Wrap up 2018

Christmas break/relief is coming this Thursday. I surely can’t wait. To be able to just chill out and just relax (hopefully). I aced my Photoshop 1 class. It definitely was a challenge and I had a great teacher. I didn’t realized Photoshop has so many layers and we honestly barely skimmed the surface. But I’m not nearly as afraid of it as when I first started the class. I’m excited to see what I can do to enhance my photos. This upcoming semester I originally was going to take a break but then a Fine Arts rep talked to our class was informing us about other classes that would be beneficial for us to take. My friend Sarah who is a fellow photographer had told me earlier this semester she was signed up for a Computer Art Studio class and wouldn’t you know…..that is one of the classes the Fine Arts rep talked about. So I thought why not and also enrolled in the same class as Sarah. So I can’t wait to see her for next semester!!

StainColored Thoughts Photography: Final Portfolio and thoughts on my Film Photography Class

My film photography class

So my class ended on December 12th and I must say this was one of the best classes that I EVER had in my life. I'm not sure where to even begin. Learning about the Darkroom is an intimidating experience at first but one you have been in there a few times, it just becomes a part of you. I found it so relaxing to not only develop my film but also to make my prints. There is something about film in general that makes the experience of taking photographs much more intimate.

StainColored Thoughts Photography: Selfies with a film/digital camera

This past Friday while everyone was off from work I was enjoying myself with a STAYCATION. A staycation is being at work with no distractions. So I pretty much had my office to myself and was able to get some work done. Afterwards when my shift was over, I proceeded to take my camera equipment to a room I found perfect for photography and began to setup for one of my assignments for my film photography class. This particular assignment I was excited about but also dreaded. I have to take self portraits.

One of my portraits required me being naked from the shoulders up, so I did what I had to do with that one....LOL I wrapped a scarf around my midsection and got to shooting. Other pics I had to show myself as an alternative person. So I think I did okay with that. Yet the really time consuming issue was switching back and forth of the camera bodies on my tripod. Setting up my shots with a wired trigger and taking test shots with my digital camera and marking areas on the ground and the wall behind me to make sure I had the shot just the way I would like it. Holy smokes......

So while listening to Netflix's The Mist and Stranger than Us shows I was alternating between taking pics with my Digital camera and my Film camera to gauge how I was taking the pictures and hoping the film version would turn out alright. I worked on this project from 4pm to 9pm. This was just part 1 of the project. I still have to take other pictures showing me in action......that will be interesting.

StainColoredThoughts Photography: Happy 35th Birthday to my sister

So today my lil sister is 35 years old. She has accomplished so much. She is an entrepreneur, homeowner, and a college graduate who will by the end of this year attain her Masters in Business. So she wanted to celebrate her birthday with a photo shoot that we had this past Sunday. Originally we were scheduled to shoot in our parent's neighborhood but as soon as we made it to our location, it started to rain. She had to run back home to grab her second outfit so I suggested we go out to Forest Park's World Pavilion and shoot there instead.

StainColoredThoughts Photography: Jacqueline Loggin's Surprise 50th Birthday Bash

This past weekend I went to one of the most epic parties EVER!! What I am refering to is the celebration of my favorite cousin's who not only turned 50th (and doesn't look it all) but also got turnted up with family and friends (around 120 attended) who love her dearly.

StainColoredThoughts Photography: Hangin with Partyfovl at Eat.Drink.Chill

Last Sunday during Labor Day weekend I had the pleasure of taking photos of two of my friends while they were spinning on their turntables. Individually they are known as DJ Epic & SpontaneousMixx. Together they go by PartyFovl. They have their own unique way of mixing but they blend so masterfully well. The event they were providing music for was a social event called EAT.DRINK.CHILL. Think grown and sexy crowds coming together to party and mingle under one roof throughout the year at various locations.

StainColoredThoughts Photography: Wedding styled session

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of being invited to a Wedding styled session by a friend who I met in a Graphic Design class earlier this year. Corri who is a fantastic photographer and the owner of Biesemeyer Visual Artistry asked if I was interested and I definitely jumped at the opportunity to be a part of the project.

StainColoredThoughts Photography: First Solo and Couple Session

A few weeks ago I had the nervous pleasure of taking on my first Solo/Couple Session. A friend of mine requested some pics to use for her upcoming birthday and also wanted to get in some couple shots with her husband. Originally I had suggested using Forest Park but then realized Lafayette Park would be a better destination for many reasons. First, with this being my first session I didn't want to be overwhelmed and Lord knows going to Forest Park on a Saturday is already insane by itself. You fighting for parking spaces and other venues that might already be going on as well. Not to mention did I say it's a big ass park? Lafayette Park is a beautiful medium size park (compared to Forest Park it might be considered small). So I went a week in advance and cased out the place. I went walking around to find out where I think it would be great to take shots. I took my phone with me to take pictures of the various areas so I would be able to go over them later on and then also put together a Pinterest folder of various poses to look them over.

Two Festivals, One Weekend: St. Louis County Greekfest and St. Louis African Arts Festival 2017

During Memorial Day weekend, there were 2 Festivals. The Greek Festival and the St. Louis African Arts Festival. My mother and I went to the Greeks Art Festival on Friday and went through and picked up some Greek desserts and various Greek main dishes. We checked out the vendors as well but unfortunately had gotten there so early that we found out the entertainment would not start until 6pm. So we ate some food there and then went back home to put the rest of the food in the fridge.

