My First "Model" Photo Shoot.

All done using 50mm lens - apeture priority - 200 ISO - white balance set to "cloudy" - post processed in Picnik.

This lovely young lady was a pleasure to work with. I still have some pics to go through from this session, but these were the first to catch my attention.

Hoping to do more sessions soon!

~ JLR

A Walk in the Woods on an Autumn Afternoon : (repeated with commentary).

All these pics are from a blog post over at my other blog ... This Handmade Life. But as the post was comprised of all photos from a recent walk I took with my son ... I thought it wise to share the post here as well.

I tried a little something new with all of these ... I cropped all the original photos down to 8x10 from an approx. 8x12 format. The sizing looks a bit strange to me, but deciding what was best to leave out was an interesing process. All pics were taken with my straight Nikkor 60 mm lens. Usually the apeture was either wide open or between 5-8. All at ISO 200.

Enjoy! And thanks for looking.

~ JLR

No, Seriously Bird ... Why Are You Looking At Me That Way?

My new fave farm photo. On Flickr.

~ JLR

Playing with HDR & Lomo Effects.

All post-processed using http://www.picnik.com/. All photos taken in Belfast, Maine on Labor Day weekend.

I am experimenting with the over-sharp & grainy look of HDR while also adding the rich colors of "Lomoish". I love the rich surreal feel to these images. Some came out better than others. What do you think?

Love,

Jodi

Some Pics From Belfast, ME.

More to come ...

JLR

Impromptu Street Photography.

The streets of downtown Bangor Maine always amuse me ...



... there are a plethora of wonderful characters to photograph at any given moment.

I saw this man biking his dog around downtown Bangor ... while I was on my way to the post office. I followed him around in my car until I could shout out ... "Excuse me sir, may I pull over and take your photo?". To which he nodded his approval but acted as though I was a member of the Bangor Daily paparazzi. The most hilarious part was that after I took a few shots ... and he rode off ... a good friend of mine came running around the corner with her mobile phone ... also trying to catch a shot of this guy and his dog. Hilarious! What were the odds? Anyway, she didn't get the shot, but I am happy to share mine :)

For you Jill.

~ JLR

Photo Class on A Rainy Day.

I just took a photography class at Field's Pond Audubon Society Center in Hermon, Maine. It was not as informative or exciting as I had hoped, but I did gain some insightful info ... both from the instructor and the participants. One thing I learned that I will act on immediately, is that Mac is the way to go for post processing photos. So ... I will soon be short one PC and will be the proud owner of this little baby --- thanks to a close friend who works for Apple. (How about the rest of you? Anyone else moving over to Mac from PC?). I also learned that I prefer photographing slugs to birds. Or maybe it is just that I prefer shooting the creatures that no one else wants to photograph. Lastly, I think I got some much needed encouragement/ confirmation that those photographers who fancy themselves "better" than others --- are not. And that the incredibly gifted photographers who recognize that all photographers have something unique to share ... are the "better" ones ... though they would never say so.

Anyway - it was a nice experience. I highly recommend Field's Pond to those of you who love to shoot birds. They have such a wonderful space for viewing so many species.

Happy Shooting.
~ JLR

Very Clever Egg Photos.

Check them out: http://blueblots.com/inspiration/a-showcase-of-funny-and-clever-egg-photography/

I wish I were as clever.

~ JLR

Before and After.

before

after

For this "after" effect, I used Picnik.com's new feature : Fancy Focus. This feature gives you the control to illuminate the area of the photo that you want to stand out ... yet pull color away from the area you want to stay slightly out of focus. I feel that it gives the photo a bit of a vintage, painted look .... but am not sure that I like it on this particular shot.

I love the vantage point and composition of this picture ... yet want to add a bit of processing to give it a different (slightly vintage) look. Any suggestions? Comments?

Thank you.

JLR

Rake Picture Gets Some Publicity.

One of my prints is being used to promote metallic papers on my favorite photo lab's website: Bangor Photo. It is the rake pic that I love. Please take a peek.

Thanks!
~ Jodi

This Weekends Fave Photo:

Sweet Emily.

HAPPY EASTER!

Love,
Jodi & Family

Completion of a Swap-Bot Photo Scavenger Hunt Exchange.

