Goodbye Spring

I have REALLY missed this blog. I hope nobody takes it personal, I've hardly even been taking pictures of my own kids lately. Things are just a bit crazy- anybody want to buy a house in West Allis WI??

I actually signed up for a photography class a few months ago and finally attended it last week. Most of what was taught I already knew (thanks to many of you!) but I did learn a few tricks but mostly I got motivated to keep working on my photography. So here I am, resolved to jump back into it.... with a post of "GOODBYE", how ironic. I really hope this isn't really a goodbye.

Hello??? Anybody out there?

Come on guys, it's never too late to get back into something you love.

I LOVE these flowers. I had meant to take pictures of this flower bush in my backyard a few days ago when I noticed it was in bloom. Then when I finally did get my tush out the door with camera in hand I was momentarily disappointed to see that the flowers were dying already. I WAS sad, until I realized how beautiful and textured they had become, and how perfect the fallen petals were for creating some interesting bokeh.
I actually couldn't pick a favorite so I'll probably be posting more on my own blog later but this was the first one that caught my eye.

I used aperture priority (yay! me- no automatic)
f/4.5
1/30 sec
AND- I pulled out my 35mm lense. It's been gathering dust lately but now I remember how I LOVE it!

Baby Doll

I know this is late but I had a good excuse. I just got home from the hospital today and we have something new to play with!

Kyle Jason Gundersen

8lbs 12 oz

Born March 13 at 7:52pm

Mommies Play too!

Man I have missed this blog! I don't know what my deal has been but I haven't really done much of anything with my photography lately but I really want to get back into it. I guess I could blame it on my giant belly and the possibility of popping any minute... but that's really not a good excuse. I'm sorry Mission 24! I'll try to be better.

Anyway, I know this isn't overly artistic or anything but it's actually a bit out of the box for me anyway because I always forget to get into the pictures myself. This was my son's idea. He put the "glasses" on me and pointed at the camera. I LOVE it! I think, as silly as it may seem, this might be one of my favorite pictures of us together.

f/4 , 1/60 sec, ISO200---- basically, it was on auto. I've got to get away from that!

Look!

I know it's past midnight. It's been a really rough week over here. When the challenge word came I knew I wanted to do something cool with the sun, since it's the brightest thing I can think of. And I was so excited when the opportunity presented itself at a family shoot on Friday. Sadly, it's been total chaos at my house ever since and I only just now got the chance to upload my picture. (please forgive me) My hellish story will be posted on my blog later today if anyone cares to hear it. I just could NOT not post this picture. I love it! Brothers, checking out a beautiful sunset.

OH! and this is SOOC- how awesome is that!

f/8

1/200 sec

ISO 100

CC always welcome!

Buried

One of my most favorite memories as a child was getting to jump into a big pile of leaves every autumn and I was so excited to capture my son's first experience.

He Loved it!

f/5.3

1/125 sec

ISO 280

no flash

CC always welcome!

Bloggers Unite!

Photoshop users- I need your help! I've been so excited about starting my own photography business and I've been working really hard on trying to edit my pictures just right and after hours and hours I noticed a strange trend. All of my RAW (actually they're NEF) are being automatically desaturated when I open them in photoshop. I took them in NEF because it allowed me to adjust the lighting (a skill I'm still working on SOOC) so I need to convert them to JPEG so that my client can view them on her computer. What do I do?!? I've already done about 150 pictures this way and so I also worry about switching. Will the client notice if she doesn't see the originals? Is the change a negative change or is it actually working to my benefit or is it bad enough I should RE-edit all of the past pictures. Here's an example for ya, not my favorite picture but just one that really shows what's happening.

Here's the one that was opened in photoshop - I didn't really do anything to it. I just opened it and then converted it to a JPG.

This is the original SOOC (my camera takes a smaller quality jpeg image with the RAW image)

Has anyone experienced this before? Does anyone know what to do about it or know where to go for answers? Help!!!

Wedding Posted!

Well guys, my official wedding gig has come and gone and I would LOVE your feedback. I have a few pictures loaded onto my blog and more on photobucket HERE !

Oh, my blog is www.gundersenphotos.blogspot.com PLEASE come and visit. I'm really excited to share. (I only have 627 more photos to sift through, edit, etc... so there's more to come-LOL!)

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!

Just SMILE would ya!

You know, kids are darn cute but they tend to kinda do thier own thing sometimes and no matter what you do they just will NOT cooperate.
I got to shoot my first paid wedding gig on Saturday and it was such a blast! I just thought these kids were hilarious. The only pictures I was ever able to get of them smiling was when they didn't know I was taking pictures. I still think this was my favorite one though. I just love the look on the little boy's face. "Get me outta here!"
I know this is a bit out of the challenge period. I didn't realize I had till Sunday and when I got home Saturday I was WAY too pooped to post. So, this was officially taken as a "SMILE" challenge but it kinda fits as a "child" one too. I hope you can all understand. I would still LOVE your imput.

SOOC!!!! (Hooray)
f/5.6
ISO200
Exp 1/60sec

Happy Halloween!

So, my picture may not be THAT old but it sure looked old. I decided it would be a fun one to do in the spirit of Halloween AND since my son will be dressing up in a similar costume I thought it would be fun to put the two side by side on my own blog later.

Here's the after, and YES it actually is me on my first trick or treating expedition. I must have been about 18 months old.
See, the color was pretty bad right? I actually pulled out the big guns and, after cropping a bit, I ran the Kodak ROC plug-in with photoshop. It still wasn't right so I adjusted the settings till I had more of an orange tint on the pumpkin and the walls seemed a more natural color than the pink I had here.
One problem I ran into was my eyes. (I still have the same problem in my pictures- even as a grown up) I always have one eye that's really dark and one that looks kinda hazy. Any ideas for how I could even them out a bit?

CC ALWAYS WELCOME!!!

I need your feedback!!

Hey guys I just posted my preview for my Engagement Photoshoot. I would LOVE your feedback before I send the proofs to the bride to be. THANKS!

www.gundersenphotos.blogspot.com

Branching Out

f/3.5

1/50sec

ISO 200

Thanks to Rachel and the blog she created for us. I have started to branch out and find more confidence in my photography. All of the support and constructive criticism I've recieved here has led me to step out of my comfort zone. This picture was taken yesterday at my FIRST official photo shoot. It was so exciting to put myself out there and start to consider myself a "photographer". I would never have dared take on this project if it hadn't been for this blog and the support I've recieved here. THANK YOU!!!!

CC PLEASE!!- this will to to a client and it's still up for photoshoping.

More to come on my blog once I sift through the not-so-great ones. I'll let you all know so I can get your feedback

Mean on Green

I'M BACK! I've missed this so much- I am really excited to get going again.

Can you say Heebie Jeebies!?! I spotted this guy perched next to my house from the ROAD. The picture doesn't really do justice to his enormous size but I do like how well blended the background turned out. I think I'll name him George. More shots of George found HERE.

f/5.6

1/500 sec

ISO-250

Focal- 300mm on my hubby's telephoto

CC ALWAYS WELCOME!

Break a Leg

I got to see my brother's band play last night for the first time, and the last time... He leaves for his mission on Wednesday. He asked me to get some shots of his band so I got real nervy and pushed all the groupies out of the way, and let me tell you there were TONS of groupies! It was definately a challenge with the lighting but I still got some great shots. Go to www.gundersenphotos.blogspot.com for more.

SOOC
1/60sec
f 5.6
ISO200 (oooops! I think that's part of my problem with the other shots)

CC ALWAYS WELCOME!

Family's Heartbreak

I had a unique opportunity to visit my Little Sister's grave today. It was the first time in at least 3 or 4 years so I thought it would fit with the "heartbreak" theme. I took a bunch of pictures but I have to be honest, I just wasn't feeling the heartbreak. I've finally started to feel more peace and comfort in place of the heartbreak so I just couldn't use her story for this particular post. So, I kept searching for something, then as we were leaving I spotted this headstone. The family picture in the center caught my eye so I looked closer. Such a young family to have lost thier father. I don't know anything about them or what happened, but my heart broke a little bit looking at thier picture.

f/8 ISO100 1/200sec.

CC PLEASE- I really struggled with how to crop this one.

P.S. I'm in UTAH! And I'm headed to Idaho on Wednesday. Anybody around who might want to meet up, any photo-ops I can follow you around for. I would love to learn from some of you MASTERS!

"Visions of Sugarplums"

HORRAY! Thanks for the extension. We were all pretty pooped last night so I just completely spaced posting my pic. This was the first thing I thought of... "While Visions of Sugarplums Danced in thier heads" from "The night before Christmas. I guess I've got Christmas in July on my mind. : )

I love this picture because that funny stuffed creature he's cuddle-ing was mine when I was little. It went through a lot but somehow survived to be strangled by my little boy. I love it!

F/4.5 1/60 sec ISO200- I was dareing and used the flash but thankfully he didn't wake up.

CC ALWAYS WELCOME!

Horizon Line

I knew exactly what I wanted for this challenge since I've been reading Kelby's Digital Photography book and was just going over the section on panaramas. I decided a panaroma would be the perfect way to portray a LINE. It ended up being tougher than anticipated simply due to the weather conditions. We headed to the beach yesterday but ended up with Blah pictures so today we made another trip later in the day (better light) and got the special treat of some beautiful cloud cover. I loved the way it turned out. I did have to shrink it down for the blog, it ended up being about 150 megapixels with 27 pictures total. The tiny size it shows up here really doesn't do it justice. Make sure you click to blow it up.

f/6.3

1/640 sec

Manual focus

CC PLEASE! (more to be posted here)

For the Troops!

I did a little bit of research because I was curious about why fireworks are a part of our fourth of July celebrations. What makes bright colored explosions patriotic? Apparently, they became a part of American culture when they were used to boost the morale of the troops during the Revolutionary war. Ever since then they have been considered a symbol of patiotism across the nation.

I took this challenge as another opportunity to practice the things I've been learning. I pulled out the tripod and went all Manual. Hear that? ME MANUAL! Again! (I'm so proud) I loved this picture because I left the shutter open for 2 seconds as the orange one went off and just as the shutter closed the sparkley one snuck in- creating the contrast of speckles with streaks.

For more of my experiments check out http://www.gundersenphotos.blogspot.com/

p.s. I'm turning over my pictures from my wedding this week so PLEASE leave any comments you can for them (same place) so I can do any touch ups necessary before I hand them over. THANKS!

CC ALWAYS WELCOME!

Express Sheer Joy

SOOC f/5.6 1/500sec ISO100- obviously a sunny day. ; )
Yesterday was my son's first experience at our local wading pool. As you can see- he loved it! I guess this is just another example of what Brittney said about babies (or toddlers) wearing thier feelings right out there.

CC ALWAYS WELCOME!

Natural Lighting

Sorry Melinda! Don't hate me for posting this picture!! I just loved it so much.

f/5.6 1/125th sec ISO-1250

Backstory: Melinda and I tag-teamed photographing a wedding this weekend. She had offered to do it for a friend and then called me in since both of us are a bit in-experienced so we would have more chances for some great shots. I took this one to practice with the lighting situation. No flash! That's a stretch for me. I think it would have been better if we could have turned off the light in the room also but it's an old place and there were to switches to be found.

All in all I really enjoyed the experience and I look forward to more opportunities like this one. THANKS MELINDA! (ps- to see some of the shots from the wedding go to http://gundersenphotos.blogspot.com)

CC ALWAYS WELCOME!!!

p.s. If any of you have some time I would LOVE your comments/input on my wedding stuff. I'm going to do some editing before I hand them over to the bride and I'd love your help!

Garden Guest

f/5.6 ISO-400 1/125sec, No flash, Manual Focus
I usually stuggle with these wide open challenges. It's hard for me to narrow down what I want as a subject but this morning this just SCREAMED out for me to take a picture of it. We come across these webs everyday, everywhere but I just thought this one was so beautiful with the dew gathered on it. I had to switch to manual focus to get the detail I want and unfortunately my 35mm lense hasn't come yet so this was done with my zoom. It's tough to get the focus you want with a zoom and no tripod. :) Anyway, I hope y'all like it.


CC PLEASE!