Kindred Images and Creations

Merry Christmas

Get ready to take those Christmas photos. Know the best white balance setting for the lighting. Note that when using a flash, switch the white balance to flash regardless of the normal source of lighting. When in doubt, use the Auto or Automatic white balance camera setting, if available. Determine whether you should be using any exposure compensation. . Are there obstacles that will get in the way of any pictures (columns, fixed objects, plants, etc.)? If so, plan your seating or your shooting location accordingly. How's the Background? If it's neutral - use it. If it's ugly, maximize your depth of field (smallest possible F-stop) to blur the background. Seating Arrangements: If using rectangular tables, take the Christmas pictures facing the wide end of the rectangle and use a wide angle setting. If you shoot any Christmas pictures from the narrow end, use as large an F-stop number as possible (optimally F-22 or higher). However, even if you do, some of the guests will probably still be out of focus (hence, the "shoot from the wide end" suggestion).Test Shots: Take practice shots before the event, using what you believe are the correct camera settings. If practical, you can then verify the final result on your computer. Go through the shoot-examine-adjust settings cycle until you are satisfied. If this approach is not practical (for example, you might be traveling in from out of town), use the camera's LCD screen to review test shots. However, realize that this approach will not catch anything other than very obvious problems. If you check the histogram though, you will be able to at least get an indication whether the overall photograph's contrast is correct.

Equipment: Have fully-charged batteries (rechargeable preferred), memory cards, chargers, external flash, lens accessories, and tripod ready. The Christmas Pictures List: Jot down the Must Have pictures, as well as the ones you would like to capture, if possible. Look At The List: As you get swept up in the excitement of the holiday, you won't remember all the great shots you wanted to take during the celebration, unless you refer to your list.

Before the Chaos: Take as many of the "non-people" shots (such as ornaments) before anyone arrives and chaos is at a minimum.

November 2009 Photography Newsletter

Have a happy Thanksgiving!

A few ideas when taking Thanksgiving day pictures.

The quiet times

Find a quiet corner of the dining room and take a photo of your family and the person giving grace. Consider photos that reflect soft light and a quiet setting. Candle light can set the mood. Other soft quiet moments might include a couple in a romantic pose over the fireplace; kids sitting with grandparents, a new baby sleeping in a blanket, your pet curled up sleeping. Soft quiet moments, when captured correctly, can really pull on the heartstrings years later.

The busy times

Have your camera ready for taking action shots like cheering during a football game, kids running and playing outdoors in the leaves, the carving of the turkey and shots that create storylines in action. Years later as people remember what they were doing and thinking during those funny, active moments it will bring smiles and laughs.

Tradition

Including preparing the holiday meal, the dinner table set with a feast and family around it, a close up of the carving of the turkey. Each family has there own traditions to capture and remember.

Whats New in The Gallery.......

Bee on sunflower

Ladybug

 White Rose

November 2009  Beading Newsletter

Sparkle and Shine

Crystals Explained

Defined crystal are - a homogenous solid formed

by a repeating three-dimensional pattern of atoms,

ions, or molecules and having fixed distances

between constituent parts. Common use of the word

crystal refers to quartz or other clear substance

like quartz. But us beaders the crystals commonly

used are glass (*silica, lime snd soda or ash), with

lead added to intensfy, add clarity and brighten.

Swarovski crystals are cut on an edge cutting

machine saving time and allowing more precision.

Lovely sparking crystals are fun, affordable and

always in style. Add some sparkle to your day!

Reminder

With the holiday season on

it's way I would just

like to send out a friendly reminder

that I do make

custom orders. Every piece of

jewelry is an original

work of art. Feel free to browse

my shop at my site.

The gallery have prints and

jewelry if you wish to

purchase anything that is not

in the shop but is in

The Gallery please contact me.

New in the Gallery..........

Ray of Sunshine Necklace

Mother of Pearl collar

Chrildrens Drangonfly Pendent Necklace

October 2009 Photography Newsletter

Fall Photography Tips

Photograph early in the day or late in the day, for best light and color. The around sunrise and sunset. There?s just something about the soft, golden light around this time (which brings out the reds and golds in your photos) that you can?t help but love.

Don?t overlook overcast days. They can often be wonderful to shoot on because the sun isn?t drowning out the colors and the shadows are softer.

Use a tripod. Especially when shooting at dusk tripods really, really, really help. Experiment with your shutter speed -? a 1-3 second shutter can do wonders, stilling the foliage and the colors, while letting the rest of the world turn into a blur.

Try a macro lens or macro mode. For those expert-looking close-ups of leaves, a macro lens is indispensable. No macro lens? Set your camera to macro mode and get really close -? that works too. Tripods are handy at this point so that you can really focus on the leaves without worrying about blurring your shot.

Fall photo ideas- Leaf play get those fun seasonal leafy portraits. Take advantage of kids raking and playing in the leaves. Leaves are not all of what makes fall, try taking your camera to a pumpkin patch or farms market.

New in The Gallery

Blue Iris

Reds and Yellows

Delicate whites

Storm Front

Home invader

Print prices

Unmatted and unframed prints prices-

4 by 6 print- $4

5 by 7 print- $10

8 by 10 print- $16

Poster prints (not all photos available for poster size prints)

11 by 14 poster print- $25

12 by 18 poster print- $30

16 by 20 poster print- $35

20 by 30 poster print- $40

Post cards

4.25 by 6 postcard- $2.50

5 by 7 postcard- $3

Photo canvas (not all photos available on canvas)

16 by 20-$120

20 by 24- $150