What Does The Eye See?

I’ve been trying to write up the Earthly Fingerless Mitts to post it as an FO, but it seems like I want to put so much info in it that it’s taking awhile. Not done yet. So meanwhile I was pondering the subject of photography. For me, a digital camera has changed the way I take pictures bigtime. And having a blog and needing to illustrate it has also caused me to learn more about how to use my camera better. I like to explore nature, colour, texture, line and composition. For some reason I’ve never been much for photos of people. Though I like “art” dolls, I’m not big on the human face or form in other types of art work. I’m even lousy at photographing family gatherings or the like. Weird, I know.

Now that I don’t have to pay to have photos developed by someone else, I feel much more free to take experimental pictures and play with the focus and settings. Then afterwards, I like to use Paint Shop Pro to play with the pictures even more. Only pixels are involved and I can save the original and anything that I change it into that pleases me, all as separate files. I rarely print anything out except my Finished Objects for my Notebook. Most images are viewed on the computer. And yes, they are backed up. Several times. Thanks for asking.

Of course some photos (OK, a lot of photos) are not great, but it’s all part of learning to see and also learning to use the technology, both the camera itself and PSP (or your image editor of choice). My little camera is several years old now and is not one of the new-fangled digital SLRs. I just want to use it right away – not spend half an hour setting it up to shoot! It has some excellent features though, including anti-shake and a really good zoom. Unfortunately I would have liked to be able to see the screen better in bright light. Sometimes I’m just shooting from the hip and hoping for the best!

We used to have a lovely old SLR camera (it got stolen, but that’s another story) and it took great pictures but was tedious to adjust correctly. Nothing was automatic on it! I remember having difficulty even seeing through the viewfinder with my glasses on. The biggest problem with old film cameras is the fact that you can’t see what you’ve taken until you are long-gone from that time and place. No chance to retake if something goes wrong. I'm spoiled for instant playback.

I’ve found I take my camera with me on many occasions even if it’s just for a walk. You never know what you will see that you might want to photograph spontaneously. Or what your photo might inspire in the studio! Has anyone else noticed a recurring theme in your current photos? In mine, I’m seeing a lot of leaves (with fall just past, that’s kinda normal!), textures (rocks, grasses, bark, sand etc.) and, now that winter is here, silhouettes of branches and tree trunks. Wonder what I’m going to do with them?

As an example of my Fun With Photography, here’s two of my flowering kale that are currently sheltering in the greenhouse:


They don't mind the cold so much but the snow presses them down and makes them rot as it melts. We are in an uncharacteristic deep freeze right now that has probably killed off many of my still-surviving plants. I managed to pick some of the greens from the greenhouse yesterday but I don’t know if the plants will make it through the next few days of even lower temps. The geraniums, coreopsis and fuchsias were still flowering somewhat but I bet they’re gonzo now. Even the rhododendrons and aucuba are hanging their leaves down, a sure sign that it’s colder than usual here. And we're expecting a bit more snow later this evening or tomorrow.

On Photography

Sweet Georgia’s lecture yesterday evening at the weaver’s guild meeting was great! I’ve learned a lot about photography over the years but I wouldn’t say I’m an expert. Some of my photos are good and some craptacular. Though I have improved a zillion-fold since I got my precious digital camera. Felicia clarified a few things for me, especially about diffusing light and depth of field. Now I have to go read my camera’s manual yet again. I did disagree with her somewhat about film. I think it has limited uses in everyday photography. Maybe for artistic purposes but even print media no longer want anything but digital. Now that we have high-megapixel SLR cameras the quality is plenty good enough for most purposes. For myself, digital has contributed to my abilities. Look! I can take a whole bunch of pics and see the results right away! No wasted film or chemicals or money. Pixels are free with the equipment. (In case you were wondering, I have a mid-range two-year-old Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ3. I’m very happy with her.) And then I can mess with the photos later in Paint Shop Pro. I loves me my brightness-and-contrast and my crop tools. Just to tweak a bit in case my original photos aren’t perfect already, you understand.

However I was a little peeved at the meeting attendees’ attitude about set-up and take-down. First off, it’s in a community centre. They require us to set up our own chairs and tables and put them away again after. Entirely reasonable and no biggie really. The set-up part seems to happen pretty much OK — early-comers start putting up chairs if none are out already, but take-down is another story as everyone either stands around yakking or scurries away after the program. I don’t mind doing some of it but I don’t want to have to do it all by myself Without Any Help! I realize that we are almost all female and a large percentage are older and have health issues. Heck, I have health issues myself! (And I ain’t no spring chicken either but we won’t mention that.) But many hands make light work as they say. I was lucky and there was a spare husband available to help with the chairs (thanks, Jim!) but I also put 4 banquet-sized tables away, 2 of them completely by myself. Then I didn’t sleep well last night because my muscles (such as they are — don’t laugh) were feeling the strain. I remember catching myself at one point snapping to a group of chatterers in my way, “If you’re not going to help, then don’t hinder”! Which immediately got me a temporary assistant. But jeesh, people! Lend a hand, eh? I’m really lousy at asking.

I did get quite a bit of Milady Daughter’s TulipTwo socks done while at the back-to-back meetings (executive and general, oy!). I’m past the heel turns on both but I’m not much liking the light/dark demarcation line at the instep. This yarn shades subtly from lighter orangey red to darker burgundy red and although it began the heel at the lighter part, after the heel turn it was up to the darker area. So there’s a more definite line between. And to make it worse, the upper section has the tulips and the lower one is plain knitting. I’m not going to do anything about it though. My first pair of these socks are similar and I don’t think there’s any way around it without doing a short-row heel which I hate. (They don’t fit my foot as well and they don’t last as long as heel-flap-and-gusset, so there. YMMV) Of course in the other sock it’s more gradual and not so obvious of a line. You didn’t think they’d match, did you? Photos later.

Question to Ponder:

Does anyone else see the irony in driving to the gym? Yeah, I’m back on my elliptical trainer, to which I have to walk since it’s in my basement. If I had to go to a gym I just wouldn’t. I’d clean my house instead — which actually is exercise. But apparently not the right kind.