Saturday, February 26, 2011

Something Warm

For my post, I decided we needed something less cold and wintry (you know, I would have spelled "wintry" as "wintery." I just love spell check). The chicks really did some nice work! But ice was something I just wanted to move away from. Actually, Brandi's husband Scott (aka S1) suggested starting a fire and playing with that. I loved the idea! Whiskey ended up as the fire. You all are going to think I'm an alcoholic! First wine and beads, now Whiskey!


Canon 30D
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L
ISO 400
Aperture f/6.3
Shutter 1/4
Exposure Compensation -2/3 stop
Incandescent light from 1 lamp.

Before you ask, yes I did drink the Whiskey after the shot. In fact, I'm drinking it right now! And I feel nice and warm. Mmmmmm....whiskey.

Moving on, this glass is called the Glencairn Glass, and it's specifically designed for whiskey tasting. Mine is a fancy version with Stanahan's etched in the side. If you are reading this and you like whiskey, give Stranahan's a try. It truly fantastic. Anyway, the idea with the glass is to concentrate the aroma and maximize the drinkers experience. It's made of crystal and I love it. I know, I'm weird. Since the day I bought it I've been trying to think of a way to photograph it. This works for now but I think I'll try again sometime.

My question to you all is what is something you've always wanted to photography but haven't gotten around to? My list includes The Grand Canyon, a Vermont autumn, a Pacific sunset, and Hawaii (as in all of it). There are many others on my list but this is a sample.

So stay warm everyone! Spring is coming, and hopefully another item on my list of things to photograph!

Scott

Friday, February 25, 2011

Friday with no face

We're all kinds of messed up over here on 3C1D. People are posting for other people, dogs and cats are living together, two of our contributors are trying to get arrested, anarchy. Total anarchy.

To add to that, I give you Friday Faces with out the face.

It's been such a nutty week (maybe that whole full moon theory is true), I set out today to take some pictures and completely didn't think about it being Friday. Heck, I thought Scott was going to be posting when I shot this picture.
Doesn't matter what day it is. Some times you just have to chill.

Nikon d40 kit lens @46mm
aperture f/6.3
shutter speed 1/500sec
ISO 800 - because I'm an idiot


I took this standing on the second floor of an open building still under construction. Standing on nothing but iced deck steel with this handsome little cable keeping me from slipping and sliding off the edge. I was fine Mom (and Kim). Click here to see some other pictures that I've taken from this location in somewhat better weather conditions.
I guess I don't really have to tell you the connection. Call it ice or call it getting in to trouble while taking photos. Either way, I'm loving it.

Someone will be posting a photo tomorrow. I'm pretty sure it will be the resident Dude.
Happy Friday everyone~

xoxo,
Brandi

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Icy Cold

Scott is not able to make it today so you guys get me! We have all sorts of switches going on at 3C1D. But hey that is why we stay flexible around here. I had to laugh when I read Jay'me's post from yesterday because getting this shot I had some "fun" things happen to me as well.


Nikon D2X
ISO-200
Aperture F/7.1
Shutter 1/60 sec.
38mm but I zoomed in and cropped
No Flash, Aperture Priority

I took this picture down the road from my house outside of Nauvoo Illinois at a small waterfall they have. I had wanted to practice taking some ice shots. I got the picture home knowing I was probably going to be changing the picture to black and white. I tried my bi-color filters and just kind of liked how it looked.

Taking pictures in chilly weather is a bit of an experiment as to what works and what doesn't. I took both my cameras with two different lens on them as well so I wouldn't have to be changing lens out in the cold. Now obviously waterfalls fall into streams and/or small pools so I had to walk gingerly across these icy pools and streams to get close enough to my waterfall. I had to slide down and/or gingerly climb down a small hillside as well, caring both my cameras and praying to God that I didn't drop or bang them against something. I tried to stay as close to the edge as I could, which is usually safer. Everything went quite well until I had finished my picture taking. I was getting cold and wanting to head back to my car. Wouldn't you know it, that is when I stepped on a soft spot in the ice and my foot fell into several inches of icy cold water. Brrrr!! My supposedly waterproof boots, well they weren't so waterproof.

