I purled a right side row on FBS yesterday and didn’t realize it until I was half way through the lace pattern on the next wrong side row. Sometimes I even amaze myself. So I ripped that and managed to get half way through another repeat. This is taking WAY too long. I actually think I might be getting ~GASP~ bored a little. And for some reason I can’t imagine how this is going to block out bigger. 80% Cotton, 20% Wool – is that it? What I see is what I get? C’mon Carrie! Show me your blocked FBS! Inquiring minds want to know!
I’m still cranking out pictures. For a job. People don’t realize, but with the digital SLRs out on the market, the pictures DO NOT come out of the camera finished. (As opposed to a P&S where the pictures tend to be overprocessed, so you don’t have to!) The cameras are made so that the pictures come out of the box, if you will, needing work. That’s why they call it a DIGITAL DARKROOM. Did you know that the “look” Ansel Adams is so famous for came from the darkroom, not the camera? It’s all about dodging and burning and tweaking exposures – darkroom, darkroom, darkroom. So I “develop” every picture I take. Most of them not much – just a little brightening here and there – a little sharpening. But with the kids, I go through every picture. I’m a GENIUS at getting out snot, food, little scrapes – if a kid can get it on them – I can get it out. Hell, I’m even working on a father whose kid got chocolate all over his shirt. It’s tedious work sometimes, but I like it. It’s time consuming though – and I don’t have a lot of time. The kids are coming and once they get here, I won’t be able to do anything. Nothing. Nada. Nil. (Unless you count giggling and cuddling and playing and crying and not a lot of sleeping…you get the picture!) So the pictures HAVE to be done today. This is all just procrastination.
I’m asked all the time about what kind of camera I use. Currently, I’m using a Canon 20D. Before that a Canon 10D. And before that a Sony DSC-F707 (long since discontinued.) I’d like to think (and I may be deluding myself here) that I could take the pictures I take with a pinhole camera. You know, like it’s the eye not the equipment. That’s not to say that a good camera can’t HELP me get the better picture. For the kid picture taking, my equipment is ESSENTIAL. The fast shutter helps me IMMENSELY. The shutter is like lightening and I can take a lot of pictures at the same time to get EXACTLY the one I want. Also, the camera body doesn’t mean as much as the lens on the camera. It’s the lens that gets you the picture – the camera body just processes it onto the film (or card, in the case of digital). Well, it’s not as simple as that – but I’ve paid a lot of money for a lens, and A LOT of money for a lens, and the difference is noticeable in every area – picture quality, focus quality, everything. You pay the big bucks for GOOD glass, and it’s worth it.
Lesson over for the day. I haven’t been out to shoot flowers in a while and I’m missing it. As much as I like the process, being stuck at the computer all day can get a little old, fast. So I leave you with what I’d rather be doing:
Taken with my old Sony DSC-F707, with an added Macro lens.
I love your blog, I just discovered it. I also saw your photo site and your photos are just amazing. You must be a very patient person!
Thank you so much for these details–I think I need a macro lens–Kris has mentioned that for his fishy pictures (all of the aquariums) and it is so neat!
What a beautiful photo Cara…as always! The fbs looks awesome…keep movin’.
My husband gave me the Canon EOS Digital Rebel (300 D) for Christmas several years ago and it’s amazing, but you’re right: the real stuff comes in the “darkroom”. I used to process my own b&w, so it’s not that different! Unfortunately, I have found that camera a bear to travel with and so intimidating in class situations (well, I wasn’t going to take classes with Nicky Epstein and Nancy Bush and NOT take pictures!) that I got a small Canon Elph and love it. My first digital was a Sony Mavica with a whopping .7 mp!!
Good to know about your photographic abilities can you wipe out body fat too. 🙂 Have fun with the kids. And getting the work done in time. You will.
I love that picture!
If I may be sappy for a moment: bravo for making art for a living. You are my hero for that.
I had such high hopes for photography, and I really like taking pictures, but something drained out of me and I don’t spend the time one needs to anymore. It is good for my soul to see people out there making it happen.
I didn’t think it was easy to get pictures as beautiful as yours. But knitting FBS…grrl that IS easy. Relax, enjoy it. It will be wonderful and worth the process.
I continue to be in awe of your stunning photographs. They are truly a pleasure to look at!
Love the flower photo! You’re so right about the ‘digital darkroom’- I spend more 10x more time on the backend processing photos than taking them. No one ever understands that, do they? LOL But I love those PS miracles, they’re so fun.
Thank you for an extremelly interesting and informative post, cara! I’ve always been interested in photography and dabbled in it here and there. I took a photography class years ago and learned about darkroom processing. But with digital photography I feel kind of clueless.
I’m waiting to see those 710 Moto shots!
hey thanks for the lesson!
Very interesting post — I didn’t know that about Ansel Adams. And how great is it that you can get rid of all of that kid grime! I have taken your advice of reading the manual for my admittedly simple camera and it has helped.
That photo is stunning (as they all are)…what a nice gift to all of us readers, thank you 🙂 I fondly remember making a pinhole camera in 5th grade. And it took pictures!! Thanks for sharing.
Great photo! Have fun with the kids.
Beautiful as always my friend, beautiful as always. Your talent never ceases to impress me.