Saturday, May 23, 2009

The Maine Photography Show

If anyone has ever entered a juried art or photography show, you know how much you anticipate getting in. When the letter finally comes, you eagerly open it, with anticipation and dread in equal portions.

"Congratulations! You have been accepted into the Maine Photography Show."

Oh thank goodness!

Knapp and I received these wonderful words from the Boothbay Region Art Foundation (BRAF). Knapp got his letter first before I came home from work and was worried about what he would do if I did not get a photo accepted too! He said later that he was considering shredding it and not telling me, but I definitely doubt that!

The BRAF is located in downtown Boothbay Harbor, Maine and have a very dedicated membership who put on this show in April. They hosted a really wonderful opening cocktail reception complete with food, live music and the awards.


We each entered 2 photos and were quite pleased to each have one photo accepted. The guest juror was Elizabeth Greenberg, the Education Director at the Maine Media Workshops and College as well as an instructor.







Knapp's accepted entry, Last Ride, was in the computer category as the photo is excessively colorized in PhotoShop.







My accepted entry, Quiet Time, was in the black and white category and is an infrared image shot with a modified Nikon D70. Experimenting with infrared film is a tedious process, but with digital it is really fun!


While we didn't win in our categories, we loved being a part of the show. Congratulations to the winners! Click here to view.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Backyard Studio

A misty Sunday morning is a perfect time for a little backyard macro work and an opportunity to test out the newest gadget. Knapp just got a LumiQuest Mini Soft Box for the Nikon SB 800 flash. In the midst of a sea of Lilies of the Valley, is a lonely tulip blooming, and Knapp focused the camera on this pink beauty.











The diffuser works quite well! He is also experimenting with other diffuser materials, but this little unit is easy to set up and portable.





A little processing and cropping in Lightroom and voila!
















The Trillium was also shot using the Mini Soft Box.






Getting Started

Having never done a blog, it is a little intimidating to begin. So many choices to make! I am not a person that likes too many choices. Just a few will do!

My husband, Knapp, and I are photographers, living in Portland, Maine. Other pix can be viewed at www.stonecoastphotography.com.

Ella