Three Images Made Into One

So I had to do this assignment for my DII class. I'm not that great with Photoshop [I'm pretty sure I've mentioned that a million times throughout my blog already], but I was really excited that I actually remembered how to do this one task! I learned how to do it back in the Fall during the Photoshop short course I took, and I never used it outside of that course. I was just really proud of myself for remembering how to do it.

Now this is kind of rough, I'll admit. However, I'm happy with the outcome.

[Click on images to enlarge.]
Image One:


Image Two:


Image Three:



Final Image:


Again, I know it's rough. But I'm so excited that I know how to do this still and I plan on using it more often just for fun!

School has been...

...GREAT! I am almost finished with my first calendar year of school, and I am really excited about that! I have been working so hard the last year to do my absolute best in all of my classes. There have been a few classes that I absolutely disliked [one even close to hating], and there have been classes that I did not want to end because I loved them so much!! I love going to school for photography! I like learning things that just any random person on the street doesn't know, unless they did some serious "digging" and research on. I used to think I knew a lot about my camera, how a camera works, editing photos, etc. But I have learned that it doesn't matter how long and how many times you've read the manual of your camera, you aren't going to really know a whole lot about it; it doesn't matter how many hours you've spent editing photos and making photos look "good" because you have to learn what looks and is right; it doesn't matter what kind of camera you have if you don't know how to use it properly and continue shooting in AUTO; and there are so many other things that I have learned. I'm happy that I'm not just another person that went to the store, bought a camera, and call myself a photographer. If you know me, you know that I don't call myself a photographer now, even though I know a whole lot more than the people that have just picked up a camera and call themselves photographers when they have no photography experience at all - I am just a photography student right now. And you know what, I feel better by calling myself a photography student because I know that there is still more for me to learn before I can call myself a photographer. Yeah, I take photos for people, but I have yet to accept any money because it's all just a learning experience for me right now. Maybe in a little while I'll start accepting money, but I want to learn more before I start charging people.

Right now, I am currently taking a math class and Digital Image Illustration. Math is super easy because it's Algebra and I rock at Algebra! The Digital Image Illustration class is pretty cool! I'm learning a whole lot about Photoshop, and it's making me more comfortable with the program [but I still prefer to use Adobe Lightroom when editing because it's a FANTASTIC program and much quicker to use]. I have a certificate saying I passed a Photoshop course [simple tasks in the program, really], but even after taking that class, I wasn't very comfortable with Photoshop. I like to learn the more advanced stuff in programs, and this Digital Image Illustration class is teaching some advanced tasks. I love it! Here's just one example of something I learned to do in the class:

Photo One:

Photo Two:

And this is what I came up with in the end:


It was a bit tricky, and a little tough and frustrating at times, to get my ending image. But in the end, I'm happy with the results and I love that I now know how to do that! I honestly couldn't explain it to someone if my life depended on it, but I can whip out an image like that without any problems now. For the more advanced stuff, I like Photoshop; but for the routine editing, I prefer Lightroom because it's much quicker for me to edit photos.

I am now going to have to go through some of my past assignments and random photo outings of mine, and pick out with photos I would like to post in another blog entry.

Fall

Yesterday, I walked a little bit around town with my camera, camera bag, and tripod. [Yeah, I'm sure I looked like a freakin' weirdo, but oh well.] It was nice to walk around and take photos. I went out for a photography assignment and had a fun time. I don't like that it gets cooler [I am such a summer girl], but I absolutely love the colors of fall!!

Here are some photos I took while I was out walking around.

BEST WEEK EVER!!!!

Today, I got home from the 2009 swimming Nationals/World Championship Trials. OMG! Let me tell you something, if you can ever go to a swim meet where the nation's best are competing, GO!!!! You will not regret it at all!! I kid you not when I say that last week was the best week of my life!! I have had so many amazing days and moments in life, but to have five consecutive day of nothing but pure awesomeness like I did last week has never happened to me!! I can't even begin to explain how amazing last week was!! It was so awesome, that as I got on the highway this morning to head back here to Ohio, I was on the verge of tears!!

