Week 32 (August 6th - August 12th) | Picture 47

Wegmans had some beautiful sunflowers in their flower market and I thought they would be a nice addition to our kitchen and might give me something to take a picture of this week. I want to play with some different lighting possibilities, but I also want to share this non-flash picture - in case my grand OCF plans slip away from me this week.

Totally simple execution - shoot up at the flower, composing it against the white ceiling. Expose for the flower and shoot. Well, easier said than done. Our house gets almost no natural light, so exposing for the flower pushed my settings.



Camera: Nikon D700
Lens: 105mm f/2.8 macro
Aperture: f/3.5
Shutter Speed: 1/30 (handheld!)
ISO: 1600
Flash: none
Exposure: manual

In hindsight, it would have been smarter to hike that ISO to at least 3200 because trying to handhold this lens at that shutter speed is waaayyyyy less than optimal - but I wasn't having a problem with focus or shake, so I didn't bother. (I was also sitting on the floor - so I was stabilized a bit.)

Completely unrelated to photography - I should buy flowers more often. They really perk up the place and improve my mood in our otherwise dreary kitchen!

Week 31 (July 30th - August 5th) | Picture 46

Another week has passed and I seriously question whether or not I will make my 52 week goal. I'm sure there are plenty of things to photograph. But once I get the toddler in bed, I am just lacking any drive to start a photography project. Part of this is because he is now going to bed later than ever. And part of it is because my job has been more stressful than normal over the last couple weeks. I hope I can keep it up through the end of the year, but I really have my doubts.

I saw a tutorial online for doing a floor-lit setup. Where you put your flash in the bottom of a cardboard box, lay a sheet of glass on top, and have the flash light your subject from the bottom. I played with it long enough tonight to realize that in this case I need at least 1 more and maybe even 2 more lights to properly light the object from above as well. Oh well. Fun experiment and a strong drink.



Camera: Nikon D700
Lens: 105mm f/2.8 macro
Aperture: f/8.0
Shutter Speed: 1/250
ISO: 200
Flash: SB-800 off camera, manual, 1/64th power
Exposure: manual

Week 30 (July 23rd - July 29th) | Picture 45

I am officially in a photography rut. I don't think about taking pictures for days at a time, and when I do, it's just to try to capture my son doing something cute. (Which inevitably stops happening as soon as he sees the camera.)

I'm going to try to find something fun to photograph this upcoming week.

In the meantime, I have plenty of other projects to keep me busy. I have two parenting books to read, and lots of crocheting to do. And since it takes me forever to finish my crochet projects, I figure that if I start working on a blanket for my son now when it's 105 degrees outside, that it might be done in time for Winter. We shall see.

But I also have this skein of beautiful merino wool I bought a few months ago. I loved it and it was a slightly impulsive purchase. I want to make something for myself, but I don't know what. I have a million hats. I don't know that one skein is enough for a scarf (although for the right pattern, I'm not opposed to buying a few more skeins). I just can't figure out what to do with it . . .



Camera: Nikon D700
Lens: 105mm f/2.8 macro
Aperture: f/8
Shutter Speed: 1/100
ISO: 1600 (because I am an idiot and forgot to lower it)
Flash: SB-800 off camera, manual, 1/8th power
Exposure: manual

Week 29 (July 15th - July 22nd) | Picture 44

I'm having a hard time finding a photography groove in the last couple weeks - so I'm just going to post this week's image and settings. I need to get out of the funk . . .



Camera: Nikon D700
Lens: 105mm f/2.8 macro
Aperture: f/11
Shutter Speed: 1/80
ISO: 200
Flash: SB-800 off camera, manual, 1/64th power
Exposure: manual

Week 28 (July 9th - July 15th) | Picture 43

Oops! I missed a week. I'm actually surprised it took me over a half a year. The good news is that I didn't skip out on taking pictures, just posting them. Last weekend I had a chance to go to the Air and Space Museum. Really cool place and fun to take pictures. Interestingly, my favorite isn't of any of the aircraft.



Camera: Nikon D700
Lens: 10-20mm f/4-5.6 (@ 10mm)
Aperture: f/5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/1250
ISO: 200
Flash: none
Exposure: manual

Week 27 (July 2nd - July 8th) | Picture 42

I felt like going out tonight after one of our storms to try to get some raindrop pictures. Nothing special and kinda reminds me of this ice macro from back in January.



Camera: Nikon D700
Lens: 105mm f/2.8 macro
Aperture: f/3.8
Shutter Speed: 1/125
ISO: 200
Flash: none
Exposure: manual

I hope the weather around here clears up - I want to try some night photography and the clouds and storms are annoying.

Week 27 (June 2nd - July 8th) | Picture 41

This picture pretty much speaks for itself. Cool stuff! I reserve the right to come back later this summer and post more of these - because I am really fascinated with storms!



Camera: Nikon D700
Lens: 10-20mm f/4-5.6 (@ 10mm)
Aperture: f/22.0
Shutter Speed: 30 seconds
ISO: 100
Flash: none
Exposure: manual