The Girls of The "Sundays" Series

In between everything else I work on the "Psychiatric Sundays Series."

These are my favorite edit's of tonights post-processed shots. I'm moving along with all of the photos/editing.

There are some great shots coming soon in the series that I can't wait to edit from another part of the psychiatic compound of buildings. Just wait and see!

Joey L's Night Action



With Texture...my latest addiction





Lomo Cross Processing Action





Lomo Editorial Action

Thanks Jason Moore Photography!

I just wanted to give a special thanks to Jason Moore of Jason Moore Photography - Home of the Photoshop & Photography Blogroll who has featured my blog post from 3/24/08 (Finale of the Mill Pond Series) on his blog today.

Click HERE to view it.

If you'd like to featured on Jason's BLOGROLL click HERE for more information.

Jason's NAPP portfolio

Moore Multimedia, Inc.

Jason's YouTube Channel with some great tutorials

Forsythia in Bloom in Princeton NJ

After my day of running around doing errands I was determined to find a photo opportunity. I brought my camera and tripod with me because I was hoping to find SOMETHING...Nothing crazy...I didn't want to be out for hours....I just wanted something to photograph today...I guess I just had the "itch" to take something. Do you know that feeling?

When I was driving I spotted something YELLOW our of the corner of my eye that grabbed my attention. I memorized where I saw that pop of color along the highway and then on my way back from shopping I pulled down the main street that takes you into Princeton, NJ and I found what caught my attention.

It was a long line of forsythia in bloom running along the side of a farm that I actually photographed a while back.





Next to the line of forsythia was the line of beautiful trees that leads you all the way into Princeton that I always enjoy seeing as I ride along this road. It got so cold by this point and I was wearing a light jacket. I stood there praying that cars would stop coming down the VERY busy road on the left so I could snap my photos and get back in my warm car!



You can check out my entire HDR Gallery by clicking HERE.

Make Your Own Photography Backdrop with Muslin & Westcott Background Support System

Last night I ordered a Westcott Background Support System 9014 with 2 Stands, Cross Bar & Bag from the recommendation of my friend Heather from One Shot Beyond Photography.

This Background Support System consists of two stands, a collapsible crossbar that extends to 10' 6", and a carrying case. The system supports both the 10' x 12' and 10' x 24' sheet backgrounds. Optional Background Clips (9016) attach to the Background Stands, and will allow you to add a second crossbar and hang an additional sheet background from the same set of stands. (I'll probably pick those up at another time since I forgot to add them when I placed the order).

I ordered it from Adorama in NYC. They are currently having a sale on this backdrop system. It's normally $174.10 and I got it for $159.00 with free shipping! To see the system on Adorama's website click here.

On another note...a while back I posed that I purchased a Black Muslin Backdrop from JO-ANN Fabrics. Well, today I decided to go back again to JO-ANN's and purchase some more Muslin for additional backdrops choices.

While I was there I was a bit disappointed that I wasn't able to find any Muslin in 144 inch widths like I found last time with the black Muslin that I purchased so I settled on the 108 inch width. That only gives me 9 feet wide to work with but I will have to live with it.

I didn't have as many colors to choose from as I wanted so I went for WHITE, RED and a PLUM (dark purple).

While I was at the store I heard one of the workers mention a coupon in the flyer available at the front of the store so I got one and the girl who cut my 3 fabric choices added in the 40% off discount on one the fabrics.

I was thinking "this is my lucky weekend!" Not only did I get the backdrop support system above at a deal I also was getting almost half off one of the backdrops.

Well, the weekend got luckier. When I went to ring up at the register I asked the young man at the register if I could ring up the backdrops as separate orders to get the 40% off each backdrop and instead of doing that he tried ringing 3 coupons in one order and it worked (one for each back drop! YAY!). I purchased 3 new Muslin backdrops for $64.45 IN TOTAL! What a steal!

I'm going to ask a few seamstresses for a price on sewing in a rod pocket on the my black backdrop and my 3 newer ones. That way I can easily slide them onto the rail.

Next time I'm in NYC I will have to stop at MOOD Fabrics and see what they have. I'm not sure how their prices are but it doesn't seem like there are many fabric stores around where I live and I really wanted some fun & funky backdrops.

The last deal of the weekend that I got today (since I don't have rod pockets on my backdrops yet) were Spring Clamps from the local HOME DEPOT.

The Spring Clamps were marked at $2.09 each in the aisle but when I got to the register they rung up at $.99 each!

I purchased 4 of them to hopefully do the trick with holding my backrop up on the new background support system. I figured 4 should (hopefully) evenly distribute the weight of the muslin fabric across the pole without sags.

The clamps will be useful for many different things so they are usefull to have on hand. If I buy some seamless paper the will hold the role of paper from rolling more paper out. For $.99 each you can't beat a deal!