I took over 2,000 photos last week!! I definitely have quite a few favorites already!! I can't wait till I get my new photo editing programs so I can resize, watermark, etc. the photos and share them with you guys!! I kid you not when I say I got some AMAZING shots last week!! Some of the shots I got look professional, which makes me very happy because sports photography is what I want to focus on!!

I got to meet SO MANY swimmers, past and present, last week. I got my picture taken with a lot of them, too!! I got autographs, photos of/with, had conversations with, joked around with, high-fived, and other stuff with swimmers, coaches, and family members of swimmers!! Even one of the swimmers "tweeted" about me on Twitter!! BAHAHAHA. That was so funny!! It was all just so amazing, wonderful, great, etc.!! Some of the photos of me with these people are really good, some are decent, and some are just down right hilarious!!!! Some of the photos had me crying because I was laughing so hard!!

I feel that while in Indy, I got to find part of myself that I lost a while ago. It was great being able to be that person again and have the fun that I did. I made some GREAT friends while in Indy, and I hope that next year, we will all be able to get together again at nationals!! We had so much fun and I will NEVER forget a lot of the memories we all shared together, if not all of the memories!! Those are memories I will be telling my children, grandchildren, and maybe even great-grandchildren [if I live that long]. I love what last week brought to me!! I haven't had that much fun in a LONG time, and I am so sad that it ended. I'm already making "mental plans" for next summer's Nationals, and maybe even going to some of the Grand Prix meets once they start back up later this year and go through next Spring/Summer.

I just don't know what else to say about last week. Words really can't even begin to try to explain how amazing last week was!! It was definitely a great way to celebrate the week before my birthday!! But now, it's back to my normal life, and I start school tomorrow!! I'm very nervous about starting school, but I'm ready for it, I think!! HA.

The Good & The Bad That Turned Into Good

THE GOOD:
My books for two of my first three classes were suppose to arrive here today, but I was very happy to see the UPS man yesterday leaving a box by the front door!! Yes, that box had my books in there!! I was very excited!! Last night, I even started to read the first chapter of the art history book!! I haven't gotten to any of the incredibly interesting stuff in the book yet, but I'll get to it soon enough.

THE BAD [that turned into GOOD]:
Yesterday, I was getting ready to go outside with Michael while Brayden napped. Just like I always go, I grabbed my camera to take outside with me. I saw that my lens was a little smudged, so I wanted to clean it real fast. Now, I normally don't do this, but I was in a hurry to get outside because Michael just flies out the door the second he's asked if he wants to go outside - but I grabbed the bottle of Windex and lightly misted my camera lens, went to get a paper towel, then wiped off the lens. Everything looked fine, and I went outside after Michael. About 10 minutes later, I look at my lens because something seemed a bit off. Yeah, the Windex got in my lens!! I was so upset!! The Windex wasn't even on my lens for 5 seconds after I sprayed it!! I called the Geek Squad, then went to Best Buy to get it replaced. I get to Best Buy with my sister, and I go to Customer Service. After 5+ minutes of standing there, waiting for them to tell me what's going on, they inform me that I didn't have the protection plan and replacement plan!!!! I was FUMING because I definitely told the guy when I bought the camera that I wanted every little bit of protection/replacement plan and the longest warranty possible for my camera and all of the extra stuff!!!! They then told me that I would have to pay out of pocket for a new lens, but I might be able to get up to 30% off on that new lens. I go back to the camera section of the store, talk to someone who's working in that area, and they tell me that they don't sell my lens separately there, but that I'd have to go through Sony to get a new lens!!!! Are you kidding me?! I was about to lose it - right then and there!! My sister and I just decided to walk around Best Buy and look at pretty much everything else there. About 5-10 minutes later, I take my lens cap off to look at my lens, and guess what - my lens had completely dried out!! There was no more Windex in my camera lens!!!! OMG! I was so excited!! I was so excited that I decided to look at the iPods and accessories. [I've never had my own iPod. I've always borrowed Mark's, but can't now since he took it with him on the deployment. I told him I'd get my own while he was gone.] As I was looking at the iPods, some guy there was buying an iPod and talking to a worker at Best Buy. The worker told this guy about this iPod bundle deal that they have going on. I only heard bits and pieces of it, so after they were done talking about it, I asked the worker what the deal was. The deal was amazing!! It was an 8GB iPod nano, $15 iTunes gift card, iPod wall charger, and iPod arm band for just $179.99!! Yeah, pretty effing amazing!! The 8GB iPod nano is $149.99, the wall charger is $24.99, the arm band is $24.99, and the gift card is obviously $15!! So how could I pass that deal up?! I ended up getting that stuff, and I was so excited because they had only one blue 8GB iPod nano left!! Of course I got the blue iPod because blue is absolute favorite color!! I was so pumped though because that deal was absolutely amazing!! Also, I bought season three of "How I Met Your Mother" while I was at Best Buy. "How I Met Your Mother" is my favorite show!!!! I now have the first three seasons on DVD, and can't wait till season four is on DVD!! I have been watching that show since the very first episode aired on TV. I am a huge, die hard fan and know just about everything about that show!!

