Photography Challenges and Class Submissions

I posted this photo awhile ago, but I'm reposting it to take part in today's Simplicity photography challenge: Flowers.

I'm also submitting one of my favorites to the Aspire photography challenge: Lovely.

And now for this week's class submissions. Last week in class we discussed flash techniques and ISO. Our assignment was to experiment with different types of flash and to shoot in an ISO mode we'd never shot with before. Here we go:

My friend Beth, who is also taking the class, got together with me to practice. This photograph was taken using fill flash and a diffuser. She was positioned turned sideways with her back toward the sun to give direction to the light and shadows and fill flash was used to remove excessive shadowing from her face.

I posted this one a couple of days ago, also, but it was taken with fill flash. My family was positioned where they were backlit by the sun and fill flash was used to remove shadows from their faces. I also practiced with metering on this photo. I believe I took a meter reading off my hand to set the exposure for this shot.

This photo was taken in the evening at home after I had washed the freshly-picked apples and getting ready to peel and slice them for freezing. I used bounce flash with a mirror, bouncing the light off the ceiling to give a more even and natural looking lighting.

Lastly, my ISO picture. I took this with 3200 ISO, shooting inside at AWANA Sunday evening. This kid is adorable, but high energy, so I had to have a relatively high shutter speed to capture him clearly. I also used a diffuser on my flash to even out the lighting.

And just because I want to, here's another photo...this one taken by my husband. Isn't it nice? That's another picture of my fall table centerpiece. I'm diggin' the burlap.

Pumpkins and Apples

Fall is here! I enjoyed the cool, crisp air this weekend by getting out with my family and visiting the farmer's market and the apple orchard. Here are some photos of the day.

Hiking Adventures

One of the main reasons I'd like to become skilled in photography is because my husband and I love hiking. Our favorite thing to do together is spend a Saturday on a day hike, and it's not uncommon for us to hike between 6-12 miles at a time. I love being in the open air and seeing God's creativity displayed in nature. It adds to my joy when I am able to share the sights we have seen with other people and see the wonder in their eyes, as well.

Hiking a small trail at Lake Sylvia in Perryville, Arkansas, I came across this scenic little bridge. The lighting was just right for me to capture it well. Too bad there was no water flowing in the creek underneath!

My husband posed for me on Hawksbill Crag in the Buffalo Wilderness near Ponca, Arkansas. I'm never able to look at this photo without being scared he might fall off! I actually entered this picture into the landscape photography division of the 2009 State Fair and it won 3rd place.

I like to call this photo "Forgotten Stream" because we happened upon it while hiking off a secluded trail in the Smoky Mountains near Gatlinburg, Tennessee where we spent our honeymoon. The stream was near an old cabin, grist mill, and barn that were inhabited by Noah "Bud" Ogle and his family in late 1800's. The area has since been preserved as a historic site along the Roaring Fork Motor Trail in the Smokeys, and when I happened upon it I couldn't help but imagine Bud's children playing at this very spot when they were children.

A lone orange leaf among green moss hints at the arrival of fall after a very long, hot summer.

After fording a river we thought would only be a few inches deep (turned out to be close to three feet) my husband stops to admire the rock caves and fall colors on the Sylamore Creek Trail near Shirley, Arkansas.

While hiking a stretch of the Ouachita Trail near Maumelle, Arkansas, we came across this old tombstone leaning up against a tree in the woods. There used to be an empty coffin there, as well, but we never saw it.

Countryside

Just a few shots I've taken around the area. I love the simple beauty of the country. I look forward to photographing some of these scenes again as I continue to learn more.