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Please see this week's blog post at AlyciaChristine.com Thanks!

Flashes of Perspective: Get Ready for Your Close Up (3/29/2013)

Today I thought that we would discuss the photography rule that is, for some people, way too personal: close-ups. The idea behind the photographic close-up is a simple one. Basically the photographer zooms in on the intended subject so that that subject fills the photographic frame and becomes the largest object within the photo.

Let’s Get Started

Think about the close-up like this: you are standing in the middle of a field of wildflowers and you want to look at just one daisy. So how do you accomplish that? You survey the field for the one flower you really want to study and you walk over, crouch down, and inspect that one daisy up close. The whole act is simple, obvious even. But for some reason, people did not always follow this instinct when they have a camera in their hands. Instead they tend to zoom out and placed their subject in the middle of a very large scene. That is fine if your subject is a mountain, but not so useful if it is a daisy or an insect or even a human.

My suggestion for every budding photographer is, when in doubt, zoom in. So what will zooming in accomplish? Well, first, if the subject is the largest thing in the photo, then it will be easily noticed by the viewer. Having the subject fill the frame in this way works especially well to help minimize distraction from a busy and cluttered background. Second, when dealing with multiple subjects in a single photograph, you can make viewers understand which subject is the most important by making it the largest in the picture.

Some photographers take this technique to extremes and focus almost solely on getting close-ups of small subjects. These artists are known as macro photographers. Macro photographers essentially do the exact opposite of landscape photographers. Whereas landscape photographers tend to zoom out with their cameras so that they can capture as much of the scene around them as possible, macro photographers tend to zoom in on a single, small subject to examine every minute detail of that subject with their camera lens. Macro photography often requires the use of special macro lenses to capture all of the details of a subject, which is why I do not have many personal examples of it (since I currently do not own a macro lens). Primary subjects of macro photography include small insects, plants, flowers, and objects. You can also shoot macro photography of parts and pieces from larger subjects, such as the eye of a horse or the bark of a tree.

Let’s Break It Down

Close-ups:

“Thistle Fractures”

“Nectar Cup”

“Two Tone Susan”

“Aqua Dust”

“Vibrant”

“Virgin Beauty”

Macro photography:

“The Pollinator”

“Coiled In Wait”

“Pine Flakes”

“Lacy Anticipation”

Photographer’s Note

Because of its emphasis on detail, pattern, and texture, macro photography can create uniquely beautiful results. However, something to note, whether shooting simple close-ups or the extreme version of close-ups with macro photography, a narrow depth of field (i.e. having only one small area in hard focus) is unavoidable. This actually causes a nice result because the photo’s background will appear totally out of focus while your main subject is in focus. This means you will not have to worry too much about what's going on behind your subject as long as nothing in the background is too distracting or jarring (i.e. more colorful, heavily textured, etc. than your main subject). If needed, please see my post on “Flashes of Perspective: Selective Focus Meets Depth of Field” to review how to use the rules of selective focus and depth of field in your photos before attempting this assignment.

For more information on macro photography, I suggest reading National Geographic’s
macro photo tips or Macro Photography Tips with Example Photographs and Images by Tanya Puntti

Homework

Shoot 15 images or more with at least five photos being macro shots. You can stage a few shots with found objects if you wish, but please go out and shoot natural elements like the insects, flowers, tree bark, animal eyes, and other things that I have previously mentioned to round out your photography experience. Remember that the way you light your subjects will be even more important than usual because these subjects are so small. You will need more light when working with smaller objects then you will with larger objects. The camera’s ISO will help with increased light sensitivity as will the shutter speed and aperture settings. Also, when trying to shoot subjects like insects, it is best to do so early in the morning when cool temperatures make them a little slower and, therefore, easier to photograph.

I'll discuss the finer points of how to crop your close-ups in the next post. Until we meet again, I wish all of you brilliant flashes of perspective!

[ O*] Alycia

Flashes of Perspective: Make it Pop! A Lesson about Color and Contrast (2/25/2013)

I am so excited! Today I get to discuss one of my favorite photography rules with you: the rule of color and contrast!

One of the things, I talked about in the last post was how to use color to balance out Rule of Thirds subjects. Today we get to delve deeper into the concepts of color, contrast, and how they make photos, well…pop.

Let’s Get Started

First of all, let us discuss a little thing you may remember from art class called the color wheel. For anyone who has ever seen a rainbow, you know that a rainbow is composed of the colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet (purple). Science teachers often refer to these colors with the acronym ROY G BIV. For art students like me; however, ROY G BIV is usually just ROY G BV and is set up in a circle like the graphic shown with this lesson.

Red, yellow, and blue are called primary colors because they are the basis for all other colors. Orange, green, and violet are called secondary colors because they each are derived from two of the primary colors. Hence, red and yellow make orange, yellow and blue make green, and red and blue make violet.

The color wheel has two sides: the warm colors and the cool colors. Artists call red, orange, and yellow the warm colors or hot colors largely because they are the colors of fire and are used to brighten a scene. The colors green, blue, and violet are all considered cool colors and are used to soften or darken a scene.

If you draw a straight line from one color on the color wheel to its opposite, you have just chosen two contrasting colors. Since these colors are so opposite, they conflict with each other visually. This conflict is very useful to photographers (and artists in general) because conflict draws the eye to a particular subject. Thus, red and green, orange and blue, and yellow and purple are all contrasting colors.

Something else to note, is that if you take contrasting colors and mix them together you will get your neutral colors: brown, olive, and ochre. Thus, red and green make brown, blue and orange make olive, and purple and yellow make ochre. These colors are called neutral colors because they do not contrast with other colors and can therefore work with any of the primary or secondary colors without “stealing the show” so to speak.

Please keep in mind also that, since all other colors are reflected in the color white and all other colors are absorbed into the color black, that even though these colors are often considered neutral, they can still have more impact than any other color in a scene.

