in good photography!!".
Do you have a little sticking point? feel free to share, we all learn from each other!

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Monday, June 27, 2011

Texture Tuesday....

This week the challenge was to use KK's Golden texture.... I love how delicate it is. 
for more texture tuesdays go check out Kim's blog... 

kimklassencafe

Funny Faces

Pioneer Woman Photography | Ree Drummond
Just popping in today to share my appearance on the PW blog...the competition is funny faces and I just knew I had to submit the pic of ashley and the bubbles. I'm just a wee bit excited !! Just a teeny weeny bit....well a lot, its made my day.
How is your Monday coming along???
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Saturday, June 25, 2011

i do....

Last week I jumped in at the deep end and helped a friend of mine shoot her first wedding... it was my first too of course...regular ramblers already know I am just getting started on this foray into pro or really semi-pro photography.

I can't think of anything more nerve racking than photographing someone's big day, and boy was I in for a shock at how demanding and exhausting the whole thing was!!! I couldn't even think straight at the end of it, but it was well worth it. I have a long list of things I learned from the experience and a list of things I'd like to try next time. I told another photog friend of mine that I am realizing the thing I love about photography is that you never stop learning, there's always something to discover, play with and give your own spin. I have a couple of other weddings tentatively scheduled for the end of the summer which is exciting.... so watch this space.




I think I'm a real romantic at heart... I love a good wedding... don't you? 

Friday, June 24, 2011

Fresh Tomatoes......

I know a lot of bloggers are also quite self sufficient in that they grow their own vegetables and fruits, seems like we've come full circle from the seventies and once again it's trendy to have a garden.

Well, I very gingerly hopped aboard said horticultural bandwagon and decided to grow my own tomatoes this year, mostly because of the fact I have found it incredibly difficult to find a 'mater with the flavor of the ones we eat in the UK.  Yes, I know it's really unfair of me to disparage the American tomato so much but I will, mainly because I maintain that the need for such mass production in this country is affecting everything even down to the little common tomato. I want some flavor and color by God and I'm gonna get it!!!!!


and here it is my little 'mater lovers... all juicy and red and delicious... just demanding to be paired with a little piece of crumbly, sharp cheddar and a crisp white wine. I would also like to point out the incredible color is straight out of camera is totally ROCKIN' thanks to all that lovely Nikonness, no help whatsoevah from those good peeps at Photoshop. It's been a little challenging to keep my one tomato plant going, what with the watering thing and all... I just don't need all that responsibility but thankfully I have two slaves daughters who will gladly mess with the hose for a while each evening; then there's those meddlesome squirrels to contend with but over all I'm super impressed with my darling tasty treats. Where will this lead.... prolly nowhere... but for now I'm  imagining a fruit and veggie stand at my local Farmer's Market!!!

Tip of the day;  if you put a couple of Rolaids in the soil it will help keep them disease free....you're welcome.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

quote of the day.......

"I'm not a genius. I'm a tremendous bundle of experience"....R. Buckminster Fuller.

Now if you want to learn something new and interesting you'll google R Buckminster Fuller and enrich your mind that much more!

Have a wonderful Wednesday..mmuuwwaahhh!!!!
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Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Texture Tuesday... sweet peeps edition


OK this is my second attempt.... I did the first post on my other blog!!! URGH!!! more haste less speed.
So here's my effort for the sweet peeps week, using Kim's Serendipity texture, I applied it twice and used at clipping mask to take it off her skin. Hope you likey!!!!
Check out Kim Klassen for more texture love.