My Swap-Bot photo exchange partner gave me several words to interpret through photography. The above is a mosaic of my interpretations. Please click on the any of the following links to see what words each photo represents:

1. Chase & Isaac: Innocence., 2. Water Fountain at Disney's Riverside Resort., 3. Energy., 4. Downtown Street Singer: Will Sing for a Smile., 5. UU Church: Bangor., 6. Polaroid Swap., 7. Abandon : Swap-bot Scavenger Hunt., 8. Weather : Swap-bot Scavenger Hunt., 9. The King., 10. Abstract : Swap-bot Scavenger Hunt.

Enjoy !

JLR

Changing the World - One Photo at a Time - David Cohen

Etsy Treasury Feature

I am happy to say that one of my photographs has made it into an Etsy treasury. Please click here to see. It is a lovely treasury!

I am hoping for some much needed additional publicity for my photography. Sales are at a stand still.

Always hopeful...
JLR

Meg's Impromptu Photo Session.

A 12-year old girl puts on some make-up ... and wants some photos for her Facebook page. Ahhh... adolescence. We've all been there.

~ JLR

Street Photography.

Hoping to add some colorful characters to my portfolio. This guy is a street musician ... downtown Bangor ... singing songs for a smile and some conversation.

JLR

Birthday Party Smiles.

Nikon D300 w/ 50mm lens. Cross Processed w/ 1 layer of bokeh lights.
~ JLR

Spring Droplet.

Used my 50mm lens. Processed through Picnik.

~ JLR

New Lens: Nikon 50mm f 1.8D AF

Wow. I just popped this lens onto my D300 and took a couple random shots of my girlfriend knitting ... and was happily surprised by what this little lens can do. I opened the apeture wide open ... and in VERY low lighting, these (above) are the shots I got ... well lit and with tons of yummy bokeh. I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings ... when I take this lens out in the daylight.

~ JLR

Downtown Skaterboarders.

Blogged about HERE.

~ JLR

Dear Helen,

More fun with layering via Picnik.

~ JLR

My Month of Appreciation.

A mosaic of my participation in the February 2009 edition of the "One Word Project" by Shutter Sisters. To see the photos in their original form, please click on their thumbnails.

Thank you & Enjoy!

` JLR

Playing With Toys: Horse in Snow.

The One Word Project.

I have been a proud member of the Shutter Sisters Group for some time now ... and have recently joined their "One Word" Project ... a project where each photographer submits a photograph a day to the Shutter Sisters Flickr Group that they feel best relates to the word of the month. For February, words were chosen by the photographers themselves. I chose "Appreciation" ... and it has been so much fun capturing pics of things/people/places that I appreicate.

But what has been most wonderful about this project for me is that Shutter Sisters chose one of my pics to display in their daily "One Word Project" photo blog. What an honor!


I have come to be absolutely amazed by all the wonderful photography displayed by my fellow Shutter Sisters ... and feel incredibly humbled by their work. So, to be featured ... even for a brief moment in time ... just tickles me.

Soon, I will offer this print in my shop as a 5x7" ... in case any one wants a copy of their own :)

Thank you for sharing this joy with me.

Love,
JLR

The Beginning ...

All blogs need a beginning ... a first post ... an entry that gives some indication as to what the future content of the blog may contain.

Here is my humble intro:

I love photography. I always have. It feeds my soul. I am a semi-skilled amateur photographer (if I must create a title). I am passionate about learning new skills ... about trying new methods ... about acquiring both new and vintage equipment ... and about sharing tips/encouragements/methods with others who share the same passion. Thus, this blog.

I am also venturing into the world of selling my work ... something that scares me a bit. As just about any artist will tell you, it is hard to put a monetary value on your artistic passion. My goal is to start small .... selling pieces on Etsy ... and then eventually venture into studio work ... photographing families and momentous occasions.

This blog will partially serve to chronicle my work ... but more than that ... I hope it will serve as a help to others with the same passion. I will post quality tips, links, giveaways, challenges, product reviews, creative methods, etc. that have to do with photography ... as well as posting some of my latest work.

Your input is always most welcome.

Thank you for joining me.

~ JLR