Photos at the Forks

If you haven't heard of the Forks before it's a pretty popular touristy place to check out in Winnipeg. It's where 2 of the rivers in Winnipeg meet and thus the 'Forks', I know not super original haha. Anyways so my father in law and I went and did a bit of a walk around and got some pictures. I'm not super impressed with mine, I don't think they ended up being nearly as creative as I was hoping they would be, but hey I'm still learning. I registered for a course in photography with our leisure guide but it's totally full up, booo! SO I've found this great site www.shootflyshoot.com, these 2 guys teach you all you need to know to get started via videos, it's decently priced and you can look back on the videos as often as you want. 

Baby it's cold outside!

Well today I was going to go out shooting, and normally I might but 2 things majorly factor into not going today;

1. the weather, it's -30 degrees Celsius outside without the wind chill (no thank you)!!
B. I've got a 2 month old at home who, like me, isn't to keen on this frigid weather either.

So instead I've decided to try some pictures of junk around the house. That and I think I'll do my sweetie pies 2 month photo shoot to! Maybe when she stops squirming!! So I'm home with the heat turned up to 23 so I can walk around in shorts and deny the cold! (Don't tell my hubby, he thinks I leave it at 21 when he's not home, my secret :) ) Here's what I got today, nothing to fabulous haha! You wouldn't have much either if your house was a total construction zone to!

Boo, this reminds me house old our house is, sure it's got character I guess. 

Trying to figure out appropriate aperture and exposure. This
is my old trunk I got from an antique store, I love old things!

This is my thermostat outside my window, it's not even accurate!
AND it doesn't take in account the wind chill.

Hanging out with this little sweetheart today!! Happy 2 month
birthday squirt!

The Real Deal

Alrighty!! I'm now the proud new owner of a fantastic Nikon D3000! It came with a 18-55 mm lens and a 55-200 mm. I'm so set to go! Just need an external flash, but hey my pockets are only so deep and I can only play with so much at a time anyways. Took my first picture to add to my portfolio this morning. I saw a sparrow but the little bugger flew away before I could get close enough  for a picture.

I've been doing some intense reading about my camera, it's options, functions and all the tricks and tips. I got most of my info from Ken Rockwell at www.kenrockwell.com! He's got his setting suggestions and tells you why he sets things to those options.

 After spending an hour outside in minus 30 weather ( I joke not!) in waste deep snow I feel like I can say I'm pretty committed! All for maybe 4 decent pictures, grr. Oh well, after coming inside and my husband swiping the memory card and loading as fast as he can just to have a peek makes me wanna load up that memory card and march right back out there for more..... After some coffee maybe haha. The encouragement I get from my husband and father in law is wonderful! I'm so excited about this! I can't wait to get back out there.... Hmmm wonder what the weathers like tomorrow??

This is where the deepest snow was, I sure got a work out trudging through that!

Camera Lust!!

 Oh boy, I've only had this DSLR for 2 hours and as a friend said earlier I have camera lust!! So what am I going to do about it? Ha! My Coolpix has been posted on kijiji 10 mins ago and I found an upgrade on kijiji. As much as I love my father in laws camera, I only get it for a week and learning how to shoot in Manual mode takes a whole lot longer than a week to figure out. And if I do get a new one maybe I can get good enough to have my own business.... AND maybe charge people for my photography. That's waay down the road though, dreams dreams! Using the camera in manual instead of auto is so hard! There's so many different things I need to learn, and the ISO and apeture are very confusing. I hope to be good enough that I can shoot in manual instead of auto all the time. I read in a blog that the first 1000 pictures on your new DSLR shot in manual are garbage, oh dear is that ever true! 78 pictures down, 922 left to ruin :)

 I'm thinking that with my new camera I'm going to have to take a course to use it to it's fullest capability. Any recommendations for good courses for total beginners? Whats your favorite online schools, or in Manitoba? How about Photoshop programs? There's a million Photoshop programs out there and their so confusing. This program that I downloaded, GIMP, is super intense. Not only is it intense I think its gumming up my computer, boo :( .    

Landscape or Portraits??

   Yay my second blog post! I'm really getting excited about this!Each day I'm learning new things in the world of  photography. Photography isn't all about the picture itself, I realized that I need to start editing my pictures, and not just editing them on Microsoft Office pictures. I did some research and found Gimp online and downloaded it for now. Being a beginner I figure I might as well try this out first before I really start investing some money into this. I'm starting to look at the local thrift stores for great props I can use for my pictures. If you have any ideas of different things I could get or a great place to look let me know!!! 

   I realized that I can buy a SLR with airmiles!! Unfortunately I'm 3000 short, and it takes forever to collect them. Hopefully they don't expire by the time I have enough.

   Here's some pictures I took this fall, some of them were on the way to Birds Hill Park.

My only problem so far is I'm not sure what type of photography I want to lean towards, I love taking pictures of people but landscape pictures are SO gorgeous.  

          

 

In the middle of this trip my batteries died so I had to stop at the nearest store and buy more, that was super inconvenient!! I think a battery charger is in order!

Like I said in my last blog my father in law has an SLR camera, SOOO he's going to borrow it to me this weekend to play around with to see how badly I want to upgrade. Such a bad idea! I should just deal with the camera I have and not know any nicer or better! I'm super excited to try it out though! 

Baby Avery

  So....I've been somewhat interested in photography but was never any good at it. For as long as I can remember my mom would bug me about my 'photography skills'. I got a digital camera for my birthday and was revealed the wonderful world of the delete button!! 

  For my last birthday I got a new camera from my husband, my father in law has a DSLR and has all the books and a tripod so I stole it and headed to Birds Hill for some scenery.

  After spending money on baby pictures my hubby suggested why don't you take them?? So what the heck, I gave it a try and am super happy with them!! My days of deleting stupid pictures of boring things is over! I've got a new hobby and an adorable model!!!