I'm just so happy that my camera lens dried out!! I don't know how long I'd have to wait for a new lens to come in and how much money I'd have to spend. I would be a major crab till I got the new lens if I had to get a new one!!

Photography School...HERE I COME!!!!

OMG!!

This is way exciting for me!!

I am almost ready to start school NEXT MONTH!!!! Really!! Today has been one busy, yet amazing, day for me and getting things taken care of with the school!! All I have left to do is schedule my classes, then order my books and software!! Holy crap!! AND, I will probably have my classes scheduled within the next few days, which I will then be able to order my books and software!! YAY!

The only thing I hate about going back to school - loans!! Yuck! I hate money!! Money is the root of all evil, I kid you not!! Going to The Art Institute is way expensive - so much so that I won't have enough money through loans to cover the schooling by quite a hefty chunk of money!! Ugh. But I know that things will work out - as long as I keep my head on straight, work toward my goal, and stay on track with everything. I'm just going to have to start working on a portfolio ASAP so I can network myself and build a reputation and get clients. That way, I'll make money, save it, and use it in any way possible toward school and loans.

I am so ready for this!! I am going to make the absolute best of this experience!!

ONE MONTH TO GO!!!!

In one month, I'll either still be on my way or already in INDY!!!! Ah, so exciting!! It's going to be simply amazing!! I so look forward to watching 5 days worth of swimming [which will be aired on NBC, BTW]!! I really look forward to taking some hundred [maybe even over a thousand] photos!!!! I really do hope, though, that I do get to meet some of the swimmers there!! That'd be such a HUGE thing to happen to me!!!! I'm not even kidding - I'd be happy for the rest.of.my.life!!!! Of course, there are a certain few swimmers that I am dying to meet!! [::cough cough:: Ryan Lochte ::cough cough:: Dara Torres ::cough cough:: Aaron Piersol ::cough cough:: There are a couple others, as well, but those are the three I'd love to meet the absolute most.] I am just so ready for it to be July 6th, so my sister and I can be on our merry way to Indy, then wake up bright and early on the 7th and haul ass over to the Natatorium!!!! It's going to be so amazing photographing and watching the swim meet - for 5 days!!!! It'll be so cool having photos of Olympic swimmers [some of which are Olympic gold medalists]!! Those photos will definitely be cherished - as well as on display in our house once we move back down to NC!! Plus, those photos can be passed down to my kids, grandkids, etc., and they'll be able to see that I was able to go watch Olympic swimmers swim at a meet. I think that'd be really cool.

Also, in a little over a week, I'm planning on going to another Cleveland Indians baseball game!! I hope to get some really cool photos while I'm there. [Maybe Grady Sizemore will make a diving catch at this game, and I'll actually be able to get a photo of it.]

I love going to sporting events and taking photos. I really want to be a sports photographer!!

Finally Back!!

I am finally back in Ohio!! Let me tell you, I am very happy!! To me, it is very important to have family around, and it's my main reason for coming home while Mark's deployed. [However, this will be the last time coming home during a deployment since Michael will be old enough to go to school next year.] I grew up surrounded by family, and I look back at all of that family I had around me and truly appreciate it. Actually, we got in yesterday morning around 3:40, and today we went to a birthday party for one of my cousins. [I'm telling you, my family is very close, and I will never take that for granted.] I want my children to be able to have as much family around as possible growing up. I don't want them to wonder who their family members are and what they are/were like.

