Revisting Old Images

I decided to take some time today to revisit some of my old pictures from my trip to Italy the summer of 07. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to have taken this trip and I look back at these pictures all the time and remember what a crazy and beautiful time this was.

I was fortunate enough to no only have a wonderful camera (Canon Rebel XT) for this trip, but also some basic knowledge in photoshop and digital archiving. Some of the things that I have found most helpful to me have been:

1. ALWAYS save originals of your images in multiple places (computer, external harddrive)
2. clearly label images with date and location
3. invest some time in photoshop classes or online tutorials (http://www.lynda.com/)
4. use layers when editing with adobe photoshop, save a PDF so you can revisit those layers and adjust them or add to them as you learn new skills.
5. try to find a good balance of lights and darks in your image, balance within an image can make it more pleasing to look at

Regards,
S

Going to Newport, Oregon for the day!
-S

Above Eugene

Took a walk around town, it was a beautiful day and I needed to clear my mind. What better place to do that than the empty top story of a parking garage.
-S

“You were given life; it is your duty to find something beautiful within life, no matter how slight.”
— Elizabeth Gilbert

Spring is coming!

“ Many of us spend our lives searching for our voice…whether it be our voice as an artist or just our own individual inner voice…and once we find it, it can bring us much joy and peace. Do not let anyone keep you from expressing it…for in letting them silence it, you let them keep you from being your true self. ”
— Paulette Insall

“Above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it. ” — Roald Dahl

Flickr Pictures

I put my entire collection of images from the wedding up on my flickr account!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7829187@N07/sets/72157615860298741/
Please comment if you check these out, it's nice to see when people are looking at my work!

-S

More Wedding Pictures

I think I have finally edited a few pictures that I am proud of, the lighting was much better later at the house and the groom and bride seemed to relax a little.
Comments?
Criticisms?
Ideas?

-S

Wedding Pictures Continued

I still have more to edit, but I'll just keep putting them up as I finish them!
I think they are turning out very cute.

-S

Andrea & Justin's Wedding

My beautiful mother and her friend Tami, the mother of the bride. BFFs since forever! Sorry it's a little dark, the lighting there was like death.

The hottest boyfriend in the existence of ever...

The ceremony was performed in the Justice of the Peace Courthouse, the judge was very late, but the ceremony was nice and very quick. This was the 'stand in' judge, the bride and groom, Andrea and Justin and the maid of honor Jami and best man Scott.

crazy awesome lighting going on...

More of these to come, I have been hesitant to edit more because I felt so frustrated with how they are turning out, all this florescent lighting and moving people make for icky blurry pictures.

Stay tuned my wonderful viewers, there will be more!
-S

Afternoon Walk

Mill St.

I went for a nice long walk today, the clouds were rolling in and bringing rain for tonight. I enjoy these little walks I take through Eugene and I try to take a different random alley way each time.
Thoughts?
Criticisms?

-S

today's post: DOGS

I'm super missing having a dog! I can't wait to have a place that allows dogs! I'm gonna get a golden retriever and she is gonna be the best dog in the world!

-S

curious

These pictures remind me of a day that I don't really care to think about often, and yet they are some of the most beautiful images that I think I've ever taken.
But to be fair, I think it's pretty impossible to take a picture of a beach at sunset without it turning out pretty amazing.

case and point, that's Rick sticking his butt at me...

-S

flashback, photography style

my soon to be home. I love Portland so much! I can't wait to be at home in this city and to adventure around in such a beautiful place. Took this last spring when the entire city was blooming and coming to life.

My faithful and ferocious hamster, Harpoon Eater, he was my companion all through freshman year at OSU.

Trip to the Oregon coast with my family. It was a wonderful vacation, I can't wait to go back.

This is how they roll in Corvallis, Oregon.

The most dynamic, yet ultimately the most disgusting cat I have ever encountered.

Just sorting though the good old external harddrive and finding some images that I am proud of or bring back fond memories, more posts like this to come I'm sure. I hope you enjoy.
-S

Final Project- Due tmro!

Unique Activities in Normal Places
Artist Statement

As an artist I feel that it is important to show the beauty and intrigue in every situation I come across, whether that situation be a scene with an object or landscape as the subject or a scene that shows another person posed or natural. I believe that first and foremost, as an artist it is my obligation to make something that will bring joy or thought to the viewer. Bringing them from their everyday life into my created reality. Many of my photographs have been the void of human life, mostly focusing on and emphasizing objects that are not normally noticed for found to be beautiful. That for so many years has been a theme that characterized my work, until now. With this class, The Fabricated Image, I am learning to express myself, my ideas and a message through constructed scenes using models, all of which I control. This absolute control over the situation has allowed me to create images that are almost exactly as I picture them in my head.

This new found ability has inspired me to take my work in a new and more playful directing, favoring almost humorous scenes in order to show they beauty and fun in the most ordinary of places. My final project is the accumulation of everything I have learned in class and in the studio all put into practice in order to perfectly portray the vision I have in my head. In this project that image was of people doing unique and somewhat adventurous activities in normal surroundings. I feel that this will draw in the eye of the viewer with unique angles and humorous content, and then make them stop and imagine all the fun activities in new places that they could go out and do! I want them to think of new and interesting things that they can do and feel inspired to go out and get a little crazy. This project was my way bringing some fun back into my art and to have fun while doing it!

If all you take from my work is a desire to try something new, I will feel like I have accomplished my goal! I want you, the viewer to use your imagination and step outside of the box for a moment and see what adventures you can find.

-S