Understanding the relationship between warm and cool colors is very important when shooting photography because it helps the photographer understand how to light a subject. When you understand the power of color and can use it to create striking photographs, you will have the ability to amp up viewer interest in your work. The color of a subject will help distinguish it from the rest of the photo. In the case of Color and Contrast, the subject is usually the extreme in color compared to everything else — either the brightest color or the darkest color of the photo.

Let’s Break It Down

Primary Color Scheme Examples:

“Leaf Among Thorns”

Secondary Color Scheme Examples:

“Piranha”

White Color Subject Examples:

“Regal Plumage”

“Egret Alphabet”

Brightest Color Subject Examples:

“Variance”

“Ibis Ogle”

Darkest Color or Black Subject Examples:

“Black Hole”

“Colorful Perspective”

Color Contrast Subject Examples:

Yellow and Violet Contrast Photo
“Contrast”

Orange and Blue Contrast Photo
“Twilight Mushrooms”

Red and Green Contrast Photo
“Zendarians”


Photographer’s Note

Also something to note, is that color can and will affect how you shoot landscapes, so pay attention to your extremes even when you are using the Rule of Thirds and its Balancing principle to shoot landscapes or cityscapes. Remember, whether shooting vertical (the top and bottom are the shortest sides of the photo) or horizontal (longer sides are the top and bottom of the photo) shots, landscapes and cityscapes should be shot with the ratio: one-third land and two-thirds sky or two-thirds land and one-third sky.

Homework

Shoot at least 18 images: 3 of each color principle. You can stage a few shots by shooting crayons or colored pencils to get a feel for the principles, but please go out and shoot random objects that follow the rules. Remember, this is your time to express yourself, so have fun with the project. Trust me when I say that your attitude will directly affect the beauty of your photos.

Until we meet again, I wish all of you brilliant flashes of perspective!

[ O*] Alycia

Flashes of Perspective: The Grand Balancing Act (1/28/2013)

I just returned from a wonderful weekend of boundless creativity from over 50 different artists, musicians, and authors at the 3000 Weeks art festival in Austin, Texas (see www.confabule.com for all of the details). Now that I’m home, I felt inspired to write a photography lesson on the importance of Balance within an image.

In the last post, I talked about the Rule of Thirds and its powerful impact on photography. Today I want to address the Rule of Thirds’ close cousin the rule of Balance and explain how the two interact with each other.

Let’s Get Started

From the last post, you should remember my calling the Rule of Thirds the Tic-Tac-Toe rule and describing how to line up an object with the axis points and the corresponding sections of a camera’s viewfinder or view screen so that it follows a tic-tac-toe pattern.

As seen in my examples, there are over 20 different possible subject placements found using the Rule of Thirds. The role of Balance within the Rule of Thirds deals with a slightly fewer array of subject placements. Specifically Balance is used with Rule of Third images in which the subject is either in the far left, right, top, or bottom third of the photo or a subject is aligned with the upper left, upper right, lower left, or lower right axis of the photo. After looking at these photos, you may have noticed that the subject in each feels a little underwhelming or off-balance because the two thirds of space often overpower the subject such as in the photo “Dripping Texture”

To combat this problem, a photographer may choose to add a second “balancing subject” into the photo along with the main subject to help stabilize the photo’s empty space. So what I mean by a balancing subject? Well, this second subject is something that could be the subject of the photo if it stood alone, but is actually overpowered by the main subject. Viewers will intuitively understand that the secondary balancing subject is less important than the main subject because of the main subject’s ability to dominate the secondary subject. We’ll discuss several of these dominance techniques in a minute, but first I need to remind you that a photograph’s subject overpowers everything else in the photo primarily through the use of Selective Focus. If you don’t remember my teachings on the rule of Selective Focus, I strongly encourage you to read my July 4, 2012 post “Selective Focus Meets Depth of Field” before you continue with the current lesson on Balance.

Assuming that you either just finished reading my blog post about Selective Focus or you remember the lesson well enough to know the differences between foreground, middle ground, and background, let’s continue. In order for a main subject to dominate a lesser subject, the main subject must be in hard focus (i.e. not blurred). The main subject can exist in the foreground or, more rarely in the middle ground, while the balancing subject usually will appear in the layer behind it. Most of the time, I shoot balanced, rule-of-third photos with the main subject in the foreground and the lesser subject in the background (such as “Blue Undulations”). Occasionally I will shoot a photo in which the main subject is in the middle ground while the lesser subject exists in either the background (such as “Lone Tree”) or the foreground (such as “In Wonder”). I have yet to shoot a balanced, rule-of-thirds photo with the main subject in the background and its balancing subject in the foreground or middle ground, but that can be done too.


Another important way that the two subjects are distinguished from each other is by location within the photo. If a photograph’s main subject appears in the right third of the photo then its balancing subject will logically go in the left third of the photo. If a main subject exists at the lower left axis then its balancing subject will most likely appear in the upper right axis. Things like difference in texture, shape, size, or color can also help viewers know which is the main subject and which is the lesser balancing subject. The balance of these subjects creates a relationship between them and adds added interest to the photo.

Let’s Break It Down

Examples:

Foreground dominance:
“Blue Undulations”

Middle ground dominance:
“Lone Tree”

“In Wonder”

Location: Main subject on bottom and balancing subject on top
“Blue Undulations”

Location: Main subject aligned with the lower left axis, balancing subject aligned around opposite axis
“Skeletal Terrain”

Texture: Main subject’s texture is more pronounced than that of balancing subject
“Lone Tree”

Color: Main subject is more colorful than balancing subject
“In Wonder”

Photographer’s Note

This photography “rule” works best with only two subjects: one main subject and one balancing subject. These photos are all about the relationship between the main subject, its balancing subject, and their interaction with the environment around them. Just remember that three or more subjects is a crowd and you don’t want crowded shots with this technique. Just as the Rule of Thirds is the go-to principle for shooting landscape and photography, the rule of Balance is also heavily used in landscape photography and cityscape photography.

