Preparing for the Day

Day 39: Preparing for the Day, originally uploaded by Visions By Vicky.

The Daily Shoot assignment for the day was We all prepare for things every day. Illustrate preparedness in a photograph today. I read this as I was making my To Do list for the day. Aha, I thought, I need to capture my attempt at preparedness for the day and picked up my camera to take the photo.

Additions were made to this list after the photo was taken and no, it didn't all get done.

Date Taken: February 8, 2011
Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Lens: Tamron 28-75mm 2.8
Exposure Program: Manual
Exposure: 1/80
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 44 mm
ISO Speed: 1600
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off

Do You Know What I Am?

Day 32: Do You Know What I Am?, originally uploaded by Visions By Vicky.

So, I hadn't taken my photo for the day and didn't want to use Nemo as the subject again (though I know I will in the future) so I decided to take some pictures of one of my favorite things.

It hangs around my neck on a lanyard along with my school keys every school day. There are days I just couldn't teach without it. My younger students think it's really funny and many of them think it's a pen. It's way more reflective than I thought it would be.

Do you know what it is? It's my USB flash drive! I have other flash drives but this is the one I use most of the time because I always know where it is since it's hanging around my neck. That reminds me, time to put it back on the lanyard.

Date Taken: February 1, 2011
Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Lens: Canon 85mm 1.8
Exposure Program: Manual
Aperture: f/3.2
Focal Length: 85 mm
ISO Speed: 1600
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off

A Final Curtain Call

Day 23: A Final Curtain Call, originally uploaded by Visions By Vicky.

Sunday I had the privilege of celebrating the life of Bill Erwin with those who knew and loved him. If you don't know who Bill was, check out the previous link or this tribute to Bill on an I Love Lucy fan site.

I will always remember the stories Bill would tell when the Cow-sillys, as he had dubbed us, went over to visit his daughter, Kelly. We all thoroughly enjoyed the time that we spent with him. Bill turned 96 this year and I can only hope that I am lucky enough to make it that far. R.I.P., Bill.

The stage is now dark and the final curtain has been closed but Bill Erwin will live on for those that knew and loved him both as friends and family and as fans.

Date Taken: January 23, 2011
Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Lens: Tamron 28-75mm 2.8
Exposure Program: Manual
Exposure: 1/80
Aperture: f/5.0
Focal Length: 65 mm
ISO Speed: 1600
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off

All Ready To Skype

All Ready To Skype, originally uploaded by Visions By Vicky.

I am one of the organizers edcamp OC which is being held this Saturday, January 15th. The last few days, I have been slightly panicking about how it will actually go on the day of the event. I am lucky to have an amazing PLN and one of them, Ann Oro, volunteered to Skype with me about edcamps tonight. Ann was one of the organizers of edcamp NYC and she was able to set my mind at ease a bit that things will all work out on Saturday. Thanks Ann!

This photo was actually taken after the Skype call and shows my Logitech webcam and me wearing my Logitech headset - oh yeah and holding my camera in front of my face.

Date Taken: January 10, 2011
Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Lens: Canon 50mm 1.4
Exposure Program: Manual
Exposure: 1/200
Aperture: f/2.5
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 1600
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off

At The Barre

At The Barre, originally uploaded by Visions By Vicky.

Mondays mean ballet class for my younger daughter. These always start with exercises at the barre. This shot was edited using a Periwinkle Haze action and the addition of a grunge border.

Date Taken: January 3, 2011
Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Lens: Tamron 28-75mm 2.8
Exposure Program: Manual
Exposure: 1/100
Aperture: f/4.0
Focal Length: 56 mm
ISO Speed:1600
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off

Week 46: Nutcracker Maid

Nutcracker Maid, originally uploaded by Visions By Vicky.

It's almost Nutcracker time for 2009! November 21st was the studio dress rehearsal - yes this means that this week's photo is a Saturday photo and not a Friday photo. My daughter has four roles this year: Russian Corps, Sugarplum Princess, Mouse in the Battle Scene and a Maid in the Party Scene.