Stain Colored Thoughts: Final Project and Thoughts on my Artifical Photography class

So unofficially I have wrapped up my class for this semester. We still have a few more class days but for the most part we are done shooting. I turned my final project in last Wednesday which consisted of 8 photographs in particular categories. A minimum 5 pictures had to be color and a minimum 2 had to be black and white. Four pictures required studio flash. So we had to use our imagination and techniques that we learned in class and also had the option of using Photoshop. I know for myself Photoshop is definitely an Achilles heel so I tried my best to get my lighting right the first time and not have to depend on making huge changes in Photoshop.

Stain Colored Thoughts: The Battle Isn't Yours

On September 2nd I did event photography for a play that was held at the JCPenney Conference Center on University of MO - STL campus. The director of the play is Joice Valentine. She is also one of the subjects of my photography project ShowYouSTL.

Stain Colored Thoughts: Artifical Light Photography

Edward Crim showing us the ropes during a Creative Studio session - Aug 9th, 2016

So if you have read my previous posts you know I enjoyed the hell out of my Digital Photography/Photoshop class and was geared up to take a film version of the class this fall. I mean I found out the book I had ordered for the film class was literally the same version, I mean about 95% the same. I compared the digital and films books and just couldn't believe my luck. I thankfully have saved ALL the quizzes and tests that I took from the summer course and have all my notes in a folder. So back in May I rented my Digital Photography books from CampusBookRentals.com. I loved their service and used them again for my fall Film class.

Stain Colored Thoughts: Digital Camera Course - Afterthoughts

Hard work = an A grade

Originally written August 3rd,

Well I kicked butt in my final, received a 49/50. Overall I had a blast in the class and the teacher was absolutely wonderful. Even though I feel as though I only learned about Camera Raw in regards to Photoshop while everyone else learned way more than me. I'm not going to let it deter me. I will try to learn more about it and some other graphic software as well. I'm waiting on my final grade but I know I have an A+. I had so much extra credit in the class I didn't want to take anything for granted. I enjoyed the assignments given and even did extra on a few of them. I really enjoyed this class because it was a Hybrid class. Part internet and the other part being in the classroom. We used state of the art equipment from Macs to a printing room that had some of the biggest printers I had ever seen.

Stain Colored Thoughts: Digital Camera Course - Last Class (Extra Credit)

Far out

So for extra credit we have the option of doing a Panoramic photo. So I decided to give it a shot. I originally wanted to get a shot of Alton, IL river scene but unfortunately I didn't do the pictures correctly. So this afternoon I decided to go out to Lafayette Park and get some pictures of the beautiful bridge and pond. I took to versions of it. Far out and close. The far out shot was better but the close up shot......yea.....I had some fun with that one. I'll let you go through it to see what I  tried to fix.....LOL

Now I just need to take the final by this Sunday. Crossing my fingers.

Stain Colored Thoughts: Digital Camera Course - Last Week Impressions

This last week of classes has definitely been a challenge.  I had homework assignments for HDR photographs and Composition photographs. The software I used for the HDR photos is called Photomatix. Love it! I also had to finalize my portfolio, take two quizzes ahead of schedule to give myself more time to take the final on Saturday. Overall I've really enjoyed this class and feel I've learned a lot about my camera. Photoshop.......still a work in progress.

Stain Colored Thoughts: Digital Camera Course - 7th Week Impressions

Wide Shot

So I know I've been behind on posting my assignments. One week I had to do a Landscape assignment. Take 3 pictures of the same item but in 3 different ways. Wide, Close-up and Abstract. I went to a few places to take pictures but my pics of this barn out in Faust Park are my favorites.

Stain Colored Thoughts: Digital Camera Course - Fifth Week impressions

During 4th week of class our assignment was a freebie. So we were able to take pictures of something that we were interested in taking pictures of.  I was asked to take pictures at a boutique for a product debut for some lovely ladies. So I decided to use my favorite shot for the event as my assignment.

Stain Colored Thoughts: Digital Camera Course - Third Week impressions

The class put some of their photos up on the wall

So this class has definitely been one hell of a ride. So much information being crammed into 8 weeks, but I'm taking it all in stride. I'm not only learning about cameras but also about Photoshop. Holy crap. I'm feeling more comfortable with my camera but it still poses some challenges. Photoshop should just be called "asdflkajdsflkjadlfkhdfkjlkfjafk;jk" because sometimes I feel it makes my head spin and my eyes hurt with learning all it can do. I do enjoy the photography challenges that my teacher has thrown our way. I'm trying to learn not to over think assignments. Sometimes I will look at Pinterest or Google certain photos for inspiration.

Stain Colored Thoughts: First Photography Gig

Stain Colored Thoughts: Digital camera course - first impressions this week

I haven't used one of these in DECADES!!!!

Well this past week I completed my first week of a digital photography course that I started at a college campus. The class is a tad bit long (about 3 hours per class) but I knew that going into the course especially with it being Summer time. Yet I was excited and have been doing my readings. The classroom is quite nice and I'm having to familiarize myself with Mac computers all over again. I think the last Apple computer I owned was back when I was in elementary school and even then it was with a floppy disk, color image writer printer, and a green dot matrix screen. I think it was the Apple IIc.  Well this computer I'm messing with now is definitely leaps and bounds ahead of that. Yet I will say I'm not really feeling the keyboard. I would happy trade it out for an ergonomic keyboard.