Homework

Shoot at least 10 images with a Rule of Thirds subject which is balanced by a lesser subject. You can follow my examples by shooting trees in relationship to mountains or bodies of water or you can shoot objects in relationship to one another or animals in relationship to plants, etc. Make this fun for you. After all, this is your time to express yourself. Also please keep in mind that both landscapes and cityscapes for this exercise should be shot with the following ratio: one third sky/background, one third horizon/middle ground, and one third foreground. I will explain the other idiosyncrasies of landscape photography in the next post.

Until we meet again, I wish all of you brilliant flashes of perspective!

[ O*] Alycia

Flashes of Perspective: Rule of Thirds as a Photographer’s Version of Tic-Tac-Toe (12/13/2012)

The Rule of Thirds is one of my favorite photography “rules” because it offers such a fun compositional challenge. In my presentation in June 2012, I said that a good photograph should inspire emotion and/or show a story. Powerful photography relies on strong composition to accomplish this end. So what again is composition? Composition is the way in which a photograph presents its main subject (its most important part).

What makes the Rule of Thirds different from many of the other photography rules that I have previously discussed is its unique use of Spatial Relations to present its main subject. In photography, spatial relations refers to where the subject is located in space in relation to other objects. If this seems a little complicated, don’t worry. I’ll unravel the mysteries as we go.

Let’s Get Started

Imagine a tic-tac-toe board. Picture the two vertical (up and down) lines cutting it into three columns and the two horizontal (sideways) lines cutting it into three rows.

I nickname the Rule of Thirds the Tic Tac Toe rule because this rule requires the photographer to divide a photo into nine sections like the sections of a tic tac toe board. The photo's subject is then aligned at an intersection (axis point) between two of the invisible tic tac toe lines or it can be aligned in a section or one entire third of the photo.

Let’s Break It Down

The subject can be aligned on an axis point of the photo:

1) At the upper left axis such as the pink bloom in the photo:
“Blooming Through”

2) At the lower left axis such as the butterfly in the photo:
“Butterfly Geometry”

3) At the upper right axis such as the hot air balloon in the photo:
“In Wonder”

4) At the lower right axis such as the red circle in the photo:
“Nylon Sun Rays”

The subject can be contained in a single section of the photo:

1) At the upper left section of the photo.

2) At the middle left section such as the train car in the photo:
“Simmon’s Vision”

3) At the lower left section such as the butterfly in the photo:
“Butterfly Geometry”

4) At the upper middle section such as the lady bug in the photo:
“Little Lady”

5) At the middle middle section (the center) such as the Thistle in the photo:
“Thorn Star”
(Please see my previous post on centering/bull’s-eye photography for more information on this specific technique.)

6) At the lower middle section such as the bird in the photo:
“Sunrise Wader”

7) At the upper right section of the photo.

8) At the middle right section such as the smallest diamond in the photo:
“Industrial Diamonds”

9) At the lower right section such as the tree in the photo:
“Heavenly Highlights, No. 1”

The photo’s subject can be aligned in an entire third of the photo:

1) In the left third of the photo such as the fence post in the photo:
“Barbs, Spines and Petals”

2) In the middle third of the photo such as the cluster of flowers in the photo:
“Demure”

3) In the right third of the photo such as the yucca seed hull in the photo:
“Sand Hull”

4) In the upper third of the photo.

5) In the middle third of the photo such as the flower in the photo:
“Two Tone Susan”

6) In the lower third of the photo such as the water ripple in the photo:
“Blue Undulations”

Photographer’s Note

In looking over these photo examples, you probably have noticed that not every subject is exactly centered on its respective axis. This is my personal style coming through. Some people are very picky when it comes to positioning their photo subjects. My philosophy is that if some main part of the subject touches the axis or is within the bounds of a section or one third of the photo, then that is all that is needed to follow the Rule of Thirds principle. Feel free to experiment with this and decide your personal comfort level when placing subjects in a Rule of Thirds photo.

One other thing I should mention is that sometimes subjects are too large to fit in one section even a third of the photo such as the balloon in the photo “Two of a Kind” This is perfectly fine! It is your job as an artist to adapt your shooting style to each subject so that you can always shoot it in the best possible way. So, as I have stressed before, use this photography rule as more of a guideline and have some fun bending it.

Homework

Shoot at least 20 images with Rule of Thirds subjects and try to shoot one photo for each position described above. This photography “rule” works best with a single subject or a set of closely clustered subjects. The Rule of Thirds is also the go-to principle for shooting landscape photography. Some good items to shoot for axis and section shooting include: flowers, insects, and small objects. Try shooting mountains, skylines or other large landscape/cityscape subjects for when you want to take up a third or two thirds of the photo. For landscapes, please keep in mind: one third sky/background, one third horizon/middle ground, and one third foreground (refer back to my June 12, 2012 post for a reminder about fore, middle, and backgrounds). Don’t worry, I will post a more thorough lesson on landscape shots soon.

Until we meet again, I wish all of you brilliant flashes of perspective!

[ O*] Alycia

Flashes of Perspective: In a Bull’s-Eye

The idea of Centering is one of the simplest of all the photography “rules.” The reason for this is because centering essentially means that your subject should be the center of your photo just as a bull’s-eye is the center of a target. However, while centering is one of the simplest photography rules, it is not always the easiest.

Let’s Get Started

Think of the center of a target. Why is your eye drawn to the middle of that bull’s-eye? Is it just because the bull’s-eye is in the center of a target or is it something more?

For me, the bull’s-eye of a target draws my eye to it for several reasons:
1) The bull’s-eye is the center of the target.
2) The bull’s-eye is framed by the concentric circles surrounding it.
3) The bull’s-eye is usually colored somewhat differently than the surrounding elements.
4) The bull’s-eye is a single, solitary, unique object compared to the many rings around it.

Just like the center of a target, a photograph’s centered subject will prove most visually interesting to a viewer if it includes some combination of the reasons I mentioned above. A centered object with framing or flanking around it is often more interesting and dynamic than a centered subject with nothing surrounding it. The same can be said of a centered subject with unusual color or lines leading the viewer’s eye to it.