But now that we're back, that means that I am just that much closer to starting school!! In a couple of hours, I will be able to say that I start school next month!! HA. Within the next few days, I am going to be filling out my student loan application. Once that is taken care of, I will just have to schedule my classes and order my books and software, and then I'll be ready to go for school!! YAY! You have no idea how excited I am to start school!! It's going to be so exciting!! I am so ready for everything that's to come!! I am ready to learn something else that I am so passionate and serious about!!

Today, I stopped at Staples and finally got my 1 TB external hard drive!!!! I've started to transfer some important stuff to it, and once that's all taken care of, I am going to see if my cousin can wipe out the laptop and start over from "scratch". Something's still wrong with the laptop, and I just need to wipe everything out. I'm just transferring my fonts, music, and photos that are saved on the laptop. Then after the laptop's been wiped out, everything's been restored, and I get my new $510 16-program editing set, I will be ready to go!! I can't wait!! I am going to be doing some serious "damage" around here with all of the photography stuff!!

I have a BRILLIANT idea!!

Today, I was watching TV and a commercial for this one show kept coming on. It's about this religion camp thing. I don't know, I can't stand to watch the commercials because the lady loses her damn mind and scares me. There's a difference [and fine line] between teaching children about God and shoving everything you interpret from the Bible down children's throats and scaring them half to death.

But anyway, the commercial gave me an idea for a photo shoot. I'm not going to say what my idea is because I want to keep it to myself for now. I want to be able to pull it off, and have no one know about it till I start asking people to be a part of it, then show the photos. My plan is to do this shoot during the summer while I'm in Ohio. I hope that I am able to do it at one of the local parks with a good number of people. It'll be about an issue that I am very passionate about. If I am able to pull off this photo shoot, I can't even begin to tell you how amazing it will be!!

I have some people in mind right now that I want to ask to do this photo shoot with me, and I am also thinking about just posting on my MySpace and Facebook telling people in the area that if they would like to be a part of a photo shoot I'm doing, then they will just have to get in contact with me and I'd give them the information. And even though there's a subject/purpose/reason for this photo shoot, it shouldn't be hard to find people willing to do such a photo shoot.

Seriously, I can't even explain how great it would be to pull this off. Honestly, it could be a little bit "ground breaking", for a lack of better words. I think it would maybe make people open their eyes and minds a little bit. It's just something that means so much to me. It's something I believe in that goes "across the board" and involves everyone, which is why it shouldn't be too difficult to find some models.

If I can pull this off, I will submit the photos to the school [The Art Institute], to contests, and use them in my portfolio. I might even contemplate submitting them elsewhere, making it known that now is the time for things to change with certain issues. I know my idea may be "controversial", but I don't care about that. Something being controversial is something that can create change - and right now, we need this change.

I one day hope to win some small award or be recognized for the photos I'll take, and this idea of mine can get me started. I normally don't set my expectations high, unless it's something I know I am, or can be, good at doing. Photography happens to be one of those things, and I hope that I am able to accomplish at least two of my goals.

HOLY MOLY!!!!

So last night, I was looking through some of the stuff for The Art Institute that was on the list of things to do before starting school. One thing on the list is about the software and they have a website for the school to order the software you need, as well as extra stuff. I looked at the website last night, and just browsed through the software, hardware, and all of that stuff. The one cool thing about The Art Institute is that, if you order stuff through their website for school, you get 85% off of everything!!!! AMAZING! There's this one thing I've been wanting to get [Adobe Creative Suite 4 Master Collection], but it's about $2,500!! Yeah, there's no way on God's green earth that I'd spend that much on software right now. But as I was browsing the school's website last night, they sell the collection to students for $510!!!! One of the programs I am required to have is in the collection, and it's about $100 by itself. So Mark and I talked last night, and he said that I could go ahead and get the CS4 Master Collection. Why pay about $100 for one software program when I can pay a little over $400 more and get 16 programs?! It just makes sense to us if I just got the whole collection. And I have to admit, I am so happy that I have a husband that is supporting me 100% with going to school for photography and letting me get some new things so I am able to start at a semi-professional level with all of it. Gosh, I love him so much!!!!

