Susieb721 Loc: Mid Michigan

Hi, Everyone. Looks like I've found a fun place to be. I've already posted a couple of places and received incredibly warm and loving replies. Thank you. That was not the case on another photo site. But that's another story...

I am an aspiring pro photographer, with a whole lot to learn but having a great time studying under my employer Tammy, as her assistant. I've been working with her since March this year, and loving every minute of studio and outdoor portraiture.

I'm mother of 3 adult children, all married; gramma to Damie-11, and Lydia-5, and one on the way early summer; and wife to Kurt who suffered a stroke in '09 and lives in a nursing home. My life has changed incredibly in the last 3 years, with his stroke, and my youngest (only) daughter getting married last year and moving to North Dakota. I've recently become the 51yr old, cat lady, adopting Quiglie 3 yrs ago, Cooper 2 yrs ago, and Wellington 2 weeks ago. They bring me joy and companionship in my now empty home. So you may see a few (hundred) posts of my furry babies.

Thank you, to those of you who have already offered very kind welcomes. Looking forward to spending lots of time with many of you!

Wellington


Quiglie


Cooper


Damian, aka Damie Doo!


Lydia, aka my Tiggy Girl!

David707 Loc: Medford OR

Welcome to the forum, susieb...cute kitties.

sinatraman Loc: Vero Beach Florida, Earth,alpha quaudrant

where in mid michigan? i am formerly from Big Rapids, and became a 1st time cat owner last march to rascal the demon cat, who likes to remiind me if I wanted something obedient i should have gotten a dog.

Susieb721 Loc: Mid Michigan

Owosso, about 35 minutes from Lansing.

Susieb721 Loc: Mid Michigan

Thank you, David. =)

Mudpuppy Loc: Michigan

Susie all great shots but that last one - WOW! that is an amazing shot. absolutely brilliant. I can't see the exif data can you please tell me camera, lens and all the specs of that shot?

Susieb721 Loc: Mid Michigan

Thank you, so much. This is where one mans trash is another mans treasure. I've had a lot of negative commentaries on this in other photo forums. Too Dark. Too Seductive. Too grainy. No shine in her eyes....etc.

I happen to love it and wanted a moody feel. That is how she is. Very deep/moody child. She is just turned 5 yrs old in this picture.

Nikon D300
f/7.1
exposure 1/250 sec
Focal Length 31mm
Max Aperture 4
Remote flash (in studio, 2 soft boxes)
Nikon 18-135mm lens.

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

I really like it also. I love the colors and I love the expression on her face. Photos that catch the mood of the child, not how the photographer thinks the child should be. Not all children's portraits need to be of a smiling, giggling child. My favorites of my 20 month old granddaughter are with a serious expression on her face.

Susieb721 Loc: Mid Michigan

Thank you, Country's mama.
And MudPuppy, I forgot to mention, the picture of Lydia has a photoshop action to make it dark and antique. I don't remember which action though. I'm sorry.

Mudpuppy Loc: Michigan

I guess photography is like anything else - it's up to the viewer's perception of the shot. I think you nailed it. You didn't even have to explain the moody feel of the shot - it speaks for itself. I figured there was some photoshop but it's very nicely done and assuming what the original shot looked like you made some nice enhancements which I think what photoshop is at our disposal for. It's a tool why not use it? I wish I had more time and knowledge of photoshop. I play around with elements but I muck around in short periods of time and I haven't had a great deal of luck with it. I have had a couple of occassions where it just seemed to work exactly right leading me in the right direction. But for the most part I start making adjustments and I don't like the look of the adjusted picture. A lot of times I scrap the adjustments and leave it as shot or I make very minor lighting adjustments.

Susieb721 Loc: Mid Michigan

Here's the original...

Dennis

I don't know what a tiggy girl is but the photograph is beautiful as is the portrait of the boy.

heidionefligrl Loc: Mentor, Ohio

I have a cooper as well.. Just a different species

Susieb721 Loc: Mid Michigan

and probably different gender. We thought she was a he when we got her at 4 weeks old. Then learned a tri color cat will 99% always be a she. Whoops. She's a Cooper, still. I can't see her with any other name.

Susieb721 Loc: Mid Michigan

Thank you, lol You probably don't want to know what a Tiggy Girl is, but long story short, she had theeeeeee stinkiest diapers as a newborn. So she became "stinky girl". But that didn't sound nice. So As I plugged my nose, and said stinky girl in a cartoon type voice, it sounded like "Tiggy" and it has stuck. She will always be my Tiggy!

These shots of Damie and Tiggy are some of my very first studio shots and If I can be completely honest, I probably got luckier with them than skill.