Let’s Break It Down

For examples of Centering see the following links:

“Hope Blooms in the Desert”
The bee is centered in the photograph and framed by the petals of the prickly pear cactus flower to give him extra interest.

“Lone Agave”
The blue agave is centered among dying yellow yucca plants on a rocky mountainside, proof of its stubborn resilience in a drought-stricken environment.

“The Lord God Loves Them All”
The brightly-colored butterfly is centered in the photograph as it perches on two hands, a symbol of friendship and harmony.

“Pinkie”
A single pink water lily floats gently on the surface of a pond as its underwater stem leads the viewer’s eye straight to it.

“Seed Swirl”
A swirl of sand surrounds this central seed hull.

“Supernova”
A center shaft of sparkling light pierces the gloom of black glass in this photo.

“Thorn Star”
Variations of color and shadow add interest to this centered thistle.

Homework

Shoot at least 10 images with centered subjects. Try to find subjects that are interesting because of their uniqueness, shape, or color and add even more interest to these subjects by centering them in the photograph. Some good items to try shooting are: flowers, insects, and small objects.

Personal Note

I suggest reviewing my posts about “Leading Lines” and “Framing/Flanking” to see how these two photography rules often work in conjunction with the rule of Centering.

Until we meet again, I wish all of you brilliant flashes of perspective!

[ O*] Alycia

What a weekend! I spent this weekend shooting buildings, stars, cowboys, and horses in and around Alpine and Fort Davis, Texas, with renown Texas State photographer Wyman Meinzer during a workshop organized by photographer Vicki LeBlanc. I learned so much from them and from my other workshop classmates. I cannot wait to put all of their advice to hard work. I promise to post photos soon, but, for now, I’m back to my regular work schedule of processing photos, writing, and meetings.

On a different note, my novel Skinshifter was liked, but nonetheless turned down for publication by Hadley Rille Books. However, the editor was kind enough to suggest three other publishers looking for stories like mine. I have sent the novel manuscript off to Pyr and am waiting to hear back.

While I don't have time to add it now, my next blog will include another entry in the regular photography skills series.

Until we meet again, I wish all of you brilliant flashes of perspective!
[O*] Alycia

Happy Independence Day, America!

Today’s blog will be a bit of a double post as I continue the “Rules of Photography” miniseries. The reason for this is that, like the rules of Framing and Flanking, Selective Focus and Depth of Field are too closely related and interdependent to be explained in separate posts. Your just cannot do one without understanding the other, so let’s get started.

Selective Focus or the “No Fuzz, No Fuss” rule

To deal with the photography “rule” of Depth of Field, photographers must first understand the concept of Selective Focus. Selective Focus refers to the subject in a photo being in sharp focus while everything around it is blurred out and fuzzy. I call Selective Focus the “No Fuzz, No Fuss” rule because this photo technique can only work if the photo’s subject is not blurry. To accomplish this, most photographers can simply center their camera’s viewfinder on their intended subject and press the camera’s photo-taking button halfway down. As long as the camera’s automatic focus is on, pushing the photo-taking button halfway down will make your camera focus on the object in the center of its view screen and blur everything else. Once that is accomplished, press the button down the full way to shoot the photo. As always read your camera’s manual to understand all of its functions.

Once you understand Selective Focus, we need to discuss how to use it in the different layers of a photograph. Although a photograph is a two-dimensional medium (i.e. it has height and length but not depth), a good photograph makes the viewer feel like they are viewing a three-dimensional scene rather than a flat image. To achieve a feeling of depth, photographs rely on three different layers: the foreground, the middle ground, and the background. As their names imply, the foreground is the front layer, the background is the back layer, and the middle ground is the layer in between these other two. A subject can be located in any of these layers as long as it is in sharp focus.

For examples of Selective Focus as used in different layers, please view the following links:

Photo with in-focus foreground subject:
http://alyciachristine.artistwebsites.com/featured/yellow-quartet-alycia-christine.html

Photo with in-focus middle ground subject:
http://alyciachristine.artistwebsites.com/featured/allure-alycia-christine.html

Photo with in-focus background subject:
http://alyciachristine.artistwebsites.com/featured/pumpjack-122-alycia-christine.html

Depth of Field or the Tunnel Vision rule

Once Selective Focus is achieved, photographers can explore the photography technique and rule of Depth of Field. Depth of Field draws the viewer’s eye into the photo’s scene by placing the subject in the middle or background layers of the scene. Just as it is in Selective Focus, the photo’s subject must be in sharp focus while the other layers of the photo are blurred out. Most of the time this also means that the other layers of the photo need to be simple and uncluttered so they do not distract the viewer from the photo’s true subject. I call Depth of Field the Tunnel Vision rule because good use of Depth of Field should really pull the viewer through each layer of the scene much like a commuter views a tunnel while traveling through it. For examples of Depth of Field view the middle ground or background links above or see these examples below.

More middle ground Depth of Field photos:

http://alyciachristine.artistwebsites.com/featured/budding-serenity-alycia-christine.html

http://alyciachristine.artistwebsites.com/featured/asteraceae-gilded-alycia-christine.html

More background Depth of Field photos:

http://alyciachristine.artistwebsites.com/featured/through-the-hoops-alycia-christine.html

http://alyciachristine.artistwebsites.com/featured/a-cleft-with-a-view-alycia-christine.html

Homework

Shoot at least 14 images with either Selective Focus or Depth of Field. Good items to try shooting: a colorful object surrounded by foliage, or an animal as seen through tall grass. Please be sure to keep your camera’s focus on the subject not the other elements and keep your backgrounds simple.

Personal Note

Almost all photos use Selective Focus no matter what other rules they employ, so make sure you really understand this one.

Until we meet again, I wish all of you brilliant flashes of perspective!
[O*] Alycia

RELEASE DAY!

I am pleased to announce that my eBook FIRST FRUITS: 31 FLASHES OF BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE is officially out today!

