SCPA - Dios De Los Muertos - Rosannara

This is Rosannara. She was so sweet. I loved the head piece she got to wear. It's a flower with a skeleton hand! I want one of these so bad! :)

I think this is my favorite picture of her. I love how simple yet stunning it is. This picture is taken on the same set as the other pictures but it was taken from the side not the front. Its amazing what thinking outside of the box does. (I can't take credit for the idea though. I followed another photographer to the side and shot from over there.) This picture helps to remind me to think outside of the box. Take risks. Shoot from different angles. Different sides. You never know if that picture is going to be the best one.

Rosannara you were great to work with! I can't wait to work with you again soon!

Model - Rosannara Chhun
MUA - Madison Cochran
Hair Stylist - Elizabeth Tep
Wardrobe - Cheri Wilson Chagollan

SCPA - Dios De Los Muertos - Gabrielle

This is Gabrielle Champion. She was the first one I worked with in full makeup. I love this look. Each of the costumes had a shawl and a corset that were separate from each other. (So the corsets could be used with other props to make different costumes) I LOVE these shawls. If you look closely you can see the skeletons on them. Gabrielle was really nice as well. I really wish I had more time to get to know each of the models better. It always makes me more comfortable and less nervous when I am able to talk and laugh with them.  She was great at posing. I had so much fun working with her! I cant wait to work with her again. 

Model – Gabrielle Champion
MUA – Sabrina Wiese
Hair stylist – Elizabeth Tep
Wardrobe – Joany Hernandez

SCPA - Dios De Los Muertos - Akemi

On Saturday I went to another meetup with the Southern California Photographers Association. The theme for this shoot was Dia de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead). It was a lot of fun. I hadn't worked with any of these models before so it was fun to get to know them and meet some new people. This shoot was done at Wonderland Studios again. I can't recommend this studio enough. Everyone who works there is AWESOME. The studio is beautiful. The costumes are amazing. Its just such a great experience to be able to photograph there.

In the morning we got to photograph two models without the Dia de los Muertos makeup (while the other models were getting their makeup done. Then the first two models would go back and get theirs done and we finished up the day with them)

There were a lot of photographers there this time. I think a total of 12. That made it difficult to get to know the models or talk to them very much. They were all very nice and fun to work with though.

I am beginning to understand more about Flash and how it works. I felt a lot more comfortable with it this time. I knew how my settings worked and what changing shutter or aperture would change in the picture. I still need to work on learning more about the actual lighting set up.

This first model is Kelsey "Akemi" Hogan. Her posing was great. She had tons of ideas and kept them coming through the whole shoot.

Model – Akemi

MUA – Madison Chochran

Hair Stylist – Elizabeth Tep

Wardrobe – Cheri Wilson Chagollan

Composition

One of our recent assignments in my Intermediate Photography class was Composition. Basically composition is the foundation for any good photograph. You need to be aware of how you are composing your photo. There are tons of "rules" for composition. Actually they are more like guidelines. You can always start with the basic rules and if you don't like your picture you throw out the rules and compose your picture in the way that makes for the best picture. 

Some of the basic rules are:

1. Rule of Thirds this means while you are looking through the view finder - mentally put a grid on it. Two vertical lines and two horizontal lines. Put your subject or object of interest (SOI) in one of the intersections of these lines. It puts your SOI  off centered which creates a more appealing picture than just sticking it straight in the middle.

2. Framing. With framing you "frame" your SOI with something in the picture. A doorway, trees, a window, etc. It helps to automatically draw your eye into your SOI. With these pictures I used the tree branches to frame my kids. 

3. Fill the frame. Fill your viewfinder with your SOI. Why have other stuff competing for attention with your SOI.

4. Depth of Field.  This goes kind of with Fill the Frame (at least in my opinion)  Use a large aperture (small F-stop number) to blur out the background. Again why have other stuff competing for attention with your SOI. If you can't get it out of the frame at least make it blurry. Your mind will pretty much disregard the blurry stuff and be drawn to your SOI which is in focus.

5. Contrast Use dark and light contrasts to draw the attention to your subject. Your eye will be drawn to the contrast. 

The photo above combines quite a few of the composition "rules" including some I haven't mentioned yet. 

Rule of thirds, contrast, framing, and leading lines.

When you train your mind to look at the world through the composition "rules" you start to see them everywhere. You also train yourself to take better pictures. Also remember there are times to throw them all out. You may find you love that picture best of all. 

I would love to see your pictures of composition.