Speaking of Mark, he left this morning. I miss him like crazy already!! We were lucky enough to be able to text each other for a while before he got on the ship. It just sucks that I won't be getting a million texts from him a daily basis for the next 6 months or so. He did send me one last photo though from his phone before he left. He was frowning in the photo. He's not thrilled one bit about this deployment, but we're hoping that this is the last one for a while. The boys have no idea that Mark's gone and not coming home for a while - they were asleep in the stroller when he left. It just hurts because they don't know. But at the same time, I'm glad they didn't see him leave because Michael was such a mess the last time Mark left on deployment. I just hope that this transition without Daddy and the move go smoothly with the boys. I know it's going to be a lot on the right now, but I'm happy that we're getting it all done with within a short period of time. [I hate dragging things out.]

So here's to deployment #3!! I hope that this deployment goes smoothly and that we're an even happier, closer family in the end!!

It's O-F-F-I-C-I-A-L!!!!

Today, I got a small package in the mail from The Art Institute...I'VE OFFICIALLY BEEN ACCEPTED TO THE PHOTOGRAPHY PROGRAM!!!! YAY! Now all I have to do is get everything set so I can start class(es) in July!! I am probably going to call in a little bit or tomorrow to speak with someone so I know exactly where I am on the list of things I need to get taken care of. I'm pretty sure I only have to take care of my accuplacer exam, scheduling my class(es), and getting books and software!! AHHHHH! I can't believe that this is actually going to happen - I'm going to school!!!! HA. This is absolutely amazing!! I am so ready for this!!

But, with this wonderful news comes some sad news - my husband should be gone in less than 12 hours!! Yuck! I'm really sad that we have to go through another deployment, but I've been able to keep myself together and just enjoy the time we've had together. And let me tell you something, not being such an emotional mess [like the last two times] has been nothing short of wonderful!! I'm glad that I've been able to just have real conversations with him rather than breaking down in front of him every 5-10 seconds. It sucks that he has to go, but I know it's what he has to do.

Monday Night's Game

As you should know, Mark and I went to the Indians game on Monday night. We lost - those stupid Red Sox beat us. But let me tell you something, it was a great game!! Pitching from both teams was great!! [Of course Cliff Lee was going to deliver. After all, he did win the Cy Young award last year!! HELL YES!!] It just sucked though that my Indians lost Monday. [However, they beat the Red Sox Tuesday night!! WWOOOOOOO!!!!]

Mark and I had tickets for seats in Pronkville. We only stayed there though till the end of the 4th inning. After that, we went and sat on the Party Deck for the rest of the game. If I stood up, bent forward, and leaned over a little bit, I would've been touching the foul pole in right field. There was only one row of seats in front of us, too. So we were right by the field, and we were right next to the visitor's bullpen. OMG it was amazing!! I took 300-400 photos throughout the game, plus a few before the game. [We got there early and walked around Heritage Park and stood in the first row by right-center field during the Red Sox batting practice. We ALMOST got a ball that one of Red Sox players hit.]

During the game, Grady Sizemore made this amazing diving catch!! I was so ready for it!! My camera was right on Grady - I knew he was going to dive for it and catch it!! As soon as I pushed down on the button to snap that shot, my husband just had to stand up RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME, RUINING THE SHOT!!!! Ugh! I was so pissed - and still am!! SERIOUSLY!! I could've had this absolutely amazing shot of one of my favorite Indians players, but noooooo, my husband had to leap up out of his chair and cheer for Grady. ::rolls eyes:: I told Mark that I will never let that moment die down for as long as I live. HA. [Seriously though, I probably won't let it go - ever.]

I don't have the photos I took uploaded yet. I actually don't even have them tranferred yet because I don't have enough space on the flash drive I brought with me to Ohio. So once I get back to NC, I'll get to transferring and uploading them so I can share some of the photos with you!!