Date Taken: November 21, 2009
Date Taken: November 6, 2009
Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Lens: Tamron 28-75mm f2.8
Exposure: 1/125
Aperture: f/3.5
Focal Length: 35 mm
ISO Speed: 1600
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Exposure Mode: Manual
White Balance: Auto
Flash: On, Fired

There is only one more Saturday at the studio and then we're off to the Madrid Theatre for rehearsals and the performances. If you are in the Los Angeles area, I encourage you to come see the show the first two weekends in December!
And, even though this isn't a Friday photo, I did take all of the photos on this ad at previous Nutcracker performances except for the one of Drosselmeyer, Clara & the Nutcracker. Oh, and the tree isn't mine either.

Week 42: What's the pointe?

What's the pointe?, originally uploaded by Visions By Vicky.

The point is my youngest daughter just went "en pointe" in ballet this week. This has been a goal of hers for a very long time and she's absolutely thrilled that she's made it.

This photo was not taken on Friday but on Wednesday during my daughter's first pointe class. I then added some digital painting effects to the photo in Photoshop.

Date Taken: October 21, 2009
Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Lens: Tamron 28-75mm f2.8
Exposure: 1/160
Aperture: f/3.5
Focal Length: 75 mm
ISO Speed: 1600
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Exposure Mode: Auto
White Balance: Auto
Flash: Off, Did not fire

And a few more to share ...

During Class


Pointe shoes come in all sizes!


After class - tired with aching feet but oh so happy!

And yes, I missed a few weeks - oops!

Week 35: Happy Birthday E!

Happy Birthday E!, originally uploaded by Visions By Vicky.

Seventeen years ago on August 29th 1992 at 07:46am, we welcomed our oldest daughter to the world. She was 19" long and weighed 6lbs 3 ozs. and was almost 5 weeks early.

She amazed me then and continues to amaze me now and I cannot imagine how empty my life would be without her.

This week's photo was taken after my now 17 year old daughter opened the cellphone she wanted for her birthday. Now, if the activation would only kick in I'm sure she'd be ecstatic!

Photo Taken: August 29, 2009
Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Lens: Canon 50mm f1.4
Exposure: 1/60
Aperture: f/2.2
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 1600
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire
Manual, Spot Metering, Auto White Balance

Week 26: Before the Bingo Party

Getting Ready for the Bingo Party, originally uploaded by Visions By Vicky.

Last weekend we were in Las Vegas with my husband's family to celebrate my father-in-law's 80th birthday. The first night there all of the younger generation of cousins had a "Bingo Party" with my husband's sister. This photo of one of our nieces was taken in the hotel room while my niece was playing a game of "guess which hand the penny is in" with my oldest daughter.

Photo Taken: June 27, 2009 (yep, again not a Friday photo)
Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Exposure: 1/60
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 75 mm
ISO Speed: 1600
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program: Aperture-priority AE

Week 24: 2009 Graduation Breakfast

2009 Graduation Breakfast, originally uploaded by Visions By Vicky.

Well, it's official I missed a week and this week's photo wasn't even taken on Friday. After taking hundreds of pictures on Tuesday and Wednesday for year end events at school, I just wasn't in the mood to take a photo on Friday.

Anyway, this photo is from the Graduation Breakfast. Each year we hold a breakfast for the 8th Grade graduates and their guests and the centerpieces this year were a 2-tiered display with the top holding rosebuds and the bottom holding strawberries. These were the roses on my table at the breakfast.

Date Taken: June 10, 2009
Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Exposure: 1/100
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 75 mm
ISO Speed: 1600
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire

Day 34: Nutcracker continues

This is part of the Sugar Plum Pas de Deux with the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Nutcracker Prince.

Date Taken: December 1, 2007
Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Lens: Canon 85mm 1.8
Exposure: 0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture: f/2
Focal Length: 85 mm
ISO Speed: 1600
Exposure Bias: -1/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Day 33: Yes I'm still processing Nutcracker pictures

Are you sick of them yet? This one is from Act II and was taken at the end of the Chinese dance from the balcony on the opening weekend Saturday matinee.

Date Taken: December 1, 2007
Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Lens: Canon 85mm 1.8
Exposure: 0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture: f/2.2
Focal Length: 85 mm
ISO Speed: 1600
Exposure Bias: -1/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Day 28 - Back to the Nutcracker

Don't be looking for this part the next time you see The Nutcracker performed. During a photo session between shows, the drapes for the Arabian dancer were still down when the Nutcracker Prince and Sugar Plum Fairy came out to pose so the Sugar Plum Fairy decided to go for a ride!

