Edited image of a flower

A Cry for Peace 

 

You guys were right this is a cool site. 

This showed how people are so inconsiderate to the public. Leaving there things just laying around when they are done. 

I thoight this was nasty & neat all at the same time. I found this shell at the beach in New Haven, just laying there in the sand. 

This was my subject. His name is Buster & he did not like the camera. He is a very fussy dog & would have rather been left alone. 

Week 7.... The Last Project!

At last we arrive at the last project... We couldn't finish a class on digital imaging without having some fun really mashing up picture elements. Go to the Wadsworth Atheneum's Painter site and create a few compositions. Experiment freely with all of the controls.... scale, transparency, copy and pasting, rotation, etc. Publish your masterpiece.

How to save your work on your computer to put it on Fotothing and post to your class blog:

The Painting application on the Atheneum site is a Java application and you can't save from there to your hard drive. Instead, you have to hit the Print Screen button on your computer's keyboard. This puts the whole image on your computer's monitor into the memory clipboard on your computer. Next open Paint... "Start>Programs>Accessories>Paint". Now paste your clipboard screen shot ("Edit>Paste"). Say yes when it asks would you like the bmp enlarged. Use the rectangle selection tool to select just your picture by clicking and dragging around it. Finally to save your image for uploading choose menu "Edit>Copy To" and name your file and choose a folder to sent it to. Browse to that folder with Picasa, double click on it, and finally export it as a .jpeg. Now you can upload to Fotothing or to post on the Blog. Fotothing only takes the .jpg format... probably the same for the blog.

It is a little involved but do it once and you'll see it isn't too bad and you'll have learned a new skill. Do yor readings on the Surrealist Movement... Don't think too hard about what you want to create... go with it intuitively...have fun!

This was taken in Wasington DC this weekend. I took two shots & combined them. I felt it was fitting. I enjoyed myself so much taking all my pictures that it didn't bother me that we walked for 4 hours. :o) I have posted some on Fotothing aslo. 

This is one of my day students, by window light. The window is touching my right shoulder and her left arm.

-Zoom in
-Crop the top of the head
-Put the head in the upper corner.
-Let the expression settle down.
-Turn the face into the light
-Don't include the window in the picture  

Tips For Your Portrait Assignment

Listen to this audio post regarding the portrait assignment. Here I reinforce what I want you to do for this week's assignment. This requires some stretching beyond your normal way of doing things. I cover the main points to keep in mind as you do this.


Max, at 14

Week 6, Window Light Portrait

Janie, by Window light, JN (My sister in law's niece)

Hi Everyone,

Go back and read the week 6 section of the syllabus. This week, I'd like you to revisit the idea of a portrait by natural, window light. Work with someone you know and love. Your child, parent, sibling, best friend or grandparent. 1. Turn off your flash 2. Take them by a window and let the natural light illuminate the face. Look at this example Allow your subject to settle down. Here's a young child by window light. All of your cameras can do this when you see the light correctly and let things calm down. 3. Zoom in moderately, don't zoom out. It will keep you back from your subject and their features will be in better proportion and more pleasing. 4. Avoid direct sunlight as it is too harsh. 5. Don't let your subject wear white... dark colors are much better as the eye goes to the face easier.

Littlewing has created a dynamic, in your face, wide angle, shot with flash series of her Boston Terrier on fotothing. Here she is doing everything I'm asking you not to do, using flash and a wide angle (zoomed out) lens setting. The effect is one crazed dog! (which I like) She should go back and try her Grandpa, Opa now by window light. Give it your best shot.

Remember to Comment

Hi Everyone,

Remember to comment on each other's work both here on the blog and at fotothing.... It's part of your grade! Keep shooting.... get close this week....closer! Watch the light!

-Jerry

Favorites

I thought it would be fun to combine 5 favorite pictures to Blog. I went to Elizabeth Park today & took these marvelous shots mostly at the rose garden. It was gorgeous in its natural light. I will post all of these pictures on my fotothing account under Cubanmami if you are curious on what pictures they are. Have a great night :o) 

Excellent Seascapes

I just came across this portfolio of seascapes by New Zealand photographer, Jeff Grant. His work is strong because he waits for quiet, etherial light, after sunset. He uses a tripod and an extended exposure of 30 seconds, 1 minute or more. The moving water is blurred, turns into fog and contrasts beautifully with the rock forms, which are not moving. Do try photographing during times not normally thought of.

...take a look....

Expectations, etc.

Listen to this audio post I made to help clarify in your mind my expectations regarding posting to the blog, to fotothing, commenting on each others work, etc. Section 1 class, remember to visit the section 2 blog by clicking the link in the "links" sidebar.

Bottle Delivery at 7.45AM

Hello-

So I'm back. You guys have been busy! I'm enjoying all of your new uploads. I think I have most of you as my friends on the fotothing website. But if not, be sure to add Littlewing to your list.

This shot i got outside of my hotel door. They delivery the Pelagrino daily. The truck was absolutly adorable, don't you think?

I can't wait to go back.

Look forward to more of your comments, and work.

Ciao!

lk06

"Here today gone tomrrow, we're only taking turns holding this world, it's how it's always been." The Fray

10 downsize photos and upload to fotothing

10 downsize photos and upload to fotothing

Watch the video

Hopefully the audio is better in this new demonstration of downsizing your images and then uploading them to fotothing. This flash movie shows you how. If not installed, you'll need the free shockwave plugin from macromedia.

Hi Guys,

I was coming from my friends house in manchester and I ran into this pretty neat waterfall. I also went to Old saybroook and took some pics of the beach. It was so calm and peaceful andthe beach front homes were amazing. Go to fotothing and check out some more flicks.

Yiovannie 

9 Uploading Your Downsized Photo to Fotothing and Blogger

9 Uploading Your Downsized Photo to Fotothing and Blogger

Watch the video

Here I take you through the steps of how to upload your downsized images to Fotothing and Blogger.

New Videos Posted

Check out 2 new videos posted to jnevins.blip.tv

Week 4: Shadows and Light.

Morning Light, June 13, 2006

Week 4: Shadows and Light.

Ruth Bernhard is quoted as saying something to the effect that the best location for photographing is within 30 feet of your bed. As I woke up this morning with the new assignment at hand, I saw this about two feet of my bed. This week, I want you to search out shadow and light. I want you to use it abstractly.... to fill the frame, to get in close. I want you to pay attention to subtle detail, to revel in the minute. I'd like you to remember to do your best job of editing your images before posting... Take your time, adjust the light, crop if you need to.
Re-read the section in the syllabus about this week here. Follow the links to to the readings and images to view. Post your best work to your fotothing account and one or two examples to the blog. Let me help you with any technical issues you may still be having.... have fun!

Ocean view

This picture was taken at Ocean City Maryland. I love the way waves were rippling. The lighting was just beautiful. 

Video Tutorials Now Posted!

Hi all,

I finally got a system worked out for creating and posting video tutorials on how to use Picasa2 to edit your photos. It is posted at http://jnevins.blip.tv I have 7 short videos that I made today and more are coming. I'll post more about ways to post and edit your work on blogger as well as how to get the most out of fotothing.com

Check it out!

Jerry

Rocks and Surf

Surf Sequence 3, SanMateo County Coast, California1940

Ansel Adams created a sequenced series of photographs in 1940 with his 8"X10" camera. Each exposure was made onto a single sheet of 8"X10" film creating an exquisitely detailed print. Notice how his image goes way beyond mere description of a place. As beginners, we use the camera to record "places". Adams uses this view down to the incoming surf as a springboard for creating elegant design that transcends "place" and becomes a universal metaphor.... a poetic vision. As you go out shooting, try to go beyond "place" and "overview" and go more deeply into the visual possibilities presented in your visit to the beach.

Littlewing in Italy

Leanna Kearny, aka Littlewing or lk06 (Black Pinky), took off for Italy over the week-end and has been shooting up a storm there. She is posting many great images on her fotothing account. Go check it out http://www.fotothing.com/Littlewing/
She must be hitting internet cafes to upload her images.... Good job lk06! She'll be back on June 13 with a pile of pictures to work with. Here's another joy of doing a class like this online!

Streams and Other Woodland Places

You can also visit a local park or take a walk in the woods for this week's assignment. Here I photographed the Saugatuck River in Redding in April using a tripod and a 5 second exposure to blur the moving water. I like the textural contrast between the soft, moving water and the edgy rock forms with lichen. Remember composition and light!

A new Week!

Week 3 June 5 - June 12

Assignment: By the Sea

Look at Weston's work at Point Lobos, California. What kind of light did he photograph under? How did he move in and compose what ever he was looking at? For each photograph, consider the point of view Weston and the camera position.

Weston got down, got close to these rock forms on the beach. I want you to do the same

Read this short biography of Ansel Adams. Browse through his images of the American west.

You are to visit the beach (tough assignment in summer, I know), and look carefully at form, light, composition and line. Examine tidal pools, rock formations and sand patterns with the curiosity and freshness of a young child, say a toddler. Move in close, fill the frame. Submit your best two images on the class blog and post 6-10 or more to your online album. (Links in academic expectations below).

Fotothing Down?

Hi everyone,

I made the aquaintance of Bill aka www.fotothing.com/photopro... he has some impressive images to check out... He has been around fotothing for quite awhile. I asked him about the recent outages with the server reporting "down". Here is his reply:

Jerry,

It is very unual for the server to be down, and since August of 2005 it has never been down as long as it was recently. So unusual that I got personal emails from 8 different members asking if I knew anything and commiserating about how much we missed Fotothing! I can only remember 2 other times that it has been down since 08/05.

Bill

So let's hope that it was a VERY temporary blip.... Things seem fine at fotothing now.

Keep up the good work, everyone.

Vintage State Capitol

Just messing around with blogger here is another pic of the state capitol. I made this pic look "vintage". :) It reminded me of a pic I would see in my history books or a pic that from an old historic newspaper... Does anyone know how I can make the pic bigger when I'm posting a blog. If I stretch it looks blurry. 

State Capitol

Hello Everyone,

This is a picture of the State Capitol. I actually took these picture in the rain. The original one was darker and lacked the proper lighting to show the details of the building, so I sharpened the picture which made the picture much clearer. I also added some lighting since like i said before, it came out dark due to the rain. I think i could have been aimed the camera a litle lower with the lens minimized so that it didn't look as if I was looking up. I tell you a little secret ;) I have passed by the State Capitol millions of times but i have never been in it or up close for that matter. As I was taking the pics I realized how beautiful the building actually is. It almost looks like a castle with the crown on the top. I took some other pics to. See them on fotothing. Add me as a friend. My user name is Yiovannie. 

Bridges Are Also Architectural

Adam Clutterbuck of England has a wonderful Gallery of images on another excellent photo portfolio site, Pbase.com,,, Here is the link to his gallery of black and white images he calles Elements. His coice of photographing from underneath the bridges and centering the receding focal point as well as his use of black and white also get to the heart of this week's assignment.

Fotothing Update

Marla McBride writes:

Hi Jerry,

I was finally able to get into Fotothing.com. You may want to inform those that are having problelms getting the email confirmation to forward an email to support@fotothing.com and ask to have an email confirmation sent, so they can log in. That's how I was able to get access.

Hopefully, this helps.

Marla

Thanks Marla!

We now have 15 students signed up ... half-way there! I would be great if you would add each other as friends that way when you go to your home page, everyone else is there as a friend... That would make it easier to see what everyone is up to.

Joy Bush joined and is on my friends page. She is the University photographer at Southern Connecticut State University... She is really interested in doing the assignments along with everyone and seeing how an online course like this can unfold. Take a look at her self-portraits!

I spent most of today working on creating online video tutorials... I'm almost there... stay tuned.

Hey Ya'll

Hey Ya'll,

I was having some serious tech difficulties... I think on track now. I also just got a new camera so that was one more thing I had to learn just to keep up with you guys ;). My self portrait is a pic of me.... Looking a hot mess :) I know it wasn't very creative this time, but I promise not to bore you with pics of me....me.... and more me. I'll try and amuse you from time to time. lol..I'm looking forward to learning so hopefully before this class is over I can look back and these pictures and laugh as I see my pics grow. I'm also looking forward to getting to know all of you and watch your work grow as well:) !

Self Portrait

This taken in my hall. It took my a little bit of time to think out of the box for a self portrait. I love the ones I have seem on here so far. Very creative. Also just to let you guys know on Fotothing my name is Cubanmami. I have added some that I have found. I am really excited to be learning more about photography. :o)

Black Pinky

Hello again-

I seem to be having trouble with my Fotothing downloading a bit too. So I take it upon myself to post another image, so you all know that I am clicking away over here. :)

I took this shot in my bathroom mirror. Not too original on the way it all came together, just point and shoot. (and yes I know there are a few object mergers) But I like the fact that the camera covers the main focus of the face, the eyes. I like that you have no idea who really is behind it. I named the image Black Pinky for the obvious reasons.
Hopefully my next post will be through Fotothing.

lk06

"Behind every beautiful thing, there's been some kind of pain." dylan

How to Post

For those of you still having issues posting to the blog, I just put up this short tutorial on jnevins.com/howtopost It's fun! it's easy! Post early! Post often!

For the fun of it, I just dug out my old trusty Nikon Coolpix 990... (3 mp circa 2000)... and pointed it down at the base of my desk lamp. The body swivels back and I could watch the lcd screen to compose the picture... My computer monitor is visible on the right also..... I like the way the curved metal base bends space and also made my hands really huge relative to the rest of me. No digital tricks, just staight shooting by available light.