Wednesday, February 23, 2011

The 52 Week Challenge and Legos.

My plans for this post were to let it have an effect like this:
"Oh wow! Check out this super sweet blog, and it's her first post, just amazing!"

Instead I think it is going to turn out like this:
"This thing sucks."

I thought about trying really hard for this post, but I had to be realistic. I just started this thing, so first off I lack blogging experience. Also my pictures aren't going to be excellent. I have some photography experience, but very little with the camera I'm using, especially in using the manual modes and stuff. Also wrote my intro post earlier today and I've run out of inspiration for the text.
So I've decided to let this post suck because I will use it as a point to improve from.

I'll start off with the 52 week challenge. I've been reading a digital photography site and one of things it mentioned for someone to do to help themselves take more pictures is to do a challenge. It listed the 365 day challenge, which is taking a picture containing yourself once a day. Cool idea, but honestly I have a hard time trying to remember eating breakfast every morning. Then it had the 52 week challenge, which is just one picture a week, I'm pretty sure I can handle that.
For the first week I decided to just do something simple. I just set the camera on a cookie container on top of my desk, used the self-timer and snapped some pictures in portrait mode. Needless to say the results were not excellent. Here is my favorite one, I cracked up as soon as I saw it:
As you can see, I am a pro.

Then for some other photos I decided to shoot the Star Wars Hoth Lego set that I have. It's cold outside so I decided to stay indoors, and creating a blog with a cool name drained all my creative juice so I just rolled with the legos.
I did all the shots in Macro mode. I've never really used the setting, but seeing as I'm a fan of shallow depth of field I knew I'd like it. I'm still not comfortable enough with the camera to play around in manual mode too much. I know I won't get better without practice, but I was kind of in a hurry to get some shots to post because I'm slightly excited to have a post up.
So, here are some legos on my desk. Enjoy:
[A great example of the shallow depth of field: Han and the tauntaun are in focus, but the legos in the background aren't. Click for a bigger image]
Link to the rest of my lego pictures: Yay legos!

Now for something funny. When I borrowed my dad's camera and after I snapped a few shots I went into preview mode and found this gem:


So. Thanks for reading my sucky first post. Feel free to comment, you hated it, it really was the best post you've ever read, I should quit now, or whatever. 


PS. I use Flickr for my image hosting, You can find a link under the Photography tab.

2 comments:

  1. Ok. Here I am at 945 at night reading your blog. I love the new insight that I've acquired about you (and your dad). I love how you set things up...no frills baby!!! I do love your photography because I also love b&w and short dof. I also think you should let your dad use his matting skills to frame some of your lovely work. I will be back to visit often....keep up with your challenge!! I will be looking forward to it!

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  2. Hey Erica! Keep blogging and posting photos and I'll keep reading :) You should check out Gizmodo's weekly shooting challenge for some creative ideas and to expand your craft. Http://www.facebook.com/shootingchallenge Also, lifepanoramic.com features a daily portrait of a city as submitted by amateur photogs, I think it's kind cool. Also, I have a Pani. GF1 with 40mm equiv lens and a 1.7 f stop if you ever want to borrow it. Gives some nice shallow depth of field shots...

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