Date Taken: December 8, 2007
Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Lens: Canon 50mm 1.8
Exposure: 0.01 sec (1/100)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 1600
Exposure Bias: 1/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Day 18 - Backstage at a TV Taping

The Cowsills taped the Florence Henderson Show on January 18th and I went along to document what I could in pictures. This photo is of Russ Broussard tuning his wife's guitar before the taping. This was taken in the backstage area set up for The Cowsills and their guests.

Date Taken: January 18, 2008
Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Lens: Canon 50mm 1.4
Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture: f/1.8
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 1600
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Day 17 - And it's more music!

The next few days are all likely to be music related since this is a big Cowsill weekend in Los Angeles. This one was taken at the Coffee Gallery Backstage in Altadena, CA and features Susan Cowsill.

Date Taken: January 17, 2008
Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Lens: Canon 50mm 1.4
Exposure: 0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture: f/2.5
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 1600
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Day 14 - And, yes, still more Nutcracker!

I bet you get sick of these way before I'm done processing the 1200+ shots I took. Once again this is from the party scene in Act I. This time it's a shot of Mother Ginger and her Polichinelles.

Date Taken: December 1, 2007
Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Lens: Canon 85mm 1.8
Aperture: f/2.5
Focal Length: 85 mm
ISO Speed: 1600
Exposure Bias: -1/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Day 13 - More Nutcracker

This was taken from the balcony with my 40D and 85mm1.8 lens. This is one the shots from the party scene in Act I - meet Fritz, Clara's brother.

Date Taken: December 1, 2007
Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Lens: Canon 85mm 1.8
Exposure: 0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture: f/2.2
Focal Length: 85 mm
ISO Speed: 1600
Exposure Bias: -1/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Day 8 - Waltz of the Flowers

Yes, it's another picture from The Nutcracker - this time from dress rehearsal. With working and after school activities for the girls it's either processing photos or taking them these days and for now processing is winning. Due to the always changing lighting conditions, I tend to take dance photos in P, TV or AV modes and adjust ISO and exposure compensation to avoid blowouts with spotlights and major under or over exposure.

Date Taken: November 29, 2007
Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Lens: Canon 85mm 1.8
Exposure: 0.005 sec (1/200)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 85 mm
ISO Speed: 1600
Exposure Bias: -2/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Day 4 - The View From Here

Today was an uninspiring day photographically speaking - rainy & cold (and I don't take my new camera out in rainy) and children who groaned "not more pictures" when they saw me grab my camera. So, I'm sharing what I see each night as I sit at my desk surfing the web, uploading photos, looking for inspiration, etc.

Date Taken: January 4, 2008
Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Lens: Tamron 28-75mm 2.8
Exposure: 0.02 sec (1/50)
Aperture: f/6.3
Focal Length: 28 mm
ISO Speed: 1600
Flash: Flash did not fire

Day 3 - Depth of Field, Shutter Speed & Not Blowing Out the Sky

My daughters informed me today that I can take pictures of something other than them - and we're only on Day 3 of this adventure! They both had music lessons today so while they were busy in their voice and guitar lessons I was playing with my camera.

The first photos are of a fountain in the courtyard at my youngest daughter's school. I've seen examples of people taking shots of water at different shutter speeds so I decided to play with this. In order to get proper exposure I had to adjust ISO and/or aperture as well. I did get differing results and my conclusion is that I'll have to play with this some more when I have more time.

While I was in the courtyard, I also opened my lens wide open and took a shot of a light fixture with the chapel building in the background just to check out the depth of field and bokeh.

Date Taken: January 3, 2008
Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Lens: Tamron 28-75 f2.8
Exposure: 0.004 sec (1/250)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 75 mm
ISO Speed: 800
Flash: No Flash

I always seem to have a problem blowing out the sky or not exposing the foreground object correctly so I played a bit with that too. I metered off the sky and used some fill flash to expose the tree in this one. I'll have to try this with people but I like how this one turned out anyway.

Date Taken: January 3, 2008
Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Lens: Tamron 28-75 f2.8
Exposure: 0.006 sec (1/160)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 28 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Flash: Flash fired / FEC -1