Eliana's Sea Shells {Before & After)

Eliana helped me wash and clean these shells up. She concentrated so hard doing this task. It was great watching her. From looking at the photo you would not realize that these shells are no bigger then a pea. I used my macro lens to get up close. Their is not much difference in the before and after photo. Sometimes a photo doesn't need allot of processing.

ISO 400
SS 1/200
Fstop 2.8
Canon 100mm 2.8 Macro

Before


After

Cow Barn {Before & After}

During our Sunday ritual of going to church I pass this cow barn twice to and fro. I've been meaning to take a photo of it forever. I was hoping the cows would be near it but not today. I forgot to meter off the tin roof.

ISO 200

SS 1/8000

Fstop 2.5

Sigma 30mm 1.4

Before


After

Outtake Kaitlyn {Before & After}

Kaitlyn is such a cutie. Her and Eliana are best buds if you haven't noticed. I wanted to go back to the girls' mini shoot and share an outtake from Kaitlyn. She makes me laugh so much.

ISO 100
SS 1/160
Fstop 4
Sigma 30mm 1.4

580EXII Flash

Thunder Gray Seamless

Before


After
Used Pioneer Woman's Boost and Seventies actions for something a bit fun.

Quiet Beach {Before & After}

It's that time of year where the weather doesn't even know what it's going to do. For now the beach is still empty. Hope to go back in a month and share the difference in the weather.

ISO 100
SS 1/2500
Fstop 2.2
Sigma 30mm 1.4

Before


After

Lonely Tree {Before & After}

This week's them is before and after. I'm a bit behind in posting so don't panic that you haven't seen any new photos in a few days.

ISO 100

SS 1/4000

Fstop 2.2

Sigma 30mm 1.4

Before - As you can see the sky is pretty gloomy.

After

Maternity {Before & After}

Here is a photo from my first maternity session.  I have learned allot from this session.  It was just a documenting session not a full fledge capturing session.  My focus fell in the wrong spot on this one but I still like it.   I may have forgotten to sharpen for web on the finals I can't remember now.

ISO 400
SS 1/1000
Fstop 1.4
Sigma 30mm 1.4

SOOC


Color


B&W

Blog {Heart of a Photographer}

For most photographers the heart of their work is shared on a website and/or blog. Right now I just have a blog to cut costs. I spent 2 hours today updating half of it. Thank you James (my brother) for helping me with a few things. Could not have done it without him. Now I just need to add a header, photos, and my pricing. http://www.jenaphotography.com/

Old Camera's & Equipment {Heart of the Photograph}

Their is so much history to Photography. I love learning about it. And it's great to come across old camera and equipment. While browsing the Antique shops I came across these old camera's. I turned them to B&W to really show their age. Hope you like them as much as I do.

ISO 1250
SS 1/40
Fstop 1.4
Sigma 30mm 1.4

Kaligar Lens for a Polaroid 100 Camera

ISO 400
SS 1/400
Fstop 1.4
Sigma 30mm 1.4

Sylvania Flashbulbs


ISO 1250
SS 1/100
Fstop 1.4
Sigma 30mm 1.4

Kodak Stereo Viewer


ISO 800
SS 1/125
Fstop 1.4
Sigma 30mm 1.4

Kodak Camera - Anyone know what model this is? I have not researched it yet.

Eliana and Kaitlyn {Heart of the Rock Star Girls}

Jess came over with Kaitlyn today. We did a mini shoot. Eliana and Kaitlyn were half cooperative....go figure they are 4 years old. LOL Towards the end of the shoot we got the girls to be rock stars. They had fun with that part but not the rest of the shoot. I also tried yet again some new processing. It's kind of rock starish.  I did my normal processing then used Pioneer Woman's boost and seventies action.    

ISO 100
SS 1/160
Fstop 4
Sigma 30mm 1.4
Canon 580EXII

Apple {Heart of this Photographer}

A year ago I purchased my first iMac.  It has a 17 inch monitor which is great for viewing photos and websites.  On the front of the monitor is the Apple symbol.  This is the "Heart of this Photographer".  I sit and do all my photography work on my iMac.  