The Kindle eBook features 31 full-color photos with corresponding commentary and scripture designed to guide readers deeper in their understanding of the fruits of the Spirit described in Galatians 5:22-24 and to explain how each enhances daily life.

You can find FIRST FRUITS through the direct link (http://www.amazon.com/Fruits-Flashes-Biblical-Perspective-ebook/dp/B008C9K8GW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1340053975&sr=8-1&keywords=alycia+sears) or by going to Amazon.com and searching “Alycia Sears.” The eBook is available for $1.99 in the .mobi format, which can be read on any Kindle device, computer, iPhone, or iPad using Amazon’s free software.

To help celebrate this happy occasion, I am offering 10% off all merchandise sold through my website for the next week. Just type in RNNHCN at the checkout to redeem the coupon.

For those of you interested in reading the book, I have prizes for anyone who posts a review on Amazon.com. Many of book/author shoppers pay close attention to the Amazon ratings. If a book has several ratings, with a majority of the ratings being high, potential readers are more willing to take a chance on buying the book. I almost always check a book’s rankings before I buy it, so that I can make a more informed decision about what I purchase.

So here is my proposal: if you read FIRST FRUITS and loved it, then please go to Amazon.com and post an honest review of it. If you loved or disliked (hopefully loved) the book, please say why. People reading reviews usually want to know why something is good or bad. Once you've posted your review, just email me at alyciachristine@gmail.com with a link to it. This will enter you into the contest.

The contest will run through next Friday, June 29. On Saturday, June 30, I'll post the names of all the contestants (check the blog around noon). The first person to email me after the list is posted gets first pick of all the prizes, the second person gets to choose next, and so on.

Here are all the prizes I am offering:

-1 FIRST FRUITS t-shirt (large)
-1 FIRST FRUITS tote bag
-1 FIRST FRUITS coffee mug
-1 FIRST FRUITS hat
-1 FIRST FRUITS mouse pad
-1 FIRST FRUITS poster (11.25”x17.3”, unframed)
-1 FIRST FRUITS note pad
-5 postcard-sized magnets of the “Budding Serenity” photo featured in the book
-5 postcard-sized magnets of the “Pasta Illumination” photo featured in the book
-1 8x10 matted photo of “Pasta Illumination”
-1 8x10 matted photo of “Budding Serenity”
-Postcards and small magnets that will be included with all prizes

I think I have enough goodies to ensure that everyone who enters the contest will get a prize. Also all prizes will be signed and personalized. After all, if you went to the trouble to write a review, then I feel you deserve a good prize! Thank you!

Until we meet again, I wish all of you brilliant flashes of perspective!
[O*] Alycia

Howdy, all!

Next week I am giving a presentation about the rules of photography. I thought I would share the material from the full presentation with you for your edification and enjoyment. Work on the photo book First Fruits: 31 Flashes of Biblical Perspective is almost complete, so my online presences should improve later this month. I'll pick up the in-depth Photography Rules series in July, but I hope you enjoy its overview now.

Until we meet again, I wish all of you brilliant flashes of perspective!
[O*] Alycia

------------------------------------------
Photography as a Form of Art

A good photograph should inspire emotion and/or show a story.

Powerful photography relies on a strong composition to accomplish that end.

Composition is the way in which a photograph presents its main subject.

A subject is the most important part of the photograph. Just as a noun is the subject of a sentence, a noun is usually the subject of a photo. A photo’s subject is usually a person, animal, plant, place, or object.

Just as a musical score is composed of different notes, a photograph is composed of three different layers: the foreground, the middle ground, and the background.

Foreground: The “front” layer of the photo’s scene.

Middle Ground: The “middle” layer of the photo’s scene.

Background: The “back” layer of the photo’s scene.

A subject must be located in any of these layers, as long as it is in focus.

________________________________________________________________

There are several RULES to help create beautifully composed photos:

Focus (No Fuzz Allowed!): A subject must be in sharp focus (not fuzzy or blurry) to help indicate to the viewer that it is the most important part of the photo.

Depth of Field (Tunnel Vision): The photo’s subject is in sharp focus while the other layers of the photo are blurred out. Most of the time, this also means that the other layers of the photo need to be simple and uncluttered so they don’t distract the viewer from the photo’s true subject.

Centering (In a Bull’s Eye): The subject can be centered within the photo like a bulls-eye is the center of a target.

Rule of Thirds (Think Tic Tac Toe): Sometimes the photographer will divide a photo into thirds like the sections of a tic tac toe board. The photo's subject is then aligned in one third of the photo or at an intersection between two of the invisible tic tac toes lines.

Balance (Watch the See-Saw): Placing the subject off-center, as with the rule of thirds, creates a more interesting photo, but it can make the rest of the photo feel empty. To correct this, a photographer can add another object of lesser importance to help fill the space and add “weight” to the photo. Balance and leading lines can help establish relationships in a photo.

Leading Lines (Roads and Rivers): Lines in the photo draw the viewer’s eye to the subject. Leading lines often help link different elements in the photo to each other and usually start at the corner of the photo.

Framing and Flanking (We’re Surrounded, Sir!): Lines in the photo seem to frame (completely surround) or flank (border on only two sides) the subject. Frames can be any shape, but flanking must have two parallel lines running along either side of a subject.

Color and Contrast (Make it Pop!): The color of a subject will help distinguish it from the rest of the photo. In this case, the subject is the extreme in color compared to everything else — either the brightest color or the darkest color of the photo.

Close Ups (Way Too Personal): By being the largest thing in the photo, the subject is easily noticed by the viewer. This works especially well to help minimize distraction from a busy and cluttered background.

Patterns and Symmetry (The Oddball Rule): Sometimes an interesting pattern can make a great photo subject. When this occurs, it is important for the photographer to break up the symmetry or pattern in some way. Doing so will introduce tension and add a focal point (a mini-subject) into the scene.

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Other things to consider when shooting photos:

Saturation (Please Overdo it!): Saturation or saturated shooting refers to taking multiple photos of the same subject. This technique allows the photographer to experiment with the different photography rules to find the most dynamic and interesting shot.