So there you have it, my connection to Jay'me is in the ice and in the story behind it. What we won't do to get a picture for all you folks to enjoy! Would love to hear any of your stories about crazy things that happened to while getting that "perfect" shot.

Not sure who is up tomorrow, but I am outta here for tonight.
Sere

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Troubled Waters

Cannon Rebel XT
1/60
f 5.6
ISO 500

This shot is straight off the the old camera and only cropped.

I found an enchanted place that is apparently FORBIDDEN as well... Someone got in trouble and freaked out a home owner today. See, little miss me thought I was still on the conservation. So there I was on my belly taking this shot when Maddie says "Mommy someone is here". Someone was there & boy was he pissed! He saw Maddie standing there (exactly like I told her) seemingly all by herself while I was down at the waters edge out of sight. He came racing down to "save" her before she took a swim. I guess his adrenalin rush made him a little cranky... As he stood there yelling "What the hell are you doing?" I thought Smile and make nice nice. As soon as said I thought this beautiful land was conservation and I was a photo blogger in the area. He yelled "That's on the other side of the street!" I apologized profusely for scaring him. I quickly made small talk and he softened right up. (Thank you Mr, Angry Guy for not calling the cops).
I have no real tie in with yesterday. I was going to go black and white, but like the photo as is.

Have a great day you all, & remember be sneakier while shooting that perfect shot or you may end up in a mug shot.
Jay'me

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

A Bit of a Punt

Tonight we were hoping to feature Amanda, out latest guest poster. I happen to know she's feeling a bit under the weather as is her little one. I'm thinking it's got the best of her this evening and I look forward to when she's feeling herself once more.

Meanwhile our very own Brandi is dealing with issues in her home as well and is just plum too tired to post. So...you get me and a picture of my very fat first son Ethan.

Canon 30D
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L
ISO 200
Aperture f/2.8
Shutter 1/120
Speedlight pointed towards the ceiling
I'm comforatble calling Ethan fat because he's only 5 months old and I happen to know he was fed very well. The connection is simply the black and white conversion. In my case, the color of the baby tub really distracted from Ethan himself. Additionally I hadn't thought much about the background, which was also full of distracting colors. So black and white it was!
By way of news, I'm typing this on my brand spanking new computer and I already love it. Now to learn Photoshop - piece of cake! Happy Tuesday everyone.
Scott

Monday, February 21, 2011

Boys Will Be Boys....

And I had 2 of them over at my house today, well 3 if you count my husband, wait, make that 7, if you include a couple of nephews and such out working. Well you get what I mean when I say that I am surrounded by boys :). It is kind of gross outside and wet. What does wet outside mean to boys??? Can anybody guess? Maybe my picture today will give you a little bit of a hint.


Nikon D90
ISO-200
Aperture F/5.6
Shutter 1/40 sec.
No Flash

Brandi was out at a work site in her shot and I have a work site right here in my front yard. Now the older boys aren't to keen on me walking around taking pictures while they work, but the younger boys had no problem with it. I'm not a huge mud person, but I have to say that today was the PERFECT mud day and I allowed my inner tomboy child free for a bit. And my boots looked as bad as the boys boots did!

How do you let your inner child free?
Sere

Sunday, February 20, 2011

People, people, people

People everywhere. From warriors, little girls and manly construction workers. 3C1D has been taken over by people.

Nikon d40 kit lens
Shutter speed 1/640
Aperture f/5.6
ISO 200

I so wish I had a nifty fifty (50mm) lens for this shot. The compression on it would have made for some awesome bokeh (blurred background) making it so Patrick was front and center with the sparks flying from his saw. But alas, rock what you've got.

I really tried to pay attention to the rule of thirds and leading lines in this picture. Tell me what you think, did I finally grasp the concept? What should I have done differently in cropping or composition? Tell me, tell me, I can take it.