ISO 1250

SS 1/50

Fstop 1.8

Canon 85mm 1.8

I did a curves adjustment and then inverted.

Parfait {Heart of the Golden Arches}

Not sure why but I saved this cup.  Parfaits have been out for many years.  I've only ever had 3 of these and that was starting this year.  They are very good to say the least.  And for a dollar they can't be beat.

ISo 640
SS 1/160
Fstop 1.8
Canon 85mm 1.8

Shout Out for Alexis Miller

I have a ton of photographers/desginers sites bookmarked. Although I frequent Alexi Miller's site quite often. I was actually looking at her site last night. It's a whole new site and she has some great things for photographers.

Newbie's you'll love this site. Also, her tutorial, tips and tricks blog is great. Back during the holidays she listed 10 photo gifts to make. I made her photo tiles for my family for Christmas. They were a big hit.

If you haven't been in awhile or not at all come check it out. Starting Feb 23 she's having new contests so keep an eye out.

http://www.alexismiller.com
http://phototips.alexismiller.com

Dinner Bell {Heart of the Farm}

Today has been pretty busy for me.  The weather hasn't been very friendly for me to venture outside today.  But I do have a photo to share with you.  This dinner bell is the "Heart of the Farm".  Back when the home and farm were first built I'm sure the dinner bell got a ton of use.  Now it remains as a reminder of the history of the home and farm.

ISO 100
SS 1/4000
Fstop 2.8
Canon 100mm macro

Family Crest {Heart of the Family}

This week's theme is "Heart of the ....." A family crest is definitely the "Heart of the Family" I do not have one for my family. This is Brett's family crest. For some reason unknown to me it hangs in my studio. I did crop it down so you would not see my ugly walls that it hangs on.

ISO 200
SS 1/640
Fstop 1.4
Sigma 30mm 1.4

Toys {Love}

Eliana loves her mini's.  Here are a handful of her mini's that she plays with daily.  The puppy she painted herself for her birthday gift.  It is pink and purple. Most of the purple is on the back and bottom of the puppy.

Love of Artwork {Love}

Eliana loves to draw, paint, use playdoh and make crafts. It's no surprise as I as well as my mom and oma (grandmother in German) are the same way. I'm so glad they do these things in school. I thought I'd hare more of Eliana's Artwork with you.  As you can see they did have some help with these 2 projects as they are a bit more complex.  I asked her if she made these.  She will tell me if she did it alone or if Ms. Donna or Ms. Kiley helped.  

Sweet Eliana {Love}

I've had a pretty severe migraine all day today.  I've been hiding in darkness for the most part.  These were not taken today but haven't shared them.  I was practicing with my flash and processing at the end of November.  Not sure if I truly love the processing. But this is my sweet love ..... Eliana.  As you can see she was being so cooperative {being sarcastic here}.  But they do make me laugh.  I have some more fun out takes but thought I'd share these two.

Love Is ..... {Love}

Saving all your child's artwork. Here are 2 pieces of Eliana's artwork she has done in school this year. I have every piece of artwork and school work from Eliana saved. This is her first year of school.   As you can see she made & colored a fish.  The second item is a maraca.  

Passion {Love}

With all the severe weather today.  I could not venture out to take any photos like I wanted to.  So, I thought for awhile to get an idea for today's photo.  This is a candle that I was given as a gift.  One of the few that I decided to actually burn.  Today's photo has a twist to it as you can see.

ISO 1250

SS 1/400

Fstop 2.8

Canon 100mm macro

Love's Baby Soft {Love}

Love's Baby Soft a flash from the past.  I know I'm weird but I still kind of like the smell of it.  So, this is my macro photo a day late.  

ISO 1250

SS 1/40

Fstop 2.8

Canon 100mm macro

Hearts Are Moldable {Love}

This week's theme is Love for Valentine's Day on Saturday.  As usual I've been thinking outside the box.  These are going to Eliana's classmates along with her photo Valentine's Day card.  So, I made them into a heart to represent Love.  They are mini cans of playdoh.  