Vertical or horizontal photos (Tall or Long?): All photography rules can usually work whether a photograph is vertical or horizontal, so feel free to experiment.

Viewpoint (It’s all about Perspective!): Shoot photographs from different angles and viewpoints. Instead of shooting everything from a standing position, try taking a photo of the subject from a kneeling or prone position. Also try shooting something from above the subject. The change of angle and perspective can add can add lots of interest to each image.

Cropping (You Cut off My What!): When shooting people and animals especially, photographers must pay attention to where they crop their subjects. The last thing that you want to do is make your subject look amputated! Crop where there are no natural breaks in the body such as midway up the thighs or just below the shoulders.

Sizes (Is Bigger Always Better?): Different photo sizes can change the photography rules. A standard photo has a ratio of 2:3 like that shown in a 4x6 inch photograph. Prints come in standard sizes of 4x6, 5x7, 8x10, 8x12, 11x14, and larger. If you are worried about how the image size will affect rules like Leading Lines, Rule of Thirds, or Framing, stick with 4x6 or 8x12 prints and corresponding frames to minimize the damage done to photo composition.

Lighting (Get Out Your Highlighters!): Lighting is THE most important part of photography composition! You cannot shoot a photo without light. Be careful to make sure that no part of any photo looks “bleached out” or “way too dark.” Balanced lighting or its lack will make or break any composition. Using light to “highlight” a subject will help it stand out against the rest of the photo.

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Finally, the RULES are more like GUIDELINES anyway!
Feel free to experiment and have fun!

Framing is a photography rule and technique that often relies on leading lines to work. As I mentioned in the February 6 blog, leading lines are lines used within an image to draw the viewer’s eye to a certain point (known as a focal point). In the case of framing, however, leading lines cannot be the subject of the photo. Instead they are used to surround your photo’s subject so that the subject stands out in a unique way.

Let’s Get Started

Most successful examples of framing have objects surrounding the photo’s subject on all sides; the subject is also often centered in the middle of the overall image. It is not required to have the elements of the frame make a square. In fact, frames can be shaped as any number of polygons including squares, triangles, circles, trapezoids, rhombuses, odd shapes, etc. as long as the frame elements properly surround the subject. While a little clipping is acceptable, frame elements should not block the central subject from view in any big way. Otherwise the photograph’s viewer may get confused about which object is meant to be the photo’s subject. The subject should also be the most in-focus part of the photo.

Sometimes you can simply surround the subject on just two sides; I refer to this technique as “flanking.” Unlike framing, the “flanking” technique usually does work best with fairly straight framing edges. As with framing though, flanking requires the subject to be in full focus and often differently colored than the objects surrounding it.

Many objects can be used as framing or flanking sides: roads, fencing, curtains, architecture, tree branches, wire, shadows, etc. The trick is to experiment until you find what works best.

Let’s Break It Down

For examples of framing see the following links:

“Colorful Perspective”
One of the best examples of framing in my repertoire, “Colorful Perspective” gets its power and dynamism because my dark clothed male subject is walking just below the center of the hot air balloon’s circular envelope. The fabric’s folds and seems frame the balloon pilot perfectly.

“Beauty Beyond the Bars”
“Beauty Beyond the Bars” uses a very traditional framing element of a jail cell window frame to draw attention to the photo’s lovely female subject.

“Through the Hoops”
The lit hoops at the top of a carnival ride frame the decorative wheel of a different ride.

“Ambiance”
“Ambiance” is actually a double-framed piece. The white curtains frame the pink lamp which frames the cross of light.

For examples of flanking see the following links:

“Floating Between Paths”
At first glance, this photo might look like an example of leading lines, but the roadway lines are actually flanking the hot air balloon in their midst rather than leading the eye to it.

“A Cleft with a View”
“A Cleft with a View” is a bit of a flanking rule-breaker because the blue rocks are not the only objects to flank the pale stalagmite formation behind them. The deep shadows above and below also flank the stalagmite and so this photo’s subject is highlighted from double flanking.

Homework

Shoot at least 10 images with either framing or flanking. Good items to try shooting: a person’s face as seen through a the hole in a box or tube, a colorful object surrounded by foliage, or an animal as seen through the interlaced branches of trees or shrubs a tree flanked by hills, or one piece of architecture surrounded by others. Have some fun with this one and be sure to keep your camera’s focus centered on the subject, not the framing elements.

Until we meet again, I wish all of you brilliant flashes of perspective!

[ O*] Alycia

Flashes of Perspective: Midland Community Theatre

I had a wonderful time at the Midland Community Theatre's "Meet the Artist" event on Saturday night! Thank you to everyone who came to the MCT to see me and enjoy the theatre's production of "Guys & Dolls". I really enjoyed talking with you all and hope to see each of you again. Also, a huge hug goes to those who bought my work on Saturday. Your money will help cover my equipment and travel costs as well as and help fund some of the MCT's future programs! For those of you who had to miss the event, don't worry. My artwork will be up and available for purchase in the theatre gallery (next to the box office) until February 20. For those who want more information, the MCT's website is http://www.mctmidland.org/.

For those of you new to my website, I hope you find the content interesting and engaging. I post blogs dealing with different aspects of photography every other week and send out regular newsletter announcements as new posts or artwork appear on the site. If any of you would like to be included in the newsletter list please send me an e-mail with "Subscribe" in the subject line and your full name and preferred e-mail address in the e-mail's body.

In other announcements, I'm working on an e-book tentatively called Pervading Peace which I hope to have edited and on the market by Easter (April 8) this year. I will post more details as they become available. Thank you!

Until we meet again, I wish all of you brilliant flashes of perspective!

[ O*] Alycia

Flashes of Perspective: Presenting Lovely Leading Lines (2-6-2012)

Welcome to the photography “rule” of leading lines. As I mentioned in the December 6th blog, photography presentation rules like leading lines are more like guidelines than actual rules. And, yes, I did mean to include the terrible pun. That being said, the leading lines idea is one of my favorite rules to use because they add so much depth to an image.