OH!! After the game, since we were right by the visitor's bullpen, Mark asked for a baseball, and we got one!!!! To me, it doesn't matter if it's a ball used by an opposing team - a ball touched by multiple multi-million-dollar professional athletes is better than nothing!!!! HA. I'm going to buy a case for it, I kid you not!! It's going to go in our next house when we [or should I say I?] deck out a room or wall in Cleveland stuff.

I had so much fun at the game Monday night!! I'm hoping to go to a few more games this summer once the boys and I are back up here. I want to go and see my favorite baseball team of my entire life play, and take some photos of those guys playing baseball!! I ♥ baseball!!

Also, Cleveland has a single-A team in Kinston, NC. That's not very far from where we live down there. So we're going to try to go to one of their games before Mark deploys in May. I can't wait!! We're going to take the boys, too - their very first baseball game!! So if we go to a K-Tribe game, I'm going to take photos there, too!! Maybe one day they'll end up playing in Cleveland for the Indians, and then we'll get to say that we saw them when they were playing in Kinston. [We're also going to try to get some autographs, if possible.] Mark always says, "Maybe we'll get to see the next Grady Sizemore." And he's right - maybe we will.

Understanding My Camera

Over the last week or so, I have been learning a lot more about my camera. I've read the book that came with my camera at least 20-25 times [no joke], but reading can only get you so far. Lately, I've been using different modes on my camera that I wasn't comfortable using before. I made myself use those modes and nothing else for a short, yet decent, amount of time. Now, I am very comfortable shooting in A [Aperture Priority] and M [Manual]. So I can add those two modes to the list of modes I am comfortable using. [Next mode I need to work on/get comfortable using is P [Portrait]. Sounds pretty easy, but I'd like to just get the chance to use it more often.] I'm very happy now that I know how to use those modes, and what to use them for. Honestly, I find it very exciting to be able to know how to use multiple shooting modes on my camera and know what mode is best for different situations.

I think it's so funny to think back a month or two ago, and think about how little I knew about my camera. I know so much about it now, and I love learning more!! [Good thing I want to go to school for photography, huh? HA.] I know I have a lot more to learn, but that's a good great thing!! I hate when I've learned so much about something that it gets boring and I have to move on to the next thing. [And I can get bored with things pretty easily, too.]

Well, it's a beautiful day here and Mark's outside with the boys - so I am going to join them and, of course, take lots and lots of photos of them playing around. And I can't wait till tonight because Mark and I are going to the Indians vs. Red Sox game!! YAY! I don't know when I'll get more photos up though because our laptop is messed up with viruses and spyware, so it all needs to be wiped out before we can use it again. [Thank God we're visiting family in Ohio and can use my parents' computer/Internet. But it's so slow that I don't even want to attempt uploading photos.]

Enjoy your day, people!!

Cleveland: Firework Photos

After the Indians game on Friday, there were fireworks. [There are always fireworks after Friday night games, as long as the weather permits.] I LOVE the firework shows they put on there!! They play music and set the fireworks off. AMAZING!! They play the song "Cleveland Rocks", and then songs by Jimi Hendrix, Beach Boys, The Who, and a bunch of other great artists/bands!! But it only makes sense that they play the best music because, after all, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is in Cleveland!!

Here are some of the photos I took of the firworks. They aren't great, but it was my very first time photographing fireworks.

[Click on image to enlarge.]












I can't wait till the Fourth of July because then I'll get another chance to photograph fireworks. I really want to work on photographing fireworks and having great shots!!

Cleveland: Indians vs. Twins Photos

Mark and I had a good time at the baseball game on Friday night. The Indians lost, but we still had fun!! I took so many photos during the game!! And I am so excited because Mark and I are going to another Indians game!! We're going to tomorrow night's game against the Boston Red Sox!!!! We'll be sitting in "Pronkville" this time [that's in right field]!! We won't be in the lower section, but the second level and in the first row!! I hope I can get some amazing photos!!

But anyway, on to some of the photos I took during Friday night's game.

[Click on image to enlarge.]


They had this sign up at Progressive Field, and it was facing Quicken Loans Arena [where the Cavs play]. I think it's so nice...and cute. HA.















DOUBLE PLAY!!
















They showed this during the baseball game:

Everyone there went wild when this showed up on the scoreboard!!

Next, some fireworks photos from the Indians game!!