Flowers and Hearts

I read photography manuals all weekend, returned the ones that were not appropriate, got more, etc. I haven't decided which are my favorites yet, but I'll let you know after it's sunk in a bit. Did you know that you can see what f-stop and shutter speed and even ISO you used on your (original) photos when you go to File/File Info/Section; EXIF in Photoshop? I never knew that.

This is an old apron, hanging next to the closet door on which I painted a stencil right after we moved here. It was my first stencil, and I remember I just did it with regular acrylic paint. Maybe I traced it and then painted it freehand, because it seems like acrylic would seep into the spaces between the door and the stencil. I actually can't remember — it was seven years ago. Normally I don't go in for stencils, but as with anything else, I guess it's not the medium, but what you do with it. Some mediums get such bad reputations, don't they? That just keeps things interesting.

This was f/3.7, 1/65 sec, ISO 80. I plan to start using these terms in casual conversation. Conditioning, etc.

Comments

[HeidiAnn]

Oooh - Such a pretty apron, and your stencil looks great! I know absolutely less than nothing about photography - but I'm sure glad you do, because I certainly enjoy your photos!!

[Lilli]

Congrats on your new photographic knowledge! Good on you for reading manuals (Ugh!)

Love the stencil; so detailed. I think stenciling is wonderful. We just go too much of it at the time, that's all. When was that? Nineties? Somebody will come up with some hip new stencil and it will be all the rage again.

We've got sun up here in Vancouver, hope you do too :)

[Tara]

Alicia, you should know that i breathlessly check my computer every morning and evening, hoping against hope that you have put up some beautiful new images. and here they are. :)

[Sally]

I too love the stencil! And my first thought was: where do I get such a great stencil?! And then I realized, it's probably buried amongst the stencils at places like Jo-Ann's -- what makes it cute is how it's done, not where it's from!

[charlotte]

Wow, I am catching the early post today! Lovely apron and camera info too. Wanted to tell you that I nominated you today for a thinking blog award on my post. Surely, you have about 1000 of those already, but throw another on the pile. Thanks for all you share. xoC

[Becky]

It seems completely normal to me to talk in F-stops and exposures. Totally 100% normal. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. :)

[Anina]

Very lovely! Your photos are amazing. Yes, you can learn quite a lot from that info on Photoshop, can't you?

[hannah]

love that fabric!

[Pammc]

The apron fabric is lovely. I'm learning about f/stops, ISO and shutter speed from Barbara Carroll over at Big Picture Scrapbooking. Fascinating stuff.

[Chelsea]

This all looks very Swedish to me. I love it!

[Pam]

Your camera talk is askaring me!

[Amber]

Oy! Thanks for putting the pretty pictures up with this, because the rest of it is SCARY. F-stops? EXIF? E-x-i-t is more like it - yikes!

[Betty @ She's Sew Pretty]

I don't speak foto speak either. I am just loving that apron and coveting the fabric. Pretty!

[Tracy]

I have no idea what you are talking about when it comes to the new camera - but i am loving that apron!
Tracy x

[T Sheeley]

When in high school I used to know all about the F-stop settings and all that other good stuff. I spent a lot of time in a dark room. Yikes, I have so much to learn with my new camera too. I think it is capable of many, many things!! It's all so scientific!!

Teresa

[Heidi]

LOL... I should be learning too... LOL

[preeety]

i remember when i first started studying photography, it all sounded greek to me. that was 10 years ago. uau. anyhoo, it took me awhile, but i got the hang of it, till i had to sell my camera back in school, otherwise i wouldn't eat. now i can't remember what all that means anymore. do you think it's like riding a bike, that i just have to get back on it and remember all the mechanics?
huh, i wonder...

[Beth]

okay, now I am going to have to brush up on my photog lingo. I am bad! Probably because there is so much to remember day to day I just cannot seem to cram anything else in there! LOL

Love your photos as usual, and yes, maybe I should really pick up a manual or two.... (yeah, because I will really read them, in my spare time, yeah, that's it).

[Natalea]

pretty apron print! good luck with your continued camera knowledge- you're a better person than I! I just press buttons over and over and keep shooting until something looks good! have a great day!

[LeS]

Wooo Mama!
Look how you've gotten that camera to POP! These (and the shots from Sarah's house) have your magic all over them. I just KNEW you'd get that camera to behave :)

[Adrian]

If you use Firefox for a browser, there's an add-on that allows you to see other people's photos' EXIF data. Once you install it, you just right click to see the data.

I feel you on the camera manuals. I spent the weekend practicing with my camera with manual in hand.

[Siri]

The manual reading is paying off...this looks more like your "small and silver" pictures.
Since I've one of the big chunky black cameras I suppose it wouldn't hurt to read up some more and find out about all that ISO and F stop stuff.

[Jeannine]

Yes, if only I too had such a sophisticated language when it comes to my camera!

[ana conceicao]

Hello! I completly agree with you, it is not the medium but what you do with it. I find myself constantly reminding myself of that. It is a slippery slop when people get stuck on a medium. The use of the medium should fit it, instead of trying to make the medium be the piece.

[lesley]

its a fabulous i have it's baby brother and have for several years now. we had oh so much fun in italy together. you'll love what you can do with it i promise :)