Let’s Get Started

Leading lines are lines used within an image to draw the viewer’s eye to a certain point (focal point), or occasionally, out of the image. Well-done leading lines make an image dynamic and powerful. They can add flow, structure, and/or visual interest to any photo’s subject. They can also be the subject of the photo. Fences, bridges, railing, even a shoreline can be a leading line. Anything can lead the eye with a definite line.

Let’s Break It Down

For examples of leading lines see the following links:

Wed in Red
In “Wed in Red” the curving line of the bride’s dress leads the viewer’s eye up to the image’s subject: the kissing couple.

Wistful
The subtle line of rock and wave leads the viewer’s eye to the image’s focal point of the tapir’s soft face.

Spike Curls
The odd pattern made by the curling lines of this cactus is the image’s subject.

Bleeding Purity
The angled sides of the steeple lead the viewer’s eye to the subject of the white cross.

Damsel Daintiness
The wavy line of the flower petal leads the viewer’s eye to the damsel fly clinging to its tip.

Four in a Row
The invisible line formed between the hovering balloons adds interest to this photo and highlights the similarity between the balloons, which is the image’s subject.

Homework

Shoot at least 10 images with leading lines. Try to turn the camera so that the lines make the image really interesting. Good items to try shooting: railroad tracks leading off into the distance or to a train, the shoreline of a lake or sea, roads, fence lines, rivers and streams, skyscraper lines, landscapes like lines of hills leading to distant mountains, tree branches, an arched bridge or other architectural piece.

Personal Note

I find that photographing leading lines so that they seem to grow out of the corners of the photo helps make the image more dynamic.

Until we meet again, I wish all of you brilliant flashes of perspective!

[ O*] Alycia

Flashes of Perspective: Illuminating a Camera’s ISO (2-3-2012)

Since I have been a bad girl and have yet to give you all a January photography lesson, this week I will post two blogs. One will cover the basics of your camera’s light sensitivity and the other will cover the photography rule of leading lines.

Let’s Get Started

A camera’s ISO setting controls its sensitivity to environmental light. ISO stands for International Organization for Standardization and is the standard measurement used to rate a camera image sensor’s responsiveness to available light.

ISO is a measurement left over the Dark Ages of film cameras. Before the versatile beauty that is digital photography, photographers had to plan in advance what how much light sensitivity they needed their film to have during on a shoot. Film was rated at ISO 100 for use during blaringly bright sunny days while ISO 800 was needed during low-light shooting. Basically a higher ISO number meant the film had more sensitivity to light and therefore could create an image using less light. There were higher ISO ratings available for specialized night photography, but those were a bit too expensive to sell in mass markets (and way too rare for a teenager like me to play around with). Nowadays, my shiny mid-priced Canon digital SLR (currently on the market for about $700) comes ready to shoot an ISO range of 100-3200. The ISO is easily adjusted with a single camera button. I’ve seen high-end camera systems with maximum ranges closer to 12800. Most modern cameras also feature an auto ISO mode.

There are key advantages to knowing how to handle your ISO setting, the foremost of these being able to understand ISO’s relationship with a good quality photograph. If the ISO is too high on a bright day, the produced photographs will have a “blown out” appearance (i.e. lighter colors such as whites and creams will seem to glow). If the ISO is too low, you may not see anything all because the photograph will be blacked out. There is also the risk of an image appearing grainy or noisy if the ISO tries to compensate for too much low light. A grainy image will look like it has green or red squares and is considered poor photography. To combat these problems, know your ISO ranges and understand their strengths and weaknesses.

Let’s Break it Down

ISO 100 and lower - Exceptional quality for brightly lit places, such as in bright sunlight. The setting allows for lots of detail and excellent image quality.

ISO 200 - Should be generally be used on dull days with overcast or cloudy skies. The setting adds a small amount of noise. (200 or 400 ISO often work well for dawn and dusk shots.)

ISO 400 - Works fairly well for indoor photography so long as the room is well-lit or you are using a decent flash; however, noise can be seen in your images.

ISO 800 and up - This setting is only effective with high quality digital SLR (Single Lens Reflex) cameras. If you use a small point-and-shoot compact camera, this setting will make your images look extremely noisy.

Homework

Grab your camera and practice shooting in different light levels switching back and forth between the ISO levels so that you can see the way your camera interprets light. Email me with any questions.

I will talk about how to control noise in another article, and also about the relationship between ISO, aperture and shutter speed.

Until we meet again, I wish all of you brilliant flashes of perspective!

[ O*] Alycia

Flashes of Perspective: Got Skills? Introduction of Light and Presentation (12-6-2011)

On this brisk sixth day of December, I am keeping my promise to begin my blog series dedicated to helping readers become better photographers. Whether you use advanced SLR systems with interchangeable lenses or a simple point-and-shoot, this series is designed to help spur your creativity and refine your techniques.

Let’s Get Started

The two most important and essential ingredients of a powerful photograph are light and presentation. Without these driving the interest to a photograph’s subject, your image is useless. So what do I mean when I say subject? A subject is the main focus of a particular image. It might be a person, an animal, an object, or even a pattern. Think of a subject as the main entrée at a meal. You don’t order the steakhouse special just to eat the potatoes, do you? Your subject is the main reason for the photo’s existence just as a rib-eye is the main reason for a steak plate’s existence.

To make sure viewers pay attention to the steak and not the side dishes, photographers use a variety of lighting techniques and presentation rules. The right combination of these elements is the essence of great shots. Keep in mind that these rules and techniques are — to paraphrase a quote from “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” — more like guidelines than actual rules. They exist to help you understand why a photo looks great or falls flat and how you can improve your skills. They also exist so that you understand how to bend or break them to get unusual shots.

Homework

We will talk about each of these rules in depth later, but, for now, I ask that you do a little homework before the next lesson. I can hear the groans now, but, trust me, this is really important.