I'm going to test this all out before my portrait shoot this Sunday...and that's if the background support system comes before then. I'm almost positive it will since I think Adorama has their warehouse in New Jersey. There's no way it can take 7-10 days (I pray!). I'd love to have it for Sunday.

Well, I just thought I would pass this information along to you all and I hope it can help someone else!

MOM! Yes, That's My MOM!

Today I got to take my Mom's portraits in my "makeshift" home studio.

A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts. ~Washington



When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child. ~Sophia Loren, Women and Beauty



The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness. ~Honoré de Balzac



I cannot forget my mother. She is my bridge. When I needed to get across, she steadied herself long enough for me to run across safely. ~Renita Weems



Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible. ~Marion C. Garretty, quoted in A Little Spoonful of Chicken Soup for the Mother's Soul



Youth fades; love droops; the leaves of friendship fall; A mother's secret hope outlives them all. ~Oliver Wendell Holmes



My mom is a neverending song in my heart of comfort, happiness, and being. I may sometimes forget the words but I always remember the tune. ~Graycie Harmon



Mother - that was the bank where we deposited all our hurts and worries. ~T. DeWitt Talmage



Mother is the name for God in the lips and hearts of little children. ~William Makepeace Thackeray



Most of all the other beautiful things in life come by twos and threes, by dozens and hundreds. Plenty of roses, stars, sunsets, rainbows, brothers and sisters, aunts and cousins, comrades and friends - but only one mother in the whole world. ~Kate Douglas Wiggin



God could not be everywhere, so he created mothers. ~Jewish Proverb



The tie which links mother and child is of such pure and immaculate strength as to be never violated. ~Washington Irving



It's not easy being a mother. If it were easy, fathers would do it. ~From the television show The Golden Girls



The best conversations with mothers always take place in silence, when only the heart speaks. ~Carrie Latet



Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother. ~Oprah Winfrey



No gift to your mother can ever equal her gift to you - life.



I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life. ~Abraham Lincoln



A mother understands what a child does not say.



The photo below was us at the end of the session. After 2 hours of helping me clean my house she still sat for portraits with a smile. Isn't she just a beautiful mom?

Yes, she is. Inside and out!

A daughter is a mother's gender partner, her closest ally in the family confederacy, an extension of her self. And mothers are their daughters' role model, their biological and emotional road map, the arbiter of all their relationships. ~Victoria Secunda

12 Essential Photographic Rules

12 Essential Photographic Rules:

http://www.popphoto.com/howto/1175/twelve-essential-photographic-rules.html?print_page=y

All I Had Time For Tonight

This is all I had time to edit tonight from the "Psychiatric Sunday" series...it's 3:40 am and I need to get to sleep.

My mom is coming over tomorrow and she promised to let me do some portraits of her. I'm looking forward to that.

Here a few of Jen & Brittany:

Oh Snap! and Warm It Up Chris actions applied to this one:

In Dark B&W by Itty Bitty Actions

How could you NOT love this one? This place was perfect for this shoot!

Lights on Action applied and then Dark B&W by Itty Bitty Actions applied:



With Texture over the one above:

When you have come to the edge of all the light you have...

"When you have come to the edge of all the light you have,
and must take a step into the darkness of the unknown...

Believe that one of two things will happen to you...

Either there will be something solid for you to stand on or
You will be taught how to fly."


Thank you, Heather.

Just a Couple Edits from Tonight of Psychiatric Sunday

Just a few more edits I was able to squeeze in last night before bed from the "Psychiatric Sunday" shoot.

For this one I used the Technicolor Dream World Action

On this one I used the Oh Snap and then the Warm It Up Chris action:
Then I took the edit above and applied the Joey L Night Action to it and then in that layer I erased the face so that it wasn't so dark:

More to come!

Free Lightroom Presets

Free Lightroom Presets:

http://inside-lightroom.com/index.php

Great HDR Tutorial

Check out this Awesome HDR Tutorial shared on Shawn Duffy's Blog.

Thanks Shawn!! This was a great find!

Studio Lighting - Making the Equipment Decision

Studio Lighting

Making the Equipment Decision

http://www.keradwc.com/articles/studiolights.html

Finale of the Mill Pond Park Series

The Finale of the Mill Pond Park series (taken in Plainsboro, NJ) is below. I'm extremely pleased with the results I got.

The combination of 3 exposures (HDR) and a gorgeous, clear day with blue skies allowed me to capture a wonderful nature series.

I hope you enjoy (and feel free to leave a comment)!

WATER

THE BEAUTY OF TREES

THE PATHWAY

Now...who doesn't love a great pathway??

If you haven't seen PART ONE of the Mill Pond Park Series be sure to check it out!