ISO 100

SS 1/250

Fstop 1.4

Sigma 30mm 1.4

And to put a artsy spin on the same heart.

Abraham Lincoln's Boyhood Home {Home Sweet Home}

It was a nice beautiful warm spring day today.  It got up to 61 degrees so after church ventured over to Lincoln State Park to walk a bit.  The remaining foundation of Abraham's Boyhood Home is bronzed and protected by this brick wall.  I was standing about 18 inches off the ground on a stone bench.  But was not far enough to get the entire foundation in the photo but I almost got it all.  At one time this was "Home Sweet Home" to Abraham Lincoln.

ISO 100

SS 1/8000

Fstop 1.4

Sigma 30mm 1.4  

Frames {Home Sweet Home}

Today I came across this box of frames. The box is probably 18x18x24 in size. It is full to the rim with frame pieces. All I have to do is reinforce them to make about 200 frames in 8x10 size. And guess what I got this entire box for FREE. Yes you read that right FREE. Putting photographs into frames & hanging them up is what makes a home "Home Sweet Home". I'm going to print up photos then frame them to sell.

ISO 400

SS 1/250

Fstop 1.4

Sigma 30mm 1.4

New Editing

Door {Home Sweet Home}

The front door and the back door in the kitchen are both alike.  This is actually the backdoor going out into the back foyer/laundry room.  And to give it that old look I turned it B&W.  You can slightly see the 1970's carpet in this photo too.  That was the last time this house was updated.

ISO 400

SS 1/50

Fstop 1.4

Sigma 30mm 1.4

The Little Hand That Circles Around a Mother's Heart {Home Sweet Home}

They say a photograph speaks a thousand words.  I do believe this photograph does just that. 

ISO 400

SS 1/250

Fstop 2.8

Canon 100mm macro

Gelbwurst {Home Sweet Home}

Gelbwurst is a lunch meat that is often eaten in Germany.  It can be found in the US but sparingly.  I have not found it here in Indiana at least in my neck of the woods.  Basically it's a white bologna but oh so yummy.  I could eat this everyday if I had access to it.

ISO 400

SS 1/80

Fstop 2.8

Canon 100mm macro

This is the first photo I've taken of Eliana since her surgery 16 days ago.  Her eyes had blood in them which made it hard for me to even look her in the eyes.  She goes back March 4th to see the progress of her eye from this second surgery.  So far it's looking good at least to me that is.

Nutella {Home Sweet Home}

When my mom visits she tends to bring a bit of home with her. This didn't come from Germany directly as you can get it in the US. This is Nutella and has the consistency of peanut butter but is made of hazelnuts. It's yummy!


ISO 400
SS 1/50
Fstop 2.8
Canon 100mm macro

New Editing

Me and Berries {Home Sweet Home & Macro}

This week's theme is Home Sweet Home. I'm trying to think outside the box on this one. It's a hard theme since home for me is Germany and I live in Indiana. I dug up some old photos. This is me at probably about a year old. I'm pretty sure my mom took this photo. But I find it quite interesting that in 2009 we are now putting babies and kids back into baskets to photograph. So this is me sitting in a basket right outside my Oma's (grandma in German) door. The house is all brick and a light green in color if I remember correctly.  I'm sure my mom will let me know if I'm wrong.  I turned the photo back as it's amazing how back then the color photos were so blah & yellowy/orange.



I ventured out front to the holly tree we have. I've been wanting to do some macro's of the berries since Jess posted her a month or so ago. But then it got cold and Icey. Although I do have a icey macro of the berries. I thought I'd post this one since with the rising temps I want to think forward into spring and not winter. I edited this one 2 ways. I'm not sure which one I like best.

ISO 100
SS 1/800
fstop 2.8
Canon 100mm macro

Normal Editing


New Editing

Eliana's Valentine's Cards for School {Hobbies}

I love taking photos of Eliana. It's even better when she cooperates and smiles (or somewhat) for me.  I should have used my thunder grey seamless paper as I forgot the template had allot of red and pink in it.  This was the second time I used the Crimson.    Just need to order them for her to take to school now.