I want you to dig through your files until you find your camera’s instruction manual. Read it, memorize it, and keep it and your camera handy anytime you read this blog. I am a good photographer partly because I understand the strengths and limits of my equipment. While I may know my own camera system, I will not necessarily understand yours. Every camera is a little different, so the more you understand about your own gear, the easier you’ll find each lesson.

On a side note, I am offering a special Holiday Happiness discount code to all of my loyal customers. From now until Christmas Day all shoppers will receive an extra 10% off their purchases when they enter the code XFJAYD at my website's checkout cart. It's my way of showing my appreciation for all of the support you have given me this year. Thank you so much!

Until we meet again, I wish all of you brilliant flashes of perspective!

[ O*] Alycia

Flashes of Perspective: Happy Halloween from one Tired-out Texan (10-31-2011)

Life in West Texas has been busy and sickly of late. The beginning of October saw the arrival of the 67th Annual Reeves County Fall Fair & Livestock Show and my first attempt at running a photography and art sale booth. My work showed beautifully and attracted a lot of interest. I’m hoping to build upon the experience with an even better booth during the Alpine Artwalk November 18 and 19.

I have also been hard at work editing a fantasy novel that I wrote a couple of years ago and the rewriting process in combination several rounds of stomach bugs and sinus infections have left me little time to shoot or process new photos for the website. I’ve finally begun to upload the Alpine and Big Bend Balloon Bash shots today and expect to finish the project by Wednesday. I also hope to capture some good wildlife photos on my upcoming trip to the Texas panhandle. This is the time of year that flocks of Canada geese invade the Texas panhandle. I cannot wait to capture their precise flight patterns!

By the way, when I “process” digital photos, I take the best shots from a photo shoot and correct the light levels and size of each photo. I save my photos at high resolution in both .TIFF and .JPG formats so they can be printed clearly. Each photo receives a special artwork title so that customers and place orders more easily. Occasionally I will do additional corrections to my photography such as cropping or color enhancements. Most of the time; however, I prefer to leave my photos as natural as possible.

Since it is Halloween, I will leave you with this spooky image (2869) taken in March of this year. The cloud covering the moon reminds me of a lioness, hence the title “Lioness’s Moon.” I hope you enjoy it. I’m off to finish my processing. You can find all of this week’s uploaded photos in the “Objects”, “Scapes”, or “Human Nature” galleries. If you want more information about my fiction, please visit the website www.alyciaccooke.com. Thanks!

Until we meet again, I wish all of you brilliant flashes of perspective!

[ O*] Alycia

Flashes of Perspective: The Big Bend Balloon Bash in Alpine, Texas 9/3-5/11

I have discovered a secret about myself. I love shooting hot air balloons! You might think the idea of a photographer loving to shoot a subject—any subject—would be redundant. After all why would I bother staring through a camera lens, if I don’t love what I do? But here is the secret I’ve discovered: loving what I do and loving what I shoot are two very different things.

I’ve loved hot air balloons ever since I was a toddler, but I had never been able to ride one until my husband’s and my Colorado vacation this year. It was an amazing experience punctuated by the feeling of watching the world pass around me in slow motion. Our balloon’s landing in a cactus field did nothing to curb my enthusiasm and the addiction was sealed when I finally viewed my beautiful photos from the flight.

Those balloon photos are still some of the most popular photos I’ve ever circulated so when the 2011 Big Bend Balloon Bash (BBBB) was announced for Labor Day Weekend in Alpine, Texas, I knew I had to go. Instead of two hot air balloons for my camera to play with, there would be 18! The event was a small pleasure event rather than a full-scale competition which meant the entire atmosphere at the Alpine-Casparis Municipal Airport was refreshing and relaxing: perfect ingredients for gorgeous photography. I contacted the BBBB coordinators to see if they needed an event photographer and was enthusiastically invited to participate.

Saturday’s weather was perfect balloon flying weather. The National Anthem was played and pilots began unrolling their envelopes* at 7:30AM. AT 8:05AM, the first balloon “Too Much Fun” lifted into the air. Several other balloons followed suit and the pale morning sky soon began to fill with color.

By 8:20AM, my assigned chase crew was yelling for me to hurry inside the van and then we were off to track down our flying balloon across the Texas countryside. I shot as many photos as I could while we bounced over the country roads during the next hour’s chase of our balloon. When our balloon finally landed in a pasture several miles from the airport, it took all six of the chase crew, passengers, and pilot to gather up the envelope and stow it with the basket, cables, propane tanks, and burners inside the van. I thought we would surely blow out a tire on the rough terrain as we made our way over stone pastureland and dirt roads back to the main highway. Fortunately, I was proved wrong.

By 10:00AM our van arrived still intact at the airport and I shot photos of four first time balloon flyers being initiated during the traditional champagne toast. The toast proved a bit different than my own initiation in July. Whereas I had merely toasted my pilot and crew with a flute of expensive bubbly, the four initiates that I watched through my camera lens had to drink their alcohol without the use of hands while their balloon pilot poured cold beverage down their backs. Still their initiation was mild compared to the ceremony of a first time certified pilot. He had to kneel and slurp his champagne from a cup amidst the deluge of two beers, three sodas, a bottle of champagne, and a 30 gallon ice chest. Saturday’s festivities were finished off with an old-fashioned cookout and lots of good gossip.

While Saturday dawned to perfect weather, Sunday and Monday proved too windy for safe flying. Even though my possible photos of the event were whittled down to one day, I still shot some amazing photos and even managed to deepen my addiction of hot air balloons.

Hopefully I can release my photos to the general public for purchase within the month. Right now my gracious event hosts have first dibs. I have all of the event photos listed in the password-protected “Clients Only” Gallery for now, but I promise to send out an announcement once I do release the BBBB photos for general purchase. Until that time, I will be busy uploading several wonderful carnival photos to the “Objects” and “Human Nature” Galleries. Enjoy and please visit the official website at www.bigbendballoonbash.com for more information about this event.

Until we meet again, I wish all of you brilliant flashes of perspective!

[ O*] Alycia