Tutorial time – In my attempt to RE.INVENT

In my attempt to RE.INVENT myself, refine my skills and further my knowledge, I’ve turned to the Web and found some fabulous resources. One of which I had to share  PSD TUTS . I’ve learnt that everyone has a different process of working and editing in Photoshop, even I do. I realise my Post Production on my images needs allot of work, and there’s so much more for me to learn. Hence this post. I found this cool tutorial on touching up portrait photos. So I did the tutorial then applied what I learnt to one of my old photos, from when I did the fun day at the studio.
I think the results are quite nice. I’m sure a professional might disagree, but I don’t think its to far of the mark? Let me know what you think, and of it needs more work. Any input would really be appreciated, remember I’m trying to RE.INVENT myself here.
Let me know if you guys would like me to post some tutorials of my own. Think it could be quite fun.

Young, ambitious, talented but misguided amateur photographer looking to RE.INVENT herself.

Two leading professional wedding photographers, Dror Eyal and Andrea Carlyle (I’d be surprised if you haven’t heard of them), are hosting the mother of all Wedding photography workshops – “RE.INVENT – A wedding photography workshop”. In my opinion, they are two of South Africa’s best wedding photographers, capturing weddings in there own very distinct and unique styles. They are offering one lucky applicant the opportunity of joining the RE.INVENT workshop for mahallah!

So here is my application for the seat:

Young, ambitious, talented but misguided amateur photographer looking to RE.INVENT herself.
Misguided Student that needs to be pushed in the right direction.
Looking for the opportunity to further her skills and knowledge, learning from two talented yet down to earth photographers who are willing to part with there valuable know how.
Willing to be sold into slavery, for the opportunity to learn from and work with said down to earth photographers.
Avid blog stalker for over 2 years following Dror and Andrea , being inspired on new levels everyday.
Craving the opportunity to glimpse into their work, figure out how they see things and how they developed their unique styles.
Willing to make a fool of herself for the opportunity of a life time.
Please consider this application for the Bursary to the RE.INVENT workshop, an opportunity I would hate to miss.

Mandy Pietersen.

Baby season..

I’ve been having a rough time lately, my father is not well and I’m really worried about him. So please keep him in your prayers.
As for my photography, you must of gathered A friend of mine is pregnant and due very soon, and we decide to get together to get my mind off things and to have some fun and take pictures of the belly, or as her little Boy Travis AKA Trav calls  it “the Ball”. Well getting Trav to love the ball, and play with the “ball” was hard work, he much rather came to jump on and love Aunty Mandy, he is such a cutie.
Carey my friend I really hope you love your photos as much as I do. I really had such a good time taking them and editing them. You are a beautiful pregnant woman, and even better mum.
Let me know what you guys think. Here are a few more

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The Rest of the Wedding

Not a perfect rose but still a rose, there’s something about this pic that makes it one of my favorites from the wedding

As most of you know photography is my hobby, i enjoy trying all sorts of different types and like i said in my last post i have a new found respect for wedding photographers, i follow allot of your blogs and i just don’t know how you get some of the photos you do, i guess that’s what makes each photographer unique.. they all have there own style. i don’t think i have one yet i just take photos of what appeals to me..

this weekend ill be taking photos of my friends 9month and popping tummy could be allot of fun.. will post those soon. for now here are a couple more of the wedding i helped out at well lets say tagged along at hopefully Ursula and john from Harvestmoon photography can use a couple of the photos. Thanks for letting me tag along guys it really was allot of fun. (more…)

Wedding fever

A while ago I was chatting to a friend Ursula, about the photography course’s I’ve been on and the course im doing.
she is a wedding photographer and actually did my wedding. I offered if they ever needed someone to tag along to help at a wedding im defiantly keen, and she was so welcoming next thing I know i’m “second” shooter at a wedding with her partner John.

When I started photography I never gave myself any limits, I told myself if you have a camera in your hands you can photograph anything, and from there on i’ve just gone full throttle, enjoying myself immensely from puppies,elephants, kids to models. I jumped at the opportunities even  though I was way over my head and nervous as hell, but every time I was done I could say.. I enjoyed that..

Life is to short not to try and do everything.. So if I think about it I have like a photography bucket list and I want to try everything.. Anyway back to the wedding, Ursula who I’m glad to say is becoming a friend, asked me to tag along. Luckily I wasn’t under to much pressure, although if you saw me that morning before you’d think it was me getting married.
All I can say is I’ve found a brand new amazing respect for wedding photographers, you guys are super human. Its such a tough job and the pressure wow.. I thought I had it bad as a multimedia designer but you guys.. YOU ROCK..
It was an awesome awesome day did I say awesome experience id if you asked me just after I left the wedding I thought sooooo not soon again and now after editing a couple of photos I’m like yes would love to again..

I’m rambling on anyway I’m just going to post the images that I like that I would choose if it was my album but for now just a sneak preview of the fist photo I edited, I never know if I go to far but then again this is a personal blog where I can be creative and post anything but I would love your comments the more input the more I can learn and the more exciting it is.
Anyone reading this I hope you all have a wonderful festive season
And be blessed in the new year.
All my love and wishes Mandy

Day Out

We spent the day at the elephant sanctuary, two weekends ago, it was really such an amazing day you really get up close and personal with them and they are so fun to photograph. I also received my new Imac on monday and while i was going through some old pics i noticed flaws that i never picked up on my old screens before, especially with the puppy photos, i feel the need to touch them up a bit really i don’t like the fact that all the imperfections stick out so badly…  anyway no time like the present.. (more…)

Guide Dog Puppy’s

A week ago our lectures from The academy of creative photography invited us to do a shoot for the Guide dog association of their new puppy’s, what more can I say I spent more time cuddling then taking photos.
They are the most gorgeous little pups you will ever lay your eyes on and there were nine of them to play with just heaven. We had a ball here are the results just follow the Pups TeeHee

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Mood, High Key, Low Key

 The lack of posting these last few weeks, are due to the excessive amount of work I’m experiencing at the moment, but finally I’ve taken 15min for myself to upload some of the last few photos I took on course.
We used our home made light boxes and went mad, here are some of the results. I’ve had so many interesting things to photograph lately so hopefully ill get a chance to post them soon, especially the Puppy shoot ..

But for now these are the unedited “class pics”  the best out of the couple I handed in. Let me know what you think. (more…)

FHM Poker Party

About 2 weeks ago I was asked to take a couple of pictures for one of the brands I design for to put up on there social media platforms, so I tagged along to FHM poker party which was hosted by Piggs Peak Casino home of All Africa Poker. I was interested to see the “brains” behind the Magazine and there General readers.  It was allot of fun and I got to take some really cool shots, but such a busy environment where the guys don’t generally pose for Pics is difficult, anyway the winner of the night is above, Leanne Liebenberg, she is stunning so its difficult to screw up any picture with her in.

The photos are “Property” of Piggs Peak home of All Africa poker, as Part of there marketing Campaign with Leanne Liebenberg.  Here are some more photos… (more…)

Reflectors and Diffusers

I started another course a while ago, and haven’t had a chance to upload any of the images I took. So here they are now. Our first class home work was to make our own reflector and diffuser and then, use it to take a couple of pictures. It was a bad week weather wise I only had a couple of hours sun, between the pouring rain, to complete the project.

These are the photos that I took, and were picked to show in class. I haven’t edited them at all, it feels like cheating when the other people in my group don’t know how to use Photoshop so I’ve upload my unedited ones. Let me know what you think. (more…)

The Studio

This past Saturday I spent the day with my Photography buddies at a studio open day. It was amazing, basically the guys there have started an Academy for photography, and they spoke a bit about what they do & plan to do.
Then we got to play and well we played allot, it was so much fun, they had set up the studio lights and told us a bit about it all (wet our appetites) then we got to take as many photos as we wanted.
They basically gave us the day to do what we wanted, we organized models and a make up artist Michelle Billson, this is her email shadowmagnet@gmail.com she did a fantastic job.

Then here are a few more images I took… (more…)

Practice

A friend of mine is getting married next year, and ill be taking the photos, really looking forward to it, So I’m getting allot of “practice” in. This last Friday night I had camera withdrawals and bought myself a bunch of roses, and decided to take some typical Ring pictures, I gave myself a few challenges, I had to take the photos indoors on a flat surface, bellow Tungsten light (with a globe that’s only half functions)

I was only allowed to use my rings and the red roses, I had to try and remove all other backgrounds and the main focus needed to be either the rings or the rose..

After I played around with the different settings, on the camera and flash, I got the exposure I was happy with. I under exposed allot to get the dark backgrounds..
I tried to think of a way of taking the photos that wouldn’t be the “first solution” so tried all sorts of different angles and with allot of trial and even more error, with fast dissipating flash batteries, I came up with these solutions. They all seem quite traditional but then I think the dark effect works well.

I did edit in Photoshop,  I played with the curves and levels, I used the Stamp tool to get rid of the “rose blemishes” And I used unsharp mask…
Rose’s are so unforgiving….. They show every little bump and kink and flaw, I suppose were all so used to seeing the perfect 5 roses rose now days that when you take a picture of the average joe rose, it doesn’t cut it..
I’ve decide not to Guilt trip myself anymore on editing the photos, that’s what I can do, know how to do and studied for 5 years to do…
So I suppose ill forgive myself. Ask me tomorrow again though ill probably change my mind.

I have a studio session on Saturday, an introduction to studio photography, where a couple of our lectures that gave us our first course have started their own Photography school http://www.photoacademy.co.za/
Have a look, I’m hoping to soak it all up, and then decide which is the next best class for me to do, but in the mean time ill just carry on playing, and experimenting on my own. To view the larger images and a couple of extras click the more link.

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More of the Trial

I haven’t had a chance to work with my camera in a while and I’m missing it, but in the mean time I’ve edited a couple more from the Make up Trial.  Also allot of images, constructive criticism welcome..
Let me know if you like the layout of the images, i found a new option in my admin that i haven’t used before.

The Trial

My sister is a make up artist and needs new images for her portfolio, so I tagged along this last weekend and took these “wedding Pictures.” The two models are stunning and made my job very easy, hope you like them sister. I’m very happy with how they turned out. Any suggestions and comments are welcome, still learning and would love some feedback.  There are allot of pictures so enjoy…. (more…)

Learning

It was my little Brother in laws 6^th Birthday this last weekend, and of course the camera came with. I took a whole bunch of candid family photos, but luckily I got these two treasures, I just love them, the expressions on their faces, are just magic. This is probably the first time I’ve taken pictures of kids, after all the “refresher” training. 

A portion of my studies at Design center was all about photography, we worked in Dark rooms, and had a fabulous time, it all feels like so long ago, and I’m so glad I did a recap. I’m not to sure where to go from here, Clearly I want my photography skills to improve, and I’m sure ill do a couple of more courses, I think once I’m more confident ill approach some of the well known photographers in my area, to offer my slave services in the hope of picking up some new skills.

But in the mean time My Cam is attached to my hip and its practice, practice, play and have fun… and more Practice.. ok ill also admit the occasional blog stalking.. but its only to learn more & more…

More of the Berg

Blue Berg

This last long weekend we spent it in The berg, We were expecting freezing temperatures but it was so hot, this is what I was doing while everyone else was watching rugby, Id much rather be outside enjoying my camera than squealing at the TV, man does sound travel in the berg..  love the “blue” night sky..

Class Winner

I had my final class on Saturday we went over all the images we took on the class outing and a couple of other’s, There were some amazing ones, some people really surprised me with the images they took, I was actually a bit jealous.

 This one above seems to be the winner out of my lot I handed in, it had the best feed back, it needed to be cropped a bit more and some adjustments made, I worked on this one a bit in Photoshop.

If I had to go back and do it again id get even closer to the dead leaf and have a very narrow depth of field.

MontBLANC- office play

Yesterday, I was asked to take a couple of pictures of MontBlanc products. The company I work for is giving these away in a promotion.
They weren’t able to source decent images to use, and as the nature of my job entails, if you can’t get the resources you make a plan, So I spent my morning, in the office with My tripod (I don’t have a flash) trying to take decent enough images that we can use in our Tv AD.

I’m not a professional and I’m worried I’ve broken some carnal rule of photography and I will forever be punished.

That said the product of my morning above, I took tons of pictures and just picked a couple to edit quickly, I’m not sure if I over did the editing but I’m pretty pleased with the result.
This is now where I need advice from the Pros..  pretty please..

Photography Class outing

Our final class outing was this Sunday, We had to get up at sparrows and go to JHB botanical gardens, where I spent the morning snapping away, It was actually allot of fun, except for the frost bite. Here is a little collection of some the images.

As part of the class your not allowed to use photoshop, so these are strait out of my camera pics, I don’t think they are to bad, considering I actually quite like them, cant wait to get the time to do some touch ups..

I can’t decide which is my favorite, maybe the reeds? Anyone out there? Let me know which one you prefer…

Blue Sky Day

We had a busy weekend, went to the Photo and film expo, I went to class, and then Sunday we went on a blue sky day mission and above is one of the pictures I took,

I love the orange and the blue in the image. I find it’s difficult to get nice pics in JHB with out actually paying to go somewhere or that could just be me? But at the Coast all the beauty is free… maybe I just feel that way because I don’t see the ocean everyday…

I’m Dreaming of more blue sky days…

Fast Pace life

Class went well this week. A few light bulbs went on with a couple of “ideas” I was battling to get my head wrapped around, I’m starting from scratch, learning the basics, my first project was playing with shutter speeds ill post that soon, but I decided to hold on with that one.

I gather that they want us to take the best images as possible for the limitations they have given us, but man I’ve noticed its “hard” getting the “look you want!”

So I posted the woopsie picture,
I have no clue if its by definition a “good Picture” I just like it and thought what the hell.. It was taken out the car window we were moving, the lady in the Picture was moving and somehow I manage to get the wall in focus.

I look at this picture and it just reminds me of how “everyday” is “rushed’ fast. Deadlines’ more deadlines’ no patience life just passes you by while everything else carry’s on around you type of thing… It reminds me of everything I don’t like about My life living in JHB..

Ok ! yes I know its Monday and it’s probably a blue one. Let me know what you think..

 P.S.  I used larger Aperture   f3.5- f5.6 or up I cant remember & 1/30 sec shutter speed I’m not sure if you notice the “curvature” of the BG lines, they told us that can happen to an image When your using such a large Aperture, it can be the lenses your using and more, interesting to see it actually happen.

Skies

The View with the Sea

Here is a picture with more of a sea view taken at the same place as my pervious post, I wish I  lived at the coast my weekends would be filled with exploring, and looking for places like this. I’m in need of a holiday, good news though when I finish my last modules of my first course I’m going on honeymoon.
My first honeymoon was cut short in April, and we weren’t able to go but now in AUG we’re off to the berg for a well needed break and I’m hoping an opportunity to test out my new skills..  cant wait

The Lovers

The Lovers & The View

I did some tutorials today that I got in a magazine, I had fun but wish I had more time to do more, well tomorrows another day.

If anyone’s wondering why this post is named lovers, again PE shots, but this time one with the “obvious” couple and then the other I had to giggle, when I took this shot, there was a young couple admiring the view at the exact same secluded spot, it looked very romantic, I wasn’t very close to them but my presence seemed to bug them or maybe it was the -2 weather conditions, who knows but they both slogged of back to there car when I stood there longer than 5min. After all I wasn’t going to waste a sunset like this, even if my fingers were freezing off.

My first post

Into the Dunes

Today My Husband has helped me set up my first Photo blog, basically long story short I love taking pictures, and well I need an outlet for my creativity that is slowly being drained out of me by various day to day factors.

I studied design, I work as a multimedia designer, I love all things online, all things beautiful and all things pretty,
“I’m like a crow and want to surround myself with beautiful pretty’s.. “
So today marks this fabulous event, my new blog maybe my future career path? Who knows what the future may lead to all I know is I’m having a hell of allot of fun, doing what I love..
And well even though I’m still learning “I “R” a Beginner” I believe beauty comes from what you love..
Please share your comments of my fabulous first attempt of editing a dull picky taken 2 weeks ago…

Id love to know from professionals if I’m getting it right…