This is second post of my thoughts, comments, what I have learned… etc. from Otto’s (In Flow) e-workshop, Finding Your Photographic Voice. Before I start, I would like to ask you a favor. It took me seemingly forever to encourage my husband to start his blog and he finally did. So far, he only posted one photo. If you have time, would you please visit Wei Chen Photo? A little encouragement is good for everyone. Thanks.
How I feel, so far…
Every week, I am anxious to receive a new lesson and find out what our assignments are. After reading the assignments, I admit, the first thought coming to my mind is: “What am I going to do?” Three or four hours later, usually, I start having some ideas and start shooting. Some of my original ideas aren’t good enough. Then I come up with different ideas. In general, as soon as I pass the initial panicking moment, I enjoy it a lot! 😉
I often have to read the lesson twice or three times to get it (don’t ask me why). Even after reading it several times, sometime, I’m still not sure. So sometime I submit a photo, not because it is a good photo, but because I have question about the photo. The purpose of taking this workshop is not trying to impress my instructor, but trying to learn.
My Experience for Lesson 2 (second part 😉
One assignment is to photograph bold color and the other is delicate color. Suddenly it seems to me that, 99.9% of my photos are between bold and delicate. Am I right? I don’t really know. All I know is that I searched around my house, and visited our downtown for any bold color, and I didn’t find it. I guess Midwesterners are not bold color people. For example, the following photo… it is in between, right?
Rug Making
My Experience for Lesson 3
Lesson 3 is playing with shutter speed, depth of field, and gradient. I have used SS mode, Aperture mode less than 10 times before and always wanted to experience more like taking photos with every speed… etc., but I never did it (being lazy). I appreciate this lesson, because it motivated (pushed?) me to do the right thing.
One surprise I got is this following photo, which was shot at 1/500. It is very different from what I saw with my eyes. We can easily be fooled, I learned.
water
Questions
Every PC monitor is different. A photo looks great on my PC, may look too dark, or too bright on yours. Isn’t that true? If so, there is nothing we can do, right?
Following that line, is there any way I know how my picture will look like in printing? You have to adjust your photo for the specific printer, right?
THANK YOU!!! And have a great day!
HHC Blog 
Your photos are great Helen!
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Thank you, Roberta. The workshop really helps me. Now I pay more attention to what I am photographing at. Very interesting experience. Helen
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Helen, there are some expensive gadgets to calibrate your monitor such as X-Rite ColorMunki. As for printing, there are drivers for each type of paper you use to make sure that what comes out is faithful to actual colors. At one time, I fussed around with those things, but finally gave up for lack of time and means. However, purists swear by them.
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Thank you, Hien. I may not ready to buy any expensive gadgets at this time (whenever I think I am very good in taking photos… I may. ha), but I just love to know. I like to collect information/knowledge, if you haven’t noticed. 😉 Thank you so much! Helen
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Your last question is just so that you must adjust photos for the specific printer, and also for the specific press. You must know how when you send photos to press. The presses give their standards to customers. At least it was before the fact… 🙂 I think your photos are very good.
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Thank you, Pike. I didn’t realize the presses have their standard! I’ve learned one more thing! Yeah! THANKS! Helen
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Love love love the water picture!
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Thanks, Sue. I stared at this photo many times. I am fascinated by it. Helen
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Helen, these are great photos. I really like them both for lots of reasons. You are correct about different monitors looking differently.
The easiest way I have found for printing, is print a photo on good quality photo paper and compare it to you screen. Then adjust your screen manually. It works well enough for me. I know some people get real crazy. Then I know in photoshop, elements etc you can adjust your printer settings to help it turn out closer to whats on your screen too. I actually do that more the past couple of years.
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Good morning, Cee (according to my clock, you still have 20 minutes of morning time 😉
What a wonderful advice! It’s practical and doable! I love it! Thank you! I wish you lived next door… 😉 Helen
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I am so happy you are enjoying the workshop. I know I learned so much from Otto.. As far as printing goes, I am not an expert but my daughter did just buy me (my birthday) an HP Photosmart 6525 printer. I have only printed one photo so far and it looks great.. I don’t use Photoshop so not sure if adjusting pictures affects printing or not..
Love both of your pictures!!
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Hello, Lynne. Guess what is on my Christmas list now? 😉 Thank you!
What I left out in my photo is: when I was in that panicking mode, I thought of you, wondering what you did in that assignment. And I had an urge to contact you to get some help. At the same time, I know I should work through my problem as much as I could. So, so far, I haven’t contacted you yet 😉 Thanks, Lynne! Knowing you are there makes me feel comfortable. Ha. Helen
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These are great photos, Helen! The water capture is really cool. I don’t know anything about printer… You are making progress 🙂
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Thanks, Amy. I have learned a lot, that’s for sure. 😉 Helen
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I have no answers…but I am reading answers people shared with you and I too may learn something!!
I really like the water picture….it is truly amazing!
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Hello, Tree, I am so thankful for those who answered my questions. And I am glad that you may learn something too. It’s fun to learn together.
That water picture…. you don’t know how many times I stared at it. 😉 Helen
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That weaver is awesome, and both pictures are too. I could never capture a picture like you can.
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Dear Pam, yes you can! Do you believe that I was a point and shoot person a month ago. I had a good camera, and I looked like a photographer in some way, but the truth was I pointed and shot. (I am chuckling…) And I didn’t know what I should do. Anyway, we have to follow our heart. Maybe writing is your primary passion now? (It used to be mine.) Take care. Helen
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Great shots Helen, love the weaver photo too! As mentioned above, there are calibrators for monitors and printers…but I think unless you are doing work for others (i.e., advertising projects), probably not necessary. Cheers!
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Thanks, Dalo. I agreed with what you said. I was frustrated when I showed my photo to my husband on his PC (the first time), the photo looked quite different. Now I ask him to look them on my PC 😉 Helen
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