Day 036: We are back baby

Aah. it feels good to be home. Yesterday I was able to pick up my shiny new Nikon D90, Nikkor 18-105mm f/3.5 - 5.6 lens, and the 50mm f/1.8.
I am already so impressed with how much more better the d90 feels. And the sharpness. oh vey!
Now to just wait until my lightscoop comes in and I will be complete.

I snapped a few pictures of one of our office dogs today, Gracie:

Photo Stats:
SS: 1/50
Aperture: f/5.0
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 52mm

Camera Update

Since I know you are all on the edge of your seats, waiting with baited breath for the return of my photos.

Insurance claim was approved. And even better - the Bank of M&P (mom and pop) approved an upgrade to the Nikon D90 as well as the purchase of my own "nifty fifty" - the 50mm f/1.8. Belated Christmas present.

A huge thanks to mom and dad for supplying my addiction, and thanks Claims Adjustor Chris for the fast turnaround. I do have a bone to pick with Broadway Camera who basically cost me $150 in my claim by undercutting the MSRP on a few items, but that is a story for another day. Today we are happy that I should have my kit back by the end of the week.

This is what p365 got me

On Monday February 8, 2010 (what would have been day 038 of my challenge) I accidentally naively stupidly left my beloved nikon d60 in my car while I went upstairs to my office. Sitting on the front seat. In plain view. In an open  underground parkade with no security cameras
Can you guess what happened next dear reader?
stupid.stupid.stupid.

Alas my window was smashed and the camera bag and all my goodies was stolen off the front seat. Yes, it should be covered by insurance, but I have to wait for the claim to be reviewed before I can replace the camera, lens and all my little accessories.

This is my $300 (the cost of my deductibles for the window replacement and theft) lesson for the day - never leave valuables in your car. ever. And consider taking an additional rider out on cherished equipment that drops the deductible to $0. When I posted of the tragedy on my photo board, many girls mentioned they have been able to just add their camera equipment to their jewelry rider.

Days 36 and 37 were still on the memory card inside the camera when it was stolen, so this blog will be stuck on day 35 until a replacement camera comes.

We have apparently lost the power cord to our old point and shoot, so I can't even go back to taking crappy photos will I hide my disappointment in a supposed attempt to work on my "composition skills".

With the Olympics starting here in 1 day.
And Keira going on her first ski trip in 7 days.

::curls up in fetal position and cries::

RIP my dear friend: April 9, 2009 - February 8, 2010

Day 035: Alphabet Inchworm

 

One of K's favourite toys. I was excited to discover our dining table provides a nice reflection when shot at the right angle.

 

Slight rotation, crop, auto white balance and brightness/contrast

Photo Stats:
SS 1/80
Aperture f/4.8
ISO 800
Focal Length 42mm

Day 034: B is for Book

 

 Unwinding before bed with a good book.

Just did a minor rotate to straighten the plane, an auto white balance and a bit of contrast/brightness in GIMP

Photo Stats:
SS 1/60
Aperture f/6.3
ISO 800
Focal Length 18mm

Day 033: rubber ducky you're the one

more bathtime fun.

cropped slightly, brightened and deepened using curves

Photo Stats:
SS: 1/30
f/5.3
ISO 800
Focal Length 65mm

Day 032: ocean wise

Took a walk to Kits beach today:

 

desaturated (I seem to be on that kind of kick don't I?), brightened with curves, upped blacks a bit.

Photo Stats:
SS 1/200
Aperture f/5
ISO 200
Focal Length 55mm

Day 031: fail

camera was still dead. So I get a big fat fail today

Day 030: bathtime

this is the ONLY shot I got on this day before my camera died. And its blurry. oh well. here you go!

 

 

cropped slightly, desaturated, brightened with curves, and ran an slight unsharp mask to try and cover some of the blurriness

Photo Stats:

SS 1/20

Aperture f/4.8

ISO 800

Focal Length 42mm

taken with flash and lightscoop

Day 029: contemplative Simon

 

Nothing very exciting. Just my first baby checking out the world. This colour cast came out very purply red. not sure why. Probably forgot to reset the white balance after yesterday's challenge

  

desaturated and then brightened with curves. May still be a little grey though, especially in the eyes. But going any brighter seems to blow out his fur. Perhaps I should try to pop just the eyes? Keeping it colour was distracting me because of all the random things behind him (floor, cord, ottoman)

Photo Stats:

SS 1/20

Aperture f/5

ISO 400

Focal Length 55mm

taken with flash and lightscoop

Day 028: 12 Weeks to Better Photos Week 3

Week 3 of 12 Weeks to Better Photos - the Colour of Light.
The challenge this week? Understand your white balance options. Here are examples of mine:

Auto

Tungsten

Custom

Different lighting conditions can really throw the colour balance in photos off. Because your camera's idea of "white" remains static unless you tell it otherwise. You achieve custom by taking a picture of something white or grey in your current lighting conditions. then the computer scans that picture, and adjusts its colour chart to read that as white.