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March 2014 - Wanderings

4/7/2014

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I did a few photo walks with the Youth Centre photography group in March. Lake Tarawera, Hamurana, Tree Trust, Froude St.  Here is some highlights from those.
On a full on editing day, I was getting cabin fever. It started thundering and the colouring the sun and the stormy clouds produced looked amazing!  So I had to get out.  It was eerie.  Everything was so still.  Even the stream seemed to have stopped flowing.  The only sounds were the murmurings across the water of some kids playing in the sand.

So that was pretty much all the goings on behind the scenes in March 2014.  :D

Calico Jo
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March 2014 - Inspiration and Creation

4/7/2014

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I find I get most of my photographic session inspiration from non photographic sources, e.g. storybook illustrations, artworks, poetry or lyrics.  I do like looking at photos though, and seeing new techniques I can experiment with.  I don't always use the techniques, but it is fun to play and try out new things.  

I watch any 'Next Top Model' series because I like seeing the photos, and the America's Next Top Model series playing in New Zealand at the moment is using 'Cinemagraphs'.  So I had to look those up to see how they were done and have a play around with them.  

Cinemagraphs are Gifs, but only part of the photo is moving.

I think the easiest 'how to ' online article was this one: http://blog.spoongraphics.co.uk/tutorials/how-to-make-a-cool-cinemagraph-image-in-photoshop

So I've had two attempts.   The one above with Jessica and one at a maternity shoot.
It took me awhile to figure out how to tweak the photo contrast etc through the layers.  Also there was a lot of movement from the horse in Jessica's, so in my cinemagraph of her, I haven't made the tail move because it looked like it came off the horse.  What I'd need to do to fix that, is go through each layer and move each layer to match up correctly.

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Not sure if I'd actually offer these to clients. I think it could come across a bit gimmicky.  It might depend on the type of shoot.  Fun playing around with it though.

If I want to see photos that are cool and out of the ordinary, I always stop by Brett Warren's website.  As I've said, I love storybook illustrations and his images definitely tell a story.
Brett Warren Photography Emporium

I also from time to time google or pinterest terms like "cool portraits" and see what comes up.  I recently spotted and am now following on flickr this talent: Jeen Na

I particularly like his landscapes over faces.

I might try a couple of landscape / face layering this April in playtime.  

Oh and if you like old artwork and vintage illustrations, go check out this website, you can start you own collection that you can use!  Rijksstudio

Calico Jo
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March 2014 - The things I bought

4/6/2014

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I didn't realise I bought so much stuff until I took note of it........honest........
So this is justifying my purchases by relating it somehow to photography  :D
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I got another turntable!!  I loved my old turntable, but the sound is not going at the moment. I spotted this on Trade Me and picked it up from Tauranga. It's not as old as my other, from the 80's I think. The sound is great!  I go to op shops and grab a handful of records to play to see if they are any are keepers.  The boys play frisbee with the rejects.  I got some okay ones, and an Operetta collection...... that I actually really enjoyed .......
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ND filters and a long exposure remote because I thought they would be helpful when teaching photography, especially long exposure stuff which is hard to teach in the daylight.  Fully justified.

A new notebook.  Notebooks are essential!!  I carry one with me all the time for when ideas strike or a I see something I like.  Fully justified.

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Music is essential when photo editing, brainstorming and creating storyboards.  Fully justified. 
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It seems like an end of an era.  Our old video rental store has closed down.  They were selling off all their dvds really cheaply.  I bought a few (quite a lot). On long days of editing I would hire out a tv series and have it playing in the background, so it's justifiable.....
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Okay I might have just seen this old viewmaster and thought it was cool, and so I got it....But!!!!
You can order viewmaster disks with your own photos from this website: http://www.image3d.com/celebrate/price-list

So I did look this up after I bought it, so it is kind of photo related.........
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I ordered an Artisan State Little black photo book, to see what they were like.  I love them!
I will be ordering more.  I'd like a little black book library of my photography.
Absolutely justified!

Here is the link to those little cuties:
Artisan State Website
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I've mentioned it before that I try and complete the Whitcoulls top 100 list.  There are a few books in there that I just don't want to read, so I'm not a purist about it, but I have come close to finishing it a couple of times.  Then they bring out the new one and I'm not close anymore.  At the moment I'm 9 books off.  In March I got Inferno from the library; good twist in that one.  I also bought on my kindle "The fault in our stars" by John Green.  I thought I would not enjoy this, as it's about cancer and I lost my Mum to cancer in my teens, but I REALLY LOVED this book!!

Buying books from the Whitcoulls top 100 list is justifiable because: Reading or Listening to stories sparks the imagination, creates pictures in your head, which all helps a creative mind.
As you probably know, Calico Jo's has a Snuggles Club, providing photography vouchers for the age milestones in the first 2 years of baby's life.
I had the members all recorded on my computer and my diary.  Now I've done the reverse to what people normally do.  People transfer all their  paper files and paper work onto their computer..... I bought a cute little paper file, and have transferred all my computer data into it.  I find it quicker.. and did I mention it was cute and little?  Justifiable.
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Oh Yes I did.

I bought a Tam 'O Shanter.

Why?

I DON'T KNOW!!!!!


Tomorrow I'll continue the behind the scenes March blog with 'Inspiration and Creation'.

xox 
Calico Jo
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A bought a couple of magazines.....
I get a lot of inspiration from magazines and sometimes they have cool freebies and....
Yes Ok, I need help with this addiction.  
Though according to quote in the Flow magazine page 21
"Have I gone mad?"
Asked the Mad Hatter, sadly.
"I'm afraid so," said Alice.
"You're entirely bonkers.  But shall I tell you a secret?  All the best people are."
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The Month of March 2014

4/5/2014

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Towards the end of 2013, I set a goal to try and organise myself a bit better.  Trying to balance life, homeschooling the boys, and a photography business gets tricky.  Things were a bit helter skelter last year, so I set about writing things down, putting things in order, scheduling, and taking snap shots as a type of journalling.  I found this really helpful, because once they were written down or on my computer, the ideas, plans, things to do, were no longer banging around in my head.  

I have taken a bit longer to get clients their photos, but I am no longer eating, breathing, 24/7 living photography and I actually think my photography is better for it.  So this 'Behind the Scenes' segment in my blog will be part of the process of writing things down and journalling.  

What actually goes on behind the scenes is quite a lot for one article so I'll divide it up:

  • Life behind the camera
  • Things I bought 
  • Inspiration and Creation
  • Walks with the camera

My impression of my March 2014: Weddings and Wanderings,
(and on a sad note, 3 sessions for NILMDTS)


Life behind the camera

I hired a gardener..  GASP....
For the front flower gardens.  I have never hired a gardener before.  I guess in the back of my mind I felt I shouldn't hire or buy something I can do or make myself.  But the weeds kept growing and I never found the time, and clients were coming around and I'd be embarrassed, and I felt so happy and relieved when someone else came round and did it. 

I left the back veggie garden for myself to do......
and this is what part of the garden looks like, but it is the same all over...... there is vegies in there..... and I like the wild look :P
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I have also started a separate section of the garden for herbs.  I grew two new things this year: Caigua and Tomatillos (both grow vigorously).  Caigua is very good for you and tastes to me a bit like peas.  Tomatillos grow massive amounts and can used like tomatoes, but they have a tang to them that is quite yummy cooked.


And just to prove I have vegies in there, here is some photo proof.
Also made batches of  home made ginger beer over summer and grabbed some herbs from the garden to dry for stock pots over winter.
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POSTCROSSING:  A few months ago I joined this postcard swapping site so the boys would get postcards from around the world and could look them up on a world map:  POSTCROSSING WEBSITE
We get 2-3 postcards a week now and I also have met many people who love photography.  We swap photos as well, and I have a new regular photo swapping friend in the USA and a penpal in Germany who works in the wine business.  I now know that I prefer a pinot noir type wine.

"I'll have a Pinot Noir, while our gardener comes to weed between the roses".... did that sound posh?  Because I wrote it in a posh accent.
I finished knitting a jumper..... and still haven't finished my husbands.
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I have turned into a facebook grinch of late.  I don't enjoy it anymore.  I'm not even sure why.  So I started Google + and have had fun with the video hangouts.  I've found a lot of businesses are on there and using it, but not so much people in general.  My clients are still mostly using facebook.

So the next blog will be on the things I bought..... which will be tomorrow, as my lads are asking me 'what is for dinner?' which translates as 'I want dinner now'.

Family before Fotos! haha

Calico Jo
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'I am Woman' Beauty shoot - Jessica & Amber

4/2/2014

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It was a summers evening in Hamurana, when I  photographed Jessica's Beauty Shoot.

Jessica does equestrian, so we had to include her horse, Amber.  So we chose the blue cheesecloth, and cut a couple of side slits so she could ride.  I had to climb up the big farm hill with the camera gear, but it was worth it.
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xox
Calico Jo
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Tokoroa Portrait Photographer
Email: calicojoni@gmail.com
Ph: 0274506593
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