Day 39 – Too busy to sleep

It’s after 1 in the morning and I have to be up in about three hours. Yes, it’s been one of those days. I’ve been reshooting my second lighting project all night, so all I managed to snap off for The Project was my desk calendar and the tickets and prizes for our employee meeting today. Better pickings tomorrow. Promise! Off to bed now.

Day 38 – Clouded Sun

I shot this at about a quarter to four in the afternoon. I exposed for the sun behind the clouds. I really like the effect.

Click on image to see a larger version.

Day 37 – Two faces of the same sky

Facing west. Taken at 5:01 p.m. The clouds were so gorgeous as the sun was setting.

Facing east. The moon was so large, and the setting sun can still be seen on the sun-kissed peak. Taken at 5:13 p.m.

Click on images for larger version.

Day 36 – Living room light

I worked at getting comfortable with my new light meter today in the funky light of our living room. It is a south-facing room with a large picture window and storm door, so at this time of year the room is well-lit, but poses challenges for correct exposure.

This is the ancient German-made radio my husband inherited from his grandfather. Yes, it still works, though we never actually turn it on any more. I love the lines, texture, and craftsmanship.

A couple of the critters lit by the sunlight through the wooden blinds.

Jezebel © Carissa Snedeker

Nina © Carissa Snedeker

Day 35 – My “Light Studio”

Project #2 is the same as Project #1, but with two sources of light. Here is my makeshift light studio. I’ve been working on this assignment all afternoon. The most frustrating part of this are the lights that won’t stay put. Especially the one on the left. Fortunately, we picked up a second one of the type on the right and I’m going to give up on the cheap Home Depot shop lamp. I also realized that we had a spare tripod, so on my next go-round I’ll be able to place the light with greater precision than I’ve been able to so far.

I am now off to review my RAW photos.

Day 34 – Indoors and Out

I got tired of fiddling with this:

So I went outside. How I love it that while the gardeners keep the lawn mowed and the leaves blown, they pretty much leave the wild vegetation in a natural state. Otherwise they would have weed-whacked this lovely away.

Day 33 – 2nd Floor Stairwell, Church Fine Arts Building, UNR

Tonight was critique night for our first assignment. I had misgivings about the photo I ultimately chose to show, but had also printed two others photographs as back-up, just in case. I let myself get talked into presenting my more “contrast-y” photo, and the instructor found a couple of things wrong with it. But he didn’t point them out. He asked me to tell him where I’d gone wrong. And I was able to do so. At the break I showed Jeff (instructor) my other two shots and he liked them a lot better. Fortunately, we were allowed to turn in our alternates if we chose, and he let me know that if I turned in one of my alternates I was likely to get a better grade. Well, my momma didn’t raise a stupid child. And as Mark, our lab assistant said to me, “Go with your gut. You’re the artist. It’s your work.” Indeed.

Anyway, it was such a crazy, busy day that I didn’t get a chance to shoot until after class ended at six-thirty. Fortunately, the building’s stairwell provided me with plenty of inspiration. What do you expect to happen in a building full of artists? I love this stairwell. It is truly live art. The students are constantly adding to it and you never know what will change from day-to-day.

The challenge was shooting with only the light that came from the two fluorescent ballasts on at each landing. I will likely return to this subject. As my post title indicates, this is just the second floor

Day 32 – Assignment

I made a month! Woohoo! This weekend, yesterday and today I’ve been working on my first assignment for our lighting class. It seems simple enough: shoot a white cube, sphere and cylinder against a white background using a single light source. Simple, yes. Easy? No! Here’s the catch: Nothing can bleed into anything else. All planes must be distinct, including the backdrop and the table top. This is the hardest thing I’ve ever done, photographically speaking. And at some point I had to stop, because I still have to get over to the print lab on campus and print one black and white photo. And the lab hours haven’t been posted yet, and did I mention I live an hour out of Reno, and that I have a full-time job that I will have to leave early to print before class starts at 4pm? So, yeah, I am freaking out. But then again, I always do when it comes to class. Ask my ART 141 instructor. Heck, ask my husband.

Anyway, at some point I had to commit, so it’s down to these two. I hope I don’t get my ass handed to me.

On review, I doubt the it will be the second photo. Not enough distinction between the top of the cylinder and the shadow along it’s length. Back to my files…