Friday, June 30, 2006

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  Posted by Picasa

Thursday, June 29, 2006

Tips For Your Portrait Assignment


this is an audio post - click to play

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

Monday, June 26, 2006

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.

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

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

Sunday, June 18, 2006

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) Posted by Picasa

Saturday, June 17, 2006

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....

Thursday, June 15, 2006

Expectations, etc.

this is an audio post - click to play

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.

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

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


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 Posted by Picasa

Tuesday, June 13, 2006

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!

Monday, June 12, 2006

Ocean view

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

Thursday, June 08, 2006

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

Wednesday, June 07, 2006

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.

Tuesday, June 06, 2006

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!

Monday, June 05, 2006

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!

Sunday, June 04, 2006

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.

Saturday, June 03, 2006

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. Posted by Picasa

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. Posted by Picasa

Thursday